Andy Dalton, known for his role as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), began his professional career when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Dalton, who played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU), quickly became the Bengals' starting quarterback. His rookie season was marked by a strong performance, leading the team to a playoff berth and earning a Pro Bowl selection.
Throughout his tenure with the Bengals, Dalton consistently demonstrated his ability to lead the team to the playoffs, achieving this feat in each of his first five seasons. Despite these playoff appearances, the Bengals struggled to advance past the first round. Dalton's regular-season performances, however, were often commendable, as he set several franchise records, including the most passing touchdowns in a season.
In 2015, Dalton had one of his best seasons statistically, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 25 touchdowns with only seven interceptions before a thumb injury cut his season short. His efforts that year earned him another Pro Bowl nod, and he was instrumental in helping the Bengals secure a 12-4 record, one of the best in the team's history.
After nine seasons with Cincinnati, Dalton's time with the Bengals came to an end in 2020 when he was released by the team. Shortly thereafter, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a backup to Dak Prescott. Dalton was thrust into the starting role after Prescott suffered a season-ending injury. During his time with the Cowboys, Dalton played in 11 games, starting nine of them, and threw for over 2,100 yards and 14 touchdowns.
In 2021, Dalton joined the Chicago Bears, where he was initially named the starting quarterback. However, his role shifted throughout the season as the team also looked to develop rookie quarterback Justin Fields. Dalton's experience and leadership were valuable assets to the Bears during this transitional period.
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