Tyrod Taylor's journey in professional football began when he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. As a quarterback, Taylor initially served as a backup to Joe Flacco, gaining valuable experience and learning the intricacies of the NFL game. During his time with the Ravens, he was part of the team that won Super Bowl XLVII, although his role was primarily on the sidelines.
In 2015, Taylor's career took a significant turn when he signed with the Buffalo Bills. It was with the Bills that he first had the opportunity to start as a quarterback. Taylor quickly demonstrated his ability to lead an offense, combining his passing skills with his athleticism to become a dual-threat quarterback. In his first season as a starter, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, earning a Pro Bowl selection. His performance helped the Bills achieve their first winning season in over a decade.
Taylor continued to be a steady presence for the Bills over the next two seasons. In 2017, he played a crucial role in ending the franchise's 17-year playoff drought, leading the team to a postseason appearance. Despite his contributions, the Bills decided to trade Taylor to the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
With the Browns, Taylor was initially named the starting quarterback. However, his time in Cleveland was short-lived due to an injury and the emergence of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, which led to Taylor being relegated to a backup role.
In 2019, Taylor signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he once again found himself in a backup position, this time behind Philip Rivers. The following year, with Rivers' departure, Taylor was named the starter for the Chargers. Unfortunately, his stint as the starting quarterback was cut short due to a medical mishap that led to a lung injury, paving the way for rookie Justin Herbert to take over the starting role.
Taylor's next move was to the Houston Texans in 2021. He began the season as the starting quarterback but was sidelined by a hamstring injury early in the season. Upon his return, he struggled to regain his form, and the Texans eventually turned to rookie quarterback Davis Mills.
Throughout his career, Taylor was known for his professionalism and ability to adapt to various roles, whether as a starter or a backup.
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