Trending Now - Taylor Heinicke, 33, Hangs up Cleats After a Decade in the NFL

WHO:

Daily Mail Sports - Taylor Heinicke played for five NFL franchises across seven professional seasons.

NY Post - Taylor Heinicke, 33, a veteran quarterback in the NFL.

Heavy NFL - Heinicke played for the Washington Commanders and other teams including the Texans, Panthers, Falcons, and Chargers.

NBC Sports - Heinicke went undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2015.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Heinicke completed 42 games with 29 starts, achieving a completion rate of 62.5%, throwing for 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke signed a new two-year deal with the Commanders after his standout performance in the wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers.

Fox News - Taylor Heinicke concluded his retirement announcement with the phrase, "And always, Go Skins!" referencing the former nickname of the Washington franchise.

NBC Sports - Heinicke won the Walter Payton Award and FCS Player of the Year in 2012 during his college career at Old Dominion.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke made eight appearances, including one start, in his first six years in the NFL before becoming a more prominent player with the Commanders.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke signed a two-year, $14MM deal with the Falcons after the 2022 season, where he was expected to be the backup to Desmond Ridder.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke was traded to the Chargers after the Falcons added both Kirk Cousins and first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. during the 2024 offseason.

NBC Sports - Heinicke completed 42 games with 29 starts, achieving a record of 13-15-1, throwing for 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, and adding three rushing touchdowns.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke signed a one-year, $6.2MM deal with the Chargers during the 2025 offseason but did not make it to the regular season with the squad.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke was limited to five pass attempts in four cameo appearances during the 2024 season.

Newsweek - Taylor Heinicke announced his retirement after 11 years in the NFL.

NBC Sports - Heinicke completed 42 appearances in his career, finishing with a record of 13-15-1 in his 29 starts, throwing for 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, and adding three rushing touchdowns.

Heavy NFL - Heinicke expressed gratitude in his retirement announcement, stating, "For 25 years, I had the pleasure to play this great sport of football... Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold."

Heavy NFL - Taylor Heinicke announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons.

NBC Sports - Heinicke completed 42 games with 29 starts, achieving a completion rate of 62.5%, throwing for 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions.

NBC Sports - Heinicke's notable performance included a wild-card playoff game in 2020 where he threw for 306 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, and ran for 46 yards and another touchdown.

WHERE:

NBC Sports - Heinicke last played in the NFL with the Chargers.

WHEN:

NBC Sports - Heinicke last played in the NFL in 2024 and was released by the Chargers during the preseason in 2025.

WHY:

NBC Sports - Heinicke expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career and mentioned he was excited for the next chapter of his life.

HOW:

Fox News - Heinicke concluded his retirement announcement with the phrase, "And always, Go Skins!" referencing the former nickname of the Washington franchise.

Daily Mail Sports - Heinicke completed his engineering degree while playing in the NFL.

NFL Rumors - Heinicke announced his retirement via Instagram, thanking supporters and expressing excitement for the next chapter of his life.

NBC Sports - Heinicke announced his retirement via social media, specifically Instagram.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 21:19 UTC)

Taylor Heinicke, who played for five NFL franchises over seven seasons, has signed a new two-year deal with the Commanders following his impressive performance in the wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers. Throughout his career, Heinicke completed 42 games with 29 starts, boasting a completion rate of 62.5% and throwing for 6,663 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. In his retirement announcement, he concluded with the phrase, "And always, Go Skins!" referencing the former nickname of the Washington franchise.

--

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 13:21 UTC)

Taylor Heinicke has announced his retirement from professional football, concluding his statement with the phrase, "And always, Go Skins!" which references the former nickname of the Washington franchise. During his college career at Old Dominion, Heinicke earned the Walter Payton Award and was named FCS Player of the Year in 2012, and he later made eight appearances in his first six years in the NFL before becoming a more prominent player with the Commanders. After signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the Falcons, he was traded to the Chargers following the addition of Kirk Cousins and first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. during the 2024 offseason, all while completing his engineering degree.

--

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 09:20 UTC)

Taylor Heinicke has completed 42 games with 29 starts, achieving a record of 13 wins, 15 losses, and 1 tie, while throwing for 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, along with three rushing touchdowns. During the 2025 offseason, he signed a one-year deal worth $6.2 million with the Chargers, but he did not make it to the regular season with the team. In the 2024 season, Heinicke was limited to just five pass attempts across four cameo appearances.

--

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 07:30 UTC)

Taylor Heinicke has announced his retirement from the NFL after an impressive eleven-year career. The announcement came early in the morning, around 07:30 UTC, and marks the end of a significant chapter for the quarterback. Heinicke leaves behind a legacy of memorable moments and contributions to the teams he played for.

--

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 05:44 UTC)

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke has announced his retirement from professional football, sharing his gratitude for the sport and his supporters on Instagram. Over his career, he made 42 appearances, with a record of 13 wins, 15 losses, and 1 tie in 29 starts, throwing for 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, along with three rushing touchdowns. In his heartfelt announcement, Heinicke reflected on his 25 years in football, saying, "Many ups and downs throughout the years, but the ups outweigh the downs tenfold."

--

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 04:08 UTC)

Taylor Heinicke, a veteran quarterback in the NFL, has announced his retirement after ten seasons in the league. Over his career, he played for several teams, including the Washington Commanders and the Chargers, completing 42 games with 29 starts, and achieving impressive stats like 6,663 passing yards and 39 touchdowns. Heinicke expressed gratitude for the support he received throughout his career and shared his excitement for the next chapter of his life via an announcement on Instagram.