After 10 seasons as a journeyman quarterback, Taylor Heinicke has retired from the NFL. The Old Dominion product was a member of six different teams, but he will always be most remembered for his time with the Washington Commanders.
Heinicke was signed off the street late in the 2020 season while the team was in the midst of a playoff push. He ended up starting in the wild-card playoff game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, putting up a valiant fight highlighted by his iconic pylon-diving touchdown run.
If there was one game that would always define the Heinicke experience, though, it was when he led the Commanders to an upset for the ages.
Taylor Heinicke engineered one of the Commanders' biggest regular-season wins in recent memory, in a way only he could
Heinicke played parts of three seasons for Washington, yet was never the Week 1 starter. In 2021, the team signed Ryan Fitzpatrick just for him to suffer a season — and eventually career-ending — injury on opening day. Then, after the undrafted free agent started the remaining 15 games, the Commanders traded for Carson Wentz to play over him in 2022.
It was clear from the start that the oft-injured Wentz wasn't going to work out. Sure enough, he was dinged up during a Week 5 slog against the Chicago Bears, when the team was 1-4. Heinicke stepped in again, and the team won six of its next seven. One of them was more memorable than the others.
That was in Week 10, when the Commanders visited Lincoln Financial Field to take on the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The night started out looking like a disaster for Washington when Heinicke fumbled on the opening drive, leading directly to an easy touchdown for the opponent.
Then, as he so often did, Heinicke locked in.
He finished the game 17-for-29 passing with 211 yards, methodically driving his offense down the field time and time again. The longer the Commanders stayed within striking distance, the more it started to feel like they had a chance. They assumed control in the second half on the back of a dominant rushing attack, and Heinicke put the finishing touches on the upset by drawing a late hit that allowed Washington to run out the clock.
It was the Heinicke experience in a nutshell.
He didn't always have the greatest stats. He didn't always make it look pretty. And yet there was just something about him that always made you believe.
Heinicke's chip-on-the-shoulder mentality brought a constant swagger to the field. It had Washington playing motivated football anytime he was under center.
What a ride it was for Heinicke. He may ultimately be a mere footnote in this franchise's storied legacy, but fans will never forget the fighting spirit he brought to Washington.
Happy trails, No. 4.
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