Taylor Heinicke Announces NFL Retirement in IG Photo, QB Last Played for Chargers in 2024

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke is officially retiring from the NFL, he announced Thursday in an Instagram reel.

Heinicke saw action over seven NFL seasons with five teams, most notably starting 15 games for Washington in 2021.

"Excited for this next chapter of my life! And always, Go Skins," Heinicke wrote in his post.

Heinicke last saw regular-season NFL action during the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

He signed a one-year deal with the Chargers last March but was cut in August in favor of Trey Lance.

Heinicke went unselected in the 2015 draft out of Old Dominion before he signed his first NFL contract with the Minnesota Vikings.

After serving as a depth option for the Vikings and New England Patriots, Heinicke made his NFL debut as an injury replacement for the Houston Texans in 2017.

After a stint with the Carolina Panthers, Heinicke joined Washington ahead of the 2020 season.

He got one of his first shots with Washington as an injury replacement for Alex Smith in the 2020 Wild Card round.

Heinicke entered the 2021 season as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, then earned a look as starter after stepping in when Fitzpatrick suffered a hip injury early in the campaign.

Washington went 7-8 that season behind Heinicke, who finished the campaign having completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,418 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Heinicke started nine more games for the Commanders in place of an injured Carson Wentz in 2022, although Washington ultimately turned back to Wentz down the stretch.

After signing with the Atlanta Falcons the following offseason, Heinicke got four starts when the franchise made a midseason switch from Desmond Ridder.

He was traded to the Chargers ahead of the 2024 season and served as a backup to Justin Herbert before losing that spot to Lance in 2025.

Heinicke, who turned 33 in March, will retire from the NFL having completed 62.5 percent of his career passes for 6,663 passing yards with 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions over 42 games and 29 starts.

He collected estimated career earnings of $19.3 million over his tenure in the NFL, per Spotrac.