When a player is 15 years into their NFL career, they may begin to think about life after football.
But Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor says he hasn’t reached that point.
“In the moment, man,” Taylor said. “Tomorrows not born. Yesterday’s dead.
“I haven’t even got that far. I truly just try to attack each day. Thankful for the opportunity that I’m getting now and trying to fully embrace that and do the best that I can day in and day out, on the field and in the classroom. Just try to be a leader for these guys in the locker room.”
Justin Fields was once thought to be that bridge quarterback after signing a two-year, $40 million contract in March. But Jets coach Aaron Glenn benched him last month in favor of Taylor, who had been the Jets backup quarterback. Fields has $10 million guaranteed for the 2026 season, but after he was benched, the Jets could release him after one season and save $10 million with a June 1 designation.
During his five games this season (three starts), Taylor, 36, has thrown for 773 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. The Jets are 1-1 since Taylor was named the starting quarterback.
While the interceptions may have increased following the quarterback change, Taylor isn’t afraid to throw the ball downfield and let his receivers make plays, as he did on the 52-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell in the victory over the Falcons last Sunday.
“I thought Tyrod did a really nice job last week,” Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. “Not just managing the game, but really making some throws in some clutch situations that we needed, whether it was third down or the touchdown to AD (Mitchell).
“I thought he managed the game, but he was able to go above and beyond that and make some big-time throws when we needed, and some scrambles that provided us opportunities to move the chains. So, he’s in a good spot.”
Throughout his 15 seasons in the NFL, Taylor has had a fascinating journey. He backed up Joe Flacco for four seasons with the Ravens after he was drafted in 2011.
Taylor finally got his chance to become a starter in 2015 with the Bills, where he was their quarterback for three seasons. Even after helping Buffalo break their 17-season playoff drought, Taylor was traded to the Browns before the Bills would draft Josh Allen in 2018.
After stints with the Browns, Chargers, Texans, Giants, and now Jets, Taylor is now a starting quarterback again. But as long as he has been in the league, Taylor says he doesn’t feel his age.
“Sometimes my choice in music makes me feel old in this locker room, but I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t have an age that I feel, but sometimes I forget it’s been 15 years. I was actually talking to Torrey Smith, one of my old teammates, we got drafted in Baltimore together. He was our second-round pick.
“When we were playing in Baltimore, he does some sideline reporting, or he does some pregame stuff for them, and I was like, ‘Man, can you believe like 15 years ago we got drafted here?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, Ty (Tyrod), but I don’t know that grind no more.’ And I was like, wow, it’s kind of just crazy to think it’s only five guys left in the 2011 draft. I’m thankful to be one of those guys. But yeah, I never looked at it as an age thing, it’s how I feel.”
Taylor will be a free agent at season’s end. However, these remaining five games could determine if the Jets decide to re-sign Taylor.
The Jets could select a rookie quarterback in next year’s draft and could use a veteran to ease the transition. At 3-9, the Jets would draft seventh if the NFL Draft were held today.
That doesn’t exactly put them in position to potentially draft Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore. However, they have multiple draft picks after dealing both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline last month.
It is unknown what may happen at the quarterback position for the Jets next year, but Taylor continues to keep himself in shape with the hopes of playing beyond this season.
“I think I talked about it before, but I was fortunate to learn from a bunch of veterans early in my career, to pick their brains on what it took to create longevity in this league,” Taylor said. “Over the years I’ve created a routine for myself and I try to stick to it. Some days your body doesn’t feel like doing that routine, but I’ve known that this has worked for me to get to this point. So, just continue to just keep being consistent.”
