A recent Washington fan favorite is calling it a career.
Taylor Heinicke announced on his Instagram account Thursday that he is retiring from the NFL, ending a career that included nine NFL seasons and a stint in XFL 2.0.
“For 25 years I had the pleasure to play this sport of football,” Heinicke wrote in his IG post. “Thank you to those who gave me the opportunity to live out my childhood dream.”
He closed it by saying, ‘Excited for the next chapter of my life! And as always, Go Skins!”
Some of you better sit down for this news.
Taylor Heinicke is retiring.
What a freaking ride.
From his IG account - https://t.co/nkRgzKo5Ad pic.twitter.com/gbm870TtaL
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) May 7, 2026
Heinicke, 33, was undrafted in 2015 after four years at Old Dominion, and spent time with the Vikings, Patriots, Texans, Panthers, and XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks before signing with the then-Washington Football Team’s practice squad in December 2020.
Despite just a handful of games of NFL experience and one career start, Heinicke ended up starting the WFT’s Wild Card Round Game that season, and completed 26 of 44 passes for 306 yards, one touchdown, and one INT in a 31–23 loss – earning himself a two-year deal in the process.
Heinicke ended up starting 24 games over the next two seasons before signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the Falcons, but he made just five appearances in 2023 (with four starts) and four appearances as Justin Herbert’s backup with the Chargers in 2024 before being released at the end of training camp last season and spending the year out of the league.
He finishes his career with 42 regular-season games played (29 starts and a 13-15-1 record) with a 62.5 completion percentage, 6663 yards passing, and 39 TD against 28 INT, as well as that one postseason start in DC.
