Sports are full of inspiringstories where the underdog beats the odds and finds its way to prominence. Without going any further, Tom Brady has become the face of the NFL despite being overlooked when he entered the draft.
Taylor Heinicke has bounced around the league before finding a spot in theWashington Football Team. Following Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s injury in the opening game of the 2021 season, he’ll face the biggest opportunity in his careerbeing the team’sstarting quarterback for the following weeks.
The Old Dominion product has struggled to get snaps in the league as he only had two regular-season starts before taking over Fitzpatrick. Heinicke is a tale of perseverance and it’s up to him to prove if it’s one of seizing the opportunities as well.
Taylor Heinicke: Age
Born on March 15, 1993, Taylor Heinicke is 28 years old. The Lawrenceville, Georgia, native has shone in Collins High School before accepting an athletic scolarship from Old Dominion, where he began his path towards the NFL.
Despite he was recognized with a number of honors for his performances, he wentundrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft. That didn’t stop him from making it into the league, though, as the Minnesota Vikings signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Taylor Heinicke: Height and Weight
At 6 foot 1 in (1.85 cm) and 210 lb (95 kg), Taylor Henicike is not the prototypical NFL quarterback. He might be a bit smaller than the rest of his colleagues but, despitehe is not considered to have a strong arm, Heinicke has the chance to play regularly and prove what he’s capable of.
Taylor Heinicke: Contract
After stepping up in the 2020 playoffswhen Alex Smith got injured, Taylor Heinicke earned a two-year, $4.75 million extension. Just by lookingback at hisprevious years, we would be sure that nobody could have guessed he would be an NFL starter by now.
The Vikings waived him in 2017 after two years in which he never saw action and he lasted just a few weeks with the New England Patriots‘ practice squad. Later that year, he made his NFL debut for the Houston Texans but was immediately forced off the game with a concussion.
In 2018, Heinicke had more playing time with the Carolina Panthers and got his second start by the end of the season. Once again, another injury prevented him from finishing the game where he threw 274 yards, one touchdown and a terrible three interceptions.
After experiencing a poor stint in the XFL with the St. Louis BattleHawks, Heinicke had a pretty solid comeback in the NFL when he took over Dwayne Haskins in Week 16 of the 2020 season.
That performance earned him the starting job for the Wild Card game against the eventual Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That day, Heinicke exceeded expectations and saw him extendhis stay in Washington. Now, he’ll have another opportunity while thequestion is whetherhe is reallyup to the task.