Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor is a professional football quarterback currently active with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). His career in football began in college, where he led the Virginia Tech Hokies to a 20-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the 2009 Orange Bowl, earning ACC Player of the Year and ACC Championship Game Most Valuable Player in his senior season. Taylor continued to excel post-college when he was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens, earning a Super Bowl XLVII championship ring with the team. He has played for other NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and New York Giants.

In 2015, Taylor signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills and was named the starting quarterback. His time with the Bills was marked by significant achievements, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2016 and setting franchise records for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback and consecutive passes without an interception. These achievements underscore his resilience, skill, and low turnover rate. After his stint with the Bills, Taylor was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2018, later signing contracts with the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and New York Giants. His jersey from a notable game in 2015 was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, marking his contribution to the sport.

More recently, Taylor signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets in 2024. In his first season with the Jets, he demonstrated his skill with a touchdown pass during his lone drive against the 49ers in Week 1. He finished the season strong, replacing Aaron Rodgers in Week 17 and completing 11 of 14 pass attempts for 83 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills, thus preventing a Jets shutout. Off the field, Taylor is known for his philanthropic endeavors, making a $25,000 contribution to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. His foundation is committed to promoting educational programming, health and wellness initiatives, and tackling the crisis of food insecurity. In June 2024, he also joined the ownership group for Westchester SC, a professional soccer club set to begin play in USL League One. He also created the clothing line Diallo.