Most NFL players in their careers play for 1 or 2 teams. Then theres Ryan Fitzpatrick who as of a few days ago is moving on to his SEVENTH! SEVENTH!!! NFL TEAM in his career. Thats a lot of different teams. I am going to talk about his long and crazy ride so far in this league.
Rams 05'-07': In 2005, Fitzpatrick's long NFL career began. The Rams drafted him in the 7th round of the draft. Fitzpatrick had a great college career at Harvard and was ready to take his game to the next level in the NFL. His first game was great. He stepped in for the injured starter and in his first career game ever, he lit up the Texans in an epic comeback. He threw for 310 yards and 3 TDs! That was good enough to give him the teams nod for the next 3 starts. He didn't play well in those games and got replaced by the once injured QB.
Bengals 07'-09': Eventually, Fitz was traded to the Bengals. Bengals QB Carson Palmer got injured a few games into the season giving Fitz the starting nod for the rest of the season where he had a phenominol season RUSHING and passing.Bills 09'-12': Fitzpatrick eventually after the Bengals became a free agent and signed onto the Bills where he would have arguably the best part if his career so far. A few games into the season, the
pattern continued as the starting QB got hurt, Fitz came in, played well and started the next few games. Later in 2009 the Bills coach named Fitz officially the teams' starting QB. Fitz was decent but
managed to get the Bills a 6-10 record.
The next season Fitzpatrick was named the backup QB on the team but after the Bills went 0-2 to start off the season, Fitz was announced starter. His best game of the season was a 49-31 crazy comeback game vs the Bengals. He lead his team from a 17 point deficit to win the game by A LOT! Fitz had 4 TDs on the day and 310 yards passing.In 2011, Fitz had an insane year. In week 2 of the season, on 5 drives in a row he lead his team to 5 TDs! In that year Fitz won AFC Offensive Player of the Month in September. Later that year, Fitz signed a HUGE deal which was a 5 year, $59 million dollar deal. He looked like the Bills franchise QB. He played really well the rest of the season with a few 300 yard performances but soon after the season was over, Fitz had broken ribs which was really the start to his fall in his career. After his poor 2012 the team released him.
Titans 13': Fitz went on to the next team of his career, the Titans. Titans QB Jake Locker got injured a few weeks into the season giving Fitz that starting nod. Fitz was decent and lead his team to a 3-6 record when he was a starter. He had 14 TDs and 2500 yards throwing but also 12 interceptions. He was released in the off-season of 2014.Texans 14': When Fitz signed a deal with the Texans, he was named starter but only to be later demoted to backup. In November 2014, starter Ryan Mallet got injured leaving Fitz the spot. Fitz had a perfect game the next week with a team record 6 TDs with NO INTERCEPTIONS. Later in his decent season, Fitz himself got injured and was out for the season. He was 6-6 that season playing QB and threw for about 2500 yards, 8 ints, and 17 TDs.
Jets 15'-16': This was the next step in Fitz's illustrated career, and it would end up being a good step. Fitz was traded to the Jets in the off-season for a late round pick. Fitz was expected to be the back-up on the team until Jets player Ik Enemkpali punched starting QB Geno Smith in the jaw ending his season with a broken jaw. Fitz was named the starter for week 1. Fitz had the best season of his career here. Fitz lead the Jets to a 10-6 record, 1 game short of a playoff berth. He threw for 3905 yards, 31 TDs, and only 15 interceptions. He broke the team record for most TDs in a season. The Jets beat some quality teams that season like the Patriots. Fitz looked like an ELITE QB for the first time in his career. He even fended off once starter Geno Smith.
After his amazing 2015 season, Fitz was after all a free agent and he wanted to get PAID A LOT! As most of the top name QBs like Brock Osweiler were signed, but Fitz stayed on the market, wanting to get paid a lot basically holding out. Finally with only a few weeks left before the 2016 season begun, the Jets signed Fitzpatrick to a 1 year, $12 million dollar deal, all money fully guranteed. Fitz started the season out decent, he was the un-questioned starter but in week 3 was the end of his short reign in New York. He threw 6 interceptions vs the Chiefs! 6! WHAT THE HECK! Fitz was benched for Geno Smith in the next week but Smith got hurt so Fitz came back and continued to stink. By the end of the season, Fitz looked like an old, horrible, overpaid player after throwing so many INTS, not many TDs, and kept getting hurt. The Jets voided his contract and Fitz became a free agent once again.Buccaneers 17'-PRESENT: Finally Fitzpatrick was signed. The Buccaneers gave Fitz a small deal to backup young QB Jameis Winston who has been very healthy through his first 2 seasons in the league giving Fitz likely the first team of his career where he hasn't played for an injured player yet. Fitz is not TO old at 34 years but his window is likely over for playing as well as he did in his first year with the Jets and his great year with the Bills. His playing days are pretty much over but what a career of moving teams its been for Fitzpatrick. He's had some ups but a LOT more downs in his career but I think Fitz deserved a career tribute post so we can all know how many teams he's been through. His career isn't over yet, but I don't know if he will honestly ever take a snap again.
Thanks for reading!
Cred: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Fitzpatrick, Zimbio, ProFootballTalk - NBC Sports, SI.com, Rams ON DEMAND, NFL.com,
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