It was a bit unique how it all went down but it’s now official that longtime NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is retiring.
The man behind “FitzMagic” played for nine teams across 17 seasons, had suffered a season-ending hip subluxation in the Washington Commander’s season-opener this past year, and undergo arthroscopic surgery. Given that the one-year deal he’d signed last March had expired and it was unlikely that many NFL teams would want to roll the dice on him, it seemed like the ideal time for the 39-year-old to hang up the cleats.
Besides, it sounds like he’s got his next gig lined up already.
Across 17 seasons, Fitzpatrick started 147 games at quarterback, throwing for 34,990 yards with 223 touchdown passes and 169 interceptions. He also finishes with 2,625 rushing yards and 21 rushing scores.
The 2004 Ivy League Player of the Year was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in 2005 and eventually played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and Washington. While never a Pro Bowler and never even making the playoffs, Fitzpatrick started at QB for all nine teams, which is an NFL record. In 2019, he also became the oldest player to lead a team in single-season rushing yards at 37.
While Fitzpatrick was never able to make that FitzMagic in the playoffs or even come close to sniffing a Super Bowl, he will be well-remembered for his attitude and style of play, not to mention his extracurricular activities, which was evident in the reactions to the news across social media.