30 NFL quarterbacks who got better after leaving their first team

12. Vinny Testaverde

During his first 11 seasons in the NFL, Vinny Testaverde only having one winning record shows how rough things were until he joined the New York Jets prior to the 1998 season.

Just how bad were things at times for Testaverde? Well, let’s just the former Miami star throwing 57 interceptions in 29 games from 1988 to 1989 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This made it clear early on that he may not have been worth the hype that comes with a top overall pick.

Despite making the Pro Bowl in 1996 after tossing 33 touchdown passes, the Baltimore Ravens going 4-12 didn’t make this as enjoyable for Testaverde. Winning is obviously the most important factor when it comes to the NFL.

Two years later, Testaverde would finally join the Jets. He would finish his first season with the team 12-1, while throwing 29 touchdowns to go along with just seven interceptions. This shows just how far he had come along since his early days with the Buccaneers.

While it was impressive to see Testaverde finish with winning records in three of his first four seasons with the Jets, chances are those numbers would have been 4-for-4 if it wasn’t for that ruptured Achilles tendon that unfortunately took place Week 1 of the 1999 season.