Taylor Heinicke parlays playoff heroics into NFL future
After signing a contract extension with the Washington Football Team, quarterback Taylor Heinicke has proven his resilience.
Imagine being in a situation like Washington Football Team quarterback Taylor Heinicke, where your dreams of playing professional football are seemingly out of reach. Then, picture yourself taking college math classes around the time you receive a call for help. That’s what Heinicke endured as he was at Old Dominion before receiving a call from Washington.
After playing at a high level for the Football Team in a losing effort in the Wild Card Round, Heinicke was able to parlay his performance against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers into a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s John Kiem. It’s a step up from what Heinicke was initially making and shows that the franchise has faith in him.
What can’t be questioned is how Heinicke stepped in under heavy pressure and performed admirably. In fact, of all the quarterbacks that the Buccaneers faced in the playoffs, Heinicke performed better against the defending champions than the future Hall of Famers that soon followed in Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Taylor Heinicke is the definition of performing under pressure at a high level.
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. As much as Taylor Heinicke is a very likable guy and deserved his money, he’s not one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. However, he is a player that deserves to be on a roster and can fill in when his number is called.
His numbers before coming to Washington were less than desired. Still, it’s about taking advantage of opportunities presented and being prepared when you are called upon to deliver for any player. Additionally, going toe to toe with a player that is more often than not considered the greatest quarterback in the game’s history in Tom Brady is an impressive feat.
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Taylor Heinicke earned his payday for stepping in the line of duty and playing at a high level. He can now have some money in his pocket and continue to fulfill his NFL dream. He also passed his classes at ODU. A fitting finish to an incredible story.