NFL: Ranking Quarterbacks who were one-hit wonders
By Nick Villano
NFL: Ranking Quarterbacks who were one-hit wonders: 23. Billy Volek
Billy Volek is one of those backup quarterback stories that we saw a lot in the late 90s and early 2000s. They literally had the best job in sports because they would stay on a team’s roster for years without seeing the field and just sitting back and collecting a paycheck for holding a playbook. Then, Volek got his shot. When he was with the Tennessee Titans, he replaced an injured Steve McNair who was lost for the season in 2004.
He only won two games, but he threw for 18 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. The team then traded Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens, and it opened the door for Volek to earn the starting job. Then, things got really weird. Jeff Fisher announced he was signing veteran Kerry Collins.
Volek was traded to the San Diego Chargers, and Fisher said Volek lied to him. It was strange and Fisher never elaborated, but it seems like something happened that ruined the relationship. Volek didn’t play much with Philip Rivers being pretty durable, but he did get a chance to shine one last time. He was forced to come in during the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts, who were the defending champions at the time. He led the Chargers on a drive to win the game.
Volek would spend the next five years as the backup in San Diego. He never really played much after that playoff performance, but he was the backup to Rivers, and a reliable one at that.