Tyrod Taylor is heading to Green Bay.
The veteran quarterback has agreed to sign with the Green Bay Packers, making him the frontrunner to serve as the backup to Jordan Love, who is entering his fourth year as the team’s starting signal-caller. The move comes just over a week after the NFL draft concluded without the Packers selecting a quarterback — a decision that drew attention given Love’s injury history over the past two seasons.
He fills the vacancy left by Malik Willis, who spent two seasons backing up Love before departing for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. With Taylor now in the fold, Green Bay is also releasing Desmond Ridder, leaving Taylor and Kyle McCord as the only other quarterbacks on the roster.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had spoken candidly about the need to find a capable replacement after the draft. He emphasized the importance of having a quarterback who could step in and perform at a high level, pointing to the moments Love missed time in previous seasons as a reminder of how critical the backup role truly is. Losing a player like Willis, Gutekunst suggested, was not something the organization could simply overlook heading into the new season.
Taylor’s Long Road Through the NFL
At 36 years old, he brings considerable experience to a Packers locker room that will be counting on his steadiness. Over 15 seasons in the league, he has appeared in 100 games and made 62 starts for a range of franchises — from his early days with the Buffalo Bills, where he started 43 games between 2015 and 2017, to stints with several other teams before landing with the New York Jets.
His most recent chapter with the Jets was defined by both flashes of reliability and frustrating injury setbacks. He entered last season coming off arthroscopic knee surgery that kept him out of training camp. When the Jets turned to him in November to replace the struggling Justin Fields, Taylor provided some stability before a groin injury cut his run short in his third start. Rookie Brady Cook finished out the year for New York.
That narrative of resilience interrupted by injury has become something of a defining theme for him. He has not started more than six games in a single season since 2017, yet he has remained a sought-after veteran because of his professionalism and experience. Teammates in New York consistently praised Taylor for the way he handled a turbulent quarterback situation without complaint or disruption.
A Career Defined by Versatility
Taylor was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and is one of only five players from that class who were still active as of last season. He has since suited up for seven different franchises, signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Jets in 2024.
During his time with New York, Taylor spent 2024 in a backup role behind Aaron Rodgers before making four starts in 2025. He finished that stretch with 779 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions, compiling a 1-3 record as a starter. The numbers are modest, but they reflect a player who understands his role and executes within it.
For his career, Taylor holds a 29-31-1 record as a starter — a mark that speaks less to his ceiling and more to the circumstances that have typically surrounded him.
What Taylor Brings to Green Bay
The Packers are betting that Taylor’s veteran presence is precisely what a young roster with Super Bowl aspirations needs in a backup quarterback. Love has shown the ability to be a franchise-caliber starter, but his availability has not always been guaranteed. Taylor, despite his injury history, offers the kind of composure and situational awareness that only comes from 15 years in the league.
Green Bay’s front office made clear this offseason that the backup quarterback position was not an afterthought. Signing Taylor signals that the organization is serious about protecting its investment in Love — and that it believes Taylor, even at this stage of his career, is capable of winning games if called upon.
Whether he remains the clear backup or faces competition as the offseason progresses remains to be seen. Gutekunst left the door open to adding more players to the quarterback room, suggesting the situation in Green Bay may not be fully settled just yet.
Source: ESPN
