OPINION: Fitzpatrick Retires. What A Legacy
Fitzpatrick has played with 9 different teams since being drafted (clutchpoints)
Los Angeles, CA -(RYM)- I began the creation of this article as a mindless, but direct “hit job” of the recently retired Harvard Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, after carefully dissecting his impact on the professional game of football, there is no denying that “Fitzmagic’s” accomplishments should be etched in stone as a symbol and reminder that regardless of the start, the only thing that matters is how you finish.
Drafted pick 250 out of the 255 picks that were selected in the 2005 NFL draft, Fitzpatrick was drafted by the St Louis Rams and saw his first action as a backup to fellow journeyman Jamie Martin in a game that would put the entire league on notice. Trailing 24-3 at halftime to the Houston Texans, Fitzzy rallied the Rams to a 33-27 overtime win in which he threw for 310 yards, and 3 touchdowns, becoming one of only eight players to pass for more than 300 yards in their NFL debut. (sportrac.com)
Fitzpatrick as a member of the Washington Football Team (nbc sports)
Fitzpatricks Wonderlic score of“48” has remained the highest score for a Quarterback in NFL History, according to NewYorkTimes.com
In life, and specifically the NFL Life, there have been countless times in which a chance arose and someone failed to take advantage of it. The window of opportunity is often narrow and one audition could be the difference between becoming a multi-millionaire and reminiscing 20 years later about what could've been.
Fitzpatrick is the embodiment of what it means to survive in the National Football League, starting for nine different teams over the course of a 17-year career. He is the only NFL player to throw a touchdown pass and interception with eight different teams.
One of the most popular journeyman Quarterbacks the league will ever see, Ryan has earned over $81 million in NFL salaries over his career.
Since the Super Bowl era began in 1966, the NFL has debuted and played over 720 quarterbacks. (per ESPN and Pro Football Reference) Fitzpatrick is the only Harvard Alumni to actually take a snap at the pro level.
Playing with every team in the AFC East division, with the exception of the Tom Terrific-led New England Patriots, Fitzmagic recently admitted during a recent episode of ESPN's "America's Caddie," that his favorite career moment came in a December 2015 “OT” win.
“Beating Tom Brady, after the first time, because after the first time he didn't shake my hand," Fitzpatrick said. "I was on the Jets [for the second win, four years later], and I had to chase him down on the 50-yard line."
Ryan’s 3 career wins over the man many consider to be the greatest of all time, is merely a bullet point attached to the 34,990 passing yards and 223 touchdown passes thrown throughout the last two decades. Tack on 21 rushing touchdowns, 18 4th quarter comeback drives, eccentric wardrobes, and a beard that has lasted the test of time, Number 14 will go down as one of the greatest 7th round picks in NFL History.
Job Well Done.