New York Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor was one of Virginia Tech’s 2024 Hall of Fame inductees
Coming out of Virginia Tech, New York Jets backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor was an electric playmaker in college. He ended his career with the Hokies as a three-time ACC champion, 2010 ACC Player of the Year, and the university’s all-time winningest quarterback (34-8). Now, Taylor is being honored by the school.
Virginia Tech released its list of the school’s 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, where Taylor (along with former Jets offensive lineman Duane Brown) was cemented in the school’s history.
Welcome to the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame Tyrod Taylor🦃👏#ThisIsHome | @TyrodTaylor pic.twitter.com/sTzTeF0VsC
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) June 6, 2024
Taylor responded to the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), writing that he was “truly honored” to be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
Taylor was electric at Virginia Tech. His best season came in 2010, his final year at the school. The future Jets quarterback threw for 2,743 yards with 24 touchdowns to five interceptions while adding 659 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. That performance led the Hokies to an 11-3 record, finishing No. 16 in the AP poll, and gave Taylor an ACC Player of the Year nod. It also led to him getting an opportunity in the NFL.
Not many NFL fans believed Taylor, a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft, was destined to become a starter in the NFL. However, when he signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2014, Taylor did the unthinkable. He beat out former first-round pick EJ Manuel in the quarterback competition and was named the starter by then-Bills head coach (and former Jets coach) Rex Ryan.
Taylor started three years for the Jets’ rival, going 22-20 as a starter with the Bills. He was later given another starting opportunity with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 before a freak injury forced him on injured reserve. More recently, Taylor performed at a solid level as a starter with the New York Giants last season.
In fact, there’s an argument to be made that outside of Tom Brady, Taylor might be one of the most successful sixth-round quarterbacks in recent NFL history (along with Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck).
Now, Taylor backs up four-time NFL MVP and future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers as the Jets look to make a statement in 2024. Although Taylor might not have been the best backup option given the current structure of the Jets, he’s proven to be a solid spot starter for multiple NFL teams. If, by some tragedy, Rodgers were to miss extensive time again this season, it’s safe to say fans will feel a lot more comfortable having Taylor under center than they did with the myriad of options that played last year.
