For the second time in 2025, Tyrod Taylor is preparing to start for the New York Jets.

It wasn’t a responsibility many in the organization thought the 36-year-old signal-caller would have. New York signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason to be the organization’s starting quarterback.

But after nine starts, Gang Green has seen enough of Fields. They would rather assess if their struggles on offense can be fixed with a competent quarterback at the helm.

For Taylor, balancing being a locker room leader and starting quarterback with the awkwardness of taking a job from someone he values on said roster is a delicate proposition.

Getting a chance to start in Week 12 against the team that drafted him, though, weighs significantly as his career reaches its twilight.

Taylor gears for Jets start

There is a clear and obvious reason why the Jets chose to move forward with Taylor as their starting quarterback. While Fields is a strong person and leader, his exploits on the field left much to be desired.

Fields is throwing for 4.6 net yards per pass attempt, better than only rookies Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel among qualified quarterbacks. While Taylor’s mediocre play in his limited appearances won’t inspire much confidence in the offense changing, his veteran understanding is something the Jets need.

It’s why he remains confident in gearing up for another start in the NFL.

“Excited for the opportunity to play,” Taylor said Wednesday afternoon. “Obviously, it’s tough, as well. Great friends in this business and there’s an emotional side to it, but at the same time, I’m a firm believer that God has a plan for all of us. Trust that He’s called me for this moment. Excited for the opportunity.”

Taylor will have a different cast of characters to work with than he did when he last took the field as the organization’s starting quarterback. While Garrett Wilson remains on injured reserve, newcomers like John Metchie III and Adonai Mitchell have been integrating into the offense since being acquired at the deadline.

Against the red-hot Baltimore Ravens, Taylor will need all the help he can get, as he knows he won’t have many chances left to start in an NFL game.

Career trajectory

It’s incredible to think about the career of Tyrod Taylor since being taken in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. Coming out of Virginia Tech, there were plenty of teams that doubted his ability to be a quality NFL quarterback.

Considering his shelf life has lasted longer than that of other signal-callers like Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, or even Cam Newton, Taylor has enjoyed quite a successful career.

It was something he reminisced about in front of reporters on Wednesday.

“I remember when I got drafted, there were some people that wanted to put me at wide receiver,” Taylor said. “I fought the notion down and I stood firm that I was a quarterback. That was what I had played my whole life. I just knew that if given the opportunity, I could show that. Fifteen years later, I’m still proving it, and I welcome those challenges.”

At 2-8, and as 13.5-point underdogs going into Sunday’s contest, there are very few people who expect the Jets to be successful with Taylor leading the way.

If he can stabilize the passing offense, though, it could fundamentally change how the Jets are defended moving forward.

Perhaps it will give the Jets a fighting chance the rest of the way.