Longtime NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick texted former teammates Thursday that he is retiring from football.
Fitzpatrick ended his 17-year NFL career with the Washington Football Team last year, starting only one game and attempting six passes before suffering a season-ending hip injury.
The 39-year-old is best known for his gunslinging ways, his Ivy League degree from Harvard, his path as a journeyman and his beard. Fitzpatrick started 147 NFL games for nine different teams — St. Louis, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee, Houston, the New York Jets, Tampa Bay, Miami and Washington.
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The news of Fitzpatrick’s retirement was revealed by former Bills running back Fred Jackson, who was one of many ex-teammates Fitzpatrick texted Thursday morning to thank them as a retirement message. Jackson posted a screenshot of the text on Twitter.
Congrats on a Helluva career, Fitzy!! Loved sharing the field with you!! The gratitude is all mine!! #BillsMafia #fitzmagic pic.twitter.com/s7n4DsiLJ7
— Fred Jackson (@Fred22Jackson) June 2, 2022
“Forever grateful for the magical ride,” Fitzpatrick texted.
Fitzpatrick, a seventh-round pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2005, is best known for his time as a starter for the Bills and the Jets. He started 53 games for Buffalo from 2009 to 2012, compiling a 20-33 record. After stints in Tennessee and Houston, Fitzpatrick spent two years as the Jets’ starter — even leading the downtrodden franchise to a 10-6 record in 2015. He then spent two years in Tampa Bay backing up — and frequently taking over for — Jameis Winston. He then spent two seasons as a part-time starter in Miami before being taken over by rookie Tua Tagovailoa.
Congrats on a great career, Fitzmagic! pic.twitter.com/pGHkpn8kWp
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 2, 2022
He entered the 2022 season as Washington’s clear-cut starting quarterback. But he injured his hip in the second quarter of the team’s first game of the season and was replaced by Taylor Heinicke. He suffered a hip subluxation and later had season-ending arthroscopic hip surgery.
He retires with 34,990 passing yards and 223 touchdowns — the most of any player to graduate from an Ivy League school.
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