Taylor Heinicke, born March 15, 1993, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL.
He began his career at Old Dominion University and went undrafted in 2015, later signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
Heinicke has played for several teams, including the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons, where he notably started multiple games due to injuries to other quarterbacks.
He gained recognition for his performance in the 2020 playoffs and holds records for completions in early career starts.
Siblings
Heinicke has one sister named Lauren.
He has mentioned living with his sister and brother-in-law at one point, which highlights the close-knit nature of his family.
However, specific details about his siblings’ names or professions are not widely publicized.
Career
Heinicke attended Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia, where he played college football from 2011 to 2014.
As a quarterback, he quickly established himself as a key player for the Monarchs.
During his time at ODU, Heinicke set multiple records, including the FCS single-game passing record with an impressive 730 yards thrown in a game against New Hampshire in 2014.
He finished his college career with 132 touchdown passes, ranking him among the top quarterbacks in FBS history.
Additionally, he amassed over 16,000 total yards of offense, showcasing his dual-threat ability as both a passer and a runner.
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His performance earned him recognition as the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, along with multiple All-American honors.
NFL career
After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Heinicke signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and was briefly signed to the New England Patriots’ practice squad before moving to the Houston Texans, where he was released before the regular season began.
His big break came when he joined the Washington Football Team (now known as the Commanders) in December 2020.
Heinicke became the starting quarterback due to injuries to other players and made a notable impact during the playoffs that year against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although Washington lost that game, Heinicke impressed many with his resilience and ability to make plays, throwing for 306 yards and scoring a touchdown.
In the 2021 season, Heinicke continued as the starter for much of the year, displaying flashes of potential and earning praise for his competitive spirit.
In March 2023, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was expected to compete for a backup role but also had opportunities to start games during the season.
Accolades
Heinicke has received several accolades throughout his football career, particularly during his time at Old Dominion University.
Notably, he won the Walter Payton Award in 2012, which is awarded to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
In addition to this prestigious award, he was named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year and received multiple All-American honors, including from the Associated Press and Walter Camp.
Heinicke also set numerous records during his college career, such as leading in single-game passing yards with 730 and total offense with 791 yards.
His achievements include being recognized as the Touchdown Club of Richmond Offensive Back of the Year in both 2013 and 2014.
Furthermore, he earned honors like the Dudley Award, recognizing him as the best Division I player in Virginia, and was a First-Team All-CAA selection in 2012.
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