Former ODU star Taylor Heinicke signing with Atlanta Falcons, reports say
Taylor Heinicke is moving closer to home — and making a lot more money.
The former Old Dominion star quarterback will sign with the Atlanta Falcons on a two-year deal worth up to $20 million, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.
The deal would end Heinicke’s time with the Washington Commanders after he played with them for two-plus seasons and started 24 games. Heinicke, who turns 30 on Wednesday, grew up near Atlanta and played at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, before signing with ODU.
Suwanee is about a 20-minute drive from the Falcons’ facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
“Wanted to take a moment and say THANK YOU to Washington!” Heinicke posted on his Instagram account Tuesday morning. “The love and support has been unmatched the last couple years. The memories I’ll cherish forever. You gave me a second chance and it’s forever changed my life. Thank you all!”
Heinicke made an improbable rise after being out of football before Washington signed him to the practice squad late in the 2020 season. A rash of injuries and ineptness landed him in the starter’s role for a playoff game against Tampa Bay that season, and he won over fans and teammates with his fearless — although sometimes erratic — play.
He was the backup in 2021 to Ryan Fitzpatrick before Fitzpatrick was injured in the season opener. Heinicke took over as Washington’s starter last season when Carson Wentz went down with an injury. Heinicke replaced Wentz in Week 6, and after the team was eliminated from playoff contention, rookie Sam Howell started the season finale against Dallas.
Coach Ron Rivera has said the team sees Howell as the likely starter in 2023.
Heinicke played in 25 games, starting 24, over the past two seasons with Washington. He completed 382 of 493 passes (77.5%) with 32 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
“The relationships I’ve developed here, they’re going to last for a lifetime,” Heinicke told reporters after Washington’s season-ending victory over Dallas. “Play-wise, I think I played OK. Obviously, I left some things on the field and obviously, we wish we were in the playoffs last year and this year. But looking back at the last two-and-a-half, three years, it’s been a real joy for me, and hopefully I can stay here.”
It’s unclear how incentive-laden Heinicke’s new contract will be. In Washington, Heinicke’s base salary was $1.5 million, but he made more than $5.7 million after roster and game bonuses over the past two seasons, according to spotrac.com, a site that tracks pro salaries.
Heinicke joins a Falcons quarterback room that includes projected starter Desmond Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022 who started Atlanta’s final four games last season. The Falcons released former starter Marcus Mariota last month after he played one season with the club.
Ridder completed 63.5% of his passes for 708 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his four starts last season.
Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com. Twitter @JamiVP.
