One of the biggest stories of the NFL season has been the play of Joe Flacco. Flacco’s NFL career seemed to be over after spending most of the season as a free agent. However, the Cleveland Browns gave Flacco one last chance due to multiple injuries to their starting quarterbacks. Flacco made the most of his opportunity going 4-1 and throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. This performance was good enough to propel the Browns to a wild-card spot. It was the redemption story of a lifetime and got everyone to remember Joe Flacco on the Ravens and not the one that bounced around a few teams.
Now Flacco is not the only quarterback who deserves to go on that type of run. Here are five quarterbacks who are most deserving of a comeback.
Teddy Bridgewater
Embed from Getty ImagesTeddy Bridgewater has paved a nice career as a backup quarterback. He has bounced around for a few years now getting spot starts here and there. However, he has the reputation of a really good backup. However, it’s easy to forget Bridgewater was once seen as a rising star. During his sophomore season, he threw for 3231 yards and 14 touchdowns to only nine interceptions. The Vikings also went 11-5 winning the NFC North. It looked like the Vikings finally found their franchise quarterback.
That was until August 30, 2016. On that day Bridgewater suffered a non-contact injury to his left leg. It was revealed that the injury was a torn ACL as well as structure damage to his knee. It was estimated that he would miss 17-19 months, essentially ruling him out for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. This caused the Vikings to move on, declining his fifth-year option at the end of the 2017 season. He bounced around but was never able to get his career back on track.
When Bridgewater retires at the end of this season, his career will marred by what-ifs. What if he never injured his leg before the 2016 season? What if the Vikings didn’t cut him after the 2017 season? These questions will never have answers but will be the first thing we bring up when talking about Bridgewater. This is why he deserves a comeback like Flacco. It would be a nice reminder of what his career could’ve been.
Tyrod Taylor
Embed from Getty ImagesTyrod Taylor has become synonymous with being ahead of future franchise quarterbacks. There are several instances where he either got injured or was benched and the person that replaced him went on to be a franchise quarterback. A few examples of this are when he got hurt while on the Chargers and Justin Herbert came in. Or after he left the Bills, the quarterback they replaced him with was Josh Allen.
However, due to this reputation, it’s often forgotten about how good Taylor was. Especially during his time in Buffalo. He was the starter from 2015 to 2017 and threw for 8857 yards and 51 touchdowns to only 16 interceptions. He started the first playoff game for the Bills since the 1999 season. It may have been a 13-0 loss to the Jaguars, but there wasn’t a more popular man in Buffalo than Taylor.
This should be the thing people think of when they think of Taylor. Not this journeyman that can’t seem to stay on the field. But the guy who broke one of the longest droughts in sports history. A Joe Flacco redemption arc would bring attention back to Taylor’s glory days, and change the narrative surrounding him.
Carson Wentz
Embed from Getty ImagesCarson Wentz has become more of a punchline over his past few seasons in the NFL. Whether it’s his struggles with the Colts, or Washington taking a shot on him after he struggled, or the picture of him working out in all the different equipment for the teams he played for. It’s very easy to look at Wentz and laugh at what his career has become.
However as crazy as it might be for some younger fans, there was a time when Wentz seemed like a future star. He was supposed to be the star quarterback for the Eagles. He was supposed to battle Dak Prescott for supremacy over the NFC East. Don’t forget before tearing his ACL in 2017, he seemed like a lock for NFL MVP. In 13 games he threw for 3296 yards and 33 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. After that injury, he was never the same quarterback. It’s another what if we’ll never have the answer too.
If Wentz were to go on a Flacco-type run, some of the injuries and failures would start to fade away. The memories would mostly focus on that 2017 season and the run he had. Wentz would become less of a punchline and more of a tragic what-if.
Andy Dalton
Embed from Getty ImagesAndy Dalton is now more famous for standing on the sideline with his orange beard. His nickname and persona have become more famous than his actual play on the field. When teams bring in Dalton it’s for him to mentor young quarterbacks. That’s what he’s doing right now on the Panthers. Trying to give Bryce Young advice during his young NFL career.
However, it’s easy to forget at one time Dalton made the Bengals one of the most consistent teams in the NFL. Between his rookie season in 2011 to 2015, he led the Bengals to five straight playoff appearances, including two AFC North titles. During this stretch, he threw for 18,008 yards and 124 touchdowns to only 73 interceptions. He was one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
If Dalton were to have a Flacco comeback story, it would be one of the most feel-good stories. A guy who the league forgot about leading a team to the playoffs.
Cam Newton
Cam Newton is now seen as one of those quarterbacks whom teams bring in as a gimmick. He’s lost a step and has battled so many it’s caused his skill to deteriorate. His shoulder has been so banged up that there are legitimate concerns if he can still throw the football. The league has all but moved on from him.
However, it was only a few years ago when Newton was one of the biggest stars in football. It seemed like he was on a path destined for Canton. He had played decently throughout his career. However, in 2015, everything changed. That was the year he won NFL MVP, throwing for 3837 yards and 35 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. He also had 636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Panthers were also 15-1 that season and won the NFC Championship.
A Flacco comeback story would make people think of Newton as the former NFL MVP. Not the guy who went to the Patriots and then came back to the Panthers as a PR stunt.
Thanks for reading! Credit for my feature image goes to Nick Cammett. You can find more NFL content at Belly Up Sports and follow me on Twitter/X.
