The Green Bay Packers have made a strategic move to shore up their quarterback depth, signing 15-year veteran Tyrod Taylor to compete for the backup role behind starter Jordan Love. The 37-year-old signal-caller, who turns 37 in August, steps into a vacancy created when Malik Willis departed for Miami earlier this offseason.
Taylor brings a wealth of experience to the Packers' locker room. With a career record of 29-31-1 as a starter and an 87.7 passer rating, he's proven he can step in when needed. Over the past two seasons alone, he's completed 97 of 156 passes for eight touchdowns against five interceptions, including a 1-3 stint with a struggling New York Jets squad in 2024.
New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who met with local media for the first time, confirmed he'd already seen Taylor around the facility. "He's a good player," Gannon said. "Played against him a long time. He's accurate, he's mobile — those two things pop up. He's a playmaker. He can deliver the ball accurately, and it's hard to get him down in the pocket."
Taylor's journey to Green Bay has been anything but typical. Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, he didn't start a single game in his first five seasons. That patience paid off when he signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he started for three seasons and posted a 22-20 record, establishing himself as a reliable dual-threat quarterback.
The Packers' backup situation had been unsettled since Willis's departure. Former Atlanta Falcons starter Desmond Ridder and 2025 Philadelphia Eagles sixth-round pick Kyle McCord were the top internal candidates, but the team clearly wanted more experience. Reports indicate Ridder has been released, while undrafted free agent Trey Drones out of Virginia Tech rounds out the competition.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, having a seasoned backup like Taylor provides insurance and mentorship for Love. Whether he wins the No. 2 job or not, his presence adds a layer of stability to a position group that's been in flux this spring.