Another piece of the 2020 XFL class has announced their retirement six years removed from the league ceasing operations. On Thursday afternoon, Taylor Heinicke had taken to his social media to announce he is retiring after 10 seasons as a professional quarterback.
Heinicke was a record setting quarterback at then FCS Old Dominion University. He'd spend 2015 to 2019 with the Vikings, Patriots, Texans, and Panthers, before Carolina released him during training camp of 2019. Heinicke would join the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020, serving as a backup to Jordan Ta'amu during the COVID-19 shortened season.
Upon the XFL ceasing operations, Heinicke would receive a phone call from former Carolina Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera, who was the Head Coach of the Washington Football Team. Due to Alex Smith's recurring lower body injury, and an ineffective Dwayne Haskins, Heinicke was into action starting a playoff game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the loss in the 2020 NFC Wild Card game, Heinicke would throw for over 300 yards, including a diving rushing touchdown that would propel his career for several more seasons.
From 2021 to 2024, Heinicke would go on to start 28 games in his NFL career including amassing a record of 5-3-1 in 2022 for the Washington Commanders. Most recently, Heinicke was in camp in the Los Angeles Chargers before he was released at the conclusion of training camp in 2025.
Heinicke finishes his career throwing for almost 7,000 yards, and 39 touchdowns in his career earning almost $20 million dollars per spotrac. He'll retire as one of the XFL's biggest financial benefactors, from his time in the league.