When fans talk about the most overlooked players in recent Buffalo Bills history, Tyrod Taylor’s name deserves to be near the top of the list.
Joining the Bills in 2015 after a few quiet years with the Baltimore Ravens, Tyrod stepped into a quarterback situation in Buffalo that had been nothing short of a revolving door. Almost immediately, Taylor brought stability, excitement, and most importantly — hope. He wasn’t flashy in the traditional sense, but he was exactly what Buffalo needed at the time: a smart, dynamic quarterback who could protect the football, extend plays with his legs, and take calculated shots downfield.
In his very first season as a starter, Taylor earned a Pro Bowl nod. He threw for over 3,000 yards, rushed for another 568, and combined for 24 total touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. His ability to avoid turnovers while still creating big plays made the Bills competitive in a way they hadn’t been for years.
Beyond the stats, Tyrod helped end one of the most painful droughts in NFL history. In 2017, he led the Bills to their first playoff appearance in 17 years. Although it wasn’t a pretty postseason game (a 10-3 loss to the Jaguars), simply making it to January football was a massive achievement for a franchise that had been stuck in mediocrity for nearly two decades.
Despite his success, Taylor was often overlooked because he didn’t fit the mold of a traditional gunslinger. He wasn’t a volume passer, but rather a mistake-free operator who made the right play more often than not. In today’s NFL where ball security, mobility, and efficiency are prized more than ever, Tyrod’s style looks ahead of its time.
Since his Buffalo days, Taylor has carved out a long NFL career as a reliable veteran presence, spending time with teams like the Browns, Chargers, Giants, and now the Jets. But for Bills fans, he’ll always be remembered for being the steady hand that helped turn the franchise around before Josh Allen exploded onto the scene.
Bills Tyrod wasn’t just good — he was vital, and he’s still criminally underrated.
