Ryan Fitzpatrick reportedly retiring from NFL after 17 seasons

Long-time NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is reportedly calling it a career. Fitzpatrick apparently announced his retirement in a message he sent to former teammates, according to multiple reports.

Fitzpatrick's former Buffalo Bills teammate, running back Fred Jackson, was the one who made the news public. From the sound of it, Fitzpatrick texted a number of his former teammates about his decision.

Let's hope Fitzpatrick has an unlimited texting plan, because that's a lot of messages. Fitzpatrick played for an astounding nine different franchises over his 17 years in the NFL. He spent the most time with the Bills, where he was the team's primary starter for nearly his entire four-year stint there. Fitzpatrick also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Washington Football Team. He had a lot of teammates during his career.

Ryan Fitzpatrick excelled as seventh-round pick

Fitzpatrick exceeded all expectations after being selected by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. Fitzpatrick played college football at Harvard, which quickly became one of the most over-used fun facts about Fitzpatrick in the NFL. Babies are born into the world with the knowledge that Fitzpatrick played at Harvard.

Fitzpatrick made the Rams roster as a rookie, starting three games. Fitzpatrick threw 4 touchdowns against 8 interceptions in those contests.

Fitzpatrick spent 2006 and 2007 with the Bengals, but barely played. He was pushed into the Bengals' starting lineup in 2008 after Carson Palmer sustained an injury. Fitzpatrick started 12 games, throwing 8 touchdowns against 9 interceptions.

He moved on to Buffalo the following season, where his career began to take off. Fitzpatrick wasn't the team's No. 1 option, starting just 8 games his first year with the Bills. He took over as the team's full-time starter in 2010, tossing 23 touchdowns in 13 games. Between 2010 and 2012, Fitzpatrick tossed 71 touchdowns in 45 games, the most successful stretch of his career.

Following his stint in Buffalo, Fitzpatrick bounced around the league. He put up some decent statistical seasons, though was rarely viewed as a team's long-term option. His finest year away from the Bills came in 2015, when Fitzpatrick led the Jets to a 10-6 record. Fitzpatrick threw 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions that season.

He signed with Washington prior to the 2021 NFL season but got injured in his first regular season start. Fitzpatrick finished his career with 223 passing touchdowns against 169 interceptions.

Fitzpatrick is reportedly eyeing a broadcasting job now that he's reportedly hung up his cleats for good. He's reportedly in talks with Amazon about a broadcasting role.