LA Chargers: Tyrod Taylor and the 2 transition quarterbacks in team history
By Jason Reed
Tyrod Taylor is the transition starting quarterback for the LA Chargers.
The 2020 season represents a new chapter in LA Chargers‘ history. After a decade and a half, the Bolts will have someone other than Philip Rivers starting a game under center as Rivers is not a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Chargers drafted Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and while Herbert is an exciting prospect, he likely is not going to start in 2020. Instead, the starting duties are going to go to Tyrod Taylor, who has history with head coach Anthony Lynn, who is bullish on Taylor’s ability as a starting quarterback.
Taylor started with Buffalo for three seasons, making a Pro Bowl and breaking Buffalo’s playoff drought during his tenure. However, after a rocky start as the transition quarterback of the Cleveland Browns and the quick arrival of Baker Mayfield, Taylor found himself only getting backup quarterback offers and found himself as Rivers’ backup last season.
With Rivers gone, Taylor gets the starting nod, which will likely only last one season as it gives time for Herbert to grow accustomed to the league before being the starting quarterback in 2021.
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This is a popular practice that has been used before (Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers instantly jump to mind) and the Chargers have had three examples of a transitional quarterback in team history, even if it was not the same situation where the team drafted someone to sit for a year.
There have been two instances in which the Chargers had this transition phase sandwiched in-between two long-term quarterbacks, which is what the team hopes Justin Herbert will be. Here are those two instances.