Ryan Fitzpatrick's record against every NFL team

The path of NFL journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has made for one chaotic, fascinating ride.

A graduate of Harvard, the Ivy League wonder who famously aced the Wonderlic test found a spot on the St. Louis Rams' roster as the 250th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2005 draft.

He spent two seasons as a backup quarterback with the Rams, then completed a string of brief tenures with seven more franchises — the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins.

While he never hung around long at any one team, Fitzpatrick brought his brand of "FitzMagic" to every new roster he joined and set NFL records along the way.

In 2020, he served as part-time starting quarterback in Miami and became the first player to start for eight different NFL teams.

Throughout his 16-year career, Fitzpatrick has only produced two winning seasons (with the 2015 Jets and 2020 Dolphins) and has never reached the postseason.

The 38-year-old will attempt to remedy his playoff woes with the Washington Football Team in 2021. 

Let's look back at this famed franchise-hopper's complex career and examine Fitzpatrick's regular-season record against every NFL team.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Cincinnati Bengals

Fitzpatrick played against his former team five times after his short stint with the Bengals in 2007 and 2008.

His most notable performance came in 2010 — his first meeting with Cincy — in which he led the Bills to a 49–31 comeback win. Fitzpatrick piled up 316 passing yards and four touchdowns, which marked the first time in NFL history a team came back from 17 points down to win by 18 or more.

That season, Buffalo finished with a 4–12 record and went 4–9 with Fitzpatrick at quarterback. However, from an individual standpoint, Fitzpatrick enjoyed a successful year, as he recorded at least one touchdown pass in 13 consecutive games and became the first Bills quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards in a season since J.P. Losman in 2006.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Cleveland Browns

As a member of the Bengals in 2008, Fitzpatrick got his first NFL start since his rookie season in 2005 when he appeared in a Week 4 game against the Browns.

In the 20-12 loss, Fitzpatrick was both the leading passer (156 yards) and top rusher (41 yards) for Cincinnati.

The following game, Bengals first-string QB Carson Palmer returned from injury to start the game and split time with Fitzpatrick as starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Fitzpatrick finished the 2008 season ranked third among all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards (304).

Fitzpatrick vs. the Houston Texans

During his rookie season with the Rams, Fitzpatrick made his first appearance in the NFL regular season on Nov. 27, 2005, when he relieved veteran Jamie Martin in the second quarter of a matchup against the Houston Texans. 

Despite a 24–3 halftime deficit, Fitzpatrick guided the Rams to a 33–27 overtime win. He threw for three touchdowns and 310 yards, which made him one of only eight players to pass for more than 300 yards in their NFL debut.

Fitzpatrick later signed with Houston in 2014 and was named the team's starting quarterback by new head coach Bill O'Brien. By November of that season, he was relegated to the second string, behind Ryan Mallett.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars

Fitzpatrick has experienced some of his best success against the Jaguars.

In Week 3 of the 2020 season, while on the Dolphins roster, he set a record as the first quarterback to start and win against the same opponent (Jacksonville) with six different teams.

Fitzpatrick also made history in that matchup, as the second player since 1948 (Walter Payton the other) to finish a game with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, 20 rushing yards, and a reception. 

Fitzpatrick vs. the New York Jets

Fitzpatrick signed with Buffalo in February of 2009 and took over for injured starter Trent Edwards in an October matchup against the Jets.

Fitzpatrick threw for 116 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on the way to a 16-13 overtime win, which earned him a role as the starter for the next two games, in which he went 1-1.

He signed with New York in 2015 and played two seasons, then landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Fitzpatrick is 7-7 against the Jets.

His most recent outing against New York resulted in a 24-0 shutout victory in Week 6 of 2020. The following game, Fitzpatrick was benched for Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa and did not play again until Week 11.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers

One team Fitzpatrick has never been able to defeat is the Steelers, who own a 7-0 record against the journeyman.

In one of his more recent losses, in 2018, Fitzpatrick racked up 411 yards and three touchdown passes in a 30-27 setback as the starter for Tampa Bay.

In that game, Fitzpatrick became the first quarterback to throw for more than 400 yards in three straight contests. He also put up 417 yards in a Week 1 win against New Orleans and 402 yards in a Week 2 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Tennessee Titans

While playing for the Texans in 2014, Fitzpatrick etched his name in history yet again.

In Week 13 against the Titans, Fitzpatrick passed for a franchise-record six touchdowns in a 38–13 win. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

His season ended soon after, when he was tripped up during the second quarter of a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts and fractured his left tibia.

He finished the season with a 6–6 record as the starter and was traded to the Jets the following season.

Fitzpatrick vs. the Washington Football Team

Fitzpatrick suffered another major injury with Buffalo during the 2011 season — the same year he signed a six-year, $59 million contract extension, including a $10 million signing bonus.

Following a 5-2 start, Fitzpatrick and the Bills hit a seven-game skid and finished the season at 6-10. It was later determined Fitzpatrick broke his ribs in a Week 8 win against Washington, which likely contributed to the quarterback's decline in play. Fitzpatrick ended the 2011 season with 3,832 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes, but recorded a league-high 23 interceptions.

With Tampa Bay, in Week 10 of the 2018 season, Fitzpatrick achieved his fourth 400-yard passing game of the year against Washington. The feat tied him with Dan Marino and Peyton Manning for most 400-yard passing games in a single season.

On March 18, 2021, Fitzpatrick signed a one-year contract with Washington and will presumably get his first start with his ninth NFL team in Week 1.