AJ McCarron is an athlete whose success story should motivate everyone striving for greatness. I had the pleasure of following his journey for five years. He had an impressive career trajectory – from college to the NFL and now as a respected broadcaster. His five-year stint playing in the NFL was certainly memorable.
When AJ was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014, I’ll admit I was overjoyed. I had followed his college career at the University of Alabama, so obviously, I was eager to see how he’d do in the NFL. I wasn’t alone in my enthusiasm, as it was a widely discussed topic at work and among friends.
As I followed AJ’s career, I couldn’t help but be impressed with his grit and determination. He went from being a backup to the Bengals’ starting quarterback within his first two years, which was no easy feat. Even more impressive was how well he played when called upon. He finished the 2014 season with a 67.10 passer rating, which earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl in 2015.
But perhaps AJ’s most impressive achievement was the Bengals’ 2015 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite suffering an injury in the first quarter, he still managed to play a full four quarters of football and lead his team to a win. It was an incredible performance, and it showed the NFL world just how talented AJ was.
But AJ’s time in the NFL wasn’t all sunshine and roses. He was often overlooked and underutilized. After he was traded from the Bengals to the Buffalo Bills in 2018, he was relegated to a backup role once again. He started the 2018 season as the Bills’ third-string quarterback and only saw game action in one game.
Then, in 2019, AJ was released by the Bills and went unsigned. I was devastated and worried for his future. I had been a huge fan of his, and to me, it seemed like his dream of playing in the NFL was over.
But, thankfully, I was wrong. AJ was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in late 2019 and was given yet another chance to prove himself. He did just that, winning the Jaguars’ backup quarterback job and playing in seven games. Sadly, his stint with the Jaguars was short-lived, and AJ was released by the team at the end of the 2020 season. But despite that, his five-year NFL career was an incredible one.
So there you have it; that’s how long AJ McCarron played in the NFL. While he experienced some ups and downs throughout his five season, he managed to fight his way through it all and reach heights many quarterbacks have never reached. His resilience and perseverance should serve as a reminder to all of us that anything is possible.