During his 17 year career and ten different teams, Josh McCown spent one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; today he officially retires from the NFL.
One of the great minds of the NFL has called it quits as a player and will now begin his pursuit of a career in coaching. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown told the Players’ Tribune today that he is officially retiring from the NFL.
"“I don’t shy away from the journeyman label. I embrace it, full force.Because it’s been one heck of a journey.And now, strange as it feels to say, after 17 years …that journey is coming to an end.Today I’m officially retiring” (McCown via The Players’ Tribune)."
McCown was the starting quarterback of the Buccaneers during the 214 season after an impressive campaign with the Chicago Bears where he filled in for an injured Jay Cutler and finished with a winning record. His time in Tampa Bay was not as glorious, as he went just 1-10 in 11 starts with the Bucs, throwing for over 2,200 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
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The definition of a journeyman quarterback, McCown played for nine other teams than the Buccaneers during his 17 year career in the NFL; McCown started his career with the Arizona Cardinals and made stops with the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders before his time with the Bears and Bucs. After he departed from Tampa Bay, McCown spent two years with the Cleveland Browns and two years with the New York Jets as the mentor to Sam Darnold.
For a journeyman quarterback, McCown started a total of 76 games in the NFL, finishing with a record of 23-53; over that span he threw for over 17,700 yards and 98 touchdowns with 82 interceptions. A player who was truly better and smarter than his record showed, McCown will now pursue a career in coaching where he will climb the ranks rather quickly.
Talking about a former coach of his, McCown stated:
"“He’s the main reason that I enjoy coaching so much. The attention to detail he instilled in me at such a young age is something that has helped me form a critical eye, which has benefited me in the work I have done coaching, but also in my work as a football analyst for ESPN — something I plan to do more of in the future” (McCown via The Players’ Tribune)."
McCown has been a great mind for young quarterbacks to pick over the years, and although his playing career did not end in a positive win-loss record, McCown remains grateful. From a player and now into coaching, we have not heard the last of the former Buccaneers’ quarterback.