Zach Wilson teams timeline: Full history of QB's NFL career, from Jets No. 2 overall pick to Dolphins backup

Jake Mozarsky

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Zach Wilson teams timeline: Full history of QB's NFL career, from Jets No. 2 overall pick to Dolphins backup image

The New York Jets have struggled to find a reliable quarterback since the days of Joe Namath. In 2021, the team believed Zach Wilson could be the answer.

With the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Wilson out of BYU and handed him the keys to the franchise. But Wilson never reached his potential in New York, starting three seasons and posting a 13-21 record.

In the 2024 offseason, the Jets officially ended the Wilson era, trading him to the Denver Broncos. After a season in Denver, he signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Here’s a look at the former No. 2 pick’s career timeline and why he fell short of expectations in New York.

MORE: History of Miami QBs in the NFL

Zach Wilson teams timeline

New York Jets

Zach Wilson’s three-year stint with the Jets became one of the most tumultuous and disappointing chapters in franchise history. Taken second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft with hopes of becoming New York’s long-sought franchise quarterback, his tenure was instead defined by inconsistent play, benchings, and a lack of offensive production. He finished his Jets career with a 12-21 record as a starter, throwing more interceptions (25) than touchdowns (23) and completing just 57% of his passes.

Wilson struggled to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NFL. While he occasionally flashed the elite arm talent that made him a top pick, he never found consistent rhythm within the offense. His struggles led to repeated benchings; in 2022, he even dropped to third-string, drawing criticism for poor pocket presence and questionable decision-making.

The turning point came in 2023 when the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers. Wilson was initially named the backup but was thrust into the starting role after Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four snaps into the season.

MORE: Who is Aaron Rodgers married to?

Despite intense pressure, Wilson showed occasional flashes of improvement in his final season with the Jets. He set career highs in completion percentage and passer rating and even earned an AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor for a strong performance against the Texans.

Still, the struggles persisted, and after the 2023 season, the Jets made it clear they were moving on. In April 2024, New York traded the former No. 2 overall pick to the Denver Broncos in a late-round pick swap, ending a high-stakes experiment that became a painful reminder of the team’s ongoing quarterback struggles.

MORE: Why did Aaron Rodgers leave the Jets? 

Denver Broncos

After three NFL seasons, Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos ahead of the 2024 season, just before the team selected Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

During the regular season, Wilson was a healthy scratch for all 17 games, with Jarrett Stidham serving as Denver’s backup. His only game action came in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, where he went 16-for-25 for 251 yards and two touchdowns.

MORE: What did the Cowboys get for Micah Parsons?

Miami Dolphins

In 2025 free agency, Wilson opted to sign with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year, $6 million contract, bringing him back to the AFC East.

Wilson is serving as the backup for Tua Tagovailoa. With Tagovailoa's injury history, Wilson might see some regular season game action if the quarterback goes down.

Miami also brought in Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

MORE: Tua Tagovailoa injury history

Zach Wilson career stats

SeasonTeamStartsRecordComp. rateYardsTDINT
2021Jets133-1055.6%2,334911
2022Jets95-454.5%1,68867
2023Jets114-760.1%2,271817

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Zach Wilson career highlights

In his first career game against the Carolina Panthers and former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, Wilson showed out in the second half. His first touchdown in the NFL — which went to Corey Davis — showed the quarterback's arm and athleticism.

Wilson's coming out party was probably against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4 of the 2021 season, where he threw for 297 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Wilson threw a bomb to Corey Davis in the fourth quarter to give New York the lead.

While Wilson was known for his cannon of an arm, the quarterback can scramble too. In his first game against the No. 1 pick in the 2021 Draft Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, he showed it.

Wilson missed the first three games of the 2022 season with a knee injury, and in his first game back, he led a game-winning drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback made some big time throws on the final drive, which ended in a Breece Hall touchdown.

Although Wilson was not originally slated to start the 2023 season, that changed immediately when Rodgers went down. In the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, Wilson connected with Garrett Wilson in the fourth quarter on a play later voted the NFL’s Catch of the Year.

His best game that season was against Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson and the Jets stormed back from a 20-6 deficit to tie the game, capped off by this two-point conversion.

Jake Mozarsky

Jake Mozarsky joined The Sporting News as an Editorial Intern in August 2025 after earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University. He has previously written for Marquee Sports Network, Chicago This Week, Inside NU and The Daily Northwestern.