Buffalo Bills quarterback Derek Anderson retires after 14 season
By James Reeve
The Buffalo Bills will not have Derek Anderson in the quarterback room next season after his decision to retire from the game.
After originally planning to return in 2019, Buffalo Bills quarterback Derek Anderson has decided to walk away after 14 seasons in the NFL.
Anderson, 35, has been a prominent backup QB in the NFL since being selected in the sixth round (213th overall) of the 2005 draft.
Originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, Anderson got his first taste of the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and even had a 10-5 record in 15 starts during the 2007 season.
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After four years in Cleveland and one with the Arizona Cardinals, Anderson would spend the next seven years of his career playing for the Carolina Panthers.
After spending many years as a mentor to Cam Newton, the Buffalo Bills brought Anderson in last October to try and provide rookie QB Josh Allen with that same kind of support.
The move to Buffalo looked to have been going well for Anderson, who received a one-year extension after the conclusion of the 2018 season.
However, it appears that Anderson’s age has finally caught up with him as he steps away from the game, having passed for 10,878 yards, 60 touchdowns and 64 interceptions since his rookie campaign in 2006.
Anderson reportedly mentioned retirement to the Bills organisation prior to this year’s draft, which allowed the team the opportunity to assess their options in the late rounds.
The organisation’s preferred choice, Tyree Jackson out of Buffalo, eventually went undrafted – allowing the team to swoop in and give him the chance to step in as the team’s third choice should Anderson have confirmed his retirement.
With his retirement now confirmed, Jackson will be far more involved than he may have initially anticipated with Allen and Matt Barkley continuing to play their roles as starter and backup as expected.
While his time with the Buffalo Bills was short, the team appreciates the support and mentorship he provided to Allen and will undoubtedly be grateful if it helps the young gunslinger take the next steps in his development next season.
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What do you think Bills Mafia? Are you disappointed to see Anderson step away? What are your thoughts in the team’s QB situation next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!