Heisman Trophy Winners: Top 20 NFL careers of all time
Vinny Testaverde played for seven NFL teams over his 20-year professional career, including four different squads in his final four seasons in the league.
The spotlight on Testaverde radiated while he was in college, playing football for the Miami Hurricanes who because a national powerhouse in the 1980s. He was the school’s all-time touchdown pass leader when he left, with 48, and led the Hurricanes to the Fiesta Bowl in 1986, only to lose to Penn State 14-10 while the senior quarterback threw five interceptions.
Testaverde’s 1986 Heisman Trophy looked a little bit less shiny after the loss, but he was still drafted No. 1 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 and started four games in his rookie year, losing all four and passing for 1,081 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Following that first year, Testaverde became the full-time starter and his numbers began to improve. In his six seasons with Tampa Bay, he struggled to lead the Buccaneers to any serious success, going just 24-48 as a starter. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns in 1992 and then moved on to join the newly-formed Baltimore Ravens in 1996, the year in which he made his first career Pro Bowl.
Testaverde went on to become a two-time Pro Bowler and finished as Tampa Bay’s all-time leader in passing yards, attempts and interceptions. He finished his lengthy career with 46,233 yards, 275 touchdowns, 267 interceptions and 90 wins as a starter.
Next: 16. Carson Palmer, USC