Jaguars fans reflect on their favorite Blake Bortles moment amid NFL retirement
By Scott Rogust
Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday. Fans recalled their favorite moments of his career.
The NFL was in the retirement news mode on Wednesday. Former Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley announced, via his agents that he was retiring from the NFL. Then, one of the more prominent players in recent Jacksonville Jaguars history, announced that he was stepping away from the game.
Quarterback Blake Bortles, former 2014 third-overall pick by the Jaguars, appeared on Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast, and announced that he has “quietly retired” from the NFL after getting asked if he was ready to be signed by a team.
Blake Bortles quiet quit the NFL? @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/0x6GL8Crr5
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 5, 2022
“I didn’t tell anybody, I retired,” said Bortles.
Twitter users share favorite Blake Bortles memories after retirement announcement
As is the case with any athlete who announces their retirement, Twitter users shared their favorite memories of the quarterback’s eight-year career.
Blake Bortles retired today.
— Matt Koll (@MKoll15) October 5, 2022
Blake Bortles has won a playoff game in Pittsburgh more recently than the Pittsburgh Steelers have.
Blake Bortles had a tremendous career whats your favorte Blake Bortles memory? Mine is when he literally beat the Patriots in Foxboro in the AFC championship game to go to the superbowl but Roger Goodell wanted Brady instead for ratings
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) October 5, 2022
an all-time Blake Bortles moment in screenshot history pic.twitter.com/uJFVsJUEsZ
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 5, 2022
What is your favorite Blake Bortles moment? On or off the field.
— Josué (@Jueceman15) October 5, 2022
I’ll go first: 2017 Jags-Steelers divisional rd of playoffs.. the camera pans over to Blake on the sidelines trying to make fog smoke rings with his breath like the true Floridian he is
Everyone thinks Blake Bortles sucked, but then you realize he only started for 5 seasons yet has a 103/75 TD-to-INT ratio, seasons of 4,400 - 3,900 - 3,600 yards, holds 7 Jaguars passing records, and started an AFC Title Game, all while making $48M.
— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) October 5, 2022
Actually, he’s a legend.
blake bortles might be my favorite individual sports player of all time. a hometown hero that gave me some incredible college memories and then took my jags about as far as they’ve ever been. enjoy that retirement you’ve earned it sir
— tats (@tjmadd) October 5, 2022
Perfect timing for one of my fav memories w/ Bortles 😂 https://t.co/lbcKDROq2O
— RaisingKane (@_Raising_Kane_) October 5, 2022
In honor of Blake Bortles officially retiring, we bring you his best mic’d up moment 🔊 pic.twitter.com/eDD6II3qIq
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 5, 2022
Bortles played college football at Central Florida, where he tallied 7,598 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions while completing 65.7-percent of his passes. He worked his way into becoming a top quarterback prospect, where he was selected No. 3 overall by the Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft.
As the Jaguars starter, the team did not have a winning record for the first three seasons of his career. But the 2017 season will be a campaign that many Jaguars fans look back on fondly. They finished with a 10-6 record, won the AFC South for the first time ever, and had victories over the Buffalo Bills and the Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell-led Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs before losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.
Bortles signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Jaguars after that deep playoff run. But after the 2018 season, the Jaguars released him from his deal.
Afterwards, Bortles had stints with the Los Angeles Rams (2019, 2020), Denver Broncos (2020), Green Bay Packers (2021), and New Orleans Saints (2021).
In his career, Bortles recorded 17,649 passing yards, 103 touchdowns, and 75 interceptions, all on a 59.3 completion percentage.
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