Why Ryan Tannehill deserves NFL Comeback Player of the Year

The Story

Despite playing at an elite level in recent weeks, Ryan Tannehill was not brought in by the Titans to jump-start the offense. Rather, Tannehill came to Tennessee on the basis that he would be serving a backup role.

Tannehill joined the Titans this offseason as part of a trade between Tennessee and the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had drafted Tannehill in 2012 and he played seven seasons with the franchise before being traded with a sixth-round pick to Tennessee for a fourth- and seventh-round pick.

Miami had decided to rebuild their roster and move away from Tannehill, while the Titans were looking for an insurance policy for the oft-injured Marcus Mariota.

While in Miami, Tannehill played well enough to keep his starting role, but never impressed beyond that. He was never selected for the Pro Bowl, never made an All-Pro team, and was a part of just one winning season while in Miami.

Like Mariota, injuries also contributed to Miami’s reluctance to bring back their veteran signal-caller. Through his seven years with the Dolphins, Tannehill suffered two partial ACL tears, one of which occurred in early August two years ago and kept him out of the entire 2017 season.

Injuries and under-performing Dolphins teams meant the end for Tannehill in Miami, but the veteran found a home in Nashville, and made a name for himself in his first start for Tennessee against the Chargers.

After going 23-of-29 and over 300 yards passing through the air, the Tannehill era officially began for the Titans.

Since then, Tannehill has become more than just a feel-good story. As the weeks pass and he gets more experience in the offense, Tannehill looks more and more like a franchise-caliber quarterback worthy of awards.

Now at 31 years old, Tannehill is playing the best football of his professional career. The Titans offense has flourished since Tannehill took over, and he has the stats to prove just how valuable he’s been.