Tyrod Taylor Holds 'Mad Love' For Buffalo Bills in Awkward Return

New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor will make his first trip to Western New York since an awkward exit from the Buffalo Bills in 2018.

The football-loving public has set its sights on Taylor in prime time. This one, however, has no "Bad Blood" but rather something "Better Than Revenge" in mind.

Tyrod Taylor, 34, will take to Highmark Stadium's turf for the first time as an opponent on Sunday night when his New York Giants make a rare, true excursion to the Empire State to battle the Buffalo Bills (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). Taylor is starting at quarterback for the flailing Giants (1-4) in place of injured franchise man Daniel Jones.

While it's far from the most anticipated reunion in Bills history, Taylor's return gives Bills fans a chance to recognize one of the foundational rocks of their ongoing success: Taylor was under center for the end of the Bills' 17-year, new-century postseason drought, a 9-7 effort in 2017. 

Though they lost to eventual conference finalist Jacksonville in that ensuing Wild Card round, the Bills (3-2) have reached the playoffs in four of the past five seasons and have won each of the last three AFC East division titles.

“I got mad love for Buffalo (and have) great memories there,” Taylor said this week, per Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post. “Was able to, I guess, change the culture. … They had some down years in the organization, and I was able to help shift that along with a number of other guys that helped that season.”

Taylor (in white) helped the Bills end their 17-year playoff drought in 2017 / USA TODAY SPORTS

Alas for Taylor, he has since moved on, resuming a role as one of the NFL's more reliable passing mercenaries. Prior to his three-year term in Buffalo (beating out Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel for starting duties in 2015), Taylor was the primary backup to Joe Flacco for five years after his professional journey began as a sixth-round pick of Baltimore's in 2011. 

The Virginia Tech alum has bounced around several NFL rosters since his autumns in New York: in anticipation of Josh Allen's arrival, the Bills traded him to Cleveland in 2018. He later worked with former Bills advisors Anthony Lynn (2019-20) and David Culley (2021) with the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans respectively before settling in his current blue settings.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka believes that Taylor's poise and mobile abilities could help a depleted offensive group facing the Bills' pass rush ... one likely very angry after last weekend's no-show in London ... find some semblance of clarity.

“Tyrod is a veteran player. He controls the huddle,” Kafka told The Post. “I think he does a great job of, obviously, getting the ball out. He can make plays outside the pocket as well. He’s done that his whole career.”

Despite all the travel, Taylor is best-known for his career with the Bills. In addition to his role in stopping the postseason futility, Taylor's name continues to pepper the Buffalo record books. While many of his records have since been surpassed by Allen, he continues to hold the franchise-best mark for most consecutive attempts without an interception (222).

But Taylor's ultimate Buffalo legacy is perhaps his unfair role in one of the most egregious errors of the Sean McDermott era: in the midst of that magical 2017 season, Taylor was surprisingly benched in favor of then-rookie Nathan Peterman. He immediately regained starting duties when Peterman threw five first-half interceptions in a 54-24 loss to the Chargers and went 4-2 the rest of the way to help lock up the playoff berth.

Taylor is at least somewhat aware of the significance that Sunday night's return brings. But he's not getting lost in nostalgics as he hopes to end the reeling Giants' three-game losing streak.

“I’m not looking for a reaction or anything,” Taylor said of his expectation for Sunday's reception from Bills Mafia. “It’s not about who we’re playing. It’s about what we’re doing.”