Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey has worked with quarterbacks ranging from Hall of Fame members (John Elway, Troy Aikman) to, well, Tyler Thigpen in his 11 years as an offensive coordinator or head coach in the NFL. His latest pupil, of course, is two-year Bills starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.
We were wondering how Bills fans felt Fitzpatrick's two years stood up against the seasons that Gailey's previous seven quarterbacks had under his watch. After the jump, we'll hop into our time machine and travel as far back as 1989 - so remember to adjust statistics backwards for reverse passing game inflation the further we get back.
Again, your task: rank each individual season below, then discuss how you think Fitzpatrick fits into the reputation for quarterbacks that Gailey has cultivated in the NFL.
Year | Team | Quarterback | GS | Record | C-A | % | Yds | TD | INT |
1989 | Broncos | John Elway | 15 | 10-5 | 223-416 | 53.6 | 3,051 | 18 | 18 |
1990 | Broncos | John Elway | 16 | 5-11 | 294-502 | 58.6 | 3,526 | 15 | 14 |
1996 | Steelers | Mike Tomczak | 15 | 10-5 | 222-401 | 55.4 | 2,767 | 15 | 17 |
1997 | Steelers | Kordell Stewart | 16 | 11-5 | 236-440 | 53.6 | 3,020 | 21 | 17 |
1998 | Cowboys | Troy Aikman Jason Garrett |
11 5 |
7-4 3-2 |
187-315 91-158 |
59.4 57.6 |
2,330 1,206 |
12 5 |
5 3 |
1999 | Cowboys | Troy Aikman | 14 | 7-7 | 263-442 | 59.5 | 2,964 | 17 | 12 |
2000 | Dolphins | Jay Fiedler | 15 | 10-5 | 204-356 | 57.3 | 2,402 | 14 | 14 |
2001 | Dolphins | Jay Fiedler | 16 | 11-5 | 273-450 | 60.7 | 3,290 | 20 | 19 |
2008 | Chiefs | Tyler Thigpen | 11 | 1-10 | 230-420 | 54.8 | 2,608 | 18 | 13 |
2010 | Bills | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 13 | 4-9 | 255-441 | 57.8 | 3,000 | 23 | 15 |
2011 | Bills | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 16 | 6-10 | 353-569 | 62.0 | 3,832 | 24 | 23 |