Taylor Heinicke is becoming a folk hero for the Washington Football Team.
His legend began last postseason and continued in 2021 as Ryan Fitzpatrick went down with an injury back in Week 1.
But a 2-6 start meant Ron Rivera could have gone in a different direction at quarterback.
Instead, the team got rest over their bye week and has now won four straight games.
Washington is 6-6 and Heinicke is looking like a clutch performer after consecutive 17-15 victories.
One thing fans recently learned is that there is some extra financial incentive for Heinicke to give it his all and win.
Washington’s four-game winning streak has been good for the team’s playoff hopes and for QB Taylor Heinicke’s wallet: for each win that he plays at least 60% of the snaps, he earns a $125K incentive. This win steak has made him $500K.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 6, 2021
The quarterback gets a $125,000 bonus every time he starts and the team wins.
That made Sunday’s game-winning kick by Brian Johnson all the more meaningful for Heinicke.
The quarterback may need to send the kicker a nice gift after receiving his latest bonus.
The QB’s Contract Situation
Washington is getting amazing value given Heinicke’s contract.
He signed a two-year, $4.75 million deal this past offseason to be a backup.
But he is now assuming the starting role on a deal paying him just over $2 million this season.
The ability to earn more comes via the incentives built into his contract.
FROM 2-6 TO 6-6
TAYLOR HEINICKE AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM HAVE WON 4 STRAIGHT pic.twitter.com/2MJzXyehXN
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 6, 2021
The most notable is the one giving him $125,000 if he plays 60 percent of the snaps and Washington wins.
That means he has racked up an extra $500,000 in the past four weeks alone.
The quarterback’s deal stretches through the 2022 season but if he gets Washington to the postseason, he may be in a great position to negotiate for an extension to avoid giving the team such great value again.
He has 18 touchdowns through the air this year and has also added 289 yards and a touchdown as a runner.
Reaching the postseason would also mean he earns himself quite the hefty bonus along the way.
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