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When Was the Last Time a Syracuse Quarterback Started an NFL Game?
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- When Was the Last Time a Syracuse Quarterback Started an NFL Game?
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect)
The Syracuse football season gets underway this Saturday when the Orange host New Hampshire. Kickoff against the Wildcats is set for noon ET. NFL fans will have to wait a few days beyond that for the league's season to get underway the following Wednesday.
But, Syracuse fans who enjoy the NFL may have some added incentive this season, as we could see a former Orange quarterback make a start for the first time in a while.
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The likelihood has certainly increased over the last few weeks.
Here's how:
What's going on in Green Bay ?
Earlier this summer, the Green Bay Packers signed veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor .
Taylor has spent time with seven NFL teams, including all three New York teams -- the Giants, Jets and Buffalo Bills , and has proven to be a reliable backup quarterback. He took the Bills to the playoffs as a starter before Josh Allen burst onto the scene.
As Roundtable's Andrew Kulha pointed out , Taylor will serve as a veteran leader as he backs up projected starter Jordan Love .
Now that Taylor has made the 53-man Green Bay roster, former Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord has found a new home. McCord was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a 2028 6th-round draft pick.
Could McCord start an NFL game this season?
In the 2024 season, McCord's lone season with Syracuse, the senior signal caller set the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) passing mark with 4,779 yards in a season.
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McCord helped Syracuse to a Holiday Bowl victory and a double-digit win season, just the school's third one in the last 20 years.
McCord was drafted in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. The Eagles released him in January without him seeing game action.
In January, McCord signed a contract with the Packers before being traded. This past offseason, the Dolphins signed former Packers quarterback Malik Willis to be the team's starting quarterback. It is possible that a Willis injury could propel McCord into Miami's starting role.
After all, he's just one play away.
When was the last Syracuse QB start in the NFL?
Tommy DeVito is the most recent former Syracuse quarterback to start in the NFL, and like McCord, he has a chance to do it again this year.
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DeVito's most recent start came Nov. 24, 2024 in a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . After eight total starts with the Giants , DeVito was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots before the start of the 2025 season. He signed a two-year contract extension with the Patriots in March. He's the current backup to Drake Maye , and like McCord, he's just one injury away from seeing real playing time.
What's next for Kyle McCord?
McCord and the Packers will open up against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET. DeVito and the Patriots will open up on Sept. 9 against the Seattle Seahawks .
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What type of impact could that have for Syracuse football 's future?
The possibility of having a former player become a starter in the NFL is a tremendous tool for head coach Fran Brown and the program to use when recruiting future players. Whether it be high school recruits or players in the transfer portal, recruits could view Syracuse as a potential boost to their aspiring professional careers.
