Top 7 Careers of QBs Post their Alt-Football League Stints

By Pat Rifino

With the XFL draft having concluded, it’s often times we see players get drafted and wonder what happens next. With PJ Walker and Taylor Heinicke dominating the headlines left and right it’s clear that not many Quarterbacks often have the Cinderella ending that takes place for a small minority of quarterbacks. While many QBs will often extend their careers a season or two due to the alt-leagues, many often don’t have the privilege of actually maintaining a career in a major professional league after their time in the alternative spotlight ends. The seven players below, are quarterbacks who’ve managed to continue their careers for a couple more seasons and earn some nice paychecks.  

7 - Taylor Cornelius, CFL Edmonton Elks

Ole Corndog was a backup QB to Aaron Murray during XFL 2.0. After spending 2020 with the Tampa Bay Vipers Cornelius was able to catch the eye of the CFL to back up Trevor Harris in 2021. Cornelius would end up starting 8 games in 2021 and 12 games in 2022, during his 20-game audition Cornelius has put up respectable numbers throwing over 4,500 yards, and 20 touchdowns while adding 8 more on the ground. Cornelius’ has shown the Elks enough that he was offered a two-year extension, for 2023-24, with the potential to earn about 600k total. Not bad for an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State. 

6 - Tommy Maddox, NFL Pittsburgh Steelers

An OG on our list, Maddox was a first round pick in 1992 to the Denver Broncos, after six underwhelming seasons in the NFL, a stint in the Arena League, Maddux used his time in the XFL 1.0 to put together and MVP and Championship campaign, which transitioned to a contract with the Steelers as a backup in 2001. Maddox would play five more years in the NFL, throwing 42 Touchdowns for the Steelers and earning a comeback player of the year award in 2002. In 2003 he was a part of the Steelers team that won a super bowl in 2003. Overall, Maddox’s post XFL career was definitely a success story, and one many look back on fondly.

5 - McLeod Bethel-Thompson, CFL Toronto Argonauts 

MBT started his career in the alt-leagues by having a cup of tea in the United Football League spending 2011 with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. MBT was able to earn NFL contracts for six years from 2012-2016 earning 792,322 dollars throughout his career. MBT would then join the CFL becoming a Grey Cup Champion, and being named to multiple All-Star teams. 

4 - Garrett Gilbert, NFL New England Patriots 

Garrett Gilbert actually had a Super Bowl ring and three pass attempts before coming to the AAF, what he didn’t have was NFL opportunities. Gilbert joined the Apollos and put together an MVP campaign for the defunct franchise however, this time his stay in the unemployment line would be short lived. After leaving the AAF, Gilbert has spent time with Cleveland, Washington, Oakland, Dallas, and New England, earning approx. 2 million dollars while appearing in seven games (two starts).

3 - PJ Walker, NFL Carolina Panthers

Walker was a favorite of Oliver Luck when he began constructing the XFL 2.0. Walkers XFL career is well noted as he was viewed as the MVP in the COVID shortened season. Since joining the Panthers Walker has put together a solid resume especially in 2022. Over the past three seasons he’s earned about 2.5 million dollars while solidifying his chances of extending his career as a solid number two option in the NFL.

2 - Josh Johnson, NFL Denver Broncos 

Johnson has actually two stints in Alt-Leagues that have propelled him to success and longevity in the NFL. In 2012 after spending four seasons with the Tampa Bay Bucs, Johnson joined MBT’s Sacramento Mountain Lions and was able to put together enough film that kept him employed in the NFL from 2012-2018 earning about 5.8 million dollars. Johnson’s career hit another hiccup when in 2019 he was cut by the Lions and would find himself with the LA Wildcats of the XFL. After impressing in the XFL Johnson would extend his career for another three seasons in parts with the 49ers, Jets, Ravens, and now Broncos, earning another 1.2 million dollars, playing in four games over three days and throwing five touchdowns over that time.

1 - Taylor Heinicke, NFL Washington Commanders

The Heinicke experience of the XFL stems more from his connection to Coach Ron Rivera rather than his play or lack thereof with the Battlehawks. After the shutdown of XFL 2.0, Heinicke was getting ready to transition from football completely until Coach Rivera called in winter of 2020, Heinicke late season heroics earned him a contract worth 5.5 million dollars and since the XFL he holds a 10-9 record for the Washington franchise throwing 26 Touchdowns over the last three seasons. While Heinicke wasn’t the more than hype man for the Battlehawks the XFL does hold a special play in our heart seeing shotgun two seltzer after a Battlehawks victory in 2020.