Former Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the organization announced Friday. ESPN reported through a source that the deal was for one year and $3 million.
The Bucs are the seventh NFL team for the 34-year-old Fitzpatrick.
After being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2005, he played in Cincinnati, Buffalo, Tennessee and Houston before signing with the Jets before the 2015 season.
The veteran will be backing up Bucs starter Jameis Winston, who has started all 32 games since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2015. Winston's previous backup, Mike Glennon, signed a free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears in March.
Fitzpatrick is familiar with the backup role, but he's always made it clear he sees himself as an NFL starter. After Geno Smith's jaw was broken during a locker room altercation with then-teammate IK Enemkpali during training camp in 2015, Fitzpatrick was named the starter. He threw a career-high 31 touchdowns as the Jets went 10-6 that season, but the team fell short of making the playoffs after Fitzpatrick's three-interception fourth quarter in Buffalo in the season finale.
The expectations for the organization were even higher in 2016, but Fitzpatrick went 3-8 as the starter and was benched in favor of Smith and then Bryce Petty. The Jets ended the season 5-11.
Fitzpatrick, now in his 13th season, has 25,888 passing yards, 166 touchdown passes and 133 interceptions in his career.
The Jets will travel to Tampa Bay to face the Bucs in Week 10 on Nov. 12.
