Former first-round pick and NFL veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill has largely stepped away from the game, but in a recent interview, he didn’t completely shut the door on a potential return. While acknowledging that the “ship has probably sailed,” Tannehill left just enough room for speculation, reflecting on his career, his current life, and the state of his former teams.
In an exclusive interview with The Escapist, Tannehill discussed his mindset after not playing last season. He revealed that he received calls from teams but that “nothing ever felt like the right opportunity.” He now considers that chapter of his life closed, but with a slight caveat.
“I think that ship has sailed for me,” Tannehill said, before adding, “Nothing’s ever set in stone.” His comments suggest that while he is not actively pursuing a comeback, a perfect situation could potentially lure him back. He admitted that a return would require some work, noting that while he stays in shape, he hasn’t been throwing regularly since last year. “It’d be a little bit of knocking some rust off to get the arm moving again,” he explained.
Tannehill, who spent the bulk of his career with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans, also shared his thoughts on the Dolphins’ current season. He acknowledged their tough year but remained hopeful after their recent win against the Buffalo Bills. “Hopefully they can really build some momentum off of that and carry it forward,” he said, encouraging them to take it one week at a time.
Tannehill’s comments paint a picture of a player who is content in his post-football life but still possesses the competitive fire that drove his long career. He seems at peace with the idea that his playing days are over, yet he hasn’t locked the door and thrown away the key. For fans, it’s an intriguing glimpse into the mind of a veteran quarterback weighing his future. While a comeback seems unlikely, his willingness to entertain the idea under the right circumstances shows that you can never say never in the world of professional sports.
The New Orleans Saints got a victory entering their bye week, and the latest AFC news sparks another, different sort of win for them with the week off the football field. A trade they made earlier this year looks like a triumph when it comes to value in the short-term, and potential long-term as well.
According to reports, veteran defensive lineman Khalen Saunders is headed to waivers. The Jaguars released him on Thursday morning. Saunders appeared in just two total games for Jacksonville and totaled three tackles after joining the team in a trade with the Saints.
Losing Erik McCoy was a massive blow to the upside of the Saints offense. That being said, the return in the Saunders trade has actually played well since entering the starting lineup. Via Pro Football Focus, Fortner has recorded a 76.7 overall grade – good for 8th in the NFL at the center position. Additionally, his pass protection has been elite with an 82.7 grade (3rd in the NFL at center).
The top NFL centers in Week 10, according to PFSN’s Player OL Impact Metric ⤵
86.8 | Tanor Bortolini, Colts
83.6 | Drew Dalman, Bears
81.3 | Coleman Shelton, Rams
— PFSN (@PFSN365) November 12, 2025
“Fortner trade was a good and quietly important move for the Saints. Great insurance policy at center and — so far — has kept the offense from cratering the way it has in the past when McCoy got hurt.”
When the deal happened, some fans weren’t happy with trading the veteran defender in Saunders, but it has ultimately made a lot more sense for New Orleans’ side. Saunders’ snaps were going to decrease with the emergence of Bryan Bresee and the presence of Nathan Shepherd.
Plus, the Saints had just invested in rookie DT Vernon Broughton during the draft. He suffered a season-ending injury early in the season, but that was impossible to predict for the Saints. As for Fortner’s role, he provided backup depth at every interior OL position.
Considering how many offensive line injuries the Saints have dealt with this season, that has become vital for them. With him playing well now, it seems like this admission from the Jaguars proves New Orleans made the correct decision in moving on from Saunders.