The NFL had a spectacular season and postseason in 2021-2022. There was no shortage of entertaining and defining moments – from a crazy 15 second drive by the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes to send their game against the Bills to overtime where they would eventually win, to the rise of Joe Burrow and the Bengals as legitimate contenders with their capturing of the AFC Championship. When the season concluded, many fans were left with a sadness that could not seem to be filled. A void that only grew deeper as one of, if not the greatest player of all time, Tom Brady announced his retirement from the league. It seemed to mark the end of an era, and many of us were left satisfied with waiting until the next season started. Until everything changed. The NFL offseason mixed up teams with trades and signings, gave players massive contracts and more unforgettable moments for the league. The NFL will never be the same because of this offseason and that is precisely why this may be the single greatest NFL offseason for the quarterback position of all time.

First of all, we had the rollercoaster of Tom Brady’s “retirement.” Brady claimed that he was retiring from the league to focus on his kids and family and start a new chapter in his life. He would go down in history as the greatest to ever do it and the only player to win seven championship rings in his career, more than any player in league history. The NFL and its fans became excited for the new era that would be happening under new blood no longer controlled by Brady. Fast-forward 40 days later, when he posted on Twitter that he would no longer be retiring and would be returning to the NFL for yet another season under the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He caused a lot of false buzz, fished for compliments and insisted he would be going out in class, just to take it back and announce that he had unfinished business. As a man that did things that no player might ever do again in our lifetimes, there doesn’t seem to be anything that could be considered unfinished business. He added a lot of star-power and headlines to an already fun offseason.

The trades and free agent signings are usually the highlight of the NFL offseason and this year was no different. The hottest topic at the beginning of the season was seeing where current Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers would end up. He shocked everybody by announcing he would stay with the Green Bay Packers, despite rumors suggesting that he would end up with the Denver Broncos. A few hours later, the Broncos announced that they would be trading for superstar quarterback Russell Wilson in what seemed like a calculated response. There was a lot more movement at the quarterback position around the league soon after. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who lost their longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after his decision to retire, picked up former Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan was traded from the Falcons to the Colts, and the newly named Washington Commanders traded for former Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. The quarterback position was on everyone’s mind.

The biggest story to come out of the quarterback position was the Cleveland Browns getting Deshaun Watson. Watson was the quarterback for the Houston Texans and was one of the brightest stars in the league until allegations of sexual assault halted his season. He did not play for any of the 2021-2022 season and was a big question mark for pretty much the entire NFL. In the middle of the commotion that the offseason brings to the NFL, Watson was cleared of all criminal charges. This gave him access to play for any team in the NFL. Watson wanted to play for Cleveland so they initiated a giant trade for him that the Texans accepted, as this trade changed momentum in the AFC for a good while.

The NFL brought forth many changes to the league through this offseason. This was just counting the quarterback position but there were many other radical changes like Devante Adams going to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tyreek Hill migrating to Miami to play for the Dolphins. The craziest part about this offseason is that it is not even over. Many defensive juggernauts and quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield still have unanswered futures. One thing is for certain, however: next NFL season will be interesting, to say the least.