Ryan Tannehill facts for kids
Tannehill with the Tennessee Titans in 2021
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 27, 1988 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 217 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Big Spring (Big Spring, Texas) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Texas A&M (2007–2011) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Ryan Timothy Tannehill III (born July 27, 1988) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies. He started as a wide receiver before becoming a quarterback in his junior year. The Miami Dolphins chose him as the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Tannehill played his first seven seasons as the Dolphins' main starting quarterback. In 2019, he was traded to the Tennessee Titans. He began as a backup but became the starter halfway through the season. He then led the team to the AFC Championship Game. That year, he was also named NFL Comeback Player of the Year and chosen for the Pro Bowl. In the following two seasons, Tannehill helped the Titans win their division twice in a row.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Ryan Tannehill was born in Lubbock, Texas. He grew up in a nearby town called Big Spring. He went to Big Spring High School. There, he played both football and basketball. He also ran on the track and field team.
In his sophomore year, he played 10 games as a defensive back. As a junior, he was a quarterback. He threw for 2,510 yards and ran for 922 yards. In his senior year, he led his team to the playoffs. He passed for 1,258 yards and rushed for 617 more. He missed two games that year because of a shoulder injury. Tannehill was also good at punting, with an average of 39.2 yards per punt.
In track and field, Ryan competed in hurdling and jumping. In 2006, he placed third in the 300-meter hurdles. He also finished second in the triple jump event.
College Football Career
Ryan Tannehill started his college career at Texas A&M in 2007. He did not play in his first year, which is called a redshirt year. He had turned down offers from other universities to play for Texas A&M.
Playing as a Wide Receiver
In 2008, a new head coach, Mike Sherman, joined the team. Tannehill competed for the starting quarterback spot but finished third. The team's offense used three wide receivers, so Tannehill moved to that position.
In his fifth game, he set a freshman school record. He caught 12 passes for 210 yards. He finished his first playing season with 844 receiving yards. This was close to breaking a school record. He only attempted one pass as a quarterback that whole season. Tannehill still hoped to become the starting quarterback.
In 2009, Tannehill again competed for the quarterback job but did not win it. He continued to play wide receiver. He led the team with 46 catches for 609 yards and four touchdowns. Most of his catches helped the team get first downs or touchdowns. He only played eight snaps as a quarterback that year.
Becoming the Starting Quarterback
Tannehill kept playing wide receiver for the first six games of the 2010 season. He had 11 catches for 143 yards. He attempted four passes in the first game.
He got to play a lot at quarterback during the game against Kansas. He completed 12 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. In his first game starting as quarterback, Tannehill led Texas A&M to a big win. He set a school record with 449 passing yards in that game. He also made his first "pooch punt," which is a short, high kick.
Tannehill led the Aggies to wins over strong teams like Oklahoma and Nebraska. These wins helped the team get ranked among the top 25 in the country. He also punted twice in the Nebraska game because the regular punter was hurt. He finished the regular season with a win against Texas.
In 2011, Tannehill started all 13 games as the quarterback. He was also the team captain. He threw for 3,744 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran for three touchdowns. On Thanksgiving Day, his team lost to their rival, the University of Texas. This was the last time the two teams played until the 2024-2025 season.
Tannehill ended his college career as a quarterback with 5,450 passing yards. He also had 42 touchdown passes.
College Statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2007 | Texas A&M | 0 | 0 |  Redshirted |
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| 2008 | Texas A&M | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 167.2 | 2 | −8 | −4.0 | 0 | 55 | 844 | 15.3 | 5 |
| 2009 | Texas A&M | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 50.0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 113.0 | 4 | −5 | −1.3 | 0 | 46 | 609 | 13.2 | 4 |
| 2010 | Texas A&M | 8 | 7 | 152 | 234 | 65.0 | 1,638 | 13 | 6 | 137.0 | 51 | 76 | 1.5 | 1 | 11 | 143 | 13.0 | 1 |
| 2011 | Texas A&M | 13 | 13 | 327 | 531 | 61.6 | 3,744 | 29 | 15 | 133.2 | 58 | 306 | 5.3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 20 | 484 | 774 | 62.5 | 5,450 | 42 | 21 | 134.2 | 115 | 369 | 3.2 | 5 | 112 | 1,596 | 14.3 | 10 | |
Professional Football Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | Wonderlic | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) |
221 lb (100 kg) |
32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
4.58 s | 34 | |||||||
| Values from NFL Combine; 40-yard dash from Pro Day | ||||||||||||
Miami Dolphins Years
Starting in Miami (2012)
In the 2012 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins picked Tannehill as the eighth player overall. He was the first quarterback the Dolphins chose in the first round since Dan Marino in 1983. On July 28, 2012, Tannehill signed his first contract with the Dolphins.
He was named the starting quarterback for the first game of the season. In Week 2, Tannehill played much better. He threw for 200 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a touchdown in a 35–13 win.
Later that season, against the Arizona Cardinals, Tannehill threw for 431 yards. This broke the Dolphins' record for most passing yards by a rookie quarterback. He also set a team record for the longest run by a quarterback, with a 31-yard run. Tannehill finished his rookie year setting new Dolphins records for passing yards, attempts, and completions for a rookie.
Continuing as Starter (2013-2015)
In 2013, Tannehill started his second season. The Dolphins began with a 3–0 record for the first time since 2002. He had some strong games, including one against the New England Patriots where he threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. The Dolphins finished the season with an 8–8 record and did not make the playoffs.
In 2014, the Dolphins hired a new offensive coordinator. Tannehill had to learn a new way of playing offense. He threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the first game, a win against the Patriots. He had a season-high 396 passing yards and four touchdowns in a late-season game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Dolphins again finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs.
On May 18, 2015, Tannehill signed a new contract with the Dolphins. In a game against the Texans, Tannehill achieved a perfect 158.3 passer rating. He also set an NFL record by completing 25 passes in a row across two games. He became only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 3,000 yards in each of his first four seasons. The Dolphins did not make the playoffs that year. Tannehill finished the 2015 season with 4,208 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.
Injuries and Final Dolphins Seasons (2016-2018)
In 2016, the Dolphins started 1–4 but then won six games in a row. They finished the season with a 10–6 record. Tannehill played in 13 games but missed the last three due to a knee injury. Despite his injury, the Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Tannehill finished the season with a career-high 67.1% completion rate.
In 2017, Tannehill suffered another injury to his left knee during practice. This injury required surgery, and he missed the entire 2017 season. The team signed Jay Cutler to play quarterback in his place.
In 2018, Tannehill returned as the Dolphins' starting quarterback. In the first game, he threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns in a win. He had a great game against the Raiders, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. He was part of the famous "Miracle in Miami" play. In that game, the Dolphins won with a last-second play that involved multiple passes and a long run for a touchdown. Tannehill finished the 2018 season with 1,979 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games.
Tennessee Titans Years
Comeback Player of the Year (2019)
On March 15, 2019, the Dolphins traded Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans. He signed a one-year deal with his new team. He started the season as a backup quarterback.
In Week 6, Tannehill took over as quarterback during a game. He then became the Titans' starting quarterback for Week 7. He led the team to a close 23–20 victory. In Week 12, he threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns. Two weeks later, he threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, earning him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. The Titans made the playoffs as a Wild Card team.
Tannehill finished the 2019 season with 2,742 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He also ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns. He led the league with a 117.5 quarterback rating and 9.6 yards per attempt. His 70.3% completion rate also set a team record.
In the playoffs, the Titans upset the defending Super Bowl champions, the Patriots. Tannehill then helped the Titans upset the Ravens in the next round. The Titans' playoff run ended in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tannehill was chosen for his first Pro Bowl that year. On February 1, 2020, Tannehill was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Leading the Titans (2020-2021)
On March 17, 2020, Tannehill signed a four-year contract extension with the Titans. In the season opener, he threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns in a road victory. The next game, he threw for 239 yards and four touchdowns. He had another strong game against the Texans, throwing for 364 yards and four touchdowns in an overtime win.
Tannehill finished the 2020 season with 3,819 passing yards and a career-high 33 touchdowns. He also ran for 266 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. The Titans won the AFC South division with an 11–5 record and made the playoffs. They lost in the Wild Card Round.
In 2021, Tannehill continued to lead the Titans. In Week 18, he threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns. This win helped the Titans secure the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Tannehill finished the 2021 regular season with 3,734 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 7 rushing touchdowns. The Titans won back-to-back AFC South titles for the first time in their history. In the playoffs, they lost in the Divisional Round.
Later Seasons with Titans (2022-2023)
In 2022, Tannehill started the season well. However, he suffered an ankle injury in Week 7 and missed two games. He re-injured his ankle later in the season and was placed on injured reserve. He played in 12 games, throwing for 2,536 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Tannehill returned as the starting quarterback for the Titans in 2023. In Week 6, he suffered another high ankle sprain and missed two games. During this time, rookie Will Levis played as the starter. In Week 10, the coach announced that Levis would be the main starting quarterback. Tannehill started two more games later in the season due to Levis's injuries. In Week 18, he helped the Titans win a game that eliminated their rival, the Jaguars, from the playoffs.
Tannehill started 8 games in 2023, with a record of 3 wins and 5 losses. He passed for 1,616 yards and 4 touchdowns.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
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| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2012 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 7–9 | 282 | 484 | 58.3 | 3,294 | 6.8 | 80 | 12 | 13 | 76.1 | 49 | 211 | 4.3 | 31 | 2 | 35 | 234 | 9 | 4 |
| 2013 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 8–8 | 355 | 588 | 60.4 | 3,913 | 6.7 | 67 | 24 | 17 | 81.7 | 40 | 238 | 6.0 | 48 | 1 | 58 | 399 | 9 | 5 |
| 2014 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 8–8 | 392 | 590 | 66.4 | 4,045 | 6.9 | 50 | 27 | 12 | 92.8 | 56 | 311 | 5.6 | 40 | 1 | 46 | 337 | 9 | 2 |
| 2015 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 6–10 | 363 | 586 | 61.9 | 4,208 | 7.2 | 54 | 24 | 12 | 88.7 | 32 | 141 | 4.4 | 28 | 1 | 45 | 420 | 10 | 3 |
| 2016 | MIA | 13 | 13 | 8–5 | 261 | 389 | 67.1 | 2,995 | 7.7 | 74 | 19 | 12 | 93.5 | 39 | 164 | 4.2 | 18 | 1 | 29 | 216 | 9 | 3 |
| 2017 | MIA | 0 | 0 | — | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | MIA | 11 | 11 | 5–6 | 176 | 274 | 64.2 | 1,979 | 7.2 | 75 | 17 | 9 | 92.7 | 32 | 145 | 4.5 | 20 | 0 | 35 | 279 | 5 | 4 |
| 2019 | TEN | 12 | 10 | 7–3 | 201 | 286 | 70.3 | 2,742 | 9.6 | 91 | 22 | 6 | 117.5 | 43 | 185 | 4.3 | 25 | 4 | 31 | 212 | 6 | 3 |
| 2020 | TEN | 16 | 16 | 11–5 | 315 | 481 | 65.5 | 3,819 | 7.9 | 75 | 33 | 7 | 106.5 | 43 | 266 | 6.2 | 45 | 7 | 24 | 173 | 6 | 1 |
| 2021 | TEN | 17 | 17 | 12–5 | 357 | 531 | 67.2 | 3,734 | 7.0 | 57 | 21 | 14 | 89.6 | 55 | 270 | 4.9 | 28 | 7 | 47 | 327 | 10 | 4 |
| 2022 | TEN | 12 | 12 | 6–6 | 212 | 325 | 65.2 | 2,536 | 7.8 | 69 | 13 | 6 | 94.6 | 34 | 98 | 2.9 | 17 | 2 | 33 | 238 | 3 | 2 |
| 2023 | TEN | 10 | 8 | 3–5 | 149 | 230 | 64.8 | 1,616 | 7.0 | 70 | 4 | 7 | 78.5 | 17 | 74 | 4.4 | 23 | 1 | 32 | 230 | 4 | 0 |
| Career | 155 | 151 | 81–70 | 3,063 | 4,764 | 64.3 | 34,881 | 7.3 | 91 | 216 | 115 | 91.2 | 440 | 2,103 | 4.8 | 48 | 27 | 415 | 3,065 | 80 | 31 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacks | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | MIA | 0 | 0 | — | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | TEN | 3 | 3 | 2–1 | 36 | 60 | 60.0 | 369 | 6.2 | 45 | 5 | 1 | 98.5 | 13 | 35 | 2.7 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | TEN | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 18 | 26 | 69.2 | 165 | 6.3 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 83.0 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TEN | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 15 | 24 | 62.5 | 220 | 9.2 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 66.7 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 5 | 5 | 2–3 | 69 | 110 | 62.7 | 754 | 6.9 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 85.2 | 18 | 53 | 2.9 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 54 | 2 | 0 | |
Records and Achievements
NFL Records
- Most consecutive pass completions: 25 (tied by Philip Rivers & Nick Foles)
Dolphins Team Records
- Most pass completions in a single season: 392 (2014)
- Most pass completions by a rookie: 282
- Most passing yards by a rookie season: 3,294
- Most passing attempts by a rookie: 484
- Longest rush by a quarterback: 48 yards
- Longest rush by a rookie quarterback: 31 yards
Titans Team Records
- Highest passer rating (season): 117.5 (2019)
- Most yards per pass attempt (season): 9.59 (2019)
- Highest completion rate (season): 70.3 (2019)
Personal Life
Ryan Tannehill is married to Lauren. They met in Florida in 2009 and got married in January 2012. They have two children together.
Ryan is an Evangelical Christian. When he signs autographs, he often writes "Colossians 3:23". This is a reference to a Bible verse.
Tannehill earned a bachelor's degree in biology in May 2011. He had planned to become a doctor who specializes in knee injuries.
Ryan Tannehill has his own charity called Achieving Community and Education Success (ACES). This foundation helps high school students with their grades. It also encourages them to get involved in their community. He also supported Lifewater International for a charity campaign in 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Ryan Tannehill para niños
- List of National Football League annual passer rating leaders
- List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating
