Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of the most reliable players in the league.
The 28-year-old has started in 114 straight games, making Buffalo’s backup quarterback one of the easier jobs in the NFL. That player still has to be ready in case disaster strikes, of course. The Bills have had a couple of different quarterbacks serve as Allen’s backup, including veterans Case Keenum and Kyle Allen.
In 2024, the Bills brought back a familiar face to slot in behind Allen on the depth chart. Here is everything you need to know about Allen’s backup.
SN’S PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NFL scores | Full NFL schedule | Updated NFL bracket
Who is the Bills’ backup quarterback?
Mitchell Trubisky is the Bills’ backup quarterback for the second time in four years.
The Bears drafted Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick out of North Carolina in 2017, and Chicago had high hopes that he would be the franchise’s quarterback. After a rocky first season, Trubisky had the best season of his career in 2018, leading the Bears to an NFC North title with 3,223 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
However, the Bears lost to the Eagles at home in the wild-card round that season, and Trubisky was never able to take the next step as a quarterback. With Trubisky as the primary starter, Chicago missed the playoffs in 2019 and lost in the wild-card round as a No. 7 seed in 2020, officially ending the quarterback’s tenure with the team.
As a free agent in 2021, Trubisky signed with Buffalo on a one-year deal to serve as Allen’s backup, but he only played in garbage time of six games as Allen never got hurt.
The veteran reentered free agency in 2022 and signed a two-year deal with the Steelers. While Pittsburgh drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft, Trubisky opened the season as the starter but only lasted a month before Pickett took over.
In two seasons with the Steelers, Trubisky started seven games, totaling a 2-5 record with 1,884 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
After last season, Trubisky once again hit free agency and opted to return to Buffalo on a one-year contract. Trubisky didn’t get much playing time in 2024 but he did play the majority of Week 18’s game vs. the Patriots. He had 101 passing yards and one touchdown on 21 attempts.
MORE: Debating Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen for MVP
Bills QB depth chart
| Rank | Name |
| 1. | Josh Allen |
| 2. | Mitchell Trubisky |
| 3. | Mike White |
| 4. | Shane Buechele (IR) |
Allen has cemented his spot at the top of the Bills’ depth chart. Behind Allen is Trubisky, who is currently in his second stint as the Bills’ backup quarterback.
Buffalo also has Mike White on the 53-man roster, as a third-string quarterback who started seven games for the Jets in 2021 and 2022.
Leave a Reply