MIAMI GARDENS — It was once thought Zach Wilson could be a longtime rival quarterback to the Miami Dolphins.
He was drafted by the New York Jets at 21 years old with the No. 2 pick in 2021.
Now, in 2025, he’s with the Dolphins as a backup to starter Tua Tagovailoa.
On Sunday, he’ll always be one snap away from playing against his former team at MetLife Stadium when the Dolphins face the Jets.
“It would be awesome,” Wilson told the Sun Sentinel this week. “It would be great to obviously go out there and play. You’d love to play against anybody. I got to make sure I’m always ready to go.”
Wilson struggled over three seasons in New York as he had to develop into a professional quarterback quickly in a tough situation. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns in each of his first two years.
When the team went to Mike White over him late in his second season, Jets players publicly supported White over the passer drafted so highly only a year and a half earlier. In 2023, the Jets brought in future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers deep into his career to supplant Wilson, but Wilson was thrown right back in after Rodgers tore his Achilles on his fourth play with the team. Wilson was benched in favor of Tim Boyle later that season.
Sunday’s return to MetLife won’t be his first since parting ways with the franchise after that 2023 season. He spent 2024 as the third-string quarterback with the Denver Broncos, and they won that matchup early last season.
“Yeah, haven’t lost to them yet,” Wilson said. “So, hope we can do the same thing.”
Wilson, who was a calculated acquisition to back up the oft-injured Tagovailoa this season by Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, hasn’t been needed yet due to injury. Tagovailoa has remained healthy.
While he hasn’t played meaningful snaps since departing from New York, he feels he has grown since that time.
“A lot to do with just my play, my ability to handle the media stuff,” Wilson said. “If I could go back now, which obviously I learned through the fire just how to handle the situation — and the amount of football I know now, I wish I could’ve known then when I was actually on the field. It’s different. You get thrown into the fire when you’re learning.”
Wilson has no hard feelings with the Jets, from the top on down, although the franchise has mostly been overhauled in the two years since he last played for them.
“A lot of good people in the organization that I hope I get to go see, but for the most part, happy to be where I’m at right now,” he said.
With New York sending away franchise cornerstones like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner at the past trade deadline, the number of familiar faces only diminishes for Wilson.
“There’s only like eight or nine left on the entire roster when I was checking earlier,” he said. “Obviously, (wide receiver) Garrett (Wilson), (running back) Breece (Hall) and a couple of the defensive guys. Played with Allen (Lazard) for a year. Even a lot of the support staff, a couple of the physical trainers I liked over there. I really liked those guys.”
Since his departure, Wilson has gotten to see how things are done with different teams.
“Every organization has its own thing,” Wilson said. “I thought going to Denver after being (with New York) was a way different experience. Those guys are having a lot of success right now. I think they do a good job with their culture. Same thing with here. I think our ownership here is awesome and does a great job, as well.”
In Miami, Wilson has been the backup active for all but one of the team’s 12 games.
When the Dolphins played in Cleveland in October, McDaniel made the odd decision to move rookie Quinn Ewers ahead of Wilson the night before the game but then go back to Wilson as the backup from then on.
Wilson admits he was a little surprised by the back and forth.
“One, it was a little confusing because it happened the night right before the game, which is tough because — I’m always open for competition; that’s never something I’m going to shy away from; I’m always for that — but as far as when the reps we have are scout-team reps, we don’t get any real reps in practice,” Wilson said.
“That’s why I was maybe a little frustrated. Obviously, if there’s something I can show to be better, but we’re getting judged off of fake plays. And to not really hear much from it the next week was also interesting.
“It was a ‘hey, back to normal’ type of thing, but for me, mentally, just focusing on my game. I know what things I want to work on, what things I want to get better at. There was no doubt, up to that point, there were still things I was working on, and even now. So, I mean, that never stops. The focus stays there.”
Through the competition and even going back and forth as the No. 2 quarterback, Wilson and Ewers have developed a bond with the veteran even teasing the rookie.
“He’s been awesome. Honestly, crappy as far as a rookie goes in our room with getting us snacks and decorating. He’s not the best with that stuff,” Wilson said. “He’s been great. I’ve come to be very close with him. He’s somebody I’ll be friends with long after we’re on separate teams in separate places, and I’ve enjoyed time with him.”
Along with Wilson, safety Ashtyn Davis will return to MetLife on Sunday after playing his first five seasons with the Jets.