Fiedler was viewed as a possible late round draftee in 1994,[9][10] but doubts over the quality of his opposition at Dartmouth[6][11] meant he was not chosen.

Fiedler would be signed by the Philadelphia Eagles (1994–95) and have stints with the Minnesota Vikings (1998) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1999) before finding steady work with the Miami Dolphins beginning in 2000.

In between his time with the Eagles and Vikings, Fiedler served as a receivers coach at Hofstra University in 1997 before being signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1998.

[12] Fiedler signed a three-year, $3.8 million contract with the Dolphins in 2000, replacing Dan Marino as starter.

During these years, the Dolphins' offense lagged notably behind its defense, which featured perennial Pro Bowlers in cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, and Pro Football Hall of Famers defensive end Jason Taylor and linebacker Zach Thomas.

[13][14] Fiedler signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2005, as a backup quarterback to Chad Pennington.

[15] On September 25, 2005, in a game against his former team the Jaguars, Fiedler was pressed into action when Pennington suffered what would prove to be a season-ending rotator cuff tear.

[18][19] Fiedler was released during the first wave of cuts in August due to a nagging shoulder issue that made him unable to practice.

Fiedler was one of two active NFL players inducted into the Hall that year, the other being then-Pittsburgh Steelers punter Josh Miller.