He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

At Baltimore, he served as the backup to starting quarterback Joe Flacco, including during the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Taylor was signed by the Buffalo Bills as a free agent in 2015, taking over the starting quarterback duties that season and earning a Pro Bowl appearance.

Taylor subsequently earned the starting position for the Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and New York Giants, but was sidelined due to injuries all four times and replaced by rookies Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, Davis Mills, and Tommy DeVito, respectively.

Taylor returned in a game at Georgia Tech, but did not start for the rest of the season and rotated time with starter Sean Glennon.

Taylor's senior season began with two heartbreaking losses to Boise State at FedExField and at home to Division I-FCS James Madison.

[40] The following week against the San Diego Chargers, he threw his first-ever regular season pass, an 18-yard completion to Anquan Boldin for the final play of the game.

[41] In Week 17, Joe Flacco was rested for most of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, offering Taylor significant playing time.

[42] Taylor went on to earn a championship ring when the Ravens eventually won Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers.

[44] Taylor's strong preseason performance allowed him to keep his job as the Ravens backup quarterback for the third straight season.

In Week 13, Taylor set the Bills' franchise record for consecutive passes without an interception in the third quarter of a win against the Houston Texans.

[66] He was made inactive for the final game of the season due to a clause in his contract that would make his 2017 salary guaranteed if he suffered a serious injury.

[72] In Week 7, against the Buccaneers, Taylor helped lead the Bills to a fourth-quarter comeback, driving the offense 75 yards downfield for the game-tying touchdown with less than three minutes remaining.

[78] In Week 13, against the Patriots, Taylor was limited to only 65 passing yards and was carted off the field after aggravating a knee injury initially suffered in the first quarter.

[86] In Week 1, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Taylor helped the Browns snap a 17-game losing streak dating back to 2016, but the game ended in a 21–21 tie.

[89] On March 13, 2019, Taylor signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Chargers, reuniting with former offensive coordinator and one-time interim head coach Anthony Lynn.

[90][91] In Week 14, in the 45–10 victory over the Jaguars, Taylor came into the game in relief of Philip Rivers and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Virgil Green.

[92] Following a shortened training camp, and with Rivers having signed with the Colts in free agency, Lynn named Taylor the Chargers' starter over rookie first-round pick Justin Herbert.

[94][95] In the next game, Taylor suffered a rib injury during pre-game warmups against the Chiefs and was hospitalized, leaving Herbert to start at the last minute.

[96] Days later, it was revealed the Chargers' team doctor accidentally punctured Taylor's lung while administering a painkiller injection prior to the game.

[109] In Week 4, he made his Giants debut in the third quarter against the Chicago Bears, replacing starter Daniel Jones who sustained a sprained ankle.

[113] In Week 6, with Jones out, Taylor started against his former team, the Bills, leading New York to a narrow 14–9 loss, decided on the last play.

[115] In Week 7, Taylor started against division rival Washington Commanders, won 14–7, and made history as the first black quarterback to ever win a game for the Giants since their entry into the NFL in 1925.

[116] In Week 8, Taylor suffered a rib injury against the Jets, and was placed on injured reserve on November 4,[117] and reactivated on December 11 to serve as backup for rookie Tommy DeVito.

[123] In Week 17, facing a 40-point deficit against the Bills, Taylor replaced starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers with 12:37 remaining in the 4th quarter.

[124] Despite a smaller-than-average frame for an NFL quarterback, Taylor has received praise for his work ethic, elusiveness in the pocket and as a runner, and athleticism.

[132] He is also noted for his low turnover rate (the second lowest among passers with at least 1,000 attempts as of 2019),[133][134] though critics also point out his conservative playing style, often labeling him as a "game manager" in a similar mold as players such as Alex Smith.

[135][136] Taylor lists Steve Young, Warren Moon, Michael Vick, and Allen Iverson as his biggest athletic inspirations.

While the vast majority of people, including TV analysts and Taylor's father and coaches, had been pronouncing it "TIE-rod" for years, Browns guard Joel Bitonio and fourth-string quarterback Brogan Roback were heard on the show pronouncing it "tuh-ROD", which was supported by Taylor's mother and the Browns' senior vice president of operations.

[142][143] In June 2024, Taylor joined the ownership group for Westchester SC, a professional soccer club to begin play in USL League One.