March 26, 2022 6:29 am PT
For the true Oregon Duck fans who still get up every morning and wish the very best for former quarterback Marcus Mariota, it’s been a pretty spectacular week. At long last, we learned that Mariota would be signing with a new team in the NFL — the Atlanta Falcons — and receiving a clear path to become a starting QB once again.
The ceiling for Mariota’s career was high when he was drafted No. 2 in 2015 after winning Oregon’s first-ever Heisman Trophy, but unfortunately, things haven’t played out as we all hoped. A series of injuries and coaching changes with the Tennessee Titans ended up with Mariota eventually losing his job to Ryan Tannehill, and he then spent the next several years with the Oakland, and then Las Vegas Raiders as a backup to Derek Carr.
Mariota was a great backup and proved in his limited role that he still had a lot to give, which is why his new opportunity with the Falcons is something to celebrate.
In order to celebrate, we wanted to take a quick look back at the first half of Mariota’s career in pictures. We combed through his time at Oregon, his Heisman win, his early years in Tennessee, and of course his last stint in Vegas. Here’s to hoping that the second half of his career is successful, and sees him earning the respect that we know he deserves as an incredibly talented quarterback.
NCAA Football: Tennessee Tech at Oregon
September 15, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bryan Bennett (2) and quarterback Marcus Mariota…
September 15, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bryan Bennett (2) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the side line in the second half against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Oregon at Arizona State
Oct. 18, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback (8) Marcus Mariota following the game against…
Oct. 18, 2012; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback (8) Marcus Mariota following the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Oregon defeated Arizona State 43-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Oregon at Washington State
Sep 20, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) gets off the bus…
Sep 20, 2014; Pullman, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) gets off the bus before a game against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Oregon at Oregon State
Nov 24, 2012; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball for…
Nov 24, 2012; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Oregon at UCLA
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs 23 yards for…
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs 23 yards for a touchdown against UCLA Bruins in the third quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Michigan State at Oregon
Sep 6, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands the ball off…
Sep 6, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) hands the ball off to Oregon Ducks running back Thomas Tyner (24) against the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Arizona at Oregon
Oct 2, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to the fans…
Oct 2, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to the fans before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Washington at Oregon
Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws the ball on…
Oct 18, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws the ball on the run against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Washington v Oregon
EUGENE,OR – OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 of the Oregon Ducks warms up before the…
EUGENE,OR – OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Marcus Mariota #8 of the Oregon Ducks warms up before the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on October 18, 2014 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
NCAA Football: Heisman Trophy Presentation
Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota kisses the Heisman Trophy…
Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota kisses the Heisman Trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis after winning the Heisman Trophy. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Florida State vs Oregon
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scores on a 23-yard…
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) scores on a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Oregoon defeated Florida State 59-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Florida State vs Oregon
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes against the Florida…
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Florida State vs Oregon
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and linebacker Tony Washington…
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and linebacker Tony Washington (91) celebrate with the Leishman Trophy after defeating the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: National Championship-Ohio State vs Oregon
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes ball as offensive…
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes ball as offensive lineman Hamani Stevens (54) blocks Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Rashad Frazier (17) during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Ducks 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: National Championship-Ohio State vs Oregon
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) speaks during a press…
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) speaks during a press conference after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: National Championship-Ohio State vs Oregon
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the field…
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the field after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Combine
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota speaks to the media at the…
Feb 19, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Preseason-Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
Sep 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Fans hold up a cut out of Tennessee Titans quarterback…
Sep 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Fans hold up a cut out of Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium. The Titans won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90), backed by defensive tackle Al-Quadin Muhammad (97), sacks Tennessee…
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90), backed by defensive tackle Al-Quadin Muhammad (97), sacks Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) in the third quarter of their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Indianapolis Colts At Tennessee Titans At Nissan Stadium In Nashville Tenn Sept 15 2019
NFL: Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
Oct 13, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) at the line of…
Oct 13, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: Nashville
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) greet each…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) greet each other before the game at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Dsc 3752
Syndication: Nashville
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) takes a selfie with fans before the game against the…
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) takes a selfie with fans before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Dsc7665
Syndication: Nashville
Tennessee Titans fan John Shumby shows quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) that he’s wearing his jersey before…
Tennessee Titans fan John Shumby shows quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) that he’s wearing his jersey before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. Dsc7691
Syndication: The Register Guard
Former Oregon football players Hroniss Grasu, left, and Marcus Mariota wave to the crowd during the…
Former Oregon football players Hroniss Grasu, left, and Marcus Mariota wave to the crowd during the game against Colorado Saturday Oct. 30, 2021. Eug 103021 Uo Cofb11
NFL: Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts
Jan 2, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reacts to a…
Jan 2, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reacts to a first down run in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is brought down by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest…
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is brought down by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) after rushing for a first down Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with quarterback…
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
