Only A True NFL Fan Can Name All Of These Quarterbacks
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
There's no more important job in sports than being the quarterback of a National Football League (NFL) team. A quarterback is required to lead the offense 16 nights a year during the regular season and the success of his team, whether it's fair or not, falls on his shoulders. He can become a legend if he leads his team to a Super Bowl, but will take the brunt of the blame if the team falls short in the playoffs. The position is comparable to being a goaltender in the NHL or a pitcher in MLB, but goaltenders are primary defenders and at least generally have capable backups to replace them and share the blame. Pitchers, meanwhile, only have to take the mound every five games.
Teams make drafting quarterbacks a priority. As important as it is to have a strong defense and supporting players on offense like wide receivers and running backs, the quarterback facilitates the offensive game, which is why fans know them more than those other positional players. They're the face of the franchise, so it shouldn't be too difficult to name these 40 quarterbacks, especially for hardcore NFL fans - even casual fans should know at least half of them as, for the most part, they're all major stars both on the field and in pop culture.
Who is this former first overall pick?
An alumnus of the University of California, this 6-foot-4, 222-pound quarterback was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft and had a forgettable rookie campaign with a record of 0-7 to go along with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, under new coach Sean McVay in 2017, he post a record of 11-4, while throwing for 28 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions. He also led the league in yards per completion with 12.9.
Who is this Super Bowl-winning quarterback?
A one-time Super Bowl champion, this New Orleans Saints quarterback has also racked up the individual accolades throughout his career; he's a two-time Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, one-time Walter Payton Man of the Year, and 11-time Pro Bowl player. Originally selected in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, he joined the Saints in 2006 and now has a career record of 142-106 to go along with 488 touchdowns and 228 interceptions.
Who is this Jaguars quarterback?
A 6-foot-5, 236-pound native of Oviedo, Florida, this quarterback was selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft after playing for Central Florida University. Like the Jaguars, he performed terribly in his first three seasons in the league and even led the league in interceptions in 2015 with 18, but he was slightly better in 2017, at least in regard to protecting the ball. He registered a career-low 13 interceptions and 21 touchdowns, while leading the team to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.
Who is this NFL Hall of Fame quarterback?
This three-time Super Bowl quarterback turned analyst is a Hall of Famer and six-time Pro Bowl player who spent his entire 12-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he compiled a regular season record of 94-71, while throwing for 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions. While he was never the top quarterback in the league at any point during his career, he was one of the most consistent passers of his era. He retired in 2000 after a disappointing season in which he threw for seven touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Who is this former Vikings quarterback?
A career backup, this 6-foot-1, 215-pound alumnus of the University of Houston found success as a starter this past season with the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to this year, he had a career record of 9-15, but he posted a record of 11-3 in 2017 to go along with a career-high 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He finished in the top 10 in several major offensive categories and was rewarded with a two-year, $36 million contract offer from the Denver Broncos.
Who is this former Bears quarterback?
A 35 year old native of Santa Claus, Indiana, this 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Bears and was ready to retire and join the booth as an analyst in 2017, but received a last-minute offer from the Miami Dolphins after their star quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, went down with an injury. The former 11th overall pick in the draft performed about to expectation with the Dolphins, registering 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 14 starts. He still hasn't announced his retirement, but he's likely done in the NFL.
Who is this Denver Broncos general manager?
Long before he was general manager of the Denver Broncos, this Port Angeles, Washington native was chasing a Super Bowl with the team. He finally won one in 1997 and again in 1998, his last season in the league, after coming so close throughout his first 14 seasons in the league. One of the all-time greats, he retired with a career record of 148-82-1 to go along with 51,475 passing yards, 300 touchdowns, and 226 interceptions. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Who is this Raiders quarterback?
A 27 year old native of Bakersfield, California, this 6-foot-3, 214-pound quarterback was drafted out of Fresno State in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He has registered at least 20 touchdowns per season since joining the league and finished this past season with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He now has a career record of 28-34 to go along with 14,690 passing yards as well as 103 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. He's also a three-time Pro Bowl player.
Who is this longtime fringe starting quarterback?
A 35 year old native of Gilbert, Arizona, this quarterback was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams out of Harvard and has managed to maintain a relatively successful career in the league ever since. He has played for the Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and most recently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and has a career record of 48-70-1 to go along with 26,991 passing yards, 173 touchdowns, and 136 interceptions.
Who is this former first overall pick?
A three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, this former first overall pick of the Carolina Panthers was named 2015 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year and MVP after an impressive season in which he led the Panthers to a 15-1 record with 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 3,837 passing yards. A dual-threat quarterback, he also had 636 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that season. He now has a career record of 62-45-1 to go along with 25,074 passing yards, 158 touchdowns, and 94 interceptions.
Who is this Dolphins quarterback?
An alumnus of Texas A&M, this 6-foot-4, 216-pound quarterback from Big Spring, Texas was selected eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft and has since been a relatively consistent player. While he isn't near the top of any statistical categories, he has registered at least 19 touchdowns in each of his past four seasons and now boasts a career record of 37-40 as well as 18,455 passing yards, 106 touchdowns, and 66 interceptions. He missed the entire 2016 season due to an injury.
Who is this former top five pick?
A dual-threat quarterback with the ability to throw the long ball or make defenders miss with his rushing ability, this 24 year old quarterback from Hawaii played for the University of Oregon and was selected second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He had an impressive rookie season and followed that up with an even better season in 2016, when he recorded 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, despite recording a 9-6 record in 2017, he registered a less-than-impressive 13 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions on 3,232 passing yards. He did, however, record five rushing touchdowns and was much better in the playoffs.
Who is this five-time Super Bowl winner?
Arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time and certainly the most accomplished, this 40 year old continues to be one of the best in the game despite his advanced age. Originally selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, the California native has spent his entire career with the team and has won five Super Bowls, three MVPs, and the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year. He led the league in passing yards last season with 4,577 and now has an impressive career record of 196-55 to go along with 66,159 passing yards, 488 touchdowns, and 160 interceptions.
Who is this Falcons quarterback?
Although he won the 2016 MVP and Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, this 33 year old quarterback likely doesn't want to remember that season, or at least the playoffs, since his Atlanta Falcons blew one of the biggest leads of all-time in the Super Bowl against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Despite that, he has built an impressive career resume with a record of 95-63 to go along with 41,796 passing yards, 260 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He has spent his entire career with the Falcons since being selected third overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Who is this Super Bowl winner?
A 36 year old native of Lima, Ohio, this 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 11th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with the team. The two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowl player had some early struggles in his career despite winning Rookie of the Year in 2004 (he led the league in interceptions two years later), but has consistently been among the league's top passers since. He now has a career record of 135-63 to go along with 51,065 passing yards as well as 329 touchdowns and 174 interceptions.
Who is this former second overall pick?
This player was drafted second overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2017 NFL Draft and began the 2017 season as a backup, but was promoted to starter after just four games and went on to compile a 4-8 record to go along with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was far brilliant, but he showed enough flashes of solid play during the season to warrant optimism among Bears fans. While he isn't quite a dual-threat quarterback similar to the likes of Newton or Mariota, he did rush for 248 yards and score a pair of touchdowns.
Who is this former Clemson University quarterback?
The breakout player of the 2017 season, this 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback was selected 12th overall by the Houston Texans in the 2017 NFL Draft and turned the team into a contender before suffering a season-ending injury. In only six starts, he threw for a remarkable 19 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions to go along with 1,699 passing yards for a quarterback rating of 103. He also registered 269 rushing yards on 36 attempts for an impressive 7.5 yards per attempt, while scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Who is this red-haired quarterback?
An alumnus of TCU, this 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals and has spent his entire seven-year career with the team, compiling a record of 63-44-2 to go along with 25,534 passing yards, 167 touchdowns, and 93 interceptions. He has been an exceptional regular season performer, but has been unable to get it done in the playoffs with a career 0-4 record with only one touchdown and six interceptions.
Who is this Packers quarterback?
A six-time Pro Bowl quarterback and two-time MVP, this 34 year old was selected by the Green Bay Packers 24th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career with the team. He won a Super Bowl in 2010 after posting a 10-5 record in the regular season to go along with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has recorded at least 30 touchdowns in each of his past three full seasons (he missed significant time due to injury in 2017 and 2013) and now has 313 touchdowns compared to only 78 interceptions.
Who is this Cowboys quarterback?
One of the surprise breakout players of the 2016 season, this Mississippi State alumnus was thrust into action after the Cowboys presumptive starter suffered an injury in training camp. He went on to become the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year, following a season in which he led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and threw for 23 touchdowns compared to only four interceptions. He wasn't quite as impressive in 2017, but remains one of the best young quarterbacks in the league.
Who is this top 10 all-time passer?
After playing several years in the Canadian Football League (CFL) following his collegiate career at the University of Washington, this California native was signed in 1984 by the Houston Oilers and went on to become one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He led the league in passing yards twice in his career and retired in 2000 with a career record of 102-101 to go along with 49,325 passing yards, 291 touchdowns, and 233 interceptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Who is this Super Bowl winner?
One of the only quarterbacks in the league to get the better of Tom Brady on multiple occasions, this longtime New York Giants quarterback was actually drafted first overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2004, but shortly after dealt to the Giants in a package that included Philip Rivers. The two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback owns a career regular season record of 111-103 to go along with 51,682 passing yards, 339 touchdowns, and 228 interceptions.
Who is this former second overall pick?
Poised to win the 2017 MVP, this Philadelphia Eagles unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury toward the end of the year, but that didn't stop the Eagles from winning the Super Bowl. Selected second overall by the Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State, he had a decent rookie season, but broke out in a big way in 2017 as he finished the season with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions through 13 games. He also led the league in touchdown percentage as 7.5 percent of his pass attempts resulted in six points.
Who is this Hall of Fame quarterback?
Selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1984 NFL Draft, this Salt Lake City, Utah native played two seasons with the team before he was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers, where he became a star. He won three Super Bowls with the team as well as two MVPs and was named the 1992 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. He retired in 1999 with a career regular season record of 94-49 to go along with 33,124 passing yards, 232 touchdowns, and 107 interceptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Who is this Lions quarterback?
The highest-paid player in the league (for whatever reason), this quarterback was selected first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia. He had a disastrous rookie season and missed all but three games in 2010, but returned in 2011 and was named Comeback Player of the Year after managing a career-high 41 touchdowns and 5,038 passing yards. He hasn't been as effective in recent years, but is still among the league's most consistent quarterbacks. He now has a career record of 60-65 to go along with 34,749 passing yards and 216 touchdowns.
Who is this Chargers quarterback?
An alumnus of North Carolina State, this 6-foot-5, 228-pound quarterback was selected fourth overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft, but shortly after dealt to the San Diego (Los Angeles) Chargers, where he has remained ever since. Through 192 career starts, he owns a record of 106-86 to go along with 50,348 passing yards, 342 touchdowns, and 166 interceptions. He led the league in touchdowns (34) in 2008, passing yards (4,710) in 2010, and interceptions (18 and 21) in 2014 and 2016.
Who is this former Redskins quarterback?
A 29 year old native of Holland, Michigan, this quarterback played for Michigan State and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After serving as a backup, he took over the starting duties full-time in 2015 and became one of the league's best young quarterbacks; he registered 29 touchdowns that season and has thrown for at least 25 in each of the following two seasons. He signed a three-year, $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in March.
Who is this current NFL analyst?
Before hanging up his cleats to accept a job with CBS Sports as an analyst, this former quarterback was beloved as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, despite being prone to injury throughout his career. He was undrafted out of East Illinois University, but emerged as the Cowboys starter in 2006 and didn't look back, serving the role until 2015, during which time he compiled a regular season record of 78-49 to go along with 248 touchdowns and 117 interceptions.
Who is this former Patriots backup?
Perceived as the future of the San Francisco 49ers, this 26 year old East Illinois alumnus joined the team in a midseason trade from the New England Patriots last season and led the team to a perfect 5-0 record, while recording seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He started only two games in New England behind Tom Brady, but won both and registered four touchdowns and no interceptions. He now boasts a perfect 7-0 record as a starting quarterback with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Who is this all-time passing leader?
A 14-time Pro Bowl quarterback, this University of Tennessee alumnus was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He had a forgettable rookie campaign with the Indianapolis Colts, but that was not a precursor of things to come as he eventually retired as a five-time MVP, two-time Super Bowl champion, 14-time Pro Bowl player, and winner of the 2005 Walter Payton Man of the Year. He currently ranks first all-time in passing yards with 71,940 and has 539 touchdowns compared to 251 interceptions.