The team that gets the quarterback right

 

Image: Torsten Bolten

The Cowboys are only a .500 team, but quarterback Dak Prescott is climbing up the MVP Chase standings. Compiling this week's list reminded me of an anniversary of sorts, which led to thinking about the history of teams and their quarterback situations. But first, the MVP Chase standings:

Dak Prescott entered the NFL in 2016. His predecessor, Tony Romo, became the Cowboys' starting quarterback in week 8 of 2006. Although others have filled in due to injury, the Cowboys are enjoying their 20th consecutive season of knowing who their starting quarterback is and will be.

Having a sense of Cowboys history, I started to think, "Well, they've usually been stable at quarterback, haven't they?" I was reminded of the Packers of Favre-Rodgers, who had 31 years of stability, which may go on for another decade or more with Jordan Love.

I thought about what a "stable" quarterback situation is, and decided that it is six seasons with the same starting quarterback. I had Ken Stabler of the 1970s Raiders in mind for the definition, though he was actually a 7-year starter for them. That five seasons were too few to qualify as "stability" was proved in the research, where I saw that Vinny Testaverde and Jameis Winston both lasted five years in Tampa, but not six. 

I'm not saying all, or even most, of these quarterbacks were that good, but they were the best options for several years. Fans appreciate knowing who their quarterback is, and the question is, which fan bases have enjoyed the most stability at quarterback? I'll rank the teams in reverse order. #1 will surprise you.

I'm going back to 1960, the birth of the AFL. I'm not including pre-1960 seasons for NFL teams so that most teams will be on roughly equal footing. Based on a minimum of six years (doesn't have to be consecutive) during which the same quarterback led their team in passing. Inclusive of passing leaders through week 7 of 2025.

32. Buccaneers: 0/50 years. (Their Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, Brad Johnson and Tom Brady, were there for four and three years, respectively.)

31. Lions: 1 QB, 11/66 years. Matthew Stafford.

30. Bears: 2 QBs, 13/66 years. Jay Cutler and Jim McMahon.

29. Broncos: 1 QB, 16/66 years. John Elway. (Craig Morton led them five years; Peyton Manning four.)

28. Jaguars: 1 QB, 8/31 years. Mark Brunell.

27. Texans: 1 QB, 7/24 years. Matt Schaub.

26. Browns: 3 QBs, 21/63 years: Bernie Kosar, Brian Sipe, Frank Ryan.

25. Commanders: 3 QBs, 22/66 years: Joe Theismann, Billy Kilmer, Sonny Jurgensen (all consecutive, 1964-1985).

24. Jets: 3 QBs, 22/66 years. Ken O'Brien, Richard Todd, Joe Namath

23. Raiders: 3 QBs, 23/66 years. Derek Carr, Ken Stabler, Daryle Lamonica.

22. Vikings: 3 QBs, 26/65 years. Kirk Cousins, Tommy Kramer, Fran Tarkenton.

21. Falcons: 2 QBs, 23/60 years. Matt Ryan, Steve Bartkowski.

20. Rams: 3 QBs, 24/66 years. Marc Bulger, Jim Everett, Roman Gabriel.

19. Saints: 2 Qbs, 24/66 years. Drew Brees, Archie Manning.

18. Giants: 2 QBs, 25/66 years. Eli Manning, Phil Simms.

17. Chiefs: 3 QBs, 27/66 years. Patrick Mahomes, Bill Kenney, Len Dawson

16. 49ers: 3 QBs, 29/66 years. Steve Young, Joe Montana, John Brodie.

15. Panthers: 2 QBs, 14/31 years. Cam Newton, Jake Delhomme.

14. Steelers: 2 Qbs, 29/65 years. Ben Roethlisberger, Terry Bradshaw. 

13. Dolphins: 2 QBs, 29/60 years. Dan Marino, Bob Griese.

12. Cardinals: 4 QBs, 33/66 years. Kyler Murray, Jake Plummer, Neil Lomax, Jim Hart

11. Eagles: 4 QBs, 33/66 years. Donovan McNabb, Randall Cunningham, Ron Jaworski, Norm Snead.

10. Titans: 4 QBS, 34/65 years. Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Dan Pastorini, George Blanda.

9. Seahawks: 4 QBs, 35/66 years. Russell Wilson, Matt Hasselbeck, Dave Krieg, Jim Zorn.

8. Colts: 4 QBs: 35/66 years. Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Bert Jones, Johnny Unitas.

7. Bengals: 36/58 years. 4 QBs: Andy Dalton, Carson Palmer, Boomer Esiason, Ken Anderson, 

6. Bills: 4 QBs, 37/66 years. Josh Allen, Jim Kelly, Joe Ferguson, Jack Kemp.

5. Ravens: 2 QBs, 18/30 years. Lamar Jackson, Joe Flacco.

4. Patriots: 4 QB, 43/66 years. Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, Steve Grogan, Babe Parilli.

3. Cowboys: 6 QBs, 48/66 years. Dak Prescott, Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Danny White, Roger Staubach, Don Meredith.

2. Packers: 4 QBs, 48/66 years. Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Lynn Dickey, Bart Starr.

1. Chargers: 5 QBs, 50/66 years. Justin Herbert, Philip Rivers, Stan Humphries, Dan Fouts, John Hadl.

It turns out that historically, the Chargers had the most stable quarterback situation. But there isn't too much rhyme or reason to the list. The Chargers have just one pre-Super Bowl AFL championship and one Super Bowl appearance. Around the middle of the pack are the Steelers, 49ers, and Chiefs, each of whom has had far more success despite about half of the luck at the QB position that the Chargers have had. The Buccaneers have had no QB stability as I've defined it, but they have two Super Bowl wins to the Chargers' none.

As good as the Chargers QBs have been, there isn't a Mahomes, Montana, or Brady in the group. Also, the Chargers have just a .500 record since 1960. Ownership, management, and coaching remain vital to team success, even when they get the quarterback right —which the Chargers usually do.

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Contact James Leroy Wilson for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Visit JL Cells for my non-sports writing.