In American football , the starting quarterback is typically viewed as the leader of a team.[1] The quarterback is considered the most important position on the field and among the most important positions in team sports.[2] [3] They are among the most high-profile athletes in North America and have been described as akin to A-list celebrities.[4] The success of a National Football League (NFL) franchise often rests on the quarterback; thus, teams will go to great lengths to find a franchise quarterback to build around for the long-term goals of the team.[5]
Note: The players listed here are the starting quarterbacks of each team's most recently played regular season game (Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season ) and may not reflect roster changes made since that time. Because of this, quarterbacks that have been announced as replacement due to injury or otherwise should not be included until they make their start. Changes may be made in time for Thursday Night Football.
List of active NFL starting quarterbacks[6]
Team
Quarterback
College
Year drafted (pick)
Since
Arizona Cardinals (list )
Kyler Murray
Oklahoma
2019 (1)
Week 10, 2023
Atlanta Falcons (list )
Desmond Ridder
Cincinnati
2022 (74)
Week 18, 2023
Baltimore Ravens (list )
Tyler Huntley
Utah
2020 (undrafted)
Week 18, 2023
Buffalo Bills (list )
Josh Allen
Wyoming
2018 (7)
Week 12, 2018
Carolina Panthers (list )
Bryce Young
Alabama
2023 (1)
Week 4, 2023
Chicago Bears (list )
Justin Fields
Ohio State
2021 (11)
Week 11, 2023
Cincinnati Bengals (list )
Jake Browning
Washington
2019 (undrafted)
Week 12, 2023
Cleveland Browns (list )
Jeff Driskel
Louisiana Tech
2016 (207)
Week 18, 2023
Dallas Cowboys (list )
Dak Prescott
Mississippi State
2016 (135)
Week 7, 2022
Denver Broncos (list )
Jarrett Stidham
Auburn
2019 (133)
Week 17, 2023
Detroit Lions (list )
Jared Goff
California
2016 (1)
Week 18, 2021
Green Bay Packers (list )
Jordan Love
Utah State
2020 (26)
Week 1, 2023
Houston Texans (list )
C. J. Stroud
Ohio State
2023 (2)
Week 17, 2023
Indianapolis Colts (list )
Gardner Minshew
Washington State
2019 (178)
Week 6, 2023
Jacksonville Jaguars (list )
Trevor Lawrence
Clemson
2021 (1)
Week 18, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs (list )
Blaine Gabbert
Missouri
2011 (10)
Week 18, 2023
Las Vegas Raiders (list )
Aidan O'Connell
Purdue
2023 (135)
Week 9, 2023
Los Angeles Chargers (list )
Easton Stick
North Dakota State
2019 (166)
Week 15, 2023
Los Angeles Rams (list )
Carson Wentz
North Dakota State
2016 (2)
Week 18, 2023
Miami Dolphins (list )
Tua Tagovailoa
Alabama
2020 (5)
Week 1, 2023
Minnesota Vikings (list )
Nick Mullens
Southern Miss
2017 (undrafted)
Week 18, 2023
New England Patriots (list )
Bailey Zappe
Western Kentucky
2022 (137)
Week 13, 2023
New Orleans Saints (list )
Derek Carr
Fresno State
2014 (36)
Week 1, 2023
New York Giants (list )
Tyrod Taylor
Virginia Tech
2011 (180)
Week 17, 2023
New York Jets (list )
Trevor Siemian
Northwestern
2015 (250)
Week 16, 2023
Philadelphia Eagles (list )
Jalen Hurts
Oklahoma
2020 (53)
Week 18, 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers (list )
Mason Rudolph
Oklahoma State
2018 (76)
Week 16, 2023
San Francisco 49ers (list )
Sam Darnold
USC
2018 (3)
Week 18, 2023
Seattle Seahawks (list )
Geno Smith
West Virginia
2013 (39)
Week 16, 2023
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (list )
Baker Mayfield
Oklahoma
2018 (1)
Week 1, 2023
Tennessee Titans (list )
Ryan Tannehill
Texas A&M
2012 (8)
Week 18, 2023
Washington Commanders (list )
Sam Howell
North Carolina
2022 (144)
Week 18, 2022
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ Wertheim, Jon; Sommers, Sam (February 3, 2016). "Ranking starting quarterbacks by perceived leadership" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved December 11, 2016 .
^ "Steve Young: Quarterback is the most important position in football" . Los Angeles Times . January 28, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2021 .
^ Brooks, Bucky (July 27, 2015). "Ranking each position's importance, from quarterback to returner" . NFL.com . Retrieved October 5, 2021 .
^ La Canfora, Jason (June 7, 2016). "Here are the 7 tiers of NFL quarterbacks and where all 32 starters fit in" . CBS Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2021 .
^ Farmer, Sam (April 30, 2016). "NFL draft reiterates the importance of the quarterback position" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 5, 2021 .
^ "NFL Starting Quarterbacks" . Pro Football Network . Retrieved November 11, 2023 .