Top 10 Worst Quarterbacks of All Time

This article is also available in French.

As the Kansas City Chiefs claimed another Super Bowl, we can’t help but focus on some of the boneheaded plays on display this year. Several players promised more than they could deliver, which got us thinking. Who are the worst quarterbacks of all time?

If you have watched football every week this season, you would have seen some awful performances. While the most passionate fans will tell us all that we are watching one of the worst quarterbacks of all time, we can’t agree. Players like Zach Wilson have been below expectations again in 2023, but at 24, he can’t rank amongst the worst quarterbacks to play the sport.

Despite our temptation to criticize Wilson and join the crowd, we must remember he is young and can still change his career trajectory. This list of the worst quarterbacks ever highlights awful players with little chance of redeeming themselves. If you like this list and want to see more from us, check out the best NFL fan bases or the best NFL defenses of all time. If you disagree with our list or feel we missed someone, let us know!

10. Danny Kanell

First on our list of the worst quarterbacks of all time is Danny Kanell. His professional career began as the 130th pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. The New York Giants picked Kanell and he stayed with the franchise until 1998. He moved to the Falcons in 1999, but they let him go in 2000. It took two years for Kanell to play again, this time for the New York Dragons in the Arena Football League. He got one last NFL chance with the Denver Bronchos, but they cut it short in 2004.

His first season for the Giants was his best, leading the franchise to the NFC Eastern Division title. They lost to the Vikings in the playoffs by one point, earning him ten starts next season. Even with 1,303 yards, 11 touchdowns, and ten interceptions, New York benched him as they recorded three wins and seven losses. Benching Kanell was the right idea as the franchise finished the season 8-8. From here, things only got worse for him. After moving to Atlanta, he only completed 99 passes out of 200 attempts, resulting in six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Kanell’s stats speak for itself, and even when he got the job in Denver in 2003, they cut him before he played a game. They recalled him when both quarterbacks picked up injuries, but the Bronchos lost both games he started. Kanell finished his NFL career with 43 games played, 956 attempts, and only 491 completions. He had a percentage of 51.4 for his passing and a passer rating of 63.2. Kanell had ample opportunity to deliver in the NFL but consistently fell short of what’s expected from even a reserve quarterback.

• Games: 43
• Passer Rating: 63.2
• TD-INT: 31-34
• Passing Yards: 5,129
• Completion Percentage: 51.4%
• Wins-Losses: 10-13-1

9. Jimmy Clausen

Next on our list of the worst quarterbacks is Jimmy Clausen, a QB who played in the NFL between 2010 and 2015. His high school performances gathered a lot of attention, finishing his prep career 42-0. Critics cited his age as the reason he was so dominant, as he started kindergarten at six and had to repeat the sixth grade. He entered the 2010 NFL Draft as a potential top pick. However, he was 48th overall by the Panthers thanks to his cocky attitude.

His NFL debut season for the Panthers featured several fumbles. After three starts, Clausen had a 47% completion rate, three interceptions, and only one touchdown. He fumbled seven times and had a passer rating of 52.5. By the end of the season, he was sacked 33 times, made nine fumbles, and marginally improved his completion percentage. Because of a lack of improvement, he never played for Carolina again after 2010 and they replaced him with a rookie draft pick.

The only way Minnesota can save their season is to bring in this guy #JimmyClausen #StepUpToMe pic.twitter.com/zoXWoM6iFu

— Joey Freshwater (@E_Lew12) August 31, 2016

Clausen signed for the Chicago Bears in 2014, where he showed signs of life. He became the starting QB and achieved a passer rating of 77 in a loss to the Detroit Lions. A concussion ended his season early, but the Bears extended his deal. He started the third game of the 2015 season, recording 48 net passing yards. That was the second time since 1990 that the Bears had fewer than 50 passing yards in a game. They lost the match 26-0. 

Clausen finished his career with seven touchdowns and 14 interceptions. We will never know if it was because of his attitude or a lack of ability. However, he will go down as one of the worst quarterbacks ever.

• Games: 21
• Passer Rating: 61.9
• TD-INT: 7-14
• Passing Yards: 2,520
• Completion Percentage: 54.0%
• Wins-Losses: 1-13-0

8. Nathan Peterman

As mentioned above, we want to limit the number of active players in the list of the worst quarterbacks ever. There is one exception. Nathan Peterman is currently a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and many consider him one of the worst in the league. His professional career began when he was the 171st pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. After a short stint with the Bills came the Raiders until 2021 when he moved to Chicago.

The Bills brought in Peterman as a backup and he nearly started in the first game of the season because of injuries. He missed that game but got several chances to play during the year. In his first start, he tied with the NFL record for most interceptions thrown in a first career start. In 2018, he competed with Josh Allen for the starting spot. He quickly made the coaches pay for that decision after registering a 0.0 passer rating in a 47-3 defeat at the hands of the Ravens. His next stints for the Raiders and Bears were uneventful. Peterman had opportunities, but he consistently underperformed across both franchises.

Famous Nathan Peterman interception from todays game #NathanPeterman #BillsMafia #BearsNation pic.twitter.com/u9nN1MY6nr

— Alec (@Alec_USA) December 25, 2022

In the 2023 season, they cut Peterman three times. His current NFL statistics are up there with the worst quarterbacks ever. With four touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 712 career passing yards, his stats are terrible for someone with six years of NFL experience. Plus, he has a career passing rating of 39.4, which is well below acceptable even for a third-string quarterback. He just signed for the Saints and might turn his career around, but we seriously doubt it.

• Games: 15
• Passer Rating: 39.4
• TD-INT: 4-13
• Passing Yards: 712
• Completion Percentage: 53.1%
• Wins-Losses: 1-4-0

7. Chris Weinke

Next on our list is a truly unique player. Chris Weinke gave up a baseball career after spending six years with the Toronto Blue Jays affiliate team. At 25, he enrolled in university and quickly established himself on the college team. At 28, Weinke became the oldest player to receive a Heisman Trophy, and the Carolina Panthers picked him in the 2001 Draft.

In 2001, Weinke became the starter for one of the worst NFL seasons ever. He started 16 games that season, registering one victory and 15 straight defeats. As a starter in his Panthers career, he registered 17 consecutive losses with only two victories. He set multiple records that season, including some good and bad for the Panthers. He was sacked eight times in his rookie game and had the most interceptions in a rookie season. Weinke also had the most pass completions in a regular season game for the franchise.

Weinke had 709 attempts and 386 completions at the end of his career. He had 15 touchdowns and 26 interceptions, plus a 62.2 passer rating. Overall, Weinke had some fantastic moments playing in the NFL, including a game-winning touchdown, but he failed to deliver consistently. With his age and experience, the Panthers hoped he would bring good luck to the team. However, all those awards he won as a player in college did not help him in the NFL. Instead, we think he should have stuck to baseball.

• Games: 29
• Passer Rating: 62.2
• TD-INT: 15-26
• Passing Yards: 3,904
• Completion Percentage: 54.4%
• Wins-Losses: 2-18-0

6. Kim McQuilken

Digging through the NFL archives reveals a bunch of terrible quarterbacks that most of us have not heard of. One of these names that we just could not shake was Kim McQuilken. Expectations were low following his third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 1974, but he somehow found a new level. After a few seasons with the Falcons, he moved to the Redskins in 1978. He stayed in Washington even after his NFL career finished in 1980, playing one season for the Washington Federals.

McQuilken made history as a quarterback, with one of the worst passer ratings in NFL history. Ruling out players with fewer than 200 attempts, he has the second-worst passer rating ever with 17.9. Plus, he recorded four touchdowns in 26 games, including 29 interceptions. His completion percentage was also abysmal, registering 39.9 in Atlanta and 25.0 in Washington. He only had five years in the NFL but proved he could not handle the big leagues.

Players like McQuilken probably don’t reach the NFL anymore. When they do, they certainly don’t get as many games to prove they are not up for the challenge. Including a player like McQuilken is always bittersweet. He is one of the worst quarterbacks of all time, but he played so long ago that it’s hard to compare him to a modern-day player.

• Games: 26
• Passer Rating: 17.9
• TD-INT: 4-29
• Passing Yards: 1,135
• Completion Percentage: 39.7%
• Wins-Losses: 2-5-0

5. Rusty Lisch

Like Kim McQuilken, Rusty Lisch is another player who played in the NFL over 40 years ago. Originally serving as a backup to Joe Montana, Lisch was a player who entered the NFL with no expectations on his shoulders. Many players on this list were draft busts or failed to live up to the hype in college, but that was not the case for Lisch. Instead, he was horrendous in his few games and effectively torched his career.

Happy birthday to Belleville native and former Cardinals and Bears QB #RustyLisch who threw his only career TD pass to Big Red TE Doug Marsh in 1983. https://t.co/D1dhexRIKq pic.twitter.com/ksexzcaTHN

— St. Louis Football Cardinals (@BigRed_STL) December 21, 2023

Across his five-year career, mainly with the Cardinals, Lisch threw one touchdown. It was a single-yard pass that meant nothing as the team lost 31-14 to the Redskins. He finished his career with a 25.1 passer rating, only managing 547 passing yards across 30 appearances. Lisch started one game, which finished in defeat, and he had a completion percentage of 47.8. If you are searching for a player with over 100 attempts and one touchdown, Lisch is one of the worst quarterbacks in NFL history.

After signing for the Bears in 1984, coach Mike Ditka berated him following a terrible performance as a starter. Injuries forced the coach’s hand when they benched Lisch during a game, and Ditka turned to the quarterback later in the match. Lisch refused to take to the field. On the flight home, Lisch was reading the bible when Ditka said:

“I hope there is something in that book about job opportunities because you’ll need one on Monday.” – Mike Ditka

Whatever you think makes a bad quarterback, Lisch had it all. A complete lack of ability, a poor attitude, and a disinterest in proving the haters wrong. Few players deserve as much recognition for being the worst quarterback ever as Rusty Lisch.

• Games: 30
• Passer Rating: 25.1
• TD-INT: 1-11
• Passing Yards: 547
• Completion Percentage: 47.8%
• Wins-Losses: 0-1-0

4. Heath Shuler

We have spoken about several of the worst quarterbacks without mentioning draft busts. Unfortunately, Heath Shuler became one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Shuler began with an outstanding college career. He set multiple records for Tennessee in his three seasons. He showed vast improvement each year.

Shuler was then a first-round selection for the Washington Redskins in the 1994 NFL Draft. He angered the franchise and fans by holding out for a seven-year deal worth $20 million. Even with the mega-deal, he did not stay in Washington long and was part of a trade deal with the Saints. Injuries meant he did not feature regularly before signing with the Raiders. Once again, injuries plagued his time with the Raiders, and he retired after being cut from the team.

Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler breaks off a run against Arkansas at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 10, 1992.

📸 The Tennesseean pic.twitter.com/NcGIRd6HRd

— Neyland Press Corps (@NeylandPress_) January 25, 2023

Shuler had all the makings of an NFL superstar. Even after flopping with the Redskins, both the Saints and Packers were interested in signing him. Charley Casserly, GM of the Redskins, urged Shuler to sign with the Packers to develop as a quarterback, but he refused. His professional career ended with 29 appearances, 15 touchdowns, and 33 interceptions. He had a passer rating of 54.3 and a completion percentage of 49.2.

Expectations were high for Shuler as the third overall pick, but he did not even threaten to deliver. Whether it was arrogance or a lack of ability is irrelevant. Holding out for a better deal and offering nothing to the franchise is unforgivable.

• Games: 29
• Passer Rating: 54.3
• TD-INT: 15-33
• Passing Yards: 3,691
• Completion Percentage: 49.2%
• Wins-Losses: 8-14-0

3. Akili Smith

The third-worst quarterback of all time also started life as a baseball player. He was in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates but only played in the affiliate teams. Smith went to college where he had a standout season throwing 32 touchdown passes in 11 starting appearances. Fast forward to 1999 and he was the third overall pick ahead of the future Hall of Famers Edgerrin James and Champ Bailey.

The Saints nearly saved the Bengals from a huge mistake by offering a ludicrous trade deal for a higher draft pick that year. Cincinnati refused and drafted Smith. Immediately, he got off on the wrong foot by missing most of the training camp, as he was locked in a contract dispute. They eventually agreed a deal worth $56 million across seven years, with nearly $11 million guaranteed. This should have set off warning signs as he failed to establish himself in the franchise. He did not study the playbook and spent most of his career on the bench.

He only started 17 games in the NFL, resulting in an appalling record of 3-14-0. Smith had a 46.6 completion percentage, managing five touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 22 games. Looking back, Akili Smith was an unproven rookie who seized his chance to make bank, rather than improve as a professional football player. He had four seasons in the NFL, not including his unsuccessful stints with the Packers or Buccaneers. No matter how hard you try, there is no defending what Smith did. Sure, shame on the Bengals for risking it on an unproven player, but nobody could have predicted how bad he would be.

• Games: 22
• Passer Rating: 52.8
• TD-INT: 5-13
• Passing Yards: 2,212
• Completion Percentage: 46.6%
• Wins-Losses: 3-14-0

2. JaMarcus Russell

Now that we enter the top two worst quarterbacks in NFL history, we can talk about some lousy players. JaMarcus Russell was another player who excelled at college. He looked like a leader and the real deal while at LSU, improving year after year. His performances earned him the number one pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

Russell held out to the first week of the season for a big money deal. It was worth under $70 million, with over $30 million guaranteed. Because of his lack of training, they restricted his appearances in 2007. When he made his first start on the last game of the season, he flopped. They intercepted his passes twice, and a lost fumble contributed to 17 points gained for the Chargers. Somehow, he failed upwards and became a starter in the 2008 season. Russell started 15 times, resulting in a record of five wins and ten defeats.

Jamarcus Russell's Career Highlights: pic.twitter.com/MLtvsdKf7I

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) March 1, 2013

He only had three seasons in the NFL, and there were signs of a talented player. However, he finished the 2009 season with the lowest QB rating and completion percentage, plus the fewest passing yards and touchdowns. His career stats show 680 attempts, 354 completions, and a 65.2 passer rating. He tried to make an NFL comeback but the damage was already done. Russell established himself as lazy and at 24 years of age, he never played in the big leagues again.

• Games: 31
• Passer Rating: 65.2
• TD-INT: 18-23
• Passing Yards: 4,083
• Completion Percentage: 52.1%
• Wins-Losses: 7-18-0

1. Ryan Leaf

The worst quarterback of all time is none other than Ryan Leaf. For those of you who want a recap, Leaf was the second pick behind Peyton Manning in the 1998 NFL Draft. Before the draft, both looked like future starters and the scouts even favored Leaf. However, when the time came for interviews, Manning wowed the Colts, who had the first pick, and Leaf did not even bother to show up. He had issues with arrogance, and after signing the former largest rookie deal in the sport’s history, he said:

“I’m looking forward to a 15-year career, a couple of trips to the Super Bowl, and a parade through downtown San Diego.” – Ryan Leaf

While he commented in jest, his performances were well below expectations. His first few appearances were full of mistakes for the Chargers. He completed one of 15 attempts and made four fumbles, three of which were lost. Leaf started 18 games for San Diego and recorded four wins and 14 losses. He had a poor completion percentage of 48.0 and finished his career with a passer rating of 50.

Once his time with the Chargers was done, he had multiple chances to save his career with the Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Seahawks. With Tampa Bay, they asked him to drop to fourth string and grow as a quarterback. He refused, and they released him before the season started. With the Cowboys, he failed his physical and was let go. Leaf made a return when other QBs picked up injuries, but he lost every match he played. He got one more chance with Seattle, accepted a new deal, and then abruptly retired at 26.

• Games: 25
• Passer Rating: 50.0
• TD-INT: 14-36
• Passing Yards: 3,666
• Completion Percentage: 48.4%
• Wins-Losses: 4-17-0

Conclusions

Ryan Leaf is everything you don’t want to see from a quarterback. He often missed training and fought with the fans. Leaf alienated himself from the team and consistently received fines or warnings for his behavior. He was poor on the field, making costly mistakes and fumbles. Plus, he had three franchises interested in him, even after proving he was not worth the time of day. Perhaps the biggest insult is that he gave up on the NFL at 26. Several players on our list did not get even half the chances Leaf had, which is why he belongs on this list. He is one of the worst quarterbacks to play in the NFL.