Quarterbacks are supposed to be the calm, cool leaders of the huddle—but some of them couldn’t resist indulging their petty side. Whether it was a postgame jab, a sideline meltdown, or a years-long grudge, these signal-callers were masters of making it personal.
Some did it with a smirk, others with an eye roll, and a few just went full scorched-earth. From social media shade to on-field antics, here are 17 quarterbacks who brought elite levels of pettiness to the position.
17. Jay Cutler
Cutler always looked like he just couldn’t be bothered—and sometimes, he really couldn’t. From ignoring teammates on the sideline to icing out coaches, his brand of petty was delightfully apathetic.
16. Kyler Murray
Murray scrubbing the Cardinals from his Instagram like it was a breakup was peak offseason drama. He may be small in stature, but his pettiness knows no bounds.
15. Jeff George
Jeff George had a cannon for an arm and an ego to match. He feuded with coaches, barked at teammates, and never seemed too interested in playing nice.
14. Ryan Leaf
Leaf’s legendary blow-ups weren’t limited to the media—he had no problem torching bridges on his way out of the league. His grudges seemed to burn hotter than his spirals.
13. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy G never says much, but his smile during awkward QB controversies always said plenty. He mastered the quiet art of smug satisfaction when things fell apart around him.
12. Carson Wentz
Wentz reportedly bristled at the success of his backups, and it showed. From body language to leadership questions, his behavior often gave off “I’m not mad, just petty” energy.
11. Cam Newton
Cam had a flair for the dramatic, and that included holding onto slights like they were MVP trophies. Whether it was a postgame presser or a subtle social post, he made his point.
10. Brett Favre
Favre’s retirement sagas turned into a full-on soap opera. From sticking it to the Packers by joining the Vikings to his not-so-subtle jabs, the man knew how to stir the pot.
9. Johnny Manziel
Manziel didn’t just play with a chip on his shoulder—he flaunted it like an accessory. His petty antics off the field often overshadowed anything he did on it.
8. Deshaun Watson
From forcing his way out of Houston to cryptic tweets and power plays, Watson wasn’t exactly subtle. He made it clear he was done with the Texans—and he wanted everyone to know it.
7. Jameis Winston
Winston’s speeches, sideline antics, and passive-aggressive comments became a sideshow. Whether he was trying to be funny or prove a point, he always found a way to make it weirdly personal.
6. Joe Flacco
Flacco spent years insisting he was elite—whether anyone asked or not. The sheer persistence of that narrative felt like a subtle shot at every doubter who ever questioned him.
5. Philip Rivers
Rivers never cursed, but his trash talk was relentless and weirdly surgical. He’d roast you with a “golly gee” and a grin that somehow made it sting more.
4. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben loved to play the martyr card, especially when drama swirled around the Steelers. He had a knack for tossing teammates under the bus without ever raising his voice.
3. Eli Manning
Eli rarely showed emotion, but his moments of subtle pettiness were legendary. From refusing to play for the Chargers to meme-worthy facial expressions, he was sneakily savage.
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2. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers carries a Hall of Fame grudge list with him at all times. From front office feuds to cryptic interviews, he thrives on being the smartest—and pettiest—guy in the room.
Read More: The Pettiest NFL Teams of the Century, Ranked
1. Tom Brady
Nobody holds a grudge quite like Brady. Whether he’s running up the score, skipping handshakes, or posting victory selfies, his pettiness is polished and deeply strategic.
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