There’s confidence, and then there’s thinking you’re Tom Brady when you’re just holding a clipboard. Some quarterbacks spent their careers with sky-high self-belief that never matched the stat sheet, the win column, or reality.
From backup QBs with main character syndrome to first-round picks, this list runs through the most overconfident signal callers ever seen. These are the guys who thought they were “that dude,” but history had other plans.
20. Jimmy Clausen
Clausen came into the NFL thinking he was the next golden boy, even predicting he’d be a franchise QB for a decade. He lasted about as long as a TikTok trend.
19. Deshone Kizer
Kizer once said he believed he could be the greatest quarterback ever to play the game. He went 0-15 as a starter in Cleveland.
18. Jake Locker
Locker was praised for his athleticism, but he played like someone who hadn’t touched a football since junior high school. The Titans tried to believe—Locker never gave them a reason to.
17. Baker Mayfield
Baker planted flags, shot commercials, and talked trash like a perennial Pro Bowler. Unfortunately, his game never quite backed up his bravado.
16. Josh Rosen
Rosen famously claimed nine teams made a mistake by passing on him. He spent more time learning airport codes than playbooks.
15. Cade McNown
McNown carried himself like a future Hall of Famer. Bears fans would’ve settled for someone who could throw it to the right jersey.
14. Tim Tebow
Tebow believed his will to win could defy throwing mechanics, defensive schemes, and basic quarterback fundamentals. Unfortunately, NFL defenses didn’t share the same belief.
13. Christian Hackenberg
The Jets were sure they had a steal. Hackenberg never played a single down in a regular-season game, and still talked like he was misunderstood.
12. JaMarcus Russell
Russell’s arm talent was undeniable, but his commitment to the game was on a milk carton. He once got praised for film study after being handed a blank tape.
11. Zach Wilson
He walked into New York like the savior of the franchise. Now he’s more famous for awkward press conferences than quarterback play.
10. Brady Quinn
Quinn looked at the part and talked about it. It’s too bad that the football part never showed up.
9. Matt Leinart
He had the Hollywood looks and Heisman hype. Unfortunately, he peaked during the Entourage era and never adjusted to the pro game.
8. Vince Young
Young thought he was the next great dual-threat icon. He never seemed to realize that “practice” was part of the job description.
7. Nathan Peterman
Peterman kept getting NFL opportunities despite his best efforts to redefine interceptions. His unwavering self-belief deserves its documentary.
6. Colt McCoy
McCoy stayed in the league forever and seemed to think he was just one shot away from a breakout season. That shot never came—because no one dared take it.
5. Ryan Leaf
Leaf’s confidence bordered on combative. He believed he was better than Peyton Manning; history gave him a brutal reality check.
4. Blake Bortles
Bortles once said he’d still be playing football or “working construction and ripping cigs.” It’s unclear if he knew he was accidentally describing his in-game performance.
3. Mitch Trubisky
Drafted ahead of Mahomes and Watson, Trubisky carried himself like a franchise QB. The Bears have been trying to erase that memory ever since.
Read More: 15 Backup NFL Quarterbacks Who Had a Long Career
2. Johnny Manziel
He partied like a rockstar, lived like a superstar, and played like a guy who forgot the playbook. Johnny Football’s ego consistently outpaced his on-field production.
Read More: Unsung Heroes: The 30 Best Backup Quarterbacks in NFL History
1. Cam Newton
At his peak, Cam was unstoppable—but he never let that peak go. Long after the MVP glow faded, he still insisted there were “not 32 quarterbacks better than me,” even when most teams wouldn’t take his calls.
Read More: 15 Quarterbacks Who Had MVP Confidence But Backup Talent
