Some quarterbacks are easy to explain. They’re athletic freaks, born leaders, or prodigies with an arm that can launch a football into orbit.
But then there’s a different kind of quarterback — the ones who win, stick around, or rack up stats in ways that feel more like football sorcery than skill. These guys made their mark without ever entirely making sense, and that’s precisely why we can’t stop talking about them.
15. Brock Purdy
He was the last pick in the draft and somehow became the face of a Super Bowl contender. Nobody can quite agree if he’s elite or just in the right place at the right time, but he keeps on winning.
14. Blake Bortles
He threw a bunch of weird, meaningless touchdowns and somehow got the Jaguars to an AFC Championship game. Even he probably couldn’t believe how far that run went.
13. Mark Sanchez
Sure, he’s forever tied to the Butt Fumble, but he also went to back-to-back AFC title games. The Jets winning that much with that offense still feels like a glitch in the Matrix.
12. Jeff Hostetler
He was a backup until the Giants suddenly needed him, and then boom — Super Bowl champ. He never looked dominant, but he always seemed to get just enough done.
11. Doug Johnson
He had the most average skill set imaginable, yet he kept popping up and starting games for the Falcons like it was some inside joke. He somehow managed to keep a job for years, yet no one remembers a single play.
10. Shaun King
He didn’t wow with stats, but he helped the Bucs win a ton of games early in his career. For a minute there, Tampa fans thought they had something tangible — and maybe they did?
9. T.J. Yates
He looked like someone who wandered onto the field by accident, but then he helped the Texans win a playoff game. Everyone was confused, and yet there he was, calm as ever.
8. Matt Cassel
He didn’t even start in college, then nearly led the Patriots to the playoffs after Brady went down. His entire career feels like one long “wait, really?” moment.
7. Trevor Siemian
He wasn’t fast, didn’t have a big arm, and never made anyone nervous — yet the Broncos gave him a real shot as a starter. He played just well enough to make you question everything.
6. Trent Dilfer
He won a Super Bowl while throwing for about 12 yards a game. People still bring him up anytime a quarterback wins without actually doing anything.
5. Charlie Batch
He had a long, winding career full of starts, stops, and surprise appearances. No one could explain why teams kept trusting him, but he was always there when needed.
4. Kerry Collins
He bounced around the league, threw a ton of picks, and still somehow found himself starting in big playoff games. You couldn’t kill his career with a stick.
3. Jay Fiedler
Taking over for Dan Marino was a tall task, yet Fiedler somehow kept the Dolphins competitive for years. He never felt like the guy, but the wins kept coming.
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2. Nick Foles
He turned into Superman for exactly one playoff run and then immediately reverted to Clark Kent. That Super Bowl MVP still feels like a fever dream.
Read More: The 20 Most Ungracious Quarterbacks Ever
1. Jim McMahon
He wasn’t flashy, he wasn’t consistent, and he wasn’t afraid to stir the pot — but the Bears won big when he was under center. He felt more like a character than a quarterback, and that’s exactly what made his success so mysterious.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Most Boring Quarterbacks of All Time
