Nothing gets football fans more heated than a good ol’ quarterback controversy. Whether it’s an aging legend refusing to step aside, a first-round bust derailing a franchise, or a coach inexplicably benching the better player, every team has had at least one QB disaster that left fans shaking their heads.
So, let’s rank them—from “mild inconvenience” to “total franchise catastrophe.”
32. Denver Broncos – The Tebowmania Tornado (2011-2012)
Tim Tebow wasn’t a great quarterback. But he was a phenomenon. The Broncos were somehow winning games with him, and half the fanbase thought he was the second coming of John Elway. The other half… not so much. When Denver unceremoniously dumped him for Peyton Manning, it ended the debate. But man, what a ride.
31. Miami Dolphins – The Ryan Tannehill Tug-of-War (2012-2018)
Tannehill had talent, but injuries and inconsistency kept him from ever truly locking down the Dolphins’ QB job. Fans debated for years whether he was the guy or if Miami should move on. Eventually, he left and had a career resurgence in Tennessee, which really put salt in the wound.
30. New York Giants – Eli Manning vs. The Ben McAdoo Experience (2017)
Eli was in decline, but benching a two-time Super Bowl MVP for… Geno Smith? That was McAdoo’s genius idea, and it lasted all of one game before ownership reversed it and fired him.
29. Minnesota Vikings – Brett Favre’s Will-He-or-Won’t-He (2009-2010)
Favre loved a good retirement saga, and the Vikings were happy to indulge. After an MVP-caliber 2009 season, he waffled on coming back for 2010, eventually showing up late, playing poorly, and finishing the season on IR. Vikings fans deserved better.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars – Blake Bortles vs. Logic (2014-2018)
Bortles had one good season (2017), and that was enough to trick the Jaguars into thinking he could be a franchise QB. He was not. Instead, he became a meme. A very funny meme, but still.
27. Cleveland Browns – The 2018 Hard Knocks Debacle (Tyrod vs. Baker)
The Browns finally had a real quarterback in Baker Mayfield, but Hue Jackson insisted on starting Tyrod Taylor to begin 2018. It went terribly. The minute Mayfield stepped on the field, it was obvious who the better QB was.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Wilson vs. The Defense (2015-2017)
This wasn’t a battle for the starting job, but the Legion of Boom hated that Russell Wilson got special treatment. Some defensive players reportedly thought Pete Carroll was holding Wilson back. The tension eventually tore the team apart.
25. Green Bay Packers – Favre vs. Rodgers (2005-2008)
Rodgers waiting in the wings behind Favre led to one of the most awkward QB transitions in history. Favre retired, then unretired, then got traded to the Jets. Packer fans were divided, but, well… it worked out.
24. Las Vegas Raiders – The Derek Carr Conundrum (2014-2022)
Carr was just good enough to make moving on from him feel risky. The Raiders finally did it in 2023, but it took nearly a decade of endless debate to get there.
23. Chicago Bears – Trubisky vs. Mahomes (2017-Present)
Okay, this isn’t a “controversy” as much as it’s a never-ending source of pain. The Bears took Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes. Chicago still isn’t over it.
22. New Orleans Saints – The Jameis Winston/Andy Dalton Disaster (2022)
Neither Winston nor Dalton was awful, but neither was good. Saints fans went through a season of pure quarterback purgatory.
21. Buffalo Bills – J.P. Losman vs. Trent Edwards (2007-2009)
Neither of these guys was good, yet Buffalo kept pretending like it was a real QB competition. Spoiler: It wasn’t.
20. Cincinnati Bengals – Akili Smith vs. Everyone (1999-2002)
The Bengals drafted Akili Smith third overall, and he threw five career touchdowns. It set the franchise back years.
19. Arizona Cardinals – Josh Rosen vs. Reality (2018-2019)
Rosen got one year before the Cardinals said “Nah” and drafted Kyler Murray. Given how bad Rosen was, no one really blamed them.
18. Philadelphia Eagles – Wentz vs. Foles (2018-2020)
Philly fans were fiercely divided between Super Bowl hero Nick Foles and the franchise’s golden boy Carson Wentz. Turns out neither was the long-term answer.
17. Dallas Cowboys – The Romo-Prescott Decision (2016)
Romo got hurt, Dak took over, and the Cowboys had to decide: the established veteran or the rookie sensation? They chose wisely.
16. New England Patriots – The Post-Brady Mess (2020-Present)
Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe… Patriots fans went from Tom Brady to this?! Rough.
15. Atlanta Falcons – The Michael Vick Fallout (2007)
Vick was the face of the franchise—until he wasn’t. The Falcons scrambled to replace him, and it took years to recover.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers – Big Ben’s Long Goodbye (2019-2021)
Roethlisberger was washed, but the Steelers had no succession plan. Cue years of mediocrity.
13. Detroit Lions – Joey Harrington vs. The Ghost of Barry Sanders (2002-2005)
Detroit was so desperate for a QB savior that they convinced themselves Harrington was it. He was not.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston’s 30 for 30 (2019)
30 touchdowns. 30 interceptions. Jameis had every Bucs fan in an existential crisis.
11. Houston Texans – Deshaun Watson’s Departure (2021-Present)
This went from “franchise QB controversy” to actual scandal real fast.
10. Kansas City Chiefs – Montana vs. Young (1993-1994)
Wait, wasn’t that a 49ers problem? Yes, but the Chiefs thought they were getting prime Joe Montana. Instead, he was broken, and KC had to figure out what to do next.
9. Tennessee Titans – Young vs. Fisher (2006-2010)
Jeff Fisher never wanted Vince Young, and it showed. The drama was never-ending.
8. Carolina Panthers – Cam’s Second Act (2018-2021)
Newton was a shell of himself, but Panthers fans still believed. It ended badly.
7. Baltimore Ravens – Flacco vs. Lamar (2018)
Flacco was cooked. The Ravens eventually realized it. Took ‘em long enough.
6. Washington Commanders – RGIII vs. Kirk Cousins (2012-2015)
Washington wasted two QBs in one of the most dysfunctional situations ever.
5. San Francisco 49ers – Montana vs. Young (1987-1992)
This QB battle was brutal, but at least they both were Hall of Famers.
4. Los Angeles Chargers – Rivers vs. Brees (2004-2006)
The Chargers got rid of Drew Brees. You know, the future Hall of Famer. Oops.
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3. Indianapolis Colts – Luck’s Abrupt Exit (2019)
Andrew Luck retired suddenly, and the Colts have been lost ever since.
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2. New York Jets – The Butt Fumble Era (2009-2013)
Sanchez. Tebow. Geno. This whole stretch was comedy gold.
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1. Los Angeles Rams – Goff vs. Stafford (2021)
Trading away a Super Bowl QB for another Super Bowl QB? Pure madness. But it worked.
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