Sometimes a quarterback exits quietly, thanking the organization, the fans, and maybe even the waterboy. But other times? The gloves come off, and the post-departure interviews, tweets, or tell-all podcasts start flying like deep balls in a two-minute drill.
These 15 quarterbacks made sure everyone knew how they really felt after they left town. Whether it was calling out coaches, firing shots at the front office, or just airing dirty laundry on national TV, these guys made sure their exit wasn’t the end of the story.
15. Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler’s smirk was basically a grudge in facial expression form, and he didn’t hold back when talking about his time in Denver. He never missed a chance to remind everyone how much he hated how things ended with Josh McDaniels.
14. Baker Mayfield
Baker didn’t leave Cleveland quietly—he went full scorched earth in interviews and pressers. He made sure everyone knew he felt blindsided and disrespected by how the Browns handled his departure.
13. Carson Wentz
After his exit from Philly, Wentz gave off strong “it wasn’t me, it was them” energy. He danced around direct blame, but it was clear he didn’t think the Eagles did enough to support him.
12. Matt Cassel
Cassel wasn’t exactly throwing punches, but he definitely threw some passive-aggressive shade at the Patriots. He made it clear he didn’t love how fast they moved on after his surprisingly solid 2008 season.
11. Cam Newton
Cam didn’t hold back when talking about the Panthers cutting him loose. He took to Instagram with some cryptic energy and later said he felt like he was “left to die.”
10. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy G played it cool in San Francisco—until he left. Then he started hinting that he wasn’t really trusted or respected by the coaching staff like a starting QB should be.
9. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzmagic got brutally honest after the Dolphins benched him for Tua. He said he was “heartbroken,” and the quotes made it clear he didn’t agree with how the team handled the situation.
8. Vince Young
Young never got over how things ended in Tennessee, and he made that known over the years. He publicly criticized Jeff Fisher multiple times and never shied away from blaming others for his NFL downfall.
7. Donovan McNabb
McNabb had a complicated breakup with Philly, and he’s talked about it a lot. Whether it was bringing up the T.O. drama or feeling underappreciated, McNabb didn’t hold back post-career.
6. Josh Rosen
After being booted from Arizona after just one season, Rosen’s comments were laced with resentment. He didn’t go scorched earth, but his tone made it clear he felt disrespected and never truly given a chance.
5. Colin Kaepernick
Kaepernick’s post-49ers narrative is well-known, and he’s been vocal about the NFL blackballing him. His public remarks have often carried the weight of a man who knows he wasn’t just cut—he was iced out.
4. Brett Favre
Favre didn’t just hold a grudge—he turned it into a revenge tour. Going to the Vikings to beat the Packers was one of the pettiest and most entertaining QB moves ever.
3. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben made several pointed comments about how the Steelers evolved after his retirement. He didn’t love how the team moved on and wasn’t shy about it on his podcast.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Polarizing Quarterbacks Ever
2. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers’ departure from Green Bay was basically a year-long press tour of passive-aggressive shade. From cryptic interviews to philosophical rants, he made sure everyone knew he had feelings.
Read More: 20 NFL Stars Who Held Onto a Grudge Like It Was a Super Bowl Ring
1. Tom Brady
Brady never threw a tantrum, but he let his feelings slip in subtle and savage ways. Whether it was post-Super Bowl shade or carefully chosen soundbites, he let it be known that he wasn’t thrilled with how things ended in New England.
Read More: 10 Quarterbacks Who Thought They Were Smarter Than Their Coach
