Some quarterbacks inspire their teams with fiery speeches, late-game heroics, and cool-headed leadership. Others, well, let’s say things didn’t exactly go according to plan.
Whether it was locker room drama, finger-pointing, or just a total lack of chemistry, these quarterbacks found themselves iced out by their teammates. From young guns who weren’t ready to lead to veterans who wore out their welcome, here are 16 quarterbacks who lost the locker room.
16. Zach Wilson
He had all the tools but lacked accountability, and teammates weren’t shy about expressing their frustration. When the defense is carrying you and you won’t even admit fault, things unravel fast.
15. Jay Cutler
He had a rocket arm and a permanent shrug that didn’t exactly scream “let’s rally, boys.” His aloof vibe wore thin with teammates who wanted fire, not apathy.
14. Carson Wentz
One minute he’s an MVP candidate, the next minute he’s getting side-eyed in the huddle. The fall from grace in both Philly and Indy left locker rooms cold.
13. Josh Rosen
Chosen early, forgotten quickly. Players didn’t exactly buy into the whole “I’m the smartest guy here” energy.
12. Jeff George
An arm like a cannon and a leadership style straight out of a soap opera. Teammates often felt like they were working with a solo act.
11. Johnny Manziel
The off-field antics were fun for tabloids but exhausting for teammates. It’s hard to lead a team when you’re partying harder than you’re prepping.
10. JaMarcus Russell
Showing up out of shape and underprepared is a great way to lose the respect of your teammates. The talent was there, but the effort was lacking.
9. Ryan Leaf
He was loud, combative, and quick to blame everyone else. By the time he calmed down, the damage had already been done.
8. Mitch Trubisky
He didn’t lose the locker room due to attitude, but rather through indecision and underperformance. Teammates can only pretend everything’s fine for so long.
7. Baker Mayfield (Cleveland Edition)
Swagger’s great when you’re winning, but it turns sour fast when the losses pile up. Things got tense in Cleveland, and the locker room started to fracture.
6. Cam Newton (Final Panthers Stint)
When the play slipped, the big personality became a point of friction. The second act in Carolina didn’t inspire the same loyalty as the first.
5. Vince Young
He achieved early success but struggled to cope with adversity. Confidence quickly turned into isolation as teammates lost trust in his leadership.
4. Rex Grossman
He had a Super Bowl-caliber defense and a vibe that didn’t scream “QB1.” At some point, the locker room just stopped believing he was the answer.
3. Blake Bortles
He was likable, sure, but teammates eventually wanted more than just chill vibes and average play. That 2017 defense deserved better, and they knew it.
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2. Russell Wilson (Broncos Year One)
Mr. Unlimited turned into Mr. Unwanted real quick. The team reportedly tuned him out faster than you can say “Let’s ride.”
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1. Colin Kaepernick (Final 49ers Season)
By the end, it wasn’t just outside noise—there was internal tension too. Between coaching turnover, locker room division, and on-field struggles, the situation became fractured.
Read More: 20 NFL Quarterbacks Who Were All About the Locker Room
