This year’s Super Bowl will be just the second time since 2012 that doesn’t feature a starting quarterback named Brady, Manning, or Mahomes. But Drake Maye vs. Sam Darnold is not too shabby of a matchup. Both signal callers are high first round picks, super athletic playmakers who are two of the best around. Maye is even an MVP finalist. But not every Super Bowl featured quarterbacks with such impressive resumes. Previous games have seen journeymen, career backups, busts, and game managers start. Sometimes, they’ve risen to the occasion (shout out Nick Foles) but most of the time, they did not (read on to find out who). With the Big Game approaching, these are the 15 Worst Quarterbacks to Play in a Super Bowl.
This list was originally published in 2013. It has been updated.
15.Jim Plunkett
Years Played: 1971-1986
Teams: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland (Los Angeles) Raiders
Super Bowl Stats: SB XV: 13-21 261 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT; SB XVIII: 16-25 172 YDS I TD 0 INT
Career Stats: Record: 72-72 67.5 QBR 25,882 YDS 164 TD 198 INT
Of the 13 quarterbacks to win multiple Super Bowls, there are eight Hall of Famers, four future Hall of Famers (Tom Brady, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Patrick Mahomes), and one Jim Plunkett. The San Jose, California native had many highs and lows throughout his college and pro career. A Heisman winner at Stanford, Plunkett was the top pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. But he threw too many interceptions and got hurt and New England traded him to the 49ers, who then released him after two ineffective seasons. Plunkett landed with the Raiders, took over for Ken Stabler in 1980, and promptly led Oakland to an improbable Super Bowl. Then, three years later, he did it again.
14.Nick Foles
Years Played: 2012-2022
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl Stats: SB LII: 28-43 373 YDS 3 TD 1 INT
Career Stats: Record: 29-29 86.2 QBR 14,227 YDS 82 TD 47 INT
Nick Foles had one of the strangest careers for a Super Bowl winning quarterback. Drafted in the third round by the Philadelphia Eagles, he started as a rookie after Michael Vick got injured and was a fringe MVP candidate in year two (throwing 27 TDs to just two interceptions!). He then lost his job, started for St. Louis, and backed up Alex Smith in Kansas City before returning to Philly. The 2017 season was one for the ages. Foles stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz late in the season and led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl, culminating with Foles topping the G.O.A.T. Tom Brady and capturing Super Bowl MVP. But Foles then reverted to backing up Carson Wentz until a back injury forced Foles back into starter duty. Once again, he provided a spark and led the Eagles to the NFC Divisional Round. Afterwards, Foles signed a big money deal with the Jaguars but injuries and shoddy play landed him on the bench and then out of town.
13.Earl Morrall
Years Played: 1956-1976
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl Stats: SB III: 6-17, 71 YDS, 0 TD, 3 INT, SB V: 7-15, 147 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT
Career Stats: Record: 63-37-3, 74.1 QBR, 809 yards, 161 TD, 148 INT
Named the 1968 AP NFL MVP, Earl Morrall only found the limelight as a result of an injury to Colts legend Johnny Unitas. After he took over the team in '68 he led the Colts to a 13-1 record and a trip to Super Bowl III. Then it all fell apart as Morrall went 6-17 for just 71 yards along with three interceptions, en route to a 16-7 loss to Joe Namath and the underdog Jets. Morrall would return to the show a few years later, again replacing an injured Unitas in Super Bowl V. This time however, he would not be denied victory. His numbers weren't much better, but he (game) managed the Colts to a 16-13 victory over the Cowboys. Call it luck to be backing up an old Unitas, but Morrall did his job. And despite his subpar performances, he's got a ring to show for his troubles.
12.Stan Humphries
Years Played: 1989-1997
Teams: Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXIX: 24-49, 275 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
Career Stats: Record: 50-31-0, 75.8 QBR 17,191 YDS, 89 TD, 84 INT
Stan Humphries is most famous for sharing the honor of longest pass play from scrimmage, and he's the only quarterback to lead the San Diego Chargers to a Super Bowl. What up, Phillip Rivers? That's right, Humphries took the Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history in '94 after they shocked the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Humphries and company couldn't come up with the goods in Super Bowl XXIX, falling to the San Francisco 49ers 49-26. Regardless of the defeat, more than 100,000 Chargers fans showed up to greet their heroes. Have 100,000 Chargers fans ever showed up to anything? We'll help you out. No.
11.Jeff Hostetler
Years Played: 1984-1998
Teams: New York Giants, L.A./Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXV: 20-32, 222 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Career Stats: Record: 51-32-0, 80.5 QBR, 16,430 YDS, 94 TD, 71 INT
The pride of Hollsopple, PA, Jeff Hostetler somehow managed to grab not one, but two Super Bowl rings during his career. His first came in '86 with the Giants despite being used sparingly as a backup to Phil Simms. The second came in 1990 when Simms broke his foot, giving Hostetler a starting role. He led the Giants to victories in their final two regular season games, and swept through the playoffs, defeating the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV thanks to two guys named Lawrence Taylor and Scott Norwood. Forget about the regular season, Hostetler had a 112.0 passer rating and is 4-1 in the postseason.
10.Billy Kilmer
Years Played: 1961-1978
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl Stats: SB VII: 14-28, 104 YDS, 0 TD, 3 INT
Career Stats: Record: 61-52-1, 71.6 QBR, 20,495 YDS, 152 TD, 146 INT
The 11th overall pick in the '61 Draft, Billy Kilmer didn't really take off until he landed with Washington in 1971. A season later he led them to the Super Bowl against the undefeated Dolphins. We'd like to give Kilmer the benefit of the doubt and say history was on Miami's side, but throwing for 104 yards and three interceptions just wasn't going to get it done. Even with those horrific numbers, Washington lost by just one score, 14-7.
9.Chris Chandler
Years Played: 1988-2004
Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Phoenix Cardinals, Los Angeles (St. Louis) Rams, Houston Oilers, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXX: 19-35 219 YDS 1 TD 3 INT
Career Stats: Record: 67-85 79.1 QBR 28,484 YDS 170 TD 146 INT
Chris Chandler was the ultimate journeyman. A third round pick out of the University of Washington, Chandler was one of two quarterbacks (along with Ryan Fitzpatrick) to start for eight different teams. Chandler bounced around the league primarily as a backup until finding success as a starter with the Houston Oilers in year eight. He became a Pro Bowler in Atlanta though and led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 1998, defeating the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Games in one of the biggest upsets in playoff history. Unfortunately, Chandler had his worst game of the season in the Super Bowl against Denver though, a 34-19 drubbing that was even more lopsided than its score suggested.
8.Tony Eason
Years Played: 1983-1990
Teams: New England Patriots, New York Jets
Super Bowl Stats: SB XX: 0-6, 0 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
Career Stats: Record: 28-23-0, 79.7 QBR, 11,142 YDS, 61 TD, 51 INT
Tony Eason had only 51 career starts to his name, and never started all 16 in a season. However, he managed to make it to Super Bowl XX with the New England Patriots. You may need to sit down to look at these numbers though. He went 0-6 for zero yards before Steve Grogan replaced him. In total, the Patriots could only muster 123 total yards from scrimmage—second lowest total in Super Bowl history— and Eason and Grogan were sacked a combined seven times, another dubious record that's since been tied. To say this game was one-sided is like saying Michael Jordan dabbled in basketball. It was a massacre. But at least Tony Eason can say he made it to a Super Bowl, right?
7.Craig Morton
Years Played: 1965-1982
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Denver Broncos
Super Bowl Stats: SB V: 12-26, 127 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT; SB XII: 4-15, 39 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT
Career Stats: Record: 81-62-1, 73.5 QBR, 27,908 YDS, 183 TD, 187 INT
Talk about hard times. Morton made it to the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons in '70 and '71, but the Cowboys gave him the boot in favor of Roger Staubach prior to the 1971 game. The Cowboys went on to trounce the Miami Dolphins and experts pointed to the quarterback change as the reason. Morton made it back to the promised land with the Broncos in Super Bowl XII, against his former Cowboys no less. But the results weren't any better. Morton went 4-15 for 39 yards, with four interceptions, losing 27-10.
6.Kerry Collins
Years Played: 1995-2011
Teams: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXXV: 15-39, 112 YDS, 0 TD, 4 INT
Career Stats: Record: 81-99-0, 73.8 QBR, 40,922 YDS, 208 TD, 196 INT
A subpar career record to go along with subpar career performances, Kerry Collins proved that anything is possible when he managed to take the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV against the Baltimore Ravens. That season Collins racked up the most touchdowns of his career with 22, but he couldn't stop the Giants from getting pummeled 34-7 to the Ray Lewis-led Baltimore Ravens. All you need to know about Kerry Collins is, following his Super Bowl run in '00, he set an NFL record with 23 fumbles the following season.
5.Trent Dilfer
Years Played: 1994-2007
Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXXV: 12-25, 153 YDS, 1 TD, 0 INT
Career Stats: Record: 58-55-0, 70.2 QBR, 20,518 YDS, 113 TD, 129 INT
Before Trent Dilfer regaled viewers with insight and commentary on ESPN, he actually used to play the game. Hell, he even has a ring. In his only season with the Baltimore Ravens, Dilfer was lucky enough to be Baltimore's quarterback in their Super Bowl victory over the New York Giants. Dilfer, who flamed out in Tampa where he was a was a high first-round pick, wasn't just along for the ride though. He started the game with a 38-yard touchdown to Brandon Stokley. Then, that Hall of Fame Ravens defense did the rest, terrorizing Kerry Collins and the Giants offense en route to a 34-7 win.
4.David Woodley
Years Played: 1980-1986
Teams: Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Stats: SB XXVII: 4-14, 97 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Career Stats: Record: 34-18-1, 65.7 QBR, 8,558 YDS, 48 TD, 63 INT
'Twas the strike-shortened season of '82 that found David Woodley and the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl. At the time, Woodley became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start a Super Bowl. The inexperienced quarterback started off hot, but went 0-8 passing in the second half as the Dolphins lost 27-17 to Washington. Woodley never made it back to the Super Bowl, and is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history to have a career winning percentage over .600 while also throwing at least 10 more interceptions than touchdowns.
3.Rex Grossman
Years Played: 2003-2011
Teams: Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins
Super Bowl Stats: SB XLI: 20-28, 165 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT
Career Stats: Record: 25-22-0, 71.4 QBR, 10,232 YDS, 56 TD, 60 INT
Rex Grossman should be the poster boy for mediocre quarterbacks. In less than 50 starts he has 1,000 completions, and more interceptions than touchdowns. Nonetheless, Grossman managed to make the most with limited time as a starter as he rode a strong Bears defense all the way to Super Bowl XLI in 2007. He silenced his critics with playoff victories over the Seahawks and the Saints leading up to the Super Bowl, but then the clock struck midnight, and Rex turned back into a pumpkin. He threw two costly interceptions and Peyton Manning got to lift the Lombardi Trophy instead.
2.Vince Ferragamo
Years Played: 1977-1986
Teams: LA Rams, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl Stats: SB XIV: 15-25, 212 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT
Career Stats: Record: 27-26-0, 70.1 QBR, 11,336 YDS, 76 TD, 91 INT
Ferragamo started Super Bowl XIV for the Rams in 1979, and had them in front for three quarters, completely disregarding the fact that there are four quarters. The Steelers were able to rally back and take the victory 31-19, leaving Ferragamo with his 15, or rather, 45 minutes of fame. Ferragamo was able to recapture some magic when he threw for 30 touchdowns in '80, but he never returned to the big game. He was however, featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in '80 and '81.
1.Joe Kapp
Years Played: 1967-1970
Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Boston Patriots
Super Bowl Stats: SB IV: 16-25, 183 YDS, 0 TD, 2 int
Career Stats: Record: 24-21-3, 55.2 QBR, 5,911 YDS, 40 TD, 64 INT
It's a pretty good success rate to only play three seasons in the NFL and make it to a Super Bowl. Joe Kapp wasn't a standout by any stretch of the imagination but managed to lead the '69 Vikings to the big game, which they lost to the Chiefs 23-7. Kapp was so pedestrian, he couldn't even get a contract the following season. Fun fact: Joe Kapp is the only quarterback to play in the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and the Grey Cup. Take that, Tom Brady.