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Every NFL Team’s Greatest Quarterback Season - All 32 Franchises
In this ranking, we will identify every NFL team’s greatest quarterback season of all time. We will look at several parameters to determine the representative for each team, such as first-team All-Pros, Pro Bowls, yards, and touchdowns. Let’s dive in.
Arizona Cardinals: Carson Palmer, 2015
Carson Palmer not only set a personal record in the 2015 campaign but also set a team record. Palmer threw for 4,671 yards with 35 passing scored en route to leading the Cardinals to an excellent 13-3 record. This was the only season where a Cardinal QB surpassed 30 passing scores in a single season. Palmer’s 76.4 QBR and 8.7 YPA led the league. He also threw just 11 interceptions.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, 2016
Matt Ryan posted an impressive 117.1 passer rating during the 2016 NFL season, which still stands as a team record. During this campaign, Ryan threw for 4,944 passing yards and added 38 passing scores, both of which are also team records. He showed excellent decision-making, posting a 1.3 percent INT rate. He led the league with a 7.1 TD percentage during this season.
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, 2024
Despite falling short in the MVP voting, Lamar Jackson’s 2024 campaign was the best by a Baltimore QB. Jackson threw for a career-best 4,172 yards and added an impressive 915 yards on the ground. Both of these numbers were an improvement over his 2023 MVP campaign. He tallied 41 passing scores, which set a franchise record, and threw just four interceptions. He was named first-team All-Pro. He led the Ravens to another AFC North title but fell short in the postseason.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, 2020
Even though Josh Allen captured his first MVP Award during the 2024 campaign, his 2020 season was the best of his career and team history. During this season, Allen threw for a franchise-high 4,544 yards and 37 passing scores. On the ground, he added 421 yards and eight touchdowns. His 107.2 passer rating still stands as the highest mark in team history. He finished second in MVP voting this season and was named second-team All-Pro.
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, 2015
Cam Newton’s 2015 MVP campaign sits at the top of the franchise record books. During this season, Newton posted a team-record 99.4 rating. He found the back of the end zone 45 times (35 passing, 10 rushing). He added 3,837 passing yards and 636 yards on the ground. Newton’s 7.1 TD percent led the league. He lost just one game during the regular season and lost in the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos.
Chicago Bears: Erik Kramer, 1995
Erik Kramer’s 3,838 passing yards during the 1995 season still stands as a team record. During this season, Kramer led the Bears to a 9-7 record. He found the back of the end zone 30 times (29 passing) and threw just 10 interceptions. His 93.5 passer rating is the third-highest mark by a Bears QB (behind only Rudy Bukich 1965 and Mitchell Trubisky 2018). In addition, his 1.9 INT rate was the best of his career and the second-best in team history.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, 2024
Despite not making the postseason, Joe Burrow broke franchise records during the 2024 campaign. Burrow threw for an incredible 4,918 yards, which led the league. He also tallied 43 passing scores and completed 480 passes, which were both the highest marks in the sport over the past season. His 108.5 passer rating also set a franchise record. Burrow was named to the Pro Bowl and finished fourth in MVP voting.
Cleveland Browns: Brian Sipe, 1980
Brian Sipe’s 1980 MVP campaign stands alone in the Cleveland Brown record books. During this season, Sipe led the Browns to an 11-5 record. He is only the Browns QB to throw for at least 4,000 yards in a single campaign (he tallied 4,132). He is also the only Browns QB to tally 30 passing scores in a single season. Sipe led the sport with a 91.4 passer rating and a stellar 2.5 percent interception rate.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, 2023
Despite only sitting third in the team’s record books regarding single-season passing totals, Dak Prescott’s 2023 campaign was the most impressive. Prescott posted a stellar 105.9 passer rating, the highest mark among Dallas QBs who have thrown for at least 4,500 yards in a single campaign. In addition, he threw 36 passing scores and added two on the ground. His 36 passing scores led the league. He was named second-team All-pro at the conclusion of the campaign.
Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning, 2013
Peyton Manning was the conductor of one of the best offensive units in league history during the 2013 season. He led the league with 5,477 passing yards and 55 passing scores. Both of these statistics still stand as single-season records. He also led the league with a 79.0 QBR and a 2.66 sack rate. He was named MVP, first-team All-Pro, and Offensive Player of the Year.
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, 2024
Jared Goff led the Detroit Lions to scoring the fourth-most points in league history during the 2024 NFL season. Despite only averaging 272.3 passing yards per game, he was elite in regard to his decision-making. He posted a franchise-best 111.8 passer rating and 6.9 TD rate (among QBs who have completed at least 200 passes). Goff led the Lions to a stellar 15-2 record and the top seed in the NFC.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers, 2011
Aaron Rodgers won four MVPs as a Green Bay Packer, but his 2011 campaign was his best. During this season, Rodgers threw for a team-high 4,643 passing yards. He added 45 passing scores, which is the second-most in team history (Rodgers threw for 48 in 2020). Rodgers led the league with a stellar 9.0 percent TD rate and a 122.5 passer rating. He led the Packers to a stellar 15-1 record.
Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson, 2020
Even though the Houston Texans won just four games during the 2020 NFL season, Deshaun Watson set franchise records. During this season, Watson threw for 33 passing scores and led the league with 4,823 passing yards. He added 443 yards and three scores with his legs. He posted a stellar 112.4 rating and a 1.3 interception percentage. He also led the league with an impressive 12.6 yards per completion.
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning, 2004
Even though Peyton Manning threw just 4,557 passing yards during this campaign (fourth-most in team history) his 2004 season is the best by a Colts QB. In this season, Manning posted an incredible 121.1 rating, which still stands as a franchise record as led the NFL. Manning also led the league with 49 passing scores, which is still a franchise record. He led the Colts to an AFC South title with a 12-4 record.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, 2022
Trevor Lawrence’s lone Pro Bowl campaign represents the Jacksonville Jaguars on this list. During this season, Lawrence led the team to a 9-8 record and an AFC South title. Lawrence threw for 4,113 yards and 25 passing scores. He posted a stellar 1.4 percent INT rate, which is the second-highest mark in team history among QBs who have completed at least 225 passes. His 95.2 passer rating set a new franchise record (among QBs who have completed 250 passes).
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes, 2018
Patrick Mahomes was named the league’s MVP in his first full season as a starter. After making just one appearance during his rookie campaign, Mahomes broke out in a big way during the 2018 season. He led the league with 50 passing scores (franchise record) and tallied 5,097 passing yards. His 80.3 QBR also led the sport. In addition, his 8.6 percent TD rate and 113.6 passer rating still stand as the highest marks in team history.
Las Vegas Raiders: Derek Carr, 2020
Derek Carr posted a stellar 101.4 passer rating during the 2020 campaign, which set a team record. Carr threw for 4,103 yards and added 27 passing scores. Among Raiders QBs with a passer rating of over 100, Carr’s 27 passing scores and yardage total sit at the top. He showed strong decision-making, throwing interceptions at a strong 1.7 percent rate and only taking 26 sacks.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, 2021
Justin Herbert is the lone Chargers QB to eclipse 5,000 passing yards in a single season. During the 2021 campaign, Herbert threw for 5,014 yards with 38 passing scores (also a franchise record). He posted a solid 97.7 passer rating and a 5.7 percent TD rate. However, he sometimes struggled with his decision-making as he threw 15 interceptions. He was named to the Pro Bowl and held a 70.9 QBR.
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford, 2021
Matthew Stafford joined the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 campaign and led them to a Super Bowl. During the regular season, Stafford set a franchise record in passing yards (4,8866) and tied Kurt Warner’s 1999 passing TD record (41). Stafford posted a stellar 102.9 passer rating and a 6.8 percent TD rate. Even though he threw a hefty 17 interceptions, Stafford made an immediate impact as he led the team to their second Super Bowl victory.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino, 1984
Dan Marino became the first QB in NFL history to eclipse 5,000 yards in a single season. In 1984, Marino totaled an impressive 5,084 yards with 48 passing scores en route to winning the MVP. He was also named first-team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year. Marino posted a stellar 8.5 percent TD rate and 108.9 passer rating, which both led the league. In addition, he was only sacked 13 times.
Minnesota Vikings: Daunte Culpepper, 2004
Daunte Culpepper is the only Minnesota QB to have a passer rating greater than 110. During the 2004 campaign, Culpepper posted a 110.9 rating with 4,717 yards and 39 passing scores, both of which still stand as franchise records. His passing yardage total also led the league during this season. He finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting and was named to the Pro Bowl.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady, 2007
Tom Brady was the leader of the second-highest-scoring offense in NFL history. During the 2007 campaign, Brady led the Patriots to scoring 589 points, which sits as the second-most in history, only behind the 2013 Denver Broncos. During the regular season, the Patriots did not lose a single game. Brady led the league in passing yards (4,806) and in passing touchdowns (50). He was also named MVP and posted a career-best 87.0 QBR.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, 2011
Drew Brees tallied at least 5,000 passing yards in five seasons, but his 2011 campaign will go down as his best season. In 2011, Brees was named Offensive Player of the Year and finished second in MVP voting. He threw for a franchise-high 5,476 yards and 46 TDs. Both of these marks also led the league. He posted a strong 110.6 passer rating, which is the second-highest in team history (only behind Brees’ 115.7 in 2018).
New York Giants: Eli Manning, 2011
Eli Manning’s 2011 campaign was the only time a New York Giant QB averaged over 300 passing yards per game and had a passer rating of over 100. During this season, Manning threw for a team-high 4,933 yards. He tallied 29 passing scores which is the sixth-most in a single season. Manning led the Giants to an NFC East title and was named to the Pro Bowl.
New York Jets: Ken O'Brien, 1985
Even though Ken O’Brien’s passing yardage total in 1985 (3,888) is only the fourth-most in team history, his decision-making and efficiency earned him the spot on this list. O’Brien led the league with a stellar 1.6 percent INT rate. This is also the best mark in franchise history among Jets QBs who completed more than 275 passes. O’Brien also posted a strong 96.2 passer rating (led the league) and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb, 2004
Donavan McNabb posted a franchise-best 104.7 passer rating during the 2004 campaign. During this season, McNabb led the Eagles to an impressive 13-3 record. He tallied 3,875 passing yards (third-most in team history) and added 220 rushing yards. He found the back of the end zone 34 times (31 passing). He was named to the Pro Bowl and threw just eight interceptions.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, 2014
Even though Ben Roethlisberger’s 2014 campaign was the second-highest passing yardage total of his career (and second-most in franchise history), it is the most impressive season by a Steeler QB. Roethlisberger posted a stellar 103.5 passer rating, the highest in Steeler history among QBs who have completed at least 300 passes. During this season, Roethlisberger tallied 4,952 yards (led the league) and threw 32 passing scores.
San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy, 2023
Brock Purdy’s 2023 campaign set a team record in passing history. During this campaign, Purdy threw for 4,280 passing yards with a stellar 113.0 passer rating. He tallied 31 passing scores and threw just 11 interceptions. His 7.0 percent TD rate led the league and is the fourth-highest mark in team history. In addition, Purdy posted a strong 72.8 QBR, the highest mark in the sport. He led the 49ers to a 12-4 record and an NFC West title.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson, 2020
Russell Wilson’s 2020 passing yardage total (4,121) was the fourth-most in franchise history, but his efficiency earned him the spot on this ranking. Wilson’s 7.2 percent TD rate is the highest in team history among QBs who completed at least 300 passes in a single season. Wilson found the back of the end zone 42 times, including 40 passing. His 40 passing scores still stand as a franchise record.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady, 2021
Tom Brady became the second QB in Tampa Bay history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season. The other QB to do so was Jameis Winston in 2019. However, Brady’s decision-making and efficiency were significantly better than Winston’s. Brady tossed 43 passing scores (team record) and totaled 5,316 yards (team record). Both of these marks also led the league. Brady was named second-team All-Pro and finished second in MVP voting.
Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill, 2020
Like a few names on this list, Ryan Tannehill’s 2020 campaign does not sit at the top of the franchise records but was by far the most efficient, earning him this spot on the list. Tannehill threw for 3,819 yards (third-most in team history) and tallied 33 passing scores (tied him for second-most in team history). However, Tannehill’s 106.5 passer rating is the highest mark among Titans QBs who completed at least 300 passes in a single campaign.
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, 2024
After failing to eclipse 10 victories since 1991, rookie Jayden Daniels snapped this decade-long streak in impressive fashion during the 2024 season. Daniels led the Commanders to 12 victories and a playoff appearance. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and performed at an elite level during his entire first taste of the NFL. Daniels tossed 25 passing scores and punched in six with his legs. He totaled 3,568 passing yards and 891 rushing yards. His 1.9 percent INT rate and 100.1 passer rating place him second-most in team history among QBs who completed at least 300 passes.
