When the NFL season kicks off in less than two weeks, 2023 will join 2021 (3) and 2012 (5) as the only years to have at least three rookie quarterbacks (Bryce Young, CJ Stroud and Anthony Richardson) start for their respective teams. And while there may be high hopes for instant success in Carolina, Houston and Indianapolis, a rookie quarterback has never won, nor started, in a Super Bowl, but quite a few have had first-year success.
Here’s how rookie quarterbacks have historically fared:
Rookie Quarterback to Start in Week 1 Since 2008 and Their Records:
- 2008 Joe Flacco Baltimore 11-5
- 2008 Matt Ryan Atlanta 11-5
- 2009 Mark Sanchez New York Jets 8-7
- 2009 Matthew Stafford* Detroit 2-8
- 2010 Sam Bradford* St. Louis Rams 7-9
- 2011 Andy Dalton Cincinnati 9-7
- 2011 Cam Newton* Carolina 6-10
- 2012 Robert Griffin III Washington 9-6
- 2012 Andrew Luck* Indianapolis 11-5
- 2012 Ryan Tannehill Miami 7-9
- 2012 Brandon Weeden Cleveland 5-10
- 2012 Russell Wilson Seattle 11-5
- 2013 EJ Manuel Buffalo 4-6
- 2013 Geno Smith New York Jets 8-8
- 2014 Derek Carr Oakland Raiders 3-13
- 2015 Marcus Mariota Tennessee 3-9
- 2015 Jameis Winston* Tampa Bay 6-10
- 2016 Dak Prescott Dallas 13-3
- 2016 Carson Wentz Philadelphia 7-9
- 2017 DeShone Kizer Cleveland 0-15
- 2018 Sam Darnold New York Jets 4-9
- 2019 Kyler Murray* Arizona 5-10-1
- 2020 Joe Burrow* Cincinnati 2-7-1
- 2021 Mac Jones New England 10-7
- 2021 Trevor Lawrence* Jacksonville 3-14
- 2021 Zach Wilson New York Jets 3-10
*No. 1 overall pick
Rookie Season Records
Most Passing Yards
Andrew Luck (Indianapolis) 2012 4,374
Justin Herbert (L.A. Chargers) 2020 4,336
Cam Newton (Carolina) 2011 4,051
Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay) 2015 4,042
Mac Jones (New England) 2021 3,801
Most Touchdown Passes
Justin Herbert (L.A. Chargers) 2020 31
Baker Mayfield (Cleveland) 2018 27
Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) 1998 26
Russell Wilson (Seattle) 2012 26
Daniel Jones (N.Y. Giants) 2019 24
Highest Passer Rating (Qualified)
Dak Prescott (Dallas) 2016 104.9
Robert Griffin III (Washington) 2012 102.4
Russell Wilson (Seattle) 2012 100.0
Justin Herbert (L.A. Chargers) 2020 98.3
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh) 2004 98.1
First Career Start
Most Passing Yards
Cam Newton (Carolina) 2011 422
Vinny Testaverde (Tampa Bay) 1987 369
Daniel Jones (N.Y. Giants) 2019 336
Ed Rubbert (Washington) 1987 334
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville) 2021 332
Highest Passer Rating (Minimum 15 Attempts)
Marcus Mariota (Tennessee) 2015 158.3
Robert Griffin III (Washington) 2012 139.9
Charlie Frye (Cleveland) 2005 136.7
Brock Purdy (San Francisco) 2022 134.0
Ed Rubbert (Washington) 1987 125.0
Best Year One Quarterback Performances by Top Overall Picks
Most Passing Yards
Andrew Luck – Indianapolis (2012) 4,374
Cam Newton – Carolina (2011) 4,051
Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay (2015) 4,042
Peyton Manning – Indianapolis (1998) 3,739
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland (2018) 3,725
Most Touchdown Passes
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland (2018) 27
Peyton Manning – Indianapolis (1998) 26
Andrew Luck – Indianapolis (2012) 23
Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay (2015) 22
Cam Newton – Carolina (2011) 21
Highest Passer Rating (Qualified)
Baker Mayfield – Cleveland (2018) 93.7
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati (2020) 89.8
Kyler Murray – Arizona (2019) 87.4
Cam Newton – Carolina (2011) 84.5
Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay (2015) 84.2
First Career Start by #1 Picks
Passing Yards
Cam Newton – Carolina (2011) 422
Vinny Testaverde – Tampa Bay (1987) 369
Trevor Lawrence – Jacksonville (2021) 332
Andrew Luck – Indianapolis (2012) 309
Kyler Murray – Arizona (2019) 308
Highest Passer Rating (minimum 15 attempts)
Cam Newton – Carolina – (2011 WK1) 110.4
JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders (2007 WK17) 91.3
Jeff George – Indianapolis (1990 WK1) 88.9
Jim Plunkett – New England (1971 WK1) 82.5
Tim Couch – Cleveland (1999 WK2) 80.9
Most Touchdown Passes
Trevor Lawrence Jacksonville (2021) 3
* Eight tied 2
Source: NFL
