| Rank | Player | Rating | Team | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Overall | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philip Rivers | 43.63 | Chargers | Good | Great | Average | Slaps | 16 |
| 2 | Justin Herbert Starter | 36.63 | Chargers | Great | Good | Subpar | Slaps | 6 |
| 3 | Dan Fouts | 36.60 | Chargers | Average | Average | Average | Slaps | 15 |
| 4 | Stan Humphries | 32.37 | Chargers | Good | Average | Average | Chill | 6 |
| 5 | Tobin Rote | 30.27 | Chargers | Good | Average | Average | Delulu | 2 |
| 6 | Drew Brees | 28.96 | Chargers | Average | Good | Subpar | Delulu | 5 |
| 7 | Jack Kemp | 25.39 | Chargers | Great | Subpar | Subpar | Delulu | 1 |
| 8 | John Hadl | 17.77 | Chargers | Average | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 11 |
| 9 | Doug Flutie | 16.49 | Chargers | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 10 | Jim McMahon | 16.39 | Chargers | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 11 | John Friesz | 16.37 | Chargers | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 12 | Billy Joe Tolliver | 15.33 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 13 | Jim Harbaugh | 15.08 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 14 | Ryan Leaf | 14.87 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 15 | Marty Domres | 9.43 | Chargers | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 16 | Babe Laufenberg | 9.24 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 17 | Dick Wood | 8.87 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 18 | Easton Stick | 8.84 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 19 | Ed Luther | 8.83 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 20 | James Harris | 8.69 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 21 | Johnny Unitas | 8.48 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 22 | Mark Malone | 8.32 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 23 | Mark Vlasic | 8.30 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 24 | Mike Kelley | 8.19 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 25 | Sean Salisbury | 7.98 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 26 | Steve Tensi | 7.88 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 27 | Bob Gagliano | 7.77 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 28 | Tyrod Taylor | 7.76 | Chargers | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 29 | Cliff Olander | 7.62 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 30 | Clint Longley | 7.60 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 31 | Craig Whelihan | 7.57 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 32 | Erik Kramer | 7.43 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 33 | Gale Gilbert | 7.40 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 34 | Jesse Freitas | 7.13 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 35 | Jim Everett | 7.09 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 36 | Mark Herrmann | 6.85 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 37 | Rick Neuheisel | 6.66 | Chargers | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 38 | Trey Lance | 6.46 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 39 | Bob Clatterbuck | 6.33 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 40 | Moses Moreno | 5.41 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 41 | Tom Flick | 5.06 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 42 | Virgil Carter | 4.98 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 43 | Wayne Clark | 4.96 | Chargers | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
All-Time Chargers QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Los Angeles Chargers quarterback of all time?
Philip Rivers holds the top spot with a rating of 43.64, driven by his “Good” regular-season performance, “Great” fantasy impact, and “Average” playoff showings across 16 seasons, earning them “Slaps” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Philip Rivers compare to the greatest quarterback of all time?
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. His highest rating is with the New England Patriots—a fitting 133.7—and overall is even higher because of his Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay. Philip Rivers’s 43.64 with the Chargers, while earning eight Pro Bowl selections, holding numerous franchise passing records, and leading the team to four consecutive AFC West titles from 2006-2009, doesn’t match Brady’s sustained excellence across eras—his overall rating with both Tampa and New England totals 148.5.
For a full comparison, check out the All-Time QB Rankings here.
What is the difference between HeyTC’s QB Rating and ESPN’s QBR?
QBR is an outdated model that doesn’t take into account whether the quarterback won the game—its first flaw. Winning is everything; who cares if Quarterback X has the highest QBR but doesn’t win games? Its second flaw is that it doesn’t factor in playoff and Super Bowl success.
By contrast, the HeyTC QB Rating is a composite score evaluating a quarterback’s tenure with his team, factoring in regular-season performance, fantasy football value, playoff success, and overall franchise legacy.
Is Justin Herbert one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Justin Herbert is good, he’s not Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is still the best quarterback in the NFL. For the complete NFL daily quarterback rankings, check out our list that include some surprises.
What do the “Season,” “Fantasy,” and “Playoffs” columns mean?
These columns use qualitative tiers to assess regular-season excellence (e.g., Good for standout play), fantasy (e.g., “Elite” for top scorers), and postseason performance (e.g., “Great” for significant playoff runs)—forming the foundation of the overall ranking.
How do Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Los Angeles Chargers’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—and get our bold prediction on when this team will win its next Super Bowl—check out the All-Time Team QB Rankings here.
What do the slang terms in the “Overall” column mean (like “Aura,” “Sigma,” or “NPC”)?
These terms, inspired by our “Dad Glossary,” add a playful, informal spin to describe quarterback impact:
- Aura/Elite: Legendary, game-changing dominance.
- Sigma/Great: Consistently elite performers.
- Slaps/Good: Solid, reliable contributors.
- Chill/Average: Dependable but unremarkable.
- Delulu/Mediocre: Overhyped with underwhelming results.
- NPC/Subpar: Forgettable and inconsistent.
- Cooked/Non-Factor: Complete busts.
How often is this list updated?
The list is updated throughout the year, with major revisions during the NFL postseason and after the Super Bowl to reflect evolving careers of quarterbacks.