| Rank | Player | Rating | Team | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Overall | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bobby Layne | 38.72 | Lions | Good | Subpar | Good | Slaps | 9 |
| 2 | Jared Goff Starter | 38.06 | Lions | Great | Great | Average | Slaps | 5 |
| 3 | Matthew Stafford | 32.38 | Lions | Subpar | Great | Subpar | Chill | 12 |
| 4 | Greg Landry | 31.73 | Lions | Average | Average | Subpar | Delulu | 11 |
| 5 | Eric Hipple | 28.95 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Subpar | Delulu | 9 |
| 6 | Tobin Rote | 28.88 | Lions | Subpar | Subpar | Average | Delulu | 3 |
| 7 | Gary Danielson | 26.81 | Lions | Subpar | Subpar | Subpar | Delulu | 8 |
| 8 | Scott Mitchell | 26.76 | Lions | Subpar | Good | Subpar | Delulu | 5 |
| 9 | Erik Kramer | 24.67 | Lions | Good | Good | Average | Delulu | 3 |
| 10 | Bill Munson | 20.50 | Lions | Good | Good | Non-Factor | Delulu | 8 |
| 11 | Earl Morrall | 20.47 | Lions | Good | Good | Non-Factor | Delulu | 7 |
| 12 | Charlie Batch | 17.92 | Lions | Subpar | Good | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 13 | Jon Kitna | 17.76 | Lions | Average | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 14 | Joey Harrington | 16.38 | Lions | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 15 | Milt Plum | 16.30 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 16 | Rodney Peete | 14.89 | Lions | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 5 |
| 17 | Rusty Hilger | 14.88 | Lions | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 18 | Dave Krieg | 14.10 | Lions | Good | Great | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 19 | Chuck Long | 13.55 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 5 |
| 20 | Jeff Komlo | 13.47 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 21 | Drew Stanton | 10.92 | Lions | Average | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 22 | Shaun Hill | 10.65 | Lions | Subpar | Good | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 23 | Tom Dublinski | 10.60 | Lions | Good | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 24 | Andre Ware | 9.99 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 25 | Bob Gagliano | 9.94 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 26 | Don Majkowski | 9.75 | Lions | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 27 | George Izo | 9.70 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 28 | Joe Reed | 9.57 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 5 |
| 29 | Karl Sweetan | 9.52 | Lions | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 30 | Todd Hons | 9.22 | Lions | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 31 | Dan Orlovsky | 8.94 | Lions | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 32 | Jeff Driskel | 8.63 | Lions | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 33 | Jim Ninowski | 8.56 | Lions | Average | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 34 | Joe Ferguson | 8.54 | Lions | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 35 | Gus Frerotte | 8.45 | Lions | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 36 | Daunte Culpepper | 7.54 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 37 | David Blough | 7.53 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 38 | Frank Reich | 7.41 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 39 | Harry Gilmer | 7.28 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 40 | Jeff Garcia | 7.16 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 41 | Jim Hardy | 7.08 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 42 | Mike McMahon | 6.77 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 4 |
| 43 | Stoney Case | 6.48 | Lions | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 44 | Tim Boyle | 6.46 | Lions | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 45 | Jerry Golsteyn | 5.78 | Lions | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 46 | John Witkowski | 5.68 | Lions | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 47 | Ty Detmer | 5.00 | Lions | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
All-Time Lions QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Detroit Lions quarterback of all time?
Jared Goff holds the top spot with a rating of 40.12, driven by his “Great” regular-season performance, “Elite” fantasy impact, and “Average” playoff showings across 5 seasons, earning them “Slaps” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Jared Goff 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. Jared Goff’s 40.12 with the Lions, while leading the team to their first playoff victory since 1991 in 2023, an NFC Championship appearance, and setting franchise records for passer rating and completion percentage in 2024, 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 Jared Goff one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Jared Goff 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 Detroit Lions quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Detroit Lions’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.