All-Time Bengals QBs Ranked: Anderson #1, Esiason #2

Turk Schonert

#14 · Cincinnati Bengals
Retired 9 Years In The NFL
Turk's
HAIR
9.2
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Turk Schonert or the Bengals?

Turk Schonert Legacy

HEYTC AI
Turk Schonert was the ultimate football lifer, a Stanford gunslinger who backed up Bengals legends like Ken Anderson during their Super Bowl XVI run and held the clipboard for Boomer Esiason's squad in Super Bowl XXIII, always ready if the moment called. What made Turk special was his quarterback whisperer DNA—coaching up stars from Brad Johnson in Tampa to Drew Brees in New Orleans, then capping his career as head man for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. The guy lived for the huddle, blending West Coast smarts with Bengal grit. Turk passed in 2019, leaving a blueprint for the unsung gridiron architect.
Turk Schonert passed away on January 17, 2019 at the age of 0.

Turk Schonert Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
8 years with the Bengals

Turk Schonert Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,788 Pass Yards
11 Touchdowns
20 INTs
61.7% Comp %
9.2 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Turk Schonert

How does Joe Burrow compare to Turk Schonert?

Joe Burrow towers over Turk Schonert like a skyscraper next to a shed—Burrow's the Bengals' supernova franchise QB with playoff heroics and MVP whispers, while Schonert backed up Ken Anderson for years, scraping together 3,788 yards and 11 TDs over nine seasons, mostly as a spot starter on those Super Bowl squads.

Is Turk Schonert in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Turk Schonert's not in Canton—his 3,788 career yards and 11 TDs as Bengals backup don't scream Hall of Fame, even with rings from those Super Bowl runs in '82 and '89. Solid pro, but the busts are for the Andersons, not the reliable clipboards.

How would Turk Schonert perform in today's NFL?

Schonert's quick-release arm and smarts would've feasted under today's pass-happy rules—no more bruising hits, just slinging it to speedy WRs. His 9.19 rating from the '80s grit era? Imagine that in air-raid schemes; he'd be a savvy bridge guy, maybe cracking 4,000 yards in a season.

How does Turk Schonert compare to Ken Anderson?

Ken Anderson lapped Turk Schonert in the Bengals' QB pecking order—Anderson's 39.41 rating and MVP shine versus Schonert's backup 9.19 and 3,788 yards over nine years. Think maestro versus understudy; both Super Bowl vets, but Anderson orchestrated, Schonert mopped up.