All-Time Lions QBs Ranked: Layne #1, Goff #2

Bob Gagliano

Retired 5 Years In The NFL
Bob's
HAIR
9.9
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Bob Gagliano or the Lions?

Bob Gagliano Legacy

HEYTC AI
Bob Gagliano was a journeyman's journeyman—the kind of quarterback who showed up, competed hard, and asked no questions about his role. Drafted by Kansas City in 1981, "the Goose" bounced through eight NFL teams and the USFL, never quite sticking anywhere but always ready when called upon. His best work came in Detroit, where he piloted the Lions to five straight wins to close 1989, proving he could manage games when given the chance. With a 62.7 passer rating and more interceptions than touchdowns, Gagliano wasn't flashy—he was functional, a backup's backup who understood his place in the ecosystem. That's not nothing in this league.

Bob Gagliano Rating Breakdown

Season
Average
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
2 years with the Lions

Bob Gagliano Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,431 Pass Yards
17 Touchdowns
27 INTs
0.0% Comp %
9.9 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Bob Gagliano

How does Jared Goff compare to Bob Gagliano?

Bob Gagliano's Lions stint was a fleeting spark—3,431 yards, 17 TDs, a 62.7 rating over two injury-plagued years—while Jared Goff's crafting a decade-long saga with franchise records and playoff pushes. Goose was the emergency brake in '89-'90; Goff's the steady engine. One's a trivia nugget, the other's etching permanence in Honolulu blue.

Is Bob Gagliano in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Bob Gagliano's not in Canton—no bust, no gold jacket for the Goose. His 17 NFL TDs and journeyman path from USFL to Lions backup never screamed Hall. He's more the unsung backup who sparked a five-game Lions win streak in '89 than a plaque guy. Legends like Layne own that spotlight.

What is Bob Gagliano doing now in 2026?

No fresh intel on Bob Gagliano in 2026—he's stayed off the grid since hanging up the cleats post-1994. The Goose, last seen bouncing between squads like a USFL refugee, likely kicked back after 3,431 NFL yards. No broadcasting gigs or charity headlines; guy's probably grilling in anonymity, far from Ford Field drama.

How would Bob Gagliano perform in today's NFL?

Gagliano's gunslinger arm from his 2,695-yard USFL days would've feasted under today's pass-happy rules—no more 1970s thumpers sacking QBs unchecked. That 54.7% Lions completion? Modern protections and quick releases might've bumped his 62.7 rating to starter-viable, turning Goose into a poor man's Rich Gannon.

How does Bob Gagliano compare to Bobby Layne?

Bobby Layne's 38.72 rating as Lions lore's cigar-chomping wizard towers over Gagliano's pedestrian 9.14 mark in Detroit—Layne slung magic in the '50s, Goose just managed chaos in '89-'90 with 1,190 yards amid injuries. One's a Hall of Fame drunkard poet; the other's the temp who closed strong but faded fast.