All-Time Broncos QBs Ranked: Elway #1, Manning #2

George Herring

#97 · Denver Broncos
Retired 2 Years In The NFL
George's
HAIR
5.9
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about George Herring or the Broncos?

George Herring Legacy

HEYTC AI
George Herring was a journeyman signal-caller who bounced across the early AFL landscape—a 6-2 Alabama product trying to carve out a niche in professional football's Wild West era. His stint with Houston in 1960 came during the Oilers' formative years, when the league was still finding its identity. Herring never quite had the arm talent or consistency to stick, finishing with a brutal 29.3 passer rating, but he represented that scrappy breed of '50s and '60s quarterbacks who simply loved the game enough to chase it across multiple leagues and franchises. He played the game on his terms, and that counted for something.
George Herring passed away on November 8, 1994 at the age of 61.

George Herring Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Non-Factor
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
2 years with the Broncos

George Herring Career Stats via Wikipedia

1,297 Pass Yards
5 Touchdowns
23 INTs
0.0% Comp %
5.9 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About George Herring

How does Bo Nix compare to George Herring?

Bo Nix, the Broncos' current gunslinger, towers over George Herring like a Ferrari next to a Model T—Nix slinging 4,000-yard seasons while Herring scraped together 1,297 yards, 5 TDs, and a 29.3 rating as Frank Tripucka's backup in the Broncos' inaugural AFL years. Nix chases rings; Herring chased relevance in a run-heavy era.

Is George Herring in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, George Herring never made it to Canton—no bust, no gold jacket, just a footnote from the Broncos' scrappy AFL startup days. With 1,297 yards, 5 TDs against 23 picks, and a passer rating dipping to 29.3, he's light years from Hall territory, more trivia than titan.

How would George Herring perform in today's NFL?

Herring's arm might get a slight boost today with pass-happy rules and no more leather helmets, but that 29.3 rating and 23 picks scream trouble against zone coverages and blitzes. He'd be a camp arm at best, not starting—think fringe roster guy in Sean Payton's scheme, praying for quick slants.

How does George Herring compare to John Elway?

Comparing Herring to Elway is like pitting a pop gun against a bazooka—Herring's 5.92-ish rating (call it 29.3 career) versus Elway's 71.78 skyrocket. Both Broncos QBs, sure, but Elway built dynasties; Herring backed up in '60-'61, tossing 1,297 yards to Elway's legend.