All-Time Cowboys QBs Ranked: Aikman #1, Staubach #2

Steve Pelluer

#16 · Dallas Cowboys
Retired 7 Years In The NFL
🏆 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (1983)
Steve's
HAIR
7.9
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Steve Pelluer or the Cowboys?

Steve Pelluer Legacy

HEYTC AI
Steve Pelluer, the steady-handed gunslinger from Bellevue who etched his name in Washington Huskies lore by piloting that dominant 28-0 Rose Bowl shutout over Iowa in 1982, was the ultimate understudy in Dallas. A fifth-round Cowboys pick in '84, he stepped into the breach behind Danny White, flashing grit in spot duty before a Chiefs stint and globe-trotting jaunts to Winnipeg and Frankfurt's Galaxy. What defined him? Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year moxie in '83, turning Husky Stadium into a launchpad for his pro dreams—proof that Rose Bowl magic can propel even journeymen QBs into NFL immortality, one poised pocket presence at a time.

Steve Pelluer Rating Breakdown

Season
Subpar
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
5 years with the Cowboys

Steve Pelluer Career Stats via Wikipedia

6,870 Pass Yards
29 Touchdowns
39 INTs
0.0% Comp %
7.9 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Steve Pelluer

How does Dak Prescott compare to Steve Pelluer?

Dak Prescott towers over Steve Pelluer like a skyscraper next to a ranch house—Dak's got over 30,000 yards and three Pro Bowls already, while Pelluer topped out at 6,870 yards and 29 TDs in spot duty for the '80s Cowboys. Dak's the engine; Pelluer was the reliable backup who stepped up when Aikman sat, but no Super Bowl shine.

Is Steve Pelluer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Steve Pelluer's not in Canton—his 73.9 passer rating and journeyman path through Dallas, KC, even CFL and WLAF don't scream Hall of Fame. Think of him as the Cowboys' gritty insurance policy, not a plaque guy; Aikman got the bust, Pelluer got the memories from that '88 season with 3,139 yards behind Herschel Walker.

What is Steve Pelluer doing now in 2026?

As of early 2026, Steve Pelluer's off the grid—no splashy broadcasting gigs or big charity headlines popping up. The ex-Cowboys QB, who bounced to Winnipeg and Frankfurt post-NFL, seems content in quiet retirement, maybe coaching youth ball or running a local business in Washington state, away from the spotlight he never chased.

How would Steve Pelluer perform in today's NFL?

Pelluer's gunslinger arm and mobility—1,002 rushing yards career—would feast in today's pass-happy NFL with no-touch rules and spread offenses. His 56% completion and 7.2 YPA from the brutal '80s? Bump that to 65% with modern protection, and he'd be a solid bridge starter, like a poor man's Geno Smith scrambling behind a star-studded O-line.

How does Steve Pelluer compare to Troy Aikman?

Troy Aikman lapped Steve Pelluer in the Cowboys QB pecking order—Aikman's 69.66 rating and three rings dwarf Pelluer's punchless 7.91 equivalent from backup flashes (full stats hit 73.9). Pelluer slung 3,139 yards in '88 amid chaos; Troy built an empire. Both franchise threads, but Aikman's silk, Pelluer's work boot.