Jeff Komlo
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Jeff Komlo Legacy
HEYTC AIJeff Komlo Rating Breakdown
Jeff Komlo Career Stats via Wikipedia
Jeff Komlo Career Timeline
HEYTC AI1983 1
Career ends in CFL
Unable to secure another NFL roster spot, Komlo moved to the Canadian Football League, playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1983 (1,249 passing yards, 4 TDs) before retiring from pro football.
1982 1
Brief stint with Raiders
Komlo signed with the Los Angeles Raiders late in the 1982 season but was released without playing in any games, marking the end of his NFL career.
1981 1
Signed by Chargers
Komlo joined the San Diego Chargers as a free agent, serving as a third-string quarterback; he did not appear in any games during the season.
1980 2
Traded to Buccaneers
Komlo was acquired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the Lions' waiver wire in September 1980; he played in 2 games, completing 9 of 20 passes for 79 yards before being waived again in November.
Released by Lions
After three seasons with the Lions where he appeared in 8 games total with limited stats (28/58, 342 yards, 1 TD), Komlo was released during training camp.
1979 1
Lions backup QB role
Komlo spent his first full season as the backup to Gary Danielson with the Lions, appearing in 4 games and completing 10 of 22 passes for 125 yards.
1978 2
Signed rookie contract with Lions
Komlo signed his rookie contract with the Detroit Lions shortly after the draft, beginning his professional career as a backup quarterback behind Gary Danielson.
Drafted by Lions
Jeff Komlo was selected by the Detroit Lions as a 9th-round pick (#226 overall) in the 1978 NFL Draft out of University of Pittsburgh.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeff Komlo
How does Jared Goff compare to Jeff Komlo?
Jeff Komlo's Lions stint was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it nightmare—2-12 as a rookie starter in '79, 2,603 career yards, buried under 28 picks—while Jared Goff's crafting a steady revival with playoff pushes and 4,000-yard seasons. Komlo's a gritty footnote from the Monte Clark mess; Goff's the poised orchestrator turning Motown blue again. Night and day, like comparing a '79 Pinto to a sleek Tesla.
Is Jeff Komlo in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Nope, Jeff Komlo's not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no Canton bronze for the ninth-rounder who crash-landed as Detroit's emergency starter. His '79 disaster (11 TDs, 23 INTs in 14 starts) didn't scream immortality, though those two lone Lions wins over Atlanta and Chicago were pure chaos magic. Legends like Layne own that turf.
How would Jeff Komlo perform in today's NFL?
Komlo's raw arm and mobility might snag a backup gig today—modern rules shield QBs from the '70s thumpings he ate, letting pocket magicians like him sling it freer amid RPOs and quick releases. But 50% completion and that 13.47 rating? He'd battle for reps behind the athletic prototypes, probably thriving in gadget packages like a poor man's Geno Smith.
How does Jeff Komlo compare to Bobby Layne?
Bobby Layne lapped Jeff Komlo like a Mustang outrunning a go-kart—Layne's 38.72 rating and championship grit defined Lions lore over a decade, while Komlo's 13.47 mark in one brutal '79 season (2-12, 23 picks) was a rookie trial by fire. Both Honest-to-God Lions QBs, but Layne was fireworks; Komlo, a damp sparkler.