All-Time Falcons QB Rankings

Rank Name Team Years Season Fantasy Playoffs Rating Overall
1 Matt Ryan Falcons 14 Good Great Average 42.23 Slaps
2 Chris Chandler Falcons 5 Average Good Average 33.84 Chill
3 Michael Vick Falcons 6 Good Good Average 33.10 Chill
4 Steve Bartkowski Falcons 11 Subpar Good Subpar 31.67 Delulu
5 Chris Miller Falcons 7 Subpar Good Average 30.33 Delulu
6 Jeff George Falcons 1 Subpar Good Subpar 24.66 Delulu
7 Michael Penix Jr Falcons 2 Average Average Non-Factor 18.30 NPC
8 Marcus Mariota Falcons 1 Subpar Good Non-Factor 17.71 NPC
9 Bob Berry Falcons 5 Subpar Average Non-Factor 16.58 NPC
10 Bob Lee Falcons 2 Average Subpar Non-Factor 16.57 NPC
11 Desmond Ridder Falcons 2 Average Subpar Non-Factor 16.51 NPC
12 Joey Harrington Falcons 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 15.05 NPC
13 Randy Johnson Falcons 4 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 14.92 NPC
14 Doug Johnson Falcons 4 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 13.53 NPC
15 Scott Campbell Falcons 4 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 13.42 NPC
16 Billy Joe Tolliver Falcons 4 Average Good Non-Factor 12.13 NPC
17 Wade Wilson Falcons 1 Subpar Great Non-Factor 11.96 NPC
18 Dick Shiner Falcons 2 Average Average Non-Factor 10.95 NPC
19 Bobby Hebert Falcons 4 Subpar Average Non-Factor 9.94 NPC
20 Chris Redman Falcons 4 Non-Factor Good Non-Factor 9.85 NPC
21 Hugh Millen Falcons 3 Average Subpar Non-Factor 9.69 NPC
22 Scott Hunter Falcons 2 Subpar Average Non-Factor 9.31 NPC
23 Taylor Heinicke Falcons 1 Subpar Average Non-Factor 9.25 NPC
24 David Archer Falcons 4 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.90 Cooked
25 Erik Kramer Falcons 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.82 Cooked
26 Kurt Kittner Falcons 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.36 Cooked
27 Matt Schaub Falcons 3 Non-Factor Average Non-Factor 8.24 Cooked
28 Mike Moroski Falcons 6 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.18 Cooked
29 Steve DeBerg Falcons 1 Non-Factor Average Non-Factor 7.94 Cooked
30 Kirk Cousins Falcons 2 Subpar Subpar Subpar 7.86 Cooked
31 Turk Schonert Falcons 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 7.78 Cooked
32 Danny Kanell Falcons 2 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 7.56 Cooked
33 Dennis Claridge Falcons 1 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 7.51 Cooked
34 June Jones Falcons 4 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 6.94 Cooked
35 Kim McQuilken Falcons 4 Subpar Non-Factor Non-Factor 6.91 Cooked
36 Steve Dils Falcons 1 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 6.52 Cooked
37 Tony Graziani Falcons 3 Subpar Non-Factor Non-Factor 6.39 Cooked
38 Bruce Lemmerman Falcons 2 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 6.24 Cooked
39 Byron Leftwich Falcons 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 6.20 Cooked
40 Jeff Van Raaphorst Falcons 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.79 Cooked
41 Pat Sullivan Falcons 4 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.36 Cooked
42 Steve Sloan Falcons 2 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.14 Cooked
43 Terry Nofsinger Falcons 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.08 Cooked

FAQ

Who is the greatest Atlanta Falcons quarterback of all time?

Matt Ryan holds the top spot with a rating of 42.23, driven by his “Good” regular-season performance, “Great” fantasy impact, and “Average” playoff showings across 14 seasons, earning them “Slaps” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.

How does Matt Ryan compare to the greatest quarterback of all time?

Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. His highest rating is with the New England Patriots—a fitting 133.7—and overall is even higher because of his Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay. Matt Ryan’s 42.23 with the Falcons, while earning NFL MVP in 2016, leading the team to Super Bowl LI appearance, and holding franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns, doesn’t match Brady’s sustained excellence across eras—his overall rating with both Tampa and New England totals 148.5.

For a full comparison, check out the All-Time QB Rankings here.

What is the difference between HeyTC’s QB Rating and ESPN’s QBR?

QBR is an outdated model that doesn’t take into account whether the quarterback won the game—its first flaw. Winning is everything; who cares if Quarterback X has the highest QBR but doesn’t win games? Its second flaw is that it doesn’t factor in playoff and Super Bowl success.

By contrast, the HeyTC QB Rating is a composite score evaluating a quarterback’s tenure with his team, factoring in regular-season performance, fantasy football value, playoff success, and overall franchise legacy.

Is Michael Penix Jr one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?

While Michael Penix Jr is good, he’s not Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is still the best quarterback in the NFL. For the complete NFL daily quarterback rankings, check out our list that include some surprises.

What do the “Season,” “Fantasy,” and “Playoffs” columns mean?

These columns use qualitative tiers to assess regular-season excellence (e.g., Good for standout play), fantasy (e.g., “Elite” for top scorers), and postseason performance (e.g., “Great” for significant playoff runs)—forming the foundation of the overall ranking.

How do Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks compare to other teams?

To see how Atlanta Falcons’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—and get our bold prediction on when this team will win its next Super Bowl—check out the All-Time Team QB Rankings here.

What do the slang terms in the “Overall” column mean (like “Aura,” “Sigma,” or “NPC”)?

These terms, inspired by our “Dad Glossary,” add a playful, informal spin to describe quarterback impact:

  • Aura/Elite: Legendary, game-changing dominance.
  • Sigma/Great: Consistently elite performers.
  • Slaps/Good: Solid, reliable contributors.
  • Chill/Average: Dependable but unremarkable.
  • Delulu/Mediocre: Overhyped with underwhelming results.
  • NPC/Subpar: Forgettable and inconsistent.
  • Cooked/Non-Factor: Complete busts.

How often is this list updated?

The list is updated throughout the year, with major revisions during the NFL postseason and after the Super Bowl to reflect evolving careers of quarterbacks.