| Rank | Player | Rating | Team | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Overall | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Ryan | 42.23 | Falcons | Good | Great | Average | Slaps | 14 |
| 2 | Chris Chandler | 33.84 | Falcons | Average | Good | Average | Chill | 5 |
| 3 | Michael Vick | 33.10 | Falcons | Good | Good | Average | Chill | 6 |
| 4 | Steve Bartkowski | 31.67 | Falcons | Subpar | Good | Subpar | Delulu | 11 |
| 5 | Chris Miller | 30.33 | Falcons | Subpar | Good | Average | Delulu | 7 |
| 6 | Kirk Cousins Starter | 26.11 | Falcons | Average | Good | Subpar | Delulu | 2 |
| 7 | Jeff George | 24.66 | Falcons | Subpar | Good | Subpar | Delulu | 1 |
| 8 | Marcus Mariota | 17.71 | Falcons | Subpar | Good | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 9 | Bob Berry | 16.58 | Falcons | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 5 |
| 10 | Bob Lee | 16.57 | Falcons | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 11 | Desmond Ridder | 16.51 | Falcons | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 12 | Joey Harrington | 15.05 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 13 | Randy Johnson | 14.92 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 14 | Michael Penix Jr Injured | 14.13 | Falcons | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 15 | Doug Johnson | 13.53 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 16 | Scott Campbell | 13.42 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 17 | Billy Joe Tolliver | 12.13 | Falcons | Average | Good | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 18 | Wade Wilson | 11.96 | Falcons | Subpar | Great | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 19 | Dick Shiner | 10.95 | Falcons | Average | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 20 | Bobby Hebert | 9.94 | Falcons | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 21 | Chris Redman | 9.85 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Good | Non-Factor | NPC | 4 |
| 22 | Hugh Millen | 9.69 | Falcons | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | NPC | 3 |
| 23 | Scott Hunter | 9.31 | Falcons | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 2 |
| 24 | Taylor Heinicke | 9.25 | Falcons | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | NPC | 1 |
| 25 | David Archer | 8.90 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 4 |
| 26 | Erik Kramer | 8.82 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 27 | Kurt Kittner | 8.36 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 28 | Matt Schaub | 8.24 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 29 | Mike Moroski | 8.18 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 6 |
| 30 | Steve DeBerg | 7.94 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 31 | Turk Schonert | 7.78 | Falcons | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 32 | Danny Kanell | 7.56 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 33 | Dennis Claridge | 7.51 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 34 | June Jones | 6.94 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 4 |
| 35 | Kim McQuilken | 6.91 | Falcons | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 4 |
| 36 | Steve Dils | 6.52 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 37 | Tony Graziani | 6.39 | Falcons | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 3 |
| 38 | Bruce Lemmerman | 6.24 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 39 | Byron Leftwich | 6.20 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 40 | Jeff Van Raaphorst | 5.79 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
| 41 | Pat Sullivan | 5.36 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 4 |
| 42 | Steve Sloan | 5.14 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 2 |
| 43 | Terry Nofsinger | 5.08 | Falcons | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Cooked | 1 |
All-Time Falcons QB Rankings
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.