| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Kelly | Bills | 11 | Great | Good | Great | 49.97 | Sigma |
| 2 | Josh Allen | Bills | 8 | Great | Elite | Good | 44.34 | Sigma |
| 3 | Jack Kemp | Bills | 7 | Good | Subpar | Good | 38.01 | Slaps |
| 4 | Joe Ferguson | Bills | 12 | Subpar | Average | Subpar | 31.01 | Delulu |
| 5 | Doug Flutie | Bills | 3 | Good | Good | Subpar | 28.96 | Delulu |
| 6 | Tyrod Taylor | Bills | 3 | Average | Great | Subpar | 28.87 | Delulu |
| 7 | Drew Bledsoe | Bills | 3 | Average | Average | Subpar | 26.82 | Delulu |
| 8 | Rob Johnson | Bills | 4 | Subpar | Good | Subpar | 26.76 | Delulu |
| 9 | Kyle Orton | Bills | 1 | Average | Good | Non-Factor | 19.08 | NPC |
| 10 | Kelly Holcomb | Bills | 1 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.74 | NPC |
| 11 | Frank Reich | Bills | 9 | Average | Good | Non-Factor | 16.89 | NPC |
| 12 | EJ Manuel | Bills | 4 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.47 | NPC |
| 13 | Johnny Green | Bills | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.36 | NPC |
| 14 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | Bills | 4 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.26 | NPC |
| 15 | Trent Edwards | Bills | 4 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.19 | NPC |
| 16 | J. P. Losman | Bills | 5 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 15.11 | NPC |
| 17 | Todd Collins | Bills | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 14.83 | NPC |
| 18 | Bruce Mathison | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 12.11 | NPC |
| 19 | Dan Darragh | Bills | 3 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 12.09 | NPC |
| 20 | Dennis Shaw | Bills | 4 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 12.08 | NPC |
| 21 | Vince Ferragamo | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 11.97 | NPC |
| 22 | Daryle Lamonica | Bills | 4 | Good | Subpar | Non-Factor | 10.97 | NPC |
| 23 | Alex Van Pelt | Bills | 9 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.26 | Cooked |
| 24 | Thad Lewis | Bills | 1 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.25 | NPC |
| 25 | Matt Barkley | Bills | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.29 | Cooked |
| 26 | Brian McClure | Bills | 1 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.73 | Cooked |
| 27 | Gary Marangi | Bills | 3 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.35 | Cooked |
| 28 | Joe Dufek | Bills | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.05 | Cooked |
| 29 | Kay Stephenson | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.93 | Cooked |
| 30 | Mitchell Trubisky | Bills | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Subpar | 6.47 | Cooked |
| 31 | Tom Flores | Bills | 3 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.43 | Cooked |
| 32 | Brian Brohm | Bills | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.29 | Cooked |
| 33 | Dan Manucci | Bills | 3 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.11 | Cooked |
| 34 | Derek Anderson | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.05 | Cooked |
| 35 | Ed Rutkowski | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.96 | Cooked |
| 36 | Jeff Tuel | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.80 | Cooked |
| 37 | Leo Hart | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.56 | Cooked |
| 38 | Matt Cassel | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.48 | Cooked |
| 39 | Nathan Peterman | Bills | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.40 | Cooked |
| 40 | Willie Totten | Bills | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 4.93 | Cooked |
All-Time Bills QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Buffalo Bills quarterback of all time?
Jim Kelly holds the top spot with a rating of 49.97, driven by his “Great” regular-season performance, “Good” fantasy impact, and “Great” playoff showings across 11 seasons, earning them “Sigma” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Jim Kelly 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. Jim Kelly’s 49.97 with the Bills, while leading to four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s, 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 Josh Allen one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Josh Allen 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 Buffalo Bills quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Buffalo Bills’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—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.