| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troy Aikman | Cowboys | 12 | Good | Good | Elite | 69.66 | Sigma |
| 2 | Roger Staubach | Cowboys | 11 | Elite | Good | Elite | 67.55 | Sigma |
| 3 | Danny White | Cowboys | 13 | Great | Good | Average | 41.52 | Slaps |
| 4 | Craig Morton | Cowboys | 10 | Great | Average | Average | 39.43 | Slaps |
| 5 | Tony Romo | Cowboys | 13 | Good | Great | Subpar | 38.00 | Slaps |
| 6 | Don Meredith | Cowboys | 9 | Good | Good | Subpar | 33.12 | Chill |
| 7 | Dak Prescott | Cowboys | 10 | Average | Good | Subpar | 32.41 | Chill |
| 8 | Quincy Carter | Cowboys | 3 | Average | Subpar | Subpar | 24.64 | Delulu |
| 9 | Drew Bledsoe | Cowboys | 2 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.87 | NPC |
| 10 | Jon Kitna | Cowboys | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.02 | NPC |
| 11 | Vinny Testaverde | Cowboys | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 14.78 | NPC |
| 12 | Steve Beuerlein | Cowboys | 2 | Good | Good | Non-Factor | 14.07 | NPC |
| 13 | Cooper Rush | Cowboys | 7 | Good | Good | Non-Factor | 13.54 | NPC |
| 14 | Eddie LeBaron | Cowboys | 4 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 13.51 | NPC |
| 15 | Jason Garrett | Cowboys | 7 | Good | Good | Non-Factor | 13.48 | NPC |
| 16 | Stephen McGee | Cowboys | 2 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.64 | NPC |
| 17 | Andy Dalton | Cowboys | 1 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.98 | NPC |
| 18 | Gary Hogeboom | Cowboys | 6 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.73 | NPC |
| 19 | Kevin Sweeney | Cowboys | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.49 | NPC |
| 20 | Chad Hutchinson | Cowboys | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.01 | Cooked |
| 21 | Randall Cunningham | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 8.11 | Cooked |
| 22 | Rodney Peete | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 8.05 | Cooked |
| 23 | Steve Pelluer | Cowboys | 5 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.91 | Cooked |
| 24 | Anthony Wright | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.84 | Cooked |
| 25 | Bernie Kosar | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.82 | Cooked |
| 26 | Brad Johnson | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.77 | Cooked |
| 27 | Brandon Weeden | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.75 | Cooked |
| 28 | Clint Longley | Cowboys | 2 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.59 | Cooked |
| 29 | Clint Stoerner | Cowboys | 2 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.59 | Cooked |
| 30 | Don Heinrich | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.48 | Cooked |
| 31 | Drew Henson | Cowboys | 1 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.46 | Cooked |
| 32 | Garrett Gilbert | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.38 | Cooked |
| 33 | Kellen Moore | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.93 | Cooked |
| 34 | Kyle Orton | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.89 | Cooked |
| 35 | Matt Cassel | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.82 | Cooked |
| 36 | Joe Millton III | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.49 | Cooked |
| 37 | Steve Walsh | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.48 | Cooked |
| 38 | Babe Laufenberg | Cowboys | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.38 | Cooked |
| 39 | Ben DiNucci | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.37 | Cooked |
| 40 | Jerry Rhome | Cowboys | 4 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.77 | Cooked |
| 41 | Reggie Collier | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.31 | Cooked |
| 42 | Ryan Leaf | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.24 | Cooked |
| 43 | Trey Lance | Cowboys | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.01 | Cooked |
All-Time Cowboys QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Dallas Cowboys quarterback of all time?
Troy Aikman holds the top spot with a rating of 69.66, driven by his “Good” regular-season performance, “Good” fantasy impact, and “Elite” playoff showings across 12 seasons, earning them “Sigma” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Troy Aikman 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. Troy Aikman’s 69.66 with the Cowboys, while leading the team to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s including MVP in Super Bowl XXVII,
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 Dak Prescott one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Dak Prescott 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 Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Dallas Cowboys’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.