| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Namath | Jets | 12 | Average | Subpar | Good | 40.81 | Slaps |
| 2 | Chad Pennington | Jets | 8 | Average | Good | Average | 32.41 | Chill |
| 3 | Mark Sanchez | Jets | 4 | Average | Average | Average | 31.69 | Delulu |
| 4 | Vinny Testaverde | Jets | 7 | Good | Average | Subpar | 30.98 | Delulu |
| 5 | Ken O'Brien | Jets | 9 | Subpar | Average | Subpar | 28.17 | Delulu |
| 6 | Pat Ryan | Jets | 12 | Average | Subpar | Average | 25.36 | Delulu |
| 7 | Richard Todd | Jets | 8 | Subpar | Subpar | Average | 21.81 | Delulu |
| 8 | Boomer Esiason | Jets | 3 | Subpar | Good | Subpar | 19.70 | Delulu |
| 9 | Aaron Rodgers | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Great | Non-Factor | 19.15 | NPC |
| 10 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | Jets | 2 | Average | Good | Non-Factor | 19.06 | NPC |
| 11 | Brett Favre | Jets | 1 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.95 | NPC |
| 12 | Josh McCown | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Good | Non-Factor | 17.75 | NPC |
| 13 | Al Dorow | Jets | 2 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 16.61 | NPC |
| 14 | Neil O'Donnell | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.28 | NPC |
| 15 | Sam Darnold | Jets | 3 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.24 | NPC |
| 16 | Dick Wood | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.19 | NPC |
| 17 | Geno Smith | Jets | 4 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.14 | NPC |
| 18 | Zach Wilson | Jets | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 14.78 | NPC |
| 19 | Al Woodall | Jets | 5 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 13.61 | NPC |
| 20 | Justin Fields | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Good | Non-Factor | 12.67 | NPC |
| 21 | Browning Nagle | Jets | 3 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 12.12 | NPC |
| 22 | Ray Lucas | Jets | 4 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.69 | NPC |
| 23 | Bob Davis | Jets | 3 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.95 | NPC |
| 24 | Brooks Bollinger | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.90 | NPC |
| 25 | Dick Jamieson | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Good | Non-Factor | 9.77 | NPC |
| 26 | Joe Flacco | Jets | 3 | Non-Factor | Good | Non-Factor | 9.59 | NPC |
| 27 | Johnny Green | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.54 | NPC |
| 28 | Lee Grosscup | Jets | 1 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.47 | NPC |
| 29 | Tyrod Taylor | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Average | Subpar | 9.29 | Cooked |
| 30 | Kellen Clemens | Jets | 5 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.45 | Cooked |
| 31 | Matt Robinson | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.25 | Cooked |
| 32 | Quincy Carter | Jets | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.12 | Cooked |
| 33 | Rick Mirer | Jets | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.07 | Cooked |
| 34 | Bryce Petty | Jets | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.71 | Cooked |
| 35 | Butch Songin | Jets | 1 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.68 | Cooked |
| 36 | Frank Reich | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.41 | Cooked |
| 37 | Glenn Foley | Jets | 5 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.32 | Cooked |
| 38 | Michael Vick | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.79 | Cooked |
| 39 | Mike Taliaferro | Jets | 4 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.76 | Cooked |
| 40 | Mike White | Jets | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.75 | Cooked |
| 41 | Trevor Siemian | Jets | 2 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.37 | Cooked |
| 42 | Bill Demory | Jets | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.35 | Cooked |
| 43 | Bubby Brister | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.22 | Cooked |
| 44 | David Norrie | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.07 | Cooked |
| 45 | Galen Hall | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.94 | Cooked |
| 46 | Greg McElroy | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.89 | Cooked |
| 47 | J.J. Jones | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.86 | Cooked |
| 48 | Jack Trudeau | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.85 | Cooked |
| 49 | Kyle Mackey | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.59 | Cooked |
| 50 | Luke Falk | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.56 | Cooked |
| 51 | Marty Domres | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.49 | Cooked |
| 52 | Pete Liske | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.34 | Cooked |
| 53 | Tim Boyle | Jets | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.08 | Cooked |
| 54 | Tony Eason | Jets | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.04 | Cooked |
All-Time Jets QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest New York Jets quarterback of all time?
Joe Namath holds the top spot with a rating of 40.81, driven by his “Average” regular-season performance, “Subpar” fantasy impact, and “Good” playoff showings across 12 seasons, earning them “Slaps” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Joe Namath 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. Joe Namath’s 40.81 with the Jets, while guaranteeing and delivering the team’s only Super Bowl victory in 1969, 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 Justin Fields one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Justin Fields is decent, 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 New York Jets quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how New York Jets’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.