All-Time Chargers QBs Ranked: Rivers #1, Fouts #2

Craig Whelihan

#5 · Los Angeles Chargers
Retired 2 Years In The NFL
🏆 ArenaBowl champion (2007)
Craig's
HAIR
7.6
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Craig Whelihan or the Chargers?

Craig Whelihan Legacy

HEYTC AI
Craig Whelihan was the ultimate bolt from the blue, the scrappy San Jose kid who stepped into the San Diego Chargers' spotlight when Stan Humphries went down and Ryan Leaf imploded, turning emergency stints into cult-hero lore. Picture this: 1997, replacing Humphries mid-game, then torching the Giants with a 41-yard bomb to Charlie Jones amid the chaos; or '98, salvaging Leaf's disasters with poise Denver couldn't touch. Sure, the wins were scarce and picks piled up, but Whelihan's arm lit up the XFL with Memphis and Chicago, then dominated Arena football—capping it with an ArenaBowl ring in 2007. A journeyman's gunslinger who owned the moment when called, forever the Chargers' what-if warrior.

Craig Whelihan Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
2 years with the Chargers

Craig Whelihan Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,160 Pass Yards
14 Touchdowns
29 INTs
0.0% Comp %
7.6 HAIR
10-11 Record

Frequently Asked Questions About Craig Whelihan

How does Justin Herbert compare to Craig Whelihan?

Justin Herbert towers over Craig Whelihan like a skyscraper next to a shed—Herbert's thrown for over 20,000 yards already as the Chargers' franchise cornerstone, while Whelihan's two-year bolt produced just 3,160 yards, 14 TDs, and a 52.4 rating amid Ryan Leaf chaos. Herbert's arm talent and poise make Whelihan's spot-starter grit feel like a dusty footnote.

Is Craig Whelihan in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Craig Whelihan's not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame—no bronze bust in Canton for the guy who went 267-for-557 with 14 TDs and 29 picks in his brief Chargers stint. He's more the unsung backup who stepped into the '97-'98 dumpster fire after Humphries and before Leaf's meltdown, not Hall stuff.

What is Craig Whelihan doing now in 2026?

No fresh intel on Whelihan in 2026—he's stayed off the radar since his Arena League days as 'Wheels,' where he lit up scoreboards with over 9,000 yards. Probably coaching high schoolers, grinding a day job, or tailgating Chargers games quietly, far from broadcasts or headlines. Guy was always more blue-collar than spotlight-chaser.

How would Craig Whelihan perform in today's NFL?

Whelihan's gunslinger arm—evident in that 44-yard bomb to Charlie Jones or 279-yard outings—might carve a backup niche today with pass-happy rules, no more 8-man fronts, and RPOs suiting his 2.2 yards-per-carry scamper. But 29 picks in 3,160 yards screams turnover machine; he'd be Ryan Fitzpatrick lite, not a starter.

How does Craig Whelihan compare to Dan Fouts?

Dan Fouts lapped Whelihan in the Chargers QB pantheon—Fouts' 36.6 rating and Air Coryell bombs (over 47,000 yards) defined an era, while Whelihan's 52.4 mark over two seasons was a 7.56-ish disaster by comparison, fumbling in end zones and feeding picks. Fouts was maestro; Whelihan, the temp filling Humphries' shoes.