All-Time Lions QBs Ranked: Layne #1, Goff #2

Mike McMahon

#8 · Detroit Lions
Retired 5 Years In The NFL
🏆 UFL champion (2011)
Mike's
HAIR
6.8
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Mike McMahon or the Lions?

Mike McMahon Legacy

HEYTC AI
Mike McMahon, the scrappy Rutgers gunslinger from Pittsburgh's steel-country suburbs, embodied the ultimate football journeyman—fifth-round pick who clawed into starts for the hapless Lions behind Joey Harrington, then stepped into the Philly spotlight when Donovan McNabb went down in '05. His signature flash? Becoming the first Eagles QB since Randall Cunningham to rush for two scores in a game, a nod to his dual-threat grit amid 2-5 stints and a vagabond trail through CFL, UFL (where he snagged a title), and even Swedish leagues. Not a star, but the guy who'd lace 'em up anywhere, chasing gridiron immortality one underdog snap at a time.

Mike McMahon Rating Breakdown

Season
Non-Factor
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
Cooked
4 years with the Lions

Mike McMahon Career Stats via Wikipedia

2,867 Pass Yards
15 Touchdowns
21 INTs
0.0% Comp %
6.8 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Mike McMahon

How does Jared Goff compare to Mike McMahon?

Mike McMahon’s Lions stint was a gritty cameo—2,867 yards, 15 TDs, 55.1 rating—while Jared Goff’s already got a Super Bowl trip under his belt and a franchise-record pace with Detroit’s firepower. McMahon sparked hope in the Joey Harrington fog; Goff’s delivering playoffs. One’s a fond what-if, the other’s scripting the next chapter, Peter King-style.

Is Mike McMahon in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nah, Mike McMahon’s not in Canton—his 15 TDs and 55.1 rating over five NFL seasons didn’t punch that ticket. Think of him as the ultimate Lions trivia guy, the guy who ran like hell (482 rushing yards) but couldn’t sustain the arm. Hall’s for the Laynes, not the scrappers who lit up a Monday night or two.

What is Mike McMahon doing now in 2026?

As of 2026, McMahon’s off the grid—no splashy broadcasting gigs or viral charity runs popping up. Last seen grinding in the UFL til ’12, he’s likely coaching youth ball or running a quiet business, Rutgers roots deep. The football world moved on from his Philly cameo; dude’s probably grilling steaks and reminiscing about that ’05 Eagles wild card magic.

How would Mike McMahon perform in today's NFL?

McMahon’s legs would feast in today’s pass-happy NFL—482 rushing yards as a QB screams Lamar Jackson lite, with modern rules shielding scramblers. His 44.5% completion? Yikes, even quick-release offenses demand more zip. He’d be a gadget spark like a poor man’s Jalen Hurts, thriving in RPOs but fumbling the deep ball.

How does Mike McMahon compare to Bobby Layne?

Bobby Layne owned the Lions with a 38.72 rating and rings galore; McMahon’s 6.77 in ’01-’02 was desperate heroism amid 0-16 whispers—think Layne’s cigar-chomping swagger vs. McMahon’s helmet-throwing fury. Both franchise firefighters, but Layne built eras, Mike just kept the flames from total apocalypse.