All-Time Commanders QB Rankings

Rank Name Team Years Season Fantasy Playoffs Rating Overall
1 Joe Theismann Commanders 12 Good Good Great 52.07 Sigma
2 Mark Rypien Commanders 6 Good Good Great 44.33 Sigma
3 Sammy Baugh Commanders 16 Good Average Average 41.52 Slaps
4 Doug Williams Commanders 4 Subpar Good Good 38.71 Slaps
5 Billy Kilmer Commanders 8 Great Good Subpar 33.85 Chill
6 Jayden Daniels Commanders 2 Good Great Average 31.76 Delulu
7 Jay Schroeder Commanders 3 Great Average Average 31.71 Delulu
8 Brad Johnson Commanders 2 Good Good Average 29.65 Delulu
9 Kirk Cousins Commanders 6 Subpar Good Subpar 28.16 Delulu
10 Taylor Heinicke Commanders 3 Average Good Subpar 27.45 Delulu
11 Mark Brunell Commanders 1 Subpar Good Average 26.07 Delulu
12 Robert Griffin III Commanders 3 Subpar Good Subpar 26.07 Delulu
13 Todd Collins Commanders 1 Good Good Subpar 20.42 Delulu
14 Alex Smith Commanders 2 Good Average Non-Factor 19.14 NPC
15 Sonny Jurgensen Commanders 11 Average Good Non-Factor 19.03 NPC
16 Trent Green Commanders 2 Subpar Great Non-Factor 19.00 NPC
17 Case Keenum Commanders 1 Non-Factor Good Non-Factor 16.55 NPC
18 Gus Frerotte Commanders 5 Subpar Average Non-Factor 16.45 NPC
19 Patrick Ramsey Commanders 4 Subpar Average Non-Factor 16.27 NPC
20 Sam Howell Commanders 2 Subpar Average Non-Factor 16.23 NPC
21 Tony Banks Commanders 1 Average Subpar Non-Factor 16.20 NPC
22 Donovan McNabb Commanders 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 15.18 NPC
23 Eddie LeBaron Commanders 7 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 15.16 NPC
24 Heath Shuler Commanders 3 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 15.13 NPC
25 Norm Snead Commanders 3 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 14.94 NPC
26 Rex Grossman Commanders 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 14.90 NPC
27 Ed Rubbert Commanders 1 Good Good Non-Factor 13.51 NPC
28 Marcus Mariota Commanders 2 Average Good Average 12.67 NPC
29 Jason Campbell Commanders 4 Subpar Good Non-Factor 10.83 NPC
30 Kyle Allen Commanders 2 Subpar Good Non-Factor 10.77 NPC
31 Shane Matthews Commanders 1 Subpar Good Non-Factor 10.65 NPC
32 Carson Wentz Commanders 1 Subpar Average Non-Factor 9.89 NPC
33 Danny Wuerffel Commanders 1 Average Subpar Non-Factor 9.80 NPC
34 Jeff Hostetler Commanders 1 Average Subpar Non-Factor 9.64 NPC
35 John Friesz Commanders 1 Subpar Average Non-Factor 9.57 NPC
36 Stan Humphries Commanders 2 Average Subpar Non-Factor 9.30 NPC
37 Al Dorow Commanders 3 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 9.26 Cooked
38 Cary Conklin Commanders 2 Non-Factor Average Non-Factor 9.02 Cooked
39 Colt McCoy Commanders 5 Non-Factor Average Non-Factor 8.96 Cooked
40 Dwayne Haskins Commanders 2 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.85 Cooked
41 Jack Scarbath Commanders 2 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.72 Cooked
42 Jeff George Commanders 2 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.62 Cooked
43 Jeff Rutledge Commanders 3 Non-Factor Average Non-Factor 8.60 Cooked
44 Jim Ninowski Commanders 2 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.57 Cooked
45 Ralph Guglielmi Commanders 4 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.12 Cooked
46 Rich Gannon Commanders 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 8.09 Cooked
47 Tim Hasselbeck Commanders 1 Subpar Subpar Non-Factor 7.84 Cooked
48 Dick Shiner Commanders 3 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 7.50 Cooked
49 Harry Gilmer Commanders 6 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 7.29 Cooked
50 John Beck Commanders 1 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 7.01 Cooked
51 Josh Johnson Commanders 1 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 6.97 Cooked
52 Randy Johnson Commanders 1 Non-Factor Subpar Non-Factor 6.68 Cooked
53 Eagle Day Commanders 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.98 Cooked
54 Garrett Gilbert Commanders 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.93 Cooked
55 Mark Sanchez Commanders 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.51 Cooked
56 Mike Kruczek Commanders 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.43 Cooked
57 Ryan Fitzpatrick Commanders 1 Non-Factor Non-Factor Non-Factor 5.26 Cooked

FAQ

Who is the greatest Washington Commanders quarterback of all time?

Joe Theismann holds the top spot with a rating of 52.08, driven by his “Good” regular-season performance, “Good” fantasy impact, and “Great” playoff showings across 12 seasons, earning them “Sigma” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.

How does Joe Theismann 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 Theismann’s 52.08 with the Commanders, while leading the team to Super Bowl XVII victory in 1983 as MVP and two Super Bowl appearances with three NFC Championship games, 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 Jayden Daniels one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?

While Jayden Daniels 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 Washington Commanders quarterbacks compare to other teams?

To see how Washington Commanders’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.