The NFL season is well underway, and several teams already have issues at the quarterback position. The headliner so far is the Cincinnati Bengals, who will not have Joe Burrow for at least three months.
Injuries are inevitable in football, and teams must continually have contingency plans in place should their starters be out. And sometimes, like in the case of the 2017-2018 Philadelphia Eagles, the backup quarterback can go on to become a Super Bowl MVP that season.
GIVEMESPORT has decided to recognize the players who don’t always get to see the field but play critical roles for their respective franchises. Here is our list of the ten best backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
10 Cooper Rush
Not everyone might know that Cooper Rush is one of the Baltimore Ravens, but the longtime Dallas Cowboys’ backup signed with them on a two-year deal this offseason.
Rush was an admirable backup for Dak Prescott the past four years, compiling a 9-5 record with a solid touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The 31-year-old’s days of potentially being a starter are long gone, but he is a good player who can fill in competently whenever called upon.
9 Jaxson Dart
If Jaxson Dart can beat out Jameis Winston for the No. 2 quarterback slot on the New York Giants, he’s earned a spot on this list.
The 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is a highly talented player who has shown nothing but encouraging signs in the Big Apple.
In three preseason games, Dart completed 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Ole Miss standout also rushed for 52 yards and another score, showcasing his elite athleticism.
Should the Giants not turn their season around soon, there’s a decent chance the franchise turns to the 22-year-old over Russell Wilson at some point.
8 Malik Willis
Call it an overreaction if you want, but Malik Willis looks like a completely different player with the Green Bay Packers. The former third-round pick was a raw prospect out of college, far from being a starter when he entered the league.
The Tennessee Titans unfortunately started and gave up on the dual-threat quarterback pretty early in his career, trading him for a seventh-round draft pick last year. Willis subsequently had to step in for Packers starter Jordan Love a few times last season, completing 74.1% of his passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns.
The plan for Green Bay, of course, is to have their starting quarterback healthy the entire season, but should he suffer any health setbacks, Matt LaFleur has a lot of confidence in his backup.
7 Gardner Minshew
Gardner Minshew II has been a journeyman quarterback throughout his career, starting for four franchises already. The former Washington State star has had a long path to the NFL, and has found a home now with the Kansas City Chiefs this past offseason.
Gardner might not have the most gaudy numbers compared to other players on this list, but he has shown the ability to be a fringe starter who can learn a playbook quickly when called upon.
6 Mac Jones
Mac Jones is a bust relative to where the New England Patriots drafted him. The former No. 15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft peaked his rookie year in Foxborough and has struggled to find that consistency since.
After leading the Patriots to the playoffs in 2021, Jones regressed each year after that and was traded two years later to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
In March 2025, Jones signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers and has now been thrust into a crucial role with Brock Purdy’s uncertain health status.
So far, so good for Mac as he led the NFC West powerhouse to a 26-21 win at the New Orleans Saints. Jones completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers’ second win of the season.
5 Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo is the only player on this list who has started in a Super Bowl. In fact, the 33-year-old is 43-21 for his career, having most of his success with the San Francisco 49ers.
However, while Jimmy G was a solid starter at one point, he was eventually replaced by Brock Purdy in the Bay Area and has been unable to hold onto a starting job since.
Garoppolo’s days leading a franchise are likely over, but he is a very good backup to Matthew Stafford.
4 Jake Browning
Jake Browningwill be able to validate his ranking right away this season with Joe Burrow out for three months. The Washington Huskies legend has been with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2021 and appeared in 13 games.
The last time Browning saw extended playing time, he started seven games in 2023, going 4-3 while completing over 70% of his passes. The 29-year-old now has an opportunity to move up this ranking should he keep the Bengals in playoff contention.
3 Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby Brissett has been one of the best backup quarterbacks for years, and now with his sixth franchise. The veteran joined the Arizona Cardinals over the summer, who are a surprising 2-0 through two weeks.
Brissett only has a 19-34 record as his starter, but a 53 to 24 touchdown to interception ratio tells the tale of a reliable player who any franchise would like to have on their roster.
2 Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota may not have lived up to the hype of being the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but he is a phenomenal backup to have.
The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner is now with the Washington Commanders, backing up one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Jayden Daniels.
The second-year player is surely picking the brain of his savvy veteran, which means Mariota should be on this roster for years to come.
1 Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is the easy choice for No. 1 on this list. The 37-year-old was passed by rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. on the depth chart late last season and has since served as the primary backup for the Atlanta Falcons.
In March 2024, Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the franchise, which was confusing even for the time. And now Penix Jr.’s form suggests he won’t be giving up the starting spot anytime soon.
Overall, while Cousins is past his prime at this stage of his career, he’s still a better option than many starters in this league. Nevertheless, with his contract, Kirk likely isn’t leaving the Falcons anytime soon.