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The Starting Quarterbacks for Every NFL Team in the 2024 Season
Let's take a look at who's under center for each of the league's 32 teams this year in the NFL.
It's no secret: In the NFL, there is no more important position on the roster than that of the quarterback. The entire offense runs through the quarterback, and football games are won and lost on his arm strength, ability to read defenses, and quick decision making.
So, who will you be seeing under center for each NFL team this week? With Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock going strong all season long, let's take a quick look at the current starting quarterback situation for each of the NFL's 32 teams.
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The Starting Quarterback for Every NFL Team
Kansas City Chiefs - Patrick Mahomes
Arguably the best quarterback in the league right now, Patrick Mahomes will return to the lead the Chiefs in their bid to become the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls. He remains the most exciting player in the league at his position, and he's the clear leader of his team. Now we just sit back and see if the Chiefs can make it happen.
Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson
After earning league MVP honors, an All-Pro selection, a Pro Bowl selection, and finishing just shy of a Super Bowl berth in the 2023 season, Lamar Jackson is back and ready to lead the Ravens on another campaign with the Big Game in their sights. No starter questions here. The only question is how far this version of the team will go.
San Francisco 49ers - Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy was a backup quarterback sensation in 2022, and then as the starter in 2023 he led the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl, where they came up short against the Chiefs. Now, firmly in the driver's seat of the 49ers' high-powered offense, he'll try to take his team back to the top of the NFC, and maybe reach the Big Game yet again.
Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams
Thanks to some solid trading, the Chicago Bears found themselves with the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft, and they used it to pick up USC standout Caleb Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner looked like the complete quarterback package in college, so Williams' elevation to the starting job with the Bears felt like a foregone conclusion.
Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow
After an AFC Championship bid in 2021 and a Super Bowl run in 2022, Joe Burrow ended the 2023 campaign with the Bengals on the injured list, leaving him watching from the sidelines for much of the back half of the season. Now, he's back and ready to throw as the 2024 campaign begins, giving one of the league's best passers another chance at taking the Bengals all the way through the AFC playoffs.
Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen
Entering his seventh season in Buffalo, Josh Allen is still sitting atop a team that should be considered a major AFC contender, even if they've never quite been able to make it to the Big Game during his tenure. He's still got a cannon arm and a great rushing game, and he'll be starting once again for Buffalo when their season kicks off.
Denver Broncos - Bo Nix
After a preseason that saw three different quarterbacks duking it out for the top spot, the Denver Broncos ultimately went with a newcomer for the starter job this season. Fresh off a fine college career that started at Auburn and ended at Oregon, Nix beat out more experienced players Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, earning the confidence of head coach Sean Payton. Now we get to see if, in his first year in the league, he can build on the Broncos' previous offensive potential and make big things happen.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Baker Mayfield
Mayfield had something of a breakthrough last season with the Bucs, leading the team through a late-season rally and making the playoffs, where they managed to upset the defending NFC champs, the Eagles. Mayfield earned his very first Pro Bowl selection last season, which means all eyes will be on him this time around to see if he can repeat or even eclipse 2023's success in what will be his seventh NFL campaign.
Cleveland Browns - Deshaun Watson
After signing a major deal to join the Browns, Deshaun Watson's 2023 season was cut short due to injury. While backup Jameis Winston (a newcomer to the Browns) is certainly standing by, it looks like Watson is ready to start again and see what he can do with a full season, provided he stays healthy throughout the 2024 campaign.
Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert came into the offseason as the clear leader of the Chargers offense, entering his fifth season in the league and his fifth with the team. Unfortunately, a foot injury during training camp temporarily sidelined Herbert, leaving him in a walking boot for the first half of August. Fortunately, he was ready for the regular season opener.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Richardson
One of the most exciting rookie prospects of the 2023 season, Anthony Richardson's first year in the NFL was plagued by injuries which eventually sidelined him for much of the year. That means that 2024 stands to hopefully become his first full season starting for the Colts, and we'll get to see what he can bring to the team after months of recovery.
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Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels
If you want another rookie to watch in the 2024 season, look no further than Washington. The Commanders have selected their first-round draft pick, Jayden Daniels, a Heisman winner out of LSU, to lead the charge this season, setting the stage for a showcase of new talent. Daniels beat out the more experienced Marcus Mariota for the gig, and won out in part because Washington's hoping they finally have another franchise quarterback on their hands. Now, we just have to see if Daniels can deliver.
Dallas Cowboys - Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is so set as the Cowboys starter that he typically doesn't play in preseason games, and during the 2024 preseason opener he was sidelined due to some ankle soreness. But while you might not have seen him on the field much in August, he's still the team's designated starter, while backups Cooper Rush and Trey Lance wait in the wings.
Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa (Questionable)
After a 2022 season plagued with injury issues, Tagovailoa rebounded big time in 2023, earning a Pro Bowl selection and emerging as the league's passing yardage leader while leading one of the most dynamic offenses in recent memory. He started his fifth season strong with the Dolphins, but in a Thursday night game in Week 2, suffered the third major concussion of his career. Tagovailoa's struggles with past concussions are well-known, and he's got a full 10 days to recover before the Dolphins' next game, but at the moment, his status is uncertain while the medical team evaluates his future. Don't be surprised to see backup Skylar Thompson, who entered the Week 2 game in the third quarter, getting more snaps.
Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Hurts
Entering his fifth season with the Eagles, Jalen Hurts is the clear starter, the clear leader of his offense, and a major player when it comes to playoff contenders. There have been some personnel changes around him this year, most notably the loss of his center, Jason Kelce, so it'll be interesting to see how the Eagles offense reshapes, and how far Hurts can take his team.
Atlanta Falcons - Kirk Cousins
The Falcons made big moves to sign Cousins, a veteran of both the Commanders and the Vikings, during the offseason, and now it looks like they're counting on his experience to carry the offense forward into 2024. Cousins is the clear starter right now, but if the Falcons run into trouble, they've got rookie Michael Penix Jr., fresh from a National Championship bid at Washington, waiting in the wings.
New York Giants - Daniel Jones
Though backup Tommy DeVito became something of a sensation in the 2023 season while starter Daniel Jones was out with an injury, it looks like Jones will be back in the driver's seat for the 2024 season. DeVito's still on the roster, and he's jockeying for position with fellow backup Drew Lock, but for the moment, Jones is the guy for the Giants' 2024 campaign.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence
After an injury-plagued 2023 season that still saw him throw for more than 4,000 yards, Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence is back with a big contract extension and something to prove. He's long been one of the most fun quarterbacks to watch in the league, and now he's hoping to translate into an improvement on the Jaguars' 2022 postseason bid.
New York Jets - Aaron Rodgers
After a blockbuster move from the Packers to the Jets for the 2023 season, four-time NFL MVP Rodgers went down on his very first drive with the team last year with a torn Achilles, hitting pause on the fervor that surrounded his arrival. Now, Rodgers is all healed up and ready to go.
Detroit Lions - Jared Goff
One of the most exciting storylines of the 2023 season was the rise of the Detroit Lions to serious Super Bowl contention. A big part of that was quarterback Jared Goff, and now Goff and the Lions are back to try and finish the job. Can they make it to the Big Game this year? We'll find out in the coming months.
Green Bay Packers - Jordan Love (Questionable)
The Packers had big shoes to fill when Aaron Rodgers left the squad, but Jordan Love has stepped up in all the right ways. After a very solid run last season, Love has become the franchise leader the Packers need, and all that's left to find out is how far he can take them this time around. Unfortunately, Week 1 was a rocky start, as Love suffered a knee injury that took him out of the game and left him doubtful to return in Week 2. Backup Malik Willis is prepping to play in his stead while we wait for more news about Love's future.
Carolina Panthers - Bryce Young
University of Alabama alum Bryce Young struggled mightily in his rookie season with the Panthers, something many pundits attributed to a lack of support around him as well as his own rookie inexperience. Now, the Panthers offense is reshaping, and Young knows what it feels like to be knocked down by the league. Can he get back up and make his sophomore outing a memorable one?
New England Patriots - Jacoby Brissett
In another battle between experience and new blood this preseason, the experience won out. Jacoby Brissett, an experienced quarterback now in his eighth NFL season, will start the 2024 campaign for the New England Patriots, beating out rookie Drake Maye for the job. Maye showed chops after a very impressive college season in North Carolina, but ultimately the Patriots decided Brissett was the steadier choice to start things off. Still, Maye's got a future, and his future could very well include starts in New England this season.
Las Vegas Raiders - Gardner Minshew
The preseason in Vegas came down to a battle between the Raiders' 2023 starter Aidan O'Connell (who led 10 games with the team after Jimmy Garoppolo went down) and team newcomer Gardner Minshew. O'Connell obviously had more experience in Vegas, but Minshew had some impressive experience of his own, having just come from a season in Indianapolis where he was called in to sub for the injured Anthony Richardson, and earned himself a Pro Bowl spot while doing so. In the end, Minshew won the starting job in Vegas, and now we get to see if he can repeat last year's success in a new city with a new team.
Los Angeles Rams - Matthew Stafford
After years of solid play in Detroit, Matthew Stafford moved to the Rams and promptly won a Super Bowl. He hasn't been able to repeat that success just yet, but he's coming off a Pro Bowl season that saw a brief postseason run for the team, so he's obviously still got something in the tank. We'll see how the veteran fares in 2024.
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New Orleans Saints - Derek Carr
While backups Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler did some impressive work in the Saints' preseason opener, for the moment it looks like the starter is still the veteran, Derek Carr, now in his second season with the Saints after years with the Raiders. Carr had some injury issues last season, but he still managed to play all 17 games. Now, we get to see if he stays healthy for a better campaign this year.
Seattle Seahawks - Geno Smith
Geno Smith's performance in Seattle has earned him two straight Pro Bowl appearances and a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2022. He's an accurate passer and a veteran presence, and right now he's secure enough in the starting job that he didn't play in the team's preseason opener. All signs point to Smith continuing to lead the team, but backup Sam Howell, in his first season in Seattle, is definitely waiting in the wings.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Justin Fields (For Now)
The battle in Pittsburgh came down, it seems, to steadiness. In the preseason, Russell Wilson, the veteran player with loads of accolades under his belt, faced off against Justin Fields, a rising talent who was hoping a new offense could kickstart his career. By the end of camp, Wilson won the starting gig for what might be the curtain call of his career, while Fields was set to be his backup. Sadly for Wilson, Fields took over right out of the gate, as a calf injury from training camp kept Wilson out in Week 1 and seems likely to keep him out for at least one more week while Fields starts.
Houston Texans - C.J. Stroud
No surprise here. C.J. Stroud is coming off a blockbuster rookie season that saw him lead the Texans to the playoffs and earn Rookie of the Year honors, so he's the clear leader of this offense as we head into 2024. It'll be very interesting to see how he fares in his sophomore season after such a solid start in the league.
Tennessee Titans - Will Levis
After starting nine games in his rookie season with the Titans in 2023 when former starter Ryan Tannehill was sidelined due to injury, Will Levis has been named the clear starter for the Titans' 2024 campaign, setting up a new era for the team that will hopefully produce results.
Minnesota Vikings - Sam Darnold
The Vikings thought they had their quarterback situation sorted when they drafted Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, fresh off a national championship, earlier this year. McCarthy looked good in his first preseason game, but unfortunately suffered a torn meniscus during that game and will reportedly miss the entire 2024 season due to surgery and rehab. That means backup Sam Darnold, in his his seventh NFL season and first with the Vikings, will step up as the team's starter.
Catch Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock at 8:20 p.m. ET all season long. As always, each game will be preceded by Football Night in America starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, recapping the action of the day and looking ahead to the matchup of the night.
Originally published Aug 15, 2024.
