List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks

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These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. They are listed in order of the date of each player's first start at quarterback for the team.

Starting quarterbacks[]

Teddy Bridgewater (2021-Present)
Drew Lock (2019-2020)
Joe Flacco (2019)
Case Keenum (2018)
Paxton Lynch (2016-2017)
Trevor Siemian (2016–2017)
Brock Osweiler (2015, 2017)
Peyton Manning (2012–2015)
Chris Simms (2009)
Tim Tebow (2010–2011)
Kyle Orton (2009–2011)
Jay Cutler (2006–2008)
Jake Plummer (2003–2006)
John Elway (1983–1998)

The number of games they started during the season is listed to the right:

Regular season[]

Season(s) Quarterback(s)
1960 (AFL) Frank Tripucka (14)
1961 (AFL) Frank Tripucka (10) / George Herring (4)
1962 (AFL) Frank Tripucka (13) / George Shaw (1)
1963 (AFL) Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (3) / Don Breaux (2) / Frank Tripucka (2)
1964 (AFL) Jacky Lee (10) / Mickey Slaughter (4)
1965 (AFL) Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (6) / Jacky Lee (1)
1966 (AFL) Max Choboian (7) / John McCormick (5) / Scotty Glacken (1) / Mickey Slaughter (1)
1967 (AFL) Steve Tensi (12) / Jim LeClair (2)
1968 (AFL) Steve Tensi (6) / Marlin Briscoe (5) / Jim M. LeClair (2) / John McCormick (1)
1969 (AFL) Steve Tensi (12) / Pete Liske (2)
1970 Pete Liske (9) / Chuck Pastrana (3) / Steve Tensi (2)
1971 Don Horn (9) / Steve Ramsey (5)
1972 Charley Johnson (9) / Steve Ramsey (5)
1973 Charley Johnson (14)
1974 Charley Johnson (12) / Steve Ramsey (2)
1975 Steve Ramsey (7) / Charley Johnson (6) / John Hufnagel (1)
1976 Steve Ramsey (12) / Craig Penrose (2)
1977 Craig Morton (14)
1978 Craig Morton (13) / Craig Penrose (2) / Norris Weese (1)
1979 Craig Morton (10) / Norris Weese (6)
1980 Craig Morton (9) / Matt Robinson (7)
1981 Craig Morton (15) / Steve DeBerg (1)
1982 Steve DeBerg (5) / Craig Morton (3) / Mark Herrmann (1)
1983 John Elway (10) / Steve DeBerg (5) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1984 John Elway (14) / Gary Kubiak (2)
1985 John Elway (16)
1986 John Elway (16)
1987 John Elway (12) / Ken Karcher (3)
1988 John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1989 John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1990 John Elway (16)
1991 John Elway (16)
1992 John Elway (12) / Tommy Maddox (4)
1993 John Elway (16)
1994 John Elway (14) / Hugh Millen (2)
1995 John Elway (16)
1996 John Elway (15) / Bill Musgrave (1)
1997 John Elway (16)
1998 John Elway (12) / Bubby Brister (4)
1999 Brian Griese (13) / Chris Miller (3)
2000 Brian Griese (10) / Gus Frerotte (6)
2001 Brian Griese (15) / Gus Frerotte (1)
2002 Brian Griese (13) / Steve Beuerlein (3)
2003 Jake Plummer (11) / Steve Beuerlein (2) / Danny Kanell (2) / Jarious Jackson (1)
2004 Jake Plummer (16)
2005 Jake Plummer (16)
2006 Jake Plummer (11) / Jay Cutler (5)
2007 Jay Cutler (16)
2008 Jay Cutler (16)
2009 Kyle Orton (15) / Chris Simms (1)
2010 Kyle Orton (13) / Tim Tebow (3)
2011 Tim Tebow (11) / Kyle Orton (5)
2012 Peyton Manning (16)
2013 Peyton Manning (16)
2014 Peyton Manning (16)
2015 Peyton Manning (9) / Brock Osweiler (7)
2016 Trevor Siemian (14) / Paxton Lynch (2)
2017 Trevor Siemian (10) / Brock Osweiler (4) / Paxton Lynch (2)
2018 Case Keenum (16)
2019 Joe Flacco (8) / Drew Lock (5) / Brandon Allen (3)
2020 Drew Lock (13) / Jeff Driskel (1) / Brett Rypien (1) / Phillip Lindsay (1)†
2021 Teddy Bridgewater (14) / Drew Lock (3)

In Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints, backup quarterback Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19 and all of Denver's quarterbacks were ruled ineligible due to being close contacts with him. As a result, practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton, who had some experience at quarterback, was activated to play in the game as the Broncos' primary passer. However, as the Broncos lined up in wildcat formation with running back Phillip Lindsay under center for the first four plays, Lindsay technically started the game at quarterback.[1] But also Hinton became the first non-quarterback to play significant snaps at the position in an NFL game since running back Tom Matte with the Baltimore Colts in 1965.[2]

Post-season[]

Season Quarterback(s)
1977 Craig Morton (2–1)
1978 Craig Morton (0–1)
1979 Craig Morton (0–1)
1983 Steve DeBerg (0–1)
1984 John Elway (0–1)
1986 John Elway (2-1)
1987 John Elway (2-1)
1989 John Elway (2-1)
1991 John Elway (1–1)
1993 John Elway (0–1)
1996 John Elway (0–1)
1997 John Elway (4–0)
1998 John Elway (3–0)
2000 Gus Frerotte (0–1)
2003 Jake Plummer (0–1)
2004 Jake Plummer (0–1)
2005 Jake Plummer (1–1)
2011 Tim Tebow (1–1)
2012 Peyton Manning (0–1)
2013 Peyton Manning (2–1)
2014 Peyton Manning (0–1)
2015 Peyton Manning (3–0)

Most games as starting quarterback[]

These quarterbacks have the most starts for the Broncos in regular season games (through the 2018 NFL season).

Name
GP Games played
GS Games started
W Number of wins as starting quarterback
L Number of losses as starting quarterback
T Number of ties as starting quarterback
Pct Winning percentage as starting quarterback
Name Period GP GS W L T %
John Elway 1983–1998 234 231 148 82 1 .643
Craig Morton 1977–1982 72 64 41 23 .641
Peyton Manning 2012–2015 58 57 45 12 .789
Jake Plummer 2003–2006 59 54 39 15 .722
Brian Griese 1998–2002 53 51 27 24 .529
Charley Johnson 1972–1975 54 41 20 18 3 .524
Frank Tripucka 1960–1963 44 39 13 25 1 .346
Jay Cutler 2006–2008 37 37 17 20 .459
Kyle Orton 2009–2011 34 33 12 21 .364
Steve Tensi 1967–1970 41 32 10 21 1 .328
Steve Ramsey 1971–1976 53 31 14 17 .452
Trevor Siemian 2015–2017 26 24 13 11 .542

Team career passing records[]

Through the 2018 NFL season

Name Comp Att % Yds TD Int
John Elway 4,123 7,250 56.9 51,475 300 226
Peyton Manning 1,443 2,170 66.5 17,112 140 53
Brian Griese 1,044 1,678 62.2 11,763 71 53
Jake Plummer 944 1,596 59.1 11,631 71 47
Craig Morton 907 1,594 56.9 11,895 74 65
Jay Cutler 762 1,220 62.5 9,024 54 37
Kyle Orton 720 1,194 60.3 8,434 49 28
Frank Tripucka 662 1,277 51.8 7,676 51 85
Charley Johnson 517 970 53.3 7,238 52 52

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos - November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  2. ^ O’Halloran, Ryan. "Broncos rookie receiver Kendall Hinton to get chance to shine … at quarterback". Denver Post. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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