Philadelphia Eagles Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time

(last updated on January 18, 2026)

Fly Eagles fly … on the road to victory! The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most passionate, disgruntled, and tortured fan bases in the NFL. I know because I am part of it. Although they couldn’t repeat, the City of Brotherly Love is still kind of basking in the glow of a statement victory at Super Bowl LIX over the Chiefs. Started in 1933, the franchise has only won five championships, but they have been close many times. They are fifth all time in regular-season victories (649) and sixth in postseason wins (29). Since 2000, only the New England Patriots have had more conference championship appearances than the Eagles. This franchise has had some of football’s most legendary names, but this list will just focus on the signal-callers. Who are the best QBs in the history of Franklin Field, Veterans Stadium, and Lincoln Financial Field? Some of these slingers made the cut because they put up big numbers, and others made the cut because they led their team to championship glory. Before someone gets thrown in jail at the Vet, here are some of the top quarterbacks in Philadelphia Eagles history.

After his triumphant performance in Super Bowl LIX, Jalen Hurts had to be added this list of the top quarterbacks in Philadelphia Eagles history. In his five seasons as the starting QB for the Birds, he has a regular-season record of 57-25 with a playoff trip every season. That includes six postseason wins, two Super Bowl appearances, and a Lombardi Trophy. His career numbers are rock solid: completion % (64.4), passing TDs to INTs (110-45), passing yards (17,891), Y/C (11.6), and passer rating (94.4). An extremely mobile quarterback, Hurts already has four seasons of 600+ rushing yards. This beneficiary of the Brotherly Shove also has 318 rushing first downs and 63 rushing TDs (third in NFL history). To double down, he is already the all-time playoff leader in rushing TDs for a QB with 10. The reigning Super Bowl MVP outdueled Patrick Mahomes with a 119.7 passer rating, a 77.3 completion %, 2 passing TDs, and a tush-push TD to get the Eagles their second Super Bowl title. Jalen Hurts often gets ranked behind Allen, Burrow, and Jackson in QB debates, but he has something not one of them has, and that makes him one of the top quarterbacks ever for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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The Dutchman only captained the ship three seasons in Philadelphia, but he gave the Eagles one of the best years in franchise history. Norm Van Brocklin was the Eagles QB from 1958-1960, and he only collected 7,497 passing yards as a Bird, but he did lead them to the NFL championship in 1960. You remember … the famous game where Chuck Bednarik wouldn’t let Jim Taylor up until the clock expired. That season was Van Brocklin’s final year in the league, and he was the NFL’s MVP with 2,471 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and a career-best 86.5 passer rating. He played in a much more grounded era, pun intended, so quarterbacks didn’t compile crazy passing stats. This man had the clutch gene as he had four game-winning drives in that championship season. Prior to his time in green, the Dutchman had a great run with the Los Angeles Rams that included another NFL title. A Hall of Famer and nine-time Pro Bowler, Norm Van Brocklin’s time as an Eagle may have been brief, but it was very impactful, and that gets him a place with the top quarterbacks in Philadelphia history.

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If you have a statue in front of Lincoln Financial Field, then you have to be on this list. Nick Foles was the first quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history to lead the team to a Super Bowl victory. Foles was the MVP of Super Bowl LII when the Eagles upended the New England Patriots 41-33. That glorious night St. Nick threw for 373 yards, 3 touchdowns, and he caught a touchdown on the famous “Philly Special” play. This man has folklore status for stepping in for the injured Carson Wentz and leading the Birds on that historic title run. Some forget that Nick had two tours of duty in midnight green. He played in Philadelphia from 2012-2014; that included a phenomenal 2013 season. Filling in for Michael Vick, #9 went for 27 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a 119.2 passer rating as Philadelphia won the NFC East crown. Remember his record-tying seven-touchdown game that year? In five seasons as an Eagle, the tall man under center compiled impressive numbers: 8,703 passing yards, 58 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, a 93.2 passer rating, a 21-11 regular-season record, and 4 playoff wins. Nick Foles is a Philadelphia immortal for bringing them their first Super Bowl win in franchise history, so that and his gaudy stats make him one of the best quarterbacks in Eagles history.

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You could make a strong case that Randall Cunningham was the most electrifying player in the NFL for a three-year span. He was dubbed The Ultimate Weapon on a Sports Illustrated cover in 1989 because of his athleticism, laser arm, and scrambling ability. From 1988-1990, #12 averaged stellar yearly numbers: 3,558 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 729 rushing yards, and 5 rushing touchdowns. He also led the Birds to the playoffs each of those years and had two runner–up finishes in the AP MVP voting (in 1990 he was actually named MVP by the PFWA). Unofficially, he led the league in highlight-reel plays during that era: the Monday night moment evading Carl Banks, the 95-yard bomb from the Buffalo end zone, and his 91-yard punt at the Meadowlands to name a few. His 1-4 record in the playoffs hurts his Philadelphia legacy a bit, but in his decade as an Eagle, Randall accrued 22,887 passing yards and 150 passing touchdowns (both third in team history). He also holds the franchise mark with 18 4th-quarter comebacks. In NFL history, this native of Las Vegas is fifth all time in rushing yards for a quarterback (4,928). It’s important to note that major injuries slowed him in his final seasons at the Vet or he might be the franchise leader in some of these categories. Any devoted Eagles fan should appreciate the magic Randall Cunningham provided the city, and that solidly makes him one of the top quarterbacks in Philadelphia history.

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Some players ooze Philadelphia grit, and one of them was Jaws. Not only is Ron Jaworski second in Eagles history in passing yards (26,963) and passing touchdowns (175), but when he retired from the NFL after the 1989 season, Jaworski owned the all-time consecutive games streak for quarterbacks (116). When you have played the majority of your career in a division with Lawrence Taylor, Randy White, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and Dexter Manley, that is majorly impressive, especially considering he was sacked 344 times in kelly green. Jaworski was tough, but he could throw as well. The Polish Rifle had four 3,000-yard seasons as an Eagle. He played on some poor teams in his career, but he did get the Birds to their first Super Bowl in 1980 (a loss to the Oakland Raiders). That year #7 had 3,529 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and finished third in the MVP voting. Another career highlight of this Veteran of the Vet was a 99-yard touchdown pass to Mike Quick in 1985 to seal an overtime win. Ron Jaworski was the man under center for a decade in Philadelphia, and he will be remembered as one of the top quarterbacks ever for the franchise.

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In the infamous 1999 NFL Draft, five quarterbacks were taken in the first twelve picks. There is no question who had the most successful NFL career: Donovan McNabb. When the Eagles chose this QB from Syracuse second overall, they set the franchise up for the next decade. Donovan led the Birds to eight playoff appearances, five NFC Championship Games, and one Super Bowl in his 11 years as an Eagle. That included six Pro Bowls and a runner-up MVP finish in 2000. He was an exquisite combination of elite scrambler and powerful passer. #5 had seven 3,000-yard passing seasons in midnight green, and he also rushed for 3,249 yards as an Eagles quarterback (12th all time among QBs – 3,459). His best season may have been 2004 when the Eagles finally got to the Super Bowl; that year he lit up the sky with 3,875 yards, 31 TDs, and a career-best 104.6 passer rating. Like Randall a decade before him, McNabb had several signature plays: the shimmy shake touchdown run at Washington, the 4th and 26 miracle completion against the Packers, and the seemingly endless Monday Night scramble in Dallas were some beauties. Because of some notable postseason losses, many Philly fans don’t hold him in high regard, but statistically he is without a doubt the best quarterback in Eagles history: 92 regular-season wins, 9 playoff wins, 32,873 passing yards, 216 passing touchdowns, and 22 game-winning drives. Plus, as I always note to McNabb haters, you have to win big games to get to big games. Anyway, the Philadelphia Eagles have had some great quarterbacks in their history, and Donovan McNabb is very high up on that list.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 5th, 2024 at 5:13 pm and is filed under Top Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.