{"id":1166,"date":"2025-03-14T15:47:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T19:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=1166"},"modified":"2026-02-07T16:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:06:14","slug":"new-york-jets-top-5-quarterbacks-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2025\/03\/new-york-jets-top-5-quarterbacks-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Jets Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on February 7, 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To paraphrase the words of Stone Cold Steve Austin, \u201cIf you think the New York Jets have a colorful history, give me a hell yeah!\u201d This original AFL team has some stories: Broadway Joe, the Super Bowl guarantee, the New York Sack Exchange, the Parcells-Belichick fiasco, Brett Favre’s brief cameo, the Butt Fumble, the Aaron Rodgers experiment, and the extended playoff drought<\/a>. Even though the J-E-T-S haven’t had an abundance of winning (a 436-573-8 regular-season record since 1960), they are always worth discussing. Plus, they did win a monumental Super Bowl a long time ago that helped legitimize the NFL\u2019s major merger and its showcase event<\/a>. From their humble beginnings at the Polo Grounds and Shea Stadium to the Meadowlands and now at MetLife Stadium, let\u2019s identify the best signal-callers in franchise history. Go alert Fireman Ed as we unveil the top quarterbacks ever for the New York Jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\n\t

\n\t\tRichard Todd<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Carl Richard Todd\n \n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: QB\n\t\t\tThrows:<\/strong>\n\t\tRight\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

6-2<\/span>, 207lb<\/span> (188cm, 93kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tNovember 19<\/a>, 1953\n \n \n in Birmingham, AL<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span\"> (Age: 71-099d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tAlabama<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t (College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Weighted Career AV (100-95-…)<\/a>:<\/strong> 61 (1035th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tDavidson<\/a> (AL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: New York Jets<\/a> in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t

\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/rect> 14<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/rect> 11<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/rect> 14<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t
+2<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n
\nSUMMARY<\/strong><\/span>\n\n

Career<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n
\nG<\/strong><\/span>\n

119<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nAV<\/strong><\/span>\n

71<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\nQBrec<\/strong><\/span>\n

48-59-1<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nCmp%<\/strong><\/span>\n

54.3<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nYds<\/strong><\/span>\n

20610<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nY\/A<\/strong><\/span>\n

6.9<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nTD<\/strong><\/span>\n

124<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nInt<\/strong><\/span>\n

161<\/p><\/div>\n\n

\nFantPt<\/strong><\/span>\n

1125.6<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Richard Todd was the sixth overall pick by the New York Jets in 1976<\/a>. Yes, his numbers won\u2019t ever be confused with Johnny Unitas, but this man gets a mention with the top quarterbacks of all time for the Jets. He ranks third in the team\u2019s all-time rankings in passing yards (18,241), passing TDs (110), completions (1,433), and wins as a starter (42)<\/a>. He was a part of some losing squads for the green and white, but he was also a part of the rebirth in the early 80s that saw the Jets reach the playoffs in 1981<\/a> and 1982<\/a>. In \u201881, this QB threw for 3,231 yards and 25 TDs before a Wild Card loss to the Bills<\/a> ended their season. The following year, Todd and the New York Sack Exchange drove the J-E-T-S to the AFC Championship Game<\/a> where they lost 14-0 on a very muddy track to the Dolphins. Canton won\u2019t be calling Richard Todd for induction, but he was a part of some memorable Jets teams, and that makes him one of the best quarterbacks in New York Jets history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\"Photo\n<\/div>
\n\t

\n\t\tVinny Testaverde<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Vincent Frank Testaverde\n  (Vincent Priceless<\/span>)\n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: QB\n\t\t\tThrows:<\/strong>\n\t\tRight\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

6-5<\/span>, 235lb<\/span> (196cm, 106kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tNovember 13<\/a>, 1963\n \n \n in New York, NY<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span\"> (Age: 61-105d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tMiami (FL)<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t (College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Weighted Career AV (100-95-…)<\/a>:<\/strong> 97 (183rd overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tSewanhaka<\/a> (NY<\/a>), \n\t\n\t\tFork Union Military Academy<\/a> (VA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> in the 1st round (1st overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n