{"id":1335,"date":"2025-03-24T16:52:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T20:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=1335"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:01:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:01:37","slug":"new-england-patriots-top-5-quarterbacks-of-all-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2025\/03\/new-england-patriots-top-5-quarterbacks-of-all-time\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on February 10, 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 1960 to 2000, the New England Patriots never won a championship. Since 2001, they have won six Lombardi Trophies (tied with the Steelers for the most in NFL history)<\/a>. That\u2019s what happens when possibly the greatest coach ever and likely the greatest quarterback ever are paired together. A pioneer member of the AFL in 1960, the Pats and the rest of the league officially merged with the NFL in 1970. Prior to the Belichick-Brady era, the team did have 10 playoff appearances and reached two Super Bowls. So, they weren\u2019t a terrible franchise, but since the start of this century, the Patriots have been the model franchise in the league. After a few down years following the legendary duo, they just returned to the Super Bowl<\/a> with a young franchise quarterback<\/a>, so happy days could be here again in New England. Leave your under-inflated footballs and secret camera equipment at home because it\u2019s time to present the top quarterbacks of all time for the New England Patriots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\tTony Eason<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Charles Carroll Eason IV\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

6-4<\/span>, 212lb<\/span> (193cm, 96kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tOctober 8<\/a>, 1959\n \n \n in Blythe, CA<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span\"> (Age: 65-163d)<\/nobr><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tIllinois<\/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> 36 (3084th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tDelta<\/a> (CA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: New England Patriots<\/a> in the 1st round (15th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Relatives<\/strong>: Brother Bo Eason<\/a> <\/p>\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> 11<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/rect> 11<\/text> <\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n <\/rect> <\/rect> 11<\/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

90<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

39<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>

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

28-23-0<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

58.2<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

11142<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

7.1<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

61<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

51<\/p><\/div>\n\n

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

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

In the historic 1983 NFL Draft<\/a>, five QBs were first-round picks, three became Hall of Famers, and one that didn\u2019t get to Canton still gets a place with the all-time quarterbacks of the New England Patriots. That one is Tony Eason. Before we lump him in with Todd Blackledge, let\u2019s remember this man got the Pats to their first Super Bowl. His first year as the full-time starter in 1984 yielded nice results: 3,228 yards passing, 23 TDs to only 8 INTs, and a league-best 1.9 INT %. Although his 1985 regular season wasn\u2019t as productive, his postseason made up for it. He led New England to three road wins on the path to Super Bowl XX<\/a>. In those victories, he collectively had a 121.8 passer rating and 5 TD tosses with 0 picks. The Super Bowl was a different story for Tony as he got pulled quickly after some early struggles, but getting there was no small feat. Eason had another decent season in 1986 and was actually sixth in MVP voting<\/a>. After that, this 1983 first rounder\u2019s career slowly flamed out, but Tony Eason certainly accomplished enough to be called one of the top quarterbacks in New England Patriots history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t
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\n\t

\n\t\tBabe Parilli<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Vito Parilli\n  (The Babe<\/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

6-1<\/span>, 196lb<\/span> (185cm, 88kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tMay 7<\/a>, 1930\n \n \n in Rochester, PA<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span\"><\/p>\n\n\n

Died:<\/strong>\n July 15<\/a>, 2017 (Aged 87-069d)<\/nobr><\/span>\n \n in Parker, CO<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tKentucky<\/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> 60 (1086th overall since 1960)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tRochester<\/a> (PA<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draft<\/strong>: Green Bay Packers<\/a> in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1952 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