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Could Steelers, Saints have all-time worst QB rooms?

Jim Reineking   Paste BN

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Two NFL teams are preparing for the 2025 season without bona fide veteran quarterbacks on their rosters.

Derek Carr, citing effects from a right shoulder injury, decided to retire. That leaves the New Orleans Saints with a quarterback room that features rookie second-round pick Tyler Shough, Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. Shough appears to be the favorite to start Week 1.

A far less inspiring quarterback room exists in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers currently have Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard. The Steelers, as it's been well-documented, have been waiting on word from Aaron Rodgers, who might retire or might not and join one of the NFL's perennial playoff teams. Without Rodgers, the Steelers might boast one of the worst quarterback situations in recent memory.

Here's a fun (or not so much depending on your fan allegiances) look at some pretty bad quarterback rooms of yesteryear:

  • 2017 Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky, Mike Glennon, Mark Sanchez. That team finished 5-11.
  • 2017 Cleveland Browns: DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan, Cody Kessler. That team finished 0-16.
  • 2016 Cleveland Browns: Cody Kessler, Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Charlie Whitehurst, Kevin Hogan. That team finished 1-15.
  • 2015 Cleveland Browns: Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Austin Davis. That team finished 3-13.
  • 2010 Carolina Panthers: Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, Brian St. Pierre, Tony Pike, Armanti Edwards. That team finished 2-14.
  • 2008 Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Thigpen, Damon Huard, Brodie Croyle, Quinn Gray. That team finished 2-14.
  • 2005 Cleveland Browns: Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson. That team finished 6-10.
  • 2003 Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, Chris Redman. That team finished 10-6 (noteworthy: Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis were offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively).
  • 2002 Washington: Patrick Ramsey, Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel. That team finished 7-9.
  • 2002 Dallas Cowboys: Chad Hutchinson, Quincy Carter. That team finished 5-11.
  • 2001 Dallas Cowboys: Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner. That team finished 5-11.
  • 2000 Cincinnati Bengals: Akili Smith, Scott Mitchell, Scott Covington. That team finished 4-12.
  • 1998 San Diego Chargers: Ryan Leaf, Craig Whelihan. That team finished 5-11.
  • 1997 New Orleans Saints: Heath Shuler, Billy Joe Hobert, Danny Wuerffel, Doug Nussmeier. That team finished 6-10.
  • 1992 New England Patriots: Hugh Millen, Scott Zolak, Tommy Hodson, Jeff Carlson. That team finished 2-14.
  • 1992 Seattle Seahawks: Stan Gelbaugh, Kelly Stouffer, Dan McGwire. That team finished 2-14 (noteworthy: Dan is Mark McGwire's brother).

This, of course, has been stream-of-consciousness production looking at some bad quarterback situations (if there's a historically bad QB room that you think is missing, feel free to let us know in the comments).

In 2025, the Saints and Steelers will hope for better (though, in the case of the 2003 Ravens, they won despite an unimpressive collection of forward passers).

NFL news, notes and analysis

➤ Why it's time for Steelers to forget Aaron Rodgers: Since NFL free agency started two months ago, Rodgers has yet to decide his football-playing future. Recent history shows the Steelers should stop waiting on him.

➤ What is Derek Carr's legacy? Some good. Some bad. Mostly courageous. Carr recently retired from the NFL. It might seem odd to ask about Carr's legacy. He wasn't a superstar. But he was still an important figure.

➤ We read Bill Belichick's book. Our review of 'The Art of Winning': Belichick's memoir "The Art of Winning" doesn't delve into any controversy or romance, but instead focuses on his love of coaching football.

➤ 5 teams that deserve more prime-time games in 2025: With the NFL schedule release coming Wednesday, several teams deserve to receive the prime-time spotlight more often than they did in 2024.

➤ Draft experts explain Shedeur Sanders' shocking 2025 draft slide: Many were stunned when Shedeur Sanders fell to the fifth round in the NFL draft. It turns out experts in the media were also shocked.

📷: Get first look at draft picks in new uniforms at rookie minicamps

NFL classics: Straight from the YouTube algorithm 🏈🎞️

This is where we reprise some NFL lore and recall classic, memorable moments from yesteryear.

Above, we mentioned the 1992 Patriots and Seahawks as having among the worst quarterback situations in the last 35 years. The result of those horrendous 1992 seasons placed the Patriots and Seahawks atop the 1993 NFL Draft. With the No. 1 pick, the Patriots took Drew Bledsoe out of Washington State. With the No. 2 pick, the Seahawks selected Rick Mirer from Notre Dame.

In Week 3 of the 1993 season, the two heralded rookie quarterbacks faced off at Foxboro Stadium. The Seahawks prevailed, 17-14. Neither rookie quarterback was particularly great that September afternoon in New England. Bledsoe completed 20 of 44 attempts for 238 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Mirer completed 12 of 16 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The two quarterbacks were sacked a combined seven times. Running back Chris Warren was the star of the game, rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown.

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