The Best Journeyman Quarterbacks in NFL History

A journeyman quarterback is a quarterback who plays for multiple teams over the course of his career. They are typically signed to year-by-year contracts and may be signed by a team to fill in for an injured starter. Journeyman qbs are often not considered to be franchise quarterbacks, but they can still be valuable assets to a team. They can provide experience and leadership, and they can also be a sparkplug on offense. 

Journeyman quarterbacks can still have successful careers. They can win games, make the playoffs, and even win Super Bowls. However, they are often not as well-known as franchise quarterbacks. They may not get the same amount of attention or money, but they can still be valuable contributors to their teams.

There are many reasons why a quarterback might become a journeyman: 

• Inability to stay healthy: Quarterbacks are the most important players on the field, and they need to be able to stay healthy in order to be successful. If a quarterback is constantly injured, it will be difficult for him to stay in the starting lineup.

• Personality conflicts: Quarterbacks need to be able to work well with their coaches and teammates. If a quarterback has personality conflicts with either of these groups, it can make it difficult for him to be successful.  

• Lack of talent: Some quarterbacks simply don't have the talent to be franchise quarterback. These quarterbacks may be able to win games on occasion, but they will never be able to lead a team to a Super Bowl. 

• Unfavorable circumstances: Sometimes, a quarterback becomes a journeyman simply because of bad luck. He may be drafted by a team that is already in rebuilding mode, or he may be injured at a critical time in his career. 

No matter what the reason, journeyman quarterbacks can still have successful careers. They can win games, make the playoffs, and even win Super Bowls. However, they will never be able to achieve the same level of success as a franchise quarterback. 

Whatever the reason, journeyman quarterbacks often have to deal with a lot of uncertainty. They never know where they will be playing from year to year, and they have to constantly prove themselves to new coaches and teammates. 

Despite the challenges, there are also some advantages to being a journeyman quarterback. Journeyman quarterbacks get to experience different cultures and play in different stadiums. They also learn from different coaches and teammates, which can help them improve their skills. Additionally, journeyman quarterbacks often have a better understanding of the game than quarterbacks who have only played for one team. This can be a valuable asset to a team, especially in close games. 

Here is a table of the most famous journeyman quarterbacks in NFL history:

Quarterback	Teams	Years	Notable Accomplishments
Ryan Fitzpatrick	Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Washington Commanders	17	Led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game in 2010, led the Miami Dolphins to the playoffs in 2018, threw for 223 touchdowns and 34,990 yards in his career
Josh McCown	Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns	13	Led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2020, threw for 182 touchdowns and 25,266 yards in his career
Vinny Testaverde	Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Giants	21	Led the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game in 2004, threw for 275 touchdowns and 61,655 yards in his career
Doug Flutie	New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals	16	Led the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs in 1998, threw for 168 touchdowns and 271,282 yards in his career
Kerry Collins	Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers	17	Led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, threw for 199 touchdowns and 272,533 yards in his career
Steve DeBerg	San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers	18	Led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 1989, threw for 177 touchdowns and 271,029 yards in his career
Jeff Blake	Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers	14	Led the Cincinnati Bengals to the playoffs in 1998, threw for 141 touchdowns and 242,549 yards in his career
Tim Tebow	Denver Broncos, New York Jets, New England Patriots	9	Led the Denver Broncos to the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, won the 2007 Heisman Trophy as a college quarterback
Kyle Orton	Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys	12	Led the Chicago Bears to the NFC Championship Game in 2006, threw for 142 touchdowns and 247,329 yards in his career
Bubby Brister	Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens	14	Led the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl in 1998, threw for 110 touchdowns and 205,119 yards in his career

These quarterbacks all had long and successful careers, even though they never played for one team for very long. They are proof that it is possible to be a successful and best quarterback in the NFL, even if you are not a superstar.

 

There are a few reasons why journeyman qbs are able to have successful careers. First, they are often very versatile players. They can make plays with their arms and their legs, and they can read defenses well. Second, they are often very tough and durable. They can take a beating and keep playing. Third, they are often very smart and coachable. They are willing to learn and adapt their game.

 

Journeyman quarterbacks are an important part of the NFL. They provide depth and experience to teams, and they can be difference-makers in the playoffs. They are also a reminder that it is possible to have a successful career in the NFL, even if you are not a superstar.