Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has lit up defenses in 2024. But with lots of season left, there’s a long way to go before we can consider including Daniels among the best rookie quarterbacks of all-time.
Below is a statistical look at the 10 best rookie quarterback seasons ever.
10) 2004 Ben Roethlisberger
By pure wins and losses, Big Ben belongs much higher on this list. Roethlisberger took over in Week 3 for an injured Tommy Maddox and proceeded to win his first 14 games, including the playoffs. It remains the longest win streak to begin a career by a starting quarterback.
20 years ago today….
The Big Ben era begins
Ben Roethlisberger’s first regular season NFL appearance is due to a 3rd quarter injury to Tommy Maddox.
Baltimore’s 20-point lead proves insurmountable but it will be Pittsburgh’s only regular season loss of 2004. @_BigBen7 pic.twitter.com/FF1NswdARa
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar)
Of course, Roethlisberger also benefited from playing with a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that led the league in points per game (PPG) allowed. Big Ben’s stat line was not historically impressive (17 Pass TDs, 11 INTs), but he did deliver in the clutch. Roethlisberger led the league with five game-winning drives and four fourth-quarter comebacks, helping provide timely plays to extend the win streak.
9) 2008 Matt Ryan
Ryan turned around a moribund Atlanta Falcons team that had gone 4-12 the prior season in the wake of Michael Vick’s legal troubles and separation from the franchise. Ryan came in and led the Falcons to a 11-5 record, throwing for 3,440 yards with 17 TDs. To date, he is the only Falcons player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Matt Ryan's OROY campaign in 2008. @M_Ryan02 pic.twitter.com/VUInPz05xd
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy)
8) 2016 Dak Prescott
Prescott wasn’t even supposed to start as a fourth-round rookie for the Dallas Cowboys. But following a preseason injury to Tony Romo, Prescott took over and led Dallas to a NFC-best 13-3 record.
Dak Prescott's 2016 Stats:
13-3 Record
67.8 Comp. %
3,667 Yards
23 TDs – 4 INTs
104.9 Passer Rating pic.twitter.com/HaUXqgiHii— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats)
The future franchise QB was extremely efficient that year, passing for 23 TD to just four interceptions. That allowed him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, the first Cowboys player to win that award since Emmitt Smith in 1990.
7) 2020 Justin Herbert
Herbert started all but one game in 2020 for the Los Angeles Chargers and put up one of the most prolific rookie seasons ever. He passed for 4,336 yards – second-most ever by a rookie behind Andrew Luck – while also throwing a rookie-record 31 passing TDs.
The Chargers only went 7-9 as a team, but Herbert’s stellar season made him the second player in franchise history to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (joining RB Don Woods in 1974).
6) 1983 Dan Marino
Marino’s record-breaking campaign would come one year later, but the sixth and final first-round QB in the legendary 1983 NFL Draft made his mark early. Marino started nine games and led the Miami Dolphins to a 7-2 record, throwing 20 TDs to just six interceptions. His first impression was so impressive that he supplanted David Woodley, who had started in the Super Bowl just one year earlier.
OTD 1983 Dan Marino got his first start. @DanMarino to @MarkDuper 63 yard touchdown#Dolphins
pic.twitter.com/S8vFKo2Eyr— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball)
5) 1969 Greg Cook
The most obscure name on this list, Cook is one of the great “what-ifs?” in NFL history. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was a revelation under Paul Brown (who led a coaching staff that included Bill Walsh as wide receivers coach). Cook led the AFL with 9.4 yards per attempt, throwing 15 TDs in his 11 starts.
Unfortunately, a right shoulder injury forever altered his career. Cook missed the next three seasons recovering from the injury, and a short-lived comeback attempt in 1973 lasted a single game.
4) 2012 Andrew Luck
Luck had massive shoes to fill as Peyton Manning’s successor for the Indianapolis Colts. And while Luck’s long-term future was cut short by injuries, his first impression couldn’t have been more promising.
Luck still holds the single-season rookie record with 4,374 pass yards. The Colts, who had gone 2-14 in 2011, improved to 11-5 and earned a Wild Card berth. It was the first of three straight playoff appearances for Indy under Luck.
3) 2011 Cam Newton
Newton and the Carolina Panthers experienced less team success than many quarterbacks on this list, going just 6-10. Still, Newton’s rookie season can’t be ignored – he posted one of the best dual threat campaigns ever, let alone for a rookie.
Most passing yards in an NFL debut 🔥
Flashback to @CameronNewton’s 422-yard performance back in 2011. pic.twitter.com/BYCfhgAyED
— NFL (@NFL)
Newton passed for 4,051 yards and ran for 704 on the ground. He scored 21 passing TDs 14 more as a rusher. His mark of 14 rushing scores remains a rookie quarterback record, and he was also the first rookie to pass for 4,000 yards in a season.
2) 2023 C.J. Stroud
Stroud’s numbers are up there with any rookie quarterback season. His 4,108 pass yards are third-most by a rookie behind Luck and Herbert, and his 23 passing TDs are tied for sixth-most. In addition, he led the NFL in both passing yards per game and interception rate.
But Stroud ranks so high on this list in large part due to how quickly he helped turn around one of the league’s most hapless franchises. Houston had gone a league-worst 11-38-1 in the three seasons prior to Stroud’s arrival and nearly equaled that win total in one year with a 10-7 record and AFC South title. Coupled with a decisive playoff win over the Cleveland Browns, Stroud put together a résumé that immediately established him as a franchise cornerstone.
1) 2012 Robert Griffin III
RG3 did not shine very long due to injuries, but he burned as brightly as any rookie quarterback ever. Griffin III passed for 20 TDs and rushed for seven more, while also becoming the only rookie in league history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 800 yards. In addition, he was one of the league’s most efficient passers, leading the NFL in yards per pass attempt, yards per rush attempt, and interception rate.
Redskins-Saints 2012: Robert Griffin III's debut!
Griffin completed 19 of 26 passes for 320 yards & 2 TDs, also added 42 rushing yards! #Redskins won the game 40-32 pic.twitter.com/IXggXFyUth
— Four Verts 🏈 (@FourVerticals_)
Unfortunately, a torn ACL in Washington’s Wild Card loss against the Seattle Seahawks forever altered the trajectory of his career. But that doesn’t change that RG3’s rookie season remains one of the most influential in recent history.
