Trick plays are the football equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of a helmet. When executed right, they leave fans stunned, defenses confused, and quarterbacks looking like magicians.
While some QBs play it safe, others have embraced the chaos of flea-flickers, double passes, and surprise catches. These 15 quarterbacks weren’t just signal callers—they were certified trick-play artists who thrived when the game got weird.
15. Danny White
Before Tony Romo, the Cowboys had another sneaky-good playmaker in Danny White. He doubled as the team’s punter, giving him all kinds of options to mess with defenses.
14. Tua Tagovailoa
Tua’s quick release and calm under pressure make him ideal for misdirection plays. Miami’s creative offense has made him a frequent conductor of razzle-dazzle.
13. Jake Plummer
Jake “The Snake” was always down for a little chaos. His backyard style of play made him a natural fit for rollouts, laterals, and anything that didn’t follow the script.
12. Randall Cunningham
Cunningham had the legs to extend plays and the arm to launch them afterward. If you needed a quarterback to pull off a broken-play miracle, he was your guy.
11. Carson Wentz
Yes, things got messy later in his career, but prime Carson Wentz was a magician. Philly ran plenty of gadgets with him, and he often made the impossible look routine.
10. Josh Allen
Allen’s combination of size, mobility, and arm strength makes him a trick-play dream. Whether throwing across the field or catching a pass himself, he keeps defenses guessing.
9. Deshaun Watson
Watson thrived in the scramble-and-create chaos that trick plays require. He could sell the fake, break contain, and find something ridiculous downfield.
8. Steve Young
Young was deceptively quick and thrived in broken-play situations. When the 49ers needed something funky, he could always make it happen with a pump fake and a prayer.
7. Marcus Mariota
Mariota gave us one of the best trick-play moments ever when he caught his own touchdown pass in the playoffs. He’s never been flashy off the field, but he sure was when the script went sideways.
6. Brett Favre
No one improvised quite like Favre. Half of his career highlights feel like busted plays he turned into gold with some ridiculous shovel pass or cross-body bomb.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes has turned the trick play into a regular part of the Chiefs’ offense. Underhand throws, no-look passes, and even catching a snap while in motion—nothing’s off-limits.
4. Doug Flutie
Flutie didn’t just run trick plays—he lived them. From Hail Marys to bootlegs to surprise punts, the guy never stopped trying to catch defenses napping.
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3. Tony Romo
Romo could turn a disaster into a highlight in seconds. His off-script creativity made him one of the most entertaining QBs of his era—and a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
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2. Russell Wilson
Wilson was a master of extending plays, disguising intentions, and hitting deep shots on misdirection. Whether it was a read-option or a flea-flicker, he made it look smooth.
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1. Nick Foles
The Philly Special alone earns him this top spot. Foles didn’t just pull off the most iconic trick play in Super Bowl history—he asked for it.
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