Quarterback is the most high-pressure position in sports, so a little insecurity is expected. But some guys took it to another level—snapping at reporters, throwing teammates under the bus, or spiraling anytime things didn’t go perfectly.
From fragile egos to public meltdowns, these QBs made you wonder if their therapist was on speed dial. Here are 17 NFL quarterbacks who gave off serious insecure energy, ranked from “maybe just sensitive” to “someone take his phone away.”
17. Carson Wentz
Wentz never quite recovered after Nick Foles won the Super Bowl with his team. Every time he smiled in Philly, it looked like it hurt.
16. Jay Cutler
Jay’s permanent scowl and don’t-care attitude felt like a guy trying way too hard to convince you he wasn’t bothered. Deep down, you knew he was one missed throw away from brooding in a dark room with Dashboard Confessional on loop.
15. Jimmy Garoppolo
He had the looks, the contract, and the team… but somehow still always looked like he was waiting for someone to tell him he belonged. One bad game, and he was glancing over his shoulder like the backup just made eye contact.
14. Josh Rosen
Chosen Rosen came into the league with a chip the size of a small SUV. Turns out, when you’re constantly telling everyone how smart you are, it’s probably because you’re trying to convince yourself too.
13. Ryan Leaf
Leaf didn’t just implode—he detonated every room he entered. His public tantrums screamed “I’m fine!” in the least fine way possible.
12. Baker Mayfield
The commercials said confident, but the body language said “please love me.” Baker always seemed like he was arguing with ghosts on Twitter, even when he wasn’t logged in.
11. Sam Darnold
Seeing ghosts is one thing. Admitting it on national television is another.
10. Tua Tagovailoa
Tua’s entire NFL career has been him politely trying to convince people he’s not broken. You can’t help but root for him, but every press conference feels like a plea for validation.
9. Mark Sanchez
From the butt fumble to the constant media scrutiny, Sanchez always looked like he was one pick away from an existential crisis. The confidence never quite matched the performance.
8. Jeff George
Armed with a cannon and a short fuse, George burned bridges like it was his job. He didn’t take criticism well… or coaching… or reality, really.
7. Kyler Murray
Every time someone questions his leadership, you can practically hear the PlayStation headset fly across the room. He swears he’s locked in, but that chip on his shoulder is doing most of the talking.
6. Zach Wilson
Zach blamed everything from the wind to his receivers to possibly the moon’s gravitational pull. The only thing he didn’t blame? Himself.
5. Deshaun Watson
Publicly defensive and perpetually deflecting, Watson’s entire post-Houston era has been one big ego-management tour. He plays like a guy trying to prove something and not quite sure what it is.
4. Johnny Manziel
Manziel oozed swagger until things got tough—then he disappeared faster than his pre-snap reads. Confidence on Instagram, chaos in the huddle.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Most Fame-Hungry Quarterbacks of All Time
3. Cam Newton
No one could flip from MVP confidence to “don’t talk to me” energy quite like Cam. When things went wrong, the towel went over the head, and the answers got really short.
Read More: 15 Quarterbacks Who Always Acted Like Big Babies
2. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers may be brilliant, but he’s also the king of “nobody believes in me” energy, despite decades of proof to the contrary. One slight and he’s holding a grudge like it’s part of his contract.
Read More: 20 NFL QBs Who Refused to Own the Losses
1. Russell Wilson
Mr. Unlimited was always Mr. Uncomfortable. From the robot interviews to the try-hard catchphrases, it felt like he was trying to play quarterback and audition for a leadership seminar at the same time.
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