Quarterbacks are supposed to be the faces of the franchise, the stabilizers, the ones who make everything easier. But sometimes, instead of saving the coach’s job, they light the match that burns the whole operation down.
Whether it’s bad decision-making, on-field disasters, locker room drama, or just not living up to the hype, these quarterbacks didn’t just struggle—they helped escort their head coaches to the unemployment line. Let’s count down the quarterbacks who didn’t help keep the headset crew employed.
14. Carson Wentz
The collapse in Indy was rough, but what happened in Washington was straight-up sabotage. Every time a coach tied their hopes to Wentz, it ended with pink slips and regret.
13. Blake Bortles
That 2017 playoff run? A mirage. Doug Marrone rode the Bortles rollercoaster until it predictably crashed off the tracks.
12. Mitchell Trubisky
Chicago talked itself into him for way too long, and Matt Nagy paid the price. You can only draw up so many bootlegs before ownership decides to start fresh.
11. Baker Mayfield
The swagger was there, the commercials were great, but the play got messy fast. Freddie Kitchens looked like a fun experiment—until Baker made him look completely overwhelmed.
10. Sam Darnold
A few flashes of promise couldn’t hide all the turnovers and stalled drives. Todd Bowles and Adam Gase both took their turns trying to fix him, and both ended up out the door.
9. Marcus Mariota
He was too quiet to cause chaos, but his inconsistent play spoke volumes. Coaches came and went, trying to make it work before Tennessee finally moved on.
8. Josh Rosen
The “nine mistakes ahead of me” guy didn’t last long, but he left a mark. Steve Wilks never got another shot after banking on Rosen in Arizona.
7. Aaron Rodgers
He was supposed to be the Jets’ savior, but that didn’t go according to plan. He didn’t just sink drives—he sank coaching careers, starting with Robert Saleh.
6. Jay Cutler
Armed with a cannon arm and a permanent scowl, Cutler drove multiple coaches up the wall. He could make throws no one else would try—and sometimes for good reason.
5. Vince Young
Jeff Fisher and Vince never really clicked, and it was apparent. The tension, the inconsistency, and the constant drama eventually unraveled everything.
4. JaMarcus Russell
The biggest bust of them all came with severe collateral damage. Lane Kiffin and Tom Cable both had to endure the Russell experiment, nd neither came out clean.
Read More: 20 NFL QBs Who Refused to Own the Losses
3. Matt Leinart
Another USC star turned NFL miracle. His struggles in Arizona helped fast-track Dennis Green out of the building.
Read More: 20 NFL Quarterbacks Who Loved the Sound of Their Own Voice
2. Russell Wilson
Yes, he won a Super Bowl—but the Denver version? Woof. Nathaniel Hackett barely got a year before the Russell Wilson disaster made things completely unworkable.
Read More: 15 QBs Who Only Looked Good Because of Their Weapons
1. Johnny Manziel
The hype was enormous, the play was erratic, and the off-field chaos was endless. Mike Pettine got stuck holding the Manziel bag, and it didn’t take long for Cleveland to hit reset—again.
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