Quarterbacks are supposed to be the most coachable guys on the field—leaders, students of the game, the ones who buy into the system. But not every QB fits that mold, and some made it their mission to do things their way for better or (usually) worse.
Whether it was clashing with coaches or thinking they knew better, these quarterbacks were just flat-out difficult to manage. Let’s count down the 15 most uncoachable quarterbacks to ever make their way onto an NFL roster.
15. Vince Young
Vince Young had all the talent in the world but none of the patience for criticism. Coaches tried to guide him, but he wanted to do things on his terms—and it didn’t take long for that to wear thin.
14. Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler had a rocket arm and the body language of a guy who couldn’t care less. He openly clashed with coaches and gave off the vibe that he was always the smartest guy in the room.
13. Jeff George
Jeff George might be the dictionary definition of uncoachable. He had a golden arm but could never resist pushing back against authority figures in every locker room he entered.
12. Cam Newton
Cam Newton was electric at his peak, but didn’t always see eye-to-eye with coaches when things went south. His confidence often spilled into stubbornness, especially when it came to tweaking his style of play.
11. Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf made headlines for all the wrong reasons and rarely listened to coaching advice. His temper, ego, and refusal to take responsibility made him a nightmare for any staff.
10. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel treated playbooks like optional reading. His off-field lifestyle and disregard for structure made it nearly impossible for coaches to get through to him.
9. Colin Kaepernick
Kaepernick had the tools, but he often clashed with coaches over schemes and direction. He stuck to what he knew and wasn’t always willing to adapt when coaches wanted something different.
8. Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman was a roller coaster and never seemed to learn from his mistakes. Coaches could preach ball security all day, but Sexy Rexy was gonna sling it no matter what.
7. JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell famously didn’t even bother watching the film coaches gave him. He had a cannon arm and zero accountability, which is not exactly a coach’s dream combo.
6. Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield’s swagger was part of his charm, but it also made him hard to rein in. He didn’t always take coaching criticism well and often doubled down when asked to change.
5. Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz reportedly brushed off feedback and resisted changes after his breakout year. Coaches struggled to get him back on track as he tried to do everything himself.
4. Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson came into the league with a ton of hype but didn’t seem interested in taking accountability. When your coach can’t trust you to own your mistakes, that’s a red flag.
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3. Robert Griffin III
RGIII burst onto the scene but didn’t mesh with coaches when the injuries piled up. He wanted to play his way and resisted attempts to protect him or change the system.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Overconfident QBs to Ever Play the Game
2. Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray’s talent is undeniable, but reports of poor study habits and friction with coaches have followed him for years. When the team puts a homework clause in your contract, that’s a pretty big coaching headache.
Read More: 10 NFL QBs Who Were Too Cocky for Their Own Good
1. Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers might be one of the most gifted quarterbacks ever, but he’s also notoriously headstrong. Coaches have walked on eggshells around him for years, trying to balance his genius with his tendency to do things his way.
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