There’s something oddly entertaining about a quarterback who refuses to admit fault. Whether it’s pointing fingers at the offensive line, calling out receivers, or blaming the weather, these guys could always find a reason things went sideways—and it was never because of them.
Some of these quarterbacks had serious talent. Others? Not so much. But what they all had in common was a magical ability to sidestep accountability and keep their jerseys clean—at least metaphorically. Let’s count down the 20 quarterbacks who perfected the art of deflecting blame.
20. Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler always had the body language of a man who just got blamed for something he definitely thinks someone else did. If a receiver dropped a pass, he’d let them know, often with an eye roll seen from the nosebleeds.
19. Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz never met a bad read he didn’t think someone else caused. From front office decisions to wide receiver chemistry, the excuses were more consistent than his completion percentage.
18. Jeff George
Jeff George had a cannon for an arm and the self-awareness of a broken mirror. When things went south, he was quick to throw shade instead of taking heat.
17. Zach Wilson
Zach Wilson’s postgame interview after a brutal loss to the Patriots said it all: “No.” That was his answer when asked if he let the defense down—cue the locker room tension.
16. Baker Mayfield
Baker is always quick with a fiery quote and slow to admit any flaws. Whether it’s media critics or coaching schemes, he usually had someone else in the crosshairs.
15. Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf flamed out fast, and the blame game started early. Reporters, teammates, pressure—you name it, he pointed at it.
14. Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston could be throwing five picks and still sound like he just got unlucky. He once blamed his struggles on not being able to see before LASIK surgery years into his career.
13. Mitchell Trubisky
Mitchell Trubisky always seemed to have a quiet grudge against the scheme, the play-calling, or how the media portrayed him. Accountability was often missing from the press conferences, much like deep-ball accuracy.
12. Blake Bortles
Blake Bortles never really panned out, but you wouldn’t always know that from his quotes. He often hinted that the system wasn’t a fit, unlike those endless checkdowns.
11. Vince Young
Vince Young was electric in college and erratic in the NFL. He bounced around, blaming coaches, front offices, and nearly everything except his play.
10. Sam Darnold
Remember “I’m seeing ghosts”? Sam Darnold often displayed a perplexed expression, accompanied by vague reasoning, as the game unfolded. The Jets weren’t good, but he rarely took full ownership of the disaster. Will things improve in Seattle? Hopefully.
9. DeShone Kizer
Kizer was thrown into the fire in Cleveland, but you wouldn’t always know it was his fire. He would point to youth, bad luck, and the infamous Browns’ “situation” instead of just owning up to poor play.
8. Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart seemed more concerned with Hollywood than huddles. When things didn’t go well, the blame was often external—coaches, injuries, timing, whatever kept the narrative away from him.
7. Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez made the “butt fumble” famous and somehow still came away blaming the circus around him. He leaned into the chaos but rarely admitted he was part of the act.
6. Josh Rosen
Chosen Rosen talked like a future Hall of Famer but played like a clipboard holder. He blamed instability, coaching turnover, and not getting a fair shot, never once acknowledging that he might not have been good enough.
5. Cam Newton
Cam had MVP talent and MVP-level deflection skills. When things went bad, his press conferences were cryptic at best and deflective at worst.
4. Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder put up impressive numbers, but he had a reputation for causing locker room friction and passing the blame. He could lead a team—but only if everyone else followed perfectly.
3. Colin Kaepernick
Kaepernick had a rapid rise and a turbulent fall, but in his playing days, he was often quick to highlight scheme problems or team mismanagement. He wasn’t one to go down pointing the finger at himself.
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2. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben might’ve been a two-time Super Bowl champ, but he loved to call out teammates by name. He’d throw a pick and then throw his receiver under the bus in the postgame.
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1. Aaron Rodgers
Few QBs have been more skilled or more passive-aggressive than Aaron Rodgers. He mastered the art of subtly blaming teammates, coaching, front offices, and even immunization narratives without ever saying “I played poorly.”
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