Quarterbacks flame out all the time—but some don’t flame out, they just fizzle quietly without ever really getting a fair shake. Whether it was bad timing, a terrible supporting cast, or one rough stretch that defined their whole career, these guys deserved another shot under better circumstances.
Not everyone gets the luxury of a reboot. These 10 quarterbacks had the talent to stick around, but for whatever reason, the football gods (and general managers) moved on too fast.
10. Kellen Clemens
Clemens was a second-round pick thrown into a messy Jets situation way too early. He had the arm and smarts but never got a true reset after New York.
9. Cody Kessler
Kessler got tossed into a winless Browns team and somehow didn’t look totally awful. He never really got a clean slate after surviving Cleveland’s chaos.
8. Seneca Wallace
Wallace flashed whenever he got on the field, but never got more than spot starts. In today’s mobile QB era, he might’ve been seen in a totally different light.
7. Kevin Kolb
Kolb had all the tools, but injuries and bad luck crushed his shot before it ever really started rolling. He bounced between systems without anyone fully committing.
6. Chris Simms
Simms showed signs of real development in Tampa Bay before a brutal injury derailed everything. After that, he was never more than a backup with potential that went untapped.
5. Kyle Orton
Orton had a funky throwing style and an even funkier career arc. Every time he started playing well, a team would draft his replacement—and then lose more games.
4. Shaun Hill
Hill was steady, accurate, and a total pro, but never got the keys to a team long-term. He was the definition of a guy who could’ve done more if someone had just believed in him.
3. David Garrard
Garrard made the playoffs with Jacksonville and played solid ball, but got weirdly forgotten after that. One more shot with a real supporting cast might’ve changed everything.
Read More: 15 Times the Golf World Crowned a Star Too Soon
2. Tyrod Taylor
Tyrod got benched in Buffalo despite breaking the playoff drought, then got snakebitten by injuries and sudden rookie hype in multiple cities. He’s always been good enough to lead a team—he’s just never gotten to.
Read More: 8 Controversial NHL Players Who Hurt Their Reputations
1. Josh Freeman
Freeman looked like the real deal early in Tampa before everything unraveled way too fast. He had the talent, size, and moments, but never got a true shot to rebuild his career elsewhere.
Read More: 15 Forgotten Wide Receivers Who Deserved More Love
