The NFL is full of tough guys, game managers, and stone-faced signal-callers—but now and then, we get a quarterback who brings a little extra chaos, goofiness, or head-scratching behavior to the huddle. Whether it’s wild interviews, cartoonish play styles, or being delightfully unserious, these QBs made fans laugh, groan, and occasionally scream at their TVs.
This list celebrates the quarterbacks who leaned into the silliness, either on purpose or by accident. From quirky personalities to meme-worthy moments, these are the 20 silliest NFL quarterbacks ever.
20. Baker Mayfield
Never one to avoid a little drama, Baker has made a habit of turning press conferences into performances. From planting flags to starring in commercials before proving himself, he’s got main character energy with sitcom timing.
19. Jim McMahon
The man wore sunglasses and treated every press conference like open mic night. His unpredictability made him a Chicago legend and an absolute wildcard everywhere else.
18. Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzmagic wasn’t just about his play—it was about the beard, the postgame fits, and the fact that he somehow got sillier the older he got—Harvard brain, backyard football heart.
17. Tony Romo
Whether it was the botched field goal hold or his future as an enthusiastic, sound-effect-heavy broadcaster, Romo had his fair share of goofy moments. His “aw shucks” vibe just added to the lovable goofball persona.
16. Jay Cutler
Jay’s body language was a meme generator. No one could tell whether he cared deeply—and that’s hilarious.
15. Jared Goff
Between his deer-in-headlights expressions and when he thought the sun set in the wrong direction, Goff has provided some wonderfully silly soundbites. He’s improved a ton, but early Goff was comedy gold.
14. Mark Sanchez
The Butt Fumble alone locked in his place on this list. But Sanchez kept the laughs coming with his wide-eyed expressions and always looked slightly confused.
13. Jameis Winston
Jameis brings physical comedy to the quarterback position. From eating W’s to giving some of the strangest pregame speeches known to man, he’s pure entertainment.
12. Geno Smith (Early Years Edition)
Young Geno gave us locker room tension, on-field chaos, and the vibe of a guy who just wandered into an NFL game and decided to stick around. He’s matured a lot since then, but those first few years were peak silliness.
11. Gardner Minshew
Mustache. Jorts. Uncle Rico’s energy. Minshew feels like a character from a football-themed sitcom who somehow made it to the league.
10. Brett Favre
Between the turnovers, the retire-unretire saga, and his Wrangler-commercial-dad energy, Favre always had a bit of a lovable buffoon streak. He was great, just also very goofy.
9. Tim Tebow
Running straight into defenders like a fullback trapped in a quarterback’s body, Tebowmania was equally inspiring and head-scratching. Add in the relentless optimism, and things got downright wacky.
8. Johnny Manziel
On and off the field, Manziel was a walking headline. Whether it was money signs or disappearing from team activities, he somehow made even the most basic situations ridiculous.
7. Matt Hasselbeck
He once declared, “We want the ball, and we’re gonna score” before immediately throwing a pick-six. That mix of confidence and instant regret? Iconic.
6. Colt McCoy
He sounds like a cartoon cowboy and played like one too—scrappy, undersized, and always one bump away from a pratfall. His name alone earns him points.
5. Kyle Orton
Neck beard, no nonsense, and zero facial expressions—Orton’s aesthetic was so dry it looped back to hilarious. He looked like he wandered in from a tech convention.
4. Nathan Peterman
Five interceptions in a half will live forever in NFL blooper lore. Peterman tried, and honestly, that’s what made it even funnier.
3. Dan Orlovsky
He ran out of the back of the end zone by accident, and somehow that became his legacy. To his credit, he’s leaned into the silliness post-retirement, but that play will live rent-free in our heads forever.
Read More: 10 NFL QBs Who Were Too Cocky for Their Own Good
2. Chad Henne
The phrase “HenneThing Is Possible” tells you all you need to know. He looked like a substitute teacher who suddenly got thrown into a playoff game and handled it with baffling confidence.
Read More: 10 NFL Quarterbacks Who Thought Every Defense Feared Him
1. Eli Manning
No quarterback has given us more accidental comedy than Eli. From the Manning Face to his “aw gee” pressers, he was the derpy younger brother of greatness, which made him perfect.
Read More: 10 NFL Quarterbacks Who Needed Literally Any Other Coach
