Every quarterback takes a few hits, on the field and off it, but some seem to duck accountability better than they dodge sacks. Whether it was the weather, the play-calling, or the alignment of Mercury in retrograde, these guys never ran out of reasons why it wasn’t their fault.
This list isn’t about who had the worst stats or who lost the most games. It’s about the quarterbacks who consistently found someone else to blame when things went sideways, often with a smug grin and a perfectly deflected postgame quote.
20. Blake Bortles
Bortles always had a knack for shrugging off the blame with a laid-back Florida bro attitude. If you listened to him long enough, you’d think the defense spotted the other team 21 points every week.
19. Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler had resting blame-face and always looked like he just didn’t care. Whether it was the offensive line or a “miscommunication,” it was rarely on him.
18. Jeff George
George had one of the strongest arms of his era, but never quite figured out how to lead a team or take responsibility. He was a classic “I did my job” guy, even after a blowout.
17. Carson Wentz
Wentz has all the tools and even more explanations. Injuries, scheme changes, lack of support; you name it, he’s brought it up.
16. Vince Young
Vince Young had the confidence of a Hall of Famer and the excuses to match. When things unraveled in Tennessee, the fingers started pointing anywhere but inward.
15. Baker Mayfield
Baker always brought the swagger, even when his team didn’t bring the wins. Blaming the media, coaching, or chemistry became a weekly routine during rough stretches.
14. Josh Rosen
Rosen gave off the vibe that he was too smart for his surroundings. And when things didn’t go well, he was ready with a TED Talk on why the system failed him.
13. Mark Sanchez
Sanchez always had a reason why things didn’t click, and it usually wasn’t his infamous turnovers. He stayed polished in interviews, but the excuses piled up faster than interceptions.
12. Jameis Winston
Winston could spin a loss better than he could spin out of pressure. Whether it was “ballin’” or “just trying to make a play,” the accountability wasn’t always there.
11. Sam Darnold
Seeing ghosts was just the beginning. Darnold often hinted at the dysfunction around him but rarely owned the moment.
10. Matt Leinart
Leinart looked like a star but deflected like a politician when things got tough. The lines between confidence and deflection were always blurry.
9. Jimmy Clausen
Clausen came into the league cocky and left with a highlight reel of missteps, and a notebook full of reasons why it wasn’t his fault. He never lacked belief in himself, even when the results said otherwise.
8. Cam Newton
Cam has had brilliant highs and frustrating lows, but when things went south, the body language and comments didn’t exactly scream “accountability.” He often pointed to outside factors before looking in the mirror.
7. Ryan Leaf
Leaf’s infamous meltdowns were matched only by his tendency to shift the blame. Whether it was teammates, the media, or bad luck, it was rarely just bad play.
6. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Football had an excuse for every interception, hangover, and poor decision. He blamed everyone from coaches to systems to the haters, just never himself.
5. Kyler Murray
Murray’s sideline demeanor and postgame comments sometimes suggest he’s watching a different game than the rest of us. When losses pile up, the fingers tend to point outward more than inward.
4. Rex Grossman
Rex “Good Rex/Bad Rex” Grossman had a flair for both chaos and justification. When he wasn’t blaming a missed route or a busted protection, he was blaming the weather in Chicago.
3. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers might be one of the most talented ever, but he’s also mastered the art of subtly blaming everyone else. Whether it’s coaching decisions or locker room energy, the passive-aggressive vibes are always strong.
2. Zach Wilson
Wilson made headlines not just for his struggles but for his unwillingness to take responsibility for them. He perfected the art of the deflection press conference early in his career.
1. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben was legendary for throwing shade at teammates while dodging personal blame. Whether it was play calls, receivers running the wrong routes, or mystery injuries, he had a built-in alibi for every off day.
