This is a list of the most consecutive starts by a quarterback in the NFL. Only six players in NFL history have been able to achieve regular season streaks of at least 100 games,[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] with only two of those with a regular season streak of at least 200 games.[8][9]
Brett Favre has held the record since November 7, 1999 when he made his 117th consecutive start against the Chicago Bears.[10] His consecutive starts streak is also the longest all-time for a non-special teams player.[11] On December 5, 2010 against the Buffalo Bills, Favre was knocked out of the game on the first drive with a sprained SC joint injury to his right shoulder caused by a hit from linebacker Arthur Moats. After a snowstorm delayed the following Sunday's game against the New York Giants to Monday, December 13, Favre was ruled inactive, ending his streak at a record 297 games. That same night, opposing QB Eli Manning became the sixth quarterback to start at least 100 consecutive games.[12]
Of special note, Peyton Manning's consecutive starts streak is the longest of all-time to begin a career.[13] Also worthy of recognition is Dan Marino, who started 145 consecutive non-strike games from 1984-1993 (154 including playoffs), but due to a player strike in October 1987 where replacement players were used and Marino opted not to participate, this streak is not officially recognized.[14]
Following is the list of quarterbacks to achieve the longest consecutive regular season starts at the quarterback position.
All-time consecutive starts streaks
Updated through the 2010 season
Bold denotes an active streak
Rank | Quarterback | Period | Teams | Consecutive Starts | Playoffs | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brett Favre[15][16] | 9/27/1992 – 12/5/2010 | Green Bay; NY Jets; Minnesota | 297 | 24 | 321 |
2 | Peyton Manning[17] | 9/6/1998 – present | Indianapolis | 208 | 19 | 227 |
3 | Ron Jaworski[18][19][20] | 9/18/1977 – 11/25/1984 | Philadelphia | 116 | 7 | 123 |
4 | Tom Brady[21][22][23] | 9/30/2001 – 9/7/2008 | New England | 111 | 17 | 128 |
5 | Joe Ferguson[24][25] | 9/18/1977 – 9/23/1984 | Buffalo | 107 | 3 | 110 |
6 | Eli Manning[26] | 11/21/2004 – present | NY Giants | 103 | 7 | 110 |
7 | Dan Marino[27][28] | 10/25/1987 – 10/10/1993 | Miami | 95 | 4 | 99 |
8 | Roman Gabriel[29] | 11/28/1965 – 9/17/1972 | LA Rams | 89 | 2 | 91 |
9 | Johnny Unitas[30][31] | 9/27/1959 – 11/7/1965 | Baltimore | 88 | 3 | 91 |
10 | Jim Everett[32] | 9/4/1988 – 10/23/1993 | LA Rams | 87 | 4 | 91 |
11 | Richard Todd[33] | 9/9/1979 – 12/2/1984 | NY Jets; New Orleans | 86 | 4 | 90 |
12 | Aaron Brooks[34] | 11/26/2000 – 12/12/2005 | New Orleans | 82 | 2 | 84 |
13 | Trent Green[35] | 9/9/2001 – 9/10/2006 | Kansas City | 81 | 1 | 82 |
14 | Philip Rivers[36] | 9/11/2006 – present | San Diego | 80 | 7 | 87 |
15 | Drew Brees[37] | 9/11/2005 – 12/27/2009 | San Diego; New Orleans | 79 | 2 | 81 |
16 | Steve Grogan[38] | 11/23/1975 – 11/16/1980 | New England | 76 | 2 | 78 |
17T | Fran Tarkenton[39] | 12/11/1966 – 12/12/1971 | Minnesota; NY Giants | 71 | 0 | 71 |
17T | Joe Theismann[40] | 12/7/1980 – 11/18/1985 | Washington | 71 | 8 | 79 |
17T | Rich Gannon[41] | 9/12/1999 – 10/20/2003 | Oakland | 71 | 7 | 78 |
20T | Brian Sipe[42] | 9/3/1978 – 12/12/1982 | Cleveland | 70 | 1 | 71 |
20T | Trent Dilfer[43] | 9/3/1995 – 10/24/1999 | Tampa Bay | 70 | 2 | 72 |
20T | Drew Bledsoe[44] | 9/8/2002 – 10/23/2006 | Buffalo; Dallas | 70 | 0 | 70 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Favre Above the Pain". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2003444151_hawk23.html. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- ↑ "SPORTS' IRON MEN". The Capital Times. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125496657.html. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ↑ "Nobody tests his mettle quite like NFL's iron-man QB". CBS Sports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10374507/1. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- ↑ "Injuries taking a serious toll on quarterback position". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80319a9e&template=without-video&confirm=true. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- ↑ "NFL: By the numbers". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080908/news_1s8nflnumbs.html. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- ↑ "Remember 99 Starts Ago?". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704457604576011902639301710.html. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- ↑ "Eli finally beats Vikings, Texans fall short". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/14034/eli-finally-beats-vikings-texans-fall-short. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ↑ "Iron-Man Favre To Make 200th Consecutive Start". Packers.com. http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2004/11/24/2/. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
- ↑ "Manning hits 200 starts today". The Herald Bullitin. http://heraldbulletin.com/colts/x603547991/Manning-hits-200-starts-today. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ↑ "Pro Football History: Iron Man". Pro Football Hall of Fame. http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1345. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
- ↑ "Vikings QB Favre 'grateful' after his NFL-record 271st start in a row". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d812bff3a&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ↑ "Brett Favre unable to start vs. Giants" ESPN.com
- ↑ "Peyton Manning Career Notes". Colts.com. http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=8. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ↑ "Marino's golden arm changed game". ESPN.com
- ↑ "Brett Favre - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/brettfavre/gamelogs?id=FAV540222&season=2010. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ↑ "Favre's consecutive start streak comes to an end at 297". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81ce178f/article/favres-consecutive-start-streak-comes-to-an-end-at-297?module=HP_headlines. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ↑ "Peyton Manning - Profile". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/peytonmanning/profile?id=MAN515097. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ↑ "Ron Jaworski - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/ronjaworski/gamelogs?id=JAW553722&season=1984. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ↑ "Ron Jaworski - Bio". Sports Stars USA. http://sportsstarsusa.com/php/featuredartist.php?id=648&category=Football&name=Ron-Jaworski. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles All-Time History 1984". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/alltimehistory.asp. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
- ↑ "Tom Brady - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/tombrady/gamelogs?id=BRA371156&season=2008. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ↑ "Patriots win, but Brady's injury overshadows game". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=280907017. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ↑ "Brady's season over after injuring knee vs. Chiefs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80a95089&template=with-video&confirm=true. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ↑ "Joe Ferguson - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/joeferguson/gamelogs?id=FER184572&season=1984. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ↑ "The Month of September in Bills History". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20080607114318/http://www.buffalobills.com/history/September.jsp. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ↑ "Eli Manning - Profile". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/elimanning/profile?id=MAN473170. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ↑ "Dan Marino - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/danmarino/gamelogs?id=MAR149079&season=1993. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ↑ "Dolphins Individual Records - Service". MiamiDolphins.com. http://www.miamidolphins.com/esp/team/records/individual-records-service. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ↑ "Roman Gabriel - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/romangabriel/gamelogs?id=GAB616560&season=1972. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
- ↑ "Johnny Unitas Statistics". ProFootballReference.com. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ↑ "Last game Unitas did not start prior to beginning of starts streak". 49ers Game Books 1958. http://media.49ers.com/Game+Books/1950s/1958.download. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ↑ "Jim Everett - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/jimeverett/gamelogs?id=EVE237308&season=1993. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Richard Todd - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/richardtodd/gamelogs?id=TOD166116&season=1984. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Aaron Brooks - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/aaronbrooks/gamelogs?id=BRO114367&season=2005. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Trent Green - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/trentgreen/gamelogs?id=GRE367521&season=2006. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Philip Rivers - Profile". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/philiprivers/profile?id=RIV651634. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ↑ "Drew Brees - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/drewbrees/gamelogs?id=BRE229498&season=2009. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Steve Grogan - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/stevegrogan/gamelogs?id=GRO075506&season=1980. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Fran Tarkenton - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/frantarkenton/gamelogs?id=TAR369148&season=1971. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Joe Theismann - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/joetheismann/gamelogs?id=THE276861&season=1985. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Rich Gannon - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/richgannon/gamelogs?id=GAN296635&season=2003. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Brian Sipe - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/briansipe/gamelogs?id=SIP415291&season=1982. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Trent Dilfer - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/trentdilfer/gamelogs?id=DIL049692&season=1999. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
- ↑ "Drew Bledsoe - Game Logs". NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/players/drewbledsoe/gamelogs?id=BLE195074&season=2006. Retrieved 2010-10-30.