What’s there to say at this point? On Saturday night, the Packers are hosting the Baltimore Ravens, who have started three different quarterbacks this season. At the time this article is being written, Baltimore has yet to determine who their Week 17 starting quarterback will be.
Since we’ve done this for 13 other teams at this point and people seem to enjoy it, we figured we’d bypass the usual Wisconsin sports coverage this week in favor of ranking the 13 different starting quarterbacks the Ravens have started in the last 20 seasons to this point. Happy holidays and Go Pack Go!
13. Cooper Rush
It might seem like recency bias, but the numbers and televised lowlights suggest Cooper Rush’s Ravens tenure this season has been rough. In a total of four games filling in for an injured Lamar Jackson—two of those starts—the ex-Dak Prescott backup and Central Michigan legend managed just 303 yards through the air with four interceptions and no touchdowns. He went winless as a starter and was eventually benched for Tyler Huntley.
12. Anthony Brown
In 2022, undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Brown appeared in two games (one start). In that limited span, he had 22 completions, threw for 302 yards, tossed two interceptions, and managed zero touchdowns. Baltimore went 0-1 in games Brown started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayX8kKe81Fk
11. Robert Griffin III
Five seasons after winning Rookie of the Year in Washington, RGIII wound up in nearby Baltimore. Though he primarily served as Lamar Jackson’s backup, he appeared in 14 games while donning purple over a span of three seasons, throwing for a total of 288 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. In two starts, Griffin posted a 1-1 record.
10. Jimmy Clausen
Former Notre Dame standout and Panthers second round pick Jimmy Clausen landed in Baltimore in 2015 after struggling in Carolina and Chicago. While there, he ducked under center for a total of three games (two starts), where he went 0-2 and amassed 555 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
9. Josh Johnson
Veteran journeyman backup Josh Johnson (who just started a game for Washington on Thursday) has played for a total of seven NFL teams…and various other pro football franchises. In parts of the 2021 and 2024 seasons, Johnson logged some regular season snaps with Baltimore. During those abbreviated stints, Johnson appeared in a total of seven games (one start, a loss) and had 30 completions for 321 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
8. Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub is a two-time Pro Bowler. However, those exceptional seasons came well before he landed with the Ravens. In two games (one of which he left on account of injury) in relief of Joe Flacco in 2015, the longtime Texans QB threw for 540 yards with three touchdowns and four picks.
7. Ryan Mallett
Originally drafted by New England to be Tom Brady’s backup, Ryan Mallett was traded to the Texans. After failing to catch on there in parts of two seasons, the ex-Arkansas Razorbacks standout wound up under center as a Raven. Though his time in Baltimore was brief, it proved to be the best stop in his career. In eight games (two starts) between 2015 and 2017, Mallett went 1-1 with 648 passing yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
6. Troy Smith
The numbers won’t show it, but Troy Smith’s Ravens tenure was pretty good when accounting for its small sample size. In sparing appearances over three seasons (2007-2009), the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner had five total touchdowns compared to one interception and 558 passing yards. Not great, but as you’ve already seen, it could be a lot worse.
5. Tyler Huntley
Saturday’s possible QB1, Tyler Huntley, might’ve started the season third on Baltimore’s depth chart, but he’s no slouch. “Snoop” has shown himself to be a serviceable backup during the 24 regular season games he’s been called upon to play. Baltimore has won four of the 10 games he’s started. Along the way, he’s thrown for 2,276 yards with nine passing TDs (compared to seven interceptions), plus 600 rushing yards and three rushing scores. As relieved as many Packers fans would be to avoid facing Lamar Jackson this weekend, they shouldn’t sleep on Huntley!
4. Steve McNair
We don’t recall ever doing one of these lists for the Titans (yet), but on personal memory alone, we can confidently declare Steve “Air” McNair will absolutely claim the top spot in that eventual article. Well, after his Hall Of Fame-caliber—how isn’t he in the Hall yet?!—career as the quarterback of the Oilers/Titans, McNair finished his playing days in Baltimore. In 2006, his first season with the Ravens, Air led his new team to a 13-3 record and topped 3,000 passing yards. He didn’t fare as well the following season, sustaining injuries early in the campaign and eventually ending up in a committee with Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. Limited as his tenure was, McNair still lands in the team’s top five in QB record, completions, attempts, and passing yards. He’s sixth in touchdown passes.
3. Kyle Boller
Forget the fact he was drafted in the first round ahead of Rex Grossman and (undrafted) Tony Romo, Kyle Boller was downright okay. When a quarterback list is as top-heavy as this one, the efficient and altogether alright Boller winds up landing firmly in the three spot. He’s near the top in the franchise’s all-time passing yards (3rd), completions (3rd), attempts (3rd), and QB record (3rd), so it’s only fitting he’s number three here, too.
2. Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson has without question been the quarterback responsible for many of the most amazing Ravens plays (and general quarterback highlights) of all time. He’s incredible. Yet statistically speaking, he’s the team’s second-best QB…at least for the time being. Hopefully he’ll rest up until Week 18 before resuming his quest for the top spot.
1. Joe Flacco
While it feels like an eternity since Joe Flacco last suited up for the Ravens, he spent 11 seasons with the team and started every game nine of those years. In the process, he was part of 96 Baltimore wins, during which he amassed franchise leading totals in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and attempts. Oh yeah, he also was the starting quarterback the last time the Ravens won the Super Bowl, so until Lamar—a vastly better athlete, to be clear—either overtakes those team records and/or wins a Super Bowl, this one is Flacco’s to lose.