The best left-handed quarterbacks in NFL history

Southpaws slinging it
Steve Young
Not giving up
Michael Vick
One of a kind
Boomer Esiason
Getting it done
Jim Zorn
A Seahawks mainstay
Ken Stabler
Winning big
Mark Brunell
Eye-opening performances
Scott Mitchell
Frankie Albert
Tua Tagovailoa
Southpaws slinging it

Reporting from the BBC and other outlets show that only about a tenth of people in the world are left-handed. As a result, it makes sense that NFL fans only see lefty quarterbacks sporadically. We’ll look back at the legion of lefties who threw it best throughout NFL history. All statistics are sourced from Football Reference.

Steve Young

It’s hard to dispute that Young is the pre-eminent southpaw of all-time. He won three Super Bowls, made three All-Pro teams, and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Not giving up

He’s also the picture of resiliency, having struggled for two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and sitting behind Joe Montana with San Francisco before ultimately getting his opportunity. Medium wrote a story featuring Young's dedication to staying ready.

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Michael Vick

He’s on the short list of players who are amongst the most electric in NFL history. Vick was as dangerous delivering a 70-yard bomb in the pocket as he was shooting past defenders with his remarkable speed.

One of a kind

Younger fans would play Madden video games with Vick, just to flummox defenses with his dual-threat ability. USA Today wrote about this phenomenon, and how this made him popular in a completely different light.

Boomer Esiason

Many fans under the age of 35 might know Esiason best as a media personality on NFL studio shows. He’s certainly well-spoken in that arena, but could hold his own on the field as well.

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Getting it done

In fact, Esiason won NFL MVP in 1988, and made four Pro Bowls in his 14-year career. He spent a decade playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. Bleacher Report believes he's one of the most underrated quarterbacks of all-time.

Jim Zorn

While Russell Wilson and Warren Moon will probably go down as the most memorable Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks, Zorn was the person who set the stage for them. The Seattle Times delved into his body of work back in 2019.

A Seahawks mainstay

He played nine seasons with the team, tossing 107 touchdowns in that span. He would also spend a season each with the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Ken Stabler

He had one of the coolest nicknames in NFL history. The “snake” was known for his ability to slither out of the pocket and keep plays alive. The Denver Post once said Stabler “defined swagger.”

Winning big

He had his best seasons with the Oakland Raiders, where he would win 1974 MVP and a Super Bowl. Stabler is a Hall of Famer who also spent time with the Houston Oilers and the New Orleans Saints.

Mark Brunell

It’s not common for expansion teams to contend during their first few years of existence, but the Jacksonville Jaguars did thanks to Brunell’s play. The Washington Post wrote a story in 1996 highlighting Brunell's leadership capabilities.

Eye-opening performances

He was one of the surprise performers of the late 1990s, making three Pro Bowls in four seasons. The lefty would have a long career in the NFL, playing until he was 41 years old.

Scott Mitchell

The list of quarterbacks who have won playoff games for the Detroit Lions isn’t that long. Mitchell is on that ledger, having done so twice in 1995 and 1997. In addition to starting for some frisky Detroit teams, he’s also best remembered for filling in with the Miami Dolphins when Dan Marino was injured in 1993.

Frankie Albert

We have to turn back the clock all the way to the 1940s and 1950s to relive Albert’s career. He had a seven-year NFL career with the 49ers, throwing for 115 touchdowns in that span. In the early days of the league, Albert threw for a career high 29 touchdowns in 1948, and made the Pro Bowl in 1950.

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Tua Tagovailoa

Tagovailoa's career is far from over, but he might make a case to be on this list in short order. The Miami Dolphins quarterback led the NFL in passing yards in 2023. The Palm Beach Post noted he's the first Miami passer to do so since Dan Marino paced the NFL in that category in 1992.

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