George Shaw (American football)

American football player (1933–1998)

American football player

George Shaw

Shaw ahead of the 1957 season

No. 14, 15, 17
Position:| Quarterback
Personal information
Born:| (1933-07-25)July 25, 1933
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died:| January 3, 1998(1998-01-03) (aged 64)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height:| 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:| 183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:| Grant (Portland, Oregon)
College:| Oregon
NFL draft:| 1955: 1st round, 1st pick
Career history

* Baltimore Colts (1955–1958)
* New York Giants (1959–1960)
* Minnesota Vikings (1961)
* Denver Broncos (AFL) (1962)

Career highlights and awards

* NFL champion (1958)
* Second-team All-American (1954)
* Third-team All-American (1953)
* Pop Warner Trophy (1954)
* 3× First-team All-PCC (1951, 1953, 1954)

Career NFL statistics
| Games played:| 71

|

Starts:| 31
Passing yards:| 5,829
Completion percentage:| 50.5
TD–INT ratio:| 41 – 63
Rushing touchdowns:| 6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

George Howard Shaw (July 25, 1933 - January 3, 1998) was an American football quarterback who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and one season in the rival American Football League (AFL). He was the first overall selection of the 1955 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, for whom he started 17 consecutive games.

A leg injury to Shaw in 1956 forced the Colts to insert free agent backup Johnny Unitas at quarterback, launching the latter on what would become a Hall of Fame career.

Shaw was part of the Colts team which won the 1958 Championship Playoff over the New York Football Giants in sudden death overtime, long regaled in football lore as "the Greatest Game Ever Played."

## Biography

[edit]

### Early life

[edit]

George Shaw was born July 25, 1933, in Portland, Oregon. His father had been the operator of a small chain of four or five grocery stores, which were lost during the financial crisis of the Great Depression.[1] He subsequently worked in the produce business.[1]

He attended Grant High School in that city, participating on that school's football team as a quarterback on offense and a defensive back on the other side of the ball.[2] George became the fourth of four Shaw brothers to play football for the Grant team, with his older brother Tom going on to play quarterback for Stanford.[3]

A reserve during his sophomore season, in 1949 and 1950 Shaw led the Grant Generals to two consecutive Oregon state football championships.[4] The undefeated 1949 team caused one observer to write "They must go down in the annals as one of the best state championship teams in history — they looked that good."[5]

The 1949 championship game placed Shaw firmly on the radar of the Oregon Ducks, with the same sports columnist noting: "Oregon's Jim Aiken sat alongside us during the game and between puffs of a cigar that wouldn't stay lit, Gentleman Jim drooled in ecstasy at the Generals' George Shaw, their brilliant junior quarterback. It will be two years before Jim has a chance to lay his hands on the kid, but you could see Aiken was thinking in terms of 1952, '53, and '54 quite often last Saturday."[5]

Shaw and his Grant Generals teammates extended their undefeated streak to 22 games with their defeat of the Marshfield Pirates in the 1950 Oregon state high school championship game held at Multnomah Stadium.[6] Shaw once again starred in the game, highlighted by his 40-yard punt return setting up a 9-yard touchdown pass to end Dick Davenport.[6] Shaw suffered an injury late in the third quarter than severely limited his time on the field for the rest of the contest, but Grant managed to hold on in his absence for a narrow 12–7 victory.[6]

In leading Grant to a second straight Oregon championship, Shaw was named to the first team of the 1950 Oregon All-State team.[7] He was also tabbed as a third team High School All-American for 1950.[8]

Shaw in 1955.

### College career

[edit]

Although his early admirer, head coach Jim Aiken, had by then departed, Shaw enrolled at the University of Oregon in 1951. Although generally freshmen were prohibited by NCAA rule from participating in varsity sports, an exception was made in 1951 due to a player shortage associated with the outbreak of the Korean War, so Shaw immediately became a member of the Ducks varsity team.[9] This did not stop Shaw from making his mark, racking up an astounding 13 interceptions as a defensive back for the year — an NCAA record for a 10-game season that would stand for 17 years.[9]

Shaw gained a reputation as a good sport in a violent game, earning him the nickname "Gentleman George" from his teammates.[10] He would frequently help opponents to their feet after a tackle and would very properly address officials as "Mr. Referee."[10]

As a senior in 1954, Shaw led the Ducks to their first winning record since 1948.[9] For the year, Shaw went 91-for-196 (46.4%) passing, with 10 touchdowns,[11] while rushing for three more. His 196 pass attempts were the most in the nation.[12] He finished 8th in balloting for the 1954 Heisman Trophy[13] and won the Pop Warner Trophy as the most valuable senior football player on the Pacific coast.[11]

Shaw was named a 1954 All-American by the Associated Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association, which named him to their third teams, and United Press International, which assigned him second team status. He was also named a member of the All-Pacific Coast Conference team in both 1953 and 1954.[12]

He was also a star baseball player at Oregon, with some prospect of a professional career in that sport.

### Professional career

[edit]

Beginning in 1947, the National Football League (NFL) conducted a lottery of its members for the right to select the first overall player in that year's draft.[14] Teams winning this special drawing were to be ineligible from winning the choice again in subsequent years.[14] In 1955 it was the turn of the Baltimore Colts to win the top pick, as their slip was selected over those of the Chicago Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers.[15]

The Colts used their windfall pick to make Shaw the first player chosen in the draft. Colts head coach Weeb Ewbank called Shaw "the best quarterback available in the country" and noted that in addition to his passing and rushing prowess, the versatile Oregon star had shown himself to be "an excellent defensive player.[15] Joining Shaw as the Colts' first round selection was Wisconsin fullback Alan Ameche, who would long play a starring role for the team.[16]

A parade of NFL owners made their way to the Colts' table at the draft to make offers for one or both of the top Baltimore picks, since both players had been near the top of most teams' draft list.[16] Coming off a year in which the Colts had finished last in points scored and yards gained,[17] team owner Carroll Rosenbloom quickly put a halt to these efforts to raid his new offensive prospects, however, announcing to the meeting that no such deals would be considered.[16]

Shaw did not rush to come to contract terms with the Colts, however, instead carefully weighing the alternative of signing a professional baseball contract to play as an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.[18] Despite Colts team president "Red" Kellett flying to the west coast in an effort to obtain Shaw's signature on a contract, Shaw remained insistent on continuing to play baseball through the spring of 1955 with the Oregon Ducks, who had won the pennant for the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast Conference and held hopes of advancing to the College World Series.[19]

The impasse was finally broken on June 16, when Shaw signed a contract to play with the Colts for the 1955 season.[20] Financial terms of the deal were not announced to the press, although permission was granted by the club for Shaw to continue to play baseball for a time if such an opportunity presented itself.[20] The only proviso was that Shaw agreed to report to training camp in Maryland for its scheduled opening on July 16.[20]

Shaw subsequently told Colts publicity director John Steadman that his choice of football over baseball had been practical rather than financial. "I'm going to have to go in the Army in 1957," he said. "I didn't think it made good logic for me to become a bonus player in baseball, sit on the bench for two years and then go in the service. I would have wasted two years. This way, in football, if I'm lucky, I'll gain in experience these two years and I may be better established."[10]

Program from the memorable October 1955 Bears game in which Shaw came back to play despite suffering serious facial injuries.

Although playing rookies in key positions was not typical for head coach Weeb Ewbank, Shaw was quickly made the Colts' starter at quarterback.[10] He generated great excitement among the fanbase by leading the Colts to three straight victories to launch the 1955 Baltimore Colts season. The winning streak was ended in a Week 4 game against the Chicago Bears, in which Shaw suffered a crushing hit that broke his face mask, his nose, and knocked out four teeth.[17] Team trainers came up with some chewing gum that was used to fashion a crude mouthpiece, allowing Shaw to again take the field for the remainder of the team's losing effort.[17]

Shaw finished his rookie season having started 12 of the Colts' 14 games.[13] He ranked statistically in the middle of the league's quarterbacks, passing for 1,586 yards and 10 touchdowns while finishing second in the NFL for quarterback rushing, gaining 301 yards en route to 3 more touchdowns.[21]

On October 21, 1956, in a game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Shaw suffered a broken leg and was replaced by backup Johnny Unitas, acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers where he had been a ninth-round draftee. As Unitas embarked on his legendary career, Shaw lasted two more years in Baltimore as the backup before being traded to the New York Giants, where he played two seasons.

Shaw played one season with the Minnesota Vikings, where he started the first game in franchise history but was replaced during the first half by rookie backup Fran Tarkenton, who took over the starting job.

In 1962 Shaw played one season with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League before retiring from football.

### Life after football

[edit]

After his time in football, Shaw returned to his native Portland where he worked in a stock brokerage firm, rising to the position of vice president.[11]

### Death and legacy

[edit]

Shaw died at his home in Portland on January 3, 1998, after a long struggle with bone marrow cancer.[22] He was 64 years old at the time of his death. Family members said he died peacefully in his sleep.[11]

In his 1987 memoir, Art Donovan, his Hall of Fame teammate on the Colts, testified to Shaw's toughness: "In 1955, we had George Shaw at quarterback. George wasn't a big guy, but he was talented, a lot like Francis Tarkenton. We were playing the Bears out in Chicago, and Shaw took a mighty rap as he dropped back to pass. Ed Sprinkle, a grizzly old defensive end...broke through and hit Shaw low. Sprinkle kind of had him around the knees and was holding him up.... [A]s Sprinkle was keeping him upright, linebacker George Connor got about a fifteen-yard head of steam up and bulled through and hit George high, right in the mouth. I mean put a shoulder right in his face and leveled him. Connor broke Shaw's face mask, broke his nose, and knocked his teeth out. George was a mess. They dragged him off the field, and his nose was spurting blood, and he didn't know where he was when he got to the bench.... When George finally regained his senses, he said to Dick Szymanski, 'Hey Syzzie, how do my teeth look?' And Syzzie said, 'I don't know, George — they aren't there.' And you know what? George Shaw went back into that game. There was at least one fat defensive tackle on the Baltimore sidelines that gained a lot of respect for him that day."[23]

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Nick Bertram, "Ex-UO All-America Shaw Credits Era for His Success," The Oregonian, July 18, 1978. Cited in Jay Zahn, "George Shaw," in George Bozeka (ed.), The Baltimore Colts: Profiles of the NFL's First Sudden Death Champions, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2018; p. 242.
2. ^ "Generals Trim Pels in 13–12 Thriller," Klamath Falls [OR] Herald and News, Sept. 18, 1948, p. 10.
3. ^ "KF, Grant Open Season Tonight," Klamath Falls Herald and News, Sept. 16, 1949, p. 11.
4. ^ Michael C. McCann, Oregon Ducks Football: 100 Years of Glory. Eugene, OR: McCann Communications Corp., 1995; p. ??.
5. ^ a b Red "Q" Gates, "Q's Views," Eugene Guard, Dec. 5, 1949, p. 11.
6. ^ a b c "Generals Defeat Pirates 12–7 for State Crown," Salem Statesman Journal, Dec. 3, 1950; p. 19.
7. ^ "All-State Football Team," Albany Democrat-Herald, Nov. 29, 1950; p. 9.
8. ^ "George Shaw High School All American," Klamath Falls Herald and News, Feb. 2, 1951, p. 10.
9. ^ a b c Jay Zahn, "George Shaw," in George Bozeka (ed.), The Baltimore Colts: Profiles of the NFL's First Sudden Death Champions, Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2018; p. 243.
10. ^ a b c d J.S. [John F. Steadman], "Rookie Shaw Takes Colts' Reins," Colts vs. Redskins: Official Program, October 23, 1955, Baltimore Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Football, Inc., 1955; p. 45.
11. ^ a b c d Associated Press, "Shaw, Duck Great and Top NFL Pick, Dies at 64," Salem Statesman Journal, Jan. 4, 1998, p. 16.
12. ^ a b Colts vs. Redskins: Official Program, October 23, 1955, Baltimore Memorial Stadium. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Football, Inc., 1955; p. 7.
13. ^ a b "George Shaw," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/
14. ^ a b "Pro Football History: The 1940s," Pro Football Hall of Fame, www.profootballhof.com/
15. ^ a b "Colts Draft George Shaw". Frederick [MD] News. January 27, 1955. p. 1.
16. ^ a b c Linthicum, Jesse A. (January 28, 1955). "Colts Take Shaw on Bonus and Ameche on First Round". Baltimore Sun. p. 19.
17. ^ a b c Zahn, "George Shaw," p. 244.
18. ^ Nichols, Ed (March 2, 1955). "Few All-American Gridders Become Diamond Stars". Salisbury [MD] Daily Times. p. 12.
19. ^ "Shaw Defers Decision to Join Colts". Baltimore Evening Sun. May 23, 1955. p. 25.
20. ^ a b c "George Shaw Signs Pact with Colts for 1955 Season". Salisbury [MD] Daily Times. June 16, 1955. p. 14.
21. ^ Zahn, "George Shaw," p. 245.
22. ^ "Former Duck Shaw Dies," Coos Bay World, Jan. 5, 1998, p. 9.
23. ^ Arthur Donovan and Bob Drury, Fatso: Football When Men Were Really Men. New York: William Morrow & Co., 1987; pp. 168–169.

## External links

[edit]

* George Shaw at Find a Grave

George Shaw—awards, championships, and honors

* v
* t
* e

Oregon Ducks starting quarterbacks

* Steers
* Huntington
* Van Brocklin
* Shaw
* T. Crabtree
* J. Crabtree
* Grosz
* Singleton
* Berry
* Trovato
* Brundage
* Olson
* Blanchard
* Fouts
* Turner
* Henderson
* Kennedy
* Durando
* Ogburn
* Lusk
* Jorgensen
* Miller
* Musgrave
* Nelson
* O'Neil
* Graziani
* Maas
* Smith
* Feeley
* Harrington
* Fife
* Clemens
* Dixon
* Kempt
* Roper
* Masoli
* Costa
* Thomas
* Bennett
* Mariota
* Adams
* Lockie
* Prukop
* Herbert
* Burmeister
* Shough
* Brown
* Nix
* Gabriel

* v
* t
* e

Pop Warner Trophy winners

* 1949 LeBaron
* 1950 Pomeroy
* 1951 Matson
* 1952 Sears
* 1953 B. Garrett
* 1954 Shaw
* 1955 Davenport
* 1956 Arnett
* 1957 Francis
* 1958 Kapp
* 1959 Burford
* 1960 Kilmer
* 1961 Gallegos
* 1962 Baker
* 1963 Burke
* 1964 Morton
* 1965 M. Garrett
* 1966 Pifer
* 1967 Beban
* 1968 Simpson
* 1969 Parish
* 1970 Plunkett
* 1971 Siemon
* 1972 Rae
* 1973 Swann
* 1974 Davis
* 1975 Muncie
* 1976 Bell
* 1977 Benjamin
* 1978 Robinson
* 1979 White
* 1980 Margerum
* 1981 Allen
* 1982 Elway
* 1983 Rivera
* 1984 Del Rio
* 1985 Mayes
* 1986 Wyman
* 1987 Perez
* 1988 Peete
* 1989 Ryan
* 1990 Lewis
* 1991 Vardell
* 1992 Milburn
* 1993 Morton
* 1994 Stenstrom
* 1995 Johnson
* 1996 Plummer
* 1997 Hicks
* 1998 McNown
* 1999 O'Neal
* 2000 Tuiasosopo
* 2002 Palmer
* 2003 Ball
* 2004 Arrington

* v
* t
* e

First overall NFL draft picks

* 1936: Berwanger
* 1937: Francis
* 1938: C. Davis
* 1939: Aldrich
* 1940: Cafego
* 1941: Harmon
* 1942: Dudley
* 1943: Sinkwich
* 1944: Bertelli
* 1945: Trippi
* 1946: Dancewicz
* 1947: Fenimore
* 1948: Gilmer
* 1949: Bednarik
* 1950: Hart
* 1951: Rote
* 1952: Wade
* 1953: Babcock
* 1954: B. Garrett
* 1955: Shaw
* 1956: Glick
* 1957: Hornung
* 1958: Hill
* 1959: Duncan
* 1960: Cannon
* 1961: Mason
* 1962: E. Davis
* 1963: Baker
* 1964: Parks
* 1965: Frederickson
* 1966: Nobis
* 1967: Bu. Smith
* 1968: Yary
* 1969: Simpson
* 1970: Bradshaw
* 1971: Plunkett
* 1972: Patulski
* 1973: Matuszak
* 1974: Jones
* 1975: Bartkowski
* 1976: Selmon
* 1977: Bell
* 1978: Campbell
* 1979: Cousineau
* 1980: B. Sims
* 1981: Rogers
* 1982: K. Sims
* 1983: Elway
* 1984: Fryar
* 1985: Br. Smith
* 1986: Jackson
* 1987: Testaverde
* 1988: Bruce
* 1989: Aikman
* 1990: George
* 1991: Maryland
* 1992: Emtman
* 1993: Bledsoe
* 1994: Wilkinson
* 1995: Carter
* 1996: Johnson
* 1997: Pace
* 1998: P. Manning
* 1999: Couch
* 2000: Brown
* 2001: Vick
* 2002: Carr
* 2003: Palmer
* 2004: E. Manning
* 2005: A. Smith
* 2006: M. Williams
* 2007: Russell
* 2008: Long
* 2009: Stafford
* 2010: Bradford
* 2011: Newton
* 2012: Luck
* 2013: Fisher
* 2014: Clowney
* 2015: Winston
* 2016: Goff
* 2017: M. Garrett
* 2018: Mayfield
* 2019: Murray
* 2020: Burrow
* 2021: Lawrence
* 2022: Walker
* 2023: Young
* 2024: C. Williams
* 2025: Ward

* v
* t
* e

1955 NFL draft first-round selections

* George Shaw
* Max Boydston
* Alan Ameche
* Ralph Guglielmi
* Tom Bettis
* Frank Varrichione
* Larry Morris
* Joe Heap
* Dick Bielski
* Dicky Moegle
* Ron Drzewiecki
* Dave Middleton
* Kurt Burris

* v
* t
* e

Baltimore Colts 1955 NFL draft selections

* George Shaw
* Alan Ameche
* Dick Szymanski
* L. G. Dupre
* Jack Patera
* George Preas
* Leo Lewis
* Frank McDonald
* Dale Meinert
* Walter Bryan
* Bill Evans
* Emil Radik
* Dick Chorovich
* Pat Abbruzzi
* John Lee
* Jerry Peterson
* Dick Laswell
* Wes Clark
* Charlie Shepard
* Jim Cobb
* Charlie Cianciola
* Nick Manych
* Jerry Welch
* Dick McNamara
* Alex Esquivel
* Dick Grann
* Marion Minker
* Jim Locke
* Bob Myers
* Bill Waters

* v
* t
* e

Indianapolis Colts first-round draft picks

Formerly the Baltimore Colts (1953–1983)

* Vessels
* Davidson
* Shaw
* Ameche
* Moore
* Parker
* Lyles
* Burkett
* Mix
* Matte
* Harris
* Vogel
* Woodson
* Curtis
* Ball
* Smith
* Detwiler
* Williams
* Hinton
* Bulaich
* McCauley
* Dunlap
* Drougas
* Jones
* Ehrmann
* Dutton
* Carr
* Huff
* Novak
* Burke
* McCall
* Krauss
* Dickey
* Hatchett
* McMillan
* Thompson
* Cooks
* Schlichter
* Elway
* Coleman
* Solt
* Bickett
* Hand
* Bennett
* Rison
* George
* Emtman
* Coryatt
* Dawkins
* Faulk
* Alberts
* Johnson
* Harrison
* Glenn
* Manning
* James
* Morris
* Wayne
* Freeney
* Clark
* Jackson
* Addai
* Gonzalez
* Brown
* Hughes
* Castonzo
* Luck
* Werner
* Dorsett
* Kelly
* Hooker
* Nelson
* Paye
* Richardson
* Latu
* Warren

* v
* t
* e

Baltimore Colts 1958 NFL champions

* 14 George Shaw
* 17 Ray Brown
* 18 Dick Horn
* 19 Johnny Unitas
* 20 Milt Davis
* 21 Art DeCarlo
* 23 Carl Taseff
* 24 Lenny Moore
* 25 Jack Call
* 26 Lenny Lyles
* 31 Billy Pricer
* 35 Alan Ameche
* 36 Bill Pellington
* 41 Jackie Simpson
* 41 Avatus Stone
* 44 Bert Rechichar
* 45 L. G. Dupree
* 47 Johnny Sample
* 50 Buzz Nutter
* 52 Dick Szymanski
* 55 Leo Sanford
* 60 George Preas
* 63 Art Spinney
* 64 Fuzzy Thurston
* 65 Steve Myhra
* 66 Don Shinnick
* 68 Alex Sandusky
* 70 Art Donovan
* 76 Gene Lipscomb
* 77 Jim Parker
* 78 Ray Krouse
* 79 Sherman Plunkett
* 80 Andy Nelson
* 81 Ordell Braase
* 82 Raymond Berry
* 83 Don Joyce
* 84 Jim Mutscheller
* 89 Gino Marchetti

Head coach: Weeb Ewbank

Assistant coaches: Herman Ball
* John Bridgers
* Bob Shaw
* Charley Winner

* v
* t
* e

Indianapolis Colts starting quarterbacks

Formerly the Baltimore Colts (1953–1983)

* Fred Enke (1953–1954)
* George Taliaferro (1953)
* Ed Mioduszewski (1953)
* Gary Kerkorian (1954)
* Cotton Davidson (1954)
* George Shaw (1955–1956, 1958)
* Johnny Unitas (1956–1967, 1969–1972)
* Gary Cuozzo (1965–1966)
* Tom Matte (1965)
* Earl Morrall (1968–1971)
* Marty Domres (1972–1974)
* Bert Jones (1973–1981)
* Bill Troup (1978)
* Mike Kirkland (1978)
* Greg Landry (1979–1980)
* David Humm (1981)
* Mike Pagel (1982–1985)
* Mark Herrmann (1983–1984, 1992)
* Art Schlichter (1984–1985)
* Matt Kofler (1985)
* Jack Trudeau (1986–1990, 1992–1993)
* Gary Hogeboom (1986–1988)
* Blair Kiel (1987)
* Chris Chandler (1988–1989)
* Tom Ramsey (1989)
* Jeff George (1990–1993)
* Jim Harbaugh (1994–1997)
* Don Majkowski (1994)
* Browning Nagle (1994)
* Craig Erickson (1995)
* Paul Justin (1995–1997)
* Kelly Holcomb (1997)
* Peyton Manning (1998–2010)
* Kerry Collins (2011)
* Curtis Painter (2011)
* Dan Orlovsky (2011)
* Andrew Luck (2012–2016, 2018)
* Matt Hasselbeck (2015)
* Josh Freeman (2015)
* Scott Tolzien (2016–2017)
* Jacoby Brissett (2017, 2019)
* Brian Hoyer (2019)
* Philip Rivers (2020)
* Carson Wentz (2021)
* Matt Ryan (2022)
* Sam Ehlinger (2022)
* Nick Foles (2022)
* Anthony Richardson (2023–2024)
* Gardner Minshew (2023)
* Joe Flacco (2024–present)

* v
* t
* e

New York Giants starting quarterbacks

* Charlie Conerly (1950–1961)
* Travis Tidwell (1950–1951)
* Tom Landry (1952)
* Arnold Galiffa (1953)
* Bob Clatterbuck (1954)
* Don Heinrich (1955–1959)
* George Shaw (1959–1960)
* Y. A. Tittle (1961–1964)
* Gary Wood (1964, 1966)
* Earl Morrall (1965–1966)
* Tom Kennedy (1966)
* Fran Tarkenton (1967–1971)
* Randy Johnson (1971–1973)
* Norm Snead (1972–1974, 1976)
* Craig Morton (1974–1976)
* Jim Del Gaizo (1974)
* Joe Pisarcik (1977–1979)
* Jerry Golsteyn (1977–1978)
* Randy Dean (1978)
* Phil Simms (1979–1981, 1984–1993)
* Scott Brunner (1980–1983)
* Jeff Rutledge (1983, 1987)
* Mike Busch (1987)
* Jim Crocicchia (1987)
* Jeff Hostetler (1988–1992)
* Kent Graham (1992, 1994, 1998–1999)
* Dave Brown (1994–1997)
* Danny Kanell (1997–1998)
* Kerry Collins (1999–2003)
* Jesse Palmer (2003)
* Kurt Warner (2004)
* Eli Manning (2004–2019)
* Geno Smith (2017)
* Daniel Jones (2019–2024)
* Colt McCoy (2020)
* Mike Glennon (2021)
* Jake Fromm (2021)
* Davis Webb (2022)
* Tyrod Taylor (2023)
* Tommy DeVito (2023–2024)
* Drew Lock (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Minnesota Vikings starting quarterbacks

* George Shaw (1961)
* Fran Tarkenton (1961-1966, 1972-1978)
* Ron Vander Kelen (1963, 1966-1967)
* Bob Berry (1966, 1974)
* Joe Kapp (1967-1969)
* Gary Cuozzo (1969-1971)
* Bob Lee (1970-1971, 1976-1977)
* Norm Snead (1971)
* Tommy Kramer (1977, 1979-1989)
* Steve Dils (1980-1981, 1983)
* Wade Wilson (1983-1991)
* Archie Manning (1984)
* Tony Adams (1987)
* Rich Gannon (1990-1992)
* Sean Salisbury (1992-1994)
* Jim McMahon (1993)
* Warren Moon (1994-1996)
* Brad Johnson (1996-1998, 2005-2006)
* Randall Cunningham (1997-1999)
* Jeff George (1999)
* Daunte Culpepper (2000-2005)
* Todd Bouman (2001)
* Spergon Wynn (2001)
* Gus Frerotte (2003, 2008)
* Tarvaris Jackson (2006-2008, 2010)
* Kelly Holcomb (2007)
* Brooks Bollinger (2007)
* Brett Favre (2009-2010)
* Joe Webb (2010)
* Donovan McNabb (2011)
* Christian Ponder (2011-2014)
* Matt Cassel (2013-2014)
* Josh Freeman (2013)
* Teddy Bridgewater (2014-2015)
* Shaun Hill (2016)
* Sam Bradford (2016–2017)
* Case Keenum (2017)
* Kirk Cousins (2018–2023)
* Sean Mannion (2019, 2021)
* Jaren Hall (2023)
* Joshua Dobbs (2023)
* Nick Mullens (2023)
* Sam Darnold (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Minnesota Vikings 1961 inaugural season roster

* 10 Fran Tarkenton
* 14 George Shaw
* 18 Mike Mercer
* 20 Tommy Mason
* 22 Dick Pesonen
* 23 Jamie Caleb
* 24 Rich Mostardi
* 25 Dean Derby
* 26 Charlie Sumner
* 28 Dick Haley
* 31 Clancy Osborne
* 32 Ray Hayes
* 33 Mel Triplett
* 35 Doug Mayberry
* 39 Hugh McElhenny
* 40 Jack Morris
* 41 Gene Johnson
* 43 Will Sherman
* 44 Billy Gault
* 45 Ed Sharockman
* 47 Justin Rowland
* 50 Dick Grecni
* 52 Bill Lapham
* 54 Karl Rubke
* 58 Rip Hawkins
* 59 Jim Leo
* 62 Bob Denton
* 64 Mike Rabold
* 65 Gerry Huth
* 66 Ken Petersen
* 67 Grady Alderman
* 70 Jim Marshall
* 71 Ed Culpepper
* 72 Frank Youso
* 73 Bill Bishop
* 76 Paul Dickson
* 77 Lebron Shields
* 79 Jim Prestel
* 82 A. D. Williams
* 83 Don Joyce
* 84 Dave Middleton
* 85 Bob Schnelker
* 87 Gordon Smith
* 88 Fred Murphy
* 89 Jerry Reichow

Head coach: Norm Van Brocklin

* v
* t
* e

Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks

* Frank Tripucka (1960–1963)
* George Herring (1961)
* George Shaw (1962)
* Mickey Slaughter (1963–1966)
* John McCormick (1963, 1965–1966, 1968)
* Don Breaux (1963)
* Jacky Lee (1964–1965)
* Max Choboian (1966)
* Scotty Glacken (1966)
* Steve Tensi (1966–1970)
* Jim LeClair (1966–1967)
* Marlin Briscoe (1968)
* Pete Liske (1969–1970)
* Alan Pastrana (1970)
* Don Horn (1971)
* Steve Ramsey (1971–1972, 1974–1976)
* Charley Johnson (1972–1975)
* John Hufnagel (1975)
* Craig Penrose (1976, 1978)
* Craig Morton (1977–1982)
* Norris Weese (1978–1979)
* Matt Robinson (1980)
* Steve DeBerg (1981–1983)
* Mark Herrmann (1982)
* John Elway (1983–1998)
* Gary Kubiak (1983–1984, 1988–1989)
* Ken Karcher (1987)
* Tommy Maddox (1992)
* Hugh Millen (1994)
* Bill Musgrave (1996)
* Bubby Brister (1998)
* Brian Griese (1999–2002)
* Chris Miller (1999)
* Gus Frerotte (2000–2001)
* Steve Beuerlein (2002–2003)
* Jake Plummer (2003–2006)
* Danny Kanell (2003)
* Jarious Jackson (2003)
* Jay Cutler (2006–2008)
* Kyle Orton (2009–2011)
* Chris Simms (2009)
* Tim Tebow (2010–2011)
* Peyton Manning (2012–2015)
* Brock Osweiler (2015, 2017)
* Trevor Siemian (2016–2017)
* Paxton Lynch (2016–2017)
* Case Keenum (2018)
* Joe Flacco (2019)
* Brandon Allen (2019)
* Drew Lock (2019–2021)
* Jeff Driskel (2020)
* Brett Rypien (2020, 2022)
* Teddy Bridgewater (2021)
* Russell Wilson (2022–2023)
* Jarrett Stidham (2023)
* Bo Nix (2024–present)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template