NFL Starting Quarterback Playoff Records - Current Record Holders

Current Record Holders

Tom Brady holds the current NFL record for most playoff wins by a quarterback with 17. Brett Favre shares the current record for most playoff games started (24) with Brady and shares the record for most playoff losses with Peyton Manning at 11. For players with 5 or more playoff appearances, Bart Starr holds the record for the highest winning percentage (.900). Several quarterbacks are undefeated in post-season play but all of them have just a single appearance as a starter except for Frank Reich who has two starts. Hall of Fame quarterback Y. A. Tittle holds the unfortunate record of the highest number of playoff starts without ever winning a game (4).

While many players have won playoff games for 2 teams, only one has won a championship for different franchises. Tobin Rote was quarterback for the 1957 Lions and the 1963 Chargers. Len Dawson led the Dallas Texans to an AFL title and earned another championship after they became the Kansas City Chiefs.

Note: from 1933-1949 some offenses did not employ a quarterback in the modern sense of the position. Listed below are the "primary passers" for those games, the players that passed the ball most in those games. They may not have actually started the game at quarterback. This format allows Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Sid Luckman and Sammy Baugh to maintain credit for their team's playoff records since they were obviously the top passer for their team. The players involved in such games are marked with an asterisk (*).

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Sorting 'Teams' in ascending order will list all champion quarterbacks for each team first and in the order they won the title game for their team.

Updated through 2012-13 playoffs.

Quarterbacks Sorted by 1st - Most Wins
2nd - Highest Win Percentage
Rank Quarterback Games
Started
Wins Losses Percent Teams Ref
1 Brady, TomTom Brady 24 17 7 .708 Pat 1 Patriots**
2 Montana, JoeJoe Montana 23 16 7 .696 49 1 49ers** (14-5) Chiefs (2-2)
3 Bradshaw, TerryTerry Bradshaw 19 14 5 .737 Steel 1 Steelers**
4 Elway, JohnJohn Elway 21 14 7 .672 !.667 Bronc 1 Broncos**
5 Favre, BrettBrett Favre 24 13 11 .542 Pac 4 Packers† (12-10) Vikings (1-1)
6 Aikman, TroyTroy Aikman 15 11 4 .733 Cow 2 Cowboys**
7 Staubach, RogerRoger Staubach 17 11 6 .647 Cow 1 Cowboys**
8 Roethlisberger, BenBen Roethlisberger 14 10 4 .715 !.714 Steel 2 Steelers**
9 Starr, BartBart Starr 10 9 1 .900 Pac 3 Packers↑ Packers**
10 T Warner, KurtKurt Warner 13 9 4 .692 Ram 3 Rams† (5-2) Cardinals (4-2)
Flacco, JoeJoe Flacco 13 9 4 .692 Rav 2 Ravens†
12 McNabb, DonovanDonovan McNabb 16 9 7 .563 Eagles
13 Kelly, JimJim Kelly 17 9 8 .529 Bills
14 Manning, PeytonPeyton Manning 20 9 11 .450 Colt 3 Colts† (9-10) Broncos (0-1)
15 Plunkett, JimJim Plunkett 10 8 2 .82 !.800 Raid 3 Raiders**
16 Manning, EliEli Manning 11 8 3 .727 G 5 Giants**
17 Young, SteveSteve Young 14 8 6 .578 !.571 49 2 49ers†
18 Marino, DanDan Marino 18 8 10 .448 !.444 Dolphins
19 Stabler, KenKen Stabler 12 7 5 .583 Raid 2 Raiders† (7-4) Oilers (0-1)
20 T Unitas, JohnnyJohnny Unitas 8 6 2 .756 !.750 Colt 1 Colts↑ Colts†
Theisman, JoeJoe Theisman 8 6 2 .756 !.750 Red 3 Redskins†
22 Simms, PhilPhil Simms 10 6 4 .606 !.600 G 3 Giants†
23 T Griese, BobBob Griese 11 6 5 .546 Dol 1 Dolphins**
Tarkenton, FranFran Tarkenton 11 6 5 .546 Vikings
25 T Luckman, SidSid Luckman 6 5 1 .833 Be 2 Bears↑
Dilfer, TrentTrent Dilfer 6 5 1 .833 Rav 1Buccaneers (1-1) Ravens† (4-0)
27 Rypien, MarkMark Rypien 7 5 2 .714 Red 4 Redskins†
28 T Dawson, LenLen Dawson 8 5 3 .625 Chie 1 Dallas Texans / Chiefs‡ Chiefs†
Delhomme, JakeJake Delhomme 8 5 3 .625 Panthers
Rodgers, AaronAaron Rodgers 8 5 3 .625 Pac 5 Packers†
31 Brees, DrewDrew Brees 9 5 4 .556 Saint 1Chargers (0-1) Saints† (5-3)
32 T Morton, CraigCraig Morton 10 5 5 .505 !.500 Cowboys (3-2) Broncos (2-3)
White, DannyDanny White 10 5 5 .505 !.500 Cowboys
Brunell, MarkMark Brunell 10 5 5 .505 !.500 Jaguars (4-4) Redskins (1-1)
McNair, SteveSteve McNair 10 5 5 .505 !.500 Titan 2Titans (5-4) Ravens (0-1)
36 Hasselbeck, MattMatt Hasselbeck 11 5 6 .455 Seahawks
37 T Morrall, EarlEarl Morrall 5 4 1 .800 Colt 2 Colts* (2-1) Dolphins (2-0)
Hostetler, JeffJeff Hostetler 5 4 1 .800 G 4 Giants† (3-0) Raiders (1-1)
39 Sanchez, MarkMark Sanchez 6 4 2 .668 !.667 Jets
40 T Graham, OttoOtto Graham 7 4 3 .571 Brown 1 Browns↑
Williams, DougDoug Williams 7 4 3 .571 Red 3Buccaneers (1-3) Redskins† (3-0)
Johnson, BradBrad Johnson 7 4 3 .571 Buc 1Vikings (0-1) Redskins (1-1) Buccaneers† (3-1)
Gannon, RichRich Gannon 7 4 3 .571 Raiders
44 Jaworski, RonRon Jaworski 8 4 4 .504 !.500 Rams (1-0) Eagles (3-4)
45 Lamonica, DaryleDaryle Lamonica 9 4 5 .444 Raid 1 Raiders~
46 T Thompson, TommyTommy Thompson 4 3 1 .750 Ea 1 Eagles↑
Layne, BobbyBobby Layne 4 3 1 .750 Li 2 Lions↑
Rote, TobinTobin Rote 4 3 1 .750 Li 3 Lions* (2-0)
Charger 1 Chargers~ (1-1)
49 T Pastorini, DanDan Pastorini 5 3 2 .600 Titan 3Oilers
Woodley, DavidDavid Woodley 5 3 2 .600 Dolphins
Esiason, BoomerBoomer Esiason 5 3 2 .600 Bengals
Schroeder, JayJay Schroeder 5 3 2 .600 Redskins (2-1) Raiders (1-1)
Eason, TonyTony Eason 5 3 2 .600 Patriots
Tomczak, MikeMike Tomczak 5 3 2 .600 Bears (2-1) Steelers (1-1)
55 T Baugh, SammySammy Baugh * 6 3 3 .503 !.500 Red 1 Redskins↑
Ferragamo, VinceVince Ferragamo 6 3 3 .503 !.500 Rams
McMahon, JimJim McMahon 6 3 3 .503 !.500 Be 4 Bears† (3-2) Vikings (0-1)
Humphries, StanStan Humphries 6 3 3 .503 !.500 Chargers
Bledsoe, DrewDrew Bledsoe 6 3 3 .503 !.500 Patriots
60 T Fouts, DanDan Fouts 7 3 4 .429 Chargers
Kosar, BernieBernie Kosar 7 3 4 .429 Browns
O'Donnell, NeilNeil O'Donnell 7 3 4 .429 Steelers
Collins, KerryKerry Collins 7 3 4 .429 Panthers(1-1) Giants (2-2) Titans (0-1)
Rivers, PhilipPhilip Rivers 7 3 4 .429 Chargers
65 T Krieg, DaveDave Krieg 9 3 6 .339 !.333 Seahawks (3-4) Chiefs (0-1) Lions (0-1)
Cunningham, RandallRandall Cunningham 9 3 6 .339 !.333 Eagles (1-4) Vikings (2-2)
67 Moon, WarrenWarren Moon 10 3 7 .300 Titan 4Oilers (3-6) Vikings (0-1)
68 Reich, FrankFrank Reich 2.9 !2 2 0 1.2 !1.000 Bills
70 T Heinrich, DonDon Heinrich 3 2 1 .667 G 2 Giants*
Blanda, GeorgeGeorge Blanda 3 2 1 .667 Titan 1 Oilers‡
Namath, JoeJoe Namath 3 2 1 .667 Jet 1 Jets~ Jets†
Chandler, ChrisChris Chandler 3 2 1 .667 Falcons
Kaepernick, ColinColin Kaepernick 3 2 1 .667 49ers
74 T Danowski, EdEd Danowski 4 2 2 .502 !.500 G 1 Giants↑
Herber, ArnieArnie Herber * 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Pac 1 Packers↑ (2-1) Giants (0-1)
Waterfield, BobBob Waterfield 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Ram 1 Rams↑
Van Brocklin, NormNorm Van Brocklin 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Ea 2Rams (1-2)
Eagles* (1-0)
Kapp, JoeJoe Kapp 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Vik 1 Vikings*
Todd, RichardRichard Todd 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Jets
Kramer, TommyTommy Kramer 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Vikings
Stewart, KordellKordell Stewart 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Steelers
Culpepper, DaunteDaunte Culpepper 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Vikings
Grossman, RexRex Grossman 4 2 2 .502 !.500 Bears
84 T Brodie, JohnJohn Brodie 5 2 3 .400 49ers
Nelsen, BillBill Nelsen 5 2 3 .400 Browns
Haden, PatPat Haden 5 2 3 .400 Rams
Wilson, WadeWade Wilson 5 2 3 .400 Vikings
Everett, JimJim Everett 5 2 3 .400 Rams
Harbaugh, JimJim Harbaugh 5 2 3 .400 Bears (0-1) Colts (2-2)
Testaverde, VinnyVinny Testaverde 5 2 3 .400 Browns (1-1) Jets (1-2)
Vick, MichaelMichael Vick 5 2 3 .400 Falcons (2-2) Eagles (0-1)
92 T Kemp, JackJack Kemp 6 2 4 .336 !.333 Bill 1Chargers (0-2) Bills‡ (2-2)
Anderson, KenKen Anderson 6 2 4 .336 !.333 Bengals
Plummer, JakeJake Plummer 6 2 4 .336 !.333 Cardinals (1-1) Broncos (1-3)
Garcia, JeffJeff Garcia 6 2 4 .336 !.333 49ers (1-2) Eagles (1-1) Buccaneers (0-1)
Pennington, ChadChad Pennington 6 2 4 .336 !.333 Jets (2-3) Dolphins (0-1)
97 Kilmer, BillyBilly Kilmer 7 2 5 .286 Redskins
98 T Presnell, GlennGlenn Presnell 1 1 0 1.000 Li 1 Lions*
Comp, IrvIrv Comp * 1 1 0 1.000 Pac 2 Packers*
Christman, PaulPaul Christman * 1 1 0 1.000 Card 1 Cardinals*
Wade, BillBill Wade 1 1 0 1.000 Be 3 Bears*
Nielsen, GiffordGifford Nielsen 1 1 0 1.000 TitansOilers
103 T Brumbaugh, CarlCarl Brumbaugh 2 1 1 .500 Be 1 Bears*
Parilli, BabeBabe Parilli 2 1 1 .500 Patriots
Dickey, LynnLynn Dickey 2 1 1 .500 Packers
Ryan, PatPat Ryan 2 1 1 .500 Jets
Fuller, SteveSteve Fuller 2 1 1 .500 Bears
Malone, MarkMark Malone 2 1 1 .500 Steelers
Brunner, ScottScott Brunner 2 1 1 .500 Giants
Brock, DieterDieter Brock 2 1 1 .500 Rams
Brister, BubbyBubby Brister 2 1 1 .500 Steelers
Miller, ChrisChris Miller 2 1 1 .500 Falcons
Beuerlein, SteveSteve Beuerlein 2 1 1 .500 Cowboys
Peete, RodneyRodney Peete 2 1 1 .500 Eagles
Maddox, TommyTommy Maddox 2 1 1 .500 Steelers
Brooks, AaronAaron Brooks 2 1 1 .500 Saints
Garrard, DavidDavid Garrard 2 1 1 .500 Jaguars
Tebow, TimTim Tebow 2 1 1 .500 Broncos
Cutler, JayJay Cutler 2 1 1 .500 Bears
Yates, T. J.T. J. Yates 2 1 1 .500 Texans
Smith, AlexAlex Smith 2 1 1 .500 49ers
Wilson, RussellRussell Wilson 2 1 1 .500 Seahawks
Schaub, MattMatt Schaub 2 1 1 .500 Texans
124 T Ryan, FrankFrank Ryan 3 1 2 .333 Brown 2 Browns*
Harris, JamesJames Harris 3 1 2 .333 Rams
Lee, BobBob Lee 3 1 2 .333 Vikings
Kramer, ErikErik Kramer 3 1 2 .333 Lions
Walsh, SteveSteve Walsh 3 1 2 .333 Saints (0-1) Bears (1-1)
George, JeffJeff George 3 1 2 .333 Falcons (0-1) Vikings (1-1)
Grbac, ElvisElvis Grbac 3 1 2 .333 Chiefs (0-1) Ravens (1-1)
Fiedler, JayJay Fiedler 3 1 2 .333 Dolphins
King, ShaunShaun King 3 1 2 .333 Buccaneers
Bulger, MarcMarc Bulger 3 1 2 .333 Rams
134 T Meredith, DonDon Meredith 4 1 3 .250 Cowboys
Ferguson, JoeJoe Ferguson 4 1 3 .250 Bills
Bartkowski, SteveSteve Bartkowski 4 1 3 .250 Falcons
DeBerg, SteveSteve DeBerg 4 1 3 .250 Broncos (0-1) Chiefs (1-2)
Romo, TonyTony Romo 4 1 3 .250 Cowboys
139 Ryan, MattMatt Ryan 5 1 4 .200 Falcons
140 T Newman, HarryHarry Newman* 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Giants
Masterson, BernieBernie Masterson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bears
Smith, RileyRiley Smith* 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Redskins
Isbell, CecilCecil Isbell * 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Packers
Filchock, FrankFrank Filchock * 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Giants
Clement, JohnnyJohnny Clement * 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Steelers
Lujack, JohnnyJohnny Lujack 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bears
Mallouf, RayRay Mallouf 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Cardinals
O'Connell, TommyTommy O'Connell 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Brown !Ed Brown 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bears
Plum, MiltMilt Plum 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Cuozzo, GaryGary Cuozzo 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Vikings
Matte, TomTom Matte 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Colts
Landry, GregGreg Landry 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Lions
Carter, VirgilVirgil Carter 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bengals
Hunter, ScottScott Hunter 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Packers
Strock, DonDon Strock 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Sipe, BrianBrian Sipe 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Avellini, BobBob Avellini 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bears
Danielson, GaryGary Danielson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Lions
Stoudt, CliffCliff Stoudt 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Steelers
Hipple, EricEric Hipple 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Lions
Wilson, MarcMarc Wilson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Raiders
McDonald, PaulPaul McDonald 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Kemp, JeffJeff Kemp 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Rams
Lomax, NeilNeil Lomax 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Cardinals
Blackledge, ToddTodd Blackledge 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Chiefs
Bono, SteveSteve Bono 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Chiefs
Trudeau, JackJack Trudeau 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Colts
Salisbury, SeanSean Salisbury 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Vikings
Carlson, CodyCody Carlson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 TitansOilers
Marinovich, ToddTodd Marinovich 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Raiders
Zolak, ScottScott Zolak 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Patriots
Detmer, TyTy Detmer 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Eagles
Collins, ToddTodd Collins 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Redskins
Miller, JimJim Miller 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bears
Johnson, RobRob Johnson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Bills
Kanell, DannyDanny Kanell 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Giants
Kitna, JonJon Kitna 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Seahawks
Holcomb, KellyKelly Holcomb 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Browns
Wright, AnthonyAnthony Wright 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Ravens
Carter, QuincyQuincy Carter 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Cowboys
Simms, ChrisChris Simms 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Buccaneers
Young, VinceVince Young 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Titans
Leftwich, ByronByron Leftwich 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Jaguars
Jackson, TarvarisTarvaris Jackson 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Vikings
Cassel, MattMatt Cassel 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Chiefs
Stafford, MatthewMatthew Stafford 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Lions
Webb, JoeJoe Webb 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Vikings
Luck, AndrewAndrew Luck 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Colts
Griffin III, RobertRobert Griffin III 1 0 1 .006 !.000 Redskins
191 T Leemans, TuffyTuffy Leemans * 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Giants
Conerly, CharlieCharlie Conerly 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Giants
Hadl, JohnJohn Hadl 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Chargers (0-1) Rams (0-1)
Gabriel, RomanRoman Gabriel 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Rams
Beathard, PetePete Beathard 2 0 2 .004 !.000 TitansOilers
Hart, JimJim Hart 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Cardinals
Phipps, MikeMike Phipps 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Browns (0-1) Bears (0-1)
O'Brien, KenKen O'Brien 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Jets
Flutie, DougDoug Flutie 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Bears (0-1) Bills (0-1)
Mitchell, ScottScott Mitchell 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Lions
Frerotte, GusGus Frerotte 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Lions (0-1) Broncos (0-1)
Green, TrentTrent Green 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Chiefs
Palmer, CarsonCarson Palmer 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Bengals
Dalton, AndyAndy Dalton 2 0 2 .004 !.000 Bengals
205 T Jones, BertBert Jones 3 0 3 .002 !.000 Colts
Grogan, SteveSteve Grogan 3 0 3 .002 !.000 Patriots
Hebert, BobbyBobby Hebert 3 0 3 .002 !.000 Saints
208 Tittle, Y. A.Y. A. Tittle 4 0 4 .000 49ers (0-1) Giants (0-3)

Read more about this topic:  NFL Starting Quarterback Playoff Records

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