Best QB "Second Acts"

With so many mediocre QBs on this list might as well throw Jim Harbaugh in as well. Or Jake Plummer.

 

Bringing up Jurgensen, made me think of Norm Van Brocklin.

Star with the Rams throughout the 1950s and then added a late career spark with the Eagles and the 1960 championship.

And speaking of Rams, who had second acts with the Eagles...Roman Gabriel was a league MVP, seemed to be on the slide in the early 1970s and then had a stellar season with the mid-1970s Eagles.

 

Considering he's a two-time Comeback Player of the Year, you have to mention Chad Pennington as well.

 

Plunkett was the first name I thought of.

I don't think you can count Favre. I don't even know if you can count Young.

Of recent guys, Brees should be at the top of the list. Cutler hasn't done too badly.

Jake Plummer did well. Vick obviously should be there.

 

Favre was 0-4 in passing attempts with the Falcons

I'm just joking around, just so you guys know.

 

Doug Williams?

 

Why can't you count Steve Young? If anything, his entire time with the 49ers was a third act. He was the starter for the LA Express in the USFL before he even got to the NFL.

I guess it depends on how you define this, but I doubt you can say any of these guys was better in their second act than Young was with the 49ers.

 

By definition it would be a third act, no?

 

Rich Gannon belongs on this list.

 

Sure, but what about Rich Gannon?

 

It's interesting how many of the NFL's 32 teams have starters who are with at least their second team...This is not counting people who were traded on draft day (Eli, Rivers... ). It would be almost even if not for the rookies...

1. Eli Manning
2. Philip Rivers
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. Alex Smith
5. Sam Bradford
6. Matthew Stafford
7. Tom Brady
8. Andy Dalton
9. Cam Newton
10. Ben Roethlisberger
11. Joe Flacco
12. Matt Ryan
13. Tony Romo
14. Colt McCoy
15. Mark Sanchez
16. Tim Tebow
17. Josh Freeman
18. Blaine Gabbert
19. Christian Ponder

Soon to be on second act
1. Peyton Manning

Second team (or more)
1. Kevin Kolb
2. Michael Vick
3. Drew Brees
4. Carson Palmer
5. Matt Schaub
6. Ryan Fitzpatrick
7. Matt Hasselbeck
8. Rex Grossman
9. Matt Cassel
10. Matt Moore
11. Tarvaris Jackson
12. Jay Cutler

 

Well Young was named the Bucs MVP in 1986 before being dealt to make room for Testaverde, so he did have some sustained success as a first act before his second which put him in the hall of fame.