This is a list of notable left-handed quarterbacks who have played professionally or for a major college program. In gridiron football, quarterbacks have been predominantly right-handed; only 33 left-handed quarterbacks have appeared in the National Football League (NFL). 12 others were drafted, but never played in the league. The rarity of left-handed NFL quarterbacks has been a topic of discussion and debate among players, coaches, and analysts.

Left-handed quarterbacks were relatively prominent in the NFL between the 1970s and the 2000s, but became mostly absent from the league after 2010. The most successful have been Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Steve Young and Ken Stabler, 1988 Most Valuable Player Boomer Esiason, and Pro Bowl selections Frankie Albert, Mark Brunell, and Michael Vick. As of 2026, Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Dillon Gabriel, and Cole Payton are the NFL's only left-handed quarterbacks.

List +Key^Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Name Career Teams Notes References Frankie Albert 1942–53 Stanford (college) San Francisco 49ers (AAFC/NFL) Calgary Stampeders (CFL)Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame 2× Second team All American 3× Second team All-AAFC Led AAFC in touchdown passes for two years Pro Bowl (1950) Allie Sherman1943–47Brooklyn (college) Philadelphia-Pittsburgh Steagles (1943) Philadelphia Eagles (1944-1947)Coached the New York Giants from 1961 to 1968 John Karrs 1944–45Duquesne (college) Cleveland Rams (1944-1945) Pittsburgh Steelers (1945)Attempted ten passes during the 1944 season, completing four for 49 yards. Harry Agganis1952Boston University (college) Cleveland BrownsInducted into College Football Hall of Fame Drafted #12 by Cleveland in 1952, but never signed with the team Signed with the Boston Red Sox and never played in the NFLFred Wyant1956–57West Virginia (college) Washington Redskins (NFL) Toronto Argonauts (CFL)West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame (1994) Inaugural member of WVU’s “Mountaineer Legends Society” (2016) NFL referee between and NFL line judge - and - (noting that he was left-handed) Terry Baker 1963–67Oregon State (college) Los Angeles Rams (NFL) Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame 1962 Heisman Trophy winner 1962 Maxwell Award winner Consensus All American (1962) Oregon Sports Hall of Fame Bobby Douglass 1969–78Kansas (college) Chicago Bears (NFL) San Diego Chargers (NFL) New Orleans Saints (NFL) Green Bay Packers (NFL)Former holder of several NFL QB rushing records Ken Stabler 1970–84Alabama (college) Oakland Raiders (AFL/NFL) Houston Oilers (NFL) New Orleans Saints (NFL)Super Bowl XI champion 4× Pro Bowl 1974 NFL Most Valuable Player 2× First team All-Pro Posthumously inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame (2016) Jim Del Gaizo 1971–75Syracuse (college) Tampa (college) Miami Dolphins (NFL) Green Bay Packers (NFL) New York Giants (NFL) Attempted nine passes during the Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season Dennis Morrison1973–74Kansas State (college)San Francisco 49ers (NFL) David Humm 1975–84Nebraska (college) Oakland Raiders (NFL) Buffalo Bills (NFL) Baltimore Colts (NFL) Los Angeles Rams (NFL)Second team All-Big Eight (1972) First team All-Big Eight (1974) Second team All American (1974) 2× Super Bowl Champion (XI, XVIII) Jim Zorn 1975–87Cal Poly Pomona (college) Dallas Cowboys (NFL) Seattle Seahawks (NFL) Green Bay Packers (NFL) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)First team All-Pro (1978) Seahawks Ring of Honor Washington Redskins head coach 2008 and 2009 Paul McDonald 1980–87USC (college) Cleveland Browns (NFL) Seattle Seahawks (NFL) Dallas Cowboys (NFL)Second team All-Pac-10 (1978) First team All-Pac-10 (1979) Second team All American (1979) NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipient (2005) Boomer Esiason 1984–97Maryland (college) Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) New York Jets (NFL) Arizona Cardinals (NFL)4× Pro Bowl First team All-Pro (1988) NFL Most Valuable Player (1988) Steve Young 1984–99BYU (college) Los Angeles Express (USFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) San Francisco 49ers (NFL)First left-handed QB inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005) 3× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX) Super Bowl MVP (XXIX) 2× NFL Most Valuable Player 7× Pro Bowl Erik Wilhelm1989–2001Oregon State (college) Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) Phoenix Cardinals (NFL) New York Jets (NFL) Portland Prowlers (AFL)Los Angeles Avengers (AFL)Tampa Bay Storm (AFL)Second at the time of his departure in career passing yards in the Pac-10 (now Pac-12).Jeff Carlson1989–92Weber State (college)Los Angeles Rams (NFL)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)New England Patriots (NFL) Scott Mitchell 1990–2001Utah (college) Miami Dolphins (NFL) Orlando Thunder (WLAF) Detroit Lions (NFL) Baltimore Ravens (NFL) Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)Former holder of several Detroit Lions passing records Todd Marinovich 1990–93,1999–2001USC (college) Los Angeles Raiders (NFL) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) BC Lions (CFL) Los Angeles Avengers (Arena Football) USA Today All-USA high school football team (1987) AFL all-rookie team (2001)Will Furrer1992–95Virginia Tech (college)Chicago Bears (NFL)Houston Oilers (NFL) Mark Brunell 1993–2011Washington (college) Green Bay Packers (NFL) Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) Washington Redskins (NFL) New Orleans Saints (NFL) New York Jets (NFL)1993 Rose Bowl champion Super Bowl XLIV Champion 3× Pro Bowl Pride of the Jaguars Doug Nussmeier 1994–2000Idaho (college) New Orleans Saints (NFL) Indianapolis Colts (NFL) BC Lions (CFL)Walter Payton Award winner (1993) Holds numerous Idaho passing records Only one of five quarterbacks in NCAA history to pass for over 10,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 Tony Graziani1997–2008Oregon (college)Atlanta Falcons (NFL)Los Angeles Avengers (AFL)Philadelphia Soul (AFL)Highest-paid player in Arena Football League history Brock Huard 1999–2004Washington (college) Seattle Seahawks (NFL) Indianapolis Colts (NFL) Brother of quarterback Damon Huard First set of brothers in NFL History to start at quarterback on the same weekend Cade McNown 1999–2002UCLA (college) Chicago Bears (NFL) Miami Dolphins (NFL) San Francisco 49ers (NFL) 1998 Consensus All-American 1998 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner Michael Vick 2001–15Virginia Tech (college) Atlanta Falcons (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) New York Jets (NFL) Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)Right-handed outside of football Highest rated passer in college football (1999) 2001 first overall pick 4× Pro Bowl 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Most career rushing yards by an NFL Quarterback Chris Simms 2003–10Texas (college) Green Bay Packers (NFL) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) Tennessee Titans (NFL) Denver Broncos (NFL)Former holder of several Texas Longhorns football passing records Son of quarterback Phil Simms Jared Lorenzen 2004–14Kentucky (college) New York Giants (NFL) Indianapolis Colts (NFL) Kentucky Horsemen (AF2) Northern Kentucky River Monsters (UIFL/CIFL) Owensboro Rage (CIFL)Second Team All-SEC (2002) Most pass attempts and yards in Kentucky Wildcats football history Super Bowl XLII champion Tyler Palko 2004–11Pittsburgh (college) New Orleans Saints (NFL) Arizona Cardinals (NFL) California Redwoods (UFL) Montreal Alouettes (CFL) Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)USA Today All-America Team (Second-team) (2001) University of Pittsburgh Team MVP (2004) 2× Second-team Big East (2004, 2005) Matt Leinart 2006–13USC (college) Arizona Cardinals (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL) Oakland Raiders (NFL) Buffalo Bills (NFL)2004 Heisman Trophy winner 2005 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame Pat White 2009–14West Virginia (college) Miami Dolphins (NFL) Virginia Destroyers (UFL) Washington Redskins (NFL) Edmonton Eskimos (CFL)2× Big East Offensive Player of the Year (2006, 2007) 3× First-team All-Big East (2006-2008) Holder of numerous West Virginia Mountaineers and NCAA passing and rushing records Tim Tebow 2010–15Florida (college) Denver Broncos (NFL) New York Jets (NFL) New England Patriots (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)2× BCS national champion (2006, 2008) 2007 Heisman Trophy winner 2× First team All American Holder of numerous current and former Florida Gators and SEC passing records Kellen Moore2012–17Boise State (college) Dallas Cowboys (NFL) Detroit Lions (NFL)Most wins by a quarterback in NCAA Division I FBS history (50) 2× First-team All American Super Bowl LIX champion (Offensive Coordinator) New Orleans Saints Head Coach 2025–present Tua Tagovailoa2020–presentAlabama (college)Miami Dolphins (NFL)Right-handed outside of football 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship winner and MVP 2018 Maxwell Award winner 2018 Walter Camp Award winnerMichael Penix Jr.2024–presentWashington (college)Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 2023 Maxwell Award winner AP Comeback Player of the Year (2022) Dillon Gabriel2025-presentUCF (college) Oklahoma (college) Oregon (college) Cleveland Browns (NFL) Most career NCAA (FBS) touchdown passes (tied) Hunter Dekkers2025-presentIowa State (college) Iowa Western (college) Houston Gamblers (UFL) New Orleans Saints (NFL) Cole Payton2026–presentNorth Dakota State (college) Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

See also Left-handed specialist List of southpaw stance boxers

Notes

References