As the Bears figure out what to do with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky and veteran free agent Mike Glennon there are plenty of examples from across the league to look to. Among 46 top current NFL quarterbacks, 17 started in their first game as a rookie.
The Tribune looked at 25 quarterbacks selected in the top 10 picks of the NFL draft and 21 other current starters or notable QBs. The examples range from the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott who started his first game as a rookie and brought Dallas to the playoffs last season to the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers who started his 43rd game and knocked Prescott’s Cowboys out of the playoffs.
Here are 46 QBs by when they started their first games.
Dak Prescott
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Dallas Cowboys | Career NFL passer rating:
Carson Wentz
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Philadelphia Eagles | Career NFL passer rating:
Marcus Mariota
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Tennessee Titans | Career NFL passer rating:
Jameis Winston
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Career NFL passer rating:
Derek Carr
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Oakland Raiders | Career NFL passer rating:
Robert Griffin III
Started in 1st game
Starter: No free agent | Career NFL passer rating:
Ryan Tannehill
Started in 1st game
Starter: Injured with Miami Dolphins | Career NFL passer rating:
Andrew Luck
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Indianapolis Colts | Career NFL passer rating:
Russell Wilson
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Seattle Seahawks | Career NFL passer rating:
Andy Dalton
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Cincinnati Bengals | Career NFL passer rating:
Cam Newton
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Carolina Panthers | Career NFL passer rating:
Sam Bradford
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Minnesota Vikings | Career NFL passer rating:
Mark Sanchez
Started in 1st game
Starter: No Chicago Bears | Career NFL passer rating:
Matthew Stafford
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Detroit Lions | Career NFL passer rating:
Joe Flacco
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Baltimore Ravens | Career NFL passer rating:
Matt Ryan
Started in 1st game
Starter: Yes Atlanta Falcons | Career NFL passer rating:
David Carr
Started in 1st game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
Blaine Gabbert
Started in 3rd game
Starter: No Arizona Cardinals backup | Career NFL passer rating:
Ben Roethlisberger
Started in 3rd game
Starter: Yes Pittsburgh Steelers | Career NFL passer rating:
Joey Harrington
Started in 3rd game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
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Blake Bortles
Started in 4th game
Starter: Maybe Jacksonville Jaguars QB battle | Career NFL passer rating:
Mike Glennon
Started in 4th game
Starter: Yes Chicago Bears | Career NFL passer rating:
Teddy Bridgewater
Started in 4th game
Starter: Injured with Minnesota Vikings | Career NFL passer rating:
Vince Young
Started in 4th game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
Byron Leftwich
Started in 4th game
Starter: No Arizona Cardinals QB coach | Career NFL passer rating:
Matt Leinart
Started in 5th game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
Alex Smith
Started in 5th game
Starter: Yes Kansas City Chiefs | Career NFL passer rating:
Jared Goff
Started in 10th game
Starter: Yes Los Angeles Rams | Career NFL passer rating:
Eli Manning
Started in 10th game
Starter: Yes New York Giants | Career NFL passer rating:
Jay Cutler
Started in 12th game
Starter: Yes Miami Dolphins | Career NFL passer rating:
JaMarcus Russell
Started in 13th game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
Kirk Cousins
Started in 14th game
Starter: Yes Washington Redskins | Career NFL passer rating:
Trevor Siemian
Started in 17th game
Starter: Yes Denver Broncos | Career NFL passer rating:
Jake Locker
Started in 17th game
Starter: No out of NFL | Career NFL passer rating:
Carson Palmer
Started in 17th game
Starter: Yes Arizona Cardinals | Career NFL passer rating:
Drew Brees
Started in 17th game
Starter: Yes New Orleans Saints | Career NFL passer rating:
Tom Brady
Started in 17th game
Starter: Yes New England Patriots | Career NFL passer rating:
Chad Henne
Started in 20th game
Starter: Maybe Jacksonville Jaguars QB battle | Career NFL passer rating:
Colin Kaepernick
Started in 26th game
Starter: No free agent | Career NFL passer rating:
Josh McCown
Started in 30th game
Starter: Yes New York Jets | Career NFL passer rating:
Tom Savage
Started in 31st game
Starter: Yes Houston Texans | Career NFL passer rating:
Philip Rivers
Started in 33rd game
Starter: Yes Los Angeles Chargers | Career NFL passer rating:
Aaron Rodgers
Started in 43rd game
Starter: Yes Green Bay Packers | Career NFL passer rating:
Brian Hoyer
Started in 53rd game
Starter: Yes San Francisco 49ers | Career NFL passer rating:
Brock Osweiler
Started in 58th game
Starter: No Cleveland Browns backup | Career NFL passer rating:
Tyrod Taylor
Started in 65th game
Starter: Yes Buffalo Bills | Career NFL passer rating:
SOURCES: NFL, Pro Football Reference
Associated Press photos
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