The Jets' best quarterbacks since 1966
Joe Namath has the most passing yards of the 64 quarterbacks who played with the Jets since 1966, 24,837 in 123 games. Ken O'Brien is 2nd with 24,386. Geno Smith is 9th, with 7,875; 223 more passes Sam Darnold for 8th.
The Jets' quarterbacks this season
- Geno Smith8 games, 239.1 a game7,875 with the Jets, the 9th-most since 1966. 223 more puts him past Sam Darnold for 8th.1,913passing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1966–69
| Place | Player | passing yards | passing TDs | wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Namath1966 – 1976 · 123 games | 24,837 | 152 | 57 |
| 2 | Ken O'Brien1984 – 1992 · 124 games | 24,386 | 124 | 50 |
| 3 | Richard Todd1976 – 1983 · 102 games | 18,241 | 110 | 42 |
| 4 | Chad Pennington2000 – 2007 · 69 games | 13,739 | 82 | 32 |
| 5 | Vinny Testaverde1998 – 2005 · 65 games | 12,497 | 77 | 35 |
| 6 | Mark Sanchez2009 – 2012 · 61 games | 12,092 | 68 | 32 |
| 7 | Boomer Esiason1993 – 1995 · 43 games | 8,478 | 49 | 15 |
| 8 | Sam Darnold2018 – 2020 · 38 games | 8,097 | 45 | 13 |
| 9 | Geno Smith2013 – 2026 · still playing | 7,875 | 40 | 14 |
| +1,913 this season · passes Sam Darnold for 8th in 1 game at his pace | ||||
| 10 | Ryan Fitzpatrick2015 – 2016 · 30 games | 6,615 | 43 | 13 |
| 11 | Zach Wilson2021 – 2023 · 34 games | 6,293 | 23 | 12 |
| 12 | Pat Ryan1978 – 1989 · 141 games | 4,222 | 31 | 11 |
| 13 | Neil O'Donnell1996 – 1997 · 21 games | 3,943 | 21 | 8 |
| 14 | Aaron Rodgers2023 – 2024 · 18 games | 3,897 | 28 | 6 |
| 15 | Brett Favre2008 · 16 games | 3,472 | 22 | 9 |
| 16 | Josh McCown2017 – 2018 · 17 games | 3,465 | 19 | 5 |
| 17 | Al Woodall1969 – 1974 · 31 games | 2,970 | 18 | 5 |
| 18 | Matt Robinson1977 – 1979 · 35 games | 2,503 | 15 | 6 |
| 19 | Browning Nagle1991 – 1993 · 18 games | 2,361 | 7 | 3 |
| 20 | Joe Flacco2020 – 2022 · 12 games | 2,253 | 14 | 1 |
| 21 | Frank Reich1996 · 10 games | 2,205 | 15 | 1 |
| 22 | Glenn Foley1994 – 1998 · 18 games | 2,186 | 10 | 1 |
| 23 | Mike White2021 – 2022 · 8 games | 2,145 | 8 | 2 |
| 24 | Ray Lucas1997 – 2000 · 34 games | 1,939 | 14 | 6 |
| 25 | Kellen Clemens2006 – 2010 · 21 games | 1,686 | 5 | 4 |
passing yards by decade
2020s
- Zach Wilson2021 – 2023 · 34 games6,293
- Aaron Rodgers2023 – 2024 · 18 games3,897
- Joe Flacco2020 – 2022 · 12 games2,253
- Sam Darnold2020 · 12 games2,208
- Mike White2021 – 2022 · 8 games2,145
2010s
- Mark Sanchez2010 – 2012 · 46 games9,648
- Ryan Fitzpatrick2015 – 2016 · 30 games6,615
- Geno Smith2013 – 2016 · 33 games5,962
- Sam Darnold2018 – 2019 · 26 games5,889
- Josh McCown2017 – 2018 · 17 games3,465
2000s
- Chad Pennington2000 – 2007 · 69 games13,739
- Vinny Testaverde2000 – 2005 · 50 games9,145
- Brett Favre2008 · 16 games3,472
- Mark Sanchez2009 · 15 games2,444
- Kellen Clemens2006 – 2009 · 20 games1,680
1990s
- Boomer Esiason1993 – 1995 · 43 games8,478
- Ken O'Brien1990 – 1992 · 42 games6,797
- Neil O'Donnell1996 – 1997 · 21 games3,943
- Vinny Testaverde1998 – 1999 · 15 games3,352
- Browning Nagle1991 – 1993 · 18 games2,361
1980s
- Ken O'Brien1984 – 1989 · 82 games17,589
- Richard Todd1980 – 1983 · 57 games11,999
- Pat Ryan1980 – 1989 · 138 games4,103
- David Norrie1987 · 2 games376
- Tony Eason1989 · 2 games255
1970s
- Joe Namath1970 – 1976 · 67 games11,570
- Richard Todd1976 – 1979 · 45 games6,242
- Al Woodall1970 – 1974 · 27 games2,903
- Matt Robinson1977 – 1979 · 35 games2,503
- Bob Davis1970 – 1972 · 28 games804
1966–69
- Joe Namath1966 – 1969 · 56 games13,267
- Babe Parilli1968 – 1969 · 9 games539
- Mike Taliaferro1966 – 1967 · 8 games273
- Al Woodall1969 · 4 games67
Also with the Jets: running backs · receivers · tight ends · New York Jets record book
Method
- Every quarterback who played with the Jets since 1966, ranked by passing yards over his games there. Regular-season games only.
- The numbers here start in 1966, so a quarterback who played with the Jets before then isn't here.
- A quarterback's wins are his starts'.
- A decade counts his passing yards with the Jets in its seasons.