The Life of a Backup Quarterback
Quarterback is the NFL’s most glamorous position… until it isn’t. Every season, injuries, slumps, or coaching decisions push backup quarterbacks into the spotlight, reminding us just how thin the margin is between a franchise’s stability and chaos. Some of these replacements are veterans with redemption on their minds; others are rookies learning on the job. All of them are shaping the story of the 2025 season in ways no one fully anticipated.
When the Starter Goes Down
Jake Browning — Cincinnati Bengals
“I’ve been the archer, I’ve been the prey.”
For most of his career, Jake Browning was defined as a “camp arm.” Undrafted out of Washington in 2019, he bounced around practice squads before settling in as Joe Burrow’s understudy. Now he’s Cincinnati’s lifeline.
Burrow’s turf-toe injury has sidelined him for months, leaving Browning to pilot an offense designed for one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The task isn’t to match Burrow’s brilliance but to avoid disaster. Quick decisions, timing with Ja’Marr Chase, and clean play-action execution are the tools keeping the Bengals’ season alive.
Carson Wentz — Minnesota Vikings
“Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time.”
Carson Wentz’s NFL journey has been a rollercoaster of extremes. From a near-MVP season in Philadelphia to rocky stints in Indianapolis and Washington, he’s been both hailed as a savior and written off as damaged goods. Minnesota wasn’t supposed to be a new beginning, but J.J. McCarthy’s high-ankle sprain pulled Wentz back into the spotlight.
This time around, the weight isn’t on his shoulders. The Vikings don’t need him to be spectacular. They just need him to be functional. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (returning week 4) providing one of the league’s top receiver duos, Wentz’s job is to deliver the ball on time and avoid catastrophic mistakes.
Mac Jones — San Francisco 49ers
“I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here, ‘cause I remember it all.”
Mac Jones was once the crown jewel of New England’s “post-Brady” rebuild, a first-round pick tasked with carrying the Patriots into their next dynasty. Instead, he faltered under coaching turnover and a mismatched system, becoming expendable. San Francisco scooped him up, not as a savior but as insurance.
That insurance is now paying out. With Brock Purdy sidelined by toe and shoulder issues, Jones steps into Kyle Shanahan’s offense. It’s a system known for elevating quarterbacks. For Jones, this stint is a career crossroads. Play with rhythm and accuracy, and he can reshape his trajectory. Struggle, and the “bust” label may stick for good.
Jaxson Dart — New York Giants
“I want you for worse or for better.”
If you’re looking for chaos and intrigue, look no further than New York. The Giants benched Russell Wilson after an 0–3 start and handed the keys to rookie Jaxson Dart, a mid-rounder from Ole Miss. It’s a bold move, not just because of Dart’s inexperience, but because it signals a potential changing of the guard.
Dart impressed in preseason, showing mobility, creativity, and poise in clean pockets. But rookies make mistakes, and the Giants’ offensive line won’t always protect him. Still, in a season already slipping away, investing reps in Dart could accelerate his development and energize a restless fanbase. This could be the start of a new era in New York.
Proving They Still Belong
Tyson Bagent — Chicago Bears
“And when I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone’s bed, you put me on and said I was your favorite.”
Tyson Bagent’s story is one of the NFL’s best underdog tales. Coming from Shepherd University, an undrafted rookie in 2023, he wasn’t expected to last on a roster. But he did more than survive, he impressed.
Head coach Ben Johnson has not been shy with his praise, calling Bagent “smart as a whip” and highlighting the intent and focus he brings into every meeting and practice. For Johnson, Bagent embodies the culture he wants: disciplined, hardworking, prepared. While Bagent may not be knocking on QB1’s door yet, his steady growth and the coach’s trust suggest he’s more than just depth. He’s a quarterback who could seize the moment when called.
Jimmy Garoppolo — Los Angeles Rams
“Wreck my plans, that’s my man.”
Jimmy Garoppolo is the definition of steady insurance. After years as a starter in San Francisco and a brief stint in Las Vegas, he’s now Matthew Stafford’s backup with the Rams. Coach Sean McVay has praised Jimmy G as a “starting caliber” player in his own right, and when Stafford sat late last year, Garoppolo delivered. Throwing for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns in the start. He may not be the future, but his blend of experience, leadership, and poise makes him one of the league’s most reliable safety nets. If Stafford’s injuries linger this season, Garoppolo is more than capable of keeping the offense afloat.
Anthony Richardson — Indianapolis Colts
“I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me.”
Anthony Richardson is technically more than a backup, he’s already tasted NFL starting action. But injuries have slowed his rise and he lost the starting role to Daniel Jones.
When healthy, Richardson looks like the prototype of the modern quarterback: 6’4”, athletic, and armed with a rocket. His rushing ability and arm strength create matchup nightmares. The concern is durability. If he can stay on the field long enough to refine his reads and decision-making, the Colts’ gamble could pay off in a franchise cornerstone.
Kirk Cousins — Atlanta Falcons
“I’m the one who makes you laugh when you know you’re ‘bout to cry.”
Technically a backup, but not in spirit, Kirk Cousins is one of the most seasoned passers in the league. Now behind a younger starter in Atlanta, Cousins represents the rarest commodity in the NFL: reliability.
He may never deliver MVP highs, but he might not implode either... maybe. If Atlanta’s offense continues down the road it’s currently on, Cousins could re-enter seamlessly.
Waiting in the Wings
Dillon Gabriel — Cleveland Browns
“Eyes full of stars, hustling for the good life.”
Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland’s third-round rookie, has quickly become part of the team’s quarterback conversation. He’s currently backing up Joe Flacco, with Shedeur Sanders listed as the third option, but his preseason performances revealed poise and command. Even after battling a hamstring injury, Gabriel showed flashes of the accuracy and leadership that defined his prolific college career. Some within the Browns organization already view him as a future starter, and if the season slides out of contention, he may get a chance to prove it.
Shedeur Sanders — Cleveland Browns
“Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine.”
Shedeur Sanders entered the NFL with more spotlight than most rookies, thanks to his record-setting college career and the larger-than-life presence of his father, Deion. In Cleveland, though, he’s sitting patiently behind Flacco and Gabriel. His mechanics, leadership, and calm under pressure have already drawn praise in practice. The Browns may not rush him, but the moment their offense sputters, fans will clamor for Sanders to get his shot.
Quinn Ewers — Miami Dolphins
“I once was poison ivy, but now I’m your daisy.”
Quinn Ewers was a polarizing college quarterback, a big arm, flashes of brilliance, and stretches of inconsistency. Drafted in the 7th round by Miami, he’s now buried on the depth chart, inactive most weeks.
Still, Ewers is in an ideal situation. With time to develop, he can focus on polishing his decision-making and footwork without the weight of immediate expectations. If he stays patient, he could turn a late-round pick into one of the league’s better development stories.
The 2025 season has already proven that no team is ever just one quarterback deep. For some franchises, backups are holding playoff hopes together week by week. For others, they’re auditions for the future, glimpses of what might come next. Whether it’s a journeyman steadying the ship or a rookie waiting patiently, the life of a backup quarterback is unpredictable, demanding, and more essential than ever.
