In the history of the National Football League (NFL), there have been twelve starts streaks of at least 100 consecutive games by eleven different quarterbacks, with four of those with a regular season streak of at least 200 games. [1] [2]
Brett Favre has held the record since November 7, 1999 when he made his 117th consecutive start against the Chicago Bears. [3] His consecutive starts streak is also the longest all-time for a non-special teams player. [4] On December 5, 2010, playing for the Minnesota Vikings against the Buffalo Bills, Favre was knocked out of the game on the first drive with a sprained SC joint injury to his right shoulder, caused by a hit from linebacker Arthur Moats. After a snowstorm delayed the following Sunday's game against the New York Giants to Monday, December 13, Favre was ruled inactive, ending his streak at a record 297 games (321 including playoffs). [5] [6]
Below is a list of the top 25 quarterbacks to achieve the longest consecutive regular season starts at their position.
Bold denotes an active streak.
Rank | Quarterback | Streak start | Streak end | Teams | Regular season |
Playoffs | Total | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brett Favre | 9/27/1992 | 12/5/2010 | GB/ NYJ/ MIN | 297 | 24 | 321 | [6] [7] [8] |
2 | Philip Rivers | 9/11/2006 | 1/3/2021 | SD/LAC/ IND | 240 | 12 | 252 | [9] [10] |
3 | Eli Manning | 11/21/2004 | 11/23/2017 | NYG | 210 | 12 | 222 | [11] [12] |
4 | Peyton Manning | 9/6/1998 | 1/2/2011 | IND | 208 | 19 | 227 | [6] [13] [14] |
5 | Matt Ryan | 12/20/2009 | 10/20/2019 | ATL | 154 | 9 | 163 | [15] [16] |
6 | Russell Wilson | 9/9/2012 | 10/7/2021 | SEA | 149 | 16 | 165 | [17] [18] |
7 | Matthew Stafford | 9/11/2011 | 11/3/2019 | DET | 136 | 3 | 139 | [19] [2] |
8 | Joe Flacco | 9/7/2008 | 11/22/2015 | BAL | 122 | 15 | 137 | [20] [21] |
9 | Ron Jaworski | 9/18/1977 | 11/25/1984 | PHI | 116 | 7 | 123 | [6] [22] [23] [24] |
10 | Tom Brady | 9/14/2009 | 1/3/2016 | NE | 112 | 14 | 126 | [25] [26] |
11 | 9/30/2001 | 9/7/2008 | NE | 111 | 17 | 128 | [6] [27] [28] [29] | |
12 | 10/9/2016 | 1/16/2023 | NE/ TB | 110 | 16 | 126 | [30] | |
13 | Joe Ferguson | 9/18/1977 | 9/23/1984 | BUF | 107 | 3 | 110 | [6] [31] [32] |
14 | Dan Marino | 10/25/1987 | 10/10/1993 | MIA | 95 | 4 | 99 | [6] [33] [34] |
15 | Derek Carr | 10/15/2017 | 12/24/2022 | OAK/LV | 91 | 1 | 92 | [35] |
16 | Roman Gabriel | 11/28/1965 | 9/17/1972 | LAR | 89 | 2 | 91 | [6] [36] |
17 | Johnny Unitas | 9/27/1959 | 11/7/1965 | BAL | 88 | 3 | 91 | [6] [37] [38] |
18 | Josh Allen | 11/25/2018 | Active | BUF | 88 | 10 | 98 | [39] |
19 | Jim Everett | 9/4/1988 | 10/23/1993 | LAR | 87 | 4 | 91 | [6] [40] |
20 | Richard Todd | 9/9/1979 | 12/2/1984 | NYJ/ NO | 86 | 4 | 90 | [41] |
21T | Aaron Brooks | 11/26/2000 | 12/12/2005 | NO | 82 | 2 | 84 | [42] |
Drew Brees | 1/16/2010 | 9/20/2015 | NO | 82 | 8 | 90 | [43] [44] | |
23 | Trent Green | 9/9/2001 | 9/10/2006 | KC | 81 | 1 | 82 | [45] |
24T | Drew Brees | 1/8/2005 | 12/27/2009 | SD/NO | 79 | 3 | 82 | [46] |
Kirk Cousins | 9/13/2015 | 12/23/2019 | WAS/MIN | 79 | 1 | 80 | [47] |