It’s been a weird year at quarterback. Tommy DeVito has won three games in a row. Earlier in the year, similarly unheralded Tyson Bagent won a pair of games for the Bears. Both of these guys are rookies, and neither was even drafted.

This doesn’t happen often (an undrafted rookie quarterback starting a game and getting a W). Since the merger in 1970, it had happened only 18 times previously, and six of those came during a three-week period in 1987 when a labor conflict caused teams to use replacement players. (Aside: in our fantasy league, we simply canceled games for that three-week period; in hindsight, I wish we’d just treated them as regular games, with owners trying to make sense of which nobodies to add to their rosters.)

Only one other undrafted rookie quarterback has won three starts (since 1970). That would be Duck Hodges. If DeVito can do it one more time, he’ll surpass him.

UNDRAFTED ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS WINNING AS STARTERS
YearPlayerOppResultCmAttPctYdsTDInt
1970Don Gault, Cle.Pitt.W 15-71166.34402
1973Bill Demory, NYJat N.E.W 9-71714.31100
1987Ed Rubbert, Was.at NYGW 38-12112347.817610
1987Ed Rubbert, Was.St.L.W 28-21142458.333431
1987Erik Kramer, Atl.LARW 24-20274658.733532
1987Shawn Halloran, St.L.N.O.W 24-192728.6501
1987Bob Bleier, N.E.Buff.W 14-741330.84301
1987Ed Rubbert, Was.at Dall.W 13-71250.02200
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.Was.W 27-20122548.014520
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.Jac.W 21-19162466.730122
2007Matt Moore, Car.at T.B.W 31-23152462.517421
2007Matt Moore, Car.Sea.W 13-10192770.420800
2010Max Hall, Ari.N.O.W 30-20172763.016801
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.at Hou.W 28-23183256.319730
2018Kyle Allen, Car.at N.O.W 33-14162759.322820
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.at LACW 24-17152075.013211
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.at Ari.W 23-17161984.215210
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.Cle.W 20-13142166.721211
2023• Tyson Bagent, Chi.L.V.W 30-12212972.416210
2023• Tyson Bagent, Chi.Car.W 16-13203360.616200
2023Tommy DeVito, NYGat Was.W 31-19182669.224630
2023Tommy DeVito, NYGN.E.W 10-7172568.019110
2023Tommy DeVito, NYGG.B.W 24-22172181.015810

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

With the way the Giants are running the ball (and with New Orleans problems stopping the run), I’m not ruling out New York pulling off another one. They’re a 6.5-point underdog, and I think that’s too much.

For curious to see the 46 losing starts by undrafted rookies can read on.

UNDRAFTED ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS LOSING AS STARTERS
YearPlayerOppResultCmAttPctYdsTDInt
1970Rick Arrington, Phil.at G.B.L 17-3031030.01603
1973Bill Demory, NYJat Pitt.L 14-2661540.08413
1973Bill Demory, NYJDen.L 28-4004.0002
1975J.J. Jones, NYJat S.D.L 16-241520.01301
1987Adrian Breen, Cin.S.D.L 9-103560.0910
1987Erik Kramer, Atl.Pitt.L 12-2851338.54802
1987Matt Stevens, K.C.at Rai.L 17-35142556.016210
1987Matt Stevens, K.C.at Mia.L 0-421425.0500
1987Bob Bleier, N.E.Cle.L 10-20102638.513810
1987Shawn Halloran, St.L.at Was.L 21-28163545.725800
1987Jim Crocicchia, NYGS.F.L 21-4161540.08910
1987Jeff Van Raaphorst, Atl.S.F.L 17-2551338.56101
1987Mike Busch, NYGWas.L 12-38144134.118311
1991Brad Goebel, Phil.at T.B.L 13-1492045.06202
1991Brad Goebel, Phil.N.O.L 6-13122254.510604
2000Doug Johnson, Atl.Sea.L 10-30173351.523312
2000Doug Johnson, Atl.at N.O.L 7-2351050.04501
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.Sea.L 14-17122450.014510
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.at Det.L 7-9223956.420800
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.at Ind.L 3-20112347.813100
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.S.F.L 27-31112839.314702
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.at NYGL 7-37164040.016112
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.Phil.L 3-27152462.512801
2002Chad Hutchinson, Dall.at Was.L 14-20122352.218911
2007Matt Moore, Car.Dall.L 13-20152853.618211
2010Max Hall, Ari.at Sea.L 10-2241625.03601
2010Max Hall, Ari.T.B.L 35-3881650.07112
2013Jeff Tuel, Buff.K.C.L 13-23183946.222912
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.Ten.L 19-23193259.426011
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.at Dall.L 24-31183060.025501
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.at NYJL 27-37183158.124521
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.K.C.L 31-56183551.429724
2013Matt McGloin, Oak.at S.D.L 13-26203655.620601
2014Connor Shaw, Cle.at Balt.L 10-20142850.017701
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.Buff.L 10-17233860.520214
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.at NYJL 10-16111764.78402
2019Devlin Hodges, Pitt.at Balt.L 10-2892536.09500
2019David Blough, Det.Chi.L 20-24223857.928021
2019David Blough, Det.at Min.L 7-20244060.020512
2019David Blough, Det.T.B.L 17-38244355.826002
2019David Blough, Det.at Den.L 17-27122450.011710
2019David Blough, Det.G.B.L 20-23122941.412201
2022Anthony Brown, Balt.at Cin.L 16-27194443.228602
2023• Tyson Bagent, Chi.at LACL 13-30253767.623202
2023• Tyson Bagent, Chi.at N.O.L 17-24183060.022023
2023Tommy DeVito, NYGat Dall.L 17-49142751.98621

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan