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Factoid

Rookie QB

Nix, Daniels make their postseason debuts

It’s not often rookie quarterbacks start playoff games, but it seems to be rising in popularity. Today, there are two, with Bo Nix and the Broncos playing at Buffalo, while Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are at Tampa Bay.

It’s a change, I believe, that’s been fueled in by the revisions made the labor agreement in 2011, with rookies given slotted four-year contracts. Since that time, more teams have embraced the value of a quarterback on a rookie deal (with more dollars left over the spend on the rest of the roster).

In the last 17 years, 17 rookie quarterbacks have started in the postseason. In the first 40 years of the Super Bowl era, on the other hand, only six rookie quarterbacks started playoff games. It’s a different game now.

The track record of rookies in the playoffs hasn’t been great. They’ve gone 8-13 in their initial games, averaging 194 passing yards, with 28 TDs and 28 interceptions. (Those 21 quarterbacks include three who were elevated by late-season injuries to starters – T.J. Yates, Skylar Thompson, Connor Cook.

ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS STARTING FIRST PLAYOFF GAMES
YearPlayerOppResultCmpAttYdsTDInt
1983Dan Marino, Mia.Sea.L 20-27152519322
1986Bernie Kosar, Cle.at Mia.L 21-2410196611
1986Jim Everett, LARat Was.L 7-1991813612
1991Todd Marinovich, Rdrs.at K.C.L 6-10122314004
1999Shaun King, T.B.Was.W 14-13153215711
2004Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.NYJW 20-17173018112
2008Joe Flacco, Balt.at Mia.W 27-992313500
2008Matt Ryan, Atl.at Ari.L 24-30264019922
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJat Cin.W 24-14121518210
2011Andy Dalton, Cin.at Hou.L 10-31274225703
2011T.J. Yates, Hou.Cin.W 31-10112015910
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.at Balt.L 9-24285428801
2012Robert Griffin III, Was.Sea.L 14-2410198421
2012Russell Wilson, Sea.at Was.W 24-14152618710
2016Connor Cook, Oak.at Hou.L 14-27184516113
2016Dak Prescott, Dall.G.B.L 31-34243830231
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.LACL 17-23142919421
2021Mac Jones, N.E.at Buff.L 17-47243823222
2022Brock Purdy, S.F.Sea.W 41-23183033230
2022Skylar Thompson, Mia.at Buff.L 31-34184522012
2023C.J. Stroud, Hou.Cle.W 45-14162127430
2024Bo Nix, Den.at Buff.??????
2024Jayden Daniels, Was.at T.B.??????

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

—Ian Allan

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