With twelve NFL teams having to start backup QBs for multiple games during the 2025 season, and roughly 50-70 QBs start at least one game every NFL season, the value of an effective backup quarterback cannot be understated. So here are the 7 best backup QBs in the NFL in 2025:

Jacoby Brissett:

Jacoby Brissett has played for a whopping seven different teams during his ten NFL seasons as a backup QB, more than any other current NFL quarterback. Brissett has served as a reliable backup throughout his career, starting games for most of those teams and posting respectable numbers while often playing with below-average rosters.

Ball security is Brissett’s greatest asset, holding the NFL all-time career record for the lowest interception percentage at 1.3%. Brissett’s most recent stint with the Cardinals has been the best of his career, recording career highs of 66.8 completion percentage, 235 yards per game, and 11 TDs to 3 INTs. Brissett, however, does have his limitations, hence the whole “backup” title, as the 2017 3rd round draft pick struggles to make accurate throws under pressure and over long distances.

Andy Dalton:

After spending nine seasons as the starter for the Bengals, Andy Dalton has spent the rest of his career as a backup, starting games for the Cowboys, Bears, Saints, and Panthers.

Marcus Mariota:

Mac Jones:

Whether it’s Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly system, or finally having a decent roster, or a little bit of both, Mac Jones has been thriving in his new home of San Francisco. Jones went 5-3 with the 49ers in 2025 to keep their season alive amidst the team getting decimated by injuries.

After Jones failed to develop into a franchise quarterback in New England, the former Patriots QB has recorded career numbers with the 49ers; numbers that are all above league average for an NFL starting quarterback in 2025: a 69.6 completion percentage, 13 TDs to 6 INTs, 239 yards per game, and a 97.4 passer rating. Jones was eventually benched for starter Brock Purdy once Purdy was healthy, but don’t be surprised if Jones gets a starting QB job next season.

Joe Flacco:

At the age of 40, Joe Flacco still outperforms most of the NFL’s backup QBs and some of the league’s starters. A few years ago, Flacco seemed to be on his way out of the NFL, but it turns out that all he needed was to leave the Jets.

Flacco was signed by the Browns after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury, leading Cleveland to a 4-1 record and a playoff berth, throwing for over 320 yards per game. Flacco subsequently had stints with the Colts and Browns again, before going to Cincinnati in 2025, where Flacco threw 13 TDs to 4 INTs in six starts. The Bengals averaged 27 points per game with Flacco filling in for an injured Joe Burrow, but the Bengals’ bottom-five-ranked defense failed to keep the team in the playoff race.

Jimmy Garoppolo:

With plenty of speculation surrounding Matt Stafford’s injury concerns before the 2025 season, Jimmy Garoppolo could have kept the Rams afloat had Stafford been unable to play. Stafford has instead started every game in 2025 and leads the NFL in MVP odds, but he still has one of the NFL’s best backup QBs in case he does miss time with injury.

Garoppolo spent six seasons as the starter in San Francisco, and while he struggled to stay healthy and perform in the playoffs, he played well enough to have a 43-21 career record. Garoppolo threw for 334 yards in the Rams’ week 18 loss in 2024, proving that he could serve as a reliable backup to Stafford.

Gardner Minshew:

Gardner Minshew has well exceeded his expectations as a 6th-round draft pick throughout his career, and even in his first season, throwing 21 touchdowns to 6 interceptions and a 6-6 record in year one in Jacksonville. Minshew once again had success with a lowly Jaguars team in 2020, and after spending a couple of seasons as a backup in Philly, he led the Colts to a 9-8 season following Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury.

Minshew’s performance in Indy landed him another starting job with the Raiders, but 9 touchdowns to 10 interceptions was a little disappointing from the 2023 Pro Bowler. However, QBs rarely play well in Las Vegas, and Minshew hasn’t had come close to a “bad” season during the rest of his career, making him one of the NFL’s most reliable backup QBs.