Philadelphia is a weird place to play quarterback. Honestly, it’s a meat grinder. You’ve got the ghosts of 1960 lingering in the air, the "what ifs" of the Randall Cunningham era, and the sheer, unadulterated chaos of the Nick Foles experience. Being the guy under center for the Eagles isn't just about reading a Cover 2 defense; it's about surviving a fan base that will boo you during a 10-win season and build you a statue for a three-game playoff run.
Looking at the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks by year, you start to see a pattern. It’s never a straight line. It’s a series of lightning strikes followed by long stretches of "who is that guy again?" From the leather-helmet days to Jalen Hurts rewriting the record books in 2024 and 2025, the lineage is a mess of brilliant scramblers and stoic pocket passers.
The Era of Scramblers and "The Polish Rifle"
In the late 70s, Dick Vermeil found his guy in Ron Jaworski. They called him "The Polish Rifle." Jaws was the definition of durability, starting every single game from 1978 through 1981. He led them to Super Bowl XV, but they ran into a Raiders buzzsaw. Still, Jaworski stabilized a franchise that had been wandering in the wilderness for a decade. He held the franchise record for passing yards for a long time, and for good reason—the dude was tough as nails.
Then came Randall.
Randall Cunningham wasn't a quarterback; he was a glitch in the matrix. In 1990, he rushed for 942 yards. That’s not a typo. He was the team's leading rusher while throwing for 30 touchdowns. He’d duck a Bruce Smith sack in his own end zone and launch a 60-yard bomb to Fred Barnett. It was backyard football on a professional stage. But the 90s were also cruel. Injuries decimated Randall, and by 1991, the Eagles were rotating through guys like Jim McMahon, Jeff Kemp, and Brad Goebel. It was a dark time, basically.
The Donovan McNabb Decade (and the 4th and 26)
If you grew up an Eagles fan in the 2000s, Donovan McNabb was your world. Drafted in 1999—to a chorus of boos because Philly wanted Ricky Williams—McNabb became the most successful quarterback in team history.
Between 1999 and 2009, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks by year list is mostly just one name. McNabb. He went to five NFC Championship games. He threw for over 32,000 yards in midnight green. He was the first player in NFL history to finish a season with over 30 touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions (that was 2004, the year T.O. came to town).
But it was always complicated. People complained about his dirt-balls or his "lack of leadership," which feels crazy in hindsight given the winning percentage. When he left in 2010, the Michael Vick era took over. That 2010 season was a fever dream. Vick’s Monday Night Massacre against Washington remains one of the most dominant single-game performances ever seen.
The Wentz-Foles Rollercoaster
We have to talk about 2017. It’s the law in Pennsylvania.
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Carson Wentz was the MVP frontrunner. He was doing things on third down that didn't make physical sense. Then, his knee gave out in Los Angeles. Enter Nick Foles. Most fans thought the season was dead. Instead, Foles went on a tear that ended with a "Philly Special" and a Super Bowl ring.
The following years were a slow-motion car crash of "QB controversies."
- 2018: Wentz starts, gets hurt, Foles saves the season again.
- 2019: Wentz plays all 16 games, drags a roster of practice squad receivers to the playoffs, gets concussed in the first quarter.
- 2020: The collapse. Wentz struggles, and a rookie named Jalen Hurts takes the reins.
Jalen Hurts and the Modern Standard
By the time 2022 rolled around, Jalen Hurts wasn't just a "running quarterback." He was a force of nature. He led them to Super Bowl LVII, nearly outdueling Patrick Mahomes. He set records for rushing touchdowns by a QB, hitting 15 in a single season.
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Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. Hurts has become the undisputed face of the franchise. In 2024, he actually won the Super Bowl MVP in a dominant win over Kansas City, totaling nearly 300 yards and 3 scores. He’s the first QB to have a 100+ passer rating and 50+ rushing yards in two separate Super Bowls.
Even with the 2025 season ending in a tough playoff exit, the stability is there. Behind him, the Eagles have been developing Kyle McCord (a 2025 sixth-rounder) and Tanner McKee, but the job is Jalen's until further notice.
Every Eagles Starting QB Since 1970 (Primary Starters)
| Years | Primary Starter(s) |
|---|---|
| 1970-1970 | Norm Snead |
| 1971-1972 | Pete Liske / John Reaves |
| 1973-1976 | Roman Gabriel / Mike Boryla |
| 1977-1986 | Ron Jaworski |
| 1987-1990 | Randall Cunningham |
| 1991-1991 | Jim McMahon (Randall injured) |
| 1992-1994 | Randall Cunningham / Bubby Brister |
| 1995-1998 | Rodney Peete / Ty Detmer / Bobby Hoying |
| 1999-2009 | Donovan McNabb |
| 2010-2013 | Michael Vick / Nick Foles |
| 2014-2015 | Sam Bradford / Mark Sanchez |
| 2016-2019 | Carson Wentz / Nick Foles |
| 2020-2025 | Jalen Hurts |
What Most People Get Wrong About the History
There’s this myth that the Eagles are a "quarterback graveyard." It’s actually the opposite. Since 1980, the Eagles have had better QB play than almost anyone in the NFC East. Think about it. Between Jaworski, Cunningham, McNabb, Vick, and now Hurts, the Eagles almost always have an elite athlete at the position.
The drama isn't because the players are bad; it's because the expectations are astronomical. When you look at the Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks by year, you aren't just looking at stats. You're looking at the emotional state of the city.
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If you're trying to keep track of where the team is going next, keep an eye on how they handle the backup spot. The Eagles have a weird obsession with "QB Factories." They drafted Jalen Hurts when they had Wentz. They drafted McCord when they had Hurts. They always want a high-value backup because, in Philly, the backup is usually the most popular guy in town—until he actually has to play.
Actionable Takeaways for Eagles Fans
- Check the 2026 Salary Cap: Jalen Hurts' contract is massive, but the Eagles have structured it to keep the window open for another two seasons.
- Watch the 2026 Draft: The team is likely to look for a high-ceiling developmental QB late in the draft to maintain that "factory" mentality.
- Study the 1960 Film: If you want to understand the "soul" of the franchise, look up Norm Van Brocklin. He’s still the only guy to beat Vince Lombardi in a championship game. That’s the bar every Eagles QB is measured against, whether it's fair or not.