List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:37:40 AM Wikipedia source
These quarterbacks have started at least one game for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). They are listed in order of the date of each player's first start at quarterback for the team.
Tables
· Starting quarterbacks › Regular season
1960 (AFL)
1960 (AFL)
Season(s)
1960 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Frank Tripucka (14)
1961 (AFL)
1961 (AFL)
Season(s)
1961 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Frank Tripucka (10) / George Herring (4)
1962 (AFL)
1962 (AFL)
Season(s)
1962 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Frank Tripucka (13) / George Shaw (1)
1963 (AFL)
1963 (AFL)
Season(s)
1963 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (3) / Don Breaux (2) / Frank Tripucka (2)
1964 (AFL)
1964 (AFL)
Season(s)
1964 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Jacky Lee (10) / Mickey Slaughter (4)
1965 (AFL)
1965 (AFL)
Season(s)
1965 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (6) / Jacky Lee (1)
1966 (AFL)
1966 (AFL)
Season(s)
1966 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Max Choboian (7) / John McCormick (5) / Scotty Glacken (1) / Mickey Slaughter (1)
1967 (AFL)
1967 (AFL)
Season(s)
1967 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Steve Tensi (12) / Jim LeClair (2)
1968 (AFL)
1968 (AFL)
Season(s)
1968 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Steve Tensi (6) / Marlin Briscoe (5) / Jim LeClair (2) / John McCormick (1)
1969 (AFL)
1969 (AFL)
Season(s)
1969 (AFL)
Quarterback(s)
Steve Tensi (12) / Pete Liske (2)
1970
1970
Season(s)
1970
Quarterback(s)
Pete Liske (9) / Chuck Pastrana (3) / Steve Tensi (2)
1971
1971
Season(s)
1971
Quarterback(s)
Don Horn (9) / Steve Ramsey (5)
1972
1972
Season(s)
1972
Quarterback(s)
Charley Johnson (9) / Steve Ramsey (5)
1973
1973
Season(s)
1973
Quarterback(s)
Charley Johnson (14)
1974
1974
Season(s)
1974
Quarterback(s)
Charley Johnson (12) / Steve Ramsey (2)
1975
1975
Season(s)
1975
Quarterback(s)
Steve Ramsey (7) / Charley Johnson (6) / John Hufnagel (1)
1976
1976
Season(s)
1976
Quarterback(s)
Steve Ramsey (12) / Craig Penrose (2)
1977
1977
Season(s)
1977
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (14)
1978
1978
Season(s)
1978
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (13) / Craig Penrose (2) / Norris Weese (1)
1979
1979
Season(s)
1979
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (10) / Norris Weese (6)
1980
1980
Season(s)
1980
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (9) / Matt Robinson (7)
1981
1981
Season(s)
1981
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (15) / Steve DeBerg (1)
1982
1982
Season(s)
1982
Quarterback(s)
Steve DeBerg (5) / Craig Morton (3) / Mark Herrmann (1)
1983
1983
Season(s)
1983
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (10) / Steve DeBerg (5) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1984
1984
Season(s)
1984
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (14) / Gary Kubiak (2)
1985
1985
Season(s)
1985
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1986
1986
Season(s)
1986
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1987
1987
Season(s)
1987
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (12) / Ken Karcher (3)
1988
1988
Season(s)
1988
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1989
1989
Season(s)
1989
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1)
1990
1990
Season(s)
1990
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1991
1991
Season(s)
1991
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1992
1992
Season(s)
1992
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (12) / Tommy Maddox (4)
1993
1993
Season(s)
1993
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1994
1994
Season(s)
1994
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (14) / Hugh Millen (2)
1995
1995
Season(s)
1995
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1996
1996
Season(s)
1996
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (15) / Bill Musgrave (1)
1997
1997
Season(s)
1997
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (16)
1998
1998
Season(s)
1998
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (12) / Bubby Brister (4)
1999
1999
Season(s)
1999
Quarterback(s)
Brian Griese (13) / Chris Miller (3)
2000
2000
Season(s)
2000
Quarterback(s)
Brian Griese (10) / Gus Frerotte (6)
2001
2001
Season(s)
2001
Quarterback(s)
Brian Griese (15) / Gus Frerotte (1)
2002
2002
Season(s)
2002
Quarterback(s)
Brian Griese (13) / Steve Beuerlein (3)
2003
2003
Season(s)
2003
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (11) / Steve Beuerlein (2) / Danny Kanell (2) / Jarious Jackson (1)
2004
2004
Season(s)
2004
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (16)
2005
2005
Season(s)
2005
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (16)
2006
2006
Season(s)
2006
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (11) / Jay Cutler (5)
2007
2007
Season(s)
2007
Quarterback(s)
Jay Cutler (16)
2008
2008
Season(s)
2008
Quarterback(s)
Jay Cutler (16)
2009
2009
Season(s)
2009
Quarterback(s)
Kyle Orton (15) / Chris Simms (1)
2010
2010
Season(s)
2010
Quarterback(s)
Kyle Orton (13) / Tim Tebow (3)
2011
2011
Season(s)
2011
Quarterback(s)
Tim Tebow (11) / Kyle Orton (5)
2012
2012
Season(s)
2012
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (16)
2013
2013
Season(s)
2013
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (16)
2014
2014
Season(s)
2014
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (16)
2015
2015
Season(s)
2015
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (9) / Brock Osweiler (7)
2016
2016
Season(s)
2016
Quarterback(s)
Trevor Siemian (14) / Paxton Lynch (2)
2017
2017
Season(s)
2017
Quarterback(s)
Trevor Siemian (10) / Brock Osweiler (4) / Paxton Lynch (2)
2018
2018
Season(s)
2018
Quarterback(s)
Case Keenum (16)
2019
2019
Season(s)
2019
Quarterback(s)
Joe Flacco (8) / Drew Lock (5) / Brandon Allen (3)
2020
2020
Season(s)
2020
Quarterback(s)
Drew Lock (13) / Jeff Driskel (1) / Brett Rypien (1) / Phillip Lindsay (1)
2021
2021
Season(s)
2021
Quarterback(s)
Teddy Bridgewater (14) / Drew Lock (3)
2022
2022
Season(s)
2022
Quarterback(s)
Russell Wilson (15) / Brett Rypien (2)
2023
2023
Season(s)
2023
Quarterback(s)
Russell Wilson (15) / Jarrett Stidham (2)
2024
2024
Season(s)
2024
Quarterback(s)
Bo Nix (17)
2025
2025
Season(s)
2025
Quarterback(s)
Bo Nix (9)
| Season(s) | Quarterback(s) |
| 1960 (AFL) | Frank Tripucka (14) |
| 1961 (AFL) | Frank Tripucka (10) / George Herring (4) |
| 1962 (AFL) | Frank Tripucka (13) / George Shaw (1) |
| 1963 (AFL) | Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (3) / Don Breaux (2) / Frank Tripucka (2) |
| 1964 (AFL) | Jacky Lee (10) / Mickey Slaughter (4) |
| 1965 (AFL) | Mickey Slaughter (7) / John McCormick (6) / Jacky Lee (1) |
| 1966 (AFL) | Max Choboian (7) / John McCormick (5) / Scotty Glacken (1) / Mickey Slaughter (1) |
| 1967 (AFL) | Steve Tensi (12) / Jim LeClair (2) |
| 1968 (AFL) | Steve Tensi (6) / Marlin Briscoe (5) / Jim LeClair (2) / John McCormick (1) |
| 1969 (AFL) | Steve Tensi (12) / Pete Liske (2) |
| 1970 | Pete Liske (9) / Chuck Pastrana (3) / Steve Tensi (2) |
| 1971 | Don Horn (9) / Steve Ramsey (5) |
| 1972 | Charley Johnson (9) / Steve Ramsey (5) |
| 1973 | Charley Johnson (14) |
| 1974 | Charley Johnson (12) / Steve Ramsey (2) |
| 1975 | Steve Ramsey (7) / Charley Johnson (6) / John Hufnagel (1) |
| 1976 | Steve Ramsey (12) / Craig Penrose (2) |
| 1977 | Craig Morton (14) |
| 1978 | Craig Morton (13) / Craig Penrose (2) / Norris Weese (1) |
| 1979 | Craig Morton (10) / Norris Weese (6) |
| 1980 | Craig Morton (9) / Matt Robinson (7) |
| 1981 | Craig Morton (15) / Steve DeBerg (1) |
| 1982 | Steve DeBerg (5) / Craig Morton (3) / Mark Herrmann (1) |
| 1983 | John Elway (10) / Steve DeBerg (5) / Gary Kubiak (1) |
| 1984 | John Elway (14) / Gary Kubiak (2) |
| 1985 | John Elway (16) |
| 1986 | John Elway (16) |
| 1987 | John Elway (12) / Ken Karcher (3) |
| 1988 | John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1) |
| 1989 | John Elway (15) / Gary Kubiak (1) |
| 1990 | John Elway (16) |
| 1991 | John Elway (16) |
| 1992 | John Elway (12) / Tommy Maddox (4) |
| 1993 | John Elway (16) |
| 1994 | John Elway (14) / Hugh Millen (2) |
| 1995 | John Elway (16) |
| 1996 | John Elway (15) / Bill Musgrave (1) |
| 1997 | John Elway (16) |
| 1998 | John Elway (12) / Bubby Brister (4) |
| 1999 | Brian Griese (13) / Chris Miller (3) |
| 2000 | Brian Griese (10) / Gus Frerotte (6) |
| 2001 | Brian Griese (15) / Gus Frerotte (1) |
| 2002 | Brian Griese (13) / Steve Beuerlein (3) |
| 2003 | Jake Plummer (11) / Steve Beuerlein (2) / Danny Kanell (2) / Jarious Jackson (1) |
| 2004 | Jake Plummer (16) |
| 2005 | Jake Plummer (16) |
| 2006 | Jake Plummer (11) / Jay Cutler (5) |
| 2007 | Jay Cutler (16) |
| 2008 | Jay Cutler (16) |
· Starting quarterbacks › Post-season
1977
1977
Season
1977
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (2–1)
1978
1978
Season
1978
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (0–1)
1979
1979
Season
1979
Quarterback(s)
Craig Morton (0–1)
1983
1983
Season
1983
Quarterback(s)
Steve DeBerg (0–1)
1984
1984
Season
1984
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (0–1)
1986
1986
Season
1986
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (2–1)
1987
1987
Season
1987
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (2–1)
1989
1989
Season
1989
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (2–1)
1991
1991
Season
1991
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (1–1)
1993
1993
Season
1993
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (0–1)
1996
1996
Season
1996
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (0–1)
1997
1997
Season
1997
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (4–0)
1998
1998
Season
1998
Quarterback(s)
John Elway (3–0)
2000
2000
Season
2000
Quarterback(s)
Gus Frerotte (0–1)
2003
2003
Season
2003
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (0–1)
2004
2004
Season
2004
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (0–1)
2005
2005
Season
2005
Quarterback(s)
Jake Plummer (1–1)
2011
2011
Season
2011
Quarterback(s)
Tim Tebow (1–1)
2012
2012
Season
2012
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (0–1)
2013
2013
Season
2013
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (2–1)
2014
2014
Season
2014
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (0–1)
2015
2015
Season
2015
Quarterback(s)
Peyton Manning (3–0)
2024
2024
Season
2024
Quarterback(s)
Bo Nix (0–1)
| Season | Quarterback(s) |
| 1977 | Craig Morton (2–1) |
| 1978 | Craig Morton (0–1) |
| 1979 | Craig Morton (0–1) |
| 1983 | Steve DeBerg (0–1) |
| 1984 | John Elway (0–1) |
| 1986 | John Elway (2–1) |
| 1987 | John Elway (2–1) |
| 1989 | John Elway (2–1) |
| 1991 | John Elway (1–1) |
| 1993 | John Elway (0–1) |
| 1996 | John Elway (0–1) |
| 1997 | John Elway (4–0) |
| 1998 | John Elway (3–0) |
| 2000 | Gus Frerotte (0–1) |
| 2003 | Jake Plummer (0–1) |
| 2004 | Jake Plummer (0–1) |
| 2005 | Jake Plummer (1–1) |
| 2011 | Tim Tebow (1–1) |
| 2012 | Peyton Manning (0–1) |
| 2013 | Peyton Manning (2–1) |
| 2014 | Peyton Manning (0–1) |
| 2015 | Peyton Manning (3–0) |
| 2024 | Bo Nix (0–1) |
· Most games as starting quarterback
GP
GP
Name
GP
Col 2
Games played
GS
GS
Name
GS
Col 2
Games started
W
W
Name
W
Col 2
Number of wins as starting quarterback
L
L
Name
L
Col 2
Number of losses as starting quarterback
T
T
Name
T
Col 2
Number of ties as starting quarterback
Pct
Pct
Name
Pct
Col 2
Winning percentage as starting quarterback
| Name | |
| GP | Games played |
| GS | Games started |
| W | Number of wins as starting quarterback |
| L | Number of losses as starting quarterback |
| T | Number of ties as starting quarterback |
| Pct | Winning percentage as starting quarterback |
· Most games as starting quarterback
John Elway
John Elway
Name
John Elway
Period
1983–1998
GP
234
GS
231
W
146
L
80
T
1
%
645
Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Name
Craig Morton
Period
1977–1982
GP
72
GS
64
W
41
L
23
T
—
%
641
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Name
Peyton Manning
Period
2012–2015
GP
58
GS
57
W
45
L
12
T
—
%
789
Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Name
Jake Plummer
Period
2003–2006
GP
59
GS
54
W
39
L
15
T
—
%
722
Brian Griese
Brian Griese
Name
Brian Griese
Period
1998–2002
GP
53
GS
51
W
26
L
24
T
—
%
520
Charley Johnson
Charley Johnson
Name
Charley Johnson
Period
1972–1975
GP
54
GS
41
W
20
L
18
T
3
%
524
Frank Tripucka
Frank Tripucka
Name
Frank Tripucka
Period
1960–1963
GP
44
GS
39
W
13
L
25
T
1
%
346
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler
Name
Jay Cutler
Period
2006–2008
GP
37
GS
37
W
17
L
20
T
—
%
459
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Name
Kyle Orton
Period
2009–2011
GP
34
GS
33
W
12
L
21
T
—
%
364
Steve Tensi
Steve Tensi
Name
Steve Tensi
Period
1967–1970
GP
41
GS
32
W
10
L
21
T
1
%
328
Steve Ramsey
Steve Ramsey
Name
Steve Ramsey
Period
1971–1976
GP
53
GS
31
W
14
L
17
T
—
%
452
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson
Name
Russell Wilson
Period
2022–2023
GP
30
GS
30
W
11
L
19
T
—
%
367
Bo Nix
Bo Nix
Name
Bo Nix
Period
2024–Present
GP
26
GS
26
W
17
L
9
T
–
%
654
Trevor Siemian
Trevor Siemian
Name
Trevor Siemian
Period
2015–2017
GP
26
GS
24
W
12
L
11
T
—
%
522
| Name | Period | GP | GS | W | L | T | % |
| John Elway | 1983–1998 | 234 | 231 | 146 | 80 | 1 | 645 |
| Craig Morton | 1977–1982 | 72 | 64 | 41 | 23 | — | 641 |
| Peyton Manning | 2012–2015 | 58 | 57 | 45 | 12 | — | 789 |
| Jake Plummer | 2003–2006 | 59 | 54 | 39 | 15 | — | 722 |
| Brian Griese | 1998–2002 | 53 | 51 | 26 | 24 | — | 520 |
| Charley Johnson | 1972–1975 | 54 | 41 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 524 |
| Frank Tripucka | 1960–1963 | 44 | 39 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 346 |
| Jay Cutler | 2006–2008 | 37 | 37 | 17 | 20 | — | 459 |
| Kyle Orton | 2009–2011 | 34 | 33 | 12 | 21 | — | 364 |
| Steve Tensi | 1967–1970 | 41 | 32 | 10 | 21 | 1 | 328 |
| Steve Ramsey | 1971–1976 | 53 | 31 | 14 | 17 | — | 452 |
| Russell Wilson | 2022–2023 | 30 | 30 | 11 | 19 | — | 367 |
| Bo Nix | 2024–Present | 26 | 26 | 17 | 9 | – | 654 |
| Trevor Siemian | 2015–2017 | 26 | 24 | 12 | 11 | — | 522 |
· Team career passing records
John Elway
John Elway
Name
John Elway
Comp
4,123
Att
7,250
%
56.9
Yds
51,475
TD
300
Int
226
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Name
Peyton Manning
Comp
1,443
Att
2,170
%
66.5
Yds
17,112
TD
140
Int
53
Brian Griese
Brian Griese
Name
Brian Griese
Comp
1,044
Att
1,678
%
62.2
Yds
11,763
TD
71
Int
53
Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Name
Jake Plummer
Comp
944
Att
1,596
%
59.1
Yds
11,631
TD
71
Int
47
Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Name
Craig Morton
Comp
907
Att
1,594
%
56.9
Yds
11,895
TD
74
Int
65
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler
Name
Jay Cutler
Comp
762
Att
1,220
%
62.5
Yds
9,024
TD
54
Int
37
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Name
Kyle Orton
Comp
720
Att
1,194
%
60.3
Yds
8,434
TD
49
Int
28
Frank Tripucka
Frank Tripucka
Name
Frank Tripucka
Comp
662
Att
1,277
%
51.8
Yds
7,676
TD
51
Int
85
Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson
Name
Russell Wilson
Comp
589
Att
930
%
63.3
Yds
6,594
TD
42
Int
19
Bo Nix
Bo Nix
Name
Bo Nix
Comp
573
Att
889
%
64.5
Yds
5,751
TD
46
Int
18
Charley Johnson
Charley Johnson
Name
Charley Johnson
Comp
517
Att
970
%
53.3
Yds
7,238
TD
52
Int
52
| Name | Comp | Att | % | Yds | TD | Int |
| John Elway | 4,123 | 7,250 | 56.9 | 51,475 | 300 | 226 |
| Peyton Manning | 1,443 | 2,170 | 66.5 | 17,112 | 140 | 53 |
| Brian Griese | 1,044 | 1,678 | 62.2 | 11,763 | 71 | 53 |
| Jake Plummer | 944 | 1,596 | 59.1 | 11,631 | 71 | 47 |
| Craig Morton | 907 | 1,594 | 56.9 | 11,895 | 74 | 65 |
| Jay Cutler | 762 | 1,220 | 62.5 | 9,024 | 54 | 37 |
| Kyle Orton | 720 | 1,194 | 60.3 | 8,434 | 49 | 28 |
| Frank Tripucka | 662 | 1,277 | 51.8 | 7,676 | 51 | 85 |
| Russell Wilson | 589 | 930 | 63.3 | 6,594 | 42 | 19 |
| Bo Nix | 573 | 889 | 64.5 | 5,751 | 46 | 18 |
| Charley Johnson | 517 | 970 | 53.3 | 7,238 | 52 | 52 |
References
- In Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints, backup quarterback Jeff Driskel tested positive for CO
- Pro-Football-Reference.comhttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011290den.htm
- Denver Posthttps://www.denverpost.com/2020/11/29/kendall-hinton-broncos-quarterback-saints/