List of NFL players who have posted a passer rating of zero
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The National Football League has seen a passer rating of zero posted 148 times in either regular season or postseason play.[1]
To achieve a passer rating of zero in a game, a player must have no touchdowns, complete no more than 30% of his pass attempts, average less than three yards per attempt, throw an interception on at least 9.5% of attempts, and attempt at least ten passes.
Terry Bradshaw posted a zero rating on a record three occasions, while eight other players have two games of zero; Gary Keithley is the only player ever to post zero ratings in two straight weeks (1973).
There have been three occasions where a starting quarterback and his mid-game replacement have both earned a zero rating in the same game: starter Joe Namath and replacement Richard Todd with the New York Jets (1976), starter Vince Evans and replacement Bob Avellini with the Chicago Bears (1981), and starter Terry Bradshaw and replacement Cliff Stoudt with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1982).
On one occasion, players on opposing teams both posted a zero rating: Gary Keithley and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated Bob Lee and the Atlanta Falcons (1973). No starting quarterback with a passer rating of zero has won the game since Norm Snead in 1976.
Thirteen players who had a zero passer rating also earned a perfect (158.3) passer rating during their careers: Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Len Dawson, Bob Griese, James Harris, Bob Lee, Scott Hunter, Dan Fouts, Craig Morton, Vince Evans, Rich Gannon, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and Geno Smith.[2]
The Buffalo Bills have held opposing players to a zero passer rating more than any other franchise, having accomplished the feat eight times, as of 2021[update].