List of Cleveland Browns starting quarterbacks

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The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division.

Since joining the NFL in 1950, the Browns have had 67 quarterbacks start in at least one game for the team. Pro Football Hall of Famer Otto Graham led the Browns to three NFL championships in their first six seasons in the league.

After resuming play in 1999 following a three-year suspension of operations, the franchise has been notable for its instability at the quarterback position.[1][2][3] From 1999 through end of the 2024 season, the team has had 40 players start at quarterback, with only three seasons (2001 with Tim Couch, 2019 and 2020 with Baker Mayfield) in which the same quarterback started every game.[1][4]

Starters per season

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Deshaun Watson (2022–2024)
Jacoby Brissett (2022)
Baker Mayfield (2018–2021)
Tyrod Taylor (2018)
DeShone Kizer (2017)
Robert Griffin III (2016)
Cody Kessler (2016)
Josh McCown (2015–2016)
Johnny Manziel (2014–2015)
Brian Hoyer (2013–2014)
Brandon Weeden (2012–2013)
Colt McCoy (2010–2011)
Tim Couch (1999–2003)
Bernie Kosar (1985–1993)
Brian Sipe (1974–1983)
Otto Graham (1946–1955)

The number of regular season games each player started during the season is listed to the right.

More information Season(s), Quarterback(s) ...
Season(s)Quarterback(s)
1946Otto Graham (11) / Cliff Lewis (3)
1947Otto Graham (9) / Cliff Lewis (5)
1948Otto Graham (14)
1949Otto Graham (11) / Cliff Lewis (1)
1950Otto Graham (12)
1951 Otto Graham (12)
1952 Otto Graham (12)
1953Otto Graham (11) / George Ratterman (1)
1954Otto Graham (12)
1955 Otto Graham (12)
1956Tommy O'Connell (5) / George Ratterman (4) / Babe Parilli (3)
1957Tommy O'Connell (9) / Milt Plum (3)
1958Milt Plum (12)
1959 Milt Plum (12)
1960 Milt Plum (12)
1961Milt Plum (13) / Len Dawson (1)
1962Jim Ninowski (7) / Frank Ryan (7)
1963Frank Ryan (13) / Jim Ninowski (1)
1964Frank Ryan (14)
1965Frank Ryan (12) / Jim Ninowski (2)
1966Frank Ryan (14)
1967Frank Ryan (13) / Gary Lane (1)
1968Bill Nelsen (11) / Frank Ryan (3)
1969Bill Nelsen (14)
1970Bill Nelsen (12) / Mike Phipps (1) / Don Gault (1)
1971Bill Nelsen (13) / Mike Phipps (1)
1972Mike Phipps (13) / Bill Nelsen (1)
1973Mike Phipps (14)
1974Mike Phipps (9) / Brian Sipe (5)
1975Mike Phipps (11) / Brian Sipe (2) / Will Cureton (1)
1976Brian Sipe (14) / Mike Phipps (2)
1977Brian Sipe (9) / Dave Mays (4) / Terry Luck (1)
1978Brian Sipe (16)
1979 Brian Sipe (16)
1980 Brian Sipe (16)
1981 Brian Sipe (16)
1982Brian Sipe (6) / Paul McDonald (3)
1983Brian Sipe (14) / Paul McDonald (2)
1984Paul McDonald (16)
1985Bernie Kosar (10) / Gary Danielson (6)
1986Bernie Kosar (16)
1987Bernie Kosar (12) / Jeff Christensen (2) / Gary Danielson (1)
1988Bernie Kosar (9) / Mike Pagel (4) / Don Strock (2) / Gary Danielson (1)
1989Bernie Kosar (16)
1990Bernie Kosar (13) / Mike Pagel (3)
1991Bernie Kosar (16)
1992Mike Tomczak (8) / Bernie Kosar (7) / Todd Philcox (1)
1993Bernie Kosar (7) / Vinny Testaverde (6) / Todd Philcox (3)
1994Vinny Testaverde (13) / Mark Rypien (3)
1995Vinny Testaverde (12) / Eric Zeier (4)
1996–1998Suspended operations
1999Tim Couch (14) / Ty Detmer (2)
2000Doug Pederson (8) / Tim Couch (7) / Spergon Wynn (1)
2001Tim Couch (16)
2002Tim Couch (14) / Kelly Holcomb (2)
2003Kelly Holcomb (8) / Tim Couch (8)
2004Jeff Garcia (10) / Luke McCown (4) / Kelly Holcomb (2)
2005Trent Dilfer (11) / Charlie Frye (5)
2006Charlie Frye (13) / Derek Anderson (3)
2007Derek Anderson (15) / Charlie Frye (1)
2008Derek Anderson (9) / Brady Quinn (3) / Ken Dorsey (3) / Bruce Gradkowski (1)
2009Brady Quinn (9) / Derek Anderson (7)
2010Colt McCoy (8) / Jake Delhomme (4) / Seneca Wallace (4)
2011Colt McCoy (13) / Seneca Wallace (3)
2012Brandon Weeden (15) / Thad Lewis (1)
2013Jason Campbell (8) / Brandon Weeden (5) / Brian Hoyer (3)
2014Brian Hoyer (13) / Johnny Manziel (2) / Connor Shaw (1)
2015Josh McCown (8) / Johnny Manziel (6) / Austin Davis (2)
2016Cody Kessler (8) / Robert Griffin III (5) / Josh McCown (3)
2017DeShone Kizer (15) / Kevin Hogan (1)
2018Baker Mayfield (13) / Tyrod Taylor (3)
2019Baker Mayfield (16)
2020Baker Mayfield (16)
2021Baker Mayfield (14) / Case Keenum (2) / Nick Mullens (1)
2022Jacoby Brissett (11) / Deshaun Watson (6)
2023Deshaun Watson (6) / Joe Flacco (5) / Dorian Thompson-Robinson (3) / P. J. Walker (2) / Jeff Driskel (1)
2024Jameis Winston (7) / Deshaun Watson (7) / Dorian Thompson-Robinson (2) / Bailey Zappe (1)
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Most games started

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Quarterbacks who have started for the Cleveland Browns from the team's first NFL season of 1950 to present. A player is credited with a win if he started the game and the team won that game, no matter if the player was injured or permanently removed after the first play from scrimmage. Only regular season games are included. The Browns' All-America Football Conference games from 1946 to 1949 are not included. The Browns did not field a team from 1996 to 1998.

Sorted by number of starts. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in italics and most recent starter in bold.

More information Quarterback, Games started ...
Quarterback Games started Wins Losses Ties Winning pct.
Brian Sipe 11257550.509
Bernie Kosar 10553511.510
Frank Ryan 7652222.697
Otto Graham 7157131.810
Tim Couch 5922370.373
Baker Mayfield 5929300.492
Bill Nelsen 5134161.676
Mike Phipps 5124252.490
Milt Plum 513316 2.667
Derek Anderson 3416180.471
Vinny Testaverde 31 1615 0.516
Paul McDonald 21813 0.381
Colt McCoy 21 615 0.286
Brandon Weeden 205 15 0.250
Deshaun Watson 199100.474
Charlie Frye 19613 0.316
Brian Hoyer 16106 0.625
DeShone Kizer 15015 0.000
Tommy O'Connell 141031.750
Kelly Holcomb 1248 0 .333
Brady Quinn 1239 0 .250
Jim Ninowski 1156 0 .455
Trent Dilfer 11 47 0 .364
Jacoby Brissett 11470.364
Josh McCown 111100.091
Jeff Garcia 10370.300
Gary Danielson 853 0 .625
Mike Tomczak 844 0 .500
Doug Pederson 817 0 .125
Jason Campbell 8 1 7 0 .125
Johnny Manziel 826 0 .250
Cody Kessler8080.000
Mike Pagel 7250.286
Seneca Wallace 7160.143
Jameis Winston7250.286
George Ratterman 5230.400
Todd Philcox 5 2 3 0 .400
Robert Griffin III 5140.200
Joe Flacco 5410.800
Dorian Thompson-Robinson 5140.200
Jake Delhomme 4220.500
Dave Mays 4 13 0 .250
Eric Zeier 4 1 3 0 .250
Luke McCown 4040.000
Babe Parilli 312 0 .333
Mark Rypien 3 21 0 .667
Ken Dorsey 3 03 0 .000
Tyrod Taylor 3 111.500
Don Strock 22001.000
Jeff Christensen 2110.500
Ty Detmer 2 02 0 .000
Austin Davis 2 0 2 0 .000
Case Keenum 2200 1.000
P. J. Walker 2110.500
Don Gault 11001.000
Gary Lane 101 0 .000
Len Dawson 110 0 1.000
Spergon Wynn 101 0 .000
Terry Luck 1 0 1 0 .000
Will Cureton 1 0 1 0 .000
Bruce Gradkowski 1 0 1 0 .000
Thaddeus Lewis 1 0 1 0 .000
Connor Shaw 1 0 1 0 .000
Kevin Hogan 1 0 1 0 .000
Nick Mullens1010.000
Jeff Driskel1010.000
Bailey Zappe1010.000
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Team career passing records

As of Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season.[5] Completion percentage and passer rating records are for players with at least 1500 pass attempts for the Browns.

  • Most yards: Brian Sipe – 23,713
  • Most touchdowns: Otto Graham – 174
  • Most interceptions: Brian Sipe – 149
  • Highest completion percentage: Baker Mayfield – 61.6%
  • Highest passer rating: Baker Mayfield – 87.8

Postseason

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These Browns quarterbacks started during the postseason.

More information Season(s), Quarterback(s) ...
Season(s)Quarterback(s)
1946Otto Graham (1–0)
1947Otto Graham (1–0)
1948Otto Graham (1–0)
1949Otto Graham (2–0)
1950 Otto Graham (2–0)
1951Otto Graham (0–1)
1952 Otto Graham (0–1)
1953 Otto Graham (0–1)
1954Otto Graham (1–0)
1955 Otto Graham (1–0)
1957Tommy O'Connell (0–1)
1958Milt Plum (0–1)
1964Frank Ryan (1–0)
1965Frank Ryan (0–1)
1967 Frank Ryan (0–1)
1968Bill Nelsen (1–1)
1969 Bill Nelsen (1–1)
1971Bill Nelsen (0–1)
1972Mike Phipps (0–1)
1980Brian Sipe (0–1)
1982Paul McDonald (0–1)
1985Bernie Kosar (0–1)
1986Bernie Kosar (1–1)
1987 Bernie Kosar (1–1)
1988Don Strock (0–1)
1989Bernie Kosar (1–1)
1994Vinny Testaverde (1–1)
2002Kelly Holcomb (0–1)
2020Baker Mayfield (1–1)
2023Joe Flacco (0–1)
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Pro Bowl selections

These Browns starting quarterbacks have been selected to the Pro Bowl.[6]

More information Quarterback, Season(s) selected ...
QuarterbackSeason(s) selected
Otto Graham1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954
Tommy O'Connell1957
Milt Plum1960, 1961
Frank Ryan1964, 1965, 1966
Bill Nelsen1969
Brian Sipe1980
Bernie Kosar1987
Derek Anderson2007
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See also

References

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