Daniel Jones opened plenty of eyes Sunday with his first NFL start, completing 23-of-36 passes for 336 yards and two TDs while rushing four times for 28 yards and two TDs. One game cannot predict a career, and even the best quarterbacks in recent memory have started off with varying levels of success. Here’s how some of the top quarterbacks over the past 30 years performed in their starting debuts:
Tom Brady
13-for-23, 168 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Stepping in for the injured Drew Bledsoe, Brady had a pedestrian game in the Patriots’ win over the Colts.
Brett Favre
14-for-19, 210 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
After coming off the bench in back-to-back weeks, Favre got the start against the Steelers and delivered in a 17-3 win.
Drew Brees
15-for-19, 160 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
In his second year with the Chargers, Brees was the Week 1 starter and got off on the right foot with a win over the Bengals.
Dan MarinoGetty ImagesDan Marino
19-for-29, 322 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Marino became the Dolphins starter in Week 6 of his rookie year. His first pass was an interception, but it got better from there in an overtime loss to the Bills.
John Elway
1-for-8, 14 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
This was not indicative of what was to come for Elway, who turned in a rough debut before getting replaced by Steve DeBerg.
Aaron Rodgers
18-for-22, 178 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
After waiting three years behind Favre, Rodgers got his shot in 2008 and ran in the winning touchdown against the Vikings.
Kurt Warner
28-for-44, 309 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
On the way to an All-Pro season with “The Greatest Show on Turf,” Warner got off to a strong start in a win over the Ravens.
Peyton Manning
21-for-37, 302 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
The future Hall of Famer had a tough first go, slinging the ball all over the field, including three times into the hands of the Dolphins in a loss.
Joe Montana
5-for-12, 36 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Montana made a starting cameo in Week 14 of his rookie year, but it didn’t last long, getting benched for DeBerg.
Steve Young
16-for-27, 167 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Taking over as starter in Week 12 of his rookie year, Young did enough — including rushing 10 times for 60 yards — to lead the Buccaneers to an overtime win.
