Across all positions, NFL players are bigger, faster and stronger than they were in previous generations. But most positions remain the same relative to each other, whereas the quarterback position has seen an evolution in what is expected in both form and function.
The success of traditional passing quarterbacks such as Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers has no precedent. Rule changes to how defensive players are allowed to play receivers have turned these highly accurate passers into 4,500+ yard machines, as have protections on how quarterbacks are allowed to be hit. The biggest difference between an average quarterback and a star quarterback is his accuracy when under pressure in the pocket.
But we have also witnessed the rise of agile, playmaking quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Tony Romo and Cam Newton. These quarterbacks are able to create positive outcomes for their teams even when their offensive line breaks down due to their scrambling ability and elusiveness. While Vick’s athleticism is unlike any other quarterback before him, his lack of size has made him less durable throughout his career.
Jonathan Tjarks recently wrote a piece on RealGM about how Newton represents the end result of the democratization of the quarterback position.
There has never been a quarterback quite like Cam Newton before. A generation ago, 6’5 250 players who ran a 4.5 40 didn’t exist. If they did, they were made pass rushers or linemen. Quarterbacks were almost never the best athletes on their team.
With this article in mind, I pulled the data to determine the average height, weight and age of Week 1 starting quarterbacks in 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012.
Even though Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III represent where the position is moving, there are still decision-makers who are willing to allow a 5-11 Russell Wilson compete for a starting job against a 6-2, 225 pound Matt Flynn with $10 million in guaranteed money.
While quarterbacks are nearly an inch and a half taller in 2012 than they were in 1972, they are approximately the same height as they were in 1992. More interestingly, quarterbacks keep getting heavier every ten years and they are also getting younger with an average age of 27.69 in 2012.
Average Week 1 NFL Starting Quarterback
Year |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
1972 |
74.08 |
206.08 |
28.96 |
1982 |
74.54 |
206.43 |
29.43 |
1992 |
75.32 |
216.46 |
29.68 |
2002 |
74.66 |
222.78 |
29.06 |
2012 |
75.41 |
226.63 |
27.69 |
Median Week 1 NFL Starting Quarterback
Year |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
1972 |
74 |
209 |
29 |
1982 |
74 |
207.5 |
29.5 |
1992 |
75 |
215.5 |
29 |
2002 |
74.5 |
221.5 |
29.5 |
2012 |
76 |
226.5 |
27.5 |
Difference Between Max/Min Week 1 NFL Starting Quarterback
Year |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
1972 |
6 |
40 |
16 |
1982 |
5 |
28 |
17 |
1992 |
5 |
42 |
14 |
2002 |
5 |
69 |
17 |
2012 |
7 |
42 |
14 |
1972 Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks
Team |
Quarterback |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
49ers |
John Brodie |
73 |
198 |
37 |
Bears |
Bobby Douglass |
76 |
225 |
25 |
Bengals |
Ken Anderson |
74 |
212 |
23 |
Bills |
Dennis Shaw |
75 |
217 |
25 |
Broncos |
Steve Ramsey |
74 |
210 |
24 |
Browns |
Bill Nelsen |
72 |
195 |
31 |
Cardinals |
Tim Van Galder |
74 |
200 |
28 |
Chargers |
John Hadl |
73 |
214 |
32 |
Chiefs |
Len Dawson |
72 |
190 |
37 |
Colts |
Johnny Unitas |
73 |
194 |
39 |
Cowboys |
Craig Morton |
76 |
214 |
29 |
Dolphins |
Bob Griese |
73 |
190 |
27 |
Eagles |
Pete Liske |
75 |
200 |
30 |
Falcons |
Bob Berry |
71 |
185 |
30 |
Giants |
Norm Snead |
76 |
215 |
33 |
Jets |
Joe Namath |
74 |
200 |
29 |
Lions |
Greg Landry |
76 |
210 |
26 |
Oilers |
Dan Pastorini |
74 |
208 |
23 |
Packers |
Scott Hunter |
74 |
205 |
25 |
Patriots |
Jim Plunkett |
75 |
220 |
25 |
Raiders |
Daryle Lamonica |
75 |
215 |
31 |
Rams |
Roman Gabriel |
77 |
220 |
32 |
Redskins |
Billy Kilmer |
72 |
204 |
33 |
Saints |
Archie Manning |
75 |
212 |
23 |
Steelers |
Terry Bradshaw |
75 |
215 |
24 |
Vikings |
Fran Tarkenton |
72 |
190 |
32 |
1982 Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks
Team |
Quarterback |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
49ers |
Joe Montana |
74 |
200 |
26 |
Bears |
Bob Avellini |
74 |
208 |
29 |
Bengals |
Ken Anderson |
74 |
212 |
33 |
Bills |
Joe Ferguson |
73 |
195 |
32 |
Broncos |
Craig Morton |
76 |
214 |
39 |
Browns |
Brian Sipe |
73 |
195 |
33 |
Buccaneers |
Doug Williams |
76 |
220 |
27 |
Cardinals |
Neil Lomax |
75 |
215 |
23 |
Chargers |
Dan Fouts |
75 |
204 |
31 |
Chiefs |
Bill Kenney |
76 |
211 |
27 |
Colts |
Mike Pagel |
74 |
206 |
22 |
Cowboys |
Danny White |
74 |
193 |
30 |
Dolphins |
David Woodley |
74 |
210 |
24 |
Eagles |
Ron Jaworski |
74 |
196 |
31 |
Falcons |
Steve Bartkowski |
76 |
216 |
30 |
Giants |
Scott Brunner |
77 |
206 |
25 |
Jets |
Richard Todd |
74 |
207 |
29 |
Lions |
Eric Hipple |
74 |
196 |
25 |
Oilers |
Gifford Nielsen |
76 |
205 |
28 |
Packers |
Lynn Dickey |
75 |
214 |
33 |
Patriots |
Matt Cavanaugh |
74 |
212 |
26 |
Raiders |
Jim Plunkett |
75 |
220 |
35 |
Rams |
Bert Jones |
75 |
210 |
31 |
Redskins |
Joe Theismann |
72 |
192 |
33 |
Saints |
Ken Stabler |
75 |
215 |
37 |
Seahawks |
Dave Krieg |
73 |
193 |
24 |
Steelers |
Terry Bradshaw |
75 |
215 |
34 |
Vikings |
Tommy Kramer |
74 |
200 |
27 |
1992 Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks
Team |
Quarterback |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
49ers |
Steve Young |
74 |
215 |
31 |
Bears |
Jim Harbaugh |
75 |
215 |
29 |
Bengals |
Boomer Esiason |
77 |
224 |
31 |
Bills |
Jim Kelly |
75 |
217 |
32 |
Broncos |
John Elway |
75 |
215 |
32 |
Browns |
Bernie Kosar |
77 |
210 |
29 |
Buccaneers |
Vinny Testaverde |
77 |
235 |
29 |
Cardinals |
Chris Chandler |
76 |
224 |
27 |
Chargers |
Stan Humphries |
74 |
223 |
27 |
Chiefs |
Dave Krieg |
73 |
193 |
34 |
Colts |
Mark Herrmann |
76 |
200 |
33 |
Cowboys |
Troy Aikman |
76 |
219 |
26 |
Dolphins |
Dan Marino |
76 |
224 |
31 |
Eagles |
Randall Cunningham |
76 |
212 |
29 |
Falcons |
Chris Miller |
74 |
212 |
27 |
Giants |
Phil Simms |
75 |
216 |
38 |
Jets |
Browning Nagles |
75 |
225 |
24 |
Lions |
Rodney Peete |
72 |
230 |
26 |
Oilers |
Warren Moon |
75 |
218 |
36 |
Packers |
Don Majkowski |
74 |
197 |
28 |
Patriots |
Hugh Millen |
77 |
216 |
29 |
Raiders |
Jay Schroeder |
76 |
215 |
31 |
Rams |
Jim Everett |
77 |
212 |
29 |
Redskins |
Mark Rypien |
76 |
231 |
30 |
Saints |
Bobby Hebert |
76 |
215 |
32 |
Seahawks |
Kelly Stouffer |
75 |
210 |
28 |
Steelers |
Neil O'Donnell |
75 |
228 |
26 |
Vikings |
Rich Gannon |
75 |
210 |
27 |
2002 Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks
Team |
Quarterback |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
49ers |
Jeff Garcia |
73 |
195 |
32 |
Bears |
Jim Miller |
74 |
226 |
31 |
Bengals |
Gus Frerotte |
75 |
237 |
31 |
Bills |
Drew Bledsoe |
77 |
238 |
30 |
Broncos |
Brian Griese |
75 |
215 |
27 |
Browns |
Kelly Holcomb |
74 |
212 |
29 |
Buccaneers |
Brad Johnson |
77 |
226 |
34 |
Cardinals |
Jake Plummer |
74 |
212 |
28 |
Chargers |
Drew Brees |
72 |
209 |
23 |
Chiefs |
Trent Green |
75 |
217 |
32 |
Colts |
Peyton Manning |
77 |
230 |
26 |
Cowboys |
Quincy Carter |
74 |
213 |
25 |
Dolphins |
Jay Fielder |
74 |
225 |
31 |
Eagles |
Donovan McNabb |
74 |
240 |
26 |
Falcons |
Michael Vick |
72 |
215 |
22 |
Giants |
Kerry Collins |
77 |
248 |
30 |
Jaguars |
Mark Brunell |
73 |
217 |
32 |
Jets |
Vinny Testaverde |
77 |
235 |
39 |
Lions |
Mike McMahon |
74 |
215 |
23 |
Packers |
Brett Favre |
74 |
225 |
33 |
Panthers |
Rodney Peete |
72 |
230 |
36 |
Patriots |
Tom Brady |
76 |
225 |
25 |
Raiders |
Rich Hannon |
75 |
210 |
37 |
Rams |
Kurt Warner |
74 |
220 |
31 |
Ravens |
Chris Redman |
75 |
223 |
25 |
Redskins |
Shane Matthews |
75 |
196 |
32 |
Saints |
Aaron Brooks |
76 |
220 |
26 |
Seahawks |
Matt Hasselbeck |
76 |
223 |
27 |
Steelers |
Kordell Stewart |
73 |
218 |
30 |
Texans |
David Carr |
75 |
215 |
23 |
Titans |
Steve McNair |
74 |
235 |
29 |
Vikings |
Daunte Culpepper |
76 |
264 |
25 |
2012 Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks
Team |
Quarterback |
Height |
Weight |
Age |
49ers |
Alex Smith |
76 |
217 |
28 |
Bears |
Jay Cutler |
75 |
220 |
29 |
Bengals |
Andy Dalton |
74 |
215 |
25 |
Bills |
Ryan Fitzpatrick |
74 |
221 |
30 |
Broncos |
Peyton Manning |
77 |
230 |
36 |
Browns |
Brandon Weeden |
75 |
220 |
28 |
Buccaneers |
Josh Freeman |
78 |
240 |
24 |
Cardinals |
John Skelton |
77 |
244 |
24 |
Chargers |
Philip Rivers |
77 |
228 |
31 |
Chiefs |
Matt Cassel |
77 |
230 |
30 |
Colts |
Andrew Luck |
76 |
234 |
23 |
Cowboys |
Tony Romo |
74 |
219 |
32 |
Dolphins |
Ryan Tannehill |
76 |
221 |
24 |
Eagles |
Michael Vick |
72 |
215 |
32 |
Falcons |
Matt Ryan |
77 |
224 |
27 |
Giants |
Eli Manning |
76 |
218 |
31 |
Jaguars |
Blaine Gabbert |
76 |
234 |
23 |
Jets |
Mark Sanchez |
74 |
225 |
26 |
Lions |
Matthew Stafford |
74 |
230 |
24 |
Packers |
Aaron Rodgers |
74 |
223 |
29 |
Panthers |
Cam Newton |
77 |
248 |
23 |
Patriots |
Tom Brady |
76 |
225 |
35 |
Raiders |
Carson Palmer |
77 |
230 |
33 |
Rams |
Sam Bradford |
76 |
236 |
25 |
Ravens |
Joe Flacco |
78 |
232 |
27 |
Redskins |
Robert Griffin III |
74 |
223 |
22 |
Saints |
Drew Brees |
72 |
209 |
33 |
Seahawks |
Russell Wilson |
71 |
206 |
23 |
Steelers |
Ben Roethlisberger |
77 |
240 |
30 |
Texans |
Matt Schaub |
77 |
235 |
31 |
Titans |
Jake Locker |
75 |
231 |
24 |
Vikings |
Christian Ponder |
74 |
229 |
24 |