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