Detroit Lions quarterbacks over the past 30 years have been a mixed bag for Lions fans. There have been some good, like Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford in the 2010s, and there have been some one-hit wonders, the guys who jump in and fade away.
With the Lions in the NFC Championship Game, it made us reflect on their not-so-storied history. This is the team’s first appearance in this game since after the 1991 season and in the 30-plus years in between, it hasn’t been good times.
Since that 1992 NFC championship game, where the Lions lost to Washington 41-20, the Lions have had 24(!) quarterbacks to make at least one start.
Here is a list of every guy who has started at quarterback since the Lions last appearance in the NFC Championship game and their record.
Related: Five best Detroit Lions teams of all time
Rodney Peete
Rodney Peete started 10 games in 1992 and 10 games in 1993 (8-12 record)
Erik Kramer
Erik Kramer started three games in 1992 and four games in 1993 (4-3 record)
Andre Ware
Andre Ware started three games in 1992 and two games in 1993 (2-3 record)
Related: TV audience for Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game was stunning
Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell started nine games in 1994, 16 games in 1995, 14 in 1996, 16 in 1997 and two in 1998 (27-30 record)
Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg started seven games in 1994 (5-2 record)
Don Majkowski
Don Majkowski started two games in 1996 (1-1 record)
Charlie Batch
Charlie Batch started 12 games in 1998, 10 in 1999, 15 in 2000 and nine in 2001 (19-27 record)
Frank Reich
Frank Reich started two games in 1998 (0-2 record)
Gus Frerotte
Gus Frerotte started six games in 1999 (2-4 record)
Stoney Case
Stoney Case started one game in 2000 (1-0 record)
Ty Detmer
Ty Detmer started four games in 2001 (1-3 record)
Mike McMahon
Mike McMahon started three games in 2001 and four games in 2002 (1-6 record)
Joey Harrington
Joey Harrington started 12 games in 2002, 16 in 2003, 16 in 2004 and 11 in 2005 (18-37 record)
Related: Detroit Lions add former all-pro player
Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia started five games in 2005 (1-4 record)
Jon Kitna
Jon Kitna started 16 games in 2006, 16 in 2007 and four in 2008 (10-26 record)
Dan Orlovsky
Dan Orlovsky started seven games in 2008 (0-7 record)
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper started five games in 2008 and five in 2009 (0-10 record)
Drew Stanton
Drew Stanton started one game in 2009 and three in 2010 (2-2 record)
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford started 10 games in 2009, three in 2010, 16 in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, eight in 2019 and 16 in 2020 (74-80-1 record)
Shaun Hill
Shaun Hill started 10 games in 2010 (3-7 record)
David Blough
David Blough started five games in 2019 (0-5 record)
Jeff Driskel
Jeff Driskel started three games in 2019 (0-3 record)
Tim Boyle
Tim Boyle started three games in 2021 (0-3 record)
Jared Goff
Jared Goff started 14 games in 2021, 17 in 2022, 17 in 2023 (24-23-1 record)
Related: New report on Jared Goff’s contract is an eye-opener