NFL's Week 1 Quarterback Carousel: Browns Lead with 18 Different Starters Since 2002
Source: ABC30 Fresno Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
Since the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002, the Cleveland Browns have cycled through more Week 1 starting quarterbacks than any other franchise, employing 18 different signal-callers for their season opener. That number will not increase in 2026, as the team has announced Deshaun Watson will start Week 1, making his third opening-day appearance for Cleveland. That ties Baker Mayfield for the most season-opening starts by a Browns quarterback since the franchise returned in 1999. Cleveland's record in openers over that span is a dismal 3-23-1, and Watson has a chance to become the first Browns QB to win multiple openers since 1999.
Several teams are adding to their Week 1 starter tallies this year. The Washington Commanders, with 15 different openers since 2002, are expected to start Jayden Daniels for the third straight year, matching Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, and Kirk Cousins for the most by a Washington quarterback in that period. If Daniels starts again in 2027, he would become the first Washington QB to start four consecutive openers since Mark Rypien from 1989 to 1993.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Green Bay Packers have used only three Week 1 starters since 2002: Aaron Rodgers (15 starts), Brett Favre (15), and now Jordan Love, who has made three. That trio has started every Packers opener since 1993, a remarkable run of stability.
Here is a team-by-team breakdown of how many different Week 1 starting quarterbacks each NFL team has used since the 2002 expansion:
Cleveland Browns – 18 | Most starts: Baker Mayfield (3). Deshaun Watson will tie Mayfield with his third start in 2026.
Washington Commanders – 15 | Most starts: Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins (3 each). Jayden Daniels can match that with his third straight start.
Minnesota Vikings – 13 | Most starts: Kirk Cousins (6). The Vikings will have their fourth different Week 1 starter in five seasons under coach Kevin O'Connell.
Arizona Cardinals – 12 | Most starts: Kyler Murray (6). Jacoby Brissett is expected to make his fourth opening-day start for a fourth different franchise, a Super Bowl era record.
Las Vegas Raiders – 12 | Most starts: Derek Carr (9). The Raiders will add a new starter, making it five straight years with a different Week 1 QB. Options include Kirk Cousins or rookie Fernando Mendoza.
New York Jets – 12 | Most starts: Mark Sanchez and Chad Pennington (4 each). Geno Smith is expected to make his third Week 1 start for the Jets, his first since 2014, marking the longest gap between opening-day starts for a single franchise in the Super Bowl era.
Denver Broncos – 12 | Most starts: Peyton Manning and Jake Plummer (4 each). Bo Nix is set for his third straight opener.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 11 | Most starts: Josh Freeman and Jameis Winston (4 each). Baker Mayfield is 3-0 in Week 1 with the Bucs after going 0-4 with the Browns and Panthers.
San Francisco 49ers – 11 | Most starts: Alex Smith (5). Brock Purdy aims for 4-0 in Week 1. Only Steve Young (6-3) and Joe Montana (5-5) have more season-opening wins for the 49ers in the Super Bowl era.
Chicago Bears – 10 | Most starts: Jay Cutler (8). Caleb Williams will make his first road opener; the Bears are 4-15 in road openers in the Super Bowl era.
Houston Texans – 10 | Most starts: Matt Schaub (7). C.J. Stroud makes his fourth opening-day start, trailing only Schaub and David Carr.
Jacksonville Jaguars – 10 | Most starts: Trevor Lawrence (5). Lawrence is expected to start his sixth straight opener, tying Mark Brunell for the longest streak in franchise history.
Indianapolis Colts – 10 | Most starts: Peyton Manning (9). Since Andrew Luck's retirement, the Colts have used eight different Week 1 starters, tied with the Commanders for the most in that span. Daniel Jones is projected for his second straight opener.
Miami Dolphins – 10 | Most starts: Ryan Tannehill (6). Malik Willis will make his first NFL Week 1 start in his fifth season, becoming the 11th different opener since Dan Marino retired.
Pittsburgh Steelers – 9 | Most starts: Ben Roethlisberger (15). Aaron Rodgers could make his 19th opening-day start, tying Drew Brees for second most in the Super Bowl era, one shy of Tom Brady's 20.
Carolina Panthers – 9 | Most starts: Cam Newton (8). Bryce Young makes his fourth opening-day start, still seeking his first Week 1 win.
Tennessee Titans – 9 | Most starts: Marcus Mariota (5). The Titans have lost five straight openers, the longest active streak in the NFL and franchise history. Cam Ward, the 2025 No. 1 pick, is slated for his second straight opener.
Buffalo Bills – 9 | Most starts: Josh Allen (7). Allen has the most opening-day starts for the Bills since 2002, but trails franchise leaders Joe Ferguson (12) and Jim Kelly (11).
Los Angeles Rams – 8 | Most starts: Marc Bulger (6). Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is slated for his 18th opening-game start, tying Brett Favre for fourth most in the Super Bowl era.
Atlanta Falcons – 8 | Most starts: Matt Ryan (14). Tua Tagovailoa would be the sixth different Week 1 starter in six years; Michael Penix Jr. would be the first repeat since Ryan's 14-year streak.
Philadelphia Eagles – 7 | Most starts: Donovan McNabb (8). Jalen Hurts is 5-0 in season openers, aiming to match Roger Staubach's 9-0 career start.
New England Patriots – 6 | Most starts: Tom Brady (17). The Patriots are 2-4 in openers since Brady's departure, including a 2025 loss under Drake Maye.
Kansas City Chiefs – 6 | Most starts: Patrick Mahomes (8). Mahomes started 5-0 in openers but is 1-2 in his last three. His next start will break a tie with Len Dawson for most by a Chiefs QB in the Super Bowl era.
Cincinnati Bengals – 5 | Most starts: Andy Dalton (9). Only Carson Palmer, Dalton, and Joe Burrow have started openers since 2004. Burrow is 2-4 in Week 1.
Seattle Seahawks – 5 | Most starts: Russell Wilson (10). The reigning Super Bowl champions are 21-5 in Week 1 this century. Sam Darnold is 3-3 in opening-day starts.
Detroit Lions – 5 | Most starts: Matthew Stafford (12). Jared Goff makes his sixth straight opener. The last Lions Week 1 starter not a first-round draft pick was Jon Kitna in 2008.
Dallas Cowboys – 5 | Most starts: Dak Prescott (10). Prescott is expected to start his 11th opener, one shy of Troy Aikman's franchise record.
Baltimore Ravens – 5 | Most starts: Joe Flacco (11). Lamar Jackson is set for his eighth straight opener; only Flacco and Jackson have won multiple Week 1 games for the Ravens.
New Orleans Saints – 5 | Most starts: Drew Brees (15). Tyler Shough will be the fourth different Week 1 starter since Brees retired, and the third in three seasons.
New York Giants – 5 | Most starts: Eli Manning (15). Jaxson Dart is expected to make his first career Week 1 start, the third different starter in three seasons.
Los Angeles Chargers – 4 | Most starts: Philip Rivers (14). Rivers, Justin Herbert, and Drew Brees have started 23 of the last 24 openers. The outlier was Tyrod Taylor in 2020.
Green Bay Packers – 3 | Most starts: Aaron Rodgers (15). Jordan Love has three starts, with Rodgers and Favre each at 15. Don Majkowski was the last non-trio starter in 1992.
In the Super Bowl era, the most opening-game starts belong to Tom Brady (20), followed by Drew Brees (19), Aaron Rodgers (18), Brett Favre (18), and Matthew Stafford (17).
Article commentary
This data paints a vivid picture of quarterback instability across the NFL, particularly over the last two decades since the league expanded to 32 teams. The Cleveland Browns' 18 different Week 1 starters is a staggering figure, emblematic of a franchise that has struggled to find a long-term answer under center. Despite Deshaun Watson's talent and hefty contract, his 3-23-1 record in openers since 1999 underscores the team's systemic issues. The Browns' revolving door at quarterback is not just a statistical curiosity; it reflects a broader pattern of organizational dysfunction that has plagued the team since its return. Interestingly, the Packers' three different starters stand in stark contrast, a testament to their remarkable continuity with Hall of Fame-level quarterbacks. The Packers have had only two starting quarterbacks from 1993 to 2022, a luxury that most teams can only dream of. This stability often correlates with sustained success, though the Packers have had their share of playoff disappointments. Another trend is the growing frequency of quarterback changes. Teams like the Raiders, Vikings, and Falcons are cycling through starters at a rapid pace, often due to injury, poor performance, or cap constraints. The Raiders' five straight years with a different Week 1 starter is a clear sign of churn, while the Falcons' potential sixth different starter in six years highlights the post-Matt Ryan transition struggles. From a competitive standpoint, having a reliable Week 1 quarterback provides a massive advantage. The Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles have enjoyed stability with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts, respectively. Their teams have been perennial contenders, underscoring the importance of a franchise quarterback. Conversely, teams like the Browns, Commanders, and Jets have cycled through signal-callers without finding sustained success. The data also reveals some fascinating individual stories. Geno Smith's return to the Jets for a Week 1 start after 12 years is a remarkable comeback, highlighting the NFL's second-chance culture. Similarly, Baker Mayfield's redemption arc with the Buccaneers, going 3-0 in Week 1 after a 0-4 start with the Browns and Panthers, shows how much a change of scenery can impact performance. Looking ahead, the 2026 season will see several quarterbacks making history. Aaron Rodgers, now with the Steelers, could tie Drew Brees for second-most opening-day starts, while Matthew Stafford continues his climb up the all-time list. The league's quarterback landscape remains as dynamic as ever, with young stars like Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, and C.J. Stroud trying to establish consistency. Ultimately, this Week 1 starter data is a microcosm of the NFL's biggest challenge: finding and keeping a franchise quarterback. The teams that succeed in this endeavor tend to dominate, while those that fail are often stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. The Browns' 18 different starters are a cautionary tale, and the Packers' three are a golden standard. As the 2026 season kicks off, the quarterback carousel continues to spin, with some teams hoping to finally get off the ride.