Best New England Patriots quarterbacks of all-time starts with Tom Brady at No. 1, and this is one of the easiest quarterback rankings in any franchise’s history. Brady has the rings, the records, the longevity, the playoff moments and the franchise-changing impact. No Patriots quarterback comes close to matching his overall résumé.
The real debate starts after Brady. Drew Bledsoe gave New England a true franchise quarterback before the dynasty. Steve Grogan was the tough, long-term face of the offense before the modern passing era. Babe Parilli carried the Boston Patriots in the AFL years. Tony Eason helped lead a Super Bowl team, while Drake Maye has already become the most important quarterback of the post-Brady era.
This list judges each quarterback by Patriots-only impact, not total NFL career value. Jim Plunkett’s Raiders success does not push him higher here. Cam Newton’s MVP years in Carolina do not count the same as his short New England chapter. This ranking is about what each quarterback actually did in a Patriots uniform.
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How We Ranked the Best New England Patriots Quarterbacks of All-Time
This ranking is based only on what each quarterback did with the New England Patriots or Boston Patriots. Full-career greatness matters as context, but Patriots impact comes first. That is why Tom Brady is the clear No. 1, while Jim Plunkett is lower than his total NFL résumé might suggest.
The main factors are championships, playoff performance, regular-season production, longevity, leadership, franchise records, era context and how strongly each quarterback shaped Patriots history. Brady has the strongest case in every major category. Bledsoe and Grogan have the strongest pre-Brady cases. Parilli represents the AFL era. Maye’s case is still active, so his final ranking can still change.
For the bigger league-wide quarterback debate, check out our best quarterbacks of all-time ranking.
Why This Patriots QB Ranking Is Different
This is not just a passing yards list. If it were, the order would look different in a few places. Steve Grogan has more Patriots passing touchdowns than Drew Bledsoe, but Bledsoe gets the edge because of his peak, franchise impact and role in making New England relevant again in the 1990s.
It is also not just a Super Bowl ranking. Tony Eason started for a Patriots team that reached Super Bowl XX, but his overall case still has to be weighed against longevity, efficiency and production. Drake Maye is still early in his career, but his quick rise already gives him a stronger Patriots-only case than several short-term starters.
That is why this list balances stats, team success, era context and franchise importance. Patriots quarterback history starts with Brady, but the full story stretches from the AFL years to the modern post-Brady rebuild.
10. Cam Newton
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 2020 with New England, 2,657 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 592 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Cam Newton gets the No. 10 spot because his Patriots chapter was short but historically important. He was the first main starting quarterback after Tom Brady left, which made the 2020 season one of the strangest transition years in franchise history.
Newton was no longer the MVP-level player he had been in Carolina, but he still brought physicality and rushing value to New England’s offense. His 12 rushing touchdowns gave the Patriots a very different quarterback style from what fans had watched for two decades.
The passing production was limited, and the fit was never going to be long-term. Still, as the bridge quarterback immediately after Brady, Newton belongs at the back end of this Patriots ranking.
9. Matt Cassel
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 2005–2008 with New England, 3,946 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns and starter for the 11-win 2008 Patriots.
Matt Cassel ranks ninth because of one unforgettable season. When Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2008, Cassel stepped into one of the hardest backup quarterback situations in football.
He responded by keeping the Patriots highly competitive. New England won 11 games that season, even though it missed the playoffs. Cassel was not Brady, but he gave the team competent, steady quarterback play when the season could have fallen apart.
His Patriots résumé is not long, but the 2008 season gives him a memorable place in franchise quarterback history.
8. Mac Jones
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 2021–2023 with New England, 8,918 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns, 66.1 completion percentage and a playoff appearance as a rookie starter.
Mac Jones ranks eighth because his Patriots career started with real promise. As a rookie in 2021, he looked accurate, calm and comfortable inside structure, helping New England return to the playoffs.
The problem was what happened after that. Offensive instability, protection issues and uneven development made his Patriots run decline quickly. By the end of his New England tenure, the franchise had clearly moved in a different direction.
Even with the disappointing finish, Jones produced enough to sit inside the Patriots top 10 in passing yards and passing touchdowns. His time in New England did not become what fans hoped, but it still belongs on this list.
7. Jim Plunkett
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 1971–1975 with New England, 9,932 passing yards, 62 passing touchdowns and former No. 1 overall draft pick.
Jim Plunkett ranks seventh because his Patriots career was important, even though his greatest NFL success came after he left New England. If this were a full-career ranking, Plunkett would be much higher.
He arrived with huge expectations as the No. 1 overall pick. The arm talent, toughness and pedigree were obvious, but the Patriots were not stable enough around him to turn that potential into sustained winning.
Plunkett later became a Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Raiders, but that does not count the same here. As a Patriots-only quarterback, he was talented and productive enough to make the list, but not enough to climb into the top five.
6. Drake Maye
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 2024–present with New England, 6,670 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns, 69.8 completion percentage and 103.1 passer rating through 2025.
Drake Maye ranks sixth because he has already become the most important Patriots quarterback of the post-Brady era. His career is still young, but his early production has changed the feeling around New England’s future.
Maye gives the Patriots a real franchise-quarterback ceiling again. He has the size, arm talent, mobility and efficiency to become more than just a short-term starter. That matters in a franchise that spent years searching for stability after Brady.
The key is longevity. If Maye keeps developing and stays healthy, he can move higher very quickly. For now, No. 6 reflects what he has already done and what he represents for the next era of Patriots football.
5. Tony Eason
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 1983–1989 with New England, 10,732 passing yards, 60 passing touchdowns and starting quarterback for the 1985 AFC champion Patriots.
Tony Eason ranks fifth because he was the starter during one of the biggest pre-Brady seasons in Patriots history. The 1985 Patriots made a surprise run to Super Bowl XX, and Eason was the quarterback for much of that breakthrough.
His legacy is complicated because that Super Bowl loss to the Bears was ugly, and his career never fully became what the Patriots hoped. But it would be unfair to ignore the role he played in getting New England to that stage.
Eason also produced more than 10,000 passing yards with the team and had stretches of efficient regular-season play. That keeps him inside the top five.
4. Babe Parilli
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 1961–1967 with Boston/New England, 16,747 passing yards, 132 passing touchdowns and one of the franchise’s first true quarterback stars.
Babe Parilli ranks fourth because he was the first great quarterback in Patriots history. During the Boston Patriots era, Parilli gave the franchise a real passing identity in the AFL.
His numbers need era context. Completion percentages were lower, interceptions were more common and passing offenses looked nothing like the modern NFL. Even with that, Parilli threw for more than 16,000 yards and 132 touchdowns with the Patriots.
For early franchise history, Parilli is a major figure. Before Grogan, Bledsoe and Brady, he was the quarterback who helped define the position for the Patriots.
3. Steve Grogan
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 1975–1990 with New England, 26,886 passing yards, 182 passing touchdowns, 2,176 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns.
Steve Grogan ranks third because of longevity, toughness and his all-around impact on the Patriots offense. He was not just a passer. He could run, take hits, extend plays and create touchdowns with his legs.
Grogan played in a much tougher passing era, so his numbers should not be judged like a modern quarterback’s. He still ranks near the top of the franchise in passing yards and passing touchdowns, which shows how much he carried the offense over time.
He never had Brady’s championships or Bledsoe’s modern passing volume, but Grogan’s toughness and long-term connection to the franchise make him one of the most respected Patriots quarterbacks ever.
2. Drew Bledsoe
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 1993–2001 with New England, 29,657 passing yards, 166 passing touchdowns, three Pro Bowls with the Patriots and starter for the 1996 AFC champion team.
Drew Bledsoe ranks second because he was the quarterback who helped bring the Patriots back to life before the Brady dynasty. In the early 1990s, New England needed a franchise face, and Bledsoe became exactly that.
His arm strength changed the offense. His presence gave the team credibility. His peak helped lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance after the 1996 season. Before Brady took over, Bledsoe was the biggest quarterback name in franchise history.
Because Brady followed him, Bledsoe’s Patriots legacy is sometimes underrated. It should not be. He was the bridge between the struggling old Patriots and the championship franchise they later became.
1. Tom Brady
Patriots Stats & Accolades: 2000–2019 with New England, 74,571 passing yards, 541 passing touchdowns, six Super Bowl championships, four Super Bowl MVPs with the Patriots and three NFL MVP awards.
Tom Brady is the best New England Patriots quarterback of all-time. He is also the greatest player in franchise history, and his No. 1 spot is not close.
Brady turned the Patriots into the NFL’s defining dynasty. He won early with defense, toughness and situational football, then later became one of the league’s most dangerous volume passers. Different receivers, coordinators and offensive styles came and went, but Brady kept winning.
His Patriots records are overwhelming. He leads the franchise in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, wins and championship moments. Six Super Bowl rings with New England make this the strongest quarterback case any franchise has.
That is why every Patriots quarterback ranking starts with Brady. The only real debate is what order comes after him.
Full Ranking Table: Best New England Patriots Quarterbacks of All-Time
Note: This table is a recap of the full ranking. The player write-ups above explain the context behind each spot.
Full Ranking Table: Best New England Patriots Quarterbacks of All-Time
Note: This table is a recap of the full ranking. Stats are regular-season passing numbers with the Patriots only.
| Rank | Quarterback | From | To | Passing Yards | Passing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | 2000 | 2019 | 74,571 | 541 |
| 2 | Drew Bledsoe | 1993 | 2001 | 29,657 | 166 |
| 3 | Steve Grogan | 1975 | 1990 | 26,886 | 182 |
| 4 | Babe Parilli | 1961 | 1967 | 16,747 | 132 |
| 5 | Tony Eason | 1983 | 1989 | 10,732 | 60 |
| 6 | Drake Maye | 2024 | Present | 6,670 | 46 |
| 7 | Jim Plunkett | 1971 | 1975 | 9,932 | 62 |
| 8 | Mac Jones | 2021 | 2023 | 8,918 | 46 |
| 9 | Matt Cassel | 2005 | 2008 | 3,946 | 23 |
| 10 | Cam Newton | 2020 | 2020 | 2,657 | 8 |
FAQ: Best New England Patriots Quarterbacks of All-Time
Who is the best New England Patriots quarterback of all-time?
Tom Brady is the best New England Patriots quarterback of all-time. He won six Super Bowls with New England, threw for 74,571 passing yards and 541 passing touchdowns as a Patriot, and became the greatest player in franchise history.
Who is the second-best Patriots quarterback of all-time?
Drew Bledsoe ranks second because of his production, peak, leadership and role in making the Patriots relevant again during the 1990s.
Where does Steve Grogan rank among Patriots quarterbacks?
Steve Grogan ranks third on this list because of his longevity, toughness, passing production and rushing value. He remains one of the most respected quarterbacks in Patriots history.
Why is Drake Maye ranked ahead of Jim Plunkett and Mac Jones?
Drake Maye is ranked ahead because his early Patriots production, efficiency and franchise-quarterback ceiling already give him a stronger New England-only case. Plunkett had a bigger total NFL career, but his best years came after leaving the Patriots.
Does Jim Plunkett’s Raiders success count in this ranking?
No. This is a Patriots-only ranking. Plunkett’s Raiders success helps his overall NFL legacy, but it does not move him higher on a New England-only quarterback list.
Was Cam Newton with the Patriots for more than one regular season?
No. Cam Newton’s regular-season Patriots chapter was in 2020. He is included because he was the first main starting quarterback after Tom Brady left.
Conclusion: Ranking the Greatest Patriots Quarterbacks Ever
The best New England Patriots quarterbacks of all-time ranking starts with Tom Brady because no player shaped the franchise more. Brady has the records, the rings, the playoff moments and the dynasty legacy. He is not just the best Patriots quarterback; he is the defining figure in the team’s history.
Drew Bledsoe and Steve Grogan give the Patriots serious depth behind him. Bledsoe helped rescue the franchise in the 1990s, while Grogan carried the offense through a long and physical era. Babe Parilli represents the AFL foundation, Tony Eason represents the 1985 Super Bowl run, and Drake Maye now represents the future.
The key thing to remember is that this is a Patriots-only ranking. Brady stands alone at No. 1, Bledsoe and Grogan own the strongest pre- and post-merger cases behind him, and Maye has the active case that could change the list over the next few seasons.
More Patriots and NFL Rankings
For the full franchise picture beyond quarterbacks, check out our best New England Patriots players of all-time ranking. For the bigger position debate, read our best quarterbacks of all-time tier list.
You can also read our Patriots stat leaderboards for the Patriots all-time passing yards leaders, Patriots all-time passing touchdown leaders, Patriots all-time rushing yards leaders, Patriots all-time rushing touchdown leaders, Patriots all-time receiving yards leaders, Patriots all-time receiving touchdown leaders, Patriots all-time interceptions leaders, and Patriots all-time sacks leaders.
For more New England position rankings, check out our best New England Patriots running backs of all-time, best New England Patriots wide receivers of all-time, and best New England Patriots defensive players of all-time.
For the rest of the AFC East, check out our best Buffalo Bills players of all-time, best New York Jets players of all-time, and best Miami Dolphins players of all-time rankings.
For every franchise, visit our all-time player rankings for every NFL franchise, or keep browsing the main NFL rankings page. For more daily football graphics and debates, follow SOG Football on Instagram.
