Eight Greatest Back-Up QB Performances Ever

By Dave “Large” Larzelere
For the purposes of argument, I’ve been asking myself a question the past few days – “if the Redskins go on to win the Super Bowl under Todd Collins’ watch, where would his 2007 campaign rank as an all-time backup quarterback performance?â€
After a lot of thought, I’ve decided it would be second on the historical list, although that lofty position is dependent on the Skins beating New England in the Super Bowl. If, say, they were to beat Tennessee, the achievement would drop to about sixth, although I’ll have to think about that.
Anyway, below, ranked in order of awesomeness, are the eight true back-up quarterbacks who took over for an injured starter in the course of a season and led their team to the Super Bowl.
8. Vince Ferragamo – 1979 Rams
Vince the Handsome took over for the injured Pat Haden in ’79 and went 4-1 to get the Rams into the playoffs. He then led the team to a shocking 21-19 win over the defending Super Bowl champions, the mighty Cowboys of the Staubach/Dorsett/Pearson era. In Super Bowl XIV, Vince fell short of the storybook season, thwarted by Terry and the ever furious Steel Curtain.

7. Frank Reich – 1992 Bills
I know it seems hard on Ferragamo to give Reich the nod over him on the basis of two games, but yo, one of those games is pretty much the greatest comeback in the history of sports, so, you know, sorry Vince. Wild Card Game, January 3rd, 1993, Oilers/Bills. Two minutes into the third quarter, Houston has a 35-3 lead. The Bills come back and win 41-38 in OT behind four TD passes from Reich. The Reich-enator also got the win for the Bills the following week against the Steelers, and saw time in Super Bowl XXVII, which the Bills lost to the Cowboys.
6. Jeff Hostetler – 1990 Giants
Hoss joined the Giants as a backup in ’84, and for the next five seasons he carried a clipboard full-time. His close-up came in week 13 of the ’90 season when Phil Simms broke his foot. Jeff proceeded to take over the reigns with authority, leading the Giants to their victory over the Bills in Super Bowl XXV. He played a great game against the Bills, but it should be noted here that he pretty much owes his place above both Ferragamo and Reich to one Scott Norwood. (Check out Musberger’s post-Super Bowl interviews with O.J Anderson and Hostetler below – Jeff’s moustache was truly porn-licious).

5. Doug Williams – 1987 Redskins
It’s really hard to believe in retrospect that Doug Williams was a backup to freakin Jay Schroeder in 1987. True dat, however. Doug only started two regular season games in the year that he became a Redskins legend, and both of them were losses. Nevertheless, we all know what happened in the ’87 playoffs – Williams caught fire and then positively exploded in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXII, throwing four TD passes en route to becoming the first and only African-American QB to win the Super Bowl.
4. Jim Plunkett – 1980 Raiders
Like Williams, I find it hard to believe looking back that Plunkett went into the ’80 season as the backup to his ’71 draftmate, Dan Pastorini. Plunkett took over after Dan broke his leg and won 9-of-11 starts before leading the Raiders through the playoffs to their ultimate victory in Super Bowl XV over, ahem, a team that shall remain nameless. Capping off one of the great career resuscitations in NFL history, Plunkett was named the Super Bowl MVP.

3. Earl Morrall – 1968 Colts & 1972 Dolphins
I know what you’re thinking – Morrall pulled the backup miracle routine twice and you’re listing him third? Well, yes. Here’s my reasoning. The first time, when he took over for Unitas in ’68, the Colts lost to Broadway Joe and the Jets in Super Bowl III, and the second time, when he took over for Griese in ’72, he didn’t actually play in Super Bowl VII, despite having started the previous 11 games. Look, there’s no doubt that Earl Morrall has to be remembered as the greatest backup QB ever in the NFL. But for single-season backup performances, my top two have to take precedence.
2. Tom Brady – 2001 Patriots
Do I need to tell this story? 199th pick of the draft? Unknown second-year player taking over for the franchise QB? 14-point underdogs in the big one? From zero to Super Bowl MVP and future Gisele boytoy? Any of this sound familiar?
1. Kurt Warner – 1999 Rams
I’m aware that choosing Warner over Brady for the top spot is a controversial choice, but I can’t help returning to the image of a post-game Dick Vermeil weeping over Trent Green’s pre-season injury. I mean, the Rams were 3-13 in ’98, and then they’re headed into the ’99 season with an Arena Football vet and all-star grocery checker under center? And THEN the guy proceeds to have one of the most statistically ridiculous years in the history of the league and leads the team to the Super Bowl and wins the NFL and Super Bowl MVP? They wouldn’t even put that crap in a Disney movie.↵