The Best Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks of All Time

Fri, Mar 3, 2023
by CapperTek

Ask any Cardinals fan and even they’ll tell you they’ve had a mixed history in the NFL, with some successful periods and also a number of forgettable seasons. The Arizona Cardinals have only won two NFL championships in history but, on the other hand, they did reach the Super Bowl in 2008!

So Arizona Cardinals odds tend to change a lot.

Despite that, the Cardinals have had some successful players throughout their history, including a few standout quarterbacks. 

So why not run through them? Here are the best Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks of all time, based on their stats and achievements!

Kurt Warner

Need we say it? Kurt Warner led the team to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2008, enjoying a highly celebrated Cardinals career from 2005 to 2009. He was named NFL MVP twice, and holds several Cardinals franchise records.

Kurt Warner is widely regarded as the Arizona Cardinals’ greatest ever quarterback. He was known for his intelligence and work ethic, as well as his unflinching ability to always perform under pressure. As a result, he’ll always be remembered as a standout player for the Cardinals.

Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray is currently the star quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, known for his athleticism and speed, which has helped him to escape opposition as well as extend plays - despite his relatively small size at 5’10”. 

So far in his career, Kyler Murray has been named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and was even the first player in NFL history to throw for 3,500 yards and rush for at least 500 yards in his rookie season. He continues to improve, boosting FanDuel NFL lines for the Cardinals, with stats that include throwing for over 3,900 yards with 26 touchdowns! 

Jim Hart

Jim Hart comes next, who (older fans will remember) played for the Cardinals from 1966 to 1983. A certified Arizona Cardinals legend, he holds several team records, including most career pass attempts and the most career completions. 

Jim Hart was also a four-time Pro Bowler and led the Cardinals to their first division title way back in 1974! He was also one of the Cardinals’ most reliable quarterbacks, starting a whopping 199 games throughout his career. 

Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer led the Cardinals to two playoff appearances during his 2013–2017 run for the team, including a memorable NFC Championship game appearance in 2015. He also holds a few records, including most touchdown passes and most 300-yard passing games in a season.

But that’s not all. Carson Palmer threw for over 46,000 yards and 294 touchdowns, which easily makes him deserve a spot on this list!

Neil Lomax

Neil Lomax played for the Cardinals from 1981 to 1988 and holds several records, including most career passing yards and most career touchdown passes. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and led the Cardinals to their first playoff appearance in 16 years in 1982.

Older fans will certainly remember that although the Cardinals lost in the first round in this game, Lomax's performance was more than impressive, throwing for 383 yards with four touchdowns!

Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy signed with the Cardinals in 2021. He’s never been a full-time starter for the team, but he has shown Cardinals fans that he can deliver whenever he’s been called upon, showing capable passing, accuracy, and leadership on the field. 

So far he’s played over 40 NFL games, with impressive career stats that include throwing over 6500 yards and scoring 30 touchdowns.

Charley Johnson

Charley Johnson is best remembered for leading the team to their first winning season in 1963. His notable player records include most career touchdown passes and most touchdown passes in a season. He led the Cardinals to two playoffs, and was also a two-time Pro Bowler!

Stats aside, Charley Johnson was known for his intelligence and ability to read the opposition’s defense - another reason he’s often hailed as one of the Cardinals’ top quarterbacks.

Jake Plummer

Jake Plummer was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft and spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Cardinals. He was known for his toughness, athleticism, and ability to make plays both with his arm and his legs. 

Jake Plummer led the Cardinals to the playoffs in 1998, their first postseason appearance in over a decade, and led the Broncos to the AFC Championship game in 2005, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Josh McCown

Josh McCown played four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals, joining in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. 

Although he was mostly a backup quarterback, Josh McCown was known for his versatility and leadership on the field. He showed capable passing and the ability to make quick decisions and accurate throws, as well as talent for extending plays when needed.

Conclusion

And that wraps up our list of the best Arizona Cardinals of all time, based on their achievements, career stats, and work ethic on the field. Current QB Kyler Murray is only set to improve, so who knows? Another Super Bowl appearance might be on the horizon for the Cardinals!