NFL Starting Quarterbacks 2026: All 32 Starting Quarterbacks Ranked by Division, Updated Week 1 List

With the 2026 NFL season underway, all 32 teams have set their starting quarterback for Week 1 — though a handful of jobs remain genuinely up for grabs. Below is a full division-by-division breakdown of every starting signal-caller across the league, along with the storylines shaping each quarterback room. This list will be updated throughout the season as injuries, benchings and other changes occur.

AFC East Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Buffalo Bills	Josh Allen
New England Patriots	Drake Maye
New York Jets	Geno Smith
Miami Dolphins	Malik Willis

Leading the AFC East are 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen and 2025 MVP runner-up Drake Maye, arguably the two best quarterbacks in the division's history at this point. Geno Smith returns to the franchise that originally drafted him in New York, while Malik Willis takes over in Miami after signing a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Dolphins this offseason.

AFC North Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Baltimore Ravens	Lamar Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals	Joe Burrow
Cleveland Browns	Deshaun Watson
Pittsburgh Steelers	Aaron Rodgers

The biggest storyline in the AFC North is Cleveland's decision to hand the reins back to Deshaun Watson, a move made by head coach Todd Monken to the frustration of much of the Browns' fan base. The rest of the division brings back familiar veterans, with Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers all returning as their teams' starters.

AFC South Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Houston Texans	C.J. Stroud
Indianapolis Colts	Daniel Jones
Jacksonville Jaguars	Trevor Lawrence
Tennessee Titans	Cam Ward

Continuity defines the AFC South, as all four Week 1 starters from 2025 return in 2026. Cam Ward enters his second season in Tennessee, while Daniel Jones is back in Indianapolis after a torn Achilles cut short a breakout first year with the Colts.

AFC West Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Denver Broncos	Bo Nix
Kansas City Chiefs	TBD
Las Vegas Raiders	TBD
Los Angeles Chargers	Justin Herbert

The AFC West is the league's most unsettled division at quarterback heading into Week 1. Bo Nix (entering his third season) and Justin Herbert are locked in as starters in Denver and Los Angeles, but Kansas City and Las Vegas remain undecided. Three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes is working back from a torn ACL and, while on schedule in his recovery, has not been officially confirmed for Week 1. The Raiders, meanwhile, have yet to name a starter between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza.

NFC East Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Dallas Cowboys	Dak Prescott
New York Giants	Jaxson Dart
Philadelphia Eagles	Jalen Hurts
Washington Commanders	Jayden Daniels

2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels returns to lead Washington after a 2025 campaign limited by injuries. He joins Dak Prescott, Jaxson Dart and Jalen Hurts as the NFC East's four Week 1 starters.

NFC North Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Chicago Bears	Caleb Williams
Detroit Lions	Jared Goff
Green Bay Packers	Jordan Love
Minnesota Vikings	Kyler Murray

The NFC North now features three former No. 1 overall picks under center after Minnesota named Kyler Murray its starter this summer, joining Caleb Williams in Chicago and Jared Goff in Detroit. Jordan Love, himself a former first-round pick, begins his fourth season as Green Bay's franchise quarterback.

NFC South Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Atlanta Falcons	TBD
Carolina Panthers	Bryce Young
New Orleans Saints	Tyler Shough
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Baker Mayfield

Bryce Young, Tyler Shough and Baker Mayfield all retain their starting jobs in Carolina, New Orleans and Tampa Bay respectively. Atlanta remains the outlier in the division, still working through a decision at the position heading into the season.

NFC West Starting Quarterbacks 2026

Team	Starting Quarterback
Arizona Cardinals	Jacoby Brissett
Los Angeles Rams	Matthew Stafford
San Francisco 49ers	Brock Purdy
Seattle Seahawks	Sam Darnold

The NFC West boasts some of the league's top storylines at quarterback, headlined by reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford entering his sixth season with the Rams and reigning Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold leading Seattle. Brock Purdy continues as San Francisco's starter, while Jacoby Brissett takes over in Arizona after signing a new contract with the Cardinals earlier this summer.

Why NFL Starting Quarterback Battles Matter

The starting quarterback position carries more responsibility than any other role in professional sports, with the player under center involved in nearly every offensive snap. Performance and health can end a starting job quickly — a reminder underscored by the 63 different players who started at least one game at quarterback across the 2025 regular season and playoffs. Expect this list to shift as the 2026 season progresses, particularly in divisions like the AFC West and NFC South, where multiple teams have yet to commit to a Week 1 starter.

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