In the sixteen years that Brett Favre has been the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers—famously never missing a start—the Jets have featured fifteen different men behind center. Here’s a year-by-year look at the Jets’ quarterback situation, and how much they probably could have used Favre when he was 24, rather than 38.
1992
BROWNING NAGLE, KEN O’BRIEN
Drafted one pick behind Favre, Nagle is a bust, throwing seventeen interceptions.
Jets QB Stats: 2,962 yards, 12 TDs, 24 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,227 yards, 18 TDs, 13 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
1993
BOOMER ESIASON
Lured away from the Bengals, he plays well, but a three-game season-ending losing streak gets coach Bruce Coslet fired.
Jets QB Stats: 3,492 yards, 16 TDs, 12 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,303 yards, 19 TDs, 24 INTs.
Advantage Favre? No.
1994
ESIASON, JACK TRUDEAU
Dan Marino’s fake-spike play ends the season in a five-game skid and sends coach Pete Carroll packing.
Jets QB Stats: 3,323 yards, 18 TDs, 18 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,882 yards, 33 TDs, 14 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
1995
ESIASON, BUBBY BRISTER
Rich Kotite’s first year ends with another four-game losing streak; Jets finish last in total offense.
Jets QB Stats: 3,129 yards, 20 TDs, 24 INTs.
Favre Stats: 4,413 yards, 38 TDs, 13 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
1996
FRANK REICH, NEIL O’DONNELL, GLENN FOLEY
Jets cut Esiason, win only one game. Kotite “steps down” after the season. Favre wins the Super Bowl.
Jets QB Stats: 3,911 yards, 22 TDs, 30 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,899 yards, 39 TDs, 13 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes!
1997
O’DONNELL, FOLEY
Under Bill Parcells, the Jets miss the playoffs by one game. Favre reaches Super Bowl again.
Jets QB Stats: 3,555 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,867 yards, 35 TDs, 16 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
1998
VINNY TESTAVERDE, FOLEY
With Vinny Testaverde, Jets make the playoffs for the first time in seven years but lose to the Broncos.
Jets QB Stats: 4,032 yards, 33 TDs, 13 INTs.
Favre Stats: 4,212 yards, 31 TDs, 23 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Push.
1999
RICK MIRER, RAY LUCAS, TESTAVERDE
Testaverde tears his Achilles in the first game; Jets miss the playoffs. Parcells “retires” in the off-season.
Jets QB Stats: 3,001 yards, 22 TDs, 16 INTs.
Favre Stats: 4,091 yards, 22 TDs, 23 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
2000
TESTAVERDE
Under new coach Al Groh, steady Testaverde starts all sixteen games. The Jets lose their final three games, miss the playoffs. Groh resigns to coach University of Virginia.
Jets QB Stats: 4,023 yards, 23 TDs, 29 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,812 yards, 20 TDs, 16 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
2001
TESTAVERDE
New coach Herman Edwards provides rah-rah leadership. Testaverde again starts every game. Jets lose to the Raiders in playoffs.
Jets QB Stats: 2,871 yards, 17 TDs, 14 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,921 yards, 32 TDs, 15 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
2002
CHAD PENNINGTON, TESTAVERDE
Pennington takes over with the Jets struggling at 1-3, leads the team to the division title. But Jets lose again to the Raiders in the playoffs.
Jets QB Stats: 3,619 yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,658 yards, 27 TDs, 16 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Push.
2003
PENNINGTON, TESTAVERDE
Pennington fractures his hand in preseason and misses the first six games. Vinny fills in, but the season is lost after an 0-4 start.
Jets QB Stats: 3,524 yards, 20 TDs, 14 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,361 yards, 32 TDs, 21 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
2004
PENNINGTON, QUINCY CARTER
Pennington signs a seven-year, $64 million contract, then injures his rotator cuff. Carter steps in. Pennington returns for playoffs, loses to Steelers.
Jets QB Stats: 3,231 yards, 19 TDs, 11 INTs.
Favre Stats: 4,088 yards, 30 TDs, 17 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
2005
BROOKS BOLLINGER, TESTAVERDE, PENNINGTON
With Pennington injured, Testaverde returns and the Jets finish last in the AFC East. But Green Bay does just as badly.
Jets QB Stats: 2,989 yards, 11 TDs, 15 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,881 yards, 20 TDs, 29 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Push.
2006
PENNINGTON
Eric Mangini is hired from the Patriots and leads the Jets to a 10-6 record and playoff appearance. Pennington wins the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Jets QB Stats: 3,352 yards, 17 TDs, 16 INTs.
Favre Stats: 3,885 yards, 18 TDs, 18 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Push.
2007
KELLEN CLEMENS, PENNINGTON
Pennington hurt again; this time it’s his ankle. His theoretical successor, Clemens, struggles. Favre finishes second in NFL MVP voting.
Jets QB Stats: 3,330 yards, 15 TDs, 19 INTs.
Favre Stats: 4,155 yards, 28 TDs, 15 INTs.
Advantage Favre? Yes.
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