Bengals’ Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Time

Kicking off the top ten quarterbacks in the Bengals’ franchise history is Turk Schonert. In his time with Cincinnati, he threw for 2,756 yards and seven touchdowns with a 3.4 percent interception rate.

A career backup, Schonert played in 64 games as a Bengal and started in only seven of those. He would spend 1986 in Atlanta, where he was given the chance to start more games (five of eight played), but would return to Cincinnati the following season, where he’d spend the remainder of his career. 

Despite never really getting a chance to start and putting up relatively mediocre numbers, Schonert accomplished something many on this list did not: winning not one, but two postseason games. He doesn’t have the most impressive resume, but he played well enough to earn a spot as the tenth-best QB in franchise history. 

9. David Klingler (1992-1995)

Taken with the sixth overall pick by the Bengals in the 1992 NFL draft, and the ninth-best QB in franchise history, is David Klingler. In his time in Cincinnati, he threw for 3,880 yards and 16 touchdowns, with an interception rate of 3.1 percent. 

While Klingler was taken in the first round, he never exactly lived up to this status. He would throw more interceptions (21) than touchdowns, and fail to lead the team to any real success. 

Klingler’s performances place him just above Schonert, though, as the ninth-best quarterback in Cincinnati’s history, as he has more passing yards and touchdowns with a lower interception percentage. He may not have won any playoff games, but his numbers are just plain better. 

8. Virgil Carter (1970-1972)

Coming in at eighth, and one of the first attempts at a franchise quarterback in the team’s history, is Virgil Carter. In his time as a Bengal, he threw for 3,850 yards and 22 touchdowns with a 3.4 percent interception rate.

Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1967 and eventually acquired by Cincinnati in 1970, Carter would post a league-leading completion percentage (62.2) in 1971. He led the team to one postseason appearance, but did not win any playoff games.

Although Carter was fine in the time he played, the Bengals quickly stumbled upon another quarterback who would go on to transform the team into a competitor for the next decade. In a franchise without many truly elite passers, though, he lands as the eighth-best Cincinnati QB of all time.

7. Jon Kitna (2001-2005)

John Kitna, the lead Bengal passer of the early 2000s, comes in as the seventh-best quarterback in franchise history. He threw for 10,707 yards and 59 touchdowns, with a 3.5 percent interception rate, and took home the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2003.

Kitna certainly wasn’t anything special, but he was serviceable for his time, leading Cincinnati to one postseason appearance but failing to produce any postseason wins. 

Despite playing for four teams over his career, Kitna’s longest time with any team was with the Bengals. 

6. Jeff Blake (1994-1999)

Leading the Bengals through the late 1990s, a truly underrated quarterback and the sixth-best in franchise history, is Jeff Blake. While playing for Cincinnati, he threw for 15,134 yards, 93 touchdowns, had a 2.8 percent interception rate, and made the Pro Bowl in 1995.

Blake represents an interesting spot on this list, as he’s both much better than those listed before him, but those following him have much more significant roles in Bengals lore. That shouldn’t detract from his talent, though, as he represented a fun (albeit not very successful) time in Cincinnati football, as those who watched him still talk about his tenure very fondly. 

5. Carson Palmer (2004-2010)

The fifth-best quarterback in Bengals’ history, and the definitive Cincinnati passer of the 2000s, is Carson Palmer. With the Bengals, he threw for 22,694 yards and 154 touchdowns, with a 3.1 percent interception rate. He also played in two postseason games and had multiple great receivers at his disposal.

Unfortunately, Palmer’s tenure in Cincinnati was largely defined by turmoil. He was drafted with sky-high potential, only to suffer from serious injury issues that saw the quality (and consistency) of his play drop dramatically.

Palmer would also leave the team on unideal terms, refusing to play and demanding a trade. Even still, he’s remembered mostly fondly for the sheer level of his talent before the injuries, and is only slightly edged out of fourth on this list by his successor.

4. Andy Dalton (2011-2019)

Andy Dalton, “The Red Rifle,” clocks in as the fourth-best QB in Bengals’ history. While playing for Cincinnati, he threw for 31,594 yards and 204 touchdowns (most in franchise history), with a 2.7 percent interception rate. 

Many people would place Palmer above Dalton, but this is done with rose-tinted (or, in this case, tiger-striped) lenses. Dalton threw for more yards, led his team to the postseason more often, and had a much lower interception rate.

Dalton’s time is often associated with pain, but thus is the existence of a Bengals fan. Palmer’s talent may have shone brighter pre-injury, but Dalton’s was lit longer and was much more consistent. 

Although his only elite receiver was AJ Green (and arguably Tyler Boyd), Dalton still managed to keep Cincinnati in the playoff conversation for a good portion of the 2010s. He paces Palmer in nearly every category and is the fourth-best QB in franchise history.

3. Boomer Esiason (1984-1992, 1997)

The second quarterback to lead the Bengals to a Super Bowl (1989), and third-best in franchise history, is Boomer Esiason. In his career (for Cincinnati), he threw for 27,149 yards and 187 touchdowns with a 3.6 percent interception rate. 

Taking the reins from the first franchise QB (and the next player on this list), Esiason took no time filling in as the team’s leader in the mid-1980s. He was a three-time Pro Bowler (with the Bengals), a one-time All-Pro, and the winner of the MVP award in 1988.

Esiason also has the second-most postseason wins by a Cincinnati QB, with three, and threw for 600 yards and four touchdowns. Despite this, however, he struggled with turnovers, with one of the highest interception rates on the list and the most fumbles in franchise history (82) by a margin of 30.

Even with these struggles, however, Esiason was exceptional at finding his targets and creating big plays. He’s one of the definitive quarterbacks of the 1980s and 1990s, and the third-best in Cincinnati’s history.

2. Ken Anderson (1971-1986)

The face of the franchise for a decade and a half, Ken Anderson, comes in as the second-best quarterback in Bengals’ history. He threw for 32,838 yards (most in franchise history), 197 touchdowns, and had an interception rate of 3.6 percent. 

The first great QB for Cincinnati, and the first to take them to the Super Bowl (1982), Anderson has been the definitive passer for most of this franchise’s history. He played in the (now) second-most playoff games for the Bengals at six, passing for 1,321 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions, winning two games. 

Anderson regularly led the NFL in completion percentage, passing yards, yards per game, and interception rate, and was a four-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, and won the MVP award in 1981. He remains a pillar of passing excellence, a franchise legend, and the second-best QB in Cincinnati’s history. 

1. Joe Burrow (2020-Present)

Despite only playing for the Bengals for six years (and only three full seasons), Joe Burrow has cemented himself as the best quarterback to have ever played for Cincinnati. He’s thrown for 19,190 yards, 142 touchdowns, and posted a 1.8 percent interception rate (the lowest of anybody on this list). If he retired today, he would have the highest completion percentage of any QB ever (68.5). 

Aside from being the most accurate passer in the NFL (and technically ever), Burrow’s mastery of the fundamentals and knowledge of the game allow him to thrive even when plays break down. Among Cincinnati’s QBs who have played in the postseason, he also stands out as elite.

Having played in the most games (seven), with the most postseason wins (five), Burrow has thrown for 1,826 yards and nine touchdowns with a 1.6 percent interception rate. He’s also been sacked significantly more in the postseason (29), and has still managed to make the Super Bowl and play the best of any Bengals QB. 

Injuries have certainly played a role in his career and heavily limited the impact he’s been able to have, as he is currently working through his (potentially) third season-ending injury. He’s, however, still the best quarterback in franchise history, and arguably the best in the NFL today. 

End Of My Cincinnati Bengals Rant

While the list is rather top-heavy, it is an interesting look at the team’s position over its history. From career-backups like Schonert to bona fide faces-of-the-franchise like Anderson and Burrow, this team has truly seen a wide range of talent under center.

The top half of the list represents the bulk of fans’ favorites over the years, as the list of greats at the position isn’t long for the Bengals. The players at the top, however, are some of the best not just from Cincinnati, but of their respective eras.