Since being founded as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1930 and later known as the Detroit Lions in 1934, the franchise has had more than 60 quarterbacks. Every one of them has made their contribution, but a few of them stood out, per Chris of the Detroit Lions. 

Best Detroit Lions’ Quarterback of All Time

Here is the list of Motor City’s top quarterback that ever led the franchise in the league:

Matthew Stafford (2009 to 2020)

The undisputed and all-time favorite quarterback of all time is Matthew Stafford. He was drafted by the Lions through the 2009 NFL Draft as first overall.  

He joined the Lions in when the franchise was facing their worst season of a 0-16 record. Having one of the most powerful arms, he threw for 5,038 yards with 41 TDs in 2011. Since his first season, he was absorbed as the primary QB of the team. 

He worked as the production machine for the Lions even when the franchise was not winning the matches. Consequently, he recorded the league's highest attempts, 663 (2011) and 727 (2012).

Bobby Layne (1950 to 1958)

Hall of  Fame (1967) Bobby Layne, aka the " Blond Bomber,” would have the honorable mention as No.2. 

He signed with the Lions in 1950 after completing his stints with the Chicago Bears and the New York Bulldogs. 

Back in 1950, he recorded the league’s highest passing yards of 2,323 yards in 336 attempts.

Following the same template in 1951, he threw for 2,403 yards with 332 attempts and scored 26 TDs. 

Layne led the Lions to three NFL championships back in his time (1952, 1953, and 1957). 

Even after the curse he’s bestowed upon the Lions after being abruptly traded to the Pittsburgh  Steelers in 1958, he will always be one of the Lions' favourite and most recognized players.

Eric Hipple (1980 to 1989)

The other name in the list of the best QBs is Eric Hipple. 

Hipple was selected by the Lions out of the 1980 NFL Draft as a fourth-round (85th overall).

The one moment for him was the Monday night match against the Bears in 1981, where he delivered a record-breaking NFL debut performance. 

With starter Gary Danielson and backup Jeff Komlo already out of the picture, Monte Clark gave Hipple the opportunity, which he availed by scoring six TDs and led the Lions to a 48-17 record against the Bears.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame requested Hipple’s No. 17 jersey to put on display in Canton, Ohio, to honor the QB.

Worst Detroit Lions’ Quarterback of All Time

The franchise has produced many bad quarterbacks in the league, per Chris. But here are the ones who were never meant for the Lions:

Karl Sweetan (1966 to 1967)

Sweetan takes the cake for being the worst QB in the franchise’s history. The Lions drafted him in the 1965 NFL Draft in the 18th round (249th overall). 

He appeared for 20 games in the Lions and was sacked 25 times while throwing for 2,710 and scoring 14 TDs. He led the Lions for the ‘66 season, where the Lions ended the season with a  4-9-1 record. 

Sweetan averaged an interception every 19 throws for the Lions, completing only 47.5% of his passes.

The Lions released him after the ‘67 season and merged paths with Gregg Landry. 

Joey Harrington (2002 to 2005)

Joey Harrington was supposed to be the savior of the team, but he became part of the problem.  

He was selected third overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He bags the second place not just because of him, but the franchise also failed him during his development. 

Constant coaching changes, poor offensive support, and weak roster building crushed his development early. 

Harrington threw for 10,242 yards and 60 touchdowns with the Lions, but his 26-50 record reflected how badly the organization failed him during that era.

Dan Orlovsky (2005 to 2008)

Dan Orlovsky’s infamous run out of the back of the end zone during Detroit’s 0-16 season remains one of the darkest moments in Lions history. 

Under relentless pressure from Jared Allen, Orlovsky accidentally stepped out for a safety that perfectly summed up the disaster of 2008. 

He finished his Lions stint with 1,616 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, but fans still remember him as “Safety Dan.”

Now the Detroit Lions are set to take on their 2026 NFL campaign under the Lions' star QB Jared Goff.

Read more at the Detroit Lions Community!

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker