The Patriots will enter the 2020 NFL season in unfamiliar territory, with no known commodity at quarterback — Jarrett Stidham is expected to compete with veteran Brian Hoyer — following the departure of Tom Brady. While there is still plenty of time for Bill Belichick to shore up that hole in the coming weeks and months, there are lessons to be learned from what happened to teams when a Hall of Fame quarterback walked out the door due to trade, retirement or free agency.
What can be learned from said situations? To find out, BSJ did a deep dive into the swan song of Hall of Fame quarterbacks with their primary franchise over the past 30 years. How did it end? Why did it end? What came next? And are there any comparable situations to what the 2020 Patriots face right now? Let’s take a snapshot of each situation before honing in on any lessons that can be useful for the present.
Quincy Carter (Getty Images)
NO GOOD REPLACEMENT PLAN
Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
Final year:
Age:
Stats in final season:
Analysis:
Randall Cunningham
Anthony Wright
Cowboys in 2001 post-Aikman:
QB situation:
Quincy Carter
Anthony Wright
Clint Stoerner
Ryan Leaf
Analysis:
Tony Banks,
Quincy Carter,
Bill Parcells
Drew Bledsoe, Drew Hanson
Vinny Testaverde.
Warren Moon, Houston Oilers
Final year with Oilers:
Age:
Stats in final season:
Analysis:
Bud Adams
Kevin Gilbride
Buddy Ryan
Joe Montana
Oilers in 1994 post-Moon:
QB situation:
Cody Carlson
Bucky Richardson, Billy Joe Tolliver
Analysis:
Buddy Ryan
Chris Chandler
Steve McNair
Jeff Garcia (Getty Images)
FINDING AN UNDER-THE-RADAR VETERAN QB
Steve Young: (49ers)
Final year:
Age:
Stats in final season:
Analysis:
Jeff Garcia
49ers in 2000 post-Young: 6-10
QB Situation: Jeff Garcia
Analysis:
Terrell Owens
Dan Marino (Dolphins)
Final year: 1999 (Dolphins 9-7, 5-6 in Marino starts)
Age: 38
Stats in final season: 12 TDs, 17 INTs 2,448 yards, 67.4 QBR (career-low)
Analysis:
Dolphins in 2000 post-Marino: 11-5
QB Situation: Jay Fiedler
Damon Huard
Analysis:
Todd Collins (Getty Images)
YOUNG IN-HOUSE REPLACEMENT
John Elway (Broncos)
Final year: 1998 14-2 (10-2 in games Elway played)
Age: 38
Stats in final season:
Analysis:
Broncos in 1999 post-Elway: 6-10
QB Situation: Brian Griese
Analysis:
Jarrett Stidham
Chris Miller, Bubby Brister
Jake Plummer
Shannon Sharpe
Terrell Davis
Rod Smith
Ed McCaffrey.
Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills)
Final year: 1996, 10-6, 13 starts (8-5) 1996, lost AFC Wildcard game to Jaguars
Age: 36
Stats in final season: 14 TDs, 19 INTs, 2,810 yards, 73.2 QBR (worst of career
Analysis:
Bills in 1997 post Kelly: 6-10
QB Situation:
Todd Collins
Analysis:
Doug Flutie/Rob Johnson
Kurt Warner (St. Louis Rams)
Final (healthy) year: 2002 - Lost all six starts for 7-9 Rams team
Age: 31
Stats in final season:
Analysis:
Marc Bulger
Jamie Martin
Rams in 2003: 12-4
QB Situation:
Marshall
Faulk
Torry
Holt
Analysis:
PLANNED HEIR APPARENTS
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
Quincy Carter (Getty Images)
Jeff Garcia (Getty Images)
Todd Collins (Getty Images)
(Adam Richins for BSJ)