NFL Teams Urged to Consider More Backup Quarterback Options

Due to a series of quarterback injuries, renowned sports agent Leigh Steinberg asserts that NFL teams risk jeopardizing their seasons and Super Bowl aspirations if they lack multiple backup plans. As Week 3 begins, five starting quarterbacks have sustained injuries. The New York Giants’ Jaxson Dart will miss the remainder of the season. Citing the significance of the role, Steinberg emphasizes the importance of having several backup options.

Steinberg explained, “It’s a real issue, and I constantly believe that teams without three quarterbacks make a mistake. The likelihood is that the starting quarterback will face an injury at some point.” This statement was made during an interview with OutKick.

The Giants, with only Dart and backup Jameis Winston initially, illustrate Steinberg’s concern. If Winston had been injured following Dart, the team would have faced a crisis without another quarterback ready to play. Now, the Giants must urgently find a competent replacement should Winston suffer an injury while filling in for Dart.

Steinberg acknowledged that due to the salary cap, investing heavily in backup quarterbacks is challenging. Starting quarterbacks have significantly higher salaries. Despite the difficulty in securing multiple qualified backups, teams without them are at risk.

He elaborated, “Defensive players are bigger and stronger, capable of causing harm. The quarterback is central, concentrating all the action, increasing chances of injury.”

The NFL has implemented rules to protect quarterbacks, notably in 2018 when they prohibited defenders from landing with full weight. However, Steinberg argues that the position’s inherent vulnerabilities remain. An injury to a key quarterback can severely impact not just a team’s season, but the NFL as a whole.

Quarterbacks are akin to movie stars, and their injuries can reduce viewership, having a broader effect on the league. Though efforts to protect them have intensified, injuries persist. Fans might not notice extra protection measures as these injuries continue.

Steinberg, attending the 39th Annual Super Bowl Party, stated, “Every time new protective rules and procedures are introduced, football purists often complain that the game is losing its toughness. I’m supportive of robust protections while maintaining competitiveness.”

Leigh Steinberg, a 2017 California Sports Hall of Fame inductee, has represented numerous high-profile clients, including Steve Young, Troy Aikman, and Ben Roethlisberger.