Cleveland Browns quarterback timeline: Full list of every starting QB in team history since 1999

Cleveland Browns quarterback timeline: Full list of every starting QB in team history since 1999 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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How many starting quarterbacks have the Cleveland Browns had since 1999?
Cleveland Browns starting quarterback history list
How many quarterbacks have the Browns drafted since 1999?
Cleveland Browns quarterback history timeline

The search for a franchise quarterback in Cleveland has become the defining, and most brutal, narrative of the Browns’ modern era.

Since the team resumed operations in 1999, the organization has been mired in a perpetual state of instability at the position, making a mockery of NFL roster management and crushing the hopes of the Dawg Pound faithful year after year.

In the 26 seasons following the 1999 expansion, the Browns have cycled through an astonishing 40 different players who have started at least one game at quarterback — a figure far higher than any other NFL franchise.

This revolving door includes five first-round draft picks, three Heisman Trophy winners, and numerous veteran Pro Bowlers, none of whom could solve the team’s relentless struggle for consistency.

From the beatings taken by former No. 1 overall pick Tim Couch to the infamous, short-lived experiments with Heisman-winner Johnny Manziel and the ill-fated acquisition of Deshaun Watson, the quarterback carousel has been the primary factor in the franchise’s inability to achieve sustained success, with only three seasons featuring the same starter for all 16 games.

The misery continued in the 2025 season, where the team’s 1-3 start has already led to the benching of veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, who will be the 41st starting quarterback since 1999.

This constant churn under center underscores a simple, painful reality for the franchise: until the Browns can find and retain a long-term signal-caller, the team will continue to be defined by its decades-long quarterback crisis rather than its potential.

Here’s every quarterback that has started for Cleveland since 1999, a list longer than any NFL franchise.

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How many starting quarterbacks have the Cleveland Browns had since 1999?

The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback history since the team’s return in 1999 is notoriously defined by a staggering carousel of signal-callers, with 40 different players having started at least one game. Below is a concise bio for every player who has taken a snap under center for the Dawg Pound since the expansion era began.

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Cleveland Browns starting quarterback history list

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How many quarterbacks have the Browns drafted since 1999?

Since the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1999, the team has drafted 14 quarterbacks.

This list includes five first-round picks, three of whom were selected in the top 22 overall:

Year	Player	Round	Overall Pick	College
1999	Tim Couch	1	1	Kentucky
2000	Spergon Wynn	6	183	Texas State
2004	Luke McCown	4	106	Louisiana Tech
2005	Charlie Frye	3	67	Akron
2007	Brady Quinn	1	22	Notre Dame
2010	Colt McCoy	3	85	Texas
2012	Brandon Weeden	1	22	Oklahoma State
2014	Johnny Manziel	1	22	Texas A&M
2016	Cody Kessler	3	93	USC
2018	Baker Mayfield	1	1	Oklahoma
2017	DeShone Kizer	2	52	Notre Dame
2023	Dorian Thompson-Robinson	5	140	UCLA
2025	Dillon Gabriel	3	94	Oregon
2025	Shedeur Sanders	5	144	Colorado

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Browns QBs drafted in first round

The Browns have drafted five quarterbacks in the first round since 1999.

Tim Couch (1999, 1st overall)
Brady Quinn (2007, 22nd overall)
Brandon Weeden (2012, 22nd overall)
Johnny Manziel (2014, 22nd overall)
Baker Mayfield (2018, 1st overall)

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Cleveland Browns quarterback history timeline

1999: Tim Couch, Ty Detmer

The era began with No. 1 overall pick Tim Couch, who went 2-12 in his first year, and veteran mentor Ty Detmer, who started the infamous 43-0 season opener.

2000: Tim Couch, Doug Pederson, Spergon Wynn

Future Super Bowl-winning coach Doug Pederson was forced into a starting role for eight games, going 1-7. Sixth-round rookie Spergon Wynn had one of the worst single starts in team history.

2001: Tim Couch

Couch started all 16 games, one of only three seasons since 1999 where the Browns had the same starter all year.

2002: Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb

Couch led the Browns to a 9-7 record and their first playoff berth, but Kelly Holcomb relieved the injured Couch and started the Wild Card game, which they lost.

2003: Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb

Holcomb and Couch split the season, continuing the pattern of instability.

2004: Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Kelly Holcomb

Veteran Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia was signed with high hopes but was injured after going 3-7. Rookie Luke McCown went 0-4 in his starts.

2005: Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye

Super Bowl winner Trent Dilfer was acquired but was 4-7 before the job was handed to rookie Charlie Frye late in the season.

2006: Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson

Frye started most of the season, but Derek Anderson made a few starts late in the year.

2007: Derek Anderson, Charlie Frye

Anderson had the best season of the era, leading the team to a 10-6 record and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He was the main starter before being injured.

2008: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski

Anderson regressed quickly, opening the door for first-round pick Brady Quinn and short-lived backups Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski.

2009: Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson

Quinn failed to secure the job, splitting time with the struggling Anderson before the entire regime was cleaned out.

2010: Colt McCoy, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace

A three-way carousel began, featuring former Pro Bowler Jake Delhomme (2-2 record) and rookie Colt McCoy.

2011: Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace

McCoy got the bulk of the starts, but the offense was highly inconsistent before he was injured.

2012: Brandon Weeden, Thaddeus Lewis

The Browns controversially drafted 28-year-old Brandon Weeden, who became the oldest player to ever be selected in the first round. He threw four interceptions in his first start against the Philadelphia Eagles, and went through ups and downs in his rookie season. Lewis started one game.

2013: Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, Brian Hoyer

Weeden lost his job and was released. Brian Hoyer started a late-season surge before getting hurt, and Jason Campbell filled in for eight games.

2014: Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw

Hoyer went 7-6 as a starter before the team turned to former Heisman-winner Manziel, whose highly publicized debut was a flop. Undrafted Connor Shaw made one start.

2015: Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Austin Davis

Veteran Josh McCown and Manziel split time, leading to another high-turnover, losing season.

2016: Cody Kessler, Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown

Robert Griffin III was the initial starter but was injured. Rookie Cody Kessler started eight games as the team finished 1-15.

2017: DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan

DeShone Kizer quarterbacked the infamous 0-16 team, leading the NFL with 22 interceptions. It was only the second 0-16 team in NFL history.

2018: Baker Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor

Tyrod Taylor was the veteran starter until an injury opened the door for Baker Mayfield, who was drafted No. 1 in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield made his debut in the Browns’ Week 3 game against the Jets and quickly sparked the team to its first wins in 635 days.

He led the Browns to a 7-8-1 record in his rookie season after taking over for Taylor.

2019: Baker Mayfield

Mayfield finally started every game, finishing with a disappointing 6-10 record.

2020: Baker Mayfield

Mayfield started all 16 games again, leading the Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the 2020 AFC Wild Card round.

2021: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum, Nick Mullins

Injuries derailed Mayfield’s season, forcing veteran Case Keenum and backup Nick Mullens into action.

2022: Jacoby Brissett, Deshaun Watson

Brissett started during Watson’s suspension before Watson took over for the final six games. The Browns traded for Watson in the previous offseason for a package of six draft picks, including three first-round selections.

Watson signed a fully-guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract after the trade.