Top 5 Tallest NFL Quarterbacks Ever

While they might not be the biggest player on the field, NFL quarterbacks are notorious for being on the taller side. Most would find this advantageous for the QB’s vision, given they are likely to see more of the field over other shorter players. However, have you ever wonder who the tallest quarterbacks were to ever play the game? We’re breaking down five of the tallest QBs in NFL history, with one standing larger than the rest.

=2. Frank Patrick – 6ft 7in

As an old-timer quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1970-1972, Frank Patrick makes the list of the top five tallest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL at 6’7”, while being tied with four others on this list. He wouldn’t play many games for the Packers, though, with his first being at 23 years old in 1970. He would play exactly one game in each season for three years until ultimately retiring. During his career, he was referred to by fans as “the linebacker who throws passes”.

=2. Brock Osweiler – 6ft 7in

Following Frank Patrick and also standing at 6’7” is QB Brock Osweiler. Osweiler had a much more involved career than some of the other tallest quarterbacks, playing a total of 21 games for the Denver Broncos over four seasons before moving on to play as the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans for 15 games during the 2016 season. After moving back to Denver for another six-game season, the towering QB finished his career with seven games played with the Miami Dolphins. His final tally over the course of his NFL career were 41 total TD contributions (37 passing and four rushing).

=2. Paxton Lynch – 6ft 7in

Another 6’7” skyscraper quarterback was Paxton Lynch, who would wind up playing only five games over 2 seasons for the Denver Broncos. Funnily enough, both Lynch and Osweiler were QBs at the same time for the Broncos during the 2017 season, in which Lynch would be more of a back-up quarterback (two games played). Still though, in his five NFL career games, Lynch would throw for four separate touchdowns, which isn’t horrible, but he was sacked 18 total times throughout those games and the overall return didn’t live up to expectations for a first-round draft pick.

=2. Mike Glennon – 6ft 7in

The final towering 6’7” QB tied for second place is Mike Glennon, who is the most recently retired quarterback on this list. Although Glennon would start his career with 13 games played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2013 season, he’d only accumulate a total of 40 career games over the next seven seasons. In 2017 he played four games for the Chicago Bears before moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He’d play two games with the Cardinals (2018) and Oakland Raiders (2019), plus five games for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2020) before ultimately seeing retirement following six games with the New York Giants in 2021. Stats-wise, Glennon would achieve 47 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, showcasing that he’s not just one of the tallest players but a valuable one as well.

1. Dan McGwire – 6ft 8in

The player who holds the record of being the tallest quarterback to ever play in the NFL is none other than Dan McGwire, who stands at 6’8” tall. He played in the NFL for five seasons, with four of them being as a member of the Seattle Seahawks from 1991 until 1994. After playing 12 total games for the Seahawks, McGwire would conclude his NFL career with one final game for the Miami Dolphins in 1995. McGwire threw two NFL touchdown passes across a career where he was mostly used in a back-up role.

Comparing with Current NFL Quarterbacks

By way of comparison, let’s take a look at how current QBs rate in the height scale. At the smaller end of the spectrum we’ve got Kyler Murray of the Cardinals and Bryce Young of the Panthers, both of whom measure 5 foot 10 inches. The tallest of the current crop are Trevor Lawrence of the Jags and Justin Herbert at the Chargers who are both 6 foot 6 inches – just outside our list of the all-time tallest. Meanwhile arguably the best quarterbacks of this generation – Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson – both stand at 6 feet 2 inches tall, so maybe that’s the sweet spot when it comes to QB height!