Every NFL season, one player suffers the ignominy of being the first quarterback benched.
For some, it is a temporary setback and they eventually get their jobs back. For others, it signals the end of their tenure with the team—or even their time in the league.
Here is a look at the first NFL quarterbacks benched over the past four seasons.
- 2025: Russell Wilson
- 2024: Bryce Young
- 2023: Mac Jones (first in-game benching) and Ryan Tannehill (first to permanently lose his job to a new starter)
- 2022: Mitch Trubisky (benched mid-game, which led to a permanent change)
So, who will be the first quarterback benched this season? The oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag think it will be Tua Tagovailoa.
You can check out the real-time odds for the first quarterback benched, as well as props on what week first-round pick Fernando Mendoza will get his first start: https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/nfl-regular-season/first-quarterback-benched.
| First NFL QB benched | ||
| Tua Tagovailoa | 2/1 | |
| Geno Smith | 5/2 | (+250) |
| Kirk Cousins | 3/1 | |
| Jacoby Brissett | 4/1 | |
| Deshaun Watson | 6/1 | |
| Kyler Murray | 8/1 | |
| Malik Willis | 10/1 | |
| Bryce Young | 12/1 | |
| Jaxson Dart | 14/1 | |
| Tyler Shough | 18/1 | |
| Sam Darnold | 20/1 | |
| Jalen Hurts | 25/1 | |
| Daniel Jones | 33/1 | |
| Caleb Williams | 40/1 | |
| Cam Ward | 40/1 | |
| C.J. Stroud | 40/1 | |
| Aaron Rodgers | 50/1 | |
| Baker Mayfield | 50/1 | |
| Bo Nix | 50/1 | |
| Drake Maye | 50/1 | |
| Brock Purdy | 66/1 | |
| Jayden Daniels | 66/1 | |
| Trevor Lawrence | 66/1 | |
| Jared Goff | 80/1 | |
| Jordan Love | 80/1 | |
| Dak Prescott | 100/1 | |
| Justin Herbert | 100/1 | |
| Joe Burrow | 150/1 | |
| Lamar Jackson | 150/1 | |
| Matthew Stafford | 200/1 | |
| Josh Allen | 250/1 | |
| Patrick Mahomes | 300/1 | |
Which week will Fernando Mendoza make his first start?
Over/Under Week 8
