As the NFL regular season approaches, recent history shows that second-year quarterbacks can exceed expectations and quickly emerge as league stars.
Dan Marino set the standard in 1984. At 23, he won the MVP award after throwing for a record 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, helping lead the Dolphins to the Super Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes produced a similarly historic season at age 23. He threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns, becoming only the second player to reach those marks after Peyton Manning in 2013. Mahomes also won the MVP award.
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The following year, Lamar Jackson also enjoyed an MVP season at age 22. He became the first quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season, finishing with 3,127 passing yards and 1,206 rushing yards.
Last season, Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting after leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl against all odds.
Sophomore quarterbacks primed to take a leap in 2026
Fourteen quarterbacks were selected in last season’s draft, but only three played more than 10 games. Those three quarterbacks have the strongest chances to produce a second-year breakout in 2026.
Cam Ward, Titans
The first overall pick in 2025, Cam Ward was the only rookie quarterback to play all 17 games. He finished with a rookie-high 3,169 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Titans’ 3-14 record led to the arrival of a new head coach, Robert Saleh, and offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, for the upcoming campaign. Ward will look to build on his experience while adapting to the new coaching staff.
Jaxson Dart, Giants
Selected 25th overall, Jaxson Dart started 12 games and posted a 4-8 record with 2,272 passing yards and 24 total touchdowns, including 15 passing touchdowns.
Dart showed immense dual-threat ability, although difficulties avoiding heavy hits shortened parts of his debut season. With experienced winning head coach John Harbaugh and a reinforced roster around him, Dart enters 2026 with the tools needed for a standout campaign.
Tyler Shough, Saints
Tyler Shough was selected 40th overall and was not originally expected to start in New Orleans. After taking over the job in Week 8, however, he never looked back.
Shough finished with a 5-4 record, 2,384 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns and a rookie-best 67.6% completion rate. With a favorable schedule ahead, he has the momentum to guide the Saints toward the NFC South crown if the team stays healthy.
Source: www.marca.com
