The road to Super Bowl 60 is paved with quarterback talent, but the hierarchy is clear. With Patrick Mahomes absent for the first time since 2017, a new order has emerged, led by a record-setting veteran and a breakout sophomore sensation.
The field of 32 has been whittled down to 14, and the quarterback leading each remaining team will be the primary factor determining who hoists the Lombardi Trophy. The landscape is unprecedented: Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are shockingly absent, breaking a streak of playoff appearances that defined the AFC for nearly a decade. This vacuum has created a wide-open race where established stars and hungry newcomers are vying for supremacy.
Our power rankings weigh several critical factors: regular-season performance, historical playoff success (or lack thereof), the quality of the supporting cast, and the intangible “clutch” gene that separates good quarterbacks from legendary ones in January.
The Elite Tier: MVP Caliber and Postseason Proven
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
While Josh Allen lacks a Super Bowl ring, his postseason résumé is arguably the most impressive among active quarterbacks without one. He has amassed 3,359 passing yards, 25 touchdowns against just four interceptions, and added 668 rushing yards with seven more scores in playoff games. With the Chiefs eliminated, Allen’s Buffalo Bills have their clearest path to an AFC title in years. His unique combination of cannon-arm strength and elite rushing ability makes him the most dynamic and complete quarterback remaining in the tournament.
2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
At 37 years old, Matthew Stafford is playing the best football of his illustrious career. He led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes and 4,707 yards, making him a top contender for the MVP award. More importantly, he is one of only three quarterbacks in this field who has already won a Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Rams’ 12-win season matches Stafford’s career-high, a feat he also achieved in 2021—the year they won it all. His veteran poise and unmatched arm talent place him firmly in the top echelon.
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
The sophomore sensation has taken the league by storm, leading the New England Patriots to a remarkable 14-3 record after a dismal 4-13 campaign a year ago. Drake Maye‘s league-leading 72% completion rate and 31 touchdown passes have him in the MVP conversation. This is his postseason debut, but his precision and calm under pressure suggest he’s ready for the moment.
The High-End Contenders: On the Cusp of Greatness
4. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love has seamlessly carried the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback legacy forward. He finished second only to Maye in ESPN’s QBR metric (73.1) and his 86.5 EPA ranked sixth in the NFL, just behind Mahomes. Love has proven he can carry an offense and makes very few mistakes, a crucial trait in playoff football.
5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
When healthy, Brock Purdy operates the San Francisco 49ers’ offense with elite efficiency. In his nine starts, he had more games with three or more touchdown passes (4) than with one or fewer (3). He already has an NFC Championship victory on his résumé and a Super Bowl appearance. The questions surrounding Purdy are solely about his durability, not his capability.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
New head coach Liam Coen has unlocked the potential that made Trevor Lawrence a generational prospect. The Jacksonville Jaguars closed the season on a seven-game winning streak, powered by Lawrence, who threw multiple touchdowns in five of those victories. He finished the year with 29 touchdown passes (fifth-most) and appears to be peaking at the perfect time.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert possesses all the physical tools to be ranked higher, but his playoff history and supporting cast hold him back. In two postseason appearances, he has zero wins, including a game where the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead and another where he threw four interceptions. Los Angeles’ offensive line remains a significant liability that could undermine his superb talent.
The New Wave: Second-Year Stars Making Their Mark
8. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Under the guidance of head coach Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams has flourished in his second season. He showcased his elite arm talent and playmaking ability, throwing for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. The next step for Williams is demonstrating improved ball placement and touch against the heightened pressure of playoff defenses.
9. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
As the beneficiary of the Denver Broncos’ No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, Bo Nix has a strategic advantage. He led the NFL with seven game-winning drives, showing a knack for the clutch moment. However, analytics reveal a quarterback who benefited greatly from a short-passing game; his 6.4 yards per attempt ranked near the bottom of the league among starters, indicating a system that masks some limitations.
The Veteran Wild Cards
10. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold has found a late-career resurgence in Seattle, winning 14 games for the second straight year. However, his lone playoff start last year was a disaster, resulting in nine sacks and a loss to the Rams. The Seahawks’ bye week gives him time to prepare, but he must prove he can perform on the postseason stage.
11. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
The reigning Super Bowl MVP had a curious season. Jalen Hurts set a career-high with 25 touchdown passes and a career-low with six interceptions, but the Eagles’ offense often struggled. The team lost all five games in which Hurts had his highest pass attempt totals, suggesting the offense is at its best when it leans on his dynamic rushing ability, which was curiously underutilized this year.
12. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud has been a wild-card round hero in his first two seasons, but 2025 was statistically his weakest. Pro Football Focus data shows his time to throw dropped to a career-low 2.8 seconds, reducing sacks but also leading to fewer big plays and a shorter average depth of target. The Texans will need him to recapture his previous playoff form.
13. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
At 42, Aaron Rodgers can still make breathtaking throws, but his game has fundamentally changed. He operated with the shortest average depth of target (6.4 yards) of any qualifying quarterback, relying heavily on his playmakers. His 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns are career-lows for a full season, placing him in a game-manager role far different from his MVP years.
14. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young remains the ultimate outlier due to his size (5-foot-10), but his clutch gene is undeniable. His six game-winning drives were tied for second-most in the NFL this season. He already has a regular-season victory over Matthew Stafford’s Rams this year, proving he can win against top competition, but his overall statistical output remains the lowest among playoff quarterbacks.
What It All Means for Super Bowl 60
The absence of the Kansas City Chiefs creates a monumental shift in the AFC landscape. The path is now clear for Josh Allen to finally break through, but he will face fierce competition from the surging New England Patriots and Drake Maye. In the NFC, the battle is between the experienced brilliance of Matthew Stafford and the efficient machines led by Jordan Love and Brock Purdy.
This postseason will be defined by a simple question: Can the established veterans hold off the talented and hungry new generation of quarterbacks? The answer will determine the champion of Super Bowl 60.
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