C.J. Stroud became the latest rookie QB to win a playoff game for his team. The Houston Texans shellacked the Cleveland Browns, 45-14, and the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft looked terrific. While we’ll have to wait and see how far Stroud and the Texans go, but for now we can recap all the other first-year signal-callers to notch a postseason victory. Wins: 1 (so far) Result: Won AFC Wild Card (so far) Stroud continues to impress in his rookie season, throwing for 274 yards against Cleveland in the opening round of this year’s playoffs for a 45-14 victory. He now has to face off against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens for the divisional game. Wins: 2 Result: Lost in the NFC Championship game We all know Purdy’s story of going from Mr. Irrelevant to the starting QB for San Fran, leading them deep into the playoffs. He was injured early in last season’s NFC championship game, and the 49ers Super Bowl hopes went out with him. 
source: Getty Images C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (2023)
source: Getty Images Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (2022)
source: Getty Images Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (2012)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 1
Result: Lost in NFC divisional round
Dangeruss won his first playoff game against Washington in 2012, helping the Seahawks overcome a 14-point deficit and win 24-14. Wilson couldn’t find the same success against the Falcons in the divisional round.
T.J. Yates, Houston Texans (2011)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 1
Result: Lost in AFC divisional round
Yates and the Texans beat the Bengals in the first round of the playoffs, but couldn’t get past the Ravens in the AFC divisional game. These two squads face off again for the first time since that day.
Mark Sanchez, New York Jets (2009)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 2
Result: Lost in AFC championship
The Jets had some close playoff games against Cincinnati and San Diego before Sanchez had to square off against Peyton Manning and the Colts. Sanchez had led the offense to an 11-point lead in the first half, but that wasn’t enough of a cushion to outduel the Sheriff.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (2008)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 2
Result: Lost in the AFC Championship
Stroud joined Flacco on this list by beating the 39-year-old in the Wild Card Round last week. Back in ‘08, Flacco helped guide the Ravens past Miami and Tennessee before falling flat against the Steelers in the conference title game.
Ben Rothlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (2004)
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Wins: 1
Result: Lost in AFC Championship
Big Ben beat the New York Jets in the divisional round, but couldn’t run through Tom Brady, who won his second Super Bowl ring that year with the Pats.
Aaron Brooks, New Orleans Saints (2000)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 1
Result: Lost NFC championship
Brooks made history for being the first rookie QB to knock off the defending Super Bowl champs in the playoffs when he and the Saints beat the Rams. It was also New Orleans’ first playoff win in team history.
Shaun King, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 1
Result: Lost in NFC championship
King became QB1 for the Bucs in the middle of the season after starter Trent Dilfer sustained a season-ending injury. He led Tampa Bay to the NFC championship game after beating Washington. The Bucs lost to the eventual Super Bowl champs, the “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams.
Dieter Brock, Los Angeles Rams (1985)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 2
Result: Lost in the NFC championship
While technically a rookie, Brock was 34 at the time, having come to the NFL after a decade in the Canadian Football League. Brock and the Rams made it to the NFC championship game before getting shut out by the Bears, the eventual Super Bowl champions. (Brock wasn’t the oldest rookie ever; Otis Douglas made his NFL debut at 35 in 1946.)
Pat Haden, Los Angeles Rams (1976)
source: Getty Images
Wins: 1
Result: Lost in NFC divisional round
Drafted in the seventh round, Haden was the third string QB for the Rams. After being thrust into the starting role, he helped beat the Cowboys before L.A. fell to the Vikings in the next round.
FAQs
Has a rookie NFL QB ever won a playoff game? ›
C.J. Stroud became the latest rookie QB to win a playoff game for his team.
Who is the youngest rookie quarterback to win a playoff game? ›Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is looking to make more history this year. After the Texans defeated the Cleveland Browns, Stroud became the youngest NFL QB to win a playoff game at 22 years and 102 days.
Has there ever been a rookie QB to win the Super Bowl? ›No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl in the 57 years of the game's existence as the starter. In fact, no rookie has ever even reached the Super Bowl as the starter for a team.
Has a rookie QB ever made it to the conference championship? ›C.J.
1 seeded Ravens a loss, he'll advance to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie. The only other rookie quarterbacks to have made it to their respective team's conference title games are Joe Flacco (2008), Mark Sanchez (2009), and Brock Purdy (2022).
Has a Second-Year Quarterback Ever Won the Super Bowl? Four of the seven second-year quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl in their second season managed to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Those four are Warner, Brady, Roethlisberger, and Wilson.
How old was CJ Stroud when he won his first playoff game? ›Stroud, at 22 years and 102 days, became the youngest quarterback ever to win a NFL playoff game after Houston beat the Cleveland Browns 45-14 during wild card weekend on Saturday.
How old was Patrick Mahomes when he won his first Super Bowl? ›At just 24 years old, Patrick Mahomes achieved a historic milestone by leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV. Facing the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes orchestrated a comeback, scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure the Chiefs' first title in fifty years.
Who is the only player to win rookie of the Year and MVP NFL? ›The only rookie to win NFL MVP was Jim Brown in 1957. Could the Browns legend finally get some company 66 years later? Houston, we have a superstar: Texans rookie C.J.
What famous QB never won a Super Bowl? ›Donovan McNabb
McNabb gets a lot of criticism for failing to win the Super Bowl, but his nine playoff victories are tied for the most by a quarterback that's never won a Super Bowl. McNabb actually has as many playoff wins as Drew Brees and more than Dan Marino (eight).
As noted recently by NFL senior researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno, only one rookie has won the league's MVP award — Jim Brown, in 1957. Stroud could be the second.
Has a black quarterback ever won the Super Bowl? ›
Despite the careers of Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, Warren Moon remains the only Black QB in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Only three Black quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl — Mahomes, Williams and Russell Wilson.
Has a rookie QB ever played Pro Bowl? ›and veteran offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Pro Bowl. According to the Texans, Stroud is the first rookie QB to make the Pro Bowl since New England's Mac Jones in 2021. The Ohio State alum is also the second rookie QB in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl.
Has a rookie ever won Offensive Player of the Year NFL? ›In 1978, Campbell was a rookie with the Houston Oilers. He exploded out of the gate by leading the NFL with 1,450 yards. Yes, Campbell won OPOY as a rookie.
Has a rookie ever won the Super Bowl in the MVP? ›A rookie has never won Super Bowl MVP before. Rice is a top 10 favorite in most sportsbooks to have a chance at the honor. But more people will probably be looking to place wagers on Moody's performance.
What is the most wins by a rookie QB ever? ›Dak Prescott and Ben Roethlisberger are tied for the most wins by a rookie quarterback, with 13 wins.
Who has the most playoff wins as a starting quarterback? ›Winning starters
Tom Brady holds the NFL records for most playoff wins by a quarterback, 35, and for most playoff games started, 48. Joe Flacco and Tom Brady are tied for the most road post-season wins (7), not including Super Bowls, which are played at a neutral site.
Jim Brown won the MVP award in the NFL in his rookie season in 1957.