It’s the most necessary place in the recreation, and plenty of say being a beginning quarterback in the NFL is the hardest job in sports activities.
The stress that comes together with main one in all the league’s 32 franchises is immense, particularly when there are championship expectations or an enormous contract on the line.
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Here are six NFL signal-callers who’re dealing with the most stress heading into the 2026 season:
The youngest quarterback to win two NFL MVP awards, Jackson has loved tons of individual success in Baltimore (NFL’s all-time chief in profession dashing yards and passer ranking), however the Ravens have but to get again to the Super Bowl on his watch. He’ll have to remain wholesome after coping with nagging accidents throughout a disappointing 2025 season if he desires to cause them to a Lombardi Trophy this season, and with a brand new teaching workers, the stress is on Jackson to offer stability and lift the remainder of the roster to his stage. After some key offseason additions, Jackson ought to have the assist he must get this group again in the championship dialog in 2026.
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Baker Mayfield is heading right into a contract yr, and hoping to bounce again from an injury-riddled 2025 marketing campaign. (Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images)Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
After a profession yr in 2024 (4,500 yards, 41 TD passes) and a powerful begin to his 2025 marketing campaign, a number of accidents sandbagged Mayfield down the stretch final season, and his inconsistent play scuttled the Bucs’ streak of 4 straight division titles and 5 straight playoff appearances. Not solely will Mayfield be trying to bounce again with a powerful 2026 season that will get Tampa Bay again into the postseason, he is heading into the final year of his present contract. If a brand new deal is not struck earlier than the season begins, Mayfield must ship on the subject if he desires one other large payday to stay the Bucs’ franchise quarterback.
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Jordan Love is working out of time to stay as much as his hefty price ticket. (Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)© Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Packers have made the playoffs in every of Love’s three seasons as their full-time starter, however they’re 1-3 in these playoff appearances, they usually’ve but to win the NFC North with Love at the helm. There have been flashes of Love’s high-end bodily traits and potential alongside the method, however he is nonetheless chasing consistency when it comes to particular person manufacturing and supreme group success. Only two quarterbacks in the league (Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott) are making extra money on common per season than Love ($55 million), and he is working out of time to show he is price it. The division will not be any simpler to win this yr, and Love will probably be judged by his capacity to steer the Pack deeper into the postseason.
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C.J. Stroud has struggled to match the stage of play from his rookie season. (Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images)Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Stroud got here out of the gates with a fury to start out his NFL profession, delivering one in all the most spectacular seasons the league has ever seen from a rookie quarterback. But ever since, he is been marked by inconsistent and erratic play, little doubt influenced by an unstable supporting forged that is been marred by numerous accidents. The Texans are working out of time to resolve whether or not or to not spend money on Stroud as their franchise quarterback of the future with an enormous contract extension, and the former No. 2 general choose has to determine the right way to recapture the magic of his rookie season if he desires to money in and stay the face of Texans soccer for years to return.
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Justin Herbert is making large cash and placing up large numbers, however the Chargers are 0-3 in the playoffs beneath his watch. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
There’s no denying the bodily expertise Herbert brings to the desk, and when he is been wholesome, he is been each bit price the No. 6 general choose the Chargers spent on him again in 2020. But for all of the particular person manufacturing Herbert has delivered, it is but to translate into group success past the common season, as the Chargers are 0-3 of their playoff appearances throughout his time beneath heart, all three losses as a wild-card group. A more healthy supporting forged ought to undoubtedly assist this yr, however Herbert’s making greater than $52 million per season, and the group will need greater than one other one-and-done in the postseason to point out for his or her profitable funding.
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Matthew Stafford has to ship one other Super Bowl win for the Rams. (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)© Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Rams after the offseason they’ve simply had, which included trading a massive haul for the finest defensive participant in the league in Myles Garrett. Stafford is coming off an MVP season, however he’ll need to cope with a defensive Super Bowl champ in his personal division, and after the addition of Garrett, the stress is on for Stafford and firm to ship one other Lombardi Trophy. Anything much less can be seen as a failure, and with rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson now lurking behind him, this may very well be Stafford’s final likelihood to ship one other championship earlier than using off into the sundown after a Hall of Fame profession.
This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2026, the place it first appeared in the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.