15 biggest NFL quarterback busts of all-time
By John Buhler
Quarterback. Colorado State Rams. Kelly Stouffer. 4. player. 32.
In the late 1980s, St. Louis had itself one highly dysfunctional NFL franchise in the St. Louis Football Cardinals. The franchise later relocated to Phoenix and later found success in the last 10 years in the NFC West, but way before that, the Cardinals made themselves one terrible draft pick.
With the No. 6 overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, the Cardinals selected Colorado State Rams quarterback Kelly Stouffer, who straight up refused to play for the middling NFL franchise in St. Louis. In what should have been his rookie season in 1987, Stouffer held out as he and the Cardinals couldn’t reach a contract agreement.
Stouffer was then traded to the Seahawks in 1988 where he served as a third-string quarterback to Dave Krieg and Jeff Kemp. He would get his opportunity to start once Krieg got hurt and Kemp was benched. Stouffer even earned the respect of some folks in Seattle, as he completed a touchdown pass on a play that he clearly broke his nose.
Success with Stouffer was fleeting to say the least, as his coaches in Seattle believed that he was actually regressing instead of improving with each start. He may have shown brief moments of strong play in 1988 as a rookie, but Stouffer was ultimately released by the Seahawks after the 1992 NFL season.
Stouffer’s NFL career stats were as follows after hanging up the spikes after making the 1996 Carolina Panthers practice squad: 2,333 passing yards for seven touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 54.5. Apparently poor organizational in St. Louis, so-so competition in college, and accuracy issues makes Stouffer one of the biggest quarterback busts of all-time.
Next: 3. Akili Smith