15 biggest NFL quarterback busts of all-time

By John Buhler | Apr 20, 2016

368299 Todd Marinovich of the Los Angeles Raiders against the Rams in 1991/92 season. On APRIL 25, 2000 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Former gridiron goldenboy Todd Marinovich was arrested on suspicion of rape today by deputies from the sheriff''s Marina del Rey station, authorities said. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport/Online USA /

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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Todd Blackledge /

player. 124. . Quarterback. Penn State Nittany Lions. Todd Blackledge. 8

While many could certainly argue that Eason wasn’t a great pro with the New England Patriots, only one of the six first-round quarterbacks taken in the 1983 NFL Draft was an undeniable bust. The Kansas City Chiefs used their No. 7 overall pick on Penn State’s Todd Blackledge over Marino, Kelly, and O’Brien.

Blackledge helped quarterback the 1982 National Championship team while with Penn State. Kansas City was in dire need of a quarterback and Blackledge was the 1982 Davey O’Brien winner, not Elway, Marino, or Kelly.

However with Kansas City, Blackledge would struggle to win the starting job with the Chiefs. He left Kansas City after the 1987 NFL season and spent two more years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 1989.

Blackledge’s career numbers were 5,286 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 38 interceptions, and a bad quarterback rating of 60.2. Now football fans know Blackledge for the color commentary he provides with Brad Nessler calling college football games on ESPN.

Blackledge may love to tell you all the good places to eat in each college town on television, but he certainly couldn’t tell you how to win the Chiefs starting quarterback job in the mid-1980s. The overwhelming Hall of Fame success of Elway, Kelly, and Marino makes Blackledge’s NFL career look considerably worse by comparison.

Next: 7. Heath Shuler

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