Game Manager Quarterbacks in 2024

[SeahawkFever]

I have two questions about the quarterbacks in the league nowadays:

1. How do you define a quarterback who is a “game manager”?

And 2. What quarterbacks who start often these days do you consider to be game managers?

I ask because I’ve heard various reactions to the term over the years and I don’t know if everyone defines it the same way. In my experience, I’ve seen people use it as a pejorative term more often than not, but not always.

[Brian wolf]

Pejorative -- I had to look that word up, haha ...

I would have to look into the QBs that are considered game managers today, I know Bo Nix is one of them but he is also steadily improving and has his teammates confidence in him.
With a game-managing QB, the emphasis is utilizing your teammates, while minimizing your chances of mistakes by not taking or making risky decisions or panicking with throws in bad positions. The game manager may not take as many chances as the gun-slinging thrower, but also will take sacks or incompletions to fight another day.

The Dolphins HOF QBs were good examples ...

Marino was the talented, gun-slinging thrower, who went for big plays, whether feast or famine but believed in scoring points, which made him a winning thrower, though he never had faith in his team's running game, or even his defense.

Bob Griese was considered the game-manager, who had good ball handling skills and liked to utilize his team's running game, time of possession and throwing when the defense didnt expect him to. He didnt like to try to take what he wanted from a defense but tried to take what was given and cut down on the risks and mistakes.
I still feel he was an underrated, great QB, who used his intelligence and mobility to continually beat teams, though I felt his one flaw was not throwing enough on third down. He never liked taking too many chances on that down, knowing his defense could hold their end, when they punted.

Some people felt he was just along for the ride in Miami but like Bart Starr, he could perform surgery on a defense, which is why both were winning QBs, who got the most out of their teammates.

Russell Wilson was accused of being a game-manager early in his career but he was very effective with mobility, smart play and helping his defense. He became a much better thrower and took more chances for the big play but his offensive line and running game deteriorated and the Seattle team couldnt get back to another championship game.

[Brian wolf]

I felt in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield was more a game-managing QB, though he probably didnt use the talent around him better but he also played hurt. I feel he is more focused, more confident and a better a leader with the Bucs. Of course it helps to have better receivers and maybe, better coaching--from the coordinators--as well.

[JameisBrownston]

Patrick Mahomes LOL. He has been getting it together somewhat lately though. But he has the lowest deep throw rate in the league this year. Something is wrong with him that has taken away whatever made him dynamic.

[sluggermatt15]

Patrick Mahomes LOL. He has been getting it together somewhat lately though. But he has the lowest deep throw rate in the league this year. Something is wrong with him that has taken away whatever made him dynamic.

He is a terrible quarterback option in terms of fantasy football this season.

[Brian wolf]

Not to sound obvious again, but in defense of Mahomes, he came into the league throwing to a younger Kelce, Sammy Watkins, who always had talent and a deep threat with Tyreek Hill. His receivers now arent nearly as good--though Rice is hurt and Hopkins is new--and he throws shorter throws than he probably wants to. Admittedly, he has lost some of the fastball he once had but playing 20-21 games a year since 2018 might do that ...

[JameisBrownston]

I certainly feel like he has had worse receiving corps in recent years where he was performing much better. They're actually going out of their way to get him help now, which they didn't seem to be for a few years, and he's still regressing. Could it have to do with the OL? He seems to be rolling out on every single dropback now, and his out-of-pocket magic just doesn't exist anymore.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

I think Jordan Love is good in this kind of role. He's extremely efficient. Reminds me of Phil Simms for the most part. Simms was a great game manager, at least in how I understand the term. Won't win the game by himself. Runs the offense efficiently, doesn't need to have superstars around, needs help from his teammates but he's rarely going to single-handedly lose a game. Consistent in that his worst games aren't going to be awful. Best games are mostly going to have a very high completion percentage, not necessarily huge stats.

Love checks all those boxes for me. I don't think he's as good as Simms (at least not yet), but to me, he's a solid game manager.

I'm going to add that IMHO, there's nothing wrong with having a solid game manager QB. Griese led the Dolphins to an undefeated season. Simms won a SB and likely would have won 2 without an injury. Give me a good game manager on the right team, and I'm happy with that.

[JameisBrownston]

It seems odd to call Jordan Love a game manager. Goes off for 300/3 pretty often, with a mid completion percentage and high turnover rate. Definitely carries the team in some games and loses it in others. Besides Mahomes, if you want a guy who never seems to be the reason his team wins or loses, CJ Stroud has been that this year. He hasn't gotten in the way.

[Brian wolf]

Hurts with Philly is an excellent game-manager, though he can make big plays with his receivers. Though I felt he might have been overrated, he has quietly bounced back from the collapse of last season, though the defense was the main culprit. This year with Fangio, the defense is one of the best again and Hurts has delivered despite injuries offensively. He has gladly let Barkley enjoy his spotlight but by playoff time, I feel he will throw more to get back to the SB. Could Fangio get any credit as an assistant for Coach Of The Year?