Which Backup QB Has Had It The Best?

When Matt Flynn signed with the Jets last week, it got some Deadspin staffers to wondering if Flynn hasn’t had the single best—read: cushiest—NFL career for a backup QB. A few years chilling behind Aaron Rodgers, big money from Seattle, then a few years drifting around the league, rarely seeing the field but always having a job and a paycheck. Not bad.

But if it’s not Flynn, then who? We settled on three recent candidates, and remember: we’re judging from our own lazy-asshole point of view, not from that of someone who actually wants to be an starting QB or whatever. (Stats from Pro-Football-Reference.com; salaries from Spotrac.)

Pros: Got that big ol’ contract from the Seahawks, and only had to throw a grand total of nine passes for them. Will always have a job somewhere, thanks to NFL logic that decides if someone is drafted by the Packers, with a history of getting great QBs, he must be a great QB too. (See: every Tom Brady backup.) Was the winning QB in the single most fun regular-season NFL game of the last decade, and earned like $15 million for it.

Cons: Couldn’t even keep his first and only starting job until the regular season. Has had to move around a lot since 2011, including a lot of cold-weather cities. May have to actually play for the Jets at some point. Is a punchline.

Pros: Went more than four full calendar years without throwing a meaningful football. Got a cool nickname for looking good while holding a clipboard. Has made a surprising amount of money, most of it—again—from the Seahawks. Has gotten to live in San Diego, Seattle, and Nashville, three of our county’s more fun cities.

Cons: Known as the guy who lost a camp competition to Tarvaris Jackson. Let down his father, probably.

Pros: Got to chill in one place for almost his entire career, so no need to go through the hassle of selling a house. Literally never started a game. Owns a Super Bowl ring. Is probably friends with both Manning brothers, which sounds useful and fun.

Cons: Trapped in Indianapolis. Kicked to the curb for Curtis Painter. Actually got hurt one time.

Honorable mention: Gary Kubiak, Gale Gilbert, Frank Reich, Doug Pederson, Seneca Wallace, Tim Hasselbeck, David Carr

Please share your nominations for best-livin’ backup QBs in the comments.