Browns QB records in first NFL start: How Shedeur Sanders can make Cleveland history for first time in 26 years
Arguably, no NFL franchise has had a revolving door at quarterback to the extent of the Cleveland Browns.
On an annual basis, the Browns have seemed to roll out a new starting quarterback — or multiple — as they seek to finally find offensive stability with a star-level passer. Especially in the 21st century, it’s been a struggle for Cleveland to find that answer.
In the 2025 season, with Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel already starting games for the Browns, Kevin Stefanski’s unit is set to turn to its third starter of the year: Shedeur Sanders. The fifth-round rookie’s fall on draft day made a ton of noise, and he’ll be making his first career start in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sanders, however, won’t exactly have the odds for a victory stacked in his favor when compared to first-time Browns starters in recent history.
Here’s a look at Cleveland quarterbacks’ struggles in their first NFL start dating back to 1999.
MORE: Full Browns quarterback timeline since 1999
Browns QB records in first NFL start
In 1999, the Browns moved to Cleveland, where they’ve remained since. In the 20-plus years since then, not one first-time NFL starting quarterback has won in their debut for the squad.
Browns quarterbacks making their first NFL start are 0-17, the equivalent of a full winless regular season. While that statistic only dates back to 1999, since the team’s been in Cleveland, it’s yet another reminder of the cycle of passers the Browns have gone through.
The first Cleveland passer to lose their NFL debut in that period was Tim Couch, who lost 43-0 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 12, 1999, to begin his rookie season. More recently, Sanders’ teammate and fellow 2025 rookie Dillon Gabriel lost 21-17 to the Minnesota Vikings in his starting debut on Oct. 5, 2025.
Sanders will attempt to break the trend on Sunday when he takes on the Raiders in his first NFL start.
Here’s every Browns quarterback to make their NFL starting debut for the team, and lose the game, since 1999:
- Tim Couch, 1999
- Spergon Wynn, 2000
- Luke McCown, 2004
- Charlie Frye, 2005
- Derek Anderson, 2006
- Brady Quinn, 2008
- Colt McCoy, 2010
- Brandon Weeden, 2012
- Thad Lewis, 2012
- Johnny Manziel, 2014
- Connor Shaw, 2014
- Cody Kessler, 2016
- DeShone Kizer, 2017
- Kevin Hogan, 2017
- Baker Mayfield, 2018
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson, 2023
- Dillon Gabriel, 2025
MORE: Why Shedeur Sanders is starting for the Browns in Week 12
Browns QB history
Here’s a look at every Browns starting quarterback since 1999.
QuarterbackYears with CLEGames Started (GS)Record (W-L)Comp%Yards/Start (Avg.)TDINTPasser Rating (Avg.)Tim Couch*1999–20035922–3759.8%188.7646775.1Ty Detmer199920–240.0%134.00234.2Doug Pederson200081–751.5%157.02856.4Spergon Wynn*200010–131.3%1.1011.0Kelly Holcomb2002–2004124–857.9%235.3262181.3Jeff Garcia2004103–756.6%225.810976.7Luke McCown*200440–449.2%145.83658.3Trent Dilfer2005114–759.8%184.9111276.9Charlie Frye*2005–2007197–1257.0%202.9172969.7Derek Anderson*2006–20093416–1855.4%188.1343774.3Brady Quinn*2008–2009123–952.9%145.410966.8Ken Dorsey200830–347.3%123.30734.0Bruce Gradkowski200810–131.3%1.8021.0Jake Delhomme201041–355.4%144.32756.4Seneca Wallace2010–201172–557.3%141.05573.6Colt McCoy*2010–2012216–1558.3%182.2212074.5Brandon Weeden*2012–2013205–1555.9%255.8232671.8Thad Lewis*201210–157.1%135.01177.4Jason Campbell201381–756.8%224.911876.9Brian Hoyer2013–20141610–657.9%215.3171682.5Johnny Manziel*2014–201582–658.7%163.77775.1Connor Shaw*201410–150.0%104.00144.4Josh McCown2015–2016111–1060.6%256.016983.1Austin Davis201520–260.5%209.51366.8Cody Kessler*201680–862.0%202.86389.9Robert Griffin III201651–459.2%177.22372.5DeShone Kizer*2017150–1553.9%192.9112260.5Kevin Hogan*201710–153.8%174.00347.9Tyrod Taylor201831–1–150.8%174.72275.3Baker Mayfield*2018–20215929–3061.6%239.4925688.0Case Keenum202121–161.4%161.51097.4Nick Mullens202110–169.8%213.01186.8Jacoby Brissett2022114–764.0%206.212688.9Deshaun Watson2022–2024199–1059.9%197.8191284.4Dorian Thompson- Robinson*2023–202451–452.6%108.611049.3P.J. Walker202321–148.6%96.01556.8Joe Flacco2023–202595–460.3%225.0151482.1Jeff Driskel202310–153.5%196.02272.9Jameis Winston202472–558.8%217.112883.3Bailey Zappe202410–151.6%148.00244.1Dillon Gabriel*202561–559.2%153.07280.8
*Made NFL starting debut for Browns and lost
