The Kansas City Chiefs drafted the quarterback of the generation when they took Patrick Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. When he was selected, the team had won just one playoff game in 25 years -- they’ve won a bunch more since.

Yes, some QBs had some degree of success in Kansas City besides Mahomes. See who makes the cut in this Betway Insider top 10 ranking the best Chiefs quarterbacks of all time. As usual, all stats are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and are updated through the end of the 2023 regular season.

Who is the Kansas City Chiefs 2023 Starting Quarterback?

The Chiefs 2023 starting quarterback is Patrick Mahomes, who’s been the starter since 2018.

Who is the Kansas City Chiefs 2023 backup Quarterback?

The Chiefs 2023 backup quarterback is Blaine Gabbart, who’s in his first year as the KC backup.

Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks History

Want some Chiefs’ quarterback history? It starts and ends with two men: Len Dawson and Patrick Mahomes.

Famous Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks

Other famous Chiefs quarterbacks include a cluster of former 49ers QBs like Joe Montana, Alex Smith, and Steve DeBerg.

Ranking the Top 10 Best Kansas City Chiefs Quarterbacks of all time

  1. Matt Cassel, 2009-2012

Former Chiefs QB Matt Cassel earned the starting job in Kansas City based on his strong Tom Brady cameo in 2008. Following the star QB’s ACL tear in 2008, Cassel stepped in and went a respectable 11-5 with a strong 3693 yards passing.

The Chiefs jumped at the chance to acquire him, though Cassel initially struggled. He rebounded from a 16-16 TD-INT in 2009 to 27-7 in 2010, earning him Pro Bowl honors. The Chiefs won the AFC West but fell in the Wild Card round.

Cassel couldn’t reach the same heights in 2011 or 2012 and joined the Minnesota Vikings.

  1. Joe Montana, 1993-1994

Yes, the Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana starred for the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of his career. Steve Young took his starting gig in San Francisco and Montana was looking for one last chance to start. He was traded to the Chiefs ahead of the 1993 season.

Montana was a Pro Bowler in his first season, leading the team to an 11-5 record and their first AFC Championship Game since the 1960s. The team would fall to the Bills, and the Chiefs squeaked into the playoffs in 1994 before losing to the Dolphins in the Wild Card round. Montana would retire following the season.

  1. Steve Bono, 1989-1993

Another past Kansas City QB is former QB Steve Bono, who was yet another 49ers backup who finally thrived as a Chief. Bono once started six games in San Francisco when both Joe Montana and Steve Young were hurt, and he was traded to Kansas City ahead of the 1994 season to back up Montana once again.

Following the Hall of Famer’s retirement, Bono inherited the starting gig. His first season was a smash hit: Bono led Kansas City to a 13-3 record with 3121 passing yards and a 21-10 TD-INT, earning Pro Bowl honors. They were upset in the Divisional Round by QB Jim Harbaugh and the Indianapolis Colts.

Bono was strong in 1996 but the team regressed. He joined the Green Bay Packers that offseason.

  1. Elvis Grbac, 1997-2000

Former Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac is, you guessed it, another 49ers backup who thrived in Kansas City. He became the full-time starter in 1997 and the team went 8-2 in his stars -- eerily similar to Bono, the team finished 13-3. This time, they were upset in the Divisional playoffs by the Denver Broncos.

Grbac would never reach the postseason again in Kansas City, but he did have plenty of individual success. Injuries slowed his 1998 campaign but he was strong in 1999. Grbac’s best season came in 2000, when he was a Pro Bowler by throwing for 4169 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Grbac signed with the reigning Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens that offseason but struggled in the environment. In all, he has the eighth most passing yards in franchise history.

  1. Steve DeBerg, 1988-1991

You wouldn’t believe it: it’s another former San Francisco 49ers QB. This time it’s QB Steve DeBerg, who actually got a starting shot for the 49ers (and went 2-13 in his one full campaign).

DeBerg arrived in Kansas City as a 34-year-old journeyman in 1988 and he finally found a home. He was the team’s primary starting QB for four seasons, though he was occasionally benched in 1988-1989 for inconsistent performance. His best campaign came in 1990 when he threw for 3444 yards with an impressive 23-4 TD-INT ratio.

KC couldn’t crack the AFC Championship game with DeBerg and moved after the 1991 season. He has both the sixth most passing yards and touchdowns in franchise history.

  1. Bill Kenney, 1980-1988

We have a non-San Francisco QB! Former Chiefs QB Bill Kenney only ever suited up for one franchise -- the Kansas City Chiefs. Though he was never spectacular, he was the primary starter in KC for the better part of seven campaigns.

Kenney’s best season came in 1983, when he threw for 4348 yards and 24 touchdowns, though the team struggled to a 6-10 record. He made the playoffs once as a starter, leading the team to a 10-6 record in 1986 to snap the franchise’s 15-year playoff drought.

Kenney ranks fifth in franchise history for passing yards and fourth for passing touchdowns.

  1. Trent Green, 2001-2006

Like so many Chiefs quarterbacks before him, former Kansas City QB Trent Green also has a 13-3 record on his resume blemished by an early playoff defeat. Green’s came in 2003, when his beautiful 4039-yard and 24-score Pro Bowl campaign was ruined by a Divisional Round loss at home to QB Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Green was Chiefs HC Dick Vermeil’s backup when the coach was in St. Louis, but Green was traded to Kansas City for a first-round pick ahead of the 2001 season. He was well worth it: Green was a 2x Pro Bowler who would top 4000 passing yards three times.

Green has the third most passing yards and touchdowns for the Chiefs, though he failed to win a playoff game.

  1. Alex Smith, 2013-2017

Here we go: another former San Francisco QB in Kansas City. This time it’s Alex Smith, whose stint as a Chief is often forgotten because of the man who preceded him (Patrick Mahomes).

Smith has a strong five-year stint as the Kansas City starter. The team went 50-26 in his starts, he made three Pro Bowls and never threw more than 10+ picks in a season. With a win over the Houston Texans in the 2015 Wild Card Round, Smith snapped the franchise’s 20+ year drought without a playoff victory, dating back to the days of Joe Montana.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was right: Smith was solid, but the franchise was never going to get over the hump with him at QB. Enter Patrick Mahomes.

  1. Len Dawson, 1962-1975

Former Kansas City QB Len Dawson did enough to top just about every other franchise’s QB list. He was arguably the best quarterback of the 1960s, leading the league in passing 4x times and in completion percentage on SEVEN occasions.

The AFL All-time member and Pro Football Hall of Famer led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl Bowl title, winning Super Bowl IV MVP. He also won AFL MVP in 1962 and cracked 6x AFL All-Star teams.

  1. Patrick Mahomes, 2017-Present

Why is current Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes already the best quarterback in Chiefs history? He:

Mind you, Mahomes is only 28 years old. Chiefs fans are lucky: he’s going to be in Kansas City for a long, long time.

Parameters of Rankings

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

Related: 

Bet on NFL Odds at Betway

Find season-long NFL betting odds on the Betway. You'll find all the latest spreads, parlays, totals, NFL prop bets, moneylines, and NFL futures. Or call it how you see it with our live NFL betting in-play. All your NFL betting needs are covered at our online sportsbook.

Visit Betway’s NFL picks page for picks and predictions throughout the regular season.