The QB GOAT Series: 41-39

A cohort with quarterbacks defined by longevity, under-appreciated efficiency, and a legend whose stats don't tell the whole story

I wrote up the methodology for how I measure quarterback career value and highlighted a few honorable mentions in a post last week.

I don’t agree 100% with all the rankings, but the beauty of stats-based analysis is that we can take representative data from nearly one million of quarterback dropbacks over nearly a century of the modern NFL to rank-order quarterbacks by value. Good luck watching, grading and comparing every quarterback snap from 1947 to 2022 and then forming your own film-watcher list.

I’m going to take this list in smallish chucks, going three-at-a-time until I get to the final two, who you might be able to guess, though the ordering may remain a mystery.

Links to past posts:

• 50-48, 47-45, 44-42

No. 41: JEFF GARCIA

Regular: 30th, Peak: 38th, Playoffs: 78th

Jeff Garcia isn’t the first name that comes to mind for San Francisco 49ers quarterback greats. Heck, he might not be in the top-5 for a franchise blessed to have had Joe Montana, Steve Young, Y.A. Tittle, and John Brodie taking snaps for the majority of their careers. Even more recent recent good-not-great quarterbacks like Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Jimmy Garoppolo might be assumed more valuable during their stints with the team. Garcia’s historical positioning immediately after top-10 greats like Montana and Young and the most successful eras of the franchise blunts the shine of his own accomplishes, which were significant. And who even remembers that Garcia was able to perform admirably for a few seasons with the Eagles and Bucs at the end of his career.

Garcia wasn’t taken in the 1994 NFL draft, considered small (6’1”, 195) and with questionable, small-school pedigree (San Jose State). Instead of join the NFL as a UDFA, Garcia chose to join the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, eventually taking over as starter when Doug Flutie left to another team. During Garcia’s three starting seasons, the Stampeders had a winning record each season (combined 35-19), leading the team all the way to a Grey Cup victory in his final season as the game’s MVP. The CFL, obviously, isn’t the same level of competition as the NFL, but for quarterbacks who spent significant time there with success, I have given partial credit in the QB GOAT methodology for those seasons (roughly 20%). Garcia’s career number is boosted to reflect his CFL value.

After winning the Grey Cup, Garcia was signed by the 49ers to backup Steve Young, who suffered his final, career-ending concussion in the 1999 season, and Garcia split time at quarterback the remainder of that season before taking over as starter in 2000. Garcia had immediate success as full-time starter, throwing for nearly 4,300 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season. Garcia posted the third best passing efficiency in 2000, while contributing 414 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Garcia made the Pro Bowl, and received three All-Pro votes, in spite of the 49ers 6-10 record.

Garcia also made the Pro Bowl the following two seasons, with the 49ers winning 12 and 10 games in 2001 and 2002, though Garcia’s passing efficiency slipping somewhat each season. Garcia wasn’t able to replicate his regular-season play in limited playoff games those seasons, going 1-2 with a 4.6 ANY/A (regular season 6.3 ANY/A). In 2003, Garcia’s was almost equally efficient as the previous season, but the 49ers struggled generally, 5-8 with him as starter, 7-9 overall. The 49ers released Garcia in the 2004 offseason.

The second half of Garcia’s career in the NFL is largely forgotten, and his two seasons with the Browns and Lions were largely forgettable. Garcia started a combined 15 games for those franchises, but posted, by far, the worst efficiency of his career, with a combined 4-11 team record.

What shouldn’t be forgotten is Garcia’s next two stops in Philly and Tampa, first reborn under Andy Reid after taking over for an injured Donovan McNabb. The 36-year-old Garcia won five of six games to close the season, securing the Eagles a playoff birth, beating the Giants in the Wild Card round, but succumbing to Drew Brees and the Saints in the Divisional Round.

Garcia rode the momentum of his time in Philly to the starting job for two seasons with the Bucs, leading them to the playoffs, going 8-5 as starter and posting a healthy 7.0 ANY/A. Garcia continued to play relatively well the following season, with a 6.5 ANY/A, but the missed the playoffs with the same record as the previous season (9-7), and Garcia wasn’t re-signed in the offseason.

Garcia doesn’t have a popular reputation commensurate with his efficiency, mostly due to his connection with efficiency-boosting Terrell Owens, and their fallout and finger pointing. It’s probably a safe assumption that the Hall-of-Fame receiver was more beneficial to the former CFL quarterback than the reverse, but the second half of Garcia’s career is some evidence of his ability to thrive without a top-notch wideout.

Garcia’s accomplishments, even with the Eagles and Bucs, could be marginalized by the connections to coaches Reid and Gruden. Yes, Garcia's talents were best deployed in a West Coast system of short passes, but the list of quarterbacks who can thrive in any system is very short. Garcia shouldn’t have Hall-of-Fame consideration, but his accomplishments shouldn’t be brushed aside either.

No. 40: JIM HART

Regular: 35th, Peak: 30th, Playoffs: 57th