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It's the most important position in the game, and many say being a starting quarterback in the NFL is the hardest job in sports.
The pressure that comes along with leading one of the league's 32 franchises is immense, especially when there are championship expectations or a massive contract on the line.
Here are six NFL signal-callers who are facing the most pressure heading into the 2026 season:
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
The youngest quarterback to win two NFL MVP awards, Jackson has enjoyed tons of individual success in Baltimore (NFL's all-time leader in career rushing yards and passer rating), but the Ravens have yet to get back to the Super Bowl on his watch. He'll have to stay healthy after dealing with nagging injuries during a disappointing 2025 season if he wants to lead them to a Lombardi Trophy this season, and with a new coaching staff, the pressure is on Jackson to provide stability and raise the rest of the roster to his level. After some key offseason additions, Jackson should have the help he needs to get this team back in the championship conversation in 2026.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
After a career year in 2024 (4,500 yards, 41 TD passes) and a strong start to his 2025 campaign, multiple injuries sandbagged Mayfield down the stretch last season, and his inconsistent play scuttled the Bucs' streak of four straight division titles and five straight playoff appearances. Not only will Mayfield be looking to bounce back with a strong 2026 season that gets Tampa Bay back into the postseason, he's heading into the final year of his current contract. If a new deal isn't struck before the season begins, Mayfield will have to deliver on the field if he wants another big payday to remain the Bucs' franchise quarterback.
Jordan Love, Packers
The Packers have made the playoffs in each of Love's three seasons as their full-time starter, but they're 1-3 in those playoff appearances, and they've yet to win the NFC North with Love at the helm. There have been flashes of Love's high-end physical traits and potential along the way, but he's still chasing consistency in terms of individual production and ultimate team success. Only two quarterbacks in the league (Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott) are making more money on average per season than Love ($55 million), and he's running out of time to prove he's worth it. The division won't be any easier to win this year, and Love will be judged by his ability to lead the Pack deeper into the postseason.
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Stroud came out of the gates with a fury to start his NFL career, delivering one of the most impressive seasons the league has ever seen from a rookie quarterback. But ever since, he's been marked by inconsistent and erratic play, no doubt influenced by an unstable supporting cast that's been marred by various injuries. The Texans are running out of time to decide whether or not to invest in Stroud as their franchise quarterback of the future with a massive contract extension, and the former No. 2 overall pick has to figure out how to recapture the magic of his rookie season if he wants to cash in and remain the face of Texans football for years to come.
Justin Herbert, Chargers
There's no denying the physical talent Herbert brings to the table, and when he's been healthy, he's been every bit worth the No. 6 overall pick the Chargers spent on him back in 2020. But for all of the individual production Herbert has delivered, it's yet to translate into team success beyond the regular season, as the Chargers are 0-3 in their playoff appearances during his time under center, all three losses as a wild-card team. A healthier supporting cast should definitely help this year, but Herbert's making more than $52 million per season, and the team will want more than another one-and-done in the postseason to show for their lucrative investment.
Matthew Stafford, Rams
It's Super Bowl or bust for the Rams after the offseason they've just had, which included trading a massive haul for the best defensive player in the league in Myles Garrett. Stafford is coming off an MVP season, but he'll have to contend with a defensive Super Bowl champ in his own division, and after the addition of Garrett, the pressure is on for Stafford and company to deliver another Lombardi Trophy. Anything less would be viewed as a failure, and with rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson now lurking behind him, this could be Stafford's last chance to deliver another championship before riding off into the sunset after a Hall of Fame career.
