Atlanta Falcons starting quarterbacks

19 since 1999 · Last start: Michael Penix Jr.

Who has started at quarterback for the Falcons?

The Atlanta Falcons have started 19 quarterbacks since 1999. Matt Ryan made the most starts since 1999: 222 (120-102). In 2026 3 have started: Michael Penix Jr. (2), Tua Tagovailoa (1), and Cooper Rush (1); Michael Penix Jr. started the last game.

Year by yearMost starts

Falcons starting quarterbacks by year

Atlanta Falcons starting quarterbacks by season: starts and record as the starter
SeasonStarters: starts (record)RecordPlayoffs
2026Cooper Rush 1 (0-1)Tua Tagovailoa 1 (0-1)Michael Penix Jr. 2 (2-0)2-2—
2025Michael Penix 9 (3-6)Kirk Cousins 8 (5-3)8-9—
2024Kirk Cousins 14 (7-7)Michael Penix Jr. 3 (1-2)8-9—
2023Desmond Ridder 13 (6-7)Taylor Heinicke 4 (1-3)7-10—
2022Marcus Mariota 13 (5-8)Desmond Ridder 4 (2-2)7-10—
2021Matt Ryan 17 (7-10)7-10—
2020Matt Ryan 16 (4-12)4-12—
2019Matt Ryan 15 (7-8)Matt Schaub 1 (0-1)7-9—
2018Matt Ryan 16 (7-9)7-9—
2017Matt Ryan 16 (10-6)10-6Matt Ryan 1-1
2016Matt Ryan 16 (11-5)11-5Matt Ryan 2-1
2015Matt Ryan 16 (8-8)8-8—
2014Matt Ryan 16 (6-10)6-10—
2013Matt Ryan 16 (4-12)4-12—
2012Matt Ryan 16 (13-3)13-3Matt Ryan 1-1
2011Matt Ryan 16 (10-6)10-6Matt Ryan 0-1
2010Matt Ryan 16 (13-3)13-3Matt Ryan 0-1
2009Matt Ryan 14 (9-5)Chris Redman 2 (0-2)9-7—
2008Matt Ryan 16 (11-5)11-5Matt Ryan 0-1
2007Joey Harrington 10 (3-7)Byron Leftwich 2 (0-2)Chris Redman 4 (1-3)4-12—
2006Michael Vick 15 (7-8)Matt Schaub 1 (0-1)7-9—
2005Michael Vick 15 (8-7)Matt Schaub 1 (0-1)8-8—
2004Michael Vick 14 (11-3)Matt Schaub 2 (0-2)11-5Michael Vick 1-1
2003Doug Johnson 8 (1-7)Kurt Kittner 4 (1-3)Michael Vick 4 (3-1)5-11—
2002Michael Vick 15 (8-6-1)Doug Johnson 1 (1-0)9-6-1Michael Vick 1-1
2001Chris Chandler 14 (6-8)Michael Vick 2 (1-1)7-9—
2000Chris Chandler 13 (4-9)Danny Kanell 1 (0-1)Doug Johnson 2 (0-2)4-12—
1999Chris Chandler 12 (4-8)Tony Graziani 3 (1-2)Danny Kanell 1 (0-1)5-11—

Most starts at quarterback for the Falcons

Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks by regular-season starts
QuarterbackSeasonsStartsW-L-TPctPlayoffs
Matt Ryan2008–2021222120-102.5414-6
Michael Vick2001–20066538-26-1.5922-2
Chris Chandler1999–20013914-25.359—
Kirk Cousins2024–20252212-10.545—
Desmond Ridder2022–2023178-9.471—
Marcus Mariota2022135-8.385—
Doug Johnson2000–2003112-9.182—
Joey Harrington2007103-7.300—
Michael Penix202593-6.333—
Chris Redman2007–200961-5.167—
Michael Penix Jr.2024–202653-2.600—
Matt Schaub2004–201950-5.000—
Taylor Heinicke202341-3.250—
Kurt Kittner200341-3.250—
Tony Graziani199931-2.333—
Byron Leftwich200720-2.000—
Danny Kanell1999–200020-2.000—
Cooper Rush202610-1.000—
Tua Tagovailoa202610-1.000—

Regular season unless marked. A starter is the quarterback who took the first snap, credited with the game's result however long he played: nflverse's game file from 1999, Pro-Football-Reference's record as starter for 1950-98 (no playoff starts before 1999). A quarterback traded within a season before 1999 is left out of that season.