Athletes have all kinds of different superstitions. Whether it be something simple, like when Mike Bibby would cut his fingernails during a game while on the bench instead of biting them the whole time, or something that's just plain gross, like when Moises Alou would urinate on his hands throughout the season to help his hands avoid calluses because he did not wear gloves.

The most common superstition among athletes seems to always be the coveted jersey number. Not all players really care about what number they end up getting when they reach the big show but there are quite a few that consider it to be a deal-breaker. When Darrelle Revis got to Tampa Bay in 2013, he wanted the No.24 so badly that he paid the then rookie safety Mark Barron, $50,000 to give up the number. To Revis, it was that important.

That wasn't the first time and it will not be the last time a jersey number was purchased from a teammate.

But does the jersey number truly make the measure of a man in the NFL? Can you honestly believe that Dan Marino would have been any less of an athlete if he had worn a different number? Did JaMarcus Russell simply fail because he had on the wrong jersey?

Let's take a look at the NFL's best and worst QBs from every jersey number between No.1 and No.19.

RELATED: 10 NFL Legends (& Their Picks For The Best Player Ever)

UPDATE: 2023/09/11 18:00 EST BY STEFANO MOCELLA

There may be no era richer with QB talent than today in the NFL. Yes, the rules make it far easier for quarterbacks to thrive and the game in general has pivoted to offense-first, but there's no doubt that today's QBs are some of the best athletes we've ever seen play the position. Teams are constantly searching for a franchise QB, because everyone knows you need 'the guy' to win a Super Bowl. Looking at the last 10 Super Bowl winners, you'd be hard-pressed to find a team without a top-5 QB of that season winning the Lombardi Trophy. Now, let's take a refreshed look at QBs by the numbers.

38 Best QB to Wear #1: Warren Moon

Warren Moon HOF

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The greatest NFL player, not just QB, to ever wear the jersey with the No.1 was the Canadian Football League Hall of Famer and legendary Houston Oilers QB, Warren Moon. There are a few other players that might one day move past Moon on the list. Cam Newton, for example, is the top candidate if he can only continue being a dual-threat QB. He has already reached the Super Bowl, something Warren Moon never had the chance to enjoy.

Even without playing in a Super Bowl, Moon is still considered one of the greatest QB's to ever play in the NFL and most people, besides his biggest diehard fans, probably forgot that his professional career started off in Canada where he played for the Edmonton Eskimos and ended up leading them to an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cups, one of the many records held by the iconic CFL team that have won a league leading 14 Grey Cups.

Warren Moon's performance in the CFL turned him into one of the hottest tickets in town when he headed for the NFL at the age of 28. He retired with the Kansas City Chiefs at the age of 44.

Nowadays, Moon mostly appears from time to time as a team ambassador for the Tennessee Titans, the same franchise he played for, as a Houston Oiler.

37 Worst QB to Wear #1: Jim Hardy

To find the worst QB to ever wear a No.1 jersey, we had to go all the way back to 1948 when the Los Angeles Rams let Jim Hardy start his first career game, in his third season. He played in 12 games that season while only starting three of them and actually had a pretty good year. He threw for 1,390 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 82.1, the highest of his entire career.

But it was all downhill from there. He ended up playing for the Chicago Cardinals the next three years and that was when he got his name in the NFL records book. The season opener of the 1950 season had Jim Hardy facing off against the defending NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles who easily defeated the Cardinals, 45-7. During that game, however, Jim tossed eight interceptions, becoming the only player ever to do so in NFL history. It has never been touched and it might remain one of the toughest records anyone can break, ever.

36 Best QB to Wear #2: Matt Ryan

Colts Matt Ryan

Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

As one of the few active QB's on this list, Matt Ryan was once one of the best throwers in the NFL, and has been for a few years now. Unfortunately, it has not turned into any Super Bowls just yet because when it comes to the postseason, Atlanta has a reputation for struggling.

But, as for the best man to rock the No.2 jersey, Matt Ryan is as consistent as it comes. Over the past five seasons, he has thrown for more than 4,500 yards, 21 or more touchdowns (26 or more between 2010 and 2014), and under 17 interceptions. The one thing he needs to improve upon is wins, otherwise, nothing else matters to the fans, the franchise, or the league. At 31 years of age, he still has plenty of time to get there and the offense continues to grow around him, giving them a solid chance in 2016.

Ryan's NFL future is currently up in the air, as he has not signed with any team after a disappointing season in Indianapolis. He has a job at CBS waiting for him, but hasn't ruled out a return to the field.

35 Worst QB to Wear #2: JaMarcus Russell

JaMarcus Russell
© Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

After being selected first overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, the greatest QB to ever suit up for the LSU Tigers began his downfall from grace and by 2010, would be out of the NFL, forever.

The problem began a long time before draft day when JaMarcus Russell started to become the hottest ticket heading into the draft. With the top overall pick in the draft that year, the Oakland Raiders made it very clear that they wanted to the strong-armed QB from the bayou to be their savior. However, after the excitement of the draft wore off, a contract dispute began that turned into a holdout which lasted throughout training camp and even into the season causing the rookie to miss out on things that he would later regret missing. He did not sign until September 12th and that's when the struggle began.

He was playing from behind since day one and it was all because he couldn't sign a contract before ever having taken a snap. If you wonder why the NFL changed the rules of the rookie signings by listing out what each selection will earn, it is because of the JaMarcus Russell debacle.

Russell made some effort to get back into the NFL but didn't get a second chance after the Raiders released him. Russell has since returned to the football fields in his old neighborhood to coach kids, and claims this has helped him 'fall back in love with the game'.

34 Best QB To Wear #3: Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson
© Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL has seen a few QB's wearing the No.3 jersey but Russell Wilson has become the best in just five years in the league. That's because, in just five years, he has already won a Super Bowl, and nearly a second in a row if the Seahawks would have scored instead of throwing an interception in the final play of the Super Bowl 49.

Before Wilson, the Seahawks, from 2006 to 2011, had only one 10 win or more season. From 2012 to 2015, they have finished each season, in order, with records of 11-5, 13-3, 12-4, and 10-6. Not to mention, they have made the postseason in each season, making it to the Super Bowl twice, winning it once. The dual-threat of Russell Wilson has turned the Seahawks into a legitimate contender, every single season.

In his last season with Seattle, Wilson threw for 4,024 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in a year that the Seahawks struggled defensively throughout the beginning of the season.

Wilson had a miserable first season in Denver after he was traded to the Broncos, but with Sean Payton now coaching the team, there's some hope for Wilson to turn his career back around.

33 Worst QB to Wear #3: Rick Mirer

Rick Mirer
© David Boss-USA TODAY Sports

With the second pick of the 1993 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected QB from Notre Dame, Rick Mirer.

During his first season, he broke all kinds of rookie records including the most attempts, completions, and yards in a season. Even with all of those stats, the most impressive remains the fact that he started 16 games become one of the only rookie QB's in history to accomplish such a feat.

It is rare that a rookie QB will do more in his first season in the NFL then in the rest of his career but Rick Mirer did that as he dropped off the map following his impressive rookie season. He would eventually leave the Seahawks and head to Chicago, Green Bay, New York Jets, San Francisco, Oakland, and Detroit, before he finally gave up and retired in 2004.

After being so highly touted out of college, it was sad to watch him fall so far from the potential he was perceived to possess. It could have something to do with his inability to read a defense correctly or maybe even throw to his left but either way, it caused him to become nothing more than a bust.

Mirer now spends his days as a winemaker, owning his own brand called 'Mirror' wine.

32 Best QB to Wear #4: Brett Favre

Brett Favre Years Later
© Ken Ruinard: Staff : USA TODAY NETWORK

The moment the Atlanta Falcons drafted Brett Favre, things began to get a little edgy in the ATL. Ken Herock, the Falcons general manager at the time, and Jerry Glanville, the Falcons head coach at the time, seemed to have completely different stories when it comes down to who is to blame for the trade. Obviously neither man wants to face the ridicule of having traded away a future Hall of Famer from a team that could have used a QB during the '90s but regardless of who is to blame, they unloaded him to Green Bay and the rest is history.

As a Packer, Brett was born again. His partying days ended and his NFL career began during the fourth game of the 1992 season. That would be the moment he became the starter in Green Bay and he would start the next 297 consecutive games, up until week 13 of his final season in Minnesota (253 consecutive for the Packers). It is a ridiculous streak that many fans probably did not even notice because if it was Sunday, he was suiting up. He consistently put up big numbers throughout his career including averaging 3,781 yards and 27 touchdowns a year. He also has that coveted Super Bowl ring from the time he went down to New Orleans and knocked off the Patriots.

Favre hasn't gotten much positive press lately, as he's currently facing some legal trouble in Mississippi.

31 Worst QB to Wear #4: Trent Dilfer

USA_Trent Dilfer

© George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

It is interesting to see a man that has a Super Bowl ring, as a starting QB for the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, on a list as the worst QB to ever wear the No.4 jersey. But the Super Bowl was an anomaly. Just go look at his career and compare. He played one season in Baltimore and only landed the starting role for eight games that year in which he put up 1,502 yards, threw 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

He did exactly what he needed to do to help the Ravens win that year which was not screwing up that badly because his defense was so amazing, all he literally had to do that year was not fall down and maybe even move the ball a few yards up the field just to help his defense get a little rest between stops.

He did manage to start 113 games, mostly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his biggest accomplishment still remains the moment he won the Super Bowl in 2001.

Dilfer has carved out a nice post-playing career for himself as an NFL commentator.

30 Best QB to Wear #5: Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Donovan McNabb will forever be remembered as the QB in Philadelphia that fell short in the postseason. That's because he played in four consecutive NFC Championship games between 2001 and 2004 and yet he only got to the Super Bowl once in which they lost to the New England Patriots 24-21. In fact, he is tied with Troy Aikman as the only two QB's in NFC Championship game history with four consecutive appearances. With a regular season record of 98-62-1, he was one of the better QB's in the NFL for many years that just could not finish out the year.

RELATED: 14 Recently Retired NFL Quarterbacks: Where Are They Now?In the playoffs, he was 9-7 with 3,752 passing yards, 422 rushing yards, 28 total touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His ability to be a dual-threat turned him into one of the most dangerous QB's in the NFL. Defenses had trouble stopping him because of his ability to scramble and make plays on the run. Cam Newton is a recent example of who McNabb was in his prime.

Since his playing days ended, McNabb has tried his hand as a commentator but was let go from ESPN over allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior.

29 Worst QB to Wear #5: Heath Shuler

Before Heath Shuler became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 11th district, he was slinging the pigskin in Washington and New Orleans for four years. In his first few years, he managed to get some playing time for the Redskins and even started 13 games in three years before being traded to New Orleans in 1996, for a couple of draft picks.

After he was drafted 3rd overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, he did the one thing that has caused many of future NFL QB's to suffer from, he sat out of his first ever training camp. Once they figured things out, he settled on a 7-year, $19.25 million contract. That didn't sit well with the fans and after consecutive losses and then a five pick performance against the Cardinals during his rookie year, Gus Frerotte became the fan favorite. Before long, the fans, team, and front office of the Washington Redskins all turned on him and that's when he was sent down south to the Saints and their sinking ship, which he got to be a part of for one year before heading to Oakland and then retiring.

Shuler continues to work in the political sphere well into his retired life.

28 Best QB to Wear #6: Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler
© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

When the Denver Broncos drafted Jay Cutler in the first round of the 2006 draft, 11th overall, they had big plans for him and the future of the offense. However, the Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan did not start him until week 12 of his rookie season because he felt that he would be a solid replacement for Jake Plummer because, in his words, "I think he gives us the best chance to win now."

In the final five games, he finished with a 2-3 record and threw for 1,001 yards with nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. He would go on to start the next 32 games with a 15-17 record while throwing for 4,012 yards, 45 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. After his third season, Shanahan was fired and replaced by Josh McDaniels and that was when the real Jay Cutler showed up.

Trade rumors surfaced but they were coming from other teams and not being initiated by the Broncos, however, Jay did not seem to think it was right and requested a trade. He even sold his home in Colorado in preparation for the move.

That tantrum should have been a sign for the Chicago Bears of what the future would be like for life with Cutler. He has been with them ever since and has struggled with injuries recently which have led to his remaining sidelined, even after getting healthy.

Since retiring, Cutler has enjoyed his time back in Nashville, TN near his alma mater Vanderbilt, and has even started his own podcast.

27 Worst QB to Wear #6: Matt Cavanaugh

After being drafted in 1978, the former second-round draft pick became a backup very quickly with the New England Patriots. He would get a few starts in 1980, where he finished with a 3-1 record, but never turned that into anything more than what it was, just a few games filling in for the starter. He did get eight starts in 1981 but that was when the Patriots realized he was nothing more than a backup. By 1983, he was in San Francisco where he continued to be a backup, only starting two games in three seasons.

He went on to spend time in both Philadelphia and the Giants in New York where he would only start two more games over the next six years before finally retiring in 1991. He did manage to win one Super Bowl ring during his time with the 49ers but he was always best suited to be an assistant coach rather than a player.

As a coach, he has worked on the offensive side of the ball for Arizona, San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, New York Jets, and he eventually became the QB's coach for the Washington Commanders.

He was hired by the Jets in 2021 as a senior offensive assistant, where he currently coaches.

26 Best QB to Wear #7: John Elway

John Elway of the Denver Broncos
© Bob Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

For a man who once threatened the Baltimore Colts, who were going to draft him with the top pick of the 1983 NFL draft, by saying he wanted to play in the West Coast or else he would be giving up football for a baseball career, he ended up spending 16 years in the Rocky Mountains of Denver. So much for that West Coast dream, huh?

Although his first season was a typical NFL rookie year when he started 10 games and finished with a 4-6 record, his second season was quite the encore performance. He turned things around quickly in the Mile High city and helped the Broncos to a 12-2 record (13-3 overall) and AFC Divisional berth. They lost to Pittsburgh that year but the experience turned him into a man on a mission to get to the Super Bowl.

By 1987, he had led the Broncos to the Super Bowl and unfortunately, they lost but returned in 1988 to give it another shot before facing a disgustingly good Washington Redskins offense that easily handled them before making one more trip, in 1990, where they faced off against the San Francisco 49ers who ripped them apart, 55-10.

He did not give up and he finally got his shot in 1998, against the Green Bay Packers, and won his first Super Bowl which they did again in 1999 to become back-to-back champions before he retired the following off-season.

Elway has tried his hand as an NFL executive, where he did in fact win a Super Bowl, but had lots of trouble building a Super Bowl contender after Peyton Manning retired. He is no longer under contract with Denver.

25 Worst QB to Wear #7: Bob Avellini

Bob Avellini

© Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears fans remember Bob Avellini better than anyone when he played for them between 1975 and 1984. When he was drafted in 1975 in the sixth round, he was not considered a future MVP, by any means. He ended up getting 50 starts in his nine years with the Bears but every time he would be handed the reigns to the franchise, he just could not find a way to take over the offense.

He started 40 of the 50 games during the 1976 to 1978 years. That was his chance to make something of himself and to become that next level QB. However, he wound up throwing for 5,302 yards, 24 touchdowns, and an amazingly horrible 49 interceptions. He was averaging one interception per game during those three years and eventually would become the backup, for a very long time. It all added up to a career passer rating of 54.8.

24 Best QB to Wear #8: Troy Aikman

Troy Aikman beer
©Ivan Pierre Aguirre USA TODAY NETWORK

The Dallas Cowboys solidified their stance as America's Team during their '90s dominance and Troy Aikman was the captain of the ship as it sailed to three Super Bowl wins in four years. For a man that never won the most prized award of the NFL, the MVP award, he still ended up finishing as one of the greatest of all time.

During his many years in Dallas, he started in 165 games, winning 94 of them while throwing for 32,942 yards, 165 touchdowns, and 141 interceptions. As exciting as those stats are to hear, his Hall of Fame numbers came in the postseason when he helped run the league's best offense during the '90s.

He ended up retiring at the age of 34, with so many years left to play, due to concussions and a nagging back issue that caused him to have surgery after Super Bowl XXVII. It is rare nowadays to hear about one of the league's best QB's having to hang up his cleats before he turned 35 but after accomplishing everything he did in just 12 seasons in Dallas, he decided to make a very important health decision that could have saved his life.

Aikman has built an extensive broadcasting career, partnering with Joe Buck for many years on FOX's no.1 broadcast team, and now calls ESPN Monday night football alongside Buck.

23 Worst QB to Wear #8: Lamar McHan

The Chicago Cardinals risked it all and took Lamar McHan with the second overall pick of the 1954 draft. The hard-slinging country boy from the University of Arkansas had a lot of skills to become a star but when he got to the pro's, he ended up never really turning things around as he spent five years in Chicago and started 50 games, winning only 15 of them along the way.

He apparently had a problem dealing with authority and during the 1956 season as he was fined for insubordination by the Cardinals. By 1959, he was sent to the Green Bay Packers where he became known as the guy who started before Bart Starr. He started the first six games of the 1959 season for Green Bay before a leg injury changed the history of the franchise and the league, forever. He would go on to Baltimore and backup Johnny Unitas too.

He turned into an assistant coach in both college and the pros where he ended up coaching under several head coaches in New Orleans between 1974 to 1984.

22 Best QB to Wear #9: Drew Brees

Drew Brees
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints have had a tough time replacing Drew Brees since he retired.

He has completely changed the culture in the Big Easy by turning around a franchise that was so terrible, their fans wore paper bags on their heads at the Superdome while referring to themselves as the 'Aints. They spent several seasons going 3-13 or worse and the moment he arrived, that ended.

Drew Brees even helped the Saints claim their first ever Super Bowl trophy in 2010. The win solidified his career as one of the NFL's greatest passers ever and he continued to climb the career leaders charts every week. He is now second all-time in career completions, attempts, passing yards, and passing touchdowns while being sixth in passer rating and first in completion percentage and average yards passing per game.

Since retiring, Brees has done what many in his position do, as he's transitioned to a broadcasting career, having been on NBC's Sunday night football panel.

21 Worst QB to Wear #9: Ralph Guglielmi

The idea of an NFL bust is nothing new in the NFL, especially at QB. Draft busts have been happening since a long time ago when Ralph Guglielmi was taken in the first round, fourth overall, of the 1955 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. The former Notre Dame star QB ended up never grasping the concept of playing in the NFL and struggled from day one.

In his first career start, Ralph went 2-9 for 17 passing yards, one rushing touchdown, and one interception. He did get the victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-21, however, even without doing much in the passing game. After his first season, he barely put up a moment worth remembering and that would continue for another seven seasons before retiring, although he did not play all seven seasons consecutively.

After just one year in the NFL, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for three years before returning to the NFL for another six years. He enlisted after he entered the NFL, after. After! The world needs more men like him fighting for this country.

20 Best QB to Wear #10: Fran Tarkenton

Fran Tarkenton Vikings

© Green Bay Press-Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK

For being such an amazing QB in the NFL, can you tell us how many seasons it took before he won more than 10 games? 12 seasons. It took Fran Tarkenton from 1961 until 1973 before he finally helped the Minnesota Vikings to a 12-2 record. As the Vikings first ever starting QB, Fran Tarkenton spent most of his career in Minnesota, 13 of his 18 NFL seasons were in the icy cold of Minnesota with a short stint with the Giants in New York from 1967 to 1971.

When he returned to the Vikings, in 1972, he returned to a team that had recently played in their first ever championship, Super Bowl IV, in which they lost 23-7. Over his final seven seasons, Fran Tarkenton led the Vikings to three Super Bowls, all losses.

Even with his elite passing ability and incredible stats, Fran Tarkenton failed to win a Super Bowl, in all three of his chances due to his postseason failures. He was simply not the greatest postseason performer that he could have been finishing his career with a 58.6 postseason passer rating.

Tarkenton has dipped his toes into politics since his playing days, but has mostly stuck to business, selling products and services and ocasionally being spotted at Vikings games.

19 Worst QB to Wear #10: Jack Trudeau

Jack Trudeau Colts

© Mike Fender/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Great QBs do not just win games or Super Bowl rings, they change a team's entire culture. They turn empty stadiums into sellout crowds and they change the future for the franchise even after leaving. That is exactly why Peyton Manning is such an amazing QB. Many people forget that the Indianapolis Colts were horrible after moving from Baltimore in 1984. They never won more then 9 games prior to Peyton Manning and had an 88-135 record between 1984 and 1997 and only three postseason appearances. After he got there, the Colts had a 141-67 record and 11 playoff appearances between 1998 and 2010.

Jack Trudeau is the man that came before Peyton Manning, when the Colts were that terrible team we were just talking about. He was there in 1986 when he got to start 11 games and finished with a 0-11 record in his first year. They finished 3-13 that year overall. He would go on to start 47 games from 1986 until 1993 and only had a record of 18-29 with 41 touchdowns and 62 interceptions while with the Colts. He just could not make anything of his chances. He just kept feeding into the losing that Colts fans had started to become use to.

Trudeau has mostly lived a pretty quiet life since his days in the NFL ended.