Kellen Moore was known as a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He played in three games in his career to throw four touchdowns and six interceptions. Following 2017 he announced his retirement to start his coaching career with the Cowboys.
This would be the latest known left-handed quarterback on an NFL team.
“We’re an extinct species,” said Matt Leinart, a former lefty quarterback.
Lefties are roughly 10 percent of the world’s population, but zero left-handed NFL quarterbacks are starting in 2019. In the past, there have been few left-handed quarterbacks that have succeed in the NFL.
Steve Young was the first lefty quarterback inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Young threw for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns in his 15-year season. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP and seven-time Pro Bowler.
Another left-handed quarterback inducted was Ken Stabler, who threw for 27,938 yards and 194 touchdowns during his 184-game career. The 1974 MVP was known as the “Snake” for his ability to escape defenders on the field.
Tim Tebow was statically not the best left-handed thrower, but led the Denver Broncos to five comeback wins in the 2011 regular season. Tebow started the “Tebowing” and was well known for his athletic ability and his outspoken Christian faith. He did take the Broncos to the playoffs, but it wasn’t enough, and he never was a regular starter in the league.
The left-handed Michael Vick changed the game for mobile quarterbacks, by rushing for 6,109 yards in his career. The retired quarterback holds the career rushing record for quarterbacks.
“If you’re not a prototypical quarterback who can do some exceptional things, and you’re left-handed, then you’re probably going to get overlooked,” Vick said. He doesn’t want to be viewed as different, but wants to be judged by his production on the field, according to The Washington Post.
There’s a star lefty quarterback from Alabama who can’t be overlooked and will most likely enter the 2020 draft. Tua Tagovailoa was talked about being an early first round draft pick from his production in the air and the ability to move out of the pocket.
Tagovailoa was born right-handed, but his dad wanted another left-hander in his family.
“I just always wanted someone to be a lefty with me,” Galu Tagovailoa told AL.com.
“I never thought I could make him adapt to that,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “As we constantly kept putting the ball on his left hand, eventually he grew into throwing the ball with his left.”
His draft status could change, since suffering a dislocated hip and a posterior wall fracture. He underwent surgery and will miss the rest of the 2019 season.
Before the injury he threw for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions on the season. If Tagovailoa doesn’t return as the star he was, then fans could be waiting awhile to see another lefty in action in the NFL.
“We’re a dying breed,” Mark Brunell, a former left-handed quarterback told the Chicago Tribune in 2015. “We need someone to re-light and carry the torch for us. If we don’t find that, we could become extinct soon.”
Todd's Take 