Since Joe Namath, Jets have been searching for franchise QB

NEW YORK – The search continues for the Jets.

Since the glory days of Broadway Joe, finding a franchise quarterback has been an elusive and often frustrating undertaking for a team that has rarely had a dominant player at the position.

Richard Todd, Ken O'Brien, Vinny Testaverde, Chad Pennington and, yes, even Mark Sanchez all had their moments since Joe Namath led the Jets to their only Super Bowl win in 1969. So did Boomer Esiason and Brett Favre.

But none were either around long enough or able to sustain consistent success to set up the franchise at the game's most vital position. And, of course, none have been able to get to a Super Bowl.

It's Geno Smith's turn to prove whether he can break the vicious cycle.

He's headed into his second season, coming off a rough, up-and-down rookie campaign that ended on an upswing. But with Michael Vick in training camp to compete for the job, Smith knows nothing is guaranteed. Just ask the 26 quarterbacks, including Kyle Mackey and David Norrie, who have started at least one game for the Jets since Namath last played for them in 1976.

"I'm pretty sure of myself," said Smith, who had 12 touchdown throws and 21 interceptions last season. "I'm always going to have confidence in myself solely because I believe in my teammates and my coaching."

Good thing, or Smith could watch Vick end up becoming No. 27 since Namath — and the Jets could be in the market for a franchise-type quarterback next year. Again.

Here's a look at some of the Jets' most notable and notorious quarterbacks through the years:

Joe Namath: The conversation about the team's greatest player — let alone quarterback — starts and ends here. Broadway Joe might not have had gaudy career stats, but he's a Hall of Famer who still leads the franchise in several passing categories. Oh, and then there's that whole delivering-on-his-Super-Bowl-guarantee thing.

Richard Todd: Drafted as the heir apparent to Namath, he was a fellow former Alabama star, and the expectations were way too lofty. Todd led the Jets to the playoffs only twice in his eight seasons, capped by a five-interception performance — three by A.J. Duhe — in a muddy AFC title game in Miami in January 1983 that still makes Jets fans cringe when they hear the Dolphins linebacker's name.

Ken O'Brien: He might be the closest thing to a franchise quarterback the Jets have had since Namath, and often doesn't receive enough credit for a pretty solid career. O'Brien could certainly fling it, but he took a beating for years behind a shoddy offensive line and gets unfairly compared to the quarterback the Jets passed on in the 1983 draft who was taken by the Dolphins three picks later: Dan Marino.

Browning Nagle: Remember him? Nagle burst onto the scene in his first NFL start to open his second season, throwing for 366 yards and two scores in a loss to Atlanta. Well, the second-round pick never matched that success, tossing only five touchdown passes the rest of the 1992 season. He lost his starting job the next year, was an ex-Jet after the 1993 season, and finished his playing career in the Arena Football League after stints with the Colts and Falcons.

Boomer Esiason: After an already terrific career with Cincinnati, which included leading the 1988 Bengals to their second Super Bowl appearance, Esiason was traded to his hometown Jets in 1993. He wasn't bad, making the Pro Bowl in his first season, but the teams he played on weren't very good. He also played for three head coaches in his three seasons: Bruce Coslet, Pete Carroll and Rich Kotite.

Vinny Testaverde: After Esiason was released following the 1995 season, the Jets fell on tough times, including a 1-15 embarrassment under Kotite in 1996. They also went through the likes of Bubby Brister, Frank Reich, Neil O'Donnell and Glenn Foley before Bill Parcells restored some order and signed Testaverde in 1998. The Long Island native rejuvenated his career that season, leading the Jets to the AFC title game. He ruptured an Achilles' tendon in the season opener the next year, dashing the team's Super Bowl hopes. Testaverde came back in 2000 and engineered one of the most memorable games in franchise history, throwing five touchdown passes in the "Monday Night Miracle" win over Miami.

Chad Pennington: The 2000 first-round draft pick was considered a possible franchise-type quarterback, and he appeared well on his way after leading the Jets to a 41-0 playoff victory over the Colts in his third season. Never known for his arm strength, Pennington was a cerebral and accurate passer, but his career was derailed by shoulder injuries. He split the 2007 season with Kellen Clemens and was shown the door the following offseason when the Jets traded for Favre.

Brett Favre: One of the more stunning moments in franchise history came when the Jets acquired the not-so-retired former Packers quarterback. It was a "Hail Mary" move for the team and coach Eric Mangini, and looked pretty good for a while as Favre led the Jets to an 8-3 start that included a six-touchdown performance against Arizona. But with Super Bowl chatter starting to gain steam, the ironman quarterback injured his throwing shoulder late in the season, struggled the rest of the way, and the Jets finished 9-7, missing the playoffs and costing Mangini his job. Favre then retired again — before playing two more seasons with the Vikings.

Mark Sanchez: The Jets were so high on the Southern California star, they traded up to grab him with the fifth overall pick in 2009. Sanchez helped lead the team to the AFC title game in each of his first two seasons, and set the franchise record with four playoff victories — all on the road. Things went bad fast, though, as he failed to build off that early success, his supporting cast frequently changed, and he struggled with turnovers (yes, "The Butt Fumble"). Sanchez also dealt with the distraction of having Tim Tebow around in 2012, then was lost for the season last summer after injuring his shoulder in the third preseason game. He was cut this offseason and signed with Philadelphia.

Jets' starting QBs

Year — Player (No. of starts)

2013 — Geno Smith (16)

2012 — Mark Sanchez (15), Greg McElroy (1)

2011 — Mark Sanchez (16)

2010 — Mark Sanchez (16)

2009 — Mark Sanchez (15), Kellen Clemens (1)

2008 — Brett Favre (16)

2007 — Chad Pennington (8), Kellen Clemens (8)

2006 — Chad Pennington (16)

2005 — Brooks Bollinger (9), Vinny Testaverde (4), Chad Pennington (3)

2004 — Chad Pennington (13), Quincy Carter (3)

2003 — Chad Pennington (9), Vinny Testaverde (7)

2002 — Chad Pennington (12), Vinny Testaverde (4)

2001 — Vinny Testaverde (16)

2000 — Vinny Testaverde (16)

1999 — Ray Lucas (9), Rick Mirer (6), Vinny Testaverde (1)

1998 — Vinny Testaverde (13), Glenn Foley (3)

1997 — Neil O'Donnell (14), Glenn Foley (2)

1996 — Frank Reich (7), Neil O'Donnell (6), Glenn Foley (3)

1995 — Boomer Esiason (12), Bubby Brister (4)

1994 — Boomer Esiason (14), Jack Trudeau (2)

1993 — Boomer Esiason (16)

1992 — Browning Nagle (13), Ken O'Brien (3)

1991 — Ken O'Brien (16)

1990 — Ken O'Brien (16)

1989 — Ken O'Brien (12), Tony Eason (2), Pat Ryan (1), Kyle Mackey (1)

1988 — Ken O'Brien (12), Pat Ryan (4)

1987 — Ken O'Brien (12), David Norrie (2 games during player strike), Pat Ryan (1)

1986 — Ken O'Brien (14), Pat Ryan (2)

1985 — Ken O'Brien (16)

1984 — Pat Ryan (11), Ken O'Brien (5)

1983 — Richard Todd (16)

1982 — Richard Todd (9)

1981 — Richard Todd (16)

1980 — Richard Todd (16)

1979 — Richard Todd (15), Matt Robinson (1)

1978 — Matt Robinson (11), Richard Todd (5)

1977 — Richard Todd (11), Matt Robinson (1), Marty Domres (2)