Today's NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and it's going to remain that way for years to come. In Super Bowl 60, the New England Patriots unfortunately got some terrible play from Drake Maye, and it was largely the deciding factor in the Seattle Seahawks winning.
With how much parity was present in the NFL this year, the stage could be set for some wildly entertaining action in 2026. The Super Bowl 61 matchup could feature a ton of different teams, and all it takes in some instances is a lucky bounce here and there.
We've undertaken a bold task and ranked the quarterbacks who are most likely to win Super Bowl 61 in the 2026 NFL Season. Let's get into it here.
Ranking the QBs most likely to win Super bowl 61 in the 2026 NFL Season
5. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence was heating up down the stretch and actually ended up being a finalist for the MVP award in 2025. With how well the Jacksonville Jaguars ended up playing this year, it's not hard to see this team again near the top of the NFL world, and if Lawrence is able to build on that insanely hot ending he had in 2025, the Jaguars are going to be a legitimate Super Bowl juggernaut in 2026.
4. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
It's very difficult for a team to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Sure, it's possible, but it only gets harder after the first one. Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks are obviously the champions this year, and repeating is definitely doable. This roster is loaded, and it's largely thanks to General Manager John Schneider, who has built this team the right way and is a GM who is continually finding studs in the NFL Draft.
It is absolutely realistic to suggest that Seattle goes back-to-back and wins Super Bowl 61.
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye and the New England Patriots had a wonderful season, and it was one of the more shocking years a team has had in quite some time. New England totally missed the playoffs in 2024 and quickly turned into one of the best teams in the league in 2025. Sure, the schedule was insanely easy, but all New England did was win games they should have.
With another year of infusing this roster with needed talent, and the possibility that Maye continues to improve, it's not a stretch to think that the Pats could indeed get back to the Super Bowl and win it in 2026.
There are a ton of examples of young quarterbacks who lost deep in the playoffs, only to win it all the following season. The 2018 Kansas City Chiefs are a great example of this, as they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game and proceeded to win it all the following season.
2. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos may have won it all if not for Nix breaking his ankle in the Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills. With how well-built the Broncos roster is, the team getting into the Super Bowl in 2026 is on the table.
Nix also continues to prove doubters wrong and is absolutely a franchise quarterback. If the Broncos can fix the run game and add a legitimate pass-catcher this offseason, which are two doable things, Denver is going to once again be a juggernaut.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams felt like a Super Bowl contender all year, and had the Rams won the NFC West, they likely would have won it all. The Rams have also done this before, back in 2021, and if Stafford can keep this high level of play up in 2026, and LA can shore up the secondary, it's going to be hard to pick against them for Super Bowl 61.