As football season sneaks around the corner, I thought this would be a good time to combine two of my main interests (NASCAR and Football). In my life, many of my friends are uninterested in NASCAR mainly due to the lack of knowledge around the lore of the drivers in the sport. So today, I am going to attempt to compare all 36 current full-time drivers to current NFL quarterbacks. Hopefully if you are an NFL fan, maybe one of these comparisons can help you pick your favorite driver on Sundays!
- Ryan Blaney & Josh Allen
Let’s start off hot. Blaney and Josh Allen are both at the top of the board when it comes to skill in their sports. While they are effective athletes, both are also media sweethearts. Both are among the most appreciated athletes by the fans, and are super marketable individuals. The biggest similarity in my eyes however, is their ability to flip the switch when they get into action. Blaney is notorious for his radio rants during races with other drivers, while Allen’s hard-nosed physical playstyle strikes fear into opposing defenses. However, the biggest difference between the two is Josh Allen is missing that championship. Maybe that changes in 2027?
- Kyle Larson & Patrick Mahomes
Larson and Mahomes are what I would like to consider the generational freestylers. These are the guys who possess the most raw talent. Both have multiple championships, entered the sport in the mid 2010s, and can make passes on the track, or on the field that make fans question their sanity. These guys are two of the main stars of their sports. Ironically enough, Larson and Cliff Daniels also visited the Kansas City Chiefs facility in 2025, just before they won their 2nd title together.
- Chase Elliott & Justin Herbert
Chase and Justin are both quiet, yet stoic individuals. Similar to the previous two comparisons, both of these guys are the most popular in their sports, but these two tend to stay out of the spotlight if possible. These two guys are both typically unproblematic, and the fans are typically on their side when conflict arises.
- Carson Hocevar & Caleb Williams
Caleb and Carson are the leaders of the attitude for the newest generation of athletes. Whether it’s fans talking about Caleb’s painted nails, or Carson’s cryptic provoking tweets, these guys are always the talk of the town. Many would consider both of them, the young villain of the sport. The Hurricane, and The Iceman are loved by supporters, but despised by the rest of the industry. As far as on the track, both are like Larson and Mahomes, where they have that raw ability to be great. Neither Caleb or Carson have tapped into their full potential yet, but NASCAR and the NFL can’t wait to see what each of these guys do next.
- Michael McDowell & Jacoby Brissett
Jacoby and Michael are what I like to consider the unspoken backbone of the sport. These are both long tenured veterans who keep to themselves, who started their careers either buried on depth charts, or in lower tiered equipment. Over time, the both of them started to find success when given the opportunity and now are in solid positions. Whether it’s McDowell’s 2021 Daytona 500 win, or Brissett’s record setting 47 completion + 450 yard performance. These guys have achieved great feats in addition to their unexpected long tenured careers.
- Connor Zilisch & Bryce Young
Zilisch and Young are the new kids on the block. Two top prospects who put up extraordinary numbers before reaching the highest level. However, when both made it to the top, they initially struggled at first. Young has started to turn his career around with his first playoff berth last season, but the verdict is still out on Zilisch. The 20 year old racing phenom had the season of his life in 2025 scoring 10 wins, and 18 straight top 5 finishes in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. However the script has flipped in 2026, as Connor sits 2nd to last in points, and has already tied the record for most DNFs in a single season. The kid has had unbelievable terrible luck this far, but the rookie struggles are eerily similar to that of Carolina’s Bryce Young.
- Denny Hamlin & Matthew Stafford
Denny and Matthew are anomalies of an athlete. Both were highly sought after prospects in the 2000s, were above average for most of their careers, fought injuries through their careers, but both of them are better now, than they’ve ever been before. Denny currently leads the points standings and is coming off of one of his best seasons to date, while Matthew is the reigning MVP. These athletes defy the logic of aging. Who knows how long they can stay at this elite level? At this rate they should both never retire!
- Bubba Wallace & Jalen Hurts
Bubba and Jalen are disliked by many fans in the sports. Many view each of them as either corny or performative, but they are both intellectual individuals who hold themselves to an extremely high standard. I personally find it admirable, and these are two of my favorites. Each one of these guys have accomplished big things in their careers. Whether it is Jalen’s super bowl win two seasons ago, or Bubba’s Brickyard 400 win last year. Each of them has also struggled at times to where you question their skill. In some ways, it’s for good reason but each of them definitely gets more criticism than they deserve.
- Ty Gibbs & Jaxson Dart
The young kids with moxie. That’s Gibbs and Dart. Both of these guys exploded onto the scene impressively. Gibbs dominated his way through the ranks of NASCAR to get into the Cup Series, while Jaxson Dart had many NFL fans turning their heads last season. These two guys define the term “aura”. In some ways they can rub fans the wrong way, as their confidence can be confused with cockiness.
- William Byron & Drake Maye
In a similar way to Elliot & Herbert, William Byron and Drake Maye are both quiet performers. These guys just get the job done. Whether it’s William Byron’s iRacing background, or Drake Maye’s older brothers in basketball, each of these guys made it to the top in a unique way. These are also two guys who seem to be appreciated by all fans, and each had a great 2025 season. William Byron won 3 races and made the championship round, and Drake Maye made his first super bowl appearance in just his 2nd season. This pair seems to just mesh well together.
- Alex Bowman & Tua Tagovailoa
Bowman and Tagovailoa are both two athletes who seem to be approaching the end of their careers soon. Both of them have had multiple injuries derail their seasons, but in their prime, they were some of the best in the game. Whether it was Bowman’s 4 win 2021 season, or Tua’s pro bowl 2023 season. They still are competing at the highest level, but each is a shell of their former selves.
- Erik Jones & Jared Goff
Erik Jones and Jared Goff were both two of the sport’s top prospects in 2016-2017. Each began their careers in the best position they could be in, but things just didn’t pan out for them. Fast forward 10 years later, and each has lived up to their potential, just not in the way most expected. Each of them were traded around 2020 in what was considered to be a backwards step in their careers. Goff was traded out of Los Angeles in favor of the better Matthew Stafford, and Erik Jones was sent out of Joe Gibbs Racing in favor of the rising star Christopher Bell. Many wrote each of these guys off, but now they’re debatably performing better in their new situations. Sometimes a change of scenery is all one needs. In addition, while Jones is from Michigan, Goff plays in Michigan.
- Joey Logano & Aaron Rodgers
The villain everyone loves to hate. The accomplished veteran that everyone seems to hate seeing succeed. Logano is a 3x Nascar Cup Series champion, while Rodgers is a Super Bowl winner, and a 4x MVP. A similarity with both of them too, is that they had to wait a bit to start finding success. Rodgers was drafted in 2005 by the Packers to sit behind veteran Brett Favre, while Joey Logano didn’t find much success until he joined Team Penske in 2013. Both Rodgers and Logano are both not afraid to get under competitors’ skin, and express their opinions as they please. For as many people dislike each of them, the NFL wouldn’t be the NFL and NASCAR wouldn’t be NASCAR without Aaron Rodgers and Joey Logano.
- John Hunter Nemechek & Kyler Murray
Aside from both being notoriously shorter individuals, Kyler Murray and John Hunter Nemechek are very accomplished athletes. They had success at lower levels, John Hunter was one of the best drivers in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Series in 2024, and Kyler is a Heisman trophy winner. However, the success hasn’t translated fully because at the highest level they’re average. Both individuals can be disliked by competitors and teammates at times as well. While some of this disdain is warranted, the majority of it isn’t.
- Ross Chastain & Baker Mayfield
These two can be considered fan favorites but also villains at the same time. Ross Chastain and Baker Mayfield’s unhinged personalities have been cornerstones in sports during the 2020s. Initially when they entered their sports, they were disliked because of their brash, aggressive and aggressive styles, but these guys are brutally honest, unfiltered and truthful in their interactions, and it’s become the reason why fans love them. They put things how they see them, and they’re probably the two scrappiest guys in their sports. In slang terms, they stand on business.
- Chase Briscoe & Jayden Daniels
Briscoe and Daniels exploded onto the scene in their first years with their current organization. In 2024, Daniels made the NFC Championship game and led the Commanders to a 12-5 record, while Briscoe won 3 races last season including a Southern 500 win, and a championship 4 appearance. These are two underdog stories as well, whether it’s Briscoe sleeping on couches hoping for a shot for one weekend, or Daniels transferring to LSU hoping to win the starting job. These are two guys that are widely liked, who are finally deservingly performing at high levels.
- Tyler Reddick & Lamar Jackson
This comparison is one that I would mirror with Mahomes and Larson. Lamar Jackson and Tyler Reddick are both guys who are exciting to watch. Whether it’s Reddick ripping the top line at 160 mph six inches from the wall, or Lamar Jackson juking through opposing defenses, these guys have just always been that dude. Lamar Jackson is a 2x MVP, while Tyler Reddick is a Daytona 500 champion, 13x race winner, and is having the best year of his career this season winning five of the first nine races! These guys are both ballers, and it makes sense that Reddick drives for a baller like Michael Jordan as well.
- Daniel Suarez & Daniel Jones
Another comparison about redemption arcs. These two guys named Daniel were high prospects in the late 2010s, bounced around to different teams, got benched, replaced, the whole nine yards. However this past season both have finally found career best success. Daniel Suarez won the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 and sits a career high 11th in points, while Daniel Jones looked like the franchise quarterback in Indianapolis last year before his achilles tear. Both of them struggled badly at the beginning of their careers, were heavily criticized for their poor performances, but now they’re proving all of the doubters wrong.
- Christopher Bell & Joe Burrow
CBell and JoeyB. Each of these guys came into the sport in 2020 and were the next big thing at the time. Bell was dominating NASCARs O’Reilly Series at the time, and Joe Burrow was busy quarterbacking one of the greatest football teams of all time, the 2019 LSU Tigers. Both of these guys are consistently top five to top ten in rankings, and will occasionally look like the stand alone best in their sport. Each of these guys have also had stretches of struggles and inconsistency where you question the slump they’re in. Burrow and Bell are also both reserved individuals who do have fun personalities, but some fans would consider them cliche. Either way both of them are consistently considered among the best.
- Noah Gragson & Shedeur Sanders
Similar to Mayfield and Chastain, Noah Gragson and Shedeur Sanders are some of the most marketable figures in each sport. Unfortunately for the both of them, their success on Saturdays has not translated to Sundays, and there hasn’t been much optimism that the best is yet to come. It’s a shame that their results don’t equate to the energy and marketability that both of these guys bring. Whether it’s Shedeur flexing the wrist after a score, or Noah shotgunning a beer after a win, people like these dudes are what sports needs. If they sniff even an ounce of success in the future, they can easily reach that level of superstardom that is so hard to come by.
- AJ Allmendinger & Geno Smith
AJ and Geno fit into the same category as McDowell and Brissett. Two veterans who have stuck around to the point where many overlook how impressive their careers have been. Aside from Denny Hamlin, has been in the Cup Series for the longest amount of time, as he made his Cup debut for Red Bull Racing in 2007. Geno initially was drafted to the Jets, but he bounced around multiple different teams before finding the Seahawks similar to how it took a while for Allmendinger to find Kaulig Racing. The thing that stands out the most about these two though, is their energy at its peak is unmatched in their sports. Allmendinger shows so much raw passion when he has success, and Geno delivered that iconic “didn’t write back yet” line just a few years ago. Overall, these are two dudes who have stuck around for a long time, have never been elite, but everyone loves seeing them succeed.
- Austin Cindric & Trevor Lawrence
Two dudes with big necks. All jokes aside, Cindric and Lawrence are some underrated but naturally funny people in their sports. Additionally, both of them came into their sports as one of the top prospects in the early 2020s. Austin Cindric came into Team Penske and immediately won the Daytona 500 in 2022. As for Lawrence he struggled as a rookie throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. Both individuals have struggled for the past few years, but as of recent, both have begun to turn a corner in performance. Austin Cindric is having his best season since his rookie year, and Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars to a 13-4 record last season. It’s been a popular take among sports fans to call both of these guys overrated, but they are more underappreciated if anything.
- Chris Buescher & Sam Darnold
Another loveable underdog. Both Buescher and Darnold have always seemed to be overlooked. Darnold came into the NFL as the 3rd overall pick. He struggled at the start of his career, bouncing around teams until he made it to Minnesota where he led the Vikings to the playoffs. Although, it didn’t seem to be enough as he was let go in Free Agency where he would then sign with Seattle. Darnold never looked back after that, leading the Seahawks to a super bowl victory the following season. Buescher fits that category as well. Buescher began his Cup Series career bouncing around mid-level teams before finding himself in the 17 car. Despite not having won a race in nearly two years, Buescher is consistently finishing in the top-15, and he is currently 9th in points, the 2nd highest Ford, and 2nd highest driver without a win. Buescher and Darnold are persistent and recently have been consistently solid.
- Ryan Preece & Jordan Love
In a similar sense to Briscoe and Daniels, Ryan Preece and Jordan Love had to wait a long time for their opportunity at the highest level. Preece, a short-tracker from the northeast, was doing everything he could to get to the next race. He did just that when he won at Iowa in 2017 in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, igniting the flame of what would be his career. As for Love, he not only played college ball at Utah State, but he also had to wait behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay before he made his way into a starting role. Preece and Love embody hard-nosed determination and persistence when it comes to competing at the highest level.
- Shane van Gisbergen & Fernando Mendoza
Despite the absurd age gap, Mendoza and van Gisbergen are the quirky newcomers to their sports. Shane van Gisbergen, a Kiwi V8 Supercars racer, shocked the world when he won the inaugural Chicago Street Course Race in 2023. Since then Shane has become a full-time NASCAR Cup Series racer, and already sits 2nd on NASCARs all-time road course wins list, tied with Tony Stewart, and one behind record holder Jeff Gordon’s nine. As for Mendoza, the transfer from California came out of nowhere and led the Indiana Hoosiers to their first national championship ever last season, despite existing as a program since 1899. Both of these guys are trailblazers in their own right, and they do it while always seeming to have a smile on their faces.
- Zane Smith & Bo Nix
Smith and Nix are two guys who don’t cause any problems (until recently with Smith’s comments on Hocevar). For the majority Smith and Nix are two well-respected guys among the drivers, very unproblematic people and good role models for the next generation. Both of these guys have good stories as well. Whether that’s Bo Nix’s college journey with his half-brother Tez Johnson, or Zane Smith’s tooth and nail fight through BMX west coast racing, and the NASCAR Truck Series. There is sort of a vibe between these two that I find to be fitting for this comparison.
- Brad Keselowski & Dak Prescott
Keselowski and Prescott are two well-accomplished veterans of their sports. Both began their careers disliked. Brad was known for his aggressive style and driving for Team Penske, while Dak Prescott was simply just the rookie quarterback for the Cowboys that was lighting the NFL up. As time has progressed, many have started to gain a greater appreciation for these two individuals. Prescott has been successful at all levels despite numerous fans against him, and other obstacles in his life. While Brad was the villain of the sport for a while but now he’s one of the most respected elder statesmen. These two took vastly different paths to get to where they are now, but they are now both a respected veteran of their sports.
- Josh Berry & Tyler Shough
Josh Berry and Tyler Shough are another duo that fits the mold of the old newcomer. Berry was 34 years old before beginning his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, and Tyler Shough completed his rookie season last year at 25 years old. Both of these guys are another one of those lovable underdogs that many are just happy to see them get the opportunity even though it’s a bit late. Berry will be getting replaced next season unfortunately but his previous Cup series success could easily set him up well for a good spot in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. As for Shough, it seems to be that there is a bright future in New Orleans. The team ended last season strong, finishing the season 4-3 after their bye week and going 5-4 with Shough as the starter. Hopefully the two of these guys can show that success can come no matter how late your start in the process is.
- Todd Gilliland & Malik Willis
The Gillionaire and Malik Willis are both guys who have just recently gotten their big break. Recently, Todd Gilliland just won the $1,000,000 prize for the in-season challenge, and Malik Willis is getting the opportunity to finally start a full season for the Dolphins this year. These two guys are also just good people. Malik made headlines at his NFL combine by giving his clothes to a homeless woman in Indianapolis, and Todd Gilliland, like an SVG, always has an upbeat attitude regardless of what happens on a given day. To me, the current momentum that the two of these guys have is what stands out to me the most.
- Cole Custer & CJ Stroud
Cole and CJ are similar in the fact that they shined as rookies and in lower levels but have been below average since. Cole Custer won at Kentucky in 2020 during his rookie season after going from 6th to 1st in the final 2 laps of the race. As for Stroud he was the 2nd overall pick in 2023, and he outperformed 2023 1st overall pick Bryce Young in his rookie season. Stroud had all of the momentum, and was awarded with Offensive rookie of the year. Since his stellar rookie season, Stroud has still been good, but he hasn’t taken that leap that everyone expected. The same kind of goes for Cole Custer as despite bouncing back and forth between the Cup and O’Reilly series, he hasn’t found victory lane on Sunday since. Custer did win the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in 2023, so he has that going for him. Lastly, both Stroud and Custer have underrated funny personalities, as seen in interviews and on podcasts. I hope these two can find success again in years to come.
- Austin Hill & Cam Ward
Hill and Ward are another pair of rookies in the top level of their sports, except these are two guys that are straight business. Neither is very outgoing with the media, but not in a condescending way. Both are just committed to their craft and doing their job the best they can. It’s very respectable. Both Ward and Hill were very accomplished prior to getting to the top level. Austin Hill has 16 wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and is considered one of the best superspeedway racers of all time. As for Ward, he was the number one pick in the 2025 NFL draft and had a 39-7 touchdown to interception ratio in 2024 at Miami. At the end of the day, these are two guys I personally wouldn’t want to upset.
- Austin Dillon & Brock Purdy
AD and Purdy is a comparison that many might not understand, but let me explain. Both Dillon and Purdy came into the sport they loved. Dillon, being the grandson of Richard Childress naturally had supporters, on top of the fact he was driving the famed Dale Earnhardt number three. As for Purdy he was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2023 NFL draft, and has worked his way into becoming the franchise quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. However somewhere along the way in both of their careers, they’ve become heavily criticized, and as for Dillon disliked. Quite frankly, I’m not too sure why. Both of them have also had some big shoes to fill. Purdy being the quarterback for a 5-time winning super bowl franchise, and Dillon inheriting the most iconic number and font in NASCARs history. Overall, these are two guys who keep chipping away at it and defy the odds despite the criticism they receive. They’re also both shorter individuals as well.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr & Kirk Cousins
Ricky and Kirk are another veteran duo that the public eye has shifted on for the better. Both Stenhouse and Cousins got to the top level in 2012, and they each quickly made impacts. Ricky Stenhouse has won four races through his cup series career, two of which in 2017, and Cousins has made four pro bowls. Cousins reached the peak of his career in the early 2020’s with Minnesota but Stenhouse and Cousins have been two guys who have stayed at the same level of production throughout their entire careers. Both are just consistent average veterans who are rightfully now appreciated. This duo is also known for their viral moments, whether its Cousins’ “You like that”, or Stenhouse’s punch on the late Kyle Busch in 2024, the two of them are underrated cornerstones of the sport culture.
- Ty Dillon & Michael Penix
Ty Dillon, and Michael Penix are two guys who are getting towards the end of their careers potentially, but have battled so much diversity to get to the position they’re at. Ty Dillon has been in NASCAR for over a decade and has fought tooth and nail to stay in the sport. He finally got his big break last season when he made it to the final round in the in-season challenge before losing to Ty Gibbs. As for Penix, he’s battled many injuries through his career especially to his knees. Penix has torn his ACL twice during his college career at Indiana, and after battling back from that he went on to have a storybook season for the Washington Huskies. They ultimately came up short in the 2024 National Championship, but it was enough to earn Penix the 8th overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft. Ty and Michael are what one would consider a grinder. Someone who stays at it, no matter how much adversity comes in their way.
- Riley Herbst & Carson Beck
Herbst and Beck are two young athletes who have been criticized more than many. Coming through the ranks, Herbst was just good enough to continue advancing up to where he is now. He’s been in many different facilities with different teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports, 23XI Racing and Haas Factory Team, but the results never seemed to add up quite like he wanted. Herbst finally started to put races together for Haas Factory Team in 2024, earning two wins, and seven top-5s en route to a 7th place points finish. He struggled in 2025, finishing 2nd to last in points, but so far in 2026, Herbst has improved to 25th in points. Herbst will be replaced following the season for the rising phenom Corey Heim, but his improvement isn’t going unnoticed. As for Carson Beck, he too jumped around different organizations like Herbst. Playing at schools like Georgia and Miami before getting drafted to the Arizona Cardinals this season. He currently will be waiting behind Jacoby Brissett for the starting job, but with Beck starting in the Hall of Fame game against the Carolina Panthers, he has the opportunity to challenge Brissett for that starting position.
- Cody Ware & J.J. McCarthy
Lastly, we have Cody Ware and J.J. McCarthy. I compare these two together because they are the most hated driver/quarterback duo, and so much of it is undeserved. Both have struggled the most, but are doing the most with what they’ve got. Many tend to forget J.J. McCarthy won a national championship with Michigan in 2024, and Cody Ware has raced at Le Mans, and is actually a decent superspeedway racer. Just because the two of them are considered to be towards the bottom in skill level, doesn’t mean they’re unworthy of their position. As Brian Scalabrine once said, “I’m closer to Lebron James, than you are to me”.