InAmerican football, agame manager is aquarterback who, despite pedestrian individual statistics such aspassing yards andtouchdowns, also maintains low numbers of mistakes, such asinterceptions andfumbles. Such a quarterback is seen as a major factor in neither his team's wins nor their losses; his performance is good enough to not negatively affect the performances of other players on his team, even if he himself does not have the skills to be considered an elite player.[1][2] Game managers often benefit from strongdefense andrushing offense on their teams.[3][4]
Arizona Sports said that "game manager" was "a term that often comes with negative connotations of a non-talented, play-it-safe type of quarterback".[5]The New York Times called it a "backhanded compliment".[6] TheSan Francisco Chronicle wrote, "As consolation ... Quarterbacks are called game managers only if they're winning."[7] TheAssociated Press opined, "But like any cliche, [game manager is] oversimplified". FormerIndianapolis Colts presidentBill Polian laughed, "Every quarterback is a game manager, it's what the job is all about".[1]Nick Saban said, "I don't think you can be a good quarterback unless you're a really good game manager".[8] TheLos Angeles Times noted that althoughTrent Dilfer was not an elite quarterback, the2000 Baltimore Ravens won theSuper Bowl with a dominant defense and Dilfer as a game manager.[4]Peyton Manning, who was a five-timeNFL Most Valuable Player, transitioned into a game manager role with a defensive-orientedDenver Broncos squad in his final season in2015, when he won his second championship and became at the time the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, at age 39.[9]
