Wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Marshall names surprising worst quarterback he's played with

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/12/24

Former six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall played with his fair share of quarterbacks during his 13-year NFL career, but one sticks out in his mind for the wrong reasons.

Marshall enjoyed some of his best seasons when he was catching passes from Jay Cutler. The pair spent three seasons together with the Denver Broncos and another three seasons with Chicago Bears. But it’s Cutler who Marshall recently labeled as the worst quarterback he ever played with during an appearance on “Hot Ones.”

“The worst quarterback that I played with, and listen, just understand that there was so much potential…was Jay Cutler," Marshall confessed. “Jay Cutler should've won a Super Bowl. Jay Cutler had everything that it took to be one of the most legendary quarterbacks. And so, it’s no disrespect to him but I’ve got to answer the question truthfully, and so I would say Jay Cutler because he didn't reach half of his potential.”

It's not the first time Marshall has taken a shot at Cutler publicly, either.

Brandon Marshall lists best teammates ever, doesn't list Jay Cutlerhttp://t.co/qvzSPoZycH pic.twitter.com/7v0qFDZkIe
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) July 5, 2015

Brandon Marshall questions Jay Cutler’s attitude. MORE: http://t.co/aZrmFXar79 pic.twitter.com/LxDTQ3GcBc
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 6, 2015

Brandon Marshall on Jay Cutler's contract: "I would have buyer's remorse, too." http://t.co/25pLLl08eQ #Bears pic.twitter.com/e1kJYj5YqT
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) December 9, 2014

For context, the other QBs Marshall played with during his NFL run included:

Jake Plummer
Patrick Ramsey
Kyle Orton
Chris Simms
Chad Henne
Tyler Thigpen
Chad Pennington
Matt Moore
J.P. Losman
Jason Campbell
Josh McCown
Jimmy Clausen
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Geno Smith
Bryce Petty
Eli Manning
Russell Wilson

Marshall’s assessment seems a little harsh, but he may have a point about Cutler’s unreached potential.

The 11th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Broncos, Cutler played just three seasons in Denver before being traded to the Bears for 2009 first- and third-round picks plus a 2010 first-rounder in April 2009.

In 12 years, Cutler made just one Pro Bowl, had just one 4,000-yard season and never had more than 28 touchdowns passes in a single season. His lone playoff appearance came with the Bears in 2010 and resulted in a 21-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

While catching passes from Cutler, Marshall made one of his two All-Pro selections and three of his six Pro Bowl selections. In the six seasons he played with Cutler, Marshall totaled 505 receptions, 850 targets, 6,423 yards and 46 touchdowns.

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