Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler is one of the few backup quarterbacks to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, and as a result he was able to earn a starting job for several years and became a pretty good quarterback.
Hostetler was drafted by the Giants in 1984, but didn't even take his first snap until 1988, when he moved up to the backup role behind Phil Simms. He played well when he was needed, but it wasn't often, and near the end of the 1990 season he was considering retirement when his moment finally came.
Phil Simms injured his foot late in the 14th game of the season, which they eventually lost to the Bills, but Hostetler led them to victory in their final two games, then guided them through the playoffs as well, throwing 3 touchdowns and running for another without an interception in 3 playoff games, and the Giants held on in the Super Bowl against Buffalo to become world champions.
When Simms was healthy again before the next season, Hostetler was able to win the starting job in training camp, but he broke his back in game 12, which resulted in him missing the remainder of the season. The next year, Simms won the starting job in camp, but was lost for the season in week 4, giving the job back to Hostetler again, but missed 3 games of his own with injuries.
After the season, the Giants decided not to resign him, so he went west to claim the starting job with the Raiders. His first season in LA was his best, with 14 passing touchdowns and a career high 5 rushing touchdowns, and he led the Raiders to a huge wild card win with 294 yards and 3 touchdowns before they fell to the Bills in the divisional round. In his 5 career playoff starts, Hostetler had a 4-1 record with 7 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
He was elected to his only Pro Bowl the following season, and had a couple more solid but injury-ridden seasons with the Raiders, but the twin peaks of his career were the two playoff runs while he was starting, when he really stepped up his play over his regular season levels. He may have had a short starting career, but he played best when he needed to, and has a Super Bowl title and a spot on this countdown of the best quarterbacks of all time to show for it.
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