Is 5'7 short for a QB?

Is 5'7" Too Short for a Quarterback?

At first glance, 5'7" might seem unusually short for a quarterback—especially in today’s NFL, where hulking, six-foot-plus passers are the norm. But history tells a different story. Believe it or not, the shortest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL stood just 5'7": Eddie LeBaron and Davey O'Brien, separated by two decades but united by stature and grit.

LeBaron played primarily in the 1950s, overcoming not just his height but also a childhood nickname—“The Little General”—that stuck because of his scrappy, intelligent style of play. Decades earlier, Davey O'Brien, winner of the Heisman Trophy in 1939, proved that heart and accuracy could outweigh inches. Despite their size, both carved out lasting legacies, with O'Brien even having a major NFL stadium named in his honor (before it was demolished).

So, is 5'7" short for a QB? Objectively, yes—especially by today’s standards. But football has always had room for outliers who play bigger than they measure. While modern offenses often favor taller quarterbacks for their field vision and deep-ball capability, the game has never been strictly ruled by the tape measure.

What matters more is arm strength, decision-making, leadership, and the ability to read defenses—all things that don’t correlate with height. LeBaron and O'Brien succeeded not despite their size, but by mastering the mental side of the game. They moved well in the pocket, anticipated pressure, and trusted their accuracy over brute force.

Today, a 5'7" prospect would face an uphill climb—scouts would scrutinize his reach, pocket visibility, and long throws. But history reminds us that outliers can thrive. In a league that celebrates the “Peyton’s brain vs. Bo’s arm” debate, sometimes it’s the mind, not the measurement, that wins games.