What might be the easiest job in pro football? Some might say a punter, kicker, or long snapper, as they only see the field a handful of times per game. But those positions come with their own individual pressures, especially with the game on the line. There is one position, however, that takes the cake: backup quarterback. If you're QB2 behind a solid QB1, you could spend the entire season just holding a clipboard or tablet on the sideline with a headset on come game day. While this may seem very unappealing at first, some of these players may make millions per year and only take a few relief snaps when the game is well in hand. 

The Green Bay Packers have had many backup QBs over the years, but with the success and health they've found at the position for the last 34 years, the need for QB2 to step in and carry the team has been very minimal. Due to that fact, there have been some notable names who have worn the backup's headset in Green Bay, but never really needed to take over on game day. 

This offseason, with the departure of Malik Willis, who stepped in several times to take over for Jordan Love during his two-year Green Bay stint, the Packers find themselves looking for another reliable backup. While they hope the next QB2 spends the majority of their time on the sidelines and joins the list of notable backups who were never really needed, they still want to find a player who can do exactly what Malik Willis did, which was step in and win. 

Despite the list of backups in Packers history who have made a name for themselves being minimal, they do have some good candidates for the QB2 Hall of Fame. But which one takes the cake?

Malik Willis (2024-2025)

Let's start with the most recent one, fresh in our memories. After the 2024 preseason, the Packers were pretty underwhelmed with their backup QB situation behind Jordan Love. Former 5th-round pick Sean Clifford had done fairly well in his rookie season as a serviceable backup, but his training camp performance was underwhelming. 7th-round pick, Michael Pratt, was even more underwhelming as he struggled to catch on immensely. So, the Packers traded a 7th-round pick to Tennessee for Malik Willis, who was likely a cut-candidate for the Titans, and released both Clifford and Pratt. 

Willis was thrust into the QB2 position, and after an injury to Jordan Love in week 1, Willis would need to start in Love's place in week 2 after only being with the team for less than two weeks. It was with this moment that a Packers QB2 legend was created. Against Indianapolis, Willis went 12/14 for 122 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 41 yards, picking up the victory. The next week, against his former team, he pulled off the victory again with an even more impressive performance. 

While Willis' record as a starter with the Packers was 2-1, his performances in relief were impressive, leading the Packers to come-back victories twice. But while Willis' performances made him the best Packers' backup QB at least in the last decade, they don't make him the best overall.

Matt Flynn (2008-2011, 2013-2014)

Matt Flynn would probably be the name most synonymous with great Packers backup QBs in recent memory. Flynn was drafted in the 7th round in 2008 during the offseason of turmoil, which saw Aaron Rodgers take over for Brett Favre. But Flynn wasn't alone as a rookie in the Packers' QB room. Brian Brohm was drafted in the 2nd round by the Packers and was thought to be the most likely backup, if not starter, should Aaron Rodgers not work out. 

But with Brohm not working out, and Flynn excelling in camp, Matt Flynn became the backup to Aaron Rodgers, and he'd hold that job for the next four years. The majority of that time, Flynn wasn't needed. It wasn't until a concussion sidelined Rodgers in 2010 that Flynn had to come in for relief, and then he got his first NFL start. Despite it coming in losing fashion to the New England Patriots, Flynn impressed, going 24/37 for 251 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. The next season, he got another start in the final regular season game, where he set franchise records, lighting up the Detroit defense for 480 yards, six touchdowns, and an interception in a victorious 45-41 shoot-out. 

It was that final game that earned Flynn an enormous payday from the Seattle Seahawks the following offseason. However, things didn't pan out, and he was beat out by rookie Russell Wilson for the starting job before being released that offseason to sign with the Oakland Raiders in 2013, and eventually with the Buffalo Bills as well after Oakland released him. Things didn't pan out in Oakland either, and probably in Flynn's favor, as he was released to return to the Packers following an injury to Aaron Rodgers, with the Packers' other QB options not working out. 

Flynn came back to the mix for the Packers in week 12, coming into the game in relief and tying the Minnesota Vikings before going 2-2 as a starter with impressive performances yet again, keeping the Packers afloat to earn a playoff berth when Aaron Rodgers returned. This earned him the backup job the following season before Flynn's time in the NFL came to an end. 

But, even though Flynn may be the best QB2 of the last 30 years, it still doesn't earn him the top overall spot.

Zeke Bratkowski (1963-1968, 1971)

Zeke Bratkowski started his career with the Chicago Bears, where he played for five seasons, then moved to the Los Angeles Rams for two more. He was then placed on waivers in 1963, where he was claimed by the Packers. Going from a 1-6 Rams team to the 6-1 Packers was a motivation on its own for Bratkowski to help the team in any way he could. 

Bratkowski earned himself the nickname "Super Sub" with the Packers, given his success filling in for Bart Starr. Despite being QB2 for the Packers behind Starr, who was always the set-in-stone starter, Bratkowski was known for his meticulous preparation and his ability to maintain the offense's rhythm whenever Starr was sidelined. As a starter for the Packers, Bratkowski earned a 10-4 record, and in games that may qualify as "performance in relief," he led the Packers to a 6-3 record. 

Possibly one of Zeke Bratkowski's most notable relief victories was in the 1965 conference playoffs vs the Baltimore Colts when Bart Starr was injured on the first play of the game. Bratkowski entered the game and went 22/39 for 248 yards, leading the Packers to a 13-10 overtime victory and keeping them alive to go on to win the first of three straight championships. 

Bratkowski retired in 1969 to go into coaching, but returned in 1971 to serve as an emergency backup to Bart Starr, seeing action in several games. 

Other notables

Doug Pederson (1996-1998, 2001-2004), Matt Hasselbeck (1998-2000), Mark Brunell (1993-1994) (Note: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love do not qualify given their eventual success with the team as QB1.)

The Packers have been fortunate to rely on outstanding QB1 play for decades, but when needed, a few backups have stepped in and delivered at a high level. From Malik Willis' short but impactful stint to Matt Flynn's record-setting moments behind center, both were instrumental to the Packers' success during their tenure. But when it comes to reliability and keeping a championship-caliber team on track whenever called upon, Zeke Bratkowski takes the title of the best backup QB in Packers' history.