Fernando Mendoza, Carson Beck and Kyle McCord set to make NFL history with their first starts and debuts

This season seems unique for quarterbacks, especially rookie quarterbacks. Undrafted Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Jalon Daniels took over when Baker Mayfield was injured, undrafted quarterback Joe Fagnano started for the Baltimore Ravens when Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley went down, and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza arrived for the Las Vegas Raiders during garbage time. Washington Commanders seventh-rounder Athan Kaliakmanis also made an appearance this season.

This week we have more to look forward to: three QBs each get their first start and make history in the process. Mendoza is expected to make his first start for the Raiders, against the Seattle Seahawks, and third-round rookie Carson Beck will make his NFL debut with the Arizona Cardinals. Another quarterback joining the starting group is 2025 sixth-rounder Kyle McCord, who makes his NFL debut this week as the starter for the Miami Dolphins.

If all three start, 50 quarterbacks will have made at least one start through Week 10 this season, tied for the second-most in the last 20 seasons. Only 2019 saw more quarterbacks, as 51 quarterbacks had at least one start through Week 10.

This will be the second time that multiple quarterbacks will make their NFL debuts as starters (Beck, McCord) in the same week (excluding Week 1 and the 1987 players’ strike). The last time this happened was in 2019, when Drew Lock made his NFL debut with the Denver Broncos and David Blough of the Detroit Lions also made his debut as a starter.

Mendzoa, Beck and McCord would also be the third trio in the last 30 seasons to make their first career starts in the same week (excluding Week 1 and season finales).

Since 2000, we’ve seen 158 QBs start at least one game as rookies and only 22 of them made their first start between Week 10 and Week 13. Only five of the 22 won their starts.

Let’s take a look at these three quarterbacks, how they ended up getting the starting job and where their teams stand:

Fernando Mendoza, Raiders (4-5)

Mendoza was drafted No. 1 overall in April after winning the Heisman and College Football National Championship. He went 16-0 in his final year of college with Indiana, finishing the year with career highs in completion percentage (72.0), passing yards (3,535) and touchdowns (41), with just six interceptions.

Kirk Cousins ​​​​got the starting job in Sin City, but his recent exchange with the The Minnesota Vikings asked Mendoza to take over. This won’t be Mendoza’s debut, as he played late in the Raiders’ 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 5. He started 5-for-5 on his first drive and finished the game 6-for-8 for 48 yards.

Any team that drafts a QB first overall plans for him to be the long-term guy, but that doesn’t always happen right away. As Mendoza prepared for the day we all knew would eventually come, he had a veteran QB to learn from. Mendoza praised Cousins ​​for mentoring him and helping him prepare for the eventual time he begins his tenure as a starter.

“It would have been very easy for Kirk…being a veteran quarterback and having already proven that everything was a little more dismissive, but he had me with open arms and taught me so many things,” Mendoza said.

The freshman QB continued: “Whether it was film studies, how to function as a starting quarterback, all the different multifaceted approaches that have made him successful throughout his career, he shared them without restrictions and without constraints. So I really appreciate him…he’s been a great mentor.”

Next game against the Seahawks on Sunday, November 15 at 4:05 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+

Carson Beck, Cardinals (5-6)

Beck began the season as an emergency third-string quarterback and found himself starting just 10 weeks later. The Cardinals’ season began with Jacoby Brissett as QB1, but he was benched in favor of Gardner Minshew and Beck was named the backup. Brissett was ultimately traded to the Ravens, leaving Minshew and Beck on the depth chart. Minshew was only able to make one start before being sidelined by what is feared he had a torn UCL in his throwing arm.

Beck summed up his rise in depth by saying, “It’s been a crazy season,” adding that he was “super excited” to play. Like Mendoza and Cousins, Beck gained value by observing his predecessors, Brissett and Minshew.

“I think the biggest thing is just watching those two and how they carry themselves and how they carry themselves, not only in the meeting room around the coaches, but also on the tour, during practice and during the game,” Beck said. “I think that’s the biggest thing you can learn from those guys, that everyone looks at you as a quarterback, and your attitude has to be right every day. The courage to go out there and have confidence and make everyone around you better.”

The 24-year-old was the No. 65 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, following a long collegiate career that included two College Football Playoff titles (but none as a starter). Last season with Miami (FL), he achieved conference highs in completions (338) and completion percentage (72.4), along with 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Next game against the Rams (5-4) on Sunday, November 15 at 1 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+

Kyle McCord, Dolphins (1-7)

McCord was named the Dolphins’ starter after the team placed Malik Willis on injured reserve Tuesday. The 24-year-old has been active for all of the Dolphins’ games this season, but he has yet to take any snaps. Now he will make his debut as a starter for a struggling 1-7 Miami team.

McCord was drafted in the sixth round of the 2025 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, went to the Packers in January 2026 and headed south before Week 1 this season, via trade. During the preseason, he went 46 of 70 with 446 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions with the Packers.

He spent his college career with Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse during his senior season. He led the NCAA in completions (391), attempts (592) and yards (4,779) in orange in 2024. He also had 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during the 10-3 season, starting all 13 games.

“Being at a school like Ohio State and playing big games at Syracuse as well, I think that should give you the confidence that you’ve played on a big stage going up against some of the best players in the league right now,” McCord said before his first start. “So, yeah, I mean, I think the confidence level coming from those games is definitely there. It’s not the first time I’ve played in a big game. So yeah, I feel like that’s where I get a lot of confidence from.”

Next game against the Colts (2-7) on Sunday, November 15 at 1 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+