Okay, let’s rip the band-aid off. Over his five active seasons, Leinart threw for 4,593 yards and 14 touchdowns. Yes, you read that right—14 TDs in his entire career. For context, Patrick Mahomes sometimes throws that many in a single month.
His completion percentage sits at 56.8%, which is… not great. And he tossed 14 interceptions to go with those 14 touchdowns. That’s a perfect 1:1 ratio, people. It’s almost artistic in its mediocrity. (Side note: If your QB has as many INTs as TDs, you’re probably not winning the Super Bowl. Just a thought.)
His passer rating? A tidy 71.5. That’s the kind of number you’d see from a backup who’s only asked to hand the ball off. But Leinart was supposed to be the franchise savior. Ouch.
The 2006 Season: The Peak That Wasn’t
If you’re looking for a “good year” in Leinart’s stat sheet, it’s 2006. He started 11 games and threw for 2,547 yards. That’s actually decent—until you notice his 11 TDs vs. 13 INTs. He also fumbled six times. (Pro tip: If you’re a QB, losing the turnover battle usually gets you benched. Spoiler: it did.)
That season, he had a few moments of genuine magic. Remember that thrilling comeback against the Bears? He threw two TDs in the final 15 minutes. Then reality hit: the Cardinals finished 5-11. Stats don’t lie about team success, do they?
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The 2007-2008 Decline
By 2007, Leinart was already sharing snaps with Kurt Warner. His numbers dipped: 647 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs. He went 2-4 as a starter. Warner, meanwhile, was balling out. Seriously, imagine losing your job to a guy who was selling groceries a few years earlier. That’s a humbling stat.
In 2008, he played only four games due to a broken collarbone. His stats: 382 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. The writing was on the wall, and it was written in permanent marker. The Cardinals went to the Super Bowl that year—without him. Oof.
