In Jacksonville, there have only been a couple of great quarterbacks who have lead their team to winning seasons and have had incredible statistics. Aaron Garcia vs. Tommy Grady will be the topic in this one. While some fans may say Garcia is the easy winner, others fight back and say Grady is the better quarterback.
Comparing Quarterbacks: Aaron Garcia vs. Tommy Grady
Starting things off, Garcia has played about 22 seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL), while Grady has only played seven seasons in the AFL and one in the NAL.
While things may seem unfair in that area, we have taken the average numbers for each player and put them together.
One more thing to add to the rules of the matchup: These are only AFL and NAL stats. No other league’s stats are included in these numbers.
Aaron Garcia
First, we will start with Garcia. We will also have his statistics with the Jacksonville Sharks as well as his career totals and his average per season.
In 2010 with the Sharks, Garcia was starting the Sharks inaugural season with a lot of experience under his belt.
During the 2010 season, Garcia threw 312-of-486 (64.2%), 3,718 yards, 82 Touchdowns, 16 Interceptions, and a 113.32 QBR.
In the 2011 Arena Bowl-winning season, Garcia threw 402-of-562 (71.5%), 4,933 Yards, 116 Touchdowns, 17 Interceptions, and had a 125.24 QBR.
Garcia then returned to Jacksonville in 2014 for a short period of time after retiring, coming out of retirement, and then playing with a couple other teams.
In 2014, Garcia threw 27-of-42 (64.3%), 277 Yards, 6 Touchdowns, 1 Interception, and had a 108.93 QBR.
When we are talking about career stats, Garcia dominates almost anyone in AFL history with his numbers. 4,963-of-7,794 (63.7%), 62,159 Yards, 1,336 Touchdowns, 229 Interceptions, and a 115.72 QBR.
Simplifying all those numbers down to the average per season, you would come up with something like this: 225-of-354 (63.5%), 2,825 Yards, 60 Touchdowns, 10 Interceptions, and the 115.72 QBR again. Not all of those numbers are exact because there were decimals, but the numbers in the whole number would be those numbers.
Pretty impressive for Garcia. Let’s move to Grady’s stats.
Tommy Grady
Grady has played with the Jacksonville Sharks as many seasons as Garcia has, so this makes it fair and easy. Grady is about to enter his fourth season with the Sharks.
We will break down what Grady has done in Jacksonville leading up to the 2018 season.
In 2015, Grady took over the previously-struggling Jacksonville Sharks after leaving the Pittsburgh Power, who folded after the conclusion of the 2014 season.
During the 2015 season, Grady threw for 402-of-598 (67.2%), 4,684 Yards, 95 Touchdowns, 12 Interceptions, and had a solid 121.96 QBR.
The 2016 season had some fairly similar numbers, throwing 400-of-587 (68.1%), 4,495 Yards, 94 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions, with a 125.39 QBR.
In 2017, however, Grady suffered a season-ending injury in the new league against the Monterrey Steel. In his few games in 2017, Grady threw 71-of-113 (62.8%), 1,060 Yards, 23 Touchdowns, 1 Interception, 113.66 QBR.
Grady has only played in eight seasons, about to enter his ninth, compared to Garcia’s 22 seasons.
In Grady’s eight seasons, he threw 4,963-of-7,794 (63.7%), 62,159 Yards, 1,336 Touchdowns, 229 Interceptions, and had a 115.72 QBR.
While those stats are impressive, they aren’t quite as good as Garcia’s stats for obvious reasons.
Moving to the average per season, Grady averages 335-of-558 (60.0%), 4,133 Yards, 90 Touchdowns, 14 Interceptions, and a 112.75 QBR.
Looking at the numbers, Grady had a better first season with the Sharks than Garcia’s first season in all numbers.
That changed in both of their second season with the Sharks. The only things that Grady were better at in his second season is the amount of interceptions and the QBR.
In their third season with the Sharks, Garcia decided to leave the team and officially retire as a Shark, hurting his numbers. Grady was better at everything.
With the season averages, Garcia controls the percentage, the amount of interceptions, and the QBR while Grady takes over the completions, attempts, percentage, yards, and touchdowns.
So when it comes to who the best quarterback in Jacksonville Sharks history, is it Aaron Garcia or is it Tommy Grady?
Keep in mind that Garcia has something Grady doesn’t: A Championship start and victory with Jacksonville. Grady may have a championship ring, but he didn’t contribute to that game due to his injury.
We would love to find out who you think the better quarterback is between these two.
