Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert once expressed his frustration with the NFL’s efforts to protect quarterbacks by suggesting they ‘put dresses on all of them.’ In 1979, the league began tightening rules on roughing the passer. If Lambert saw the latest protections for quarterbacks, he might reiterate his point with even more conviction.
Despite the rules’ evolution, quarterbacks continue to face injuries. As Week 4 approaches, six starting quarterbacks have been sidelined by injuries.
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts believes additional rule changes won’t reduce injuries. He recounted Lambert’s famous quote: ‘Let’s just put dresses on those quarterbacks. I thought that was a good idea because I got really good-looking legs,’ he told OutKick.
Fouts emphasized that football remains a violent game. He highlighted the high level of athleticism in defenders compared to offensive linemen. The variety of blitzes targeting quarterbacks has increased due to this athletic disparity.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a meniscus injury requiring surgery, sidelining him for the season. Other quarterbacks such as Sam Darnold and Kyler Murray have returned, while Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Baker Mayfield are expected to come back this season.
Teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, Giants, and Minnesota Vikings have won games with backup quarterbacks. However, these offenses struggled to reach their usual production levels.
Fouts argues that protecting quarterbacks depends on offensive line performance, not additional rules. Teams may temporarily manage with backup quarterbacks, but relying on a third-string quarterback often leads to poor performance.
Fouts had a memorable college career at Oregon and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 1973 NFL Draft, where he played for 15 seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
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