2012 seemed to be the season of young quarterbacks as many playoff teams featured rookies at the starting position. Being a quarterback can’t be easy, especially as a young player, as they are the leader of the pack and seem to take most of the blame for flaws within the game. Despite the pressure of this position, many young quarterbacks have stepped up and embraced the leadership role. This indicates that most believe their already impressive performances will only get better as their careers continue. Here’s a look at the best young quarterbacks who are 25 and younger.

12. Tim Tebow, New York Jets, 25

Tebow led the Denver Broncos to an AFC West title and playoff appearance in 2011, but once the Bronocs signed Peyton Manning, Tebow was traded to the New York Jets where he currently backs up starter Mark Sanchez. His numbers are far from great nor do they stand out in comparison to the other quarterbacks listed. His best season came in 2011 when he threw for 1,729 yards with 12 touchdowns posting a quarterback rating of 72.9. In 2012, Tebow started zero games and appeared in 12 going 6-8 with 39 yards with zero touchdowns, but rushed for 102 yards. He ended 2012 with a quarterback rating of 84.9, but that doesn’t say much considering his limited playing time and lack of success in his stats.

11. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, 25

Bradford has three years of experience in the NFL and has posted impressive numbers each season. His best year came last season as he went 328-551 throwing for 3,702 yards and 21 touchdowns to earn an 82.6 rating. Again, the Rams aren’t one of the best teams in the NFL yet this young quarterback has been able to post impressive numbers.

10. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins, 24

Tannehill is another quarterback who has made a name for himself as the starting quarterback for the Dolphins. He had a solid rookie season as he went 282-484 and threw for 3,294 yards with 12 touchdowns. However, his interception rate was high as he threw 13 in 2012. Tannehill finished the season with a quarterback rating of 76.1, which is more than decent considering he plays for the Dolphins, who aren’t a contending team.

9. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25

Freeman has been with Tampa Bay for four years and has improved each season; his best being 2012. Last season he went 306-558 and threw for 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns to finish the season with an 81.6 rating. In 2011, Freeman threw for 3,592 with 16 touchdowns for a rating of 74.6. Despite not being on a contending team, Freeman has been able to put up good numbers and perform well.

8. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals, 25

After taking over for Carson Palmer, in the two seasons Dalton has started for the Bengals he has been nothing less than consistent and his numbers slightly improved in 2012. In 2011, Dalton posted a quarterback rating of 80.4 and threw 20 touchdowns. In 2012, he posted a rating of 87.4 while throwing for 3,369 yards and 27 touchdowns while going 329-528; solid performance by the young Bengals’ quarterback who continues to improve.

7. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, 25

Matthew Stafford has four years in the NFL under his belt and his numbers have always been impressive. He’s only had two seasons where he started each game which was last season and the 2011 season. In total, he is 1,114-1,863 with 12,807 yards and 80 touchdowns. Stafford’s best year came in 2011 when he posted a quarterback rating of 97.2 and threw for 5,038 yards with 41 touchdowns. 2012 was a good season for Stafford as well as he threw for 4,967 yards and 20 touchdowns finishing the season with a 79.8 quarterback rating.

6. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings, 25

Ponder has been with Minnesota for two seasons now and his numbers improved in 2012 as he led the Vikings to a wild card playoff appearance. Last season he threw for 2,935 yards with 18 touchdowns while going 300-483 to finish with a quarterback rating of 81.2; a significant improvement from 2011 where he threw for 1,853 yards with 13 touchdowns and a rating of 70.1. 2012 was his first year starting the full season and his numbers improved which can be expected throughout his career.

5. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, 23

Newton has started in every game for the Panthers these past two seasons and has put up really good numbers. 2012 wasn’t as good of a year as 2011 for Newton, but was still a decent season. In his rookie year he posted 4,051 yards with 21 touchdowns and an 84.5 quarterback rating. Last year, Newton went 280-485 as he threw for 3,869 yards and 19 touchdowns finishing with an 86.2 quarterback rating.

4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, 24

2012 was Wilson’s first season in the NFL and it was an impressive one as he led the Seahawks to a wild card spot and playoff appearance. He went 252-393 for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns to finish with a rating of 100. Wilson’s rookie season was a great one and his career numbers will only improve.

3. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers, 25

Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith and never looked back as he earned the starting job and led the Niners to the Super Bowl. He only started in seven regular season games, but posted such good numbers as he went 136-218 with 1,814 yards and ten touchdowns finishing 2012 with a quarterback rating of 98.3.He will be the starting quarterback for the Niners next season and with the Niners keeping the team intact, you can expect even better numbers from Kaepernick as he enters his first full season as a starter.

2. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins, 23

Robert Griffin III, or RG3, had a breakout rookie season in 2012 and led the Redskins to a division title and playoff appearance. Griffin was 258-393 and threw for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also rushed for 815 resulting in seven touchdowns finishing 2012 with a quarterback rating of 102.4 in his first year as a starter in the NFL; quite an impressive season for the young quarterback.

1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, 23

Andrew Luck had one of the most impressive rookie seasons in 2012 with the Colts considering all the changes the team went through this past off season. Luck led them to a wild card spot and playoff appearance in a year where they weren’t expected to make the postseason. Luck threw for 4,374 yards as he went 339-627 with 23 touchdowns posting a rating of 76.5. Luck was the number one pick overall in the 2012 draft and in his first year was able to impress and lead his team to the playoffs. Luck’s numbers will only improve as his career moves forward with the Colts making him the number one young quarterback in the NFL.