Jordan Palmer: How To Develop NFL Quarterbacks

In this episode, Les Spellman sits down with legendary quarterback developer Jordan Palmer for a deep dive into what it really takes to build elite quarterbacks. Jordan has trained some of the NFL's biggest names - Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Joe Burrow - and in this episode, he pulls back the curtain on his evaluation process, the mental and physical traits that separate good from great, and why quarterback development is about movement first, mechanics second.

Jordan shares never-before-told stories about Josh Allen's breakthrough during the COVID offseason, what Sam Darnold learned from watching Brock Purdy in San Francisco, and why the quarterback coaching industry is 20 years behind golf. 

Episode Timestamps

0:00 – Intro: How Jordan would develop Les into a quarterback

3:21 – The mental and emotional filter: What Jordan looks for before anything physical

7:41 – How Jordan assesses learning ability and football IQ

9:39 – Breaking down film evaluation: Anticipation, accuracy, and spatial awareness

13:43 – The Josh Allen question: What changed year over year?

19:41 – Sam Darnold's secret weapon: Resilience and routine

20:00 – Quarterbacks who've been "counted out" and came back (Baker, Geno, Sam)

22:24 – Why Sam's year in San Francisco was more valuable than anyone realizes

26:24 – The LPGA swing coach revelation: "Is everyone doing this wrong?"

29:22 – The philosophy: Quarterback is about movement, not just mechanics

39:57 – Physical development before technique: The missing piece in youth QB training

43:11 – The nutrition gap: Parents invest in training but miss the fundamentals

53:28 – How youth sports schedules have changed—and why delivery systems must adapt

57:38 – Changing the conversation at the kitchen table

58:55 – The lowest hanging fruit for elite performance: Nutrition and sleep

1:02:12 – Where to find Jordan Palmer and QB Summit services