Greatest QBs in NFL history

There may be maybe no larger or extra vital debate amongst NFL followers than the very best quarterbacks of all time. It’s simply an important place in sports activities, which is a part of the explanation why there may be intense debate over who belongs to be thought of among the many high quarterbacks of all time.

Some of these discussions get much more heated and sophisticated than the controversy over the greatest tight ends or the best running backs of all time.

Finest quarterbacks of all time

A part of the issue is that the controversy over the best quarterbacks ever is fluid. Yearly, new quarterbacks burst onto the scene whereas different quarterbacks enhance their resumes and make an argument to maneuver up on the record of the very best quarterbacks of all time.

Whereas our record isn’t written in stone and stays up for debate, we determined to place collectively an inventory of the 25 biggest QBs in NFL historical past.

25. Eli Manning

He actually isn’t as extremely considered his brother, however Eli Manning deserves a variety of credit score for the profession he put collectively. If nothing else, he knew how you can present up in huge video games, main the Giants to 2 Tremendous Bowl wins and being named Super Bowl MVP in each video games.

He additionally set the document for essentially the most passing yards in a single postseason through the 2011 run. Don’t overlook that Manning is a four-time Professional Bowler. Regardless of main the league in interceptions 3 times, the youthful Manning brother was on slouch when it got here to arm expertise.

24. Sammy Baugh

Again within the day of two-way gamers, Sammy Baugh was a quarterback, security, and even a punter. His propensity for interceptions apart, Baugh led the league in passer score 5 instances and passing yards 4 instances.

He additionally received Participant of the 12 months honors in back-to-back years through the bottom of his profession after main Washington to 2 NFL championships early in his profession, together with his rookie season. Whereas it’s onerous to check gamers of various generations, Baugh must be talked about among the many finest quarterbacks in NFL historical past.

23. Len Dawson

Len Dawson’s Corridor of Fame profession spans each the AFL and the NFL, and while you add up his time in each leagues, you get one heck of a profession. Whereas he solely made the Professional Bowl as soon as, Dawson was a six-time AFL All-Star, main the league in completion proportion seven instances, passer score six instances, and passing touchdowns 4 instances whereas additionally profitable AFL MVP honors in 1962.

After all, Dawson was additionally the MVP of Tremendous Bowl IV, main the Chiefs to a victory over the Vikings to place the cherry on high of an important profession.

22. Kurt Warner

It’s unimaginable to not put a two-time MVP like Kurt Warner on an inventory of the very best quarterbacks ever. Contemplating his journey within the Area Soccer League and NFL Europe earlier than getting an opportunity to begin in his late 20s makes his profession much more outstanding.

Between 1999 and 2001, Warner was hands-down the very best quarterback within the recreation. He might not have stayed on the high of his recreation for lengthy, however the issues he did throughout these years have been unbelievable. He additionally closed his profession with a few good seasons with the Cardinals, making the Professional Bowl in 2008 after which throwing a document 11 landing passes in a single postseason, almost main Arizona to a win within the Tremendous Bowl.

21. Terry Bradshaw

His three Professional Bowl alternatives may pail compared to another nice quarterbacks, however his 4 Tremendous Bowl wins say rather a lot about how good Terry Bradshaw was.

Understand that he was Tremendous Bowl MVP in two of these 4 wins and in addition received MVP honors in 1978 throughout one of many two seasons he led the league in passing touchdowns. Just like a few of the nice quarterbacks of his period, Bradshaw threw almost as many interceptions as touchdowns and didn’t have a robust completion proportion.

Nonetheless, there aren’t many quarterbacks of any era with 4 Tremendous Bowl rings.

20. Jim Kelly

For some time, Jim Kelly was the chief of one of the vital prolific offenses the NFL had ever seen. The Payments owned the AFC through the early 90s, and Kelly was a giant purpose why. He was pulling the strings on an offense that couldn’t be stopped till the Payments reached the Tremendous Bowl, shedding the large recreation in 4 straight years.

Clearly, shedding these 4 video games is without doubt one of the few blemishes on Kelly’s resume. However not many quarterbacks have taken their group to 4 Tremendous Bowls or been chosen to 5 Professional Bowls, placing Kelly among the many finest quarterbacks ever.

19. Troy Aikman

Because the chief of a dynasty, Troy Aikman must be among the many high quarterbacks ever. Along with main the Cowboys to a few Tremendous Bowl wins, Aikman was one of many elite quarterbacks of the early 90s, going to 6 straight Professional Bowls through the early a part of his profession.

Not many quarterbacks can declare that. Sadly, accidents acquired the higher of him and reduce his profession quick. However throughout his prime, Aikman proved that he was simply pretty much as good as any quarterback of his era.

18. Russell Wilson

Although his profession isn’t over but, Russell Wilson has certainly carried out sufficient to be included amongst a few of the finest quarterbacks ever. He spent the primary decade of his profession with the Seahawks, going to 9 Professional Bowls in 10 seasons, serving to Seattle win a Tremendous Bowl, and developing one yard and one cross wanting main the Seahawks to back-to-back Tremendous Bowl wins.

Whereas enjoying similtaneously a few of the most legendary quarterbacks in NFL historical past has made it onerous for Wilson to face out at instances, no quarterback received extra video games throughout his first 9 seasons within the league than Wilson. He’s additionally amongst a small handful of quarterbacks with a profession passer score over 100. So long as that continues to be the case by the point he retires, Wilson ought to stay among the many high quarterbacks in NFL historical past.

17. Ben Roethlisberger

Along with his profession now absolutely within the books, it’s secure to say that Ben Roethlisberger stacks up nicely towards a few of the finest quarterbacks of all time. True to his nickname of Massive Ben, Roethlisberger was a tall and robust quarterback with an important recreation.

He helped the Steelers to win two Tremendous Bowls and was a six-time Professional Bowler. Roethlisberger was additionally Offensive Rookie of the 12 months, going 13-0 as a starter throughout his rookie season. That set the tone for an important profession, which included 25 game-winning drives and a document 4 video games through which he had 500-plus passing yards.

16. Warren Moon

Even when you don’t embody all the pieces that Warren Moon achieved within the CFL, he nonetheless has the kind of profession that may put most quarterbacks to disgrace. He performed six years in Canada, main Edmonton to 5 straight Gray Cup titles earlier than getting his likelihood with the Oilers. All he did after that was spend 17 seasons within the NFL, going to 9 Professional Bowls, together with eight in a row, and main the league in passing yards twice.

By way of profitable video games, Moon was simply 102-101 as a starter within the NFL. However he was persistently probably the greatest quarterbacks within the league for over a decade and even received Offensive Participant of the 12 months honors in 1990, so he deserves a particular place among the many finest quarterbacks ever.

15. Fran Tarkenton

Minnesota followers will all the time maintain Fran Tarkenton in excessive esteem, and so ought to the remainder of the soccer world. He spent 18 seasons within the league, most of them with the Vikings and most of them as a starter, giving Tarkenton a powerful quantity of longevity.

Throughout that point, Tarkenton was invited to 9 Professional Bowls and truly had a few of his finest seasons late in his profession. He led the league in passing in his closing season and led the NFL in completion proportion in his penultimate season, to not point out his MVP in 1975 on the age of 35. Tarkenton stays an important instance of a Corridor of Famer who confirmed a powerful quantity of consistency all through his profession, even when he by no means received the large recreation.

14. Otto Graham

In case you flip again the clock sufficient, you’ll discover Otto Graham and rapidly perceive why he deserves to be talked about among the many high quarterbacks of all time. Earlier than the Browns have been a franchise recognized for shedding and dysfunction, Graham helped them to win three NFL championships whereas additionally profitable MVP honors 3 times.

His record of accolades is kind of lengthy, as Graham was undoubtedly the premier passer of his era. He nonetheless holds the NFL document for averaging 9 yards per cross try all through his profession whereas additionally main the league in passing yards 5 instances. In the course of the first half of the Fifties, there was no one higher than Graham, and admittedly, no one was shut.

13. Bart Starr

Within the historical past of the Packers, Bart Starr solely ranks third on the record of the best quarterbacks in franchise historical past. However that additionally places him somewhat excessive on the all-time record. In spite of everything, we’re speaking in regards to the man who was the MVP of the primary two Tremendous Bowls and led the Packers to 5 NFL championships, together with three in a row.

No different quarterback has led a group to a few straight championships, so by way of profitable video games, Starr stacks up nicely towards nearly everybody else. Clearly, his general numbers don’t fairly measure as much as the ridiculous numbers posted by fashionable quarterbacks. However Starr led the NFL in passer score 5 instances and completion proportion 4 instances, making him arguably the very best of his era and probably the greatest ever.

12. Steve Younger

Who is aware of what Steve Young might have achieved if he didn’t have to attend till his 30s to develop into a full-time starter? Nonetheless, Younger made essentially the most of his time, main the NFL in passer score six instances, completion proportion 5 instances, and touchdowns 4 instances.

Someway, he did all of that in simply an eight-year interval whereas additionally making seven consecutive Professional Bowls and profitable Tremendous Bowl MVP honors. Whereas Younger didn’t have an opportunity to play as many video games as different legendary quarterbacks, he nonetheless ranks extremely on the all-time record relating to completion proportion and passer score. He additionally ended his profession with a powerful 94-49 document as a starter regardless of a 2-12 yr with the Buccaneers early in his profession.

11. Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach is without doubt one of the finest examples of a quarterback whose resume is considerably incomplete. He attended the Naval Academy and served in Vietnam, that means he didn’t be part of the Cowboys till 1969, which was 5 years after Dallas drafted him.

However even in a considerably abbreviated profession, Staubach led the Cowboys to 2 Tremendous Bowl wins and was a six-time Professional Bowler. He was one of many first quarterbacks to earn the nickname “Captain Comeback” due to his capacity to step up within the fourth quarter, main the Cowboys to 23-game profitable drives within the fourth quarter throughout his 11 seasons within the league.

10. Patrick Mahomes

After simply 5 seasons as a full-time starter, it’s clear that Patrick Mahomes is already probably the greatest quarterbacks of all time. With two Tremendous Bowl rings and two MVPs, Mahomes already has a resume that’s higher than many different legendary quarterbacks.

When all is claimed, he might simply find yourself being on the high of this record. Nonetheless, he’s not fairly there but. Nonetheless, all the pieces he’s carried out over the past handful of years means that he’s a really generational expertise and can spend the following 10 years working his method up the record of the very best quarterbacks of all time.

9. Dan Marino

Whether or not it’s honest or not, Dan Marino will ceaselessly be remembered as arguably the very best quarterback to by no means win a Tremendous Bowl. However regardless of not having a hoop, Marino remains to be counted among the many finest quarterbacks of all time.

Throughout his second season within the league in 1984, Marino put collectively one of the vital spectacular seasons any quarterback ever has, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 48 touchdowns whereas profitable MVP honors. Marino maintained a excessive degree of play for greater than a decade after that, in the end going to 9 Professional Bowls and main the NFL in passing yards 5 instances. Aside from his lack of a Tremendous Bowl win, Marino stacks up nicely subsequent to all however just a few elite quarterbacks in NFL historical past.

8. Johnny Unitas

Regardless of being a lot older than a lot of the quarterbacks round him on this record, Johnny Unitas remains to be one of many biggest quarterbacks ever. Recognized for having a golden arm, Unitas led the Colts to a few NFL championships whereas profitable MVP honors 3 times.

For 4 straight years through the prime of his profession, Unitas led the NFL in passing touchdowns, partially as a result of he threw not less than one landing cross in 47 straight video games, a document that stood for over 50 years.

In comparison with Twenty first-century quarterbacks, Unitas had a variety of interceptions and a low completion proportion, which have been regular for his period. But when we overlook these shortcomings, Unitas deserves to be held in excessive esteem.

7. Brett Favre

Between his arm power and his longevity, Brett Favre is undoubtedly among the many high quarterbacks of all time. He spent 20 seasons within the league and received near 200 video games, together with a Tremendous Bowl. In the course of the prime of his profession, Favre received MVP honors in three consecutive seasons, which is a feat that no different participant in NFL historical past has ever matched.

The disadvantage with Favre is that he’s the NFL’s all-time chief in each interceptions and fumbles (though not fumbles misplaced), which is the case partially as a result of he performed for thus lengthy. However whereas Favre had an plain propensity for turnovers, the nice far outweighed the unhealthy, which is why he was an 11-time Professional Bowler and a Inexperienced Bay legend.

6. Drew Brees

Regardless of being shorter than the typical quarterback, Drew Brees didn’t let that cease him from being an elite quarterback all through his lengthy NFL profession. Exterior of solely profitable one Tremendous Bowl ring, it’s onerous to search out too many issues fallacious together with his profession. Brees went to 13 Professional Bowls throughout his profession and ended his profession with a number of NFL information. Maybe most impressively, he as soon as had a 54-game streak with not less than one landing cross.

Brees additionally led the league in passing seven instances, which is greater than every other quarterback. Late in his profession, Brees set the single-season document for completion proportion, connecting on 74.4% of his passes in 2018. After all, that was simply one in all seven seasons through which Brees accomplished not less than 70% of his passes, proving to be one of the vital correct passers in NFL historical past, placing him among the many finest quarterbacks of all time.

5. John Elway

By profitable back-to-back Tremendous Bowls in his closing two seasons, John Elway helped to catapult himself among the many better of the very best. After all, he was all the time going to finish up among the many finest quarterbacks of all time. Elway had a cannon of an arm, used his legs successfully lengthy earlier than most quarterbacks had that of their arsenal, and had a propensity for main last-minute drives to win video games.

In actual fact, many take into account Elway to be the very best ever at orchestrating comeback wins, most notably “The Drive” within the 1986 AFC Championship Sport. Along with his two Tremendous Bowl wins to cap off a profession that included MVP honors in 1987 and 9 Professional Bowls, Elway deserves to be thought of among the many finest.

4. Aaron Rodgers

With 4 MVP Awards to his identify, together with a pair late in his profession, Aaron Rodgers has certainly established himself among the many biggest QBs in NFL historical past, even earlier than he retires. Regardless of some disappointing ends in the playoffs through the years, Rodgers has lengthy been praised for his accuracy and precision.

No quarterback in NFL historical past has been pretty much as good as Rodgers at stopping interceptions, doing so with out sacrificing huge performs. Rodgers has been to 10 Professional Bowls and led the league in passer score 4 instances. However with 4 MVPs to his identify and a few sensible years after the age of 35, Rodgers belongs in elite firm.

3. Joe Montana

Solely essentially the most particular gamers in NFL historical past can rank above Joe Montana as the best QBs in NFL historical past, which is why he ranks third on our record. Montana is a good instance of a quarterback who acquired essentially the most out of his expertise and skills by being among the many smartest and most clutch quarterbacks in NFL historical past.

He was the primary catalyst within the 49ers turning into a dynasty through the Eighties with 4 Tremendous Bowl wins. Towards the tip of that dynasty, Montana received back-to-back MVP Awards. In actual fact, his 1989 stays probably the greatest single-season performances of any NFL participant.

Understand that he was Tremendous Bowl MVP in three of San Francisco’s 4 wins, as Montana all the time appeared to save lots of his finest for the most important moments.

2. Peyton Manning

If he might have received extra playoff video games and greater than two Tremendous Bowls (particularly because the Denver protection received the second for him), Peyton Manning would have had a stronger argument for being on the high of our record of the best quarterbacks ever.

No quarterback in NFL historical past has showcased Manning’s mental mastery of the sport. It was really a factor of magnificence to look at, and also you needed to have seen Manning in his prime to understand it.

He might learn, perceive, and manipulate opposing defenses higher than every other quarterback in NFL historical past. That’s what allowed him to win 5 MVP Awards and lead arguably essentially the most prolific offense in NFL historical past whereas with the Broncos in 2013, simply two years after sitting out a full season due to a number of neck surgical procedures. Manning’s 55 landing passes and over 5,400 passing yards that yr stay single-season NFL information and but simply scratch the floor of what makes him an all-time legend.

1. Tom Brady

He will not be essentially the most gifted quarterback to ever play the sport, however there ought to be no query Tom Brady is the very best. Even when you don’t like Brady since you root for a group that he beat time and time once more whereas constructing a dynasty in New England, you must admit that he’s the very best of all time.

The aim of soccer is to win video games, and Brady did that higher than anybody, winning seven Super Bowls during his career. Extra importantly, his group often received due to him, which is why he was Tremendous Bowl MVP 5 instances and league MVP on three events.

The man additionally performed for greater than twenty years and was nonetheless going sturdy deep into his 40s. Between his longevity, the seven rings, and the unbelievable quantity of consistency that Brady had throughout his time within the league, each soccer fan ought to be capable to admit that Brady is the very best quarterback in NFL historical past.