Best NFL Quarterback of all times?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Who is the best QB of all times? I have taken the top QBs for Stats and Wins.

Here are the contenders.

Troy Aikman - Dallas Cowboys (1989-2000) - 32,942 yards, 165 TD/141 Int, 3 Super Bowl wins, 6 x Pro Bowl, 3 x All Pro.

Ken Anderson - Cincinnati Bengals (1971-1986) - 32,838 yards, 197 TD/160 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl, 4 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

George Blanda - Chicago Bears (1949) Baltimore Colts (1950) Chicago Bears (1950-1958) Houston Oilers (1960-1966) Oakland Raiders (1967-1975) - 26,920 yards, 236 TD/277 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl, 7 x All Pro.

Drew Bledsoe - New England Patriots (1993-2001) Buffalo Bills (2002-2004) Dallas Cowboys (2005-2006) - 44,611 yards, 251 TD/206 Int, 1 Super Bowl win, 4 x Pro Bowl, 2 x All Pro

Terry Bradshaw - Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983) - 27,989 yards, 212 TD/210 Int, 4 Super Bowl wins, 3 x Pro Bowl, 4 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Tom Brady - New England Patriots (2000-present) - 26,446 yards, 197 TD/86 Int, 3 Super Bowl wins, 4 x Pro Bowl, 2 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

John Brodie - San Francisco 49ers (1957-1973) - 31,548 yards, 214 TD/224 Int, 2 x Pro Bowl, 2 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Randall Cunningham - Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1995) Minnesota Vikings (1997-1999) Dallas Cowboys (2000) Baltimore Ravens (2001) - 29,979 yards, 207 TD/124 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl, 4 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

John Elway - Denver Broncos (1983-1998) - 51,475 yards, 300 TD/226 Int, 2 Super Bowl wins, 9 x Pro Bowl, 5 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Boomer Esiason - Cincinnati Bengals (1984-1992) New York Jets (1993-1995) Arizona Cardinals (1996) Cincinnati Bengals (1997) - 37,920 yards, 247 TD/184 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl, 1 x MVP

Jim Everett - Los Angeles Rams (1986-1993) New Orleans Saints (1994-1996) San Diego Chargers (1997) - 34,837 yards, 203 TD/175 Int, 1 x Pro Bowl

Brett Favre - Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992-2007) New York Jets (2008-present) - 62,030 yards, 445 TD/289 Int, 1 Super Bowl win, 9 x Pro Bowl, 7 x All Pro, 3 x MVP

Dan Fouts - San Diego Chargers (1973-1987) - 43,040 yards, 254 TD/242 Int, 6 x Pro Bowl, 3 x MVP

Bob Griese - Miami Dolphins (1967-1980) - 25,092 yards, 192 TD/172 Int, 2 Super Bowl wins, 6 x Pro Bowl, 2 x All Pro

Jim Hart - St. Louis Cardinals (1966-1983) Washington Redskins (1984) - 34,665 yards, 209 TD/247 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl

Sonny Jurgensen - Philadelphia Eagles (1957-1963) Washington Redskins (1964-1974) - 32,224 yards, 255 TD/189 Int, 5 x Pro Bowl, 5 x All Pro

Jim Kelly - Buffalo Bills (1986-1996) - 35,467 yards, 237 TD/175 Int, 4 x Pro Bowl, 3 x All Pro

Archie Manning - New Orleans Saints (1971-1982) Houston Oilers (1982-1983) Minnesota Vikings (1983-1984) - 23,911 yards, 125 TD/173 Int, 2 x Pro Bowl, 1 x All Pro

Peyton Manning - Indiannapolis Colts (1998-present) - 41,626 yards, 306 TD/153 Int, 1 Super Bowl win, 8 x Pro Bowl, 6 x All Pro, 2 x MVP

Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins (1983-1999) - 61,361 yards, 420 TD/252 Int, 9 x Pro Bowl, 8 x All Pro, 3 x MVP

Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles (1999-present) - 25,765 yards, 174 TD/79 Int, 5 x Pro Bowl

Joe Montana - San Francisco 49ers (1979-1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1994) - 40,551 yards, 273 TD/139 Int, 4 Super Bowl wins, 8 x Pro Bowl, 7 x All Pro, 2 x MVP

Joe Namath - New York Jets (1965-1976) Los Angeles Rams (1977) - 27,663 yards, 173 TD/220 Int, 1 Super Bowl win, 5 x Pro Bowl, 5 x All Pro, 2 x MVP

Bart Starr - Green Bay Packers (1956-1971) - 24,718 yards, 152 TD/138 Int, 2 Super Bowl wins, 3 x NFL Champion, 4 x Pro Bowl, 4 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Roger Staubach - Dallas Cowboys (1969-1979) - 22,700 yards, 153 TD/109 Int, 2 Super Bowl wins, 6 x Pro Bowl, 5 x All Pro

Phil Simms - New York Giants (1979-1993) - 33,462 yards, 199 TD/157 Int, 2 Super Bowl wins, 2 x Pro Bowl, 1 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Fran Tarkenton - Minnesota Vikings (1961-1966) New York Giants (1967-1971) Minnesota Vikings (1972-1978) - 47,003 yards, 342 TD/266 Int, 9 x Pro Bowl, 6 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Vinny Testaverde - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987-1992) Cleveland rowns (1993-1995) Baltimore Ravens (1996-1997) New York Jets (1998-2003), (2005) Dallas Cowboys (2004) New England Patriots (2006) Carolina Panthers (2007) - 46,233 yards, 275 TD/267 Int, 2 x Pro Bowl

Joe Theismann - Washington Redskins (1974-1985) - 25,206 yards, 160 TD/138 Int, 1 Super Bowl win, 2 x Pro Bowl, 3 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Y. A. Tittle - Baltimore Colts (1948-1950) San Francisco 49ers (1951-1960) New York Giants (1961-1964) - 28,339 yards, 242 TD/221 Int, 7 x Pro Bowl, 3 x All Pro, 1 x MVP

Johnny Unitas - Pittsburgh Steelers* (1955) Baltimore Colts (1956-1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) - 40,239 yards, 290 TD/253 Int, 10 x Pro Bowl, 9 x All Pro, 3 x MVP

Steve Young - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987-1999) - 33,124 yards, 232 TD/107 Int, 1 Super Bowl win (3 champtionships with the team), 7 x Pro Bowl, 7 x All Pro, 2 x MVP

 

[Thorlifter]

That's a tough call Adler. It's like saying who is the best rock band......but its all in fun so I'll play along.

I'll go with Joe Montana. Tough to argue against his winning percentage, super bowl victories, how he could will a team to win, and his intelligence in the game. There are some that could have been as good, but none better, IMO.

 

[wilbur1]

I went with Fouts, hes the only guy i ever seen throw a beeline from one goalpost to the other, the running backs used to tell him not to throw so damn hard

 

[syscom3]

Joe Montana for me.

Anyone who remembers the NFL in the 80's can appreciate just how good he was.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Joe Montana for me.

Anyone who remembers the NFL in the 80's can appreciate just how good he was.

Damn right!

He is the reason I am a 49er fan. I remember watching him in the 80s team up with Rice and just dominate other teams like the 55-10 Super Bowl win over Denver!

 

[lesofprimus]

Joe Montana here as well.......

 

[Njaco]

Nobody better than Montana! He did amazing things. I remember watching along with Rice and thinking that was how a QB should play the game.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I remember going to to my first game and watching Montana throw the ball to Rice all over Atlanta! I was hooked from that day on.

 

[Njaco]

I'm an Eagles fan but after watching a few games, I wished he was with us.

 

[drgondog]

I think Otto Graham, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and Brett Favre are at the top of the contenders, with Brady possibly surpassing them in the future.

For me the next level include Marino, Staubach, Bradshaw, Elway, Manning, Young and Aikman - and Manning can be in the next level above these with another Super Bowl or two.

I would put Marino in the first list except for the Championship/Super Bowl 'thingy'

 

[syscom3]

Archie Manning (of the Saints throughout the 70's) has been ranked quite high in individual talent. Too bad he was on the worst team in the history of the NFL where he couldn't translate his talents into victories.

Ultimately, no matter how much talent you have as a QB, you're only as good as your offensive line and receivers.

 

[drgondog]

Archie Manning (of the Saints throughout the 70's) has been ranked quite high in individual talent. Too bad he was on the worst team in the history of the NFL where he couldn't translate his talents into victories.

Ultimately, no matter how much talent you have as a QB, you're only as good as your offensive line and receivers.

I totally agree - it is a team sport and the coaching and ownership is a major factor also.

I ultimately picked Unitas because of his great career but when I think of the supporting cast I look at Walsh, Lombardi, Landry, Shula, Brown, Noll - (and today I think of Belichick) as coaches who tower above the rest.

I often wonder about a Staubach that didn't serve his time in the Navy or have a career shortened because of concussions - or Montana staying at SF - would he have won five or six Superbowls? Or Favre and Elway or Archie Manning playing under Walsh or Belichick for their entire career?

These are questions that really make it impossible for me to choose a 'best - all time'

Belichick is the only one that I think has a remote chance of tying Landry's record for nine, then eight, consecutive playoff teams and even he doesn't have a prayer regarding Landry's 20 straight winning seasons and 17 of 18 playoff teams in that streak... He could tie or break Landry's total of 5 Superbowl teams coached but if he doesn't who else has a remote chance?

 

[ToughOmbre]

Joe Montana.

Honorable mention goes to Bart Starr, who owns more NFL championship rings (5) than any QB in history. Also the only QB to win three straight '65-'67.

TO

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I

I often wonder about a Staubach that didn't serve his time in the Navy or have a career shortened because of concussions - or Montana staying at SF - would he have won five or six Superbowls? Or Favre and Elway or Archie Manning playing under Walsh or Belichick for their entire career?

If Montana had stayed in SF he would not have won any more Super Bowls. I hate to say it, but he was at the very end of his career. Hell he only played what 2 season with KS.

SF was actually right with moving on to Young. He was a great QB and still holds the record for best QB rating of all time. The real question is if SF would have one as many Super Bowls with Young at QB. He pulled off SF's 5th and last Super Bowl.

Damn I want the glory days of the 49ers to return!

 

[drgondog]

Joe Montana.

Honorable mention goes to Bart Starr, who owns more NFL championship rings (5) than any QB in history. Also the only QB to win three straight '65-'67.

TO

Didn't Otto Graham win 10 between All American and National Football Leagues? And how Does Montana do playing for Saints?

 

[Thorlifter]

That's a good point drgondog. A great team can make an average player look fantastic and, opposite that, a crap team can make a great player look average.

Case in point, do you think Emmitt Smith is the all time best running back? HELL NO. Emmitt shouldn't even be mentioned in the same conversation as Berry Sanders and Walter Payton. Those two guys got their yardage behind invisible offensive lines and Smith had tanks to run behind. Put Smith on the Bengals and he would have been a nice player to have, at best.

 

[drgondog]

That's a good point drgondog. A great team can make an average player look fantastic and, opposite that, a crap team can make a great player look average.

Case in point, do you think Emmitt Smith is the all time best running back? HELL NO. Emmitt shouldn't even be mentioned in the same conversation as Berry Sanders and Walter Payton. Those two guys got their yardage behind invisible offensive lines and Smith had tanks to run behind. Put Smith on the Bengals and he would have been a nice player to have, at best.

To me Jim Brown is the greatest. Having said that Emmitt had four dominant teams and still was productive at Arizona in his last year behind a terrible team. He started with a lousy team and finished his last several years with lousy teams. So I give Emmitt at least top three - and number one around the goal line.

Barry Sanders had a decent Detroit team that made the playoffs several times and always contended in their division. They never had a quarterback that could take them over the top. Walter played with some great Chicago teams also.

 

[Thorlifter]

Walter played with some great Chicago teams also.

Walter Payton played with only two great team. The 1985 and 86 Bears. In his 12 year career, the Bear's only won the division 4 years, and those were his last 4 years with the team.

Here is how they finished during Walters career.

Year W L T Finished
1987 11 4 0 1st
1986 14 2 0 1st
1985 15 1 0 1st
1984 10 6 0 1st
1983 8 8 0 2nd
1982 3 6 0 11th
1981 6 10 0 5th
1980 7 9 0 3rd
1979 10 6 0 2nd
1978 7 9 0 3rd
1977 9 5 0 2nd
1976 7 7 0 2nd
1975 4 10 0 3rd

If you take away the last 4 years, which were good teams plus a SuperBowl victory, those Bears only had 2 winning seasons. Those were not good teams.

IMO, Emmitt wouldn't even be in the top 5. I would put all these guys before Smith. In no order..........

Barry Sanders
Walter Payton
Jim Brown
Gale Sayers
OJ Simpson
Eric Dickerson

Now, I would put Smith in with some other very good backs like Thurman Thomas, Marshall Faulk, and Marcus Allen. I think that's some pretty good company.

 

[timshatz]

Didn't read anything but the list before voting for Joe Montana. He really was amazing. Not so much his speed or arm, just his ability to win. It's amazing but other QBs had better arms (Fouts, Farve, Elway are examples) and some were much better of their feet (Cunningham comes to mind right away) but Joe just knew how to win.

That and the fact the guy never got down. He just kept playing.

War Story Time- They were playing the Eagles back in about 1990. The Eagles were all over the 9ers in the First Qtr, up about ten points. Finally, they bum rushed Joe when he was on his own goal line and got a safety. The Eagles were hugely pumped, jumping up and down as they headed back to their sidelines. The TV flashed over to Montana as he is sitting in the end zone. He had this look of something between being disgusted and amused, but somewhat unaffected.

Saw that and I knew the Birds were screwed.

Long story short, the 9ers won the game. All because of Joe. Any other QB and the Eagles were home free. Not Joe.

 

[Njaco]

Tim, I remember that game very well and saw the same thing. We couldn't beat them until Charlie Garner years later.

Some QBs had great arms, some had great speed, some were just good generals. Joe had it all and watching him was amazing.