Top Ten Best NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Joe Montana Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr., nicknamed Joe Cool and The Comeback Kid, is a retired American football quarterback.

Montana was clutch over and over again. He won four Super Bowls in four tries and was MVP of all four. Peyton Manning was probably the most cerebral of all quarterbacks. While he didn't always come through in the clutch, his individual presence on the football field was great. Marino had the best arm ever. The guy could throw bombs with extreme accuracy consistently and had the quickest release ever.

People say it was the system that won. He, Rice, and Craig were the system. They were the prototype of a winning system. They won, they worked hard, and they played FOR the team to win. Yes, there are plenty of players with better individual talents, better arm strength, better this or that, but Joe had the magic. No matter what the score, you always had a chance to win with him. Brady is the closest guy around.

One last thing: he didn't lose games. The team might get beaten, but not because he lost the game. Favre has no place near these guys. He lost too many games himself. Having records for interceptions and fumbles is nice if you play defense, but not as a QB.

I have been a Montana fan since the beginning. His love for the game was shown through his play on the field. He definitely deserves the title of #1 quarterback of all time. I have always believed he made other players around him step up their game because of the way he played.

I do feel that Peyton Manning should be #2 behind Montana, as I feel Peyton loves the game and shows it through his play. Both have overcome serious injuries to come back more determined to play the game they love, the way they did before their injuries. These two superstars are fantastic athletes and are definitely positive role models for everyone.

Unlike Tom, he won four rings in four tries. People are going to cry and whine about this next statement, but unfortunately, it is true: his team did not get mixed up in the biggest cheating scandal in the NFL either. Ignoring all of that, he is the most clutch QB of all time. You can't really argue that.

All respect to Bill Walsh, but Brady has played with Belichick his whole life. However, this isn't just a list comparing Montana and Brady. People automatically go to the ring argument every time. Montana may not be as smart as Manning, as tough as Favre, as slippery as Elway, or have the arm of Marino, but he was number one in the most important category: clutch. That's what you want out of your quarterback more than anything else.

Pats fans complaining about Stickum should try catching with a pair of modern receivers' gloves before they start in on Rice, too.

2 Tom Brady Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr., is a retired American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Brady is known for being the only quarterback in history to win 7 Super Bowls, and was often considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Brady was also frequently considered to be the biggest steal in NFL history as a late 6th round pick. He had previously played for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2019.

Brady, Montana, Peyton Manning, Marino, and Unitas are the top five. Romo, Warren Moon, McMahon, and Cunningham in the top 25? No way. By the way, while Favre was an excellent quarterback before he turned into a "prima donna," he appears to be a terrible person. Why have his actions of misappropriated money been swept under the rug? No one has talked about it for months. The guy should be held accountable.

The best quarterback ever is Tom Brady. He holds all the individual passing records and was the winning quarterback in 7 Super Bowls. No one can touch that. I would place Montana, Peyton Manning, Marino, and Johnny Unitas to finish out the Top 5.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about Patrick Mahomes being in the all-time Top 5. I say, "No way." He is a great talent, leader, and competitor, but he's only played for 6 years. For those placing him in the top 5 - and there are several analysts doing so - it is disrespectful to at least 12-15 quarterbacks who have played much longer, possess many more throwing yards and touchdowns, and many have more Super Bowl wins and/or MVPs than he does. These folks are being "prisoners of the moment" because the Chiefs/Mahomes just won the Super Bowl. Let's not go overboard with emotions. In 5-10 years, Mahomes may very well be in the top 5, but to say he is right now is premature, irresponsible, and inaccurate.

I've been studying NFL quarterbacks since 1965. Bart Starr and John Unitas were clear standouts then, but the game is much different today with so much more talent and competition. I didn't think anyone would ever surpass Joe Montana for his coolness, accomplishments, and smooth, confident playing style until Tom Brady started to come back after his 3rd Super Bowl win.

At age 30, he plays like he's just getting warmed up. He doesn't have a Jerry Rice, or the consistently strong team around him like the 49ers of the 90s. He makes any receiver, big or small, look like a Pro Bowler. His poise, pocket control, ability to read defenses, time management, completion percentages, vision, leadership, and competitive passion place him, in my opinion, in a zone surpassing Montana. A fourth Super Bowl win should make it hard to argue against, and the records just keep piling up. He's still improving into his 9th season.

If Brady plays just a few more years, he will double every number Montana put up, including trips to the Super Bowl. He has already surpassed some of Joe's stats in the postseason and may also double the total wins while maintaining a far superior win percentage. The only reason Brady may not be number one is that the media crowned Manning as the best many years ago, and Brady made them look foolish. His accomplishments are unparalleled. Joe also played in warm weather, which inflates stats, and had the support of many more Hall of Fame players. Sorry, Brady is hands down the best, with no one in second place.

3 Peyton Manning Peyton Williams Manning is a former American football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos.

Enough of this talk about Tom Brady being better than Peyton Manning. That's just crazy. I mean, come on. Peyton Manning has everything you need in a quarterback. In contrast, Tom Brady has had a great offensive line for his whole career, while Peyton Manning had one of the worst for many years. Peyton Manning has a stronger and more accurate arm than Tom Brady.

Peyton Manning went to the playoffs nine times straight, tying an NFL record with Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys. He also works harder, plays harder, knows the game better, and has been in the league longer. Although Peyton only has one ring to Tom's three, teams need Peyton.

For example, Peyton Manning and the Colts went 10-6 and lost to the Jets in the Wild Card round, who then went to the AFC Championship. The next year, the Colts went 0-13 before finally winning, finishing 2-14 overall. They had three different starting quarterbacks that year and received the number 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, all without ...more

It seems like he breaks a record almost every year. Peyton Manning has a great arm and is probably one of the most clutch players ever. The only ones stopping him from being the most clutch are Montana and Brady. Speaking of Peyton's arm, he could play a game just throwing Hail Marys and complete 50% of his passes. He also has one of the most accurate arms ever, with a 94.9 rating. Only Steve Young has a better rating. In 2004, it was like he couldn't miss a receiver. Accumulating 399 touchdowns is amazing. He made all the players on the Colts who they are today. The only one who can possibly beat him is Joe Montana. Manning needs to be higher on this list. Come on, guys, vote for Manning.

Look, I'm a girl, and I've been a Peyton Manning fan since I was 8 years old. That shows how great he is. Growing up in the Manning era, I was a fan of whatever team he was on. He just announced his retirement on Sunday, and I started crying. Peyton is proof that you can suffer something significant and still come back better than ever, completely ready.

I do think that Peyton is the greatest. The only comparable QB is Joe Montana. People who constantly compare Manning to Brady annoy me so much. I have great respect for Brady, but let's be honest here: those rings do not make a statement larger than Manning's records. Without Brady, the Patriots still went 11-5. Without Manning, the Colts were 2-14.

Peyton has had a remarkable career and undoubtedly deserves the top spot.

My goodness, when people are able to take personal and emotional bias out of their decision-making (which is admittedly a very difficult accomplishment), Peyton Manning is clearly superior to all others, except perhaps Joe Montana - and even that is arguable. For example, his defeat of the Patriots was stellar, and he made it look easy. His performance was head and shoulders above Brady's.

I do also have to admit, I am a Steelers fan, so I had to put my emotions aside with gritted teeth to write this. When you see greatness, denying it is only a reflection of wishful thinking and flawed beliefs. I mean, after all, none of us are relatives or receive any of the money they make when they win!

4 Dan Marino Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. is a former American football player who was a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.

This was a hard decision to make because there are a lot of great quarterbacks with different styles and from different eras. Why I picked Marino over my other options (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, or Johnny Unitas) is that he had the least amount of talent around him. Terry Bradshaw had a great offensive line and Stallworth and Swann to throw to. Of course, he won a lot of games. How could the guy miss?

Who did Marino have? The guy was great on his own, and that was what made him great. Also, we are in the age of quarterbacks, yet his numbers are still holding up well. Even though Brees and Brady have passed him, in an age where there are more passing plays, he is still in a lot of top-five stat columns. Enough said.

I couldn't agree more with the comments for Marino. Marino is still the greatest passer of all time. I would pick Marino, Elway, or Manning over Montana, Bradshaw, or Brady for any game. The problem with voting on the greatest quarterback of all time is that it leads uneducated people to believe that a player's greatness is measured by Super Bowl wins or championships.

If you ask a number of people who the greatest hockey player is, most would say Wayne Gretzky. But why? He holds just about every hockey record there is, but he doesn't have the most Stanley Cup wins - Henri Richard does with 11. So, if you do say Wayne Gretzky, then you should not say Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, or Tom Brady are among the greatest quarterbacks because of their Super Bowl rings.

How many people say Bill Russell is the greatest basketball player of all time? Not as many as those who say Michael Jordan, who only has 6 championships compared to Russell's 11. Watch the games in detail and not ...more

Retired first in almost every major passing record for both career and single season, including 4th quarter comebacks. The only reason John Elway is considered the comeback king is because his team considered overtime wins as 4th quarter comebacks. Dan Marino's team didn't, and by definition of a comeback, an overtime win isn't a comeback. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, the top 3 comeback leaders are Dan Marino with 36, John Elway with 35, and Peyton Manning with 35.

Another reason Elway is considered the comeback king is that he didn't throw two interceptions in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. However, John Elway would have never won a Super Bowl had it not been for Terrell Davis scoring three touchdowns against Green Bay. John Elway played terribly in the big game. Just look at the Super Bowl stats. Dan Marino deserves to be ranked #5 all time, not John Elway.

This list is proof positive that you should be required to take some kind of test regarding knowledge about NFL players of all eras, not to mention actually knowing something about what they accomplished individually. This list probably needs to be renamed "Best QBs on Teams That Have Won Super Bowls." For reasons defying all logic, many people do not have a clear understanding that winning Super Bowls is a team accomplishment. For silly reasons, they link great QBs with the number of Super Bowl wins.

Any list of great players from any position, in any sport, should be overwhelmingly based on individual statistical accomplishments. I'm not saying that Super Bowls or championships should not be considered at all, but they're not the first thing to consider.

I think Marino was the best overall talent and showcased that talent in 1984, a year where he had the best talent around him during his career. Unfortunately, Miami was never able to get him enough help during his time ...more

5 John Elway John Albert Elway Jr. is a former American football quarterback and current executive vice president of football operations and general manager of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League.

Joe Montana would NOT have had the same career had he played on the Denver Broncos of the 1980s. Conversely, John Elway would have had a BETTER career had he played on the San Francisco 49ers of the '80s and '90s.

Started in 4 Super Bowls (probably would have been six if he hadn't gotten hurt in that AFC Championship game against Buffalo). Especially in the early ones, Elway was the Broncos. Once he finally had the right players around him, he won a couple. I don't remember any of the other guys on the list having a game like "The Drive." The guy could pull miracles out of the air all the time. If Stanford had stopped Cal on that final kickoff, we would be talking about that comeback as well. He also probably had the best arm that ever played. Man, that guy could put some smoke on it.

It's got to be Elway! He was the original do-it-all quarterback! He took a terrible team to three Super Bowls, and the second he was given a decent team, he won two back-to-back in his late 30s. He's possibly the most praised college QB ever (P. Manning and A. Luck may challenge that), but to have that kind of hype going into the NFL and not only live up to it but surpass it proves Elway should be number one! Montana, P. Manning, Brady, and Marino are the only challengers. I have no idea why Favre is on here. He's a great QB and may win the number games out of stupidity and stubbornness, but he should be no higher than 6 here.

Elway should be #1. He did the most with the least in history. Montana had one of the best offenses ever around him throughout his career. In contrast, Elway had a mediocre offense (but one with heart) around him for most of his career. Brady also had a great offense and defense around him. Can anybody even name Elway's receivers until late in his career? (Johnson and Jackson - not bad, but not Taylor and Rice). Elway also was spectacular on the field. Look at some old footage - mind-blowing.

6 Brett Favre Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

Favre holds every record in the football bible. Manning and Brady are looking up at him. Favre was a real football player. You never saw him slide or shy away from a hit, unlike Brady or Manning. He was the guy looking to take out a linebacker to get his running back an extra yard. He made all the throws and put passes in impossible spots with the strongest throwing arm I've ever seen, whether for a quarterback or an MLB pitcher.

He was the most exciting player to watch in the history of the NFL. Favre would make the sort of plays that made you ask, "How did he do that?" or "What was he thinking when he made that throw?" Good or bad, he was fun to watch. Having Favre at quarterback could turn a 4-12 team into a Super Bowl contender. It didn't matter how many points this guy was down in a game. If you were a fan of the team he was facing, you knew it wasn't over until the clock said zero. He was magic in the 4th quarter.

He didn't have all-time receivers like Marvin ...more

Nobody has taken more hits and had to win more games on his own like Brett Favre. Sure, he played with a good defense in '96 and '97, and they went to the Super Bowl. Other than that, he played with awful defenses and equally terrible offenses. The Packers rode Favre for 16 straight seasons, and he carried them. The Packers were always in the playoffs and always contending, and that's due solely to Favre. He finally played on a decent team when he was 40, and they went to overtime in the NFC Championship game. They only lost that game due to the bounty scandal and Peterson's fumbles. Brett Favre is the greatest to ever play.

Who can still play at a high level at age 40? With 33 TDs, 7 INTs, and 4,200 yards, the numbers do not lie.

Let me ask you this: when you mention Montana, Elway, or Marino, did any of them have to play eight games a year in Green Bay? Can you imagine how cold it is up there? I'm from Los Angeles, and trust me, it's hard to even twirl my thumbs when it's that cold.

I can also make the argument that Montana had Rice and Elway had Terrell Davis. Favre never had a marquee player on offense, although he was fortunate to play with the great Reggie White for a couple of years. Favre will be great forever.

An argument can be made that he is the G.O.A.T. He set every major QB record when he retired: wins, TDs, yards, completions, attempted passes, consecutive starts. He was a Super Bowl Champion, participated in 5 NFC Title games, and won 3 NFL MVP awards. He played in the NFC Central, North against tough defenses in the '90s and early '00s, such as the Bucs, Bears, and Vikings. This is in contrast to Manning and Brady's weak divisions every year.

He never had a Hall of Fame WR or RB to play with, unlike Montana, Manning, Young, Elway, and many other QBs listed in the top 10. He played most of his career with below-average Packers defenses. The Bounty Bowl Saints game kept him from winning a second Super Bowl with the Vikings at age 40. Had the Packers won against the Broncos in the '98 Super Bowl, and had the Saints played an up-and-up title game, then Favre would have 3 rings instead of 1.

Had Mike Holmgren stayed with Favre in Green Bay, their partnership could have ...more

7 Johnny Unitas John Constantine Unitas, nicknamed "Johnny U", or "The Golden Arm", was an American professional football player from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Johnny U was the best there ever was, hands down. We are not talking about a passer here. We are talking about a quarterback. One who directs and leads - that is the definition of a quarterback, and there was nobody better. He also called his own plays. Who on your list (besides Manning and his audibles) called their own plays? He made everybody better around him. He also knew the blocking assignments of his offensive line. What other QB knows that? And what other QB ever had his initial on the side of their team's football helmet? And still do to this day?

But he was a Baltimore guy, not an Indy guy. He made the game simple for him. He said when he thought the defense was thinking run, he passed, and when they thought he was going to pass, he ran. 7th? What a crock. S.I. had that big poll last year (lasted about a month), and Unitas and Montana were the finalists (as they should be), and Unitas won! I believe the people in charge of this poll must be too young to have watched ...more

Unitas in today's game would tear the league up. NOBODY threw with precision like he did. He and Berry practiced long after everyone else went home for the day. Imagine if his receivers weren't being mugged all the way down the field as soon as the ball was snapped. Brees beat his record that stood for 50 years two weeks ago, and it looks like Brady will also do it this year as well. Proof positive the game is geared for QBs wearing skirts. I doubt Brees or Brady could put together 10 games under the tough conditions Unitas played under.

This man not only had fantastic numbers in the passing game, with records that still stand today, but the leadership and unity he brought to the Baltimore Colts was like no other. Quarterbacks today play well with lots of pads and protection from the refs. Unitas played with sometimes broken bones in a brutal scene of hard gridiron. Alongside his toughness and amazing skill was the greatest humbleness and modesty ever seen in a football player.

This list is irrelevant. Nobody appreciates the history of football. Johnny U at #6? Where is Otto Graham? Where is Bart Starr? I'm surprised Tom and Peyton are below Montana since they're clearly the two greatest (sarcasm).

Here is my list:

1. Johnny Unitas (called all his plays)
2. Joe Montana
3. Otto Graham
4. Tom Brady (our generation's Montana)
5. Bart Starr
6. Dan Marino (best arm ever!)
7. Roger Staubach
8. Peyton Manning (not a clutch player)
9. John Elway
10. Steve Young
11. Fran Tarkenton (see Manning)
12. Brett Favre (too many turnovers)
13. Terry Bradshaw (4 rings)
14. Drew Brees
15. Warren Moon (the run and shoot)
16. Troy Aikman (3 rings)
17. Aaron Rodgers
18. Randall Cunningham (amazing)
19. Kurt Warner
20. Jim Kelly (the K-gun)
21. Sammy Baugh
22. Joe Namath (injuries set him back)
23. Ben Roethlisberger (underrated)
24. Dan Fouts
25. Ken Anderson

8 Drew Brees Drew Christopher Brees is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He is the only player to have back to back to back 5,000 yards in three seasons straight. Brees also has the all time best completion percentage with 66.95%.

Every year you hear all the commentators say how Brees is getting older and his numbers won't be the same. Wow, these guys really need more topics to discuss. I think he will finish higher on this list. Has there ever been a more consistent QB than him? Every year, he posts incredible numbers without that star receiver. The way he gets everyone into play makes him definitely a league MVP for what he does. Rodgers got it the year he should have. In 2012, during the Bountygate scandal, almost every team (all but one, Carolina) they lost to that year either went to the playoffs or won the Super Bowl. I've talked to people who said he did this without his head coach. They claim the coach didn't mean much. Really? They went 7-9 without a coach. Your teams needed their coach to beat Brees and the Saints. Brees has brought life to our beloved city that was broken. I am forever thankful.

Unless he gets injured, Brees will probably finish his career leading in all of the major passing categories: yardage, touchdowns, playoff appearances, playoff victories, and Super Bowl appearances, and perhaps Super Bowl victories. He's only approaching his prime with a middle-to-just-above-average receiving corps and an average defense. He is easily better than Roethlisberger, who's had the benefit of a marvelous defense, Tarkenton, who never won a Super Bowl, and Favre, who was erratic throughout his career. The passing records Favre has can be attributed to his longevity, not so much his talent.

Brees' statistics have already surpassed many of Young's and Warner's. Barring injury, Brees will wind up being in the group with Montana, Brady, Manning, Elway, and Bradshaw, and his statistics reflect that as his completion yardage averages between 4,000-5,000 each season and 40 touchdowns. Depending on the talent surrounding him, he may also add one or two Super Bowl rings, as ...more

Drew Brees year in and year out put's up record setting yards in a year on a team that has made it to the Superbowl, once in it's entire career. He has never had even one league nominated number one wide receiver, typically distributing the ball to many that come and go quite frequently. He's put up the most 5,000 + yard passing seasons of any quarterback. He's fourth all time passing yards with 59,005 with three years less than Peyton Manning, five years less than Brett Farve, and one year less than Tom Brady. He currently holds the most accurate career with 66.4%. He has the most accurate season with 72%. He is tied for fourth in career touchdown passes with 416 and he is eighth all-time career passer rating with 95.7. Not to mention that he did most of this after he tore his labrum and returned to the league.

Is Dan Marino number 3? Yes! Who leads Dan in basically every stat, including Super Bowls? Drew Brees. In fact, Brees leads everyone in almost all QB stats. Sure, stats aren't everything, but then we consider Brady the GOAT due to his winning. If so, then why is Dan Marino even up here? If we rated every player like we did with Dan Marino, Drew Brees would be by far the best. Drew has barely had any star receivers and makes everyone look better than they actually are. The only real star receiver he has had is Michael Thomas. Brady has had Julian Edelman, who is a Super Bowl MVP, plus many others. Brees has also carried many teams with abysmal defenses to great records solely based on his incredible talent. In my opinion, Brees is the greatest player, let alone the greatest quarterback, of all time.

9 Steve Young Jon Steven Young is a former professional American football quarterback who played 15 seasons in the National Football League and is best known for his 13 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

I hate Steve Young and any 49er QB, but objectively, this guy was the best I've ever seen, or maybe #2 behind Peyton Manning. He had a strong arm, was tough, was accurate, and could run. His defining highlight was that incredible run against the Vikings. If he had been on the team of the 1980s, he would have won 6 Super Bowls, not just 4.

In his short NFL career as a starter, nobody made an impact like Steve did. No one ran with as much guts and instinct, and at the same time was intelligent enough to understand defenses like he did. Highest-rated QB ever! Most accurate QB ever! Biggest heart ever!

His stats ended up better than Montana's. It was a good change for Young to replace him and lead the team to the Super Bowl. He should be much higher, and he is probably the most underrated quarterback on the list.

Nobody has ever been a more productive QB than him. Many people say that he's masked in the shadows of Joe Montana, but honestly, I think he's better than him.

10 Terry Bradshaw

Everybody is like, Oh, Brady, oh, Brady. How about no! Bradshaw got 4 Super Bowls when real men played the sport for the passion of the game. Back then, a linebacker could knock a QB out of his shoes if he wanted to, not like this pansy flag football stuff they do now where you can't touch a QB without a flag and a fine. Sorry, Brady fans.

Bradshaw is a man of steel who got it done when football was real. Brady and a lot of other QBs would have been buried by Bradshaw's numbers if he had played the game with the current rules. Manning played at the end of the era of real football, and he made it through the transition. He is tough as nails, too.

Brady, Rodgers, Eli Manning, and countless others will never hold the respect that all should have for Bradshaw and the QBs from a time when the game was hardcore and passion-fueled, not just money-driven. I'm out.

Why are people using this section to talk about Roethlisberger? He does not compare to Bradshaw. I watched in person as the Steelers destroyed my Chiefs at Arrowhead the last year Bradshaw led his team to the Super Bowl. With the exception of Elway, I have never seen a quarterback throw on the run as accurately as Bradshaw. He was tough, gutsy, and could throw the long ball as well as the best.

Yes, Bradshaw had great receivers, but it takes a great passer to be as accurate as I witnessed in person.

What? Brett Favre? Tom Brady? Wow, yeah, it adds up when you play 20 years of football (Favre), and yeah, I'd be a pro too if I knew what the defense was going to do every play (Brady). Bradshaw is insane. He's a football phenom. And why isn't Archie Manning on the list?

I voted for Terry because he has had some really great throws and seasons, but I am extremely surprised that Aaron Rodgers isn't on this list. After all, he is the only QB ever to have a career passer rating of over 100!

The Contenders
11 Aaron Rodgers Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

Aaron Rodgers has proven his ability to be one of the best QBs, and I think he is the best right now. Jordy Nelson's absence is a loss for the Packers' roster, but Aaron Rodgers can get through this tough time. Aaron is only 31 and has many years left in the NFL. When Jordy Nelson comes back next year, the big three - Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb - will be together until 2018. This could have a great impact on the Packers franchise. Mike McCarthy is one of the best coaches, and although he has won only one Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers, they have led the Packers to the playoffs from 2009 to 2014. It's still ongoing. Not only is Aaron Rodgers the best QB right now, but the Packers also have one of the best franchises.

If Brett Favre is a legend in Green Bay, and nobody can deny that, what is bigger than a legend? Oh, I know: Aaron Rodgers is! With one NFL title in 4 seasons (so far) as opposed to one in 16, you do the math. His accurate passes are unique in today's NFL. Other QBs can throw accurate passes too, but they don't even come close to Rodgers's consistency. Plus, he can also run when no passing opportunity arises, which makes him the most complete quarterback ever. He should be number 2, second only to Peyton Manning.

Like Brees, Rodgers deserves to be above Tom Brady without a doubt. Rodgers performs well whether the Packers are good or bad. He is always at the top of the league in every stat that matters. While there might be other quarterbacks you'd want at the end of the fourth quarter, such as Russell Wilson, most would still pick Rodgers. His career is extraordinary, and criticizing him for having only one Super Bowl ring is incredibly short-sighted.

Lowkey, it's a meme that he isn't number 1. Rodgers had only one good team ever, and they didn't even show up to the playoffs that year. Rodgers is the reason the Packers have had any success after 2007. Mark Murphy should open his eyes and see that QBs play less than half of every game. Rodgers is the only QB ever to win a Super Bowl by himself, and let me explain. Brady has the best coach ever, tons of targets, great running backs, and always a top-ten defense. Just an FYI, Brady throws an interception for about every 3 touchdowns. That stat's awesome, right? Well, Rodgers throws one for about every 4 touchdowns and has only three seasons as a starter without an above 100 passer rating.

12 Roger Staubach Roger Thomas Staubach, nicknamed Captain America and Captain Comeback, is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League.

Roger Staubach had the highest rating when he retired after the 1979 season. Over 30 years later, he still has the second-highest winning percentage for quarterbacks with 100 or more starts. He really played eight full seasons and took the Cowboys to four Super Bowls. In his ninth season as a starter, he was injured most of the year but came in to pull out a Cowboy victory against the 49ers in 1972.

The two Super Bowls he lost as a starter were to the greatest defense of all time: the Steelers. If Tom Landry had played Staubach in Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts, he would have won that one. Defenses in the 70s were allowed to use their hands on the receivers much more than today. Mel Blount of the Steelers might be kicked out of a number of games if today's rules were applied in the 70s.

It's very hard to say who's the greatest because of rule changes in each decade, but Staubach takes a back seat to no one. He also ran the football like Steve Young and Michael ...more

When Roger Staubach was behind center, you felt as though you always had a chance to win. My memories of watching him play when I was a kid were created from two different perspectives. The first was as a fan of the Miami Dolphins and completely indifferent to the Cowboys. The second was as a fan of a player whose heroics had captured the imagination of a seven-year-old boy who could identify those heroics as both truly individual (in a team sport) and truly spectacular.

I wasn't a Cowboys' fan - I was a Roger Staubach fan. What I remember most was his leadership and his ability to run the two-minute drill. There were countless games where the Cowboys were down by more than a field goal in the fourth quarter with well under two minutes to go, and you just knew they were going to win. You knew it, the Cowboys and their fans knew it, and their opponents knew it.

You knew that when it came down to crunch time, Staubach would drive his team the full length of the field and ...more

No game was over with Roger Staubach at the helm. During his era (1969-79), no one was better. No one. And I'd take Staubach over Brady or Montana any day of the week.

Roger Staubach was a true leader on the field, and his teams never gave up. He had a positive attitude at all times and brought that out in his teammates. Beyond that, he was an incredibly accurate passer who threw very few interceptions. He was mobile and had a strong arm.

And remember, he had to serve five years in the Navy before joining the Cowboys. Had he come in as a younger player, his career would have been even more impressive. His last year, at age 38, was one of his very best, if not the best, of his career. He was simply amazing.

13 Troy Aikman Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League.

The most accurate quarterback and one of the most completions in NFL history, he only played 12 years of football. A 3-time Super Bowl winner with over 32,000 yards, 165 touchdowns, and 2,898 completions. This includes the bad years when the Cowboys struggled. In his first Super Bowl, he completed 22 of 30 passes and also made 4 touchdowns. The reason he didn't have the most yards is because he had Emmitt Smith, the greatest running back of all time.

Aikman had weapons around him like Emmitt, Michael Irvin, and a great defense. But he always stood in and threw, regardless of the hit he knew was coming. He had a super-strong arm and great accuracy. Definitely a Top 10. Even though Otto Graham should be on this list, there's no need for Tom Brady, so no reason to push anyone else out.

Troy should be in the top 5 of quarterbacks of all time. He may not have the stats that other QBs have, but he does have three Super Bowl rings. He might have added another one or maybe even two if Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones could have kept their egos in check. Troy was a great leader and made it clear when he was not happy with the play of others on the Cowboys, which they needed.

We saw Troy play in Super Bowl 30 in Tempe and were very happy to finally beat the Steelers in a Super Bowl.

I'm a Steelers fan, but I respect Troy and the dynasty that he came from. The Cowboys of the '90s rival the Steelers of the '70s in my book. I can't wait to get our 7th Super Bowl, though. We've got to stay ahead of the boys. I don't count the Cowboys as America's team, but I've always respected the Cowboys of the '90s.

14 Otto Graham Otto Everett Graham Jr. was an American football quarterback who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League.

Otto Graham was the Tom Brady of his era, but he could run. He was a great passer and a great clutch quarterback. He was the ultimate winner, both in the regular season and in the postseason.

His stats look more like Ryan Leaf's, but you can't argue with the fact that he played in the championship game every year of his career. That's insane. Even the great Tom Brady can't claim that. And while his individual stats aren't that impressive, he was a pioneer of the modern passing game and the ultimate clutch quarterback. He simply has to be in the top ten somewhere.

The greatest forgotten quarterback of all time. Sad times for Browns fans when the possibly greatest passer ever, who played for Cleveland, did so in the pre-Super Bowl era that no one seems to care about. The rules have changed, and it's difficult to compare different eras, but the one thing the game still needs is toughness in the clutch. You cannot possibly argue that Otto Graham takes a backseat to anyone there.

Otto Graham never missed a Browns game, and the Browns played in their league's championship game in all 10 years of his career. They were 4-0 in AAFC title contests and 3-3 in NFL championship games. Counting the two division playoff games the Browns won, they were 9-3 in postseason play: 5-0 in the AAFC and 4-3 in the NFL. Cleveland won 105 regular-season games, lost 17, and tied four. That included records of 47-4-3 in the AAFC and 58-13-1 in the NFL.

15 Bart Starr

Bart Starr is a playoff assassin. He still holds the NFL record for the highest passing rating in playoff history. He led the greatest winning drive in NFL history during the 1967 NFL Championship game, known as the Ice Bowl.

Bart Starr is the best quarterback of all time. No one else has won five championship rings. His teams were devoted to him because of his leadership ability. I think he was overshadowed by his coach and did not always receive the respect he truly deserved. If you were to ask his teammates, they would admit that they took as much leadership from Starr as they did from the coach.

Bart Starr has the most NFL championships with five. He has the second-highest QB rating before the NFL changed the rules to make the passer's job easier. He called his own plays and led his team to three consecutive NFL championships, something no one else has ever done. Being a winner should be way more important than stats. He may also be responsible for the most significant play in NFL history, the Ice Bowl.

He still has the highest passer rating of all time in the postseason, despite playing mostly championship games in foul weather. In other words, he didn't pad his stats against 9-7 wild card teams in dome conditions. He is the most clutch QB of all time, winning five championship games.

16 Fran Tarkenton

Fran revolutionized the game with his scrambling. He started out playing for the expansion Vikings for 6 years. He was traded to the Giants in 1967. In 1966, the Giants won one game. During the next five years, he made the Giants exciting and respectable. The 1970 Giants went 9-5 and missed the playoffs by one game. Players on those Giants teams have said that a few of those teams might not have won any games if it wasn't for Fran.

Yes, the Vikings of the '70s lost 3 Super Bowls. However, the Vikings were not as good as the Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders. The main reason why Minnesota lost those three Super Bowls was that their offensive and defensive lines (for the most part) were blown away. Minnesota could not rush the ball on offense, and their defense simply could not stop the run. Fran was not great in those Super Bowls, but he was not the main reason why they lost. Overall, Fran was brilliant at improvising and seeing the whole field. He was a man ahead of his time.

Retired with more touchdown passes for more yards than ANY quarterback in NFL history - in an era dominated by the run game. One of the best that ever was.

He revolutionized the game with his scrambling. He played with inferior talent during most of his first 11 seasons. A player like Montana may not have been able to take the beatings Fran took in his years with the expansion Vikings. He retired with the most passing and rushing yards for a quarterback. His teams did lose three Super Bowls, but the Vikings never had the superior team.

In addition, in those three Super Bowls, Fran never had a chance as the offensive (and for the most part, defensive) lines got blown away. Because of those Super Bowl losses, he is an underappreciated quarterback. He was an MVP and a 9-time Pro Bowler.

Tarkenton was by far the most intelligent quarterback of all time. His knowledge of the game and ability to read defenses elevated his position to a whole new level. He was one of the last quarterbacks to actually run the offense, calling the plays from the line of scrimmage and making split-second decisions while making complex reads at the line of scrimmage. One needs only to see how successful he has been since retiring to know he has an incredible mind.

17 Eli Manning Elisha Nelson "Eli" Manning is a former American football quarterback who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.

Eli is top ten. He had to deal with a lot of flak going into the 2007 season, being judged by this guy and that guy, and not once complained about it. He flat out demolished the competition in Super Bowl 42. As incredible of a catch as it was by David Tyree, it was just as incredible as Eli literally being inches from being sacked, only to get back up again and make the incredible play. Say what you want about Brady, a highly praised QB from almost every angle, at his prime, beaten by a QB who lived in his big brother's shadow for a while and was criticized by everyone.

Eli is way more clutch than half the quarterbacks on this list, some of whom have never even won a Super Bowl. Not to mention, Eli has won two Super Bowls despite being the underdog team in every game. He is also still in his early thirties and has a chance to win more Super Bowls and more Super Bowl MVPs.

He's not the greatest quarterback in terms of pure talent, but he has managed to win where it really counts. He led the Giants to two Super Bowls over excellent Patriots teams, as well as upsets over great Packers teams on the way to both Super Bowls. The win over the 15-1 2011 Packers was particularly impressive.

Two Super Bowl MVP awards, beating a cheater who was supposed to be the best. That's it. More wins than his big brother in the big game put him in the top ten.

18 Jim Kelly James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for eleven seasons and spent the entirety of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills.

Taken for granted by losing four STRAIGHT Super Bowls, Jim Kelly accomplished a feat that not many can ever or ever will say they have done. To make the big dance four years in a row is an awesome accomplishment for an NFL quarterback, and I don't think it will ever happen again. Not to mention, Jim Kelly only had a 10-year career, since he started playing for the Bills in '86 after a stint with the USFL.

Without a doubt in my mind, he's the best. The Bills were fast and effective with Jim, and they are still paying for his retirement to this day. He holds a number of records and made a difference in the league. This man is a hero to a group of people and rightfully deserves it. Jim Kelly is the best quarterback.

Won the AFC championship four times in a row, popularizing the no huddle offense and calling plays with multiple formations as he looked at the defense. One of the GREATEST quarterbacks to play the game hands down.

Probably top 3 if he wins 2 of those 4 consecutive Super Bowls. The master of the no-huddle run and shoot, a true gunslinger who made good decisions and was the most fun to watch.

19 Sammy Baugh

The first great quarterback led the league in passing six times. Sammy Baugh should be number one on this list, followed by Otto Graham, Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, John Elway, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Fran Tarkenton, and Peyton Manning, with an honorable mention to Steve Young. There is too much immediacy bias on most all-time lists. One must understand NFL history.

You could basically say he invented the long ball. And the ball he threw was a wobbly, animal-skinned pumpkin. No one could throw a decent spiral back then. It's too bad there aren't enough films of him. Otherwise, people would understand. He and Whizzer White were untouchable in their eras and probably would be now too.

An accurate thrower, Baugh's passing helped change the game. He won a record six NFL passing titles while also setting marks as a defensive back and a punter. He has a college football award named after him, which goes to the best quarterback with the best passing statistics each season.

Sammy baugh is the inventor of play action in 1942. Yes, he invented play action and made the league more pass heavy. Was good from his rookie year in 1937 to 1947. One of the goats/evolved the QB position.

20 Randall Cunningham Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League and current football coach and pastor.

When he was with the Eagles, Randall Cunningham was the equivalent of what Michael Vick is today - maybe even better. He didn't run as much later in his career, but he still holds the all-time record for rushing yards by a QB. He was so elusive against the rush. Just plain fun to watch. Vick is a better runner, but Randall was a better passer.

Randall Cunningham had the great skill of being able to run with the ball as well as throw a great pass. He also had an elusiveness that made him a nightmare for the defense.

This is the dumbest rating ever. 33? He's behind maybe 3 quarterbacks and is DEFINITELY the most athletic quarterback ever.

The man who paved the way for others had the pass and run ability of a QB.

21 Warren Moon Harold Warren Moon is a former American and Canadian football quarterback who played professionally for 23 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

He's the greatest quarterback in the Canadian Football League, with five Grey Cup championships. He's not the only great QB to be rejected by the NFL until playing in Canada. Others include Joe Theismann and Doug Flutie. Moon has 70,500 passing yards in his pro career - regular season plus playoffs. No one comes close. He's definitely in the top 10.

If you take half of his CFL stats, his numbers are still better than Elway's. He had a better winning percentage with the lowly Oilers than Steve Young had with the Bucs - and Moon didn't quit on the Oilers. He stayed and made them great. He is the inventor of the back shoulder throw. Being in the Hall of Fame in two different football leagues speaks for itself.

He belongs in the top ten. Add his five Grey Cup championships, and with those stats, he's number one. He was a fantastic player who made the ball sing - always a perfect spiral.

He's a top 10 QB at least. Vince Young was a good college QB, but he shouldn't even be mentioned in the top 100 QBs.

22 Norm Van Brocklin

Led the Eagles to beat the Packers in the 1960 championship game. It was the only time that Green Bay team lost a championship or Super Bowl. That Green Bay team was considered the most dominant of all time. I saw the game live.

The only quarterback to win championships with different teams, his last championship was with a team that had never been a contender before.

The man who set the record for most yards in a game, a record that to this day still hasn't been beaten.

The "Dutchman" was arguably the best pure passer the game has ever seen.

23 Tony Romo Antonio Ramiro Romo is an American football television analyst and former quarterback who played 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.

We all know " Tony Romo " is a fragile qb, but that don't matter at all. People think he is horrible just because he gets hurt a lot, but he has one of the best passer ratings in the NFL. People also have say Tony Romo should not start over 2016 4th round pick Dakota Prescott

Know as Dak Prescott, well yes he should let me tell you why, this is just like the decision that the 49ers had with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick Tony Romo can get a lot of yards in a game, more than dak Prescott, because he has great short, medium, and deep accuracy. Just know that Tony Romo is a great qb. If his injuries don't kill him they are going to make him stronger. Tony may not be the best, but he is great.

The 2015-2016 Dallas Cowboys season epitomized why Tony Romo is so important to them and is one of the best NFL quarterbacks. Yes, he does get hurt, but give the guy a break. He's 35 years old. The Cowboys now have one of the best NFL teams with Romo under center. They made magic happen in 2014, and Romo silenced his critics. However, when he got hurt, they went 4-12. He is so important to them and is the reason why the Cowboys stay relevant.

Let Tony win the games. People just don't give him a chance. Look at Tony's record in 2013 and look at Eli's. Tony's is much better. So, I think if you give him a chance and fire Jerry Jones, the Cowboys can win their division. If you throw some luck in there too, we could be talking about Super Bowl 44.

This guy carried a team on his back for years with no help. He had no offensive line, mediocre wide receivers, no running game (until 2014), no defense to depend on, and a horrible play-caller in Jason Garrett. Yet he still managed to get them to a few playoffs. What other QB has done that?

24 Nathan Peterman

Greatest of all time, and no one can doubt it.

25 Jim McMahon

Jim was the best leader of all time. When they looked into his eyes, he made them believe!

One of the greatest Bears QBs for sure. He was just too fragile.

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