The quarterback position is the most glamorous in the NFL, and maybe even in all American sports, today. We’re lucky that there are so many great players currently at the position, but how do these modern stars stack up against their predecessors? Today we will be looking at the 20 greatest NFL quarterbacks in the history of the game.
Going into this exercise, we must acknowledge that the difference in eras means not all quarterback statistics are directly comparable. You cannot take a quarterback’s total yards from the 1960s and compare them against a quarterback’s production from the 2000s.That being said, the main credentials examined to create this list include accolades, statistics, and winning.
Before beginning, I’ll acknowledge some honorable mentions who just missed the list. Norm Van Brocklin won the league MVP in 1960 and won two NFL Championships, but failed to crack my list. Len Dawson led the league in completion percentage eight times on his way to three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV. Dan Fouts ran the innovative Air Coryell offense for years and took the NFL passing game to another level.
Jim Kelly went to four Super Bowls, but championship glory evaded him. Warren Moon had an incredible run, despite only entering the NFL at age 28. Joe Namath won Super Bowl III and was the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a single season. All of these quarterbacks are all-time greats, but they just couldn't crack the top 20.
Here is ClutchPoints' definitive list and ranking of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time, which will be updated as more news, stats, games and events happen.
20. Troy Aikman (1989-2000)
Career Stats: 94-71 Record, 61.5 Cmp%, 32,942 Pass Yds, 165 TD, 141 INT
MVP Awards: 0
Pro Bowl: 6x
Super Bowls: 3
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
You have to look deeper than the stats to understand Aikman’s impact. He went to six Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. The MVP of Super Bowl XXVII, Aikman led a team that was predicated on the run game. Because of that style, he never put up flashy numbers and is often slammed by critics who misinterpret his career stat line.
19. Ben Roethlisberger (2004-Present)
Career Stats: 144-71-1 Record, 64.3 Cmp%, 56,545 Pass Yds, 363 TD, 191 INT
MVP Awards: 0
Pro Bowl: 6x
Super Bowls: 2
I was hesitant to put Roethlisberger on this list ahead of quarterbacks from past generations, but Big Ben has been going off in recent years. After winning two Super Bowls and losing a third to Green Bay, Roethlisberger has peaked. Before his injury woes in 2019, Big Ben led the NFL in passing yards per game in two of the previous five seasons and has a 144-71-1 career record. He is also top nine in career completions, yards, and touchdowns all-time. 2018 was Roethlisberger's best passing season. He completed 452 passes for 5,129 yards and 34 touchdowns.
18. Fran Tarkenton (1961-1978)
Career Stats: 124-109-6 Record, 57.0 Cmp%, 47,003 Pass Yds, 342 TD, 266 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 1x First Team, 1x Second Team
Pro Bowl: 9x
NFL Championships/Super Bowls: 0
Tarkenton displayed extreme longevity for the era that he played in. The nine-time Pro Bowler was the league’s MVP in 1975 and retired as the all-time leader in pass completions, yards, and touchdowns. Tarkenton started and lost three Super Bowls during his long career. Had he won all three games, his legacy would be viewed completely differently.
17. Kurt Warner (1998-2009)
Career Stats: 67-49 Record, 65.5 Cmp%, 32,344 Pass Yds, 208 TD, 128 INT
MVP Awards: 2
All-Pro: 2x First Team
Pro Bowl: 4x
Super Bowls: 1
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
Warner had a very up and down career. He only went to four Pro Bowls, but he won two league MVPs. He also went to three Super Bowls and won one with The Greatest Show on Turf offense. Warner's story alone is legendary, but it's hard to overlook how bad and injured he was from 2002-2006. His peaks were high, but they didn't last long.
16. Aaron Rodgers (2005-Present)
Career Stats: 113-60-1 Record, 64.6 Cmp%, 46,946 Pass Yds, 364 TD, 84 INT
MVP Awards: 2
All-Pro: 2x First-Team, 1x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 8x
Super Bowls: 1
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
While there’s an argument to be made that Rodgers is the most talented quarterback in NFL history, he hasn’t produced a lot of success in the playoffs. His only Super Bowl win came in Super Bowl XLV and he was named the game’s MVP. Rodgers has two regular season MVPs and is the league’s all-time leader in passer rating (with Russell Wilson and Drew Brees close behind). Before he retires, Rodgers will be challenging for a top ten position on my list. For some other writers, he's already a top-ten quarterback.
15. Sid Luckman (1939-1950)
Career Stats: 51.8 Cmp%, 14,686 Pass Yds, 137 TD, 132 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 5x First-Team, 1x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 3x NFL All-Star
NFL Championships: 4
A pioneer at his position, Luckman led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns three times apiece. During his time with the Chicago Bears, Luckman was a First Team All-Pro five times and won four NFL Championships. His 10.9 yards per attempt in 1943 is still a league record.
14. Bart Starr (1956-1971)
Career Stats: 94-57-6 Record, 57.4 Cmp%, 24,718 Pass Yds, 152 TD, 138 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 1x First-Team, 3x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 4x
NFL Championships/Super Bowls: 5 Championships/2 Super Bowls
Super Bowl MVPs: 2
The first great Green Bay Packers quarterback was Vince Lombardi’s most trusted lieutenant. He led the team to five NFL Championships and two Super Bowl victories during a decade of dominance. An underrated passer, Starr was the league’s MVP in 1966 and won both Super Bowl MVPs. Lombardi’s offense was heavily run-based, which didn't allow Starr to fully display his passing prowess.
13. Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983)
Career Stats: 107-51 Record, 51.9 Cmp%, 27,989 Pass Yds, 212 TD, 210 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 1x First-Team, 1x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 3x
Super Bowls: 4
Super Bowl MVPs: 2
While Bradshaw wasn’t the most prolific passer, he was good enough to win the league MVP in 1978 and become the first quarterback with four Super Bowl victories. He finished his career with a 107-51 starting record. Often, Bradshaw's success is attributed entirely to the Steel Curtain, but the quarterback won two Super Bowl MVPs is an all-time great quarterback.
12. Steve Young (1985-1999)
Career Stats: 94-49 Record, 64.3 Cmp%, 33,124 Pass Yds, 232 TD, 107 INT
MVP Awards: 2
All-Pro: 3x First-Team, 2x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 7x
Super Bowls: 3 (one as starter)
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
The San Francisco 49ers were fortunate to transition from Joe Montana to Young. The stud quarterback won two league MVPs and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX. He led the NFL in completion percentage five times, passing touchdowns four times, and passer rating six times. At the time of his retirement, no retired quarterback had a higher passer rating than Young’s 96.8.
11. Roger Staubach (1969-1979)
Career Stats: 85-29 Record, 57.0 Cmp%, 22,700 Pass Yds, 153 TD, 109 INT
MVP Awards: 0
All-Pro: 1x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 6x
Super Bowls: 2
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
The most beloved quarterback in Cowboys history won two Super Bowls with the organization. Staubach went to six Pro Bowls and was responsible for the development and coining of the Hail Mary pass. He led the NFL in passer rating four times and retired with an 85-29 record. The U.S. Navy veteran didn't post flashy career totals, but he still had an incredibly successful career.
The Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of all time
Now it's time to get to the nitty gritty of all-time NFL quarterbacks.
10. Sammy Baugh (1937-1952)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MYgbZ5dmeM
Career Stats: 56.5 Cmp%, 21,886 Pass Yds, 187 TD, 203 INT
MVP Awards: 2
All-Pro: 7x First-Team, 2x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 1
NFL Championships: 2
One of the first great quarterbacks in history, Baugh led the league in completions percentage eight times and passing yards four times during his career. He won two NFL Championships, led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice, was selected as a First Team All-Pro seven times, and retired with the most passing touchdowns in history.
9. Drew Brees (2001-Present)
Career Stats: 163-111 Record, 67.6 Cmp%, 77,416 Pass Yds, 547 TD, 237 INT
MVP Awards: 0
All-Pro: 1x First-Team, 4x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 13x
Super Bowls: 1
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
Statistically, Brees is the most dominant quarterback of his era and perhaps even of all-time. He is responsible for five of the twelve 5,000-yard seasons in history. He also won Super Bowl XLIV and was named the game’s MVP. Brees has led the NFL in completion percentage six times and passing yards seven times. He is already the all-time leader in passing completions, touchdowns, and yards, and he’s third in passer rating. He broke his own single-season completion percentage record in 2018, connecting on 74.4% of his attempts (he nearly broke it in 2019 with 74.3%).
8. Dan Marino (1983-1999)
Career Stats: 147-93 Record, 59.4 Cmp%, 61,361 Pass Yds, 420 TD, 252 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 3x First-Team, 5x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 9x
Super Bowls: 0
Marino thrived as offenses became more centered on throwing the football. He led the NFL in passing completions six times, yards five times, and touchdowns three times. The 1984 league MVP was never able to win a Super Bowl though. Marino retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in completions, yards, and touchdowns by far, but his lack of Super Bowl rings still haunts him today. He would be higher up the list, if not for that glaring hole in his résumé.
7. John Elway (1983-1998)
Career Stats: 148-82-1, 56.9 Cmp%, 51,475 Pass Yds, 300 TD, 226 INT
MVP Awards: 1
All-Pro: 1x First-Team, 2x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 9x Pro Bowl
Super Bowls: 2
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
The 1987 league MVP struggled to win a Super Bowl. He went to the big game five times but lost in each of his first three appearances. Things finally came together though and he won Super Bowls in the final two years of his career. When he retired, Elway was second all-time in passing completions and yards, and he was third all-time in passing touchdowns.
6. Brett Favre (1991-2010)
Career Stats: 186-112 Record, 62.0 Cmp%, 71,838 Pass Yds, 508 TD, 336 INT
MVP Awards: 3
All-Pro: 3x First-Team, 3x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 11x
Super Bowls: 1
Favre led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI, but that was his only title. He displayed true grit, not missing a start for 17 straight seasons. Favre retired with three league MVPs and career records in completions, yards, touchdowns, and regular season wins. All of those records have already fallen, but that doesn't diminish the gunslinger's impact on NFL history.
5. Otto Graham (1946-1955)
Career Stats: 57-13-1 Record, 55.8 Cmp%, 23,584 Pass Yds, 174 TD, 135 INT
MVP Awards: 3
All-Pro: 4x First-Team, 1x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 5x
NFL Championships: 3, 4-time AAFC champion
If there was one thing Graham was good at, it was winning. During his ten-year run with the Cleveland Browns, Graham won three NFL Championships and four AAFC Championships. Graham led the league in passing yards twice and was a First-Team All-Pro four times. At the time of his retirement, Graham had the most passing yards and the highest passer rating in history.
4. Johnny Unitas (1956-1973)
Career Stats: 118-53-4 Record, 54.6 Cmp%, 40,239 Pass Yds, 290 TD, 253 INT
MVP Awards: 3
All-Pro: 5x First-Team, 3x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 10x
NFL Championships/Super Bowls: 3 NFL Championships/1 Super Bowl
When Unitas arrived in Baltimore, he quickly became one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The former ninth-round selection went on to win three NFL Championships, a Super Bowl, and three league MVPs. When the ten-time Pro Bowler finally retired after 1973, he owned the records for most passing yards and touchdowns in history, and he was viewed as the greatest quarterback to ever play.
3. Peyton Manning (1998-2015)
Career Stats: 186-79 Record, 65.3 Cmp%, 71,940 Pass Yds, 539 TD, 251 INT
MVP Awards: 5
All-Pro: 7x First-Team, 3x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 14x
Super Bowls: 2
Super Bowl MVPs: 1
Manning retired owning several major quarterback career records, including passing yards and touchdowns. Manning was selected as a First Team All-Pro seven times, which is unprecedented in the modern era. Throughout his career, Manning amassed five MVPs, two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and two Super Bowl titles. While Manning was never as successful in the postseason as he wanted to be, he still cemented himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.
2. Joe Montana (1979-1994)
Career Stats: 117-47 Record, 63.2 Cmp%, 40,551 Pass Yds, 273 TD, 139 INT
MVP Awards: 2
All-Pro: 3x First-Team, 3x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 8x
Super Bowls: 4
Super Bowl MVPs: 3
Montana rose to unprecedented prominence in the 80s and 90s. During his 15-year career, Montana went to four Super Bowls and won them all. He won three Super Bowl and two league MVPs. He also led the NFL in completion percentage five times, becoming one of the most accurate quarterbacks at the time. When Montana retired, no other retired quarterback had a higher career passer rating than his 92.3. Montana found ways to win when it mattered most. Nearly enough to be the best NFL quarterbacks ever.
1. Tom Brady (2000-Present)
Career Stats: 219-64 Record, 63.8 Cmp%, 74,571 Pass Yds, 541 TD, 179 INT
MVP Awards: 3
All-Pro: 3x First-Team, 2x Second-Team
Pro Bowl: 14x
Super Bowls: 6
Super Bowl MVPs: 4 (Probably the best NFL quarterback)
Somehow, this is the most and least controversial decision on this entire list. Some people believe Brady is unquestionably the greatest quarterback and player of all-time. Others laugh the idea off. Well, Brady has three MVPs, the most regular season and Super Bowls wins by a quarterback, and is top-two all-time in passing completions (2nd), touchdowns, and yards. He might not be the most talented quarterback in league history, but overall Brady is the greatest quarterback of all-time.
