The 10 Best Quarterbacks In NFL History
Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 9:57AM Joe Simmons 
Today at Bull City we attempt to put together the most controversial of lists to possibly put together in sports and entertainment today. Today we will list the top 10 quarterbacks of all time. I initially wanted to post on my generation but then I thought about it and everyone on my list I saw play except three players so we decided that we would step all the way out on that ledge to put the list together.
All of this talk about Michael Vick the past few days had me thinking how he stacked up with all of the great ones that the league has produced. Honestly what I decided was that we haven’t seen anything like Mike Vick before. That being said, his body of work is not complete and he didn’t do anything to help his cause his first few years in the NFL so he will not appear on this list.
As I looked further into the books and the NFL films archives, I felt like I put together a pretty good list of players. There are some that may feel like they have been slighted and others who may feel like their favorite player belongs but just winning Super Bowls was not the only criteria I used.
Winning the big game is a key component though and some players have the ability to dial up their best when they are under the gun. Precision passing and accuracy also are major determinants as well.
Other criteria that was used:
Can you fit the ball into a tight area?
What did you have to work with?
Were you the undoubted leader of your team?
So here is the list:
T10 – Terry Bradshaw – The ability to win the big game makes Bradshaw a candidate for this list. He was often criticized for his passing ability and he wasn’t the most accurate of quarterbacks, but the man was 4 – 0 in the big game. That says a lot about him as a player.
T10 – Roger Staubach – Staubach was the consummate leader of all of the field generals. People forget he missed four seasons because of his commitment to the Naval Academy. He was a 27-year-old rookie in 1969. The man still found a way to win 2 rings and was the most exciting quarterback on the field during most of his career.
9 – Fran Tarkenton – The first of the scrambling quarterbacks Tarkenton was Mr. Excitement. Despite using his legs the man was also the first real accurate quarterback in the league. He played over two decades and averaged about a 60% completion ratio. In those days not many players were completing 50% of their passes so that was a feat in itself.
8 – Brett Favre – Many of you probably think Favre should be higher on the list, but truthfully a lot of what he has done has been due to longevity. He owns all the records good and bad. He's durable. He's courageous. Teammates love to play with him. He would be a star in the 1920s. It's popular to trash Favre now. The game of football is far better with him than without him
7 – Johnny Unitas – The man that molded the prototype. Johnny U was one of the few guys who just found ways to win and man could he sling the tater. He started the trend of 30 touchdown quarterbacks.
6 – Peyton Manning – Before all is said and done this guy will hold every record in the book and the only real knock on him will be the BIG GAME. He is the consummate quarterback. He is a throw back in a modern game. He calls most of his own plays, and audibles. Chances are he is the last of a dying breed.
5 – Tom Brady – This man just finds ways to win. He’s won with less and he’s won with more. Brady is a combination of old and new school. He can do it all. The three rings doesn’t hurt his bid either.
4 – Troy Aikman – In my estimation the most accurate quarterback to ever lace up the high tops. The man could throw a football into a shoebox from 40 yards away. Rarely did you see Troy miss and rarely did you see him lose the big game.
3 – Dan Marino – This one is tricky. The man with the quickest release to ever play the game is sitting at the number 3 position. I know he didn’t ever win the big game, but look at what he was working with. He had Mark Duper and Mark Clayton who were both about 5’8”. He never had a real weapon like Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Michael Irvin or Marvin Harrison. Yet he always had big numbers and even in the big games that he did lose. It was because they got out scored. The Dolphins defense was horrible and cost Marino at least a couple of rings. So I won’t hold it against the man.
2 – John Elway – The man could do it all. He could run and he could pass. He is by far the strongest of all of the quarterbacks on the list. Everyone who has ever caught a pass from him has the Elway cross on their chest. Its from the front end of the football where the seams connect in the stitching. I know because I have it as well. Ironically he didn’t win Super Bowls until he became more of a passer than runner, however you could also argue that he didn’t win until the defense got better and they got a running game to compliment him too.
1 – Joe Montana – No one can really argue with this pick can they? The man played quarterback on the team with the greatest expectations ever and all he did was deliver time after time. Granted he did have the greatest weapon to ever play the game at receiver, he still found ways to break the heart of every team in the NFC and NFL year after year. Every time you thought he was beat he found a way to deliver and that is what makes him the best. He broke my heart a many of times with plays like “the Catch” that I will never forget.
You might not agree with the order but you have to agree that these guys were the best. If there were any omissions I would like to know. Hit us up in the comment box.
Stay Breezy ~ I’m out !
Reader Comments (8)
Wait how did you leave Jim Kelly off that list? He went to 4 Super Bowls in a row!
No Steve Young????
A couple of names I think deserve some recognition...
1) Phil Simms, two SB victories and the 22 for 25 game alone I think gets him some consideration.
2) Steve Young, got started late in his career but probably the most accurate and mobile elite QB we've ever seen.
3) Bart Starr, QB'd the first super bowl dynasty team ever in Green Bay.
4) Roger Staubach, Captain America won the '63 Heisman and won two super bowls for a franchise that was moribund and decrepit until he got there.
See...now I'm mad I didn't do my list. This is an AWESOME list, and the reason why you do it is for the debate. Thank you sir.
-Ed.
@james - he couldn't deliver in the big game
@Eric - Young was next on the list. Should have been a 3 way tie at 10
@Eddie - Simms was good but not worthy of top 10, See above about Young, Bart Star was Tim Tebow, and Roger is on the list. Probably just not high enough.
The only two that were hard to leave off were Steve Young and Warren Moon but the big game made it easier for Moon
my top 10 based on talent heart focus decision making etc.......in the order of their prime............
1 ) joe montana
2 ) peyton manning
3 ) john elway
4 ) troy aikman
5 ) tom brady
6 ) brett favre
7 ) dan marino
8 ) jim kelly
9 ) steve young
10)donovan mcnabb.................
......................some didnt win the super bowl but this order can lead like magic...
especially if they have the players around them......................WC......................WC.........................
( signal saying WC the great )............................ ( signal tweaking )..........................WC....................
.... ( signal baking ).................... ( signal gone )...................................................................................
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@wildcard - Good list. If I saw that one I wouldn't argue with it at all. Thats about how a list of my generation would look.
1 i would pick joe montanna and 2 i wiuld pick petyon manning forget every one else
This is my top 10 quarterbacks list. 1 is the best.
10.Terry Bradshaw
9. Troy Aikman
8. Joe Namath
7.Brett Farve
6. Johnny Unitas
5. Dan Marino
4. John Elway
3. Peyton Manning
2. Tom Brady
1. Joe Montana