Who is the Greatest QB in NFL History? -- The Debate rages On

Many have debated this point and it’s almost impossible to define the correct answer. The NBA has Michael Jordan, the NHL has Wayne Gretzky, but the NFL, perhaps the ultimate team game does not have a greatest player. Conceivably the Quarterback is what many consider the most important on the field, and therefore, please consider my candidates for greatest Quarterback ever (In no particular order)

Dan Marino

Most great Quarterback conversations start with Dan the Man. Holder of 19 NFL records, of notice, the records for both single season and career: Passing Yards and completions and until recently, he held the record for touchdown passes in a season (He still holds the career mark). Marino was a dynamic passer and heir apparent to Bob Griese, however Marino’s only trip the big game was in his rookie year, 1983, where he lost to the Washington Redskins. This has often been the knock on Marino, however many would argue that had Marino had the team that many other Super Bowl winners had, he would have multiple rings. Marino’s statistics include 420 touchdown passes, 61,361 passing yards, 4,967 pass completions

John Elway

Elway’s career was often very similar to Marino’s up until Elway’s Super Bowl repeat, and in fact, John retired on the top of his game. Elway has similar stats to Marino, ranking 2nd in career yards and 3rd in touchdowns, however his moniker as “Comeback King” may be what separates the two. Elway had the unique ability to take the fear out of the Denver fans during the two minute drill, as his drives for game winners almost always seemed imminent. The most famous of course, and the only reason people seem to put him on this list, was “The Drive” against the Cleveland Browns which lead to an eventual Denver Broncos Super Bowl trip. Elway’s stat-line includes 51,475 total yards, 300 touchdown passes.

Terry Bradshaw

Very few ever argue that Bradshaw was the greatest quarterback of all time, but he does have one statistic that few other Quarterbacks do, four Super Bowl Rings. Bradshaw also holds the career records for touchdowns and yards in a Super Bowl and was twice named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Bradshaw also has very respectable statistics, namely 27,879 passing yards, 212 touchdowns passes, 2,257 rushing yards, and 32 rushing touchdowns over his career.

Joe Montana

Montana is the only other quarterback on the list with four Super Bowl Rings. More importantly he was named Most Valuable Player in three of those. Montana was the model of consistency for his team, leading them to 11 playoff appearances via 9 divisional titles. During his career, he was selected to 8 pro-bowls and managed a nice stat-line of 40,551 yards, 273 touchdown passes, and 3,409 competitions and a 92.3 passing rating.

Bart Starr

Starr cracks the list as one of the first truly great NFL quarterbacks. He lead the Green Bay Packers to 5 NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls, being named most valuable player in each Super Bowl. Starr’s stats include 24,718 yards, 152 touchdowns over his 15 year career.

Johnny Unitas

Unitas, possibly the greatest of the old NFL Quarterbacks, lead the pre-Super Bowl era Baltimore Colts to back to back championships in 1958 and ’59. As decorated as Starr, Unitas had better numbers, regardless of fewer championships, he earned 3 Most Valuable Player trophies during his 10 Pro-Bowl seasons and has an incredible stat line considering the era: 40,239 passing yards, 290 touchdown passes, and 2,830 competitions.

Honorable Mentions

Bob Griese

Piloted the Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only undefeated season and won two Super Bowls.

Joe Namath

Namath is most famous for is guarantee of victory in Super Bowl Three, however other than a good stat-line completed little else in the NFL

Fran Tarkenton

The first true mobile quarterback may have never won a Super Bowl, but did make it to three. He revolutionized the game by not only being a great passer, but a decent athletic runner as well.

Roger Staubach

This two-time Super Bowl winner cannot be denied a spot on the list, at least somewhere. A Solid-stat line proves him to be a talented QB and one of the best game managers ever.

Please note that each of the above is a current member of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame (its no coincidence either)

Potential New Members

Tom Brady

Tom Brady’s statistics may not say much other than he was a good quarterback, but its his three Super Bowl Rings that will make him great, and there could be more to come.

Peyton Manning

Probably the opposite of Brady, Manning is already breaking NFL records (Most touchdowns in a season) and may be only a Super Bowl shy of being at least the one of the best quarterbacks of his generation.

Brett Favre

The iron man of the NFL, if it weren’t for Brady, Favre would be considered the master of the intangibles in the NFL. Most likely a sure-fire Hall of Famer

Who is the Greatest

Very difficult question. If you choose statistics, it’s got to be Marino, but much like the Manning versus Brady debate today, you could easily go with Bradshaw. I think the conversation stops at Montana, but the debate will rage on until a quarterback with a stat-line like Marino or Manning wins the Super Bowl at least three times and more likely five to completely settle the debate.