The quarterback position in sports, particularly in the NFL, commands unrivaled respect and attention. These signal-callers face intense scrutiny and are frequently credited or blamed for their team’s performance. While many people have played this position during football’s 150-year history, only a few have achieved legendary status. Our research into NFL history has resulted in a ranking of the top quarterbacks of all time (as of publication). These players are ranked using traditional statistics, advanced measures, wins, playoff performances, and their lasting impact. They include early professional football pioneers as well as current talents. Does your favorite quarterback make this elite list?
The Greatest NFL Quarterbacks Of All Time
Jim Plunkett
While Jim Plunkett is not officially acknowledged, some supporters believe he deserves to be remembered as an NFL legend. Despite facing difficult conditions with faltering teams in the 1970s, Plunkett managed a stunning comeback in his career, guiding the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories. He is the only quarterback in Raiders history to have won two Super Bowls. This honor recognizes his important contribution to the team’s success and strengthens his case for inclusion among NFL greats.
Jim Plunkett
Len Dawson
Dawson’s quarterback career has produced an impressive passer rating, demonstrating his great abilities. He was most active in the 1960s and scored an incredible 239 touchdowns during his stellar career. Notably, Dawson led the league in passing touchdowns four times, demonstrating his constant excellence. However, his significance went beyond individual accomplishments. Dawson played a critical role in pushing the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory, solidifying his status as the player who contributed to the franchise’s historic achievement. His astounding achievements as a statistical force and catalyst for team success solidify his place among the game’s greats.
Len Dawson
Dan Fouts
Despite early career problems, Dan Fouts underwent a transformational journey under the tutelage of famous coach Don Coryell. Under Coryell’s leadership, the Chargers became one of the most potent offenses in the late 1970s and early 1980s NFL. Fouts’ unorthodox playing style allowed him to demonstrate outstanding skills and exceptional leadership abilities. Unfortunately, despite his apparent brilliance and multiple awards, Fouts joins an elite group of quarterbacks who have never won the prized Super Bowl trophy. Nonetheless, his impact on the game and standing as one of the best quarterbacks of his generation are undeniable, leaving an indelible mark in football history.
Dan Fouts
Eli Manning
Despite his accomplishments, Eli Manning remains remarkably underappreciated in the pantheon of NFL quarterbacks. He has earned the distinction of being the most “clutch” quarterback in NFL Playoff history, as he has repeatedly risen to the occasion, guiding the Giants to victory when their success hinged on exceptional quarterback play.
Eli Manning
Drew Bledsoe
One could argue that Drew Bledsoe outperformed Dan Fouts, even winning the Super Bowl. This former New England Patriots quarterback is presently ranked 15th in career throwing yards, having compiled an incredible 44,611 yards over his 14-season NFL career. Bledsoe also crossed the 250-touchdown mark, placing 21st in that category. However, the considerable difference between his touchdown throws and interceptions distinguished him from Fouts. Bledsoe tossed 251 touchdowns while only allowing 206 interceptions. If he hadn’t been replaced by Tom Brady, Bledsoe’s standing as an NFL legend would have been even more famous.
Drew Bledsoe
Phil Simms
Phil Simms, dubbed by Sports Illustrated as the most underrated NFL quarterback of all time, has a good case for the title. Despite Eli Manning exceeding several of his franchise records, many consider Simms to be the best passer in New York Giants history. Simms led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles but garnered only two Pro Bowl selections and was named an All-Pro once. In contrast, his annual statistics may not have been eye-catching, with only one season over 4,000 passing yards and never exceeding 22 touchdowns, but his iconic performance in Super Bowl XXI in 1987 is indelible in football history. Simms completed an astonishing 88 percent of his passes (22 of 25) and had a passer rating of 150.9, making it one of the best Super Bowl performances by any quarterback.
Phil Simms
Tony Romo
Tony Romo, shockingly, has the greatest career passer rating of all retired NFL quarterbacks. Surprisingly, it is also the highest career passer rating for any quarterback who has never played in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Romo’s lack of Super Bowl participation may jeopardize his prospects of making the Hall of Fame. While his playoff success was limited, his career numbers in yards per throw attempt and completion percentage rank among the finest in NFL history. Notably, he has the same completion percentage as Peyton Manning. When comparing their overall statistics, Romo’s performances over a similar number of seasons outperform those of Cowboys legend Troy Aikman.
Tony Romo
Norm Van Brocklin
Norm Van Brocklin, a well-known NFL great in the 1950s, led the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles to championships in less than a decade. Despite his brief 12-season career, Van Brocklin was selected to nine Pro Bowls, cementing his place as one of the game’s most respected players. Although his career statistics do not compare to those of modern quarterbacks, Van Brocklin’s strong arm enabled him to reach an incredible average of 8.2 yards per pass attempt throughout his career, the third-best record in NFL history. His reputation as “The Dutchman” is a lasting tribute to his influence on the game.
Norm Van Brocklin
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers’ exposure and recognition have been overshadowed by the presence of quarterbacks Brady, Manning, and Brees, as well as his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. This team receives little national coverage. However, Rivers’ continually excellent numbers solidify his place among the all-time greats. He is currently rated sixth in passing yards and aims to move up even higher as his career unfolds. Since 2006, Rivers has reached the 3,000-yard mark every season and has passed for 4,000 yards in 11 of the last 12 seasons. Although his poor postseason performance has harmed his legacy, his incredible stretch of consecutive starts since 2006 is genuinely noteworthy.
Philip Rivers
Warren Moon
Warren Moon, who had unequaled success in the Canadian Football League with five titles, transitioned into an excellent NFL career despite limited postseason appearances. Moon threw for more than 3,000 yards in every 16-game season, surpassing the 4,000-yard mark four times. Moon’s aggressive playing style resulted in a fair amount of interceptions and an average career passer rating, but his popularity remained strong, garnering him nine Pro Bowl nominations. Moon’s legacy, which now ranks 10th in all-time NFL career throwing yards and 10th in game-winning drives led, would have been even more impressive if he hadn’t spent six years in the CFL. The prospect of his final NFL stats sans that stint is truly captivating.
Warren Moon
Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly consistently passed for more than 3,000 yards in eight of his eleven NFL seasons, averaging around 3,200 yards per season across his career. Furthermore, he led the Buffalo Bills to the Super Bowl four times, accounting for more than one-third of his career. Although the Bills were unsuccessful in all four Super Bowl appearances, Kelly demonstrated a flair for winning during the regular season and playoffs. While his Super Bowl performances were not his finest, his ability to regularly succeed in the regular season and lead his team to several championships demonstrates his talent and leadership.
Jim Kelly
Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner, a continuous threat, especially in high-stakes games, has a 1-2 record in Super Bowls but has produced three of the best quarterback performances in the game’s history. Though injuries plagued his career, limiting him to only three full 16-game seasons, Warner commanded explosively creative offenses, most famously the “Greatest Show on Turf” with the Saint Louis Rams. Twice awarded NFL MVP, his 65.5 career completion percentage is the highest among current Hall of Famers and fourth in league history. In three Super Bowl appearances, he averaged 385 throwing yards and has 1,156 career yards in the big game, trailing only Tom Brady.
Kurt Warner
Sonny Jurgensen
Jurgensen, an early pioneer of long-ball passing, became a Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins icon. Despite a losing record as a starter, he was still a marvel on the field. Jurgensen led the league in passing yardage five times, averaging over 3,000 yards per season and demonstrating his ability to produce touchdowns. His 255 passing touchdowns rank him 19th all-time, despite the “dead-ball era” when running backs dominated the league. Notably, Jurgensen won his sole NFL championship with the Eagles in 1960, handing the Green Bay Packers their only postseason setback under Vince Lombardi.
Sonny Jurgensen
Donovan McNabb
Despite his absence from the Super Bowl, Donovan McNabb remains greatly undervalued. He is one of only three quarterbacks on this list with 30,000 throwing yards, 200 passing touchdowns, 3,000 rushing yards, and 20 rushing touchdowns. McNabb matches the record for most postseason wins without a championship with Jim Kelly, and he has more passing yards and a higher passer rating than the Hall of Famer. In 2004, he had one of the best seasons ever for a quarterback, being the first to have 30 touchdowns and less than ten interceptions. Nonetheless, McNabb must receive the Hall of Fame recognition he deserves.
Donovan McNabb
Ben Roethlisberger
When “Big Ben” eventually hangs up his cleats, he will likely rank among the highest in practically every passing metric tracked by the NFL. With two Super Bowl victories to his name, he has consistently matched the likes of Brady, Brees, Rodgers, and Manning in terms of regular-season passing numbers. While he only led the league in passing yards once, he reached the 3,000-yard mark in every season from 2006 to 2018, including six seasons with over 4,000 yards. Roethlisberger’s reputation is characterized by his clutch performances; he is now ranked sixth all-time in comebacks and game-winning drives led.
Ben Roethlisberger
Russell Wilson
Despite his outstanding performances since joining the league in 2012, Russell Wilson is largely underappreciated by his colleagues. Throughout his career, he has never missed a start and consistently throws for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns per season. Furthermore, Wilson has never had a quarterback rating lower than 92.6 and has averaged nearly 500 rushing yards every season. In NFL history, only Aaron Rodgers has a higher career passing rating. Given his Super Bowl victory and being a yard away from a second, Wilson unquestionably deserves to be considered one of the all-time greats.
Russell Wilson
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw, a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, excelled with Hall-of-Fame offensive skill players and one of the best defenses in history. While he never led the league in passing yards or passer rating, his career stats may not surprise you. What distinguishes Bradshaw is his undefeated record in major confrontations. He led the Steelers to four Super Bowl trips, winning each. Admittedly, Bradshaw’s career contains more interceptions than touchdowns, but with such a dominating defense behind him, it’s reasonable that he took calculated chances.
Terry Bradshaw
Steve Young
Steve Young, who is frequently eclipsed by Joe Montana’s legendary status in San Francisco, is occasionally disregarded when discussing the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Young won three Super Bowls, one as the starter, and finished his career with a higher passing rating than Montana and Peyton Manning. His yards per throw attempt are the fifth greatest in NFL history, and the best among players since 1960. Furthermore, Young’s dynamic playing style elevated him to the ranks of the most explosive quarterbacks in history, as proven by his third-most rushing touchdowns from the quarterback position. Like Montana, he never led the league in passing yards but did top the statistics in completion % five times and touchdown passes four times. Young’s remarkable skills would thrive in today’s NFL, as he frequently influenced games with his arm and legs.
Steve Young
Troy Aikman
If success in key games were the only criterion, Troy Aikman would surely be higher on this ranking. With three Super Bowl victories, he has never lost in the title game. Aikman’s excellent record includes six Pro Bowl appearances, but he was only voted All-Pro once, which is more significant. Aikman, widely considered as the quarterback of the 1990s, won an incredible 90 games from 1989 to 2000, more than any other quarterback of the decade. While Aikman’s statistics may not be very impressive, as he never surpassed 3,445 passing yards and only reached 20 touchdowns once, his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is based on his extraordinary ability to lead a powerful squad.
Troy Aikman
Bart Starr
Bart Starr, the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl, led the Green Bay Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls and five NFL titles. Surprisingly, Starr experienced only one playoff loss in his career as a starter and had the highest career playoff passer rating in NFL history. Starr never led the league in throwing yards or touchdowns, but he did top the statistics in completion % and passer rating four times. While his presence does not now dominate many all-time statistical categories, his remarkable 9-1 playoff record and impressive 15-3 touchdown-interception ratio in postseason games are undeniable proof of his ability.
Bart Starr
Brett Favre
From 1992 to 2009, Favre, an offensive force, averaged over 3,200 throwing yards per season, with nine seasons containing more than 30 passing touchdowns. While he has the most interceptions and pick-sixes in NFL history, his career interception rate remains respectable, especially given the volume of passes he threw each year. Favre ranks in the top five all-time in career passing touchdowns, passing yards, throw attempts, and completions. Notably, he won a single Super Bowl, rejuvenating the Packers in the 1990s. Furthermore, Favre is third all-time in playoff passing yards, highlighting his importance in postseason action.
Brett Favre
Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh, often known as “Slingin’ Sammy,” emerged as one of the NFL’s early stars, paving the way for future quarterbacks who could dominate a game. He spent his whole career with the Washington Redskins, winning two NFL titles prior to the Super Bowl era. During his 16 seasons, Baugh topped the league in completion % eight times and passer rating six times, a feat that currently remains as a record. With six first-team All-Pro accolades, Baugh’s remarkable style set him apart from other quarterbacks. Despite finishing his career with more interceptions than touchdowns, his enormous impact on the game earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.
Sammy Baugh
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is the most careful ball-handler in NFL history, with the best career passer rating and interception %. However, his lack of interceptions does not indicate a conservative playing style. Since 2008, Rodgers has consistently passed for over 3,800 yards in ten seasons while starting at least 15 games. In his prime, he is ranked tenth all-time in completion percentage and thirteenth in throwing yards. Despite not having the benefit of playing on many excellent teams, resulting in only one Super Bowl triumph and a 10-8 postseason record, Rodgers rarely accepts blame for his team’s losses.
Aaron Rodgers
John Elway
John Elway’s 16-season career had incredible passing statistics and a slew of victories, culminating in the most dramatic career finale in NFL history. The great Denver Broncos quarterback passed for over 3,000 yards in all but four seasons, despite only topping the league in this statistic once. Elway is still ranked in the top ten all-time in passing yards, throw attempts, and completions, but his true genius came when games were on the line. He is sixth all-time in leading comebacks and seventh in game-winning drives. After three Super Bowl losses, Elway won back-to-back championships before retiring.
John Elway
Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach, nicknamed “Captain America,” started his NFL career later than most because he served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Not making his first appearance until the age of 27, his career numbers become even more outstanding, raising discussion about how much higher they could have been if he had joined the league earlier. Staubach led the Dallas Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships over the course of his 11-season career. If not for the tough “Steel Curtain” defense, he could have won four Super Bowl championships. Staubach was not an extraordinarily productive passer, since he never led the league in passing yardage, but he did dominate in passer rating, topping the league four times.
Roger Staubach
Dan Marino
Dan Marino, largely recognized as the greatest quarterback to have never won a Super Bowl, made an unforgettable impression during his 17-year NFL career. His outstanding performance in 1984, when he accumulated a record-breaking 5,084 throwing yards and 48 touchdowns, remained unsurpassed for 27 and 20 years, respectively. Marino led the league in passing yards five times and routinely exceeded 3,500 yards in each 16-game season, with six seasons totaling over 4,000 passing yards. He is still among the top five in NFL career passing yards, touchdowns, pass attempts, and completions. However, his 8-10 playoff record and a small touchdown-interception ratio in postseason games do some damage to his legacy.
Dan Marino
Drew Brees
Drew Brees’ career numbers are incredible, leaving any statistician in amazement. He holds NFL records in career passing touchdowns, passing yards, passing yards per game, and completion percentage. Despite throwing so many passes, Brees still has the third-best career passer rating in league history. In an era where excellent quarterback statistics are commonplace, he has led the league in passing yards seven times, reliably exceeding 4,000 yards each season from 2006 through 2017. Brees is the only quarterback in NFL history to have surpassed 5,000 passing yards in multiple seasons—a remarkable feat accomplished five times.
Drew Brees
Otto Graham
Otto Graham is the winningest quarterback in NFL history. From 1946 to 1955, he led the Cleveland Browns to an incredible 81.4 percent win rate in his starts. Graham led his squad to league championship berths each season, winning seven trophies, including three NFL championships. He averaged 2,358 passing yards a season over his career, topping the league in that category five times. Interestingly, Graham still retains the record for yards per throw attempt by a quarterback. His clear supremacy at the position won him a record seven All-Pro first-team selections.
Otto Graham
Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas, regarded as one of the early standout quarterbacks in the contemporary era of the NFL, routinely guided the Baltimore Colts to victory while compiling impressive statistics. Unitas is the second most decorated quarterback in NFL history, with five first-team All-Pro honors. He won three MVPs and four NFL championships, including a Super Bowl triumph. Unitas led the league in passing yards and touchdowns on four times. Despite retiring from the game more than four decades ago, his career records in both categories remain among the top 20 all-time. “Johnny U” left a lasting impact on the sport.
Johnny Unitas
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is unquestionably one of the most impactful and admired players in NFL history. His outstanding annual statistics earned him a record-breaking seven first-team All-Pro accolades. Throughout his spectacular 17-year career, Manning routinely surpassed the 3,700-yard barrier 16 times, with all but three seasons exceeding 4,000 yards. Manning had the best passing season in NFL history in 2013, with 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns. He was 37 years old. He won two Super Bowls out of four appearances and presently leads the league in game-winning drives. Manning’s impact in the game is truly tremendous.
Peyton Manning
Patrick Mahomes
The current Chiefs quarterback has clearly developed into an amazing performer throughout the years. Despite having a solid offensive support system, his abilities are not underestimated. His impact on the field is truly transformative, consistently driving the Chiefs into the top five of current Power Rankings. Remarkably, he has accomplished this in only five complete seasons. His performance has received praise from reputable outlets, like Fox News, which ranks him as the third-best quarterback. With his talent and impact, he has become the driving force behind the Chiefs’ success, establishing himself as an outstanding player in NFL history.
Patrick Mahomes
Joe Montana
Joe Montana, unquestionably the greatest clutch quarterback in history, cemented his legendary status by going undefeated in all four Super Bowl appearances and never throwing an interception in those crucial games. Although he never led the league in passing yards, Montana frequently accumulated more than 3,000 yards in the air. His most noteworthy attribute was his accuracy, which led the NFL in completion percentage five times and ranked 15th for his career. Montana’s incredible playoff performance in 1989 remains one of the best by a quarterback, with 800 yards, 11 touchdowns, and zero interceptions en way to his fourth championship ring.
Joe Montana
Tom Brady
Tom Brady is unrivaled as the best quarterback of all time, thanks to his statistical prowess, consistency, clutch performances, and regular-season and playoff wins. Brady’s stats are amazing, despite the fact that he is not as well-known as Manning and Brees. Since 2002, he has thrown for at least 3,500 yards per season. Brady leads the NFL in postseason throwing yards, ranks second in passing yards and touchdowns, and fourth in interception %. What truly distinguishes Brady is his unparalleled six Super Bowl titles, which transcend any other quarterback or single NFL organization. Although he will end his career in Tampa Bay, his time with the Patriots will be remembered in football history.
Tom Brady