Got bored so I came up with this. I'm sure alot of people will disagree with alot of the rankings. I am not stat driven but I do put a premium on those QBs that revolutionized the game in some manner and stood out in their eras. Obviously I have alot of respect for the old timers and that is due to them furthering the sport in its evolution. I think Marino and Montana revolutionized the game in the 80s in their own way and Manning and Brady did it in the 21st century, taking advantage of the lax pass defense rules that were implemented. I have Manning being better because he did it first and longer than Brady. I also have alot of guys that didnt win championships because I really think that's more a matter of being on the right team at the right time. Still several QBs have been there so often that you have to include them 1) Dan Marino - To this day I have never seen anyone better. Him and Fouts really deserved better teams around them 2) Johnny Unitas - Just before my time, but talk to the oldtimers and they will tell you he was the best ever. Threw a touchdown pass in 47 consecvutive games!!!!! 3) Sid Luckman - essentially revolutionized the offense from Rugby style to the modern version. His touchdown ratio of passes attempted to TDs is 7.9%!!!!! 4) Sammy Baugh 6'2" 187 in 1937. Considered the first superstar QB. In 1945 his 70% completion record stood until 1982 when Ken Anderson beat it. He's still the second best career punting average of all time 5) Otto Graham - Played ten years of professional football and all ten years his team played in the championship. On a side note he played one year of professional basketball and his team the Rochester Royals captured the league title. 11 out of 11 years in two sports is just nuts. Career passing rating combined AAFC and NFL is 86.6 6) Arnie Herber - The first great long thrower. Him and Don Hutson rewrote the record books together. Paved the way for Luckman and Baugh. Won 4 championships 7) Peyton Manning - Just a machine. Probably the smartest QB I have ever seen play the game 8) Joe Montana - The last generation's Tom Brady. Average physical gifts but unbelievable production 9) Dan Fouts - Never had a defense but man could he throw. I'm sure noone would agree with him being this high but almost none of today's QBs match up with him in my eyes 10) Brett Favre - This year vaulted him above Elway, Brady and Starr in my opinion. 11) John Elway - Best all around tools Ive seen but too inconsistent for most of his career. Learned to play within himself at the end and became an alltime great. 12) Bart Starr - For those who believe winning championships is what its all about, he's still the only QB to win five championships 61,62,65,66,67 13) Sonny Jurgensen - Considered by many as the finest pure passer of his time. At age 40 won the last of his three passing titles. Career QB rating of 82.6. Supposedly in his prime he could throw a football 80 yards 14) Tom Brady - On the verge of leapfrogging Starr and Montana. Needs to destroy the SuperBowl this year with the weapons he's playing with. 15) Roger Staubach - Master of the comeback before Elway. 16) Norm Van Brocklin - Lead two teams, the Rams and Eagles to championships and QBd the only team to defeat the Lombardi Packers in a championship game 17) Jim Kelly - Never won the big one but could pick you apart at will 18) Steve Young - Scrambling ability puts him above Aikman 19) Troy Aikman - Had an all pro at every position on offense it seemed when he was there. I'm not sure if he's as good on any other team 20) Fran Tarkenton - Amazing stats but he always seemed to play horribly in the Super Bowls. I never liked his type of game so I have a personal bias against him 21) Bobby Layne - Although his stats dont reflect his reputation was one of the best leaders ever at the position. Alot of people say he was the instrumental piece to getting the Lions there three championships while he was there 22) Len Dawson - 4 passing titles and instrumental in Stram's moving pocket 23) Terry Bradshaw - Wouldnt even be considered except for the rings 24) Y.A. Tittle - One of the best to never win a championship 25) Bob Waterfield - Very nice QB from the 40s. Threw a great deep ball 26 ) And the greatest QB who had his career derailed by injury - Greg Cook. His 9.411 yards per pass attempt and 17.5 yard per completion are rookie records that still stand. What might have been Also on a side note, after I finished this, I came across a stat geeks perspective with an interesting formula for adjustiong to different eras. I think its about a year old so it doesnt take into account Brady's year this year. He's ranked 54th, lol. http://www.armchairgm.com/The_100_Gr...the_Modern_Era
thanks for taking the time to write this, its very interesting. I learned new names that i never heard of, and yes im sixteen thats why lol.
I would put two QB's who went to the U. of Alabama and had pretty good pro careers in my top 25: Kenny Stabler and Joe Namath....maybe not my top 20 or top 15, but they would be in my top 25. Good list.
Although I have never seen him play, I have no idea how Joe Namath is in the HOF. Maybe he belongs in the top 25, maybe not but with some digging I think it would be easy to find more deserving QB's.
