The Top 10 Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time

The Quarterback is typically considered the leader of a team’s offense, responsible for calling the play in the huddle and making the all-important plays. While they don’t always lead the team, they are always instrumental to their success.

Plenty of quarterbacks have changed the game in the NFL over the years, from Sammy Baugh  introducing the concept of a gunslinger in the late ’30s to Joe Montana pioneering the West Coast offense for the San Francisco 49ers. 

To reach the all-time quarterback Hall of Fame, a player’s accomplishments and sheer talent should transcend statistics and season records. Signal-callers are judged on their numbers, sure, but also on intangible variables like footballing IQ, arm strength, footwork and the ability to thrive under pressure. Super Bowl victories aren’t the sole factor in play – in fact, one of our Top 10 never won one.

Here are some of the most frequently mentioned names in discussions of the greatest quarterbacks of all time:

• Tom Brady – Brady is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time, and his seven Super Bowl championships and record-breaking statistics speak for themselves. From engineering the greatest deficit comeback in Super Bowl history (against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI) to leading last-minute fourth-quarter drives and setting up game-winning scores (Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII), Brady and his passing prowess have been at the heart of the New England Patriots’ success since 2001 – and he even came out of retirement to win one more Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021. He attempted more than 12,000 passes in his career, with an incredible completion percentage of 64.3.

• Joe Montana – A four-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP, Montana is often considered one of the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history. Tom Brady’s postseason stats may be better, but Montana’s are almost as impressive; in the 49ers’ 1988-89 playoff runs, Montana threw 19 touchdowns to just one interception as San Francisco won two consecutive Lombardi trophies, and he never lost a Super Bowl.

• Peyton Manning – With five NFL MVP awards and two Super Bowl championships, Manning is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. In the regular season, almost nobody did it better – the accuracy he displayed, with a 65.3 completion percentage across 9,380 attempted passes, puts him right up there among the best in his position.

• Johnny Unitas – Often referred to as the “father of modern quarterbacking,” Unitas was a 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL MVP who revolutionized the position with his passing skills. Unitas’ record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass stood for 52 years, until Drew Brees broke it in 2012, emphasizing how crucial Unitas was to his teams’ success.

• Brett Favre – A three-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, Favre set numerous passing records during his career – he led the league in passing touchdowns in four separate seasons – and was known for his toughness and durability. Favre’s 508 touchdowns, including nine seasons with 30-plus, are indicative of how much he helped his teams.

• Dan Marino – Despite never winning a Super Bowl with the Miami Dolphins, Marino has to be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time due to his incredible passing ability and statistical prowess. Marino is consistently underrated due to his lack of titles, but there’s no denying his achievements – when he retired, he held almost every passing record in the book.

• John Elway – A Pro Football Hall of Famer, Elway was known for his clutch performances and incredible arm strength, as his 3.1 interception rate and 56.9 completion percentage suggest. He led the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowls, winning two.

• Terry Bradshaw – Multiple Super Bowl champion and two-time Super Bowl MVP, Bradshaw led the dominant Pittsburgh Steelers teams of the 1970s. He passed for 932 yards and nine touchdowns across four Super Bowl victories, and passed for 3,833 yards in 19 postseason games.

• Roger Staubach – A two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Staubach was known for his ability to make big plays when the chips were down. Staubach’s 3.7 interception percentage and relatively low completion percentage can’t be ignored, but what he lacked in accuracy, he more than made up for in exciting play and a legacy of winning.

• Steve Young – A two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion, Young was known for his incredible accuracy and ability to make plays with his feet. Young is officially the greatest statistical quarterback in NFL history: he scored 20 touchdowns on the ground and fumbled just 53 times, an impressive total over an illustrious 16-year career.