Table of Contents >> Show >> Hide
- How This Ranking Works (So You Know What to Yell About)
- Ranks 1–15: The Inner-Circle Legends
- Ranks 16–35: Hall-of-Fame Neighborhood (And a Few Who Knock Loudly)
- Ranks 36–70+: Franchise Icons, Peak Performers, and Modern Climbers
- What Separates “Great” From “All-Time Great”
- Why Era Debates Never End (And Why That’s Okay)
- Extra : Experiences That Make Quarterback Greatness Feel Real
- Final Thoughts
Ranking the best quarterbacks of all time is like trying to rank pizza: everybody’s confident, everybody’s loud,
and somehow everyone is still wrong (including the person writing the list). But that’s the fun of the quarterbacks of all time ranked
debatebecause QB greatness isn’t just numbers. It’s era, scheme, rules, coaching, teammates, postseason nerves, and that one throw you still see in your head
when you’re brushing your teeth.
This list leans on real, verifiable historycareer production, peak dominance, MVP-caliber seasons, postseason performances, championships, and innovation
while also borrowing from the broad consensus you’ll find across major U.S. football outlets and databases. In other words: stats meet storytelling, with
a little “don’t @ me” sprinkled on top.
How This Ranking Works (So You Know What to Yell About)
Here’s what moved quarterbacks up or down in these NFL quarterback rankings:
- Peak: Did they reach “best player alive” territory, even briefly?
- Longevity: Were they elite for a long time, or a comet that burned out?
- Postseason résumé: Playoff performance mattersbecause it’s the same sport, just louder.
- Era adjustment: A 1960s passing attack and a 2010s passing attack are not the same animal.
- Impact: Did they change how the position was played or how defenses had to respond?
One more thing: football is a team game. Quarterbacks drive outcomes more than any other position, but they don’t block, catch, and coordinate the parade route.
So this list rewards greatness, not just ringswhile still respecting that the job description includes “win in January.”
Ranks 1–15: The Inner-Circle Legends
1) Tom Brady
The ultimate blend of longevity, clutch performance, and postseason cruelty. Brady’s peak lasted so long it had a second peak, and a third, and then a “wait,
how is this still happening?” phase. He’s the standard for winning at quarterback, and he also piled up video-game career totals.
2) Joe Montana
If you built a quarterback in a lab specifically for pressure situations, you’d still end up under budget and call it “Montana.” His Super Bowl résumé is
the stuff of legend, and his precision and poise made “two-minute drill” feel like an organized hobby.
3) Peyton Manning
The pre-snap professor who turned the line of scrimmage into his office. Manning’s peak seasons were historically dominant, and his command of protections and
coverage identification influenced a generation of modern QB play. Also: defenses visibly sighed when he walked to the line.
4) Patrick Mahomes
The most jaw-dropping quarterbacking of the modern eraarm angles, off-platform lasers, and a “did he mean to do that?” creativity that still somehow stays
efficient. His career is still being written, but the combination of early success and week-to-week brilliance already puts him in the top tier.
5) Johnny Unitas
A cornerstone of modern quarterbacking: leadership, timing, vertical aggression, and late-game confidence. Unitas helped define what a “field general” looks
like before the phrase became a sports-talk cliché.
6) Otto Graham
Championship-level dominance in his era, with a winning résumé that looks almost fictional. Graham’s blend of efficiency and team success made him the prototype
for “the guy you build everything around.”
7) Aaron Rodgers
Pure throwing talent with a surgeon’s touch. Rodgers combined elite efficiency, arm strength, and improvisation while protecting the football at a legendary
level. If you’re drafting “best thrower ever,” he’s in the first two picks.
8) Dan Marino
The ring argument will follow him forever, but the film doesn’t lie: Marino’s release, anticipation, and downfield aggression were ahead of the league. He made
passing explosions look normal before the rules made them common.
9) Steve Young
Elite efficiency, mobility, and creativityplus peak play that can compete with anyone. Young wasn’t just a great runner; he was a deadly passer who happened to
have legs that could ruin your defensive coordinator’s sleep.
10) John Elway
A rocket arm, rare athleticism for his time, and a career defined by comebacks and big moments. Elway’s best trait might have been the one fans love most:
making the impossible feel inevitable.
11) Drew Brees
Precision and volume in a golden age of passing. Brees turned rhythm throws into an art form, racked up historic production, and consistently elevated his offense
with timing, accuracy, and toughness.
12) Roger Staubach
The original “make it work” quarterback: athletic, poised, and lethal late in games. Staubach’s efficiency and leadership defined an era for Dallas.
13) Brett Favre
The gunslinger who brought backyard chaos to the highest levelsometimes glorious, sometimes catastrophic, always entertaining. Three straight MVPs tells you how
terrifying his peak was.
14) Bart Starr
An efficiency king and the steady hand behind a dynasty. Starr’s postseason reputation is elite, and his calm execution made greatness look simple.
15) Fran Tarkenton
A scrambling pioneer who extended plays before “extending plays” became standard. Tarkenton’s production and creativity reshaped what was possible at the position.
Ranks 16–35: Hall-of-Fame Neighborhood (And a Few Who Knock Loudly)
- Terry Bradshaw Big-stage quarterbacking with four Super Bowl wins; the résumé is heavy.
- Joe Namath Cultural icon with a defining championship moment and fearless downfield style.
- Kurt Warner Peak-to-peak greatness and a legendary late-career resurgence; a big-game magician.
- Warren Moon Elite arm talent and productivity; a trailblazer whose game translates to any era.
- Jim Kelly The engine of the K-Gun offense; relentless, tough, and consistently elite.
- Bob Griese Efficient leader of a historic team; wins and command matter.
- Troy Aikman Big-game calm and championship pedigree; the scoreboard liked him.
- Ben Roethlisberger Size, toughness, and clutch plays; a nightmare to bring down.
- Ken Stabler Left-handed cool with late-game brilliance; an era-defining Raider.
- Len Dawson Efficient and poised; a key figure in AFL-to-NFL greatness.
- Dan Fouts Explosive production in a pass-happy system before it was fashionable.
- Sammy Baugh Early-era legend who helped define quarterback play (and did everything else, too).
- Sid Luckman Historic efficiency for his time; a pioneer of modern passing concepts.
- Sonny Jurgensen Pure passer with elite production and arm talent.
- Norm Van Brocklin Cannon arm and championship credibility; an era standout.
- Y.A. Tittle High-level production and leadership; a classic pocket passer.
- Russell Wilson Peak years featured elite efficiency, deep-ball excellence, and championship success.
- Eli Manning Two defining postseason runs against dynastic opponents; big-game DNA.
- Matt Ryan MVP peak, high-end passing production, and consistently strong quarterbacking.
- Philip Rivers Relentless competitor and prolific passer; just missing the ultimate team hardware.
Ranks 36–70+: Franchise Icons, Peak Performers, and Modern Climbers
This is the portion of the list where fan bases start sending group texts like “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” Yes. And also, probably no. Quarterback history is deep.
Here are more greatssome with Hall-of-Fame careers, some with Hall-of-Fame peaks, and some still building their cases.
- Lamar Jackson A unique force who stresses defenses like few ever have; the peak is undeniable.
- Josh Allen Rare physical tools and game-breaking ability; still building the full legacy.
- Joe Burrow Poise, accuracy, and big-game calm; trajectory points up.
- Justin Herbert Prototype arm talent and production; the postseason chapter is still being written.
- Matthew Stafford Cannon arm, toughness, huge volume; proved it on the biggest stage.
- Steve McNair Tough, athletic, and steady; a leader who could carry an offense.
- Cam Newton One of the greatest single-season forces at QB; changed goal-line math.
- Randall Cunningham A dual-threat trailblazer with highlight throws and historic athleticism.
- Donovan McNabb Long peak, big wins, and consistent upper-tier play.
- Ken Anderson Efficient, accurate, and underrated; a model of precision.
- Rich Gannon Late-career peak that reached MVP level; smart, tough, and productive.
- Boomer Esiason Big arm, big seasons, strong era résumé.
- Joe Theismann Leader of winning teams with high-end efficiency for his era.
- Bob Waterfield Early-era star with championship-level impact.
- George Blanda Longevity legend and important historical figure at the position.
- Jim Plunkett Two Super Bowls and big postseason moments; résumé beats perception.
- Johnny Lujack Not a volume era, but a notable talent of his time.
- Roman Gabriel Big arm, significant production, and a top-tier peak.
- Sonny Jurgensen (Yes, he’s good enough to get mentioned twice in bar debates.)
- Joe Flacco One of the greatest postseason hot streaks ever; big-game legacy secured.
- Alex Smith Efficient leader who stabilized franchises and won a lot of games.
- Carson Palmer High-level peak and strong passing production when healthy.
- Andrew Luck Short career, but the talent and peak were elite.
- Jim Everett Productive era quarterback with strong stretches of play.
- Mark Brunell Dual-threat leader with playoff success and big-time performances.
- Daunte Culpepper Peak seasons were explosive; a “what if” career arc.
- Michael Vick Changed defensive rules of engagement; peak impact was enormous.
- Steve Grogan Tough, productive, and often overlooked in NFL history conversations.
- Ken O’Brien Strong efficiency and arm talent; tough era and tougher division.
- Jared Goff Productive, resilient, and capable of leading top offenses; still stacking chapters.
- Dak Prescott Consistent production and leadership; legacy still in progress.
- Matt Hasselbeck High-end peak, Super Bowl trip, and steady leadership.
- Jeff Garcia Smart, mobile, and productive; excellent in his best years.
- Philip Rivers (Again, because he threw for approximately one million yards.)
- Brad Johnson A champion and steady operator; won the games his team needed.
That’s more than 65 quarterbacks, and if your favorite is “too low,” congratulations: you are experiencing the full,
authentic, time-honored tradition of the quarterback ranking argument.
What Separates “Great” From “All-Time Great”
At the very top, the difference is usually a combination of peak dominance and repeatability. Lots of quarterbacks have had a
monster season. Fewer have stacked them. Fewer still have done it across multiple roster eras, coaching changes, and shifting league styles.
Another separator: problem-solving. The best QBs don’t just run plays; they erase your best defensive idea. They recognize pressure looks, redirect
protections, adjust routes, and take what you giveuntil you stop giving it. Then they take what you didn’t think you were giving.
Why Era Debates Never End (And Why That’s Okay)
Every era asks quarterbacks to do different things. Early legends worked with conservative passing volumes and rule sets that favored defenders. Modern stars face
complex disguised coverages, faster athletes, and nonstop film studywhile also benefiting from rules that protect passers and receivers.
That’s why the best approach is to ask: How dominant was this quarterback relative to his peers? Greatness travels. The details change, but the traits
remain: anticipation, accuracy, decision-making, toughness, leadership, and the ability to deliver when everybody in the stadium knows you’re throwing.
Extra : Experiences That Make Quarterback Greatness Feel Real
Watching the greatest quarterbacks isn’t just “watching a game.” It’s experiencing a very specific kind of suspense: the feeling that the defense can do everything
right and still be wrong. You see it on third-and-8 when the pocket collapses, the receiver hasn’t separated, and you’re already bracing for a puntthen the QB
slides six inches, resets his feet, and rips a throw into a window that looked closed a half-second ago. The stadium noise changes pitch. Your brain does that
little glitch where it tries to rewind reality.
The best part is how different types of greatness feel. With someone like Brady or Montana, it often feels inevitable. The drive has a rhythm: checkdown, quick out,
smart throwaway, then a strike that flips the field. It’s not always flashy; it’s just relentless competence, like a machine that specializes in stealing hope.
With Manning, the experience starts before the snapwatching him point, bark, adjust, and basically conduct an orchestra while 11 defenders pretend they’re not
panicking. With Rodgers, the experience can be a single throw: a back-shoulder laser that looks unfair, like the laws of physics got negotiated during pregame.
Then there’s the “how did he do that?” genreMahomes, Young, Lamar, Vick at his most electricwhere the experience feels like a magic trick performed at full speed.
You’re not just tracking the play call; you’re tracking chaos management. The best mobile quarterbacks don’t run because the first read failed. They run to force the
entire defense to change shape, and then they punish the new shape. It’s like watching someone solve a puzzle by bending the puzzle.
Quarterback greatness also shows up in small, repeatable moments fans learn to recognize. A subtle shoulder fake that moves a safety. A calm check at the line that
turns a bad play into a good one. A willingness to take the boring completion on second down so the offense can stay on schedule. In real viewing experience,
those “boring” choices become thrilling because you realize they’re the foundation. Great QBs don’t just chase highlightsthey build drives that end with touchdowns
and leave the defense arguing on the sideline.
And if you’ve ever played even casual backyard football or video-game football, you know the emotional truth behind the rankings: quarterbacks become avatars for
confidence. You pick a QB because you believe in him when it’s fourth-and-goal in your imagination. That’s why these debates are endless. You’re not only ranking
careersyou’re ranking memories: the comeback you watched with your family, the playoff game that made you a fan, the throw that made you yell loud enough to scare a
pet you don’t even own.
Final Thoughts
The “GOAT” conversation will keep changing as today’s stars add chapters and as we keep learning how to compare eras more fairly. But the heart of the list stays the
same: quarterbacks who dominated their time, elevated everyone around them, and delivered when the pressure tried to shrink the field.
If this ranking made you nod, laugh, or angrily open a new tab to build your own listmission accomplished. That’s the whole point.
