Two years ago, I took the liberty of compiling my all-time list of NFL quarterbacks. Here's what it looked like:
1) Joe Montana
2) Johnny Unitas
3) Otto Graham
4) Tom Brady
5) John Elway
6) Peyton Manning
7) Brett Favre
8) Dan Marino
9) Fran Tarkenton
10) Bart Starr
With the Broncos 24-10 win in Sunday's Super Bowl, I wanted to revisit this list, and provide a few updates. A couple of things have happened since the end of the 2013-14 season, and as such, should dictate a reshuffling. I'm not inclined to add anyone to the new list, but feel that some adjustments are needed. Here goes:
1) Tom Brady - my feeling is that Manning and he would have switched places if the Broncos had won two years ago against Seattle, but Brady holds his place for now. He earned his fourth championship, and has some gaudy passing numbers (over 58,000 yards, 428 TD's vs. 150 picks). Career record of 194-60 (counting playoffs) is best winning percentage since Graham.
2) Joe Montana - 4 Super Bowl wins, 40,551 passing yards, 117-47 record as starter, plus 17-6 in playoffs. And who else can claim to have thrown "The Catch?"
3) Johnny Unitas - reinvented the position. Also passed for over 40,000 yards (first to do so), and held most QB records at the time of his retirement, including TD passes (290). Won the greatest game ever, 23-17 in the 1958 NFL championship.
4) Peyton Manning - With second championship in hand, as well as most wins ever for a QB, and most passing yards, Manning bumps up two spots. But his final numbers may now be the best ever. Currently, number 18 sits at 71,940 yards and 539 TD passes -- never mind having arguably the greatest passing season ever in 2013. 55 TD passes? Enough said.
5) Otto Graham - played for the NFL championship in each of his ten seasons (1946-55), and won seven! His team, the Browns, went 114-20-4, including 9-3 in the playoffs during Graham's time on Lake Erie. Highest winning percentage for a QB ever.
6) John Elway - known as a great talent who couldn't win the "Big One" early in his career, Elway won the championship in his final two years to end up with two rings out of five tries. Finished his career with 51,475 passing yards and 300 TD's.
7) Brett Favre - in spite of a lot of interceptions and only one ring, Favre has to be in the mix. His 71,838 throwing yards would have held for at least ten more years if Manning didn't pass the standard and he held the TD record with 508.
8) Dan Marino - if only he had won a ring or two. But, Marino was the best pure passer of his generation and held the season TD record of 48 for almost thirty years.
9) Fran Tarkenton - the maniacal Vikings (and Giants)QB was a threat with his arm and feet. A living human highlight reel who could turn a 60 yard dash into a two yard gain. Was all-time passing yards leader when he retired.
10) Bart Starr - As a rule, I almost ruled out any QB with more career interceptions than TD's, which amazingly would have eliminated Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, Sammy Baugh, and almost Terry Bradshaw, who threw for 212 scores against 210 interceptions. Starr ended up with 152 TD's and 138 INT's, but he won more championships than the others, even Bradshaw, so he gets the edge here.
Honorable mention - Warren Moon, Sonny Jurgensen, Drew Brees, Steve Young, Baugh and Bradshaw. Ah heck, I'll add Staubach to the list too.
1) Joe Montana
2) Johnny Unitas
3) Otto Graham
4) Tom Brady
5) John Elway
6) Peyton Manning
7) Brett Favre
8) Dan Marino
9) Fran Tarkenton
10) Bart Starr
With the Broncos 24-10 win in Sunday's Super Bowl, I wanted to revisit this list, and provide a few updates. A couple of things have happened since the end of the 2013-14 season, and as such, should dictate a reshuffling. I'm not inclined to add anyone to the new list, but feel that some adjustments are needed. Here goes:
1) Tom Brady - my feeling is that Manning and he would have switched places if the Broncos had won two years ago against Seattle, but Brady holds his place for now. He earned his fourth championship, and has some gaudy passing numbers (over 58,000 yards, 428 TD's vs. 150 picks). Career record of 194-60 (counting playoffs) is best winning percentage since Graham.
2) Joe Montana - 4 Super Bowl wins, 40,551 passing yards, 117-47 record as starter, plus 17-6 in playoffs. And who else can claim to have thrown "The Catch?"
3) Johnny Unitas - reinvented the position. Also passed for over 40,000 yards (first to do so), and held most QB records at the time of his retirement, including TD passes (290). Won the greatest game ever, 23-17 in the 1958 NFL championship.
4) Peyton Manning - With second championship in hand, as well as most wins ever for a QB, and most passing yards, Manning bumps up two spots. But his final numbers may now be the best ever. Currently, number 18 sits at 71,940 yards and 539 TD passes -- never mind having arguably the greatest passing season ever in 2013. 55 TD passes? Enough said.
5) Otto Graham - played for the NFL championship in each of his ten seasons (1946-55), and won seven! His team, the Browns, went 114-20-4, including 9-3 in the playoffs during Graham's time on Lake Erie. Highest winning percentage for a QB ever.
6) John Elway - known as a great talent who couldn't win the "Big One" early in his career, Elway won the championship in his final two years to end up with two rings out of five tries. Finished his career with 51,475 passing yards and 300 TD's.
7) Brett Favre - in spite of a lot of interceptions and only one ring, Favre has to be in the mix. His 71,838 throwing yards would have held for at least ten more years if Manning didn't pass the standard and he held the TD record with 508.
8) Dan Marino - if only he had won a ring or two. But, Marino was the best pure passer of his generation and held the season TD record of 48 for almost thirty years.
9) Fran Tarkenton - the maniacal Vikings (and Giants)QB was a threat with his arm and feet. A living human highlight reel who could turn a 60 yard dash into a two yard gain. Was all-time passing yards leader when he retired.
10) Bart Starr - As a rule, I almost ruled out any QB with more career interceptions than TD's, which amazingly would have eliminated Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, Sammy Baugh, and almost Terry Bradshaw, who threw for 212 scores against 210 interceptions. Starr ended up with 152 TD's and 138 INT's, but he won more championships than the others, even Bradshaw, so he gets the edge here.
Honorable mention - Warren Moon, Sonny Jurgensen, Drew Brees, Steve Young, Baugh and Bradshaw. Ah heck, I'll add Staubach to the list too.
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