Top 16 All Time QB's According to Gil Brandt of NFL.com

[BigDingus]

I'm not sure where I'd rank everyone, but I agree with quite a few things others have posted.

 

Brady is easily #1.
Aikman wasn't "better" than a lot of these QB's, but if it's based on sheer winning, sure, he belongs (same with Bradshaw).
Rodgers definitely belongs in the top 10 already.

 

Kelly deserves a top 20 spot, but as Bills fans, we definitely think higher of him than others. He averaged 21.5 TD's & 16 INT's a season, which really isn't much to write home about. His impressive accomplishments come from him basically calling his own plays, being that actual field-general, and being the QB of a stacked team that went to 4 SB's. He had 3 seasons throwing for more/same amount of INT's than TD's, and only broke 30 TD's once.

 

But then again, compared to his peers, it looks better. John Elway averaged 18.75 TD's & 14 INT's a season, while Steve Young averaged 17 TD's & 6.5 INT's a season for the 49er's. So he had averaged more TD's, but also more INT's, and was in the middle with yards. Some give him more credit for the SB streak, some give him less due to the talent around him. Some also take away credit simply because he never won any of those SB's. So I see both sides, but when it comes to definitive "greats," he's somewhere in the top 20-15 range.

[Doc Brown]

2 hours ago, Logic said:

Being a Bills fan and being realistic need not be mutually exclusive.

Have you seen the season record predictions threads the last decade and a half?

[BigDingus]

12 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

Have you seen the season record predictions threads the last decade and a half?

 

How every year we're at least 10-6 or better? lol

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

1 hour ago, BigDingus said:

 

How every year we're at least 10-6 or better? lol

'New math'?

[Dadonkadonk]

Leaving out Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers is really bad.

Rodgers, Fouts, Young, and Brees are all better than Kelly, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, and Bradshaw

Brady is #1.  I was a Montana holdout until a few years ago.  I can only imagine what Montana would do in this era.  I still put Montana ahead of Manning.  

 

The era argument is kind of funny.  What would Ronnie Lott or Dick Labeau or Dick NIghtrain Lane be in today's era?  The great DB's of the past might not be so great in today's era.  That is why you have to keep guys like Unitus and Baugh in the list. They dominated there era just as much as Brady does this one.

[Bing Bong]

If we're going Sammy Baugh what about Bart Starr

6 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Steve Young belong on that list.  He led the NFL in passer rating six times, is 4th all time in rushing yards, and has a title.  Young, Rodgers, and Fouts on.  Aikman, Kelly, and Moon off.  Rodgers will be in the top 5 by the time he retires.

Rankings wise I don't really see Elway always being head and shoulders over his contemporaries. If my life depended on it I'm not sure I wouldn't take Steve Young, Dan Marino or Brett Favre over Elway in a game.

 

Was pretty disappointing in his early Superbowls and was a game manager on a stacked team in his twilight. Not to mention that offensive line chip blocked the **** out of DL men, they were insanely dirty and successful. 

 

Just saying he's in the 8-12 range in the mix with Favre, Marino, Young

[Dadonkadonk]

5 minutes ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

If we're going Sammy Baugh what about Bart Starr

I would put him in the category with Aikman and Bradshaw but ahead of Tarkenton and Kelly.  He was not the reason his teams won championships but he was a very good QB on a great team.  

Championships don't outweigh talent.  That is why I would still put Fouts and Marino ahead of all the guys that won championships with great teams.  For me Marino is top 5 with no rings and Young is top 10 even with only one championship.

[folz]

I think you could make a case for Kelly either to be on the list or not, I personally would have him on. But I do think its a bit crazy to say he should be off the list without first pulling Aikman off the list (let alone be sitting at number 10). And someone even claimed that Aikman was clutch...not really. He was a steady player and a good leader on a great team. 

 

Yes, Aikman had a big game in his first Super Bowl against the Bills (473 yds 4 TDs), but his other two Super Bowls were quiet (SB#2: 207 yds 0 TDs 1 INT 2 sacks; SB#3: 209 yds 1 TD 2 sacks). Not exactly what I would call clutch.

 

Aikman played in 16 playoff games/SBs. His averages per postseason game are 241 yds 1TD 1INT 2 sacks. (Unrounded stats: 240.6 yds, 1.4 TDs, 1.06 INTs, 2.1 sacks) Not exactly eye-popping numbers and not that different from Kelly's post season averages (despite Kelly having 4 pretty horrible SBs weighing his stats down) 227 yds 1TD 2 Ints 1 sack(227.2 yds 1.23 TDs, 1.64 INTs, 1.47 sacks).

 

4th quarter comebacks: Kelly is tied with 3 players at #23 (meaning he's in the 23-26 range) all-time

                                            Aikman is tied with 13 players at #58 (meaning he's in the 58-70 range) all-time

So, again, not so clutch

 

Career:

Kelly 

years: 11

record: 101-59

yards: 35, 467

TDs: 237

Ints: 175

 

Aikman

years: 12

record: 94-71

yards: 32,942

TDs: 165

Ints: 141

 

And unlike Canadian stats that count for say Warren Moon, Jim doesn't get to add his USFL stats, which were:

+ 9,482 yards 83 TDs 45 Ints

 

 

Edited July 6, 2018 by folz

[Capco]

I often wonder about using a time machine and swapping QBs of different eras to see how they would compete.  

 

Just a hunch, but I have a feeling Brady would wither away and die an early football death if he played in a less QB-friendly era.  I think some of the old time greats would put up similar yards, TD:INT ratios, and passer ratings to the QBs of today.  

 

Bills example:  Tyrod is the highest rated (passer rating) QB in Bills history, isn't he?  There's no way in hell you can convince me that he's a better QB than Kelly.  

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

If we're going Sammy Baugh what about Bart Starr

Rankings wise I don't really see Elway always being head and shoulders over his contemporaries. If my life depended on it I'm not sure I wouldn't take Steve Young, Dan Marino or Brett Favre over Elway in a game.

 

Was pretty disappointing in his early Superbowls and was a game manager on a stacked team in his twilight. Not to mention that offensive line chip blocked the **** out of DL men, they were insanely dirty and successful. 

 

Just saying he's in the 8-12 range in the mix with Favre, Marino, Young

It's hard to compare eras as playing QB in the 30's and 40's was dramatically different than the 50's and 60's.  For one thing, the football was more round when Baugh played making it more difficult to throw.  He made the forward pass popular.  He amazingly completed 70.33% of his passes  one season (4th highest of all time).  He still holds two records in leading the league in passing six times (tied with Young for most of all time) and lead the league with the lowest incompletion percentage 5 times (most of all time).   He also played defensive back and kicker and is the only player to ever lead the league in passing yards, punting yards, and interceptions.  So, he was pretty darn good.  Bart Starr would definitely be top 25, but he benefited from a great team.

 

When it comes to Elway, the drive always comes to mind.  The five Superbowl appearances and two victories with the helicopter dive has to be factored in.  Marino was the better passer, but I'd put Elway ahead of Marino because of the playoff success.

[row_33]

Elway provided the only AFC playoff game in the SB run during which I thought the Bills would lose, won by Bailey’s defensive TD.

 

i didn’t shut off the Van Miller radio call during the comeback game, it didn’t seem over at any point, I sure woulda shut it off.

 

the rest were total jokes

 

 

Edited July 6, 2018 by row_33

[bobobonators]

No player that played primarily in an all-white league should ever be placed in a top anything list. 

 

The competition today is light years ahead of what it was 50-60yrs ago. Only the best of the best get to play today whereas back then certain groups of people simply werent even allowed to play. 

 

Any player that excels in the modern era is worlds better than a player from 60yrs ago; or even 30-40 years ago.  Theyre faster, stronger and more specialized today. 

 

Not even going to address the Aaron Rodgers omission. A QB like Russel Wilson is 10x the player than Otto Graham ever was. 

 

Otto Graham would never even make an NFL roster today much less be among the best QB’s in the league; it’s not even debatable. 

 

The Otto Graham era of the NFL is akin to a bunch of your buddies getting wasted on thanksgiving and playing football in the backyard today.

 

The level of specialization and competition in today’s NFL is unlike anything from

decades ago. History is awesome and everything has its place in history, but lets not delude ourselves into thinking Otto can sniff the jock strap of even the worst QB’s in the league today. 

[BullBuchanan]

Kelly has no business on that list and Bradshaw and Aikman are extremely overrated. Favre way too high, Brees WAY too low.

11 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

No player that played primarily in an all-white league should ever be placed in a top anything list. 

 

The competition today is light years ahead of what it was 50-60yrs ago. Only the best of the best get to play today whereas back then certain groups of people simply werent even allowed to play. 

 

Any player that excels in the modern era is worlds better than a player from 60yrs ago; or even 30-40 years ago.  Theyre faster, stronger and more specialized today. 

 

Not even going to address the Aaron Rodgers omission. A QB like Russel Wilson is 10x the player than Otto Graham ever was. 

 

Otto Graham would never even make an NFL roster today much less be among the best QB’s in the league; it’s not even debatable. 

 

The Otto Graham era of the NFL is akin to a bunch of your buddies getting wasted on thanksgiving and playing football in the backyard today.

 

The level of specialization and competition in today’s NFL is unlike anything from

decades ago. History is awesome and everything has its place in history, but lets not delude ourselves into thinking Otto can sniff the jock strap of even the worst QB’s in the league today. 

That's just retarded. Otto Graham went to a championship every single year he was in the league, winning 7. You can't judge him by modern standards any more than you can a '69 stingray. He's one of the most elite QBs of all time because he demolished everyone he played against. 

[GunnerBill]

7 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

This is my feeling plus Aaron Rodgers belongs.

 

Yep. He does. 

[formerlyofCtown]

14 hours ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Rogers is better then 5 or 6 people on that list right now even if he never plays another game.

The top 2 on this list are great in this Era.  However there are a lot of guys on that list that would be great in any Era and Rogers is one of them.  Jimbo is certainly better than 16.  Marino is the GOAT.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

If there ever was an opposing quarterback in this league that I DON'T want handling the ball late in the third quarter, with their team is down by three touchdowns, it's John Elway.  He and that Denver team always seemed to be able to wipe out any deficits.

[Billsfanatic8989]

Brady isn't # 1. Not by a long shot when you factor the cheating in. He's number 6 at best imo.

[njbuff]

Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers aren't on his list?

 

These two are easily in the top 10 of QB's all time and they aren't even on a top 16 list of a "supposedly" respected NFL man like Brandt?

 

All lists are subject to criticism, but these two omissions are just pathetic.

[Bing Bong]

7 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

It's hard to compare eras as playing QB in the 30's and 40's was dramatically different than the 50's and 60's.  For one thing, the football was more round when Baugh played making it more difficult to throw.  He made the forward pass popular.  He amazingly completed 70.33% of his passes  one season (4th highest of all time).  He still holds two records in leading the league in passing six times (tied with Young for most of all time) and lead the league with the lowest incompletion percentage 5 times (most of all time).   He also played defensive back and kicker and is the only player to ever lead the league in passing yards, punting yards, and interceptions.  So, he was pretty darn good.  Bart Starr would definitely be top 25, but he benefited from a great team.

 

When it comes to Elway, the drive always comes to mind.  The five Superbowl appearances and two victories with the helicopter dive has to be factored in.  Marino was the better passer, but I'd put Elway ahead of Marino because of the playoff success.

The helicopter dive doesn't seem so cool anymore

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000867557/Sage-Rosenfels-goes-full-blown-helicopter

[jr1]

league rule changes make these lists pointless

[MDH]

19 hours ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Jim Kelly is not among the sixteen best in the history of the league.  JMO.  Sorry if that offends you. 

 

Neither are Warren Moon or Troy Aikman. Steve Young was better than both.

[Jay_Fixit]

Looks at list, sees Troy Aikman. Closes list.

 

I don’t care how good his team was, I don’t care that he was on 3 super bowl champions.

 

You can’t put a guy on this list with FIVE 3,000 yard seasons and a career high of 23 TD passes in 12 years on the list

 

Nope. No.

[Irv]

Young needs to be on that list.  So does Rodgers.  I would take them both over Elway and Kelly. 

[Jay_Fixit]

1 hour ago, njbuff said:

Steve Young and Aaron Rodgers aren't on his list?

 

These two are easily in the top 10 of QB's all time and they aren't even on a top 16 list of a "supposedly" respected NFL man like Brandt?

 

All lists are subject to criticism, but these two omissions are just pathetic.

But Troy Aikman is 10.

 

Yowza.

[Alaska Darin]

17 hours ago, Tatonka68 said:

Joe Montana at #3???? LOL!! He is still #1 Never lost a Superbowl or even thrown a INT in a Superbowl and total clutch.

Consistently the most overrated player of all time.

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

14 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

Consistently the most overrated player of all time.

 

Not taking away from his accomplishments, but he did look very mortal when the Bills sent him 'dazed and confused' off the field as a  K.C. Chief.

[BullBuchanan]

5 hours ago, Irv said:

Young needs to be on that list.  So does Rodgers.  I would take them both over Elway and Kelly. 

Elway was probably the best pure QB in  history before Brady and Manning showed up. Young might be one of the top 3 most overrated QBs ever. Im not even certain he deserved the Hall compared to what so many other QBs did, but it's easy for QBs to get in. 

[26CornerBlitz]

1 minute ago, BullBuchanan said:

Elway was probably the best pure QB in  history before Brady and Manning showed up. Young might be one of the top 3 most overrated QBs ever. Im not even certain he deserved the Hall compared to what so many other QBs did, but it's easy for QBs to get in. 

 

He had great numbers for many seasons consecutively with off the charts completion % and has a Ring. Not sure how you arrive here. 

[reddogblitz]

8 hours ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

Brady isn't # 1. Not by a long shot when you factor the cheating in. He's number 6 at best imo.

 

He's not on my list at all cuz he's tainted. All his records/accomplishments are tainted as well.

 

If he's so darn good, why does he have to cheat?

 

Roger Staubach is number 1on my list. ☺

[BullBuchanan]

3 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

He had great numbers for many seasons consecutively with off the charts completion % and has a Ring. Not sure how you arrive here. 

 

What years? I think he had top 5-10 numbers for a good chunk of his career, but I dont remember him ever scaring a team the way a lot of other QBs have. This is of course completely ignoring his team was stacked to the gills.

[Green Lightning]

On 7/5/2018 at 4:41 PM, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

 

Peyton was better at throwing a football

 

Brady is better at winning

Winning is not a one-man thing. Brady has had the luxury of the ideal cast, coaches, and situation for his whole career. I doubt he'd have the same success with the teams and coaches Manning had.

[26CornerBlitz]

3 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

 

What years? I think he had top 5-10 numbers for a good chunk of his career, but I dont remember him ever scaring a team the way a lot of other QBs have. This is of course completely ignoring his team was stacked to the gills.

 

He was so good the 49ers moved on from the great Joe Montana.  He was uncommonly accurate, ran the 49er offense to perfection, and could beat teams with his legs when plays broke down.  He was  great until concussions forced him out.

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Y/YounSt00.htm

[Green Lightning]

On 7/5/2018 at 4:40 PM, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Jim Kelly is not among the sixteen best in the history of the league.  JMO.  Sorry if that offends you. 

It doesn't offend me but I disagree. Kelly is in this mix.

[reddogblitz]

5 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

 

What years? I think he had top 5-10 numbers for a good chunk of his career, but I dont remember him ever scaring a team the way a lot of other QBs have. This is of course completely ignoring his team was stacked to the gills.

 

What do yall want?  Numbers or Lombardis? 

 

Which QB do people remember more, Bart Starr or Dan Fouts?

 

I'll take the Lombardis which puts Terry and Bart and Troy and Joe and Roger near the top of the list.  QBs job is to win. 

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, Green Lightning said:

It doesn't offend me but I disagree. Kelly is in this mix.

 

Not for me. Didn't show up in the big games to drive the Bills to championships and his regular season numbers don't blow me away.  Great QB who doesn't make the best of the best for me. 

[Green Lightning]

2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Not for me. Didn't show up in the big games to drive the Bills to championships and his regular season numbers don't blow me away.  Great QB who doesn't make the best of the best for me. 

No wide right he'd have a ring. He won us plenty of of games with his pluck. And by your measure you better pull Marino off that list as well

 

Edited July 6, 2018 by Green Lightning

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, Green Lightning said:

No wide right he'd have a ring. He won us plenty of of games with his pluck. 

 

He takes his share of the blame in that game where the Bills were the better team and I'm talking about the game of games where he never showed up as the man. 

[reddogblitz]

1 minute ago, Green Lightning said:

No wide right he'd have a ring. He won us plenty of of games with his pluck. And by your measure you better pull Marino off that list as well

 

 

Take Fran off too.

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, reddogblitz said:

 

Take Fran off too.

 

Tark and Marino both had longer and more prolific careers.

[Doc Brown]

7 minutes ago, reddogblitz said:

 

What do yall want?  Numbers or Lombardis? 

 

Which QB do people remember more, Bart Starr or Dan Fouts?

 

I'll take the Lombardis which puts Terry and Bart and Troy and Joe and Roger near the top of the list.  QBs job is to win. 

So, should we add Eli Manning, Bob Griese, Ben Roethlisberger, and Jim Plunkett to that list then?  All have won at least two Superbowls as starting QB's.