This list of the greatest quarterbacks of all time only includes the best NFL quarterbacks to ever play professional football. Who are the best quarterbacks of all time? That is a question that experts have been tackling since the NFL first started in the 1920s. Defining who the best quarterback of all time isn't easy since every fan has a different criteria that defines who is the best NFL quarterback. If you like championships, then famous quarterbacks like Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning, and Bart Starr are clearly top 10 QBs. If you like gaudy numbers then you're more likely to be a fan of Dan Marino and Brett Favre as top ten choices.
The top quarterbacks of all time are known for their excellent skills and leadership on the field. The quarterback position is the most important in football. The position entails being a coach on the field who can call and adjust plays on a whim and being able to dissect the defensive coverage by taking a peek at what they're showing, all while having the ability to avoid the oncoming pass rush and make accurate throws. Sounds easy right? These gentlemen, who are considered the best NFL quarterbacks of all time, have the rare ability to do all of these things in a matter of seconds.
Vote for whoever you think should get the title of best quarterbacks in NFL history. If you see someone who is missing, feel free to add them to this ultimate list of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time.
1
35,60817,698Tom Brady
New England Patriots, Tampa Bay BuccaneersBirthplace: San Mateo, California
7× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII, LV)
5× Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, LV)
3× NFL Most Valuable Player (2007, 2010, 2017)
2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)
3× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2017)
14× Pro Bowl (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009–2018)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2002, 2007, 2010, 2015)
3× NFL passing yards leader (2005, 2007, 2017)
2× NFL passer rating leader (2007, 2010)
NFL completion percentage leader (2007)2
16,4049,648Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints, San Diego ChargersBirthplace: Dallas, Texas
Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
Super Bowl MVP (XLIV)
2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2004)
First-team All-Pro (2006)
13× Pro Bowl (2004, 2006, 2008–2014, 2016–2019)
7× NFL passing yards leader (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
2× NFL passer rating leader (2009, 2018)
6× NFL completion percentage leader (2009–2011, 2017–2019)
NFL Record Most career passing yards
NFL Record Most career pass completions- 322,43917,792
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts, Denver BroncosBirthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
2× Super Bowl champion (XLI, L)
Super Bowl MVP (XLI)
5× NFL Most Valuable Player (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 2013)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2012)
7× First-team All-Pro (2003–2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
14× Pro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2002–2010, 2012–2014)
3× NFL passing yards leader (2000, 2003, 2013)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2000, 2004, 2006, 2013)
2× NFL completion percentage leader (2003, 2012)
3× NFL passer rating leader (2004–2006)
NFL Hall of Fame - 415,66410,050
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay PackersBirthplace: Chico, California
Super Bowl champion (XLV)
Super Bowl MVP (XLV)
3× NFL Most Valuable Player (2011, 2014, 2020)
3× First-team All-Pro (2011, 2014, 2020)
9× Pro Bowl (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016, 2018–2020)
3x NFL passer rating leader (2011, 2012, 2020)
2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (2016, 2020)
NFL completion percentage leader (2020) - 512,49610,528
Johnny Unitas
Baltimore Colts, San Diego ChargersBirthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Super Bowl champion (V)
3× NFL champion (1958, 1959, 1968)
3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1959, 1964, 1967)
5× First-team All-Pro (1958, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1967)
10× Pro Bowl (1957–1964, 1966, 1967)
4× NFL passing yards leader (1957, 1959, 1960, 1963)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1957–1960)
NFL Hall of Fame - 622,40119,270
Joe Montana
San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City ChiefsBirthplace: New Eagle, Pennsylvania
4× Super Bowl champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
3× Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV)
2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1989, 1990)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1989)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1986)
3× First-team All-Pro (1987, 1989, 1990)
8× Pro Bowl (1981, 1983–1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993)
2× NFL passer rating leader (1987, 1989)
2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1982, 1987)
5x NFL completion percentage leader (1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989)
NFL Hall of Fame - 714,76512,530
Brett Favre
Green Bay Packers, New York JetsBirthplace: Gulfport, Mississippi
Super Bowl champion (XXXI)
3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1995–1997)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1995)
3× First-team All-Pro (1995–1997)
11× Pro Bowl (1992, 1993, 1995–1997, 2001–2003, 2007–2009)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1995–1997, 2003)
2× NFL passing yards leader (1995, 1998)
NFL completion percentage leader (1998)
NFL Hall of Fame - 814,03912,190
John Elway
Denver BroncosBirthplace: Port Angeles, Washington
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
Super Bowl MVP (XXXIII)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1987)
First-team All-Pro (1987)
9× Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996–1998)
NFL passing yards leader (1993)
NFL Hall of Fame - 914,74312,957
Dan Marino
Miami DolphinsBirthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
NFL Most Valuable Player (1984)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1984)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1994)
3× First-team All-Pro (1984–1986)
9× Pro Bowl (1983–1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995)
5× NFL passing yards leader (1984–1986, 1988, 1992)
3× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1984–1986)
NFL passer rating leader (1984)
NFL Hall of Fame - 1011,53010,613
Steve Young
San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay BuccaneersBirthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah
3× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Super Bowl MVP (XXIX)
2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1992, 1994)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1992)
3× First-team All-Pro (1992–1994)
7× Pro Bowl (1992–1998)
4× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1992–1994, 1998)
6× NFL passer rating leader (1991–1994, 1996, 1997)
5× NFL completion percentage leader (1992, 1994–1997)
NFL Hall of Fame - 119,6619,012
Roger Staubach
Dallas CowboysBirthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
2× Super Bowl champion (VI, XII)
Super Bowl MVP (VI)
6× Pro Bowl (1971, 1975–1979)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (1973)
4× NFL passer rating leader (1971, 1973, 1978, 1979)
NFL Hall of Fame - 126,6636,232
Fran Tarkenton
Minnesota Vikings, New York GiantsBirthplace: Richmond, Virginia
9× Pro Bowl (1964, 1965, 1967–1970, 1974–1976)
First-team All-Pro (1975)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1975)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1975)
NFL passing yards leader (1978)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (1975)
NFL Hall of Fame - 138,4248,012
Bart Starr
Green Bay PackersBirthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
2× Super Bowl champion (I, II)
2× Super Bowl MVP (I, II)
5× NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965–1967)
4× Pro Bowl (1960–1962, 1966)
First-team All-Pro (1966)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1966)
5× NFL passer rating leader (1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969)
NFL Hall of Fame - 146,6826,376
Otto Graham
Cleveland BrownsBirthplace: Waukegan, Illinois
3× NFL champion (1950, 1954, 1955)
3× NFL Most Valuable Player (1951, 1953, 1955)
4× First-team All-Pro (1951, 1953–1955)
5× Pro Bowl (1950–1954)
2× NFL passing yards leader (1952, 1953)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (1952)
2× NFL passer rating leader (1953, 1955)
NFL 1950s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL Hall of Fame - 155,8335,115
Russell Wilson
Seattle SeahawksBirthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Super Bowl champion (XLVIII)
8× Pro Bowl (2012–2015, 2017–2020)
NFL passer rating leader (2015)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (2017) - 166,5986,311
Jim Kelly
Buffalo BillsBirthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5× Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1990–1992)
First-team All-Pro (1991)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (1991)
NFL passer rating leader (1990)
NFL completion percentage leader (1990)
NFL Hall of Fame - 176,9056,615
Warren Moon
Seattle Seahawks, Houston OilersBirthplace: Los Angeles, California
9× Pro Bowl (1988–1995, 1997)
First-team All-Pro (1990)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1990)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1990)
2× NFL passing yards leader (1990, 1991)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (1990)
NFL Hall of Fame - 187,5157,201
Kurt Warner
St. Louis Rams, Arizona CardinalsBirthplace: Burlington, Iowa
Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)
Super Bowl MVP (XXXIV)
2× NFL Most Valuable Player (1999, 2001)
4× Pro Bowl (1999–2001, 2008)
2× First-team All-Pro (1999, 2001)
2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1999, 2001)
3× NFL completion percentage leader (1999–2001)
2× NFL passer rating leader (1999, 2001)
NFL passing yards leader (2001)
NFL Hall of Fame - 199,5409,204
Terry Bradshaw
Pittsburgh SteelersBirthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
2× Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1978)
3× Pro Bowl (1975, 1978, 1979)
First-team All-Pro (1978)
2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1978, 1982)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL Hall of Fame - 207,5167,901
Troy Aikman
Dallas CowboysBirthplace: West Covina, California
3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Super Bowl MVP (XXVII)
6× Pro Bowl (1991–1996)
NFL Hall of Fame - 216,6417,382
"Big" Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh SteelersBirthplace: Lima, Ohio, United States of America
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2004)
6× Pro Bowl (2007, 2011, 2014–2017)
2× NFL passing yards leader (2014, 2018)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2004) - 222,9081,532
Patrick Mahomes II
Kansas City ChiefsSuper Bowl champion (LIV)
Super Bowl MVP (LIV)
NFL Most Valuable Player (2018)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2018)
First-team All-Pro (2018)
3× Pro Bowl (2018–2020)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (2018) - 234,2704,922
Ken Stabler
Oakland Raiders, New Orleans SaintsBirthplace: Foley, Alabama
Super Bowl champion (XI)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1974)
4× Pro Bowl (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977)
2× First-team All-Pro (1974, 1976)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1974)
2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1974, 1976)
NFL passer rating leader (1976)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL Hall of Fame - 243,9104,318
Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis ColtsBirthplace: Decatur, Alabama
NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2013)
8× Pro Bowl (2006, 2009–2011, 2013, 2016–2018)
NFL completion percentage leader (2013)
NFL passing yards leader (2010)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (2008)
NFL passer rating leader (2008) - 252,7743,206
Sid Luckman
Chicago BearsBirthplace: New York City, New York
4× NFL champion (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946) - player, NFL champion (1963) - coach
3× NFL All-Star (1940–1942)
5× First-team All-Pro (1941–1944, 1947)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1943)
3× NFL passing yards leader (1943, 1945, 1946)
3× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1943, 1945, 1946)
3× NFL passer rating leader (1941, 1943, 1946)
NFL record 7 touchdown passes in a game (tied)
NFL Hall of Fame
