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The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated September 29, 2020 988.5k votes 89.9k voters 965.2k views252 items

List RulesVote up the top QBs in NFL history

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.

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37,667
18,582
Tom Brady
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: USA, California, San Mateo
Age: 43
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American football quarterback for... more on Wikipedia
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2
17,513
9,079
Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States of America
Age: 36
Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American football quarterback for the... more on Wikipedia
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3
13,041
10,699
Johnny Unitas
Baltimore Colts, Louisville Cardinals football
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: Died at 69 (1933-2002)
John Constantine Unitas (; May 7, 1933 – September 11, 2002), nicknamed "Johnny U" and "The... more on Wikipedia
4
16,412
10,024
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Chico, California
Age: 32
Aaron Charles Rodgers (born December 2, 1983) is an American football quarterback for the... more on Wikipedia
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5
23,127
19,141
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
Age: 39
Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who... more on Wikipedia
6
15,534
12,787
Brett Favre
Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Gulfport, Mississippi, United States of America
Age: 50
Brett Lorenzo Favre ( (listen); FARV; born October 10, 1969) is a former American football... more on Wikipedia
7
14,648
12,686
John Elway
Stanford Cardinal football, Denver Broncos
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Port Angeles, Washington, United States of America
Age: 55
John Albert Elway Jr. (born June 28, 1960) is a former American football quarterback who is... more on Wikipedia

8
15,349
13,813
Dan Marino
Miami Dolphins
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 54
Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is an American former football... more on Wikipedia
9
22,909
20,969
Joe Montana
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, San Francisco 49ers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: New Eagle, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 64
Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, 1956), nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid",... more on Wikipedia
10
12,027
11,070
Steve Young
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
Age: 54
Jon Steven Young (born October 11, 1961) is a former professional American football... more on Wikipedia
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11
6,934
6,347
Fran Tarkenton
Georgia Bulldogs football team, Minnesota Vikings
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
Age: 75
Francis Asbury Tarkenton (born February 3, 1940) is an American former football player who was... more on Wikipedia
12
8,818
8,290
Bart Starr
Alabama Crimson Tide Football, Green Bay Packers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Age: 81
Bryan Bartlett Starr (January 9, 1934 – May 26, 2019) was a professional American football... more on Wikipedia
13
10,060
9,458
Roger Staubach
Navy Midshipmen football, Dallas Cowboys
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 73
Roger Thomas Staubach (born February 5, 1942), nicknamed "Roger the Dodger", "Captain America"... more on Wikipedia
14
6,068
5,044
Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio
Age: 27
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the... more on Wikipedia
15
7,254
6,838
Warren Moon
Seattle Seahawks, Houston Oilers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Age: 59
Harold Warren Moon (born November 18, 1956) is a former American and Canadian football... more on Wikipedia
16
6,935
6,538
Otto Graham
Northwestern Wildcats football, Cleveland Browns
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Waukegan, Illinois, United States of America
Age: Died at 82 (1921-2003)
Otto Everett Graham Jr. (December 6, 1921 – December 17, 2003) was an American football... more on Wikipedia
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17
6,887
6,495
Jim Kelly
Buffalo Bills, Miami Hurricanes football
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 60
James Edward Kelly (born February 14, 1960) is a former American football quarterback who... more on Wikipedia
18
7,876
7,515
Kurt Warner
Iowa Barnstormers, Amsterdam Admirals
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Burlington, Iowa, United States of America
Age: 44
Kurtis Eugene Warner (born June 22, 1971) is an American former football quarterback. He... more on Wikipedia
19
9,968
9,847
Terry Bradshaw
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football, Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana, United States of America
Age: 67
Terry Paxton Bradshaw (born September 2, 1948) is an American former football quarterback who... more on Wikipedia
20
7,865
8,287
Troy Aikman
Dallas Cowboys
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: West Covina, California, United States of America
Age: 53
Troy Kenneth Aikman (born November 21, 1966) is a former American football quarterback who... more on Wikipedia
21
7,006
7,658
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Lima, Ohio, United States of America
Age: 33
Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr. (; born March 2, 1982), nicknamed Big Ben, is an American... more on Wikipedia
22
2,669
1,333
Patrick Mahomes II
Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Quarterback
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the... more on Wikipedia
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#32 of 119 The Greatest College Football Quarterbacks of All Time#4 of 30 The Best Black Quarterbacks Of All Time
23
4,148
4,361
Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Decatur, Alabama
Age: 34
Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American football quarterback for the Los... more on Wikipedia
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24
4,456
5,143
Ken Stabler
New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Foley, Alabama
Age: 70
Kenneth Michael Stabler (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015), nicknamed "the Snake", was an... more on Wikipedia
25
5,589
6,665
Joe Namath
Los Angeles Rams, Alabama Crimson Tide Football
Position: Quarterback
Birthplace: Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Age: 72
Joseph William Namath (; born May 31, 1943), nicknamed Broadway Joe, is an American former... more on Wikipedia

Patrick Mahomes II