Montana still all-time greatest quarterback, but Manning close
The difficulty in trying to compare athletes from different eras is circumstances change. Integration. Training methods. Rules. The game itself (how many three-receiver sets did Otto Graham use?)
So yes, trying to rank the all-time top 10 quarterbacks is a set up for debate. But with the Super Bowl next week, there is little question that Peyton Manning has a chance to leap to the top, or at least near it. He has led Indianapolis into the title game for the second time. His team – hardly the NFL’s most talented – might be 18-0 if it didn’t use the final two weeks of the regular season for nap time.
Quarterbacks can’t be measured just on statistics, or for that matter just on titles. It comes down to this: Who would you want to have the ball with the game on the line?
For me, the answer is simple: Joe Montana. But if the Colts beat the Saints next week, Manning will jump to No. 2 on my list.
What made Montana so special? Former teammate Randy Cross said, “Some people lead vocally. Others lead with their presence and by example. That was Joe. At times it seemed like we had an unfair advantage, and we weren’t the only ones who felt that way. You looked across the line and saw it in the other teams’ eyes. We knew we were going to score, and they knew we were going to score.”
With that, here’s the top 10:
Johnny Unitas threw touchdowns in 47 straight games.
1. Joe Montana: As athletic specimens go, he looked more like a tall kicker than a legendary quarterback. But his leadership abilities and his cool under fire were unparalleled. Former Cincinnati wide receiver Cris Collinsworth put it best: “He’s not God but he’s definitely not human. He’s somewhere in between.” The big numbers: 4 Super Bowls, two MVPs.
2. Johnny Unitas: His first career pass as a rookie was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The following year he led the league in yards and touchdowns and won the MVP award. The year after that, he won his first of three league titles, beating the New York Giants, 23-17, in what has been called the “greatest game ever played.” He also holds a record that may never be broken: 47 straight games with a touchdown pass.
3. Otto Graham: He led Cleveland to 10 straight league championship games, winning seven (four AAFC, three NFL). In the final game of his career, he threw for two TDs, ran for two more and led Cleveland past Los Angeles for the 1955 championship. So nobody could accuse him of hanging on too long. As a side note: Graham had to delay his career to serve in the military. His coach at the Coast Guard/Naval Academy: Bear Bryant.
Tom Brady has held this trophy three times (and counting).
4. Tom Brady: He replaced Drew Bledsoe (internal bleeding) in 2001, and four months later was leading New England to the first of three Super Bowls. Several obvious parallels with Montana, including skill set, demeanor, modest draft status and unlikely first championships. Not a ton of glossy numbers, but here’s two: most touchdowns in a regular season (50) and highest-ever completion percentage in a game (92.9 on 26-of-28 passing).
5. Dan Marino: No championships. So should we put Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson ahead of Marino? His numbers are just sick. He threw for over 61,000 yards and 420 touchdowns in 17 seasons. He owned almost every passing record when he retired. He went 147-93 (.612) as a starter, despite the fact his team never had a running game or a great defense. Key stat here: Holds the all-time record with 36 comeback wins. He made it to one Super Bowl – and lost to quarterback No. 1 on this list.
6. Peyton Manning: He always had talent. Now he’s also smarter than everybody else. He won his first Super Bowl three years ago, but those Colts had Marvin Harrison and were stronger on both sides of the ball. This Colts team? Average in so many ways, and they can’t run the ball. This season has been all about Manning’s intelligence and leadership.
Super Bowl No. 2 moves Peyton Manning to No. 2 on this list.
7. John Elway: Elway excelled under pressure, particularly in the final minutes of games. Ask the Cleveland Browns. He led 47 game-winning or game-tying scoring drives at Denver. His 34 comeback wins – second to Marino and tied with Unitas and Manning. Unlike Marino, he won two Super Bowls but only after running back Terrell Davis got there. Elway gets the nod over Brett Favre for upsetting Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII.
8. Brett Favre: Prima donna tendencies aside, he just had the greatest season of his career: 33 touchdowns, seven interceptions. He’s won one Super Bowl but might’ve won more if not for moments like last week (late-game bad decision and interception at New Orleans). But to debate his greatness is just stupid. He’s won a title and three MVPs. He owns every major passing record, and this one: 285 consecutive starts (plus 20 playoffs). No quarterback ever has been tougher.
9. Terry Bradshaw: Only Montana matches Bradshaw’s four Super Bowls. It helped that Bradshaw had a great defense. His career numbers aren’t great: 212 TDs, 210 interceptions. But he wasn’t exactly devoid of skills, and he could lead. Someboydy had to throw those TD passes to Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
10. Roger Staubach: Because of his military commitment, he didn’t begin his career until the age of 27. Then he won two Super Bowls (playing in four) and an MVP. Most memorable game: After missing most of the 1972 season with a separated shoulder, he replaced Craig Morton in a playoff game against San Francisco and threw two TD passes in the last 90 seconds to win the game, 30-28. Tom Landry called him, “possibly the best combination of a passer, an athlete and a leader to ever play in the NFL.”
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147 comments Add your comment
Bawney Fwank
January 30th, 2010
1:31 pm
That’s a good top 10, but I’d fit Troy Aikman in the list.
What I will always wonder is how good Steve Bartkowski could have been if he’d been been on a team with a good offensive line from the start or owned by someone like Arthur Blank rather than a bunch of bozos like the Smiths.
Favre Beans
January 30th, 2010
1:43 pm
Bradshaw gets the nod over P. Manning. It comes down to cinematic talent. Bradshaw’s butt in “Failure to Launch” outshines Manning’s banjo duel in “Deliverance” opposite J. Voight…..
Michael
January 30th, 2010
2:03 pm
Jeff, you failed to mention that Brady (Lord Buttchin) won his Super Bowls while the Patriots were cheating.
A little harder to rack up those playoff wins when you’re not cheating. I’d put Brady(Lord Buttchin) in the top 5….at begging for flgs.
HardTruthSoldier ..
January 30th, 2010
3:11 pm
Sad that Warren Moon doesn’t get any recognition, but is in top 5 in every major category!
HardTruthSoldier ..
January 30th, 2010
3:16 pm
Aikman wasgood, not great. That Dallas line, along with Emmitt, and Michael would’ve put Trent Dilfer in the HOF!
JSS
January 30th, 2010
3:20 pm
I’m getting sick of hearing what a great owner Arthur Blank is! Yeah, compared to Mr. Haney (Rankin Smith Sr.), he’s a fairly refreshing breath of fresh air. Still, Arthur and the gang of “Foxborough South” is about as trustworthy as a promise of soundness from the American Insurance Group… Bartkowski would have never won regardless for two reasons, they never developed a running game which attacked the opponent on the edges. Stop William Andrews, clog Lynn Cain and dare Bartkowski to stay upright for a full season… Result, the team of the 80’s implodes!
schultz is a jac@ss
January 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
Forgot steve young who proved montana was good but the team was better
JSS
January 30th, 2010
3:27 pm
The only place Trent Dilfer would be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is in an alternative universe on Stargate SG-1…
robertussen
January 30th, 2010
4:11 pm
jss, young to rice had better numbers than montana to rice.
crabapplejoe
January 30th, 2010
4:21 pm
In trying to pick the #1 QB of all time I like to think of who I would pick if my life were on the line and I had to pick a QB to win a game…..Montana hands down. He may not have had the physical skills that Peyton has (other than being more mobile) but he had an aura…a magic…an impish swagger and smirk that made you think he knew something that nobody else in the stadium knew…and he defined “cool under pressure”.
stevie zero
January 30th, 2010
6:36 pm
kurt warner? somewhere nearby? has anyone seen kurt warner? jeff if you see kurt warner tell him im looking for him
JSS
January 30th, 2010
6:48 pm
Better number, less rings, and check the YAK… By the way, check the intangible numbers, 1 last minute drive to win a Super Bowl… What were his numbers to John Taylor, Brent Jones, and by that time Ricky Watters? Compare that to Montana to Roger Craig…
None of them still come close in real time to Hadl to Alworth…
Tim
January 30th, 2010
7:25 pm
Billy Joe was great but let’s not forget Tommy Maddox.
Brunswick Tech
January 30th, 2010
8:10 pm
SF…#16. easy….how about this.. Colt McCoy is 25x the QB Tim Tebow could have ever been.
dawg 4 u
January 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
1. Joe Montana 2. John Unitas 3. Dan Marino 4. Peyton Manning 5. Tom Brady 6. Brett Favre 7. Bart Starr 8. Fran Tarkenton 9. Roger Staubach 10. Y.A. Tittle. I would like to add three as honorable mention because when they were hot they were unstoppable – 1. Joe Namath 2. Dan Fouts 3. Kurt Warner. There were three who were really hard to leave off this list – 1. Terry Bradshaw 2. Ken Stabler 3. Phil Simms.
Sonny Lied
January 30th, 2010
9:00 pm
joe cox vs. dwayne schintzius mullet in a punt,pass, @ kick contest…i think cox would eek out a victory in a classic sec barn-burner…
Yellow Fuzz
January 30th, 2010
9:22 pm
Where does David Greene rank?
Chuck Clausen
January 30th, 2010
9:23 pm
I saw Graham and Unitas as a kid and know they were great players; I coached against Marino, Montana, Elway, Bradshaw and Staubach and have studied Manning, Favre and Brady as a fan and ex-coach. Elway was at his best when the Bronco had a great running game, but was not the decision maker with the ball that Montana and Warner are, but more athletic than either and more dangerous if he had to pull the ball down and run. The guy you have missing from your list is Kurt Warner, I would put Montana at the top of my list and Manning number two, Bradshaw had a great running game, the best defense in football and when he had to throw two of the best and most Athletic receivers in football. Marino was great, but he did not put the fear in you, that a Montana, a Staubach or a Kurt Warner would with the game of the line. Peyton Manning, right now is the best QB playing football with in my opinion Kurt Warner, a close second. Warner QB two teams which were nothing before him and at least in the Rams case were nothing after he left. Today in football the two best decision makers with the football in their hands are Manning and Warner, both rank right up there with Montana. Joe had the best QB coach I have ever seen. Bill Walsh and I had coached in the same high school at one time and I use to watch Bill train QBs at Cincinnati during training camp while I was coaching at Ohio State and I use to go to their training camp and watch Bill coach. Joe Montana while he was with the 49ers, not only was the leagues best QB and he playing for the leagues best game planner and fine assembly of skilled talent. Everybody you named is great, when it’s all over you are missing one and that’s Kurt Warner, he would have to be in my top 5.
crafty
January 31st, 2010
12:15 am
Brady should be removed from all lists. Not only was he a tool in a system, he was a tool in a crooked system. He won all his super bowls when he was getting the opponents’ defensive signals. I keep going back to that 2001 AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was the better team that year and it was eerie how the Pats playcalling perfectly matched what the Steelers were bringing time after time. After Spygate came out it made sense(no wonder Arlen Specter was so pissed). Go back and watch the footage. The whole Pats era is a lie. Charlie Weis’ bust out in South Bend..has the Belichik tree produced any winning teams yet?
Ted Striker
January 31st, 2010
12:45 am
Chuck Clausen — Liked your analysis and agree with you about Warner. My main concern with Warner is his tendency to fumble. (But I still like him over Favre).
Crafty @ 12:15 — Dude. Charlie Weis’ coaching record at Notre Dame says something/anything about Tom Brady’s QB skills? Are you for real?
p.s. Name a video camera operator who can outfox or make a play on a ball ball thrown by Brady and you might be on the road to being taken more seriously on this topic.
reddevilfan
January 31st, 2010
1:08 am
Enter your comments here
reddevilfan
January 31st, 2010
1:15 am
How bout Joe Willie! He was the first to pass for 4000 yards in a season and he did it in a 14 game schedule. Also, without his brash comments before the big game and backing them up during Super Bowl III, the Super Bowl may not have made it based on the whippings the Packers gave their AFL opponents during the first two Super Bowls.
groundfog
January 31st, 2010
2:36 am
Warner has to be 9 or 10. When he was on, no one ever played the position better.
JSS
January 31st, 2010
7:03 am
Chuck Clausen…
I’ll agree with you in a large amount on Warner with a very big caveat, running game! Warner is in my top 15, but not in my 10 for just that reason. When he has a run/pass balance in the equation, no one with the exception of Otto Graham has better numbers than Warner. When he was paired with Marshall Faulk. Issac Bruce, and Torri Holt, they shredded teams with balance. However, when Mark Martz lost his mind, all of Warner’s flaws were laid bare.
His time in NY (2004) is the great demarcation point. That team had a hot start when it exhibited balance. However, when it leaned on Warner, it went South and Coughlin did what he does best, threw his QB under the bus… Eli Manning became the starter by week 11.
Arizona has followed a similar road map. Warner got hot when the Cardinals for all of their receiving talent (Fitzgerald and Bolden) when Edgerrin James and Tim Wilson were unleashed in the 2nd half of the 2008 season. So I admire Warner; but I always put that big asterisk next to his talents.
JSS
January 31st, 2010
7:08 am
Sorry, Mike Martz…
those games meant nothing to paul johnson
January 31st, 2010
7:10 am
you wouldn’t know the greatest if it bit you on the arse, oh thats probably what big bird does at your job writing for sesame street
"what has georgia done since 1980"
January 31st, 2010
7:11 am
nice article jeff
WHy do you care
January 31st, 2010
7:54 am
I am going to step up and rectify a long over due misconception. Montana is NOT the best QB ever. Please when are people and sports writers going to pull your head out of his @rse? During the 49ers run look at all the QB’s that played during that time for them. Montana, Young, Bono just to name a few. Montana & Young are HOFers. Bono looked like a ALL PRO in his limited time. Young was a bust with Tampa. Joe was make to look much better then he truly was. I am not buying the best QB. Top ten yes, best no. Unitas, Manning & Marino. Now go fight over which of them is the best.
Alexeiv
January 31st, 2010
8:10 am
The only way to compare players from different eras is how dominant they were.
Manning, believe it or not you fanboys has not dominated his era.
Passing for 4,000 yards in today’s NFL is equivalent to passing for 3,500 in the 1990s.
In the 80s the only QBs throwing over 4,000 were Marino and Fouts.
Marino had 48 TD passes and he beat the previous record by 12 where Manning beat it by 1 in a pass happy league where corners can only swat the ball.
I am amazed at how Steve Young is left off this list.
His dominance during his era makes Manning look average.
The guy lead the league in completion percentage 7 times and in QB Rating 6 times, and in TDs 4 times.
And remember that Young only became full starter in 91, he was a starter from 1991-1998, he only played 3 games in 99.
Playoffs do matter when you have a good team, the difference between Manning and Montana is this, going one and done when you’re favored to win.
In Montana’s entire career, when his team was favored to win in the playoffs, he never lost when starting the whole game. His only losses when he started the game were in 87 to the Vikings and in 90 to the Super Bowl Champion Giants. In both games he was knocked out and his team lost.
That’s the difference, Manning lost five times when favored to win in the playoffs, and went one and done an astounding 3 times with a Top 2 team, that is embarassing frankly. He failed to win a playoff game before this season with a Top 2 seed.
Atticus
January 31st, 2010
8:44 am
You can’t really compare QBs of different eras, you just have to look at how much better they were than their contemporaries. But in the end I give the nod to the guys that won the big games. Have you seen the stat on who owns the top 3 Super Bowl passing performances? 1,2 and 3 are all Kurt Warner. I think Roeth could get on that list if he could stay healthy and keep winning. The guy is clutch. Elway was slightly overrated and as you put didn’t carry a team and win until the RB showed up. Tarkenton was VERY good but they didn’t win ONE SB. Aikman was very good too but more in the system. Johnny U was before my time but every person I talk to that saw him said he was special.
Bronco Scott
January 31st, 2010
8:55 am
Random thoughts on this list…first of all if you were fired (Montana, Unitas, Favre), therefore not even the best QB on your team, than how can you be considered the greatest QB of all-time? Next, in the Super Bowl era many of these QB’s have played in 4 SB’s, but only one, John Elway, has played in 5 of them. Lastly, give me a QB like Elway who can run over 3 defensive players to get a clutch first down (remember that one Packer fans), throw a laser beam 50 yd pass (remember that one Falcon fans? Eugene Robinson does) who leaves the game as a Super Bowl MVP over a dink and dunker like Joe Montana who went out on his back in a frickin Kansas City Chiefs uniform!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
January 31st, 2010
9:57 am
Put Manning on the 49ers team and they win more championships than with Montana. 49ers, like the Steelers of Bradshaw era and Cowboys of Aikman were stacked. Close second for me is Elway. Manning and Elway both had yards and took average teams to the Superbowl. As for Marino, yeah his numbers are sick just like Brees who is half the years has 30,000 yards. Based on Marino being rated because of yards, then Favre would be #1.
bon scott
January 31st, 2010
10:12 am
1 Manning
2.Elway
3.Unitas
4.Montana
5.Brady
5.Kelly
7. Marino (A- HOLE!)
8.Farve
9 Graham
10.stauback
Smith
January 31st, 2010
10:55 am
Good point Alexiev:
It needs to be repeated that Joe Montana really only lost one playoff game in his career as a 49er – a 17-3 loss at New York in 1985 (we’ll just ignore the NFC Championship loss to Washington in ‘83 when Montana stormed his team back from 21 points down in the 4th Q to endure a series of calls that to this day are still remembered as among the worse ever made by refs).
Otherwise the only other losses were games he got knocked out of (remember Jim Burt? Leonard Marshall? – 49ers on their way to a three-peat when that happened)
Steve Young was a fantastic QB who inherited a team on top of its game. Even then, many 49er fans blamed him for not making the playoffs that next season and for losing twice to Dallas in the playoffs. Not because we thought he was bad, but because we truly believed Montana would have won those games – that’s how much trust we had in him.
In his first year as starter, Montana took a sub-par team than hadn’t sniffed the playoffs in a decade and won a Super Bowl. His running back was Ricky Patton who rushed for just over 500 years that season. His leading receiver was Freddie Solomon who came out of a 2-year retirement that year.
His 1984 team was among the best ever. Montana outclassed Marino in every way that Superbowl. Much like he would do to Elway a few years later. Montana ran for two TD’s in those playoffs – on top of a 60 yard run he had against the Giants that season in the divisional series. Many forget how nimble he was.
I think Manning is a special QB but he’s had a series of playoff disasters. I’m sure after his career is over we can have a discussion about him and Montana, but it’s premature to put him anywhere near the top yet.
Tech Fan Since 1950
January 31st, 2010
11:04 am
Look, as a Tech fan it only hurts slightly to state this, but Fran Tarkenton has to be included in any listing of the top ten pro quarterbacks. He brought a unique dimension to the then somewhat stale pro game–scrambling. It was entertaining and effective. He was the first mobile quarterback of the modern era and a prelude to the wildcats and versatile offenses of today. The Scrambler drove defenses crazy and wore out a number of defensive linemen. Tarkenton was a pretty good passer too. He didn’t get a win in the Super Bowl but he wowed everyone else and I think he was probably one of the most entertaining quarterbacks ever to watch.
Singletary
January 31st, 2010
11:50 am
Good one, Asheville Dog. Too bad another poster took my best line on “in hind sight” about Bradshaw. I will go on and make my point that he’s not been exemplary since football. What other idiot would sing “It’s been a hard days night, and I’ve been working like a LOG,” in front of Sir Paul no less. (I felt a need to write to the Queen and apologize for tat boor’s lack of manners.)
I think you can compare QBs across eras IF you break it down separately by passing and leadership. I think Manning and Montana are brainiacs (’though Eli has a better — the best? — Wonderlic score ever.). Young and Elway were more athletic with Elway proving you don’t need knee cartilage to win football games. The Patriots cheated AND had some questionable calls (tuck rule) go their way. I too agree Bart Starr should be in there, remember that NFC championship ? I was very young, and it probably is that game that made me a football fan.
joan
January 31st, 2010
3:48 pm
Terry Bradshaw over any of these guys. Strongest arm, toughest runner, most super bowl wins, 2 SB MVPs, NFL MVP, called his own plays, etc.
Tweets that mention Montana still all-time greatest quarterback, but Manning close | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
January 31st, 2010
6:51 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ajc sports editor, Geoff Morris, ReidAdair, Hank Humphrey, Jeff Schultz and others. Jeff Schultz said: Montana still all-time greatest quarterback, but Manning close http://bit.ly/ah4y1Y [...]
Greg
January 31st, 2010
7:22 pm
What? Jeff George is not on the list?
BIOMASS
January 31st, 2010
7:42 pm
Good list, Jeff. I still think Johnny U is in a class by himself. Rose-colored time machine glasses.
re: the Probowl….. if only the stars were aligned for Schaub to stay in Atlanta….if only.
Roger
February 1st, 2010
2:10 am
I’ve been watching football since 1955, and being originally a native of
Cleveland, Ohio, I saw Otto Graham play. Most of the greats on your list,
including Graham had great coaches and teams…Graham’s Paul Brown
and Montana’s Bill Walsh for example, were arguably the best in the business.
The real greatest QB of all time? Peyton Manning. Manning has command of
every pass, and as strong an arm and as quick a release as anyone we’ve seen
since 1955. Add to that his incredible command of the game, and what we
really have in the 6′ 5″ Peyton Manning is the greatest NFL player of our
lives. Joe Montana is a flat out compeititive winner, but, he just did not have
the arm, size or quickness to measure up to Manning. Imagine if Manning
had played for Bill Walsh’s 49ers? With Manning at QB with a GREAT team
and Coach…we are talking unbeatable.
with Walsh and Manning working together?
Skyhook
February 1st, 2010
1:28 pm
Based on a completed body of work, it has got to be Bart Starr. In 1967 on the way to winning his second Super Bowl, and as mentioned earlier, in an era of allowing much more physical and aggressive DB play, he only threw interceptions for the season. Not a game, but the whole season.
Never got his due credit, as he was quiet, unassuming, and the consumate team player.
Have to admit if Peyton keeps up his level of stellar play, he will make a real run at it.
Skyhook
February 1st, 2010
1:32 pm
The number was “3″.
Creegah
February 2nd, 2010
5:21 pm
Yeah, Montana was really great with KC just like Steve Young was great with TB.
Creegah
February 2nd, 2010
5:25 pm
We have all watched Montana, Manning and Brady but no one ever matriculated the ball down the field like Vermeil’s Rams with Warner, Faulk, Bruce and Holt.
Jason
February 8th, 2010
5:21 pm
MONTANTA! MONTANA! MONTANA!
Hannah Montana
February 11th, 2010
4:53 pm
Schultz………………….now we all know you are crazy!