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
Bat Masterson
January 29th, 2010
5:47 pm
ha First, been awhile.
Bat Masterson
January 29th, 2010
5:48 pm
double
Bat Masterson
January 29th, 2010
5:49 pm
triple
Bat Masterson
January 29th, 2010
5:49 pm
homerun
Bat Masterson
January 29th, 2010
5:53 pm
Whoa, this is a football blog, lousy analogy, never mind.
T Barnes
January 29th, 2010
5:53 pm
Edge was not on the SB team.
ben
January 29th, 2010
5:54 pm
I’ll take Troy Aikman over Terry Bradshaw anytime. Trent Dilfer could have won 4 rings with that defense. 212
PK
January 29th, 2010
5:56 pm
Yeah Jeff, Edge left the summer before that season. Indy drafted Joe Addai and used him and Dominic Rhodes that year.
ben
January 29th, 2010
5:58 pm
212 tds 210 ints, can you say average?
ASHEVILLE DAWG
January 29th, 2010
6:10 pm
woohoo 10th
falcon71
January 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
johnny u hands down
Jeff Schultz
January 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
Alright, Bat Masterson, don’t get cocky.
Cherokee
January 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
nobody cares
Jeff Schultz
January 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
PK — See above. Fixed. Thanks.
Jeff Schultz
January 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
TBarnes — Yeah thanks, I edited that out soon after posting. Forget he had moved on right before Super Bowl year. A story I’m sure he won’t be telling his grandkids about one day.
Tom
January 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
Peyton Manning is by far the greatest quarterback that ever played. He revolutionized the position. Montana had Rice to throw to plus a great coaching staff a great run game and a great defense. Manning has nothing to throw to, he makes his receivers great. Manning is winning with nothing, no running game the worst in the NFL, no receivers, no coach, no offensive line,no defense. This guy is the greatest athlete of our lifetime hands down.You know why Dungy doesn’t coach any more, Peyton fired him.
Jeff Schultz
January 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
Ben — I wouldn’t argue over Aikman as a top 10. But what’s he without Irvin, Emmitt and that OL? It’s a good argument either way?
ASHEVILLE DAWG
January 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Jeff if you had led the Steelers in those days, you would have been a hof’er? Poor old Terry looks better in hind sight than when he played the game. Look at how many Hall Of Famers were on those Steelers teams. Any one who was lucky enough to be the QB was bound to look good. Swann,Stallworth, Franco Harris, Lambert, Joe Greene, Jack Ham. Whoa. It is like saying Leo Mazzone was the great pitching coach,oh wait , he had Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz as the base. If he was so great what happened to the Baltimore O’s?
Paul in RDU
January 29th, 2010
6:48 pm
Jeff – I can’t argue with the list in general and I certainly won’t argue with Joe Montana at #1.
You probably should have dropped Bradshaw down a few notches just for him saying last Sunday that Favre was the greatest QB to play the game.
Reid Adair
January 29th, 2010
6:53 pm
Solid list, Jeff. With that list, I would agree that Peyton Manning moves to No. 2 when the Colts beat the Saints next weekend.
mr charlie
January 29th, 2010
6:57 pm
What about Kurt Warner? He has a ring, played in 3 superbowls with questionable talent around him, and hold several post season records.
juvenal
January 29th, 2010
6:57 pm
4 rings is 4 rings-what is any QB without 10 other guys? dead meat!don’t care nothin’ bout no nfl team, but can count to 4…
Boise Dawg
January 29th, 2010
6:58 pm
Jeff,
Hard to argue with the list… and I can’t believe I am saying this as I was a huge Montana and 49er fan growing up. Question though after reading the Elway and Bradshaw comments…. didn’t Montana have a LOT of help around him? Those 49er teams (especially 89) were on another planet. Ronnie Lot, Keena Turner, Roger Craig, Brent Jones, John Taylor, Jerry Rice, Tom Rathman, Bill Romanowski (pro bowlers at almost every position)… Heck Steve Young was the freakin backup quaterback. Remember how well Steve Young played as a reserve? Then he ended up winning a title of his own… Montana was great, maybe the greatest, but I think there are a lot of guys on this list that would have been just as successful with the supporting cast he had.
HardTruthSoldier ..
January 29th, 2010
7:04 pm
Did all yalll miss the cover of that SI, you know Joe is jumping into the arm of the Greatest Guard UGA ever had. Guy McIntyre. That is why Joe was good, with Dawgs blocking for you like tha!
ben
January 29th, 2010
7:04 pm
Jeff….Bradshaw stats are just too average to be in the top ten. Though I admit that I never saw him play.
billcanoe
January 29th, 2010
7:19 pm
I have watched professional football for 61 years and have seen all of the above play numerous times. amazingly, I would agree with your rankings for the most part, except that I would place Tom Brady #2. The most impressive thing about Brady is that he hardly ever makes a mistake. He is always out-thinking the other team and he would have 4 rings if not for the fact that he led his team down the field TOO FAST to score in that incredible game with the Giants, leaving Eli and the Giants enough time to score, especially after David Tyree”s miracle catch. That Patriots team, by the way, is the greatest NFL team of all time, in my estimation. (The Lombardi Packers of the 60’s and the Steelers of the 70’s are 2 and 3.)
Peyton is a very very good QB, but he has a long way to go to catch Montana, Brady and Unitas.
Whopper Dawg
January 29th, 2010
7:23 pm
Since his incredible run this year, and the comparisons as above – Manning really has shot up my personal grading of QBs due to not only what he has done, but what he has done it with.
Montana had all-pros and even other hall of famers all over his teams.
Ditto Bradshaw and Aikman and Staubach.
I agree Manning is getting real close. He wins this year and one more – he is on the top. This Colt team and most would go maybe 500 without him.
Dr. Phil
January 29th, 2010
7:24 pm
Unitas called his own plays.
Ken Stallings
January 29th, 2010
7:29 pm
Montana and Bradshaw both had excellent teams around them. Bradshaw’s arm won two of those four Super Bowls. Further, a strong argument can be made that the level of competition those Steeler teams was greater than what San Francisco faced. Remember, most years, the Steelers had to beat an Oakland or Houston team that had the talent to win the Super Bowl themselves. This was an era where the AFC dominated the Super Bowl.
Unitas might be the one I think is ranked a bit too high. I might slide him down to around 7-8. I also don’t think Brady can be ranked above Bradshaw. I agree with ranking Marino as high as you do, and he’s the one noteworthy exception to the mandate to win a title.
If Peyton wins that will only make two titles. I would have a hard time justifying placing him above QB’s such as Montana and Bradshaw.
Tom
January 29th, 2010
7:34 pm
What do you think Manning does? He’s the coach. Also, Brady was wrapped up in the whole spy gate issue. Who know’s how many Super Bowls he stole.
Tom
January 29th, 2010
7:39 pm
Yo Ken how many Super Bowls is a grade school argument. Bart Starr I believe won six Championships, two were Super Bowls. His name was never mentioned. Remember there was football before the Super Bowl.
Ken Stallings
January 29th, 2010
7:51 pm
Personally I think Bart Starr should have been rated in the top ten. My personal list would be:
1. Joe Montana
2. Terry Bradshaw
3. Otto Graham
4. Bart Starr
5. Dan Marino
6. Peyton Manning
7. Brett Favre
8. John Elway
9. Johnny Unitas
10. Tom Brady
I don’t put Staubach in the top ten list. He was excellent, but he doesn’t belong in the top ten list in my view, and I believe all those listed are clearly better than he was. If Manning wins this Super Bowl, then in my view he vaults to the number four slot and the list readjusts accordingly.
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 29th, 2010
8:00 pm
Morino’s teams were bad. Put Payton on them and they win. He’s that good
"Chef" Tim Dix
January 29th, 2010
8:03 pm
It’s easy to say “Big Sky” had talent around him but Montana made players better too. Just like Peyton.
Bravissimo
January 29th, 2010
8:12 pm
Shultz…I pretty much agree with you, but its hard to take you seriously when your photo is up there by the cheetah lounge with an ad for a “Man Brunch”…lol
BugKiller
January 29th, 2010
8:15 pm
@ Ken Stallings:
You give Bradshaw credit over Montana because of the AFC teams Bradshaw had to beat (Miami, Houston, Oakland).
Okay. Here’s who Montana had to beat on a regular basis to GET to the Super Bowl:
Da Bears of Ditka and Ryan. Wow. What a freaking DEFENSE.
The Giants of Taylor (the REAL LT), Harry Carson, Phil Simms, and Bill Parcells.
The Eagles of Cunningham, Cris Carter, and Reggie White.
The high-powered LA Rams.
The no-name Redskins teams under Joe Gibbs (3 SBs with 3 different QBs).
In fact, it was the New York Giants in 1990, with one of the best defenses in NFL history, who would shut down two of the best offenses in NFL history (Montana and the 49ers, and the Bills K-Gun Attack) who pretty much ended Montana’s SanFran career in the NFC Championship Game, denying the best possibly chance for a three-peat Super Bowl Champion… ever.
I’m sorry… but Montana faced, in the NFC, FAR better competition than Bradshaw EVER did in the AFC.
GoVols
January 29th, 2010
8:17 pm
Peyton Manning is the greatest qb since the 70’s without question. The Patriots were 10-6/11-5 without Brady…what would the Colts be without Peyton? It’s not about scheme, or system. It’s Manning. He made Harrison, he made Clark, Collie, Garcon, etc. What quarterback has ever done so much for receivers? You could argue Marino, Montana possibly for their impact on their teams. But Young replaced Montana with good results. Marino didn’t take the Dolphins to the SB.
Tom
January 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Put Bradshaw,Staubach,Montana,or any of the great QB’s on the colts and they don’t even make the playoffs. That’s how great Peyton Manning is.
Tom
January 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
Peyton Manning is so far above and beyond these other quaterbacks it’s not even funny. He has done so much with so little.
TG
January 29th, 2010
9:30 pm
Schultz your guy for pres is going to change college football. What a leader!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/01/29/obama.bcs.ap/index.html?xid=si_ncaaf
jimmy
January 29th, 2010
9:45 pm
when qb was measured by who do you want handling the ball calling the plays; running the huddle and not giving a damn about being second guessed don’t forget bobby layne,sonny j.stabler.y.a. but johnny u is #1
Delbert D.
January 29th, 2010
10:39 pm
Montana is a good choice for #1.
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11:03 pm
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RLH
January 29th, 2010
11:13 pm
My top 10:
1- Joe Montana
2- Tom Brady
3- Peyton Manning
4- John Elway
5- Brett Farve
6- Dan Marino
7- Johnny Unitas
8- Kurt Warner
9- Troy Aikmen
10- Otto Graham
I really believe it is hard to compare QB’s from different era’s but it is still a good discussion. I really enjoyed watching guys like Dan Fouts and Steve Young who would have been 11th and 12th on my list.
Archie
January 29th, 2010
11:51 pm
I wish I could say that I got to watch this guy play, but he’s before all of our times… but let’s get some love for Sammy Baugh. The man invented the QB position long before QB’s were even passers. He was the first gunslinger, he was Brett Favre minus the interceptions.. even before Brett Favre’s parents were conceived.
Willy
January 30th, 2010
12:07 am
Thats the second time in a week I’ve seen some fool try and rate Aikman in the top 10. Whatever with that. Terry Bradshaw probably doesn’t belong on the list either, for the same reasons Aikman didn’t make Schultz’s list. Unitas aside, I think this list was probably a little too laden with modern and almost modern era players. But who ever saw Sammy Baugh play?
David
January 30th, 2010
12:12 am
I’ll take Steve Young over Joe Montana any day. Just like the 49rs did when they dumped Joe.
Smith
January 30th, 2010
1:33 am
Sports fans tend to have very short memories. Montana took a team that was one of the worst in sports (2-14 for two straight season when he was drafted) and turned it into football’s elite franchise for nearly two decades. He won two super bowls WITHOUT Jerry Rice. His ‘81 and ‘89 Championship teams had two of the top four worst running games statistically of any superbowl winner (the great Ricky Patton was the lead rusher in ‘81 with 530 yards). He dismantled the two other great QB’s of his time in the Super Bowl (Marino and Elway). And has 11 TD passes 0 int in the Super Bowl. Oh, and took a terrible team in KC deep into the playoffs at 37 years of age, a different “system”, and with receivers named JJ Birden and William Davis. There is only one Joe Montana and Manning has a long way to go to eclipse him.
DLENCO
January 30th, 2010
1:53 am
Montana the only 3 time super bowl MVP 4 super bowls: no picks AND TOM Montana won 2 supwr bowls before Rice was even in the league
James Adams
January 30th, 2010
4:11 am
Any top ten list that includes Dan Marino is immediately dismissed in my eyes.
KJ
January 30th, 2010
6:53 am
“Any top ten list that includes Dan Marino is immediately dismissed in my eyes.”
LOL
Super Bowl rings are being highly overrated in this article.
Rex
January 30th, 2010
7:31 am
on my list:
NO BONUS for winning SB.
NO DEMERITS for playing with a REALLY GREAT or REALLY CRAPPY team.
Just BEST PURE QB: you are picking sides or Drafting from hindsight:
I say Marino is best “pure QB” EVER
Manning is #2 & will pass him before it is all over.
3 OTTO GRAHAM
4 UNITAS
5 ELWAY
6 MONTANA
7 TARKENTON
8 BRADY
9 FAVRE
10 STAUBACH
Cowboy Hater
January 30th, 2010
7:37 am
Sammy Baugh definitely belongs on the list. Top three are Unitas, P. Manning, and Montana. If Tarkenton is not in the top 10, he should be 10b. Move Marino, Staubach, and Bradshaw out of the top 10. Aikman, just average without Emmit and Michael. And Shultz, who are you to call anybody a prima-donna? Favre is the second toughest QB of all behind Unitas who did not have the protection rules when he played, man did he take some shots?
Smittie
January 30th, 2010
7:48 am
How could you not mention Snake Stabler? Even though he was sentenced to play in Oakland, he made them a winner. He was a master of the 2 minute offense and won a ton of games in the last seconds.
Rex
January 30th, 2010
7:51 am
ok maybe Warner should be considered too:
At least Honorable Mention
3 SBs & 1 Win and at least 2 MVPs
Didn’t Start until he was 28
A damn productive 10 seasons as a Starter
No player in NFL history reached 10,000 yards passing in less games
and he tied Marino as fastest to reach 30,000.
He has the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.
John
January 30th, 2010
8:45 am
Good list. Hard to argue with any of the guys on it – or their order of inclusion. But is reflects the “How many championships did he win?” bias that prevails in the way the NFL determines greatness among its players.
Tom Brady’s name is an inevitability anytime anybody compiles one of these all-time great QB list. Good to see him no higher than fourth on this one.
Seems Brady is a bit overrated. I know, I know, four championship games, three championships won. There were 44 other guys on those teams, right? And to my recollection, particularly early on, Toothsome Tom was the set up man for Adam Venetiri. He’s the guy who provided the clutch points – not Brady. Hell, Tom just got ‘em field goal range so Adam could get the winning points.
raymond
January 30th, 2010
8:59 am
Wish Staubach would have gone straight to the NFL instead of Naval duty, would have like to see where he stacked up then. Would take any of them, that’s 10 good ones.
John
January 30th, 2010
9:16 am
raymond,
To me, Staubach’s history makes him a hero among his Hall of Fame peers. Kinda like Ted Williams. What would his numbers have been if he hadn’t been serving his country – during war time to boot? Of course, Roger was in the rear with the gear. The Splinter was flying combat sorties as a fighter pilot.
But either way, when you look at their numbers or beyond them, you still see an all-time great.
GreggJ
January 30th, 2010
9:28 am
Schultz I never agree with you dumbfounded opinions! I guess that is why you are here to stir people up! How can you rate Manning above Brady until he gets ties Bradys superbowl wins??? NO sense here and Manning has a TREMENDOUS offensive line to work behind!
who dat ?
January 30th, 2010
9:37 am
Enter your comments here
Nativebird
January 30th, 2010
9:39 am
You’re spot on about Montana…and to slam dunk the Tebow “translate” debate that all (opposing SEC fans) and NFL network “experts” are hysterical about: Despite his performances on the field at Notre Dame, Montana was not rated highly by most scouts. At one combine, Montana rated out as six-and-a-half overall (on 1 to 10, 10 being highest), with a six in arm strength. By comparison, Jack Thompson of Washington State University rated an eight, the highest grade amongst quarterbacks that year.
The 49ers selected Montana in the third (3rd) round with the 82nd overall pick.
TommyP
January 30th, 2010
9:45 am
If you’re judging QBs on winning Super Bowls, you’re dismissed. That’s just plain idiotic.
Let’s see….Marino didn’t win a Super Bowl so we’ll say Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien, Doug Williams, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler were better than him. Yeah, real smart.
If Peyton isn’t in your top 3 right now, you’re dismissed from the conversation.
The guy is incredible. This coming from a Bulldog fan but what he’s done is simply amazing.
This Colts team is NOT very talented. As someone said earlier, take Brady away and what happened? Pats won 10 games. Take Montana away and Steve Young kept on winning with the 49ers.
Take Peyton away and what happens? Colts lose. And it’s not even close. This team would be lucky to be a 5 win team without Peyton.
Which QB has won more games in a decade than any other QB? Peyton.
My dad grew up watching Johnny U and when you ask him who is the greatest, he says, “It’s pretty hard to argue against Manning. He’s unbelievable.”
dave
January 30th, 2010
9:45 am
As a Falcons fan, I had a hard time admitting I liked Joe Montana, but dangit, I did. Montana-to-Rice was the best QB/WR pairing ever, IMHO. There is no other QB I’d want leading my team.
dave
Lanny
January 30th, 2010
9:47 am
1. I don’t see how anyone can compile a Top 10 list without Bart Starr. Top post season QB rating ever. How many championships? Incredible 10 to 11 year run.
2. Football as it was played before, say, 1980, really cannot be compared to football played after. The rules changed and the game went from focusing on the run to focusing on the pass. Thus, I would have two top ten lists: “Pre-air” and “Post-air.”
3. Most great quarterbacks are, to some degree, beneficiaries of the system their team uses. As great as Montana was, he was also the perfect West Coast Offense quarterback. I doubt Montana would have done very well, for example, in Dan Reeves’ system at Denver or any “vertically” oriented game.
4. I didn’t see enough “Pre-air” football to rank them with any precision, but the list would include: Unitas, Starr, Graham, Baugh, Bradshaw, Staubach, Tarkenton, Stabler, Griese. Cases could be made for Dawson, Jurgensen and Namath.
5. The truth is that there have been a lot of great quarterbacks in the modern “Post-air” era. I would rank them something like this, but I think you could probably juggle the list a lot of different ways:
1. Montana
2. Elway (did an awful lot with a really ill-conceived offense for most of his career)
3. Brady (Super Bowls count)
4. Aikman (ditto)
5. Manning (could end up higher)
6. Favre
7. Marino (great, but never won the big one)
8. Warner
9. Young
10. Kelly
robertussen
January 30th, 2010
9:47 am
dan marino and steve young should be ahead of montana, id take young over montana. and peyton manning is probably the best EVER and keeps getting better. he’ll be a coach one day and a damn good one.
robertussen
January 30th, 2010
9:51 am
maybe jerry rice is the best wr ever. young to rice has better numbers than montana to rice. so wouldnt that knock him down your list according to your logic jeff?
athensdawg
January 30th, 2010
10:01 am
jeff, I am shocked, just shocked that matthew stafford didn’t make this list.
athensdawg
January 30th, 2010
10:02 am
oh yeah, and we all know why you didnt put mike vick on here….because he is the second greatest
(behind stafford.)
hop
January 30th, 2010
10:02 am
there have been many great ones,but here is my ten.
1.peyton manning
2.john unitas
3.john elway
4.joe montana
5.fran tarkenton
6.tom brady
7.roger stauback
8.marino
9.curt warner
10 terry bradshaw
lee
January 30th, 2010
10:24 am
jeff, how about otto graham? 10 years with the cleveland browns, 4 in the all american football conference, 6 in the nfl and he took the browns to the championship game every year. if championships are the measuring stick then he has to be in the conversation.
Jack P
January 30th, 2010
10:47 am
Joe Montana #1 all time! You got that right.
Gen Neyland
January 30th, 2010
10:49 am
All the QB’s listed in your Top 10 had QBing styles that were synonymous or extraordinary to the others. Manning doesn’t have the legs of Montana and Staubach didn’t have the thick skull of a Bradshaw but they all had something most in common. Receivers. I say Manning has 4 go-to guys and that is a number of receivers the rest didn’t have, IMHO. I’d say Montana and Manning are by far the best field generals on the list. But where does Tittle and Van Brocklin fall in..? or fall out.
dan
January 30th, 2010
10:51 am
Elway at number 7? Asinine sir!
Elway was the greatest NFL QB ever! Montana ,while very good, was part of the Bill Walsh San Francisco machine and had the greatest WR to ever play the game in Jerry Rice catching balls from him. When Montana got injured, Steve Young stepped in and the team didn’t miss a beat. Montana had a lot of winning intangibles, but he never carried that team. It’s the same with Tom Brady. When he went down last year, Matt Cassell was able to step in and have a good season. When that happens, it’s the organization that is great not the players.
Elway had a great arm and could make all the throws. He carried a Denver team that was mediocre in talent to 3 Super Bowls in the 80’s. And unlike Favre and Marino ,who’s egos got in the way of their teams success; Elway was able to play within Mike Shannahan’s system late in his career which allowed him to win back to back Super Bowls his last 2 years in the league. Elway was able to prove that he could withstand adversity and finish a winner. He had the talent to carry a team but could also be a team player. He could do it all, and that makes him the greatest of all time.
The Dogfighter Returns
January 30th, 2010
10:53 am
I’ll take John Elway any day of the week over any of these bums. The guy had average stats but he was a leader and a winner. John Elway could carry a team by himself. He did at stanford and in the pros.
I would take Jim Kelly over Montana.
Jeff why don’t you have slingin Sammy up there? OMG. Sammy was a beast when he played.
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:02 am
All the above are great. Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr (Lanny has it right), Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Steve Young (how can you leave him out?), Stabler, Bradshaw, Elway, Jim Kelly, Namath. See jimmy above. Y.A. Tittle, Jurgensen, Unitas, Montana, Len Dawson.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:05 am
Knew BugKiller was pretty much a space cowboy (way out there in orbit); but his lack of knowledge regarding the quality of the defenses that Bradshaw (and I can’t believe I’m defending him) faced between 72-80 is just sad. The Dolphins, Raiders, Oilers, Colts, Chiefs, and Broncos defenses were not just good during that period, they were downright wicked! Without a doubt, the most vicious football game I ever witnessed on any level was that one where Swann was carried out on a stretcher in Oakland in 1977. They stopped the Steelers offense cold. Those teams put up numbers that still boggle the mind. There was reason that Stabler only won one title and that Fouts, Jones, Anderson, and Griese never sniffed a Super Bowl in the mid to late 70’s.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:16 am
The best QB-to-WR combo was Hadl to Alworth followed by Van Brocklin to Hirsch and then Montana to Rice.
Cecil34
January 30th, 2010
11:16 am
Lanny’s referral to pre-air, post air is definately the division point between discussion of great QB’s. Super Bowls have very little to do with the judging process.
No question in my mind Starr is in the top 10 – I saw him play, and while he was playing on a juggernaut of a team, he did what it took and knew Vince’s offense as good as Vince did. The premier QB of the 60’s and I would rank Unitas slightly behind him because Baltimore just did not have the success in the 60’s that Green Bay had.
Staubach was one of a kind due to the fact that he quite frankly played on some Dallas teams that while dominant on defense, were a little short on talent offensively. Believe me when I say that, because his running game was basically by committee until Dorsett showed up in 77.
Calvin Hill, Dwane Thomas, Walt Garrison, Doug Dennison, Robert Newhouse – all good running backs, but not the consistent type that dominates a game. So Staubach had to do a lot himself – i.e. running and passing.
And he really only had Drew Pearson and Billy Joe Dupree – they went through so many other wide receivers it is crazy.
He was the man you wanted to lead you to a score with a minute left. You always had confidence he would get it done.
Like Montana.
And he did not have benefit of playing in his early twenties like the others.
If Staubach had what the Steelers had offensively his stats would be way up there.
I would agree though that I think by the time it is all over for Peyton, he will be considered the best of all time – and should be.
He should coach when he is done playing – this guy is smart and knows football more than any other QB in the league at this time.
And
Bristol Palin 2012
January 30th, 2010
11:22 am
Johnny Unitas
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:27 am
Tom Landry always got in his own way when it came to offensive football. If he’d left Staubach and D-u-a-n-e Thomas and Lance Rentzel (or Alworth when he arrived) alone, they would have competed better in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl! That 1971 Colts-Cowboy snore fest is still the stuff of legend! He spent way too much time trying to break players will… That is the reason we subjected to some of the great coke heads and deviants in football history (see Rentzel, Golden Richards and Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson!
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
January 30th, 2010
11:30 am
I am quite put off that Billy Joe Tolliver was left off this list I do not know if I will ever recover.
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:31 am
Can you imagine if Peyton had a Drew Pearson or a Billy Joe Dupree? Calvin Hill, Dwayne Thomas, Walt Garrison and Robert Newhouse – those were the days!
Navigator
January 30th, 2010
11:39 am
Jeff, it’s either too late or too early to be drinking. You’re all over the place with your picks, especially Marino, who by any definition was a passer, not a quarterback. The old saying that he never won anything really applies to him, both in college (blew a chance to play for National Championship), and the only trip to the super bowl, where his mistakes were as much of the outcome as his passing. Let’s not forget that two year before that Miami team went to the superbowl with a QB that didn’t complete 52% of his passes. However, your choice of Joe Montana was right on, maybe the most cerebral QB that ever played the game. He had the knack of always knowing when to run out of the pocket, and not one second too soon. All the others were “you pick em” selections.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:39 am
Dan…
Montana carried the 81-82 Niners! He was throwing to Freddie Solomon, Dwight Clark, Charlie Young, and Earl Freakin Cooper, and the running back was BILL RING!!!
Again, BILL RING!!!
rockford
January 30th, 2010
11:50 am
D u a n e Thomas sorry about that
JSS
January 30th, 2010
11:54 am
Smitie…
Stabler made Oakland a winner? I guess Lamonica and Blanda were just chopped liver? My goodness!!!
JSS
January 30th, 2010
12:04 pm
Marino had the misfortune of playing for a coach who once coached two of the greatest stable of running backs in the history of football 69 Colts and 72 Dolphins. Then suddenly he thought you could pickup a running game at the local 7-11 at the bargain clearance bin! Marino was rarely the problem in Miami. By the way, the Wood-Stock Super Bowl team was as big of a fluke as the 85 Patroits! That was David Woodley and Don Strock for you youngsters!
Cecil34
January 30th, 2010
12:10 pm
JSS-
You are so right about Landry – remember he coached the defense and Lombardi coached the offense on the Giants of the 50’s…
If Tom had not tried to outfox the opposing defenses with all the shifting and false looks, and just built the offense into power football, a la Lombardi, he would have dominated the 70’s and quite possibly could have beaten the Steelers in at least one of the two super bowls they faced against them.
That Colts – Cowboys game was painful to watch, but don’t forget that a fumble the Cowboys recovered at the one yard line of the Colts was given to the Colts. That changed the whole compexion of the game after that.
I think this one game (along with the Cowboys 5 to 0 playoff victory against the Lions) was the impetus for Rozelle ultimately changing the game of pro football from a run dominated game to a passing one.
But you are right, I shook my head many a time with Landry’s offensive play calling – if he had just let Roger call the plays, we would be talking about how the Cowboys had won 4 or 5 super bowls in the 70’s….
John Tucker
January 30th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jeff:
You have either forgotten, or are to young to have seen, Bobby Lane, Jack Kemp, Roger Staubach,Dan Marino, Archie Manning, Charlie Connery, or Otto Graham play QB..
It’s simplistic and totally subjective to compare 2 currnet All-Star QB’s as the greatest ever, without a more detailed analysis and comparison with past stars who played shorter seasons, fewer games and often played hurt (in order to get paid).
Even with regard to recent greats, Brett Fav re and Jim Kelly would rival Peyton Manning and Joe Montana (whose deep threat are was nonexistent).
For any single big game, give me Roger Staubach under center.
m5691
January 30th, 2010
12:28 pm
Quick name great players off the early denver bronco,s team.
John elway took 3 or 4 very average teams to superbowls.
no other quaterback listed could have done that.
hate to say it being a Raider fan but elway was the man.
JSS
January 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
John…
Bobby Layne and Charlie Connerly…
The Dallas Cowboys were too good to have put themselves in the position that they put themselves in Super Bowl V, Landry was as bad that day as Bobby Cox was in Game 6 of the 1991 WS…
I know that is great affection in these parts in Archie Manning around here; but is a top 25 QB, not a top 10 one by no means…. For all of his greatness, Staubach had his hat handed to him on number of occasions in big games especially in the playoffs.
SuperB
January 30th, 2010
12:54 pm
Good article. I generally don’t like rating athletes from different eras (say Bobby Jones vs. Nicklaus or Tiger,) but having covered sports for the past 42 years, couldn’t agree with you more on Joe Montana. I met Joe and he was a great athlete who didn’t let his ego prevent him from being a better person.
Jeff, say what?
January 30th, 2010
12:59 pm
Ben — I wouldn’t argue over Aikman as a top 10. But what’s he without Irvin, Emmitt and that OL?
Jeff, are you serious? Where would Montana had been without Rice, Taylor, Craig, and his OL? Or Manning without Harrison, Wayne and his OL? Or Bradshaw without Swann, Harris, Bleier, Cunningham, Stallworth, and his OL? Unitas without Berry, Mackey, etc….you can ‘what if’ this to death. My point is this, any great quarterback who put up great numbers had great receivers and a great line, and usually a great running game. The notable exception is Marino, who without a running game never won a Super Bowl, and no, I’m not a Dolphin or Marino fan. So let’s agree, no one has, or ever will, make a ‘greatest qb’ list without having had great players around them. Same with coaches, not one ever amounted to anything without great players.
As for my list, I”d include Young right after Unitas, who was the greatest, then Montana right behind Young. Young was statistically the most accurate passer in NFL history, and had athleticism that no other quarterback on the list not named Elway or Staubach had. I’d also have Manning and Marino ahead of Brady, based solely on regular season stats and not necessarily SB stats. I’m more of a ‘whole season’ guy instead of a one game guy. But hey, that’s what makes it sport. It is all just opinion and it really doesn’t matter unless you’re a degenerate gambler…you’re not, are you, Jeff?
Jeff, say what?
January 30th, 2010
1:03 pm
Almost forgot, did you mean to exclude Roman Gabriel and Bob ‘the General’ Lee from the list? What about Jumpin’ Joe Kapp? Double Pump Bruce Lemmerman? Kim McQuilken? Bob Berry? How about Steve Grogan or Billy ‘wobbleball’ Kilmer? Heath Shuler would also be a nice choice. And, of course, the greatest of them all, Bobby Douglass. Just sayin’.
Chris
January 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
Montana is the greatest ever. No question.
A word about Bradshaw and the quarterbacks his era. The secondary could get away with a lot more interference back in the day. Their numbers would have been better if they played under current rules.
Hmmmm
January 30th, 2010
1:05 pm
Chris, you are right, if Bradshaw and the gang played with today’s rules, their numbers would have been greatly inflated over what they are. The whole ‘Montana is the greatest’ thought? Not so much. Top five, certainly, but not the greatest. IMO
Ath Dog
January 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
The three quarterbacks who are at the top are, without a doubt, David Greene, DJ Shockely and Andy Johnson. By the way, did I mention 31-24 and 8 of 9? And, the last time I looked, Ealey and Caleb were still running up and down the field. OH! LOOK! BeyBey just got another case of ‘alligator arms’ because he heard Reshad coming up behind him!!! Worst team at UGA in 5 years 31, ACC Champs 24
Ted Striker
January 30th, 2010
1:17 pm
Great list. That said, I’d omit Favre. Here’s why. Every other player in the list would be a guy I’d trust at QB with my team down by six with two minutes remaining. Favre may be as capable of pulling out a win as the other 9 QBs, but he’s also the guy who first comes to mind as being most likely to end a comeback by forcing the ball on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down. I replace Favre with Steve Young, stats and awards be darned.
p.s. You should write a book on the Niners one of these days. You’ll make millions!
Jaydawg
January 30th, 2010
1:23 pm
What about Billy Joe Tolliver?The Falcons even let Brett Favre go in order to retain his services!
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 30th, 2010
1:31 pm
I’d have to give honorable mention to Bart Starr and Ken Stabler. In their day, quarterbacks called their own plays and that was where Starr excelled. He always had the defense off balance. It make not take a ton of skill to execute a draw play but it takes skill to know when to call it and how to disguise it. Stabler was a fairly average quarterback for 58 minutes. He took it to another level in the last 2 and was about as cool under pressure as anybody I’ve seen.
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!