Top 11 NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time

I don't know who coined the phrase "baseball may be America's pastime but football is America's passion" but it's true. Football dominates the American sports universe and quarterbacks are among the brightest stars.

My criteria for who is a top 10 QB has three primary components: Statistics, longevity combined with high level of play, and how he compares to his contemporaries. What doesn't factor into my equation is how many times a QB appeared in the Super Bowl or the NFL (or AFL) championship game. I think it's stupid to rank QBs based on how many NFL titles they have. Last time I checked, there are 22 starters on a team. Many factors play a part into why a great QB doesn't win NFL championships: Quality of teammates, level of competition, injuries, coaching, etc. If a QB doesn't make my list it's not based on championships won or not won. I will consider how a QB plays once he is in the big game but not if he's in the big game. So, let's get to it: The top 11 quarterbacks of all-time.

11. Sammy Baugh (Washington Redskins 1937-52)

Slingin' Sammy Baugh played in a era that wasn't quarterback friendly like the NFL is today. Nor were offenses as sophisticated as they are now (nothing like the West Coast Offense existed in the 1940s). In fact, the first half of Baugh's career he led the Redskins as a single-wing tailback before becoming one of the first T-formation QBs. However, Baugh still passed for 187 touchdowns and over 21,000 yards in a time when a typical NFL season was between 9 and 12 games. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of his game, when considering the era in which he played, is his pass completion percentage. A career average 56.6% was phenomenal at the time and that includes 1945 when he completed over 70% of his passes! Not only was Baugh a great QB, he was a trailblazer who defined the QB position.

10. Johnny Unitas (Baltimore Colts 1956-72; San Diego 1973)

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955, Unitas was cut before he had a chance to play. In 1956 Unitas signed with the Baltimore Colts, led them to two NFL championships, inspired millions of boys nationwide, and became one of the most iconic figures in sports history. He was the Payton Manning of his age meaning he was THE Quarterback of the late fifties and all the way through the sixties. If Mr. Quarterback isn't on your top 10 list, well, I question your judgment.

9. Ken Anderson (Cincinnati Bengals 1971-86)

Though Anderson is one of the most efficient QBs in NFL history, holds the single-season record for highest pass completion percentage (70.6% in 1982), passed for 32,838 yards and 197 touchdowns in his career, and was the NFL's MVP in 1981, he isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What the hell?

8. Brett Favre (Atlanta 1991; Green Bay 1992-2007; N.Y. Jets 2008; Minnesota 2009-present)

In 1991 the Atlanta Falcons drafted Brett Favre in the 4th round of the NFL Draft. He only started 2 games for the Falcons that season before being traded to the Green Bay Packers. He started the 2nd game of the 1992 season for the Packers and hasn't missed a game since. That's 275 consecutive starts at quarterback! Not only is it the longest streak ever by a QB but it's the longest streak by any NFL player ever. In 2007, Favre's final year in Green Bay, he passed Dan Marino to become the all-time leader in touchdown passes. He now as 473 career TD passes. Do I really need to go on to justify his place on this list?

7. Sid Luckman (Chicago Bears 1939-1950)

When Luckman joined the Bears in '39, few teams used a T-formation (traditional QB formation) and most quarterbacks were essentially glorified tailbacks. Luckman, along with Sammy Baugh, made the position into what it is today. And even though Luckman retired in 1950, nearly sixty years later his passing stats still hold up quite well when compared to modern QBs. He still has the highest career touchdown percentage in NFL history; an amazing 7.9 percent of his passes were for touchdowns.

6. Dan Fouts (San Diego Chargers 1973-87)

While many NFL fans and analysts regard Dan Marino as the best pure passer in league history, Dan Fouts was doing what Marino would become known for when Marino was still in junior high. Watch those old NFL Films productions of Fouts and the Chargers passing there way up and down the field and you'll get an education on how to throw perfect spirals with perfect form and perfect execution. Fouts is a clinic and belongs on this list.

5. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins 1983-99)

Though he never won a Super Bowl, Dan Marino may be the best pure passer in league history. His record 420 touchdown passes and 61,361 passing yards were only recently eclipsed by Brett Favre. Add to those feats his ability to win close games and the fact that he won so many games without a great supporting cast most years, Marino deserves his place as one of the best.

4. Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings 1961-66, 72-78; New York Giants 1967-71)

At the time of Fran Tarkenton's retirement in 1978, he was the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards (47,003), touchdown passes (342), wins by a starting quarterback (125), rushing yards by a QB (3,674), and rushing touchdowns by a QB (32). He led the Vikings to three Super Bowls and even though they lost all three, the Vikings were one of the most dominant teams of the 1970s thanks to Tark's amazing abilities as a passer and scrambler.

3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts 1998-present)

If Peyton Manning continues to play like he has over the last decade for, say, another five or six seasons, he'll likely be the all-time leader in nearly every significant passing category including passing yards and touchdown passes. He's a three-time NFL MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, and holds the all-time record for most TD passes in a season (49 in 2004). Enjoy watching him, folks, because he is making history.

2. Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers 1979-92; Kansas City Chiefs 1993-94)

While Montana never put up the big numbers contemporaries like Elway and Marino did, Joe Cool more than made up for it by becoming one of the most efficient passers in NFL history with a career pass completion percentage of 63.2%. When factoring in touchdown to interception ratio, wins, and weather conditions (Montana excelled in bad weather), he easily places high on my list. And, just to cement his position as #2 all-time, let's add in his big game play: Montana started in four Super Bowls, threw 11 TDs passes and zero interceptions. With three Super Bowl MVP awards--more than any other player--who would you rather have as your QB in a big game?

1. Steve Young (Tampa Bay 1985-86; San Francisco 1987-99)

When Montana was playing for the 'Niners, the sophisticated West Coast Offense implemented by head coach Bill Walsh was new to the NFL and very few defenses were geared to stop it. When Steve Young replaced Montana as the starter in San Francisco in 1991, most of the defenses in the NFL knew the West Coast Offense and were prepared for it. But Steve Young not only excelled at running the complicated offense, he surpassed his predecessor, Montana.

Now I know a lot of folks--especially 'Niner fans--have higher regard for Montana than Young because Montana won 4 NFL titles to Young's lone Super Bowl win. But Young rarely had a strong running game to rely on like Montana usually did. Nor were the defenses the 'Niners had in the '90s as good as they were when Montana played. Yet Young became a more efficient passer than Montana. In fact the most efficient passer in NFL history. But that's not all. Young also became arguably the most feared running quarterback ever. Young ran for over 4,000 yards in his career and scored 43 touchdowns on the ground. Oh, and then there was San Francisco's 49-26 thumping of the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX where Young threw six touchdown passes. Freakin' six touchdown passes. Steve Young is the best QB in NFL history.