Favre certainly has his detractors, particularly those who justifiably condemn his off-field behavior. But he was also flawed on the field, as evidenced by his 336 interceptions, which are the most in NFL history. But let’s not get it twisted. Favre, a Hall of Famer, 11-time Pro Bowler, three-time MVP, and one-time Super Bowl champion, is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. A true gunslinger, Favre led the league in yards twice, led in touchdowns four times, and finished his career with a 62% completion percentage. His spot in the top 10 is tenuous, but Favre still belongs.
As it stands now, Aaron Rodgers is a no-doubt pick for the top 10. One of the most accurate and mistake-averse (perhaps to a fault) quarterbacks in history, Rodgers has four MVPs, four first-team All-Pro nods, and one Super Bowl title on his résumé. He’s one of the most gifted playmakers the position has ever seen.
“Captain America” might be the most underappreciated QB in NFL history. Such is the passage of time. Roger Staubach won the 1963 Heisman Trophy while playing for the United States Navy Academy. He then played 11 seasons in the NFL (all for the Dallas Cowboys), winning two Super Bowls (he also lost two) and earning six Pro Bowl nods. In between his collegiate and professional careers, Staubach spent a year in Vietnam as a naval supply officer. Staubach might be the coolest QB in NFL history, as well as one of the best ever to play the position.
John Elway was ahead of his time. He blended incredible arm talent with high-level mobility in a way that is now commonplace in the NFL. But Elway was the original, and he would’ve been just as successful in today’s game. In 16 seasons with the Denver Broncos, Elway appeared in five Super Bowls, winning two, and earned nine Pro Bowl nods and one MVP. He eventually landed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is an obvious choice for this list.
This is the problem you inevitably run into with these kinds of rankings. How do you compare Johnny Unitas, who began his career when Dwight D. Eisenhower was the U.S. President, to someone like Patrick Mahomes? It’s an inherently flawed exercise. Nevertheless, you can’t find a top-10 QBs list that doesn’t include Unitas. He was so good that he changed how the position was played while pioneering many aspects of the modern passing game. The two-minute drill, as we know it, doesn’t exist without Johnny Unitas. He finished his Hall of Fame career with three MVPs, 10 Pro Bowl nods, five first-team All-Pro selections, and four championships (one Super Bowl title, three NFL titles).
Some people will tell you Dan Marino is the best pure passer in NFL history. And they might be right. And if Marino had a Super Bowl title on his résumé, he probably would be even higher on this list. Either way, we’re talking about an absolute legend who dominated the league — when he wasn’t busy getting kidnapped by Ray Finkle. Marino’s 48 TD passes in 1984 broke the single-season record of 36 and stood for 20 years. That same season saw him become the first quarterback to break the 5,000-yard barrier. He also was sacked just 13 times despite making a league-leading 564 pass attempts. Before landing in the Hall of Fame, Marino earned one MVP, nine Pro Bowl nods, and three first-team All-Pro selections.
Peyton Manning's first Super Bowl title came against an inferior, unworthy opponent, and his second saw the defense-led Broncos win in spite of him. The early years of Manning’s career also were filled with postseason choke jobs, including two against the New England Patriots. Manning probably would be the first to tell you he left some championships on the table. But that’s where the negativity ends. There wasn’t a ton of flash in Manning’s game, but he was as good of a pure quarterback as the NFL has ever seen. A football savant, Manning outsmarted opposing defenses before and after the snap. With him under center, the Indianapolis Colts were AFC contenders year in and year out. The accolades speak for themselves: five MVPs, 14 Pro Bowl nods, seven first-team All-Pro selections, and two Super Bowl titles. He’s also pretty good in commercials.
Joe Montana was the consensus No. 1 until late in the 2010s when the top QB on this list ended the debate. But he remains an easy choice for the No. 2 spot. Montana didn’t have the strongest arm. And while his mobility was underrated, he wasn’t exactly a burner. Yet, he did have pinpoint accuracy, great leadership, arguably the most catchable ball ever, and the clutch gene. The San Francisco 49ers legend went 4-0 in Super Bowls and won two MVPs. His postseason run from 1988 to 1990 was particularly absurd, as Montana posted a 100+ passer rating in eight straight playoff games. He was just about the perfect quarterback.
Tom Brady has won Seven Super Bowl titles in 10 appearances. Fourteen Conference Championship game appearances, including eight in a row. Fifteen Pro Bowls. Three first-team All-Pro selections. Three MVPs. Two of the greatest statistical seasons in QB history (2007 and 2010). Brady also led New England to 17 AFC East championships, including 11 in a row. He did what Mahomes is doing, and he did it for literal decades. The cherry on top came in 2020 when Brady proved he could do it elsewhere. In his first season with the Buccaneers, Brady led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title over Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady basically had three Hall of Fame careers. Brady is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. At 45 years old, he threw for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also tore his ACL during the prime of his career. Brady is the GOAT...but is he the best?
Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback on the planet, and it’s not particularly close. If the goal were to rank the 10 most skilled quarterbacks in NFL history, Mahomes would be No. 1. But that’s not what this list is. Even so, some may argue we can’t justify giving top-three status to someone who’s only been a starter for eight seasons. But we've seen enough. Mahomes is ridiculous. Still just 29 years old, he already has three Super Bowl titles, two MVPs, and six Pro Bowl nods on his résumé. Mahomes has been in the AFC Championship Game every year of his career, hosting it five out of six times. If his career ended today, he’d be a Hall of Famer.
