The 100 best NFL quarterbacks of all time (2024)

Steven Ruiz

September 12, 2019 9:36 am ET

To celebrate the 100th year of the NFL, our crew at USA TODAY Sports is looking back at the last century of football. I have been given the honor of ranking the 100 best NFL quarterbacks of all time.

To build this list, I used Pro Football Reference’s “approximate value” AV rankings to get a baseline, and then made some individual calls off of that.

To start, I’m going to just show you the rankings of 100-20, because this article is already too long and I’m not sure anyone wants to read multiple words, let alone sentences, on the greatness of Brian Sipe. (Just kidding, you’re wonderful, Brian Sipe. Go Brian Sipe.)

20. Warren Moon

Photo by Brian Masck/Getty Images

Moon may have been higher on this list if he hadn’t spent the first six years of his career in Canada. That probably had more to do with the color of his skin than his actually ability, unfortunately. Moon shattered records in Canada before finally getting his chance in the NFL. He led the league in passing twice, made nine Pro Bowls and took home the MVP award in 1990.

19. Dan Fouts

There’s no doubt Fouts benefitted from playing under Don Coryell, but you can’t argue against his production. He set the passing yardage record in 1979 and then broke it in 1980 and 1981. Fouts also led the league in every major passing category at least once in his career. This is important, too: He might have the lushest beard in NFL history. Sorry, Ryan Fitzpatrick.

18. Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger started off his career as more of a game manager (especially on that first Super Bowl team), but he’s proven over the last decade he’s capable of being the focal point of the offense. He’s made a lot of receivers a lot of money thanks to his ability to buy time in the pocket and make ridiculous throws downfield. Roethlisberger still has time to pad his resume.

17. Kurt Warner

(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Warner had a weird career. After winning MVP in his first season as a starter and then bringing the Rams to a second Super Bowl in three years in 2001, Warner just fell off a cliff. Injuries cost him his job in St. Louis before he spent a forgetful year with the Giants. His resurgence in Arizona lands him on this list. Warner led another perennial loser to the Super Bowl and put together another masterful postseason performance.

16. Troy Aikman

Yes, Aikman played behind a great line and with a dominant back, but we never consider how that may have affected his, um, underwhelming stats. He played in a run-first offense, so he never really got a chance to air it out. Aikman did come through whenever Dallas was forced to pass the ball, though. He had a strong arm, a quick release and was supremely accurate. Put Aikman on a pass-happy team, and he might be considered one the best to ever play. Instead, he’ll have to settle for those three rings.

15. Jim Kelly

Kelly was asked to shepherd one of the more innovative offenses in league history and had no problem doing it. He was one of the last quarterbacks in league history to call his own plays. There’s a reason why coaches don’t ask their players to do that anymore: It’s really hard. But the play-calling duties did not stop Kelly from throwing a bunch of touchdowns, landing on five Pro Bowl teams and leading the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.

14. Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers may be the most talented quarterback to ever play. We still need to see him do it for another five years or so before he even sniffs the GOAT conversation, but there’s little doubt that he’ll eventually make it there. Rodgers already has two MVP awards and a Super Bowl ring on his resume.

13. Fran Tarkenton

The original scrambling quarterback, Tarkenton made plays that other quarterbacks just weren’t making back when he played. He was also a productive passer who played on successful teams. Tarkenton’s passer rating dropped 22 points in the playoffs, which drops him down this list.

12. Terry Bradshaw

Bradshaw doesn’t get the credit he deserves for really taking over those 1970s Steelers teams late in their dynastic run. By the end of it, Pittsburgh was throwing it all over the field, and Bradshaw proved capable of playing a more important role. He’s also got those four rings. No big deal.

11. Steve Young

AP Photo/Santa Barbara News-Press, Mike Eliason, File

Young’s prime was short but, man, was it good. He set the league’s passer rating record in 1994 during one of the greatest seasons a quarterback has ever produced. Young ranks fifth in career rating, which is remarkable considering the era he played in. He’s also one of the best scramblers in league history.

10. Roger Staubach

Concussions cut Staubach’s career short, which is a shame because he was playing some good football when walked away from the game. He led the league in passer rating in each of his final two seasons and was coming off a fifth consecutive Pro Bowl season.

9. Bart Starr

Starr is the forgotten quarterback in Green Bay. He won five championships, made a handful of Pro Bowls and won NFL MVP in 1966. Starr was at his best in the postseason, posting a 104.1 passer rating and a 9-1 record. His career was cut short after undergoing surgery on his throwing arm.

8. Dan Marino

The start of Marino’s career was simply brilliant. In only his second season, he led the Dolphins to a 14-2 record while setting the NFL touchdown record. Marino never came close to matching that season, though. And after making five Pro Bowls to start his career, he made only four more appearances over the final 12 years of his career.

7. Johnny Unitas

Many consider Unitas the best quarterback of all-time, and we’re not going to argue with them — we just never got a chance to see him play. He certainly has a case. He retired with just about every passing record and won three rings (only one Super Bowl, though) over the course of his career. He loses points here for sub-par play in the postseason.

6. John Elway

Elway was very good for a very long time. He never really put up great stats despite his immense skill-set, but that’s fine. His teams were always in the playoffs and he managed to grab two rings on his way out.

5. Drew Brees

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

It’s criminal that Brees has never won an MVP award. He’s never played with great receivers and had only a few seasons with a competent defense but still manages to drag the Saints near the .500 mark every year. At least Brees has a ring and will go down as one of the most prolific passers in league history.

4. Brett Favre

Favre’s longevity lands him this high on the list. Playing all of those games allowed him to stack touchdowns, passing yards and wins. His time as the best quarterback in the league did not last very long but it was impressive. He won three consecutive MVP awards from 1995 to 1997. Favre won just a single ring, which is disappointing considering how many great teams he played on.

3. Peyton Manning

We’re officially at the point where any of the following guys can make the argument for being No. 1 on this list. Manning broke every passing record there is and did so with a very distinct style. His work at the line of scrimmage has influenced the next generation of passers. Unfortunately for Manning, playoff performance matters, and he just wasn’t near his best in January.

2. Joe Montana

Montana never put up crazy stats but he may have been the most efficient quarterback to ever play. He was the perfect quarterback to run Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense thanks to his unmatched sense of timing and impeccable accuracy. Montana was never rattled and saved his best performances for the postseason. Until the next guy came along, Montana was the best to every play the position…

1. Tom Brady

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The GOAT argument ended as soon as Brady led a 25-point comeback and won his fifth ring. And since then, he’s added another ring and put up a record-breaking performance in Super Bowl 52. He’s got the wins like Montana and stats like Manning. And we’ve never really seen a quarterback be this good for so long. Brady continues to play at an elite level well past his 40th birthday. This is no longer a debate: Brady is the best quarterback of all time.

Read more of our NFL 100 coverage.

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