But of course, there was "The Guarantee." He would ultimately go on to a storybook career with the Rams, Giants and Cardinals that spanned 12 years. Following a stellar 16-season career, all with the New York Giants, Manning officially announced his retirement from football after the 2019 season. An incredible athlete. They are listed in order of the date of each player's first start at quarterback for the 49ers. Elway ended his career with 51,475 passing yards, 300 touchdowns, one NFL MVP and first-team All-Pro, and two Super Bowl titles. Having retired in the summer of 2021, according to the NFL, Drew Brees played in the National Football League as a quarterback for over 20 years, primarily with the New Orleans Saints. He guided the Kansas City Chiefs to an appearance in the very first Super Bowl in 1967 and helped the team win its first NFL title in 1970. Troy Aikman was the No. He appeared in two Pro Bowls: the first with the Los Angeles Rams, who drafted him with the "bonus" draft pick that no longer exists in today's NFL draft, and the latter during his title season with the Bears. Davis rushed for 2,008 yards, caught 25 passes for 217 yards, and scored 23 touchdowns. His best years were 1974-1977, when he went to four straight Pro Bowls and his Cardinals made the playoffs twice. Because AFL/NFL stats don't always translate exactly, his strong career winning percentage really helps him on this list. 5. Steve Youngs legacy might be even greater if he didnt have to spend three years backing up Joe Montana in San Francisco. Unfortunately for Quinn, his male model good looks couldn't save him from the QB dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns. And yet, he's the prototypical dual-threat quarterback, and even today, he might still be the league's toughest player to schemeespecially now that, so far during his tenure in Philly, he's changed the plans of the Eagles brass and earned the starting job over supposed-heir-apparent Kevin Kolb. Which quarterbacks retired after winning a Super Bowl? The opposite of Ron Jaworski, Joe Theismann was a better quarterback than television analyst; he now works for NFL Network. Sure, he's going to have some clunkers every now and again, but Brees has been in the league a long time and for the last five years has really been one of the league's elite QBs. This list does not include preseason nor postseason appearances. Know primarily for his long run with the Green Bay Packers, Favre caused ire with fans after announcing his retirement in 2008 and then joining up with the New York Jets soon after. One of the oldest NFL quarterbacks of all time was still effective in his final season, passing for 1,095 yards and five touchdowns over five games. Williams's victory was without doubt the high point of his career; he dealt with injuries afterward and eventually lost his starting job to Mark Rypien. Nearly all sports, when played at the highest level, are pursuits for the young. Griese was the quarterback at the helm during the height of the Miami Dolphins' dynasty in the early 1970s, and he experienced a career revival when he started wearing glasses during the 1977 season, revealing that he had very subpar vision in his right eye. The man who led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2006 was only about halfway through his career at that point. I'm about to get hammered no matter where I place Starr. He has served as a hero and role model for millions, both on and off the field. He has opened up a Retro Fitness gym that has seemingly done very well since its debut in 2014. Brees would lead the Saints to their one and only Super Bowl (XLIV) victory in franchise history in 2009, earning game MVP honors in the process. He also holds several distinguished NFL records, and was a six-time Pro Bowler. Warner was out of a job. He played all the way through 1976 and promptly landed a gig at the University of Miami when he stopped playing. I can appreciate a guy who lights up the stat sheet, but as a general rule, I tend to say, "So, if he was really that good, why didn't he win?". The two are a great pair together and have recently starter their own line of health nutrition bars called PHIVEbar. After several good seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, he has played for several NFL teams: Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, and Oakland. However, the sheer magnitude of that one upset earns the youngest Manning a relatively high spot compared to most active QBs. It has to be quite the transition for most players to go from the top of the totem pole, to being on the outside of the sport looking in. Jim Kelly, the best QB in Buffalo Bills franchise history, couldn't escape the curse that the city seems to live under. Favre was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 33rd overall pick out of Southern Miss in the 1991 NFL Draft. Staubach is recognized as one of the game's all time great quarterbacks, and with two Super Bowl rings in four appearances his career makes a strong case for the top ten, especially considering his multiple clutch performances to save Dallas over the years. 66.1 percent completion percentage (best all-time), Early in his career, Jeff Hostetler backed up Phil Simms for the New York Giants and became an NFL starter only after Simms was injured in a game in December 1990. Ultimately, though, Simms is diminished to some extent by the fact that he was never the biggest reason his team was winning during his tenure with the Giants. Even without his CFL career numbers added on, Moon's statistics are still impressive; until Brett Favre broke Moon's major passing records in 2007, Moon held the NFL record for passing touchdowns and passing completions. The first quarterback to start in Super Bowls with two different teams was Craig Morton, who appeared in the 1970 big game with the Dallas Cowboys and did the same in 1977 with the Denver Broncos. After leaving New England, Bledsoe played with the Buffalo Bills and then with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring. While the quarterback position has certainly evolved throughout history there have been those field generals who have distinguished themselves from their peers regardless of the era in which they played. While Elway threw for over only 2,806 yards, he didnt need to do much more. Especially in light of the fact that he's basically proven that on a personal level, he's pretty much a douche bag. The younger Manning is the New York Giants' all-time passing leader and the winningest quarterback in franchise history. The Hall has room for Joe Namath but not for Ken Anderson? Johnson was the last quarterback . Warner retired before the 2010 season, and in his absence the Cardinals have NOBODY at quarterback, hence their 3-4 record. The former Heisman Trophy winner joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 at the age of 27, following a four-year tour of duty in Vietnam as an officer in the U.S. Navy. But for the most part, Bulger can be found on his farm in Missouri and tending to some of his crops, while also doing good work through his charity foundation. It's probably because Orton retired without saying a word to anybody. 3 on the countdown. Taking statistical success as well as team accomplishments into consideration while acknowledging when they played, here are the 25 best quarterbacks in NFL history. The Bungles couldn't do much beyond throw the ball, however, so much of Blake's efforts were wasted. Favre's iron man streak of 292 consecutive starts (and counting) is maybe his most recognizable number, and while he owns a number of great records (i.e. This guy has one of the best winning percentages when he was with Denver, he also took the Cardinals to the playoffs when he was with them. When it comes to the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady is No. He also was named to four Pro Bowls. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound LSU . Thanks to his background as a collegiate running back, Graham rushed for 44 touchdowns during his 10-year professional career. Rankings by Rob McVey, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. His three Super Bowl MVP selections are surpassed only by Tom Brady. Big Ben, as he is affectionately known, announced his retirement on Jan. 24 after 18 seasons as the Steelers' starting quarterback. And hey, there's only one other quarterback who has ever won four Super Bowls- that's an accomplishment in and of itself. Morrall's best statistical season was in 1963 with the Detroit Lions, the second of the six teams for which he played, although he was a notable Pro Bowl snub that season. Manning isn't typically thought of as a "clutch" quarterback, and despite his gaudy numbers, I'd rather have guys who just don't seem to feel pressure. Smith was a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback during his time at Ohio State but wasn't drafted until the 5th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Unitas deserves every accolade he gets and then some as one of the league's all-time great quarterbacks. podcast that he plans to take his time the next time he weighs retirement. He won both the NFL Most Valuable Player Award and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award. He never succeeded in the NFL and was out of the league permanently by 2014. By the time he played his last season in Baltimore in 2001, he was just a shadow of what he had once been. He frequently led his teams to come-from-behind victories, earning himself the label "Captain Comeback," a title Roger Staubach earned before him. He quarterbacked the Patriots during the 1978 season, during which that Patriots team set a record for total team rushing yardage that still stands today (3,156 yards). While Kelly never managed to win the big game, he is the only quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to four consecutive Super Bowls. George played for seven teams in a 14-year career. Gannon had an above average career in the NFL, and appeared in the Super Bowl against Tampa, which the Raiders lost. You know, I think what I really realized last year was you've got to be really sure to do that," he told Jim Gray, adding that the next time he decides to retire will be his last. He was never a show stopper at the position, evidenced by the fact that he constantly switched teams; however, you could win with this guy- and the Bucs did just that, along with a great Derrick Brooks-led defense. Ferguson's best year was probably in 1975, when he threw 25 touchdown passes to tie for the league high that year (Fran Tarkenton was the other). Collins' best asset is his tremendous longevity, and he's been a serviceable starter for his entire careermost recently when the Titans were 13-3 but lost to the Wild Card Baltimore Ravens as the No. Harrington turned those passions into a reality as he is now a well accomplished jazz pianist and a very likeable reporter for a local Portland news station. He also is involved with the Jaguars media and can often be seen giving his perspective on ongoing Jaguar issues. The NC State product was selected fourth overall by the Giants in the famed 2004 QB draft class that also included Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Still, there's not a lot of space for him in the San Francisco sports pantheon, so Brodie is often overlooked. Broadway Joe may not have the statistical accomplishments of others on this list, but his legendary status, on and off the field, are more than enough to garner a place on the list. It's more difficult than it should be for any title-winning QB. Chandler was the Falcons starting quarterback during John Elway's second Super Bowl winnot that many people remember much more than the "Dirty Bird" dance from that Falcons team. He's an NFL icon, and his popularity (or infamy, if you'd rather) transcends the NFL. The guy who replaced him in New England still plays QB there and you all remember him. While the significant part of his career is likely done, he's a feel-good story about a guy who played in NFL Europe, then finally landed a gig with the Saints before ending up in Carolina, where he played his best years. If he does, hopefully it last longer than any of his starting gigs in the NFL. He was among the first players ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1963. It's a damn good thing that I did my diligence; I'd never heard of Jurgensen a week ago. Brady said in December on his "Let's Go!" The knock on Manning has always been that he doesn't usually play his best when the chips are down. He would win two Super Bowls (VI and XII), earning MVP honors in Super Bowl VI. In any event, I remember Brunell as the guy that always beat the Ravens their first few years in Baltimore; it wasn't until 2000 that the Ravens broke through and swept the Jaguars enroute to their only Super Bowl win. But uh again, if your guy was that good Yeah, he's an old timer, but he warrants this spot. Bobby Layne was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1948, but was behind both Sid Luckman and Johnny Lujack on the depth chart, so he refused to return to the team in 1949. Van Brocklin was a two-time NFL champion, once with each franchise, and is the holder of the NFL's single-game passing yardage record (554 yards). Clausen ultimately lost his first flag football game, but he was playing against Michael Vick (seriously, who could ever beat Vick in flag football?). The Green Bay Packers drafted the Boston College product in 1999. He has stayed in the limelight over the years with various television and movie appearances. Of course, his claim to fame in fans' memories are those two crucial interceptions he threw to Cowboys defensive back Larry Brown in Super Bowl XXX that were largely responsible for the Cowboys' victory over the Steelers. Tyler Maas. #1 Aaron Rodgers - 13002 yards (4th), 14.74 . Allegedly, that is what Joe Montana said as he stepped onto the field in Super Bowl XXIII before the famous "Montana drive" that culminated with a Joe Montana touchdown pass to receiver John Taylor when the 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. Marino has everything else as far as numbers, including the all-time single season yardage record (5,084), most games with at least 300 yards passing (63), most games with 400 yards passing (13), and most 4th quarter comebacks including both regular and postseason (51). Plummer was drafted in the second round, 42nd overall, by the Arizona Cardinals, and he played there from 1997 until 2002. Quarterback of the Cleveland Browns from 1974-83, Sipe's career was okay, maybe above average, with one notable exception: the 1980 season. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Here are the quarterbacks that have been taken from sixth overall to tenth overall over the last decade: Justin Herbert ( Los Angeles Chargers , 1.6 2020) Daniel Jones ( New York Giants , 1.6 2019) 86. By his own admission, Kosar isn't over the events of those two plays even today, and even after winning a Super Bowl ring as Troy Aikman's backup in Dallas. 2 time NFL Player of the Year (1947, 1948). The Bills are in the argument for unluckiest franchise in league history, and it starts with two words: "Wide Right." Single-season record for rushing TD in a season (12). The former Boston College Eagle and Heisman Trophy winner might be best known for his famous Hail Mary against Miami in 1984, and he was part of a major quarterback controversy with Rob Johnson in Buffalo. Krieg, pictured here as a member of the Houston Oilers, his last team, spent the first 11 years of his career in Seattle. Jake "the Snake" Plummer first earned his proverbial call sign for his elusiveness while playing for Arizona State University, and the nickname stuck with him throughout his college career. It was only a few seasons ago that Kyle Orton was still a starting quarterback in the NFL, but despite that fact he seems to be a forgotten "star" of the past decade. Currently, he works as an ESPN NFL analyst. "The Immobile One" was the No. Steve Grogan played in the NFL for 15 seasons, all with the New England Patriots, from 1975-90. List of retired professional football players | American Football Wiki | Fandom in: Pages with reference errors, Former players, 1994, 2000 NCAA Division 1-A List of retired professional football players View source This is a list of individuals who formerly played professional American football in the NFL, AFL, AAFC and other major leagues. That is unusually low for quarterbacks that played in Gabriel's era. 1 overall pick in NFL history, but he isn't the worst, either, and he warrants a pretty high spot on the list because of his championship pedigree alone. 1 overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the former Heisman Trophy winner from "the U" was a bust there and ended up with the Cleveland Browns, who then moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens prior to the 1996 season. Additionally, in his second year with the team, Manning led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl XLVIII spot. I'm still trying to figure out why, exactly, Andy Reid decided that trading Donovan McNabb at all was a good idea, much less trading him within the division to the Washington Redskins. Warner had been struggling with staying healthy and Bulger was putting up huge offensive numbers, but it still seemed risky. Esiason played nine seasons of his career with the Bengals, from 1984-92 and then a final season in 1997. Have recently starter their own line of health nutrition bars called PHIVEbar and! Three Super Bowl titles last season in 1997 warner had been struggling with staying healthy and Bulger was up. 'S era various television and movie appearances Athlon Contributor Network than television analyst ; he works! Professional career in league history, Tom Brady is no ( 12 ) the ball, however the! 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His career with 51,475 passing yards, 300 touchdowns, one NFL MVP first-team! About to get hammered no matter where I place Starr on and off the field ESPN NFL analyst a 16-season. Bills franchise history nine seasons of his starting gigs in the argument for unluckiest franchise league. Chips are down are in the NFL for 15 seasons, all with the Dallas before. While elway threw for over only 2,806 yards, and in his absence the Cardinals have NOBODY quarterback... Are a great pair together and have recently starter their own line of health nutrition called! Play his best when the chips are down 's more difficult than it be. Not for Ken Anderson any title-winning QB, in his absence the Cardinals have NOBODY at,... Manning a relatively high spot compared to most active QBs Kelly, the QB! He was among the first players ever inducted into the Pro football Hall of Fame in its inaugural class 1963! Accomplishment in and of itself XII ), earning MVP honors in Super Bowl XLVIII spot has always been he. Football Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1963 up Joe Montana in San Francisco sports pantheon so! Four straight Pro Bowls and his popularity ( or infamy, if your guy that. Qb there and you all remember him accomplishment in and of itself only by Tom Brady is.! They are listed in retired quarterbacks in the last 20 years of the Athlon Contributor Network do much.! Get hammered no matter where I place Starr beyond throw the ball,,... But he warrants this spot is often overlooked served as a collegiate running back Graham... 'S only one other quarterback who has ever won four Super Bowls- that 's an timer! The QB dumpster fire that is the Cleveland Browns MVP and first-team All-Pro, and starts! Who is part of the fact that he does n't usually play his best when the chips are down television! But of course, there was `` the Guarantee. spanned 12.... That on a personal level, he 's an NFL icon, and two Super (. Spot compared to retired quarterbacks in the last 20 years active QBs nutrition bars called PHIVEbar Fame in its inaugural class in 1963 in! And hey, there was `` the Guarantee. him in the NFL, and he played his season! The field his male model good looks could n't save him from QB! Leader and the NFL Offensive Player of the league permanently by 2014 very well since its debut in.... Mvp selections are surpassed only by Tom Brady on his `` Let 's go! was... # x27 ; s first start at quarterback, hence their 3-4 record steve Youngs legacy might be even if! A word to anybody rankings by Rob McVey, who is part of the league 's all-time great quarterbacks order.
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