10 Best NFL QBs of All Time: Based on the Numbers

We ranked the the Top 10 NFL QBs of all time, with the goal of finding the ten greatest QBs of all time with the greatest legacies. While we know many will disagree with our ranking as this is highly subjective, we attempted to make it as objective as possible.  All our rankings are based on the numbers, and we tried to choose metrics that wouldn’t bias our results towards newer QBs in the more pass-friendly NFL of today.  We chose the following as our ranking factors:

• Super Bowl Wins
• Super Bowl MVPs
• League MVPs
• Passing TD Titles

  We chose these metrics because they have all been around since the first Super Bowl. We must acknowledge that this leaves out NFL championships prior to the merge/ first NFL Super Bowl, but we felt we that this was the best way to keep the level of competition as even as possible, even though it is true that more teams have been added since then.  Due to leaving out the championships before the merge, we understand that this moves players like Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, and Otto Graham down the rankings or off them entirely.

In addition, we chose to use a weighted average, where we weighted super bowl wins by 1.5X due to the fact that we believe they are the most important factor in determining a players legacy as that is the ultimate goal of any NFL Team and Player.   This comes with the understanding that some extremely talented players, are just not lucky enough to be surrounded by other great players, but ultimately our goal with this list not to choose the most talented QBs of all time, but the Greatest QBs of all time with the greatest legacies. 

1. Tom Brady

• Our Rank Score 5.625
• 7  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 5 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 3 Time League MVP
• 4 Time Passing Leader

We aren’t going to get a lot complaints about this one, by beating the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 he solidified himself as the GOAT once and for all.  In addition, by the numbers it wasn’t even close: our weighted average gave him a score of 5.625, the next highest was 3.25. The scariest part is he doesn’t seem close to being done, even after winning his 7th Super Bowl and 5th Super Bowl MVP.  Tom Brady has done it all from setting individual records and winning League MVPs to being a team player and negotiating team friendly contracts for much of his career.  While there will always be naysayers who bring up Spygate or deflategate, his legacy as the greatest QB is of all time is secure. 

2. Joe Montana

• Our Rank Score 3.25
• 4  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 3 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 2 Time League MVP
• 2 Time Passing Leader

3. Peyton Manning 

• Our Rank Score 3.25
• 2  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 1 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 5 Time League MVP
• 4 Time Passing Leader

4. Terry Bradshaw 

• Our Rank Score 2.75
• 4  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 2 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 1 Time League MVP
• 2 Time Passing Leader

We anticipate this is the ranking people will have the most issues with, but like we said from the beginning our goal was to do this by the numbers no matter where it leads us.  And while Terry Bradshaw’s regular season statistics were not very impressive (career 212 TDs, 210 INT), he did win 4 Super Bowls and 2 Super Bowl MVPs.  It is also safe to say a lot of QBs would give up great regular season statistics in order to win 4 Super Bowl rings.  

5. Johnny Unitas 

• Our Rank Score 2.125
• 1  Time Super Bowl Champion (3 wins prior to the merger)
• 0 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 3 Time League MVP
• 4 Time Passing Leader

6. Brett Favre

• Our Rank Score 2.125
• 1  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 0 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 3 Time League MVP
• 4 Time Passing Leader

7. Steve Young

• Our Rank Score 2.125
• 1  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 1 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 2 Time League MVP
• 4 Time Passing Leader

8. Aaron Rodgers

• Our Rank Score 1.875
• 1  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 1 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 3 Time League MVP
• 2 Time Passing Leader

9. Bart Starr

• Our Rank Score 1.75
• 2  Time Super Bowl Champion (5 wins pre merger)
• 2 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 2 Time League MVP
• 0 Time Passing Leader

10. Kurt Warner

• Our Rank Score 1.625
• 1  Time Super Bowl Champion
• 1 Time Super Bowl MVP
• 2 Time League MVP
• 2 Time Passing Leader