Following the New England Patriots’ dramatic loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on February 4, Tom Brady’s record is five Super Bowl wins — the most of any NFL quarterback — and three losses, which is tied for second most. He is also among the career leaders in several passing categories.
So where does Brady rank among all-time NFL quarterbacks?
The debate over which NFL quarterback is the best ever tends to come down to a philosophical question of what’s more important: rings or stats? Team success or individual accomplishments?
To determine the 30 best quarterbacks of all time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed all quarterbacks currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and those who have won at least one Super Bowl or NFL Championship. We considered each player’s championship wins, lifetime QB rating, number of Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, times selected as league MVP, playoff wins, and more.
Of course, many of the 30 best quarterbacks of all time have both titles and great numbers. But not all.
And as a whole, the rankings lent more weight to team success – titles counted a little more than individual performances. Coming close and not winning didn’t help the cause – one Super Bowl win lifts a quarterback higher than multiple Super Bowl losses. Some passers made up for a lack of rings with stellas career passer ratings.
Click here to see the 30 best quarterbacks of all time.
30. Jim Kelly
> Team(s): Buffalo Bills
> Years active: 1986-1996
> Championships: 0
> Honors: 5 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro
> Lifetime QB rating: 84.4
Jim Kelly is the only quarterback to lead a team to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. He is also the only quarterback to lose four consecutive Super Bowls. When he retired after 11 NFL seasons, he was No. 10 on the career passing yardage list (35,467), and his QB rating of 84.4 was sixth highest at the time.
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29. Rich Gannon
> Team(s): Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings
> Years active: 1987-2004
> Championships: 0
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 84.7
A late bloomer, Rich Gannon was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls when he turned 34. At 37, he was also the oldest player to be named MVP until Tom Brady earned the honor this season at age 40. That MVP season, after throwing for a career-high 4,689 yards, he led the Oakland Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII.
28. Sammy Baugh
> Team(s): Washington Redskins
> Years active: 1937-1952
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 6 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 72.2
When Sammy Baugh first entered the league he was a single wing tailback and only switched to quarterback after several years. He then proceeded to lead the league in pass completion percentage seven seasons. A member of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1963, Baugh was one of the most complete players in league history, winning four punting titles and leading the league in interceptions in 1943.
27. Joe Theismann
> Team(s): Washington Redskins
> Years active: 1974-1985
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 2 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 77.4
After playing his first three professional seasons for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, the Washington Redskins signed Joe Theismann. Theismann led the team to two Super Bowl appearances and one win during his 12 NFL seasons. He holds the franchise records for passing yards (25,206), wins (77), attempts (3,602), and completions (2,044).
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26. Matt Ryan
> Team(s): Atlanta Falcons
> Years active: 2008-present
> Championships: 0
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 93.4
Matt Ryan has thrown for more yards (41,796) in his first 10 season than any other quarterback in NFL history and is already No. 16 on the all-time list for total passing yardage. His league-leading 117.1 QB rating in 2017 was the fifth highest ever. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in every even numbered year since 2010.
25. Norm Van Brocklin
> Team(s): Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles
> Years active: 1949-1960
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 9 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 75.1
Norm Van Brocklin still holds the record for most passing yards in one game at 554, in a 54-14 win with the Los Angeles Rams over the New York Yanks on Sept. 28, 1951. He’s third all-time with 8.2 yards per pass attempt. From 1950 to 1952, the future Hall of Famer platooned at quarterback with Bob Waterfield, also a future Hall of Famer.
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24. Ken Stabler
> Team(s): Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers
> Years active: 1970-1984
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 75.3
Ken Stabler, who was elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously in 2016, led the Oakland Raiders to five straight AFC title games (1973-77) and the Super Bowl title in 1977. When he retired, he was No. 2 on the career pass completion percentage list (59.8). He’s 26th on the all-time game-winning drive list, with 26.
23. Otto Graham
> Team(s): Cleveland Browns
> Years active: 1946-1955
> Championships: 3
> Honors: 5 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 78.0
Every season Otto Graham played for the Cleveland Browns, the team reached the league championship game — the first four as members of the AAFC and the last six in the NFL. The Browns won four AAFC and three NFL titles. Graham still holds the career lead in yards per pass attempt (9.0) and has the highest career win percentage (.788).
22. Fran Tarkenton
> Team(s): Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants
> Years active: 1961-1978
> Championships: 0
> Honors: 9 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 1 MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 80.4
When Fran Tarkenton retired after 18 seasons in the NFL, he held the career marks for pass completions (3,686), passing yards (47,003), and touchdowns (342). The first great scrambling quarterback, Tarkenton still ranks fifth all-time for quarterbacks with 3,674 rushing yards. He’s not ranked higher because he never won a championship, going 0-for-3 in the Super Bowl.
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21. Sid Luckman
> Team(s): Chicago Bears
> Years active: 1939-1950
> Championships: 4
> Honors: 3 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 75.0
The first modern T-formation quarterback, Sid Luckman led the Chicago Bears to NFL titles in 1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946. Sixty-eight years after his last pass, the Hall of Famer is still in the NFL record books as the career leader in passing touchdown percentage (7.9%) and No. 2 in yards per completion (16.2).
20. Russell Wilson
> Team(s): Seattle Seahawks
> Years active: 2012-present
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls
> Lifetime QB rating: 98.8
At 29, Russell Wilson is the youngest quarterback on this list and poised to continue to rise as his career progresses. He’s No. 2 on the all-time passing rating career list with a rating of 98.8 and No. 2 on the all-time adjusted yards per pass attempt at 8.07. He’s been to two Super Bowls with the Seattle Seahawks, winning one, and he’s been selected to the Pro Bowl four of his six seasons.
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19. Len Dawson
> Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers
> Years active: 1957-1975
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 7 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 82.6
In addition to winning a Super Bowl, Len Dawson led the Kansas City Chiefs to two pre-Super Bowl AFL titles in 1962 and 1966. The Hall of Famer was the highest rated quarterback in AFL history, and his 182 TD passes from 1962-69 were more than any other pro quarterback during that time.
18. Eli Manning
> Team(s): New York Giants
> Years active: 2004-present
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 83.5
It’s the two Super Bowl titles that cement Eli Manning’s place on this list. In addition to being named Super Bowl MVP in both wins, he’s been incredibly durable. His streak of 210 consecutive starts is second among quarterbacks. He’s also sixth all-time in pass completions (4,424), attempts (7,396), and yards thrown (51,582) and eighth in passing TDs (339).
17. Bob Griese
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins
> Years active: 1967-1980
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 8 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros
> Lifetime QB rating: 77.1
Bob Griese was the first quarterback to start three consecutive Super Bowls, winning the last two. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990, Griese efficiently led the Dolphins run-first offense, compiling 25,092 passing yards and throwing 192 touchdowns. In the two Super Bowl victories, he was a combined 14-of-18 when passing.
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16. Roger Staubach
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys
> Years active: 1969-1979
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 6 Pro Bowls
> Lifetime QB rating: 83.4
Although Roger Staubach was drafted in 1964 out of the U.S. Naval Academy, he didn’t begin his NFL career until 1969, after completing his military service. In 11 seasons, he started in four Super Bowls, winning two. He led the league in passer rating four times (1971, 73, 78, and 79). He was the first of four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and be named Super Bowl MVP (Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen and Desmond Howard).
15. Dan Marino
> Team(s): Miami Dolphins
> Years active: 1983-1999
> Championships: 0
> Honors: 9 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 86.4
Dan Marino is the only quarterback on this list without a championship ring. He’s ranked 15th overall because his numbers are outstanding. When he retired in 1999, he was the NFL career leader in passing TDs (420), passing yards (61,361), completions (4,967), and attempts (8,358). He’s still among the top 5 in those categories.
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14. Drew Brees
> Team(s): San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
> Years active: 2001-present
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 11 Pro Bowls, All-Pro
> Lifetime QB rating: 96.7
Drew Brees holds NFL records for most consecutive 4,000 yards passing seasons (12), highest career completion percentage (66.9%), passing yards per game (282.9), and five 5,000 yard passing seasons (no other quarterback has more than one). He’s also second all-time in passes completed (6,222) and third all-time in TDs thrown (488) and passing yards (70,445).
13. Troy Aikman
> Team(s): Dallas Cowboys
> Years active: 1989-2000
> Championships: 3
> Honors: 6 Pro Bowls
> Lifetime QB rating: 81.6
Troy Aikman’s three Super Bowl wins are fourth most among quarterbacks. His 90 regular season victories in the 1990s were the most by any quarterback in any decade until Peyton Manning surpassed him in the 2000s with 115 wins. He was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
12. Ben Roethlisberger
> Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers
> Years active: 2004-present
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 6 Pro Bowls
> Lifetime QB rating: 94.0
Ben Roethlisberger was a winner from the start of his NFL career, setting the league mark by winning his first 15 regular season games (all 13 starts in 2004 and first 2 games of 2005) and for most regular season wins as a starting quarterback in his first five NFL seasons (51). At age 23, he became the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl. He’s ninth all-time with a passer rating of 94.0.
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11. Kurt Warner
> Team(s): St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals
> Years active: 1998-2009
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros, 2 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 93.7
Kurt Warner is one of only two Hall of Fame quarterbacks not to be drafted. He’s tied with Dan Marino as the fastest to pass for 30,000 yards (114 games) and is tied for third for career completion percentage (65.5%). He’s also the only player inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Arena Football Hall of Fame.
10. Bart Starr
> Team(s): Green Bay Packers
> Years active: 1956-1971
> Championships: 5
> Honors: 4 Pro Bowls, All-Pro, MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 80.5
Bart Starr was the first NFL quarterback to win five league titles: three pre-Super Bowl NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls. In the postseason, Starr holds the league record for the highest passer rating (104.8) and winning percentage for QBs with at least 10 starts (90%, 9–1). His career completion percentage of 57.4% was an NFL best when he retired in 1972.
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9. John Elway
> Team(s): Denver Broncos
> Years active: 1983-1998
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 9 Pro Bowls, MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 79.9
John Elway had one of the strongest arms of any quarterback, and he put it to good use: he’s seventh all-time in passing yards (51,475) and pass attempts (7,250). He’s fourth on the list of game-winning drives with 46. The two-time Super Bowl champion retired as the NFL leader with 148 regular season wins. He now ranks fifth.
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8. Steve Young
> Team(s): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers
> Years active: 1985-1999
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 7 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, 2 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 96.8
Unlike most Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Steve Young wasn’t a star until his eighth season, the first of his two MVP seasons. Despite being a late-bloomer, when Young retired he was the league’s leader in career QB rating (96.8) and is still fifth on the list. Young was a dual threat as his 4,239 rushing yards are the fourth most ever gained by a quarterback.
7. Aaron Rodgers
> Team(s): Green Bay Packers
> Years active: 2005-present
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 6 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros, 2 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 103.8
Aaron Rodgers didn’t start his first game until his third season in the NFL, but in the last 10 seasons he’s made his mark on the record books. He’s the all-time career leader in QB rating (103.8) and has the lowest career pass interception percentage (1.6%). The Super Bowl champion threw for 21,332 yards from 2008 to 2012, the most by a QB in his first five seasons as a starter.
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6. Terry Bradshaw
> Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers
> Years active: 1970-1983
> Championships: 4
> Honors: 3 Pro Bowls, All-Pro, MVP
> Lifetime QB rating: 70.9
Terry Bradshaw was the first quarterback to win four Super Bowls, accomplishing that in a six-season span with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Hall of Fame quarterback also led the Steelers to eight AFC championship appearances. When he retired, he held Super Bowl records for passing yards (932 yards) and touchdowns (9).
5. Johnny Unitas
> Team(s): Baltimore Colts
> Years active: 1956-1973
> Championships: 3
> Honors: 10 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pros, 3 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 78.2
Johnny Unitas was considered the best quarterback of all-time when he retired. The Hall-of-Famer was the first QB to win three MVP awards, the first to throw for more than 40,000 yards (he finished with 40,239), and he held the mark for most consecutive games with a TD pass (47, set between 1956 and 1960) until Drew Brees broke it in 2012.
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4. Brett Favre
> Team(s): Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
> Years active: 1991-2010
> Championships: 1
> Honors: 11 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, 3 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 86.0
Brett Favre wasn’t just a gunslinger, he was also incredibly durable. He holds the record for most consecutive starts (297, 27 more than Defensive End Jim Marshall and 87 more than Eli Manning, the next QB on the list). Favre’s durability allowed the Super Bowl MVP to set regular season records for pass attempts (10,169) and completions (6,300). He was also the first QB to throw 500 TDs (he finished with the second most TDs, at 508) and pass for 70,000 yards (71,838, No. 2).
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3. Joe Montana
> Team(s): San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs
> Years active: 1979-1994
> Championships: 4
> Honors: 8 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, 2 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 92.3
Joe Montana’s a postseason legend with four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers. He was also the first to be named Super Bowl MVP three times. It’s easy to overlook his regular season accomplishments. When the first-ballot Hall-of-Famer retired after the 1994 season, he led the all-time quarterback wins list (133), and his 92.3 QB rating was second all-time at the time.
2. Peyton Manning
> Team(s): Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
> Years active: 1998-2015
> Championships: 2
> Honors: 14 Pro Bowls, 7 All-Pros, 5 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 96.5
Peyton Manning is undoubtedly the greatest regular season quarterback of all-time. He holds the career marks for passing yards (71,940), TD passes (539), seasons with at least 4,000 yards passing (14), most seasons with 10-plus wins as a starter (14), most consecutive seasons with 25 or more TD passes (13), and most MVP awards (5). He also has two Super Bowl rings.
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1. Tom Brady
> Team(s): New England Patriots
> Years active: 2000-present
> Championships: 5
> Honors: 13 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, 3 MVPs
> Lifetime QB rating: 97.6
It’s almost easier to list the categories Tom Brady doesn’t lead in. He tops the NFL career list in Super Bowl wins for a starting quarterback (5), Super Bowl MVP awards (4), playoff games (37), playoff wins (27), and regular season wins (196). And he’s within range of several other records: game winning drives (53, second all-time), passing yards (66,159, fourth) and passing TDs (488, third).
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