The Greatest QBs ever!?!

[philkiecker]

So Brett retired. Many will say that he's the greatest ever. But what do you guys think? Who are some of the top QBs of all time?

I am a Packer fan, but I would not label Brett Favre as the top. I put him at number 3. He definitely has the records to be near the top (games started, passing yards, touchdowns, etc.) I do think that he is the most exciting player of all time, but based on his interceptions and his lagging years, I'm not sure that he is the best.

Number 2 for me is Joe Montana. He truly had a wonderful touch and made that team great. (The 49ers were 4 time Superbowl champions with him at the helm.)

But number one for me is Johnny Unitas. A 10 time pro bowl selection and 3 time NFL champion before winning Superbowl V, Unitas took the fledgling NFL by storm. He played in what many call 'the greatest game ever' against the Giants. He made those Baltimore Colts into a mega threat. He was also the first quarterback to throw for more than 40,000 yards and he did this at a time when passing was 'silly'.

[drew888]

It's tough to pick all-time greats for any sport. I think Joe Montana is definitely a consideration for all-time great. Unitas all well. Tom Brady may not be thought of it yet, but if he can continue what he has done he will be thought of as an all-time great QB.

[michelleG]

Yes, Brett was definitely one of the best and a really nice guy too. John Elway will always be near the top of my list as I grew up a die hard Broncos fan. But I do agree with drew, Joe Montana is way up there on the list!

[Riversider]

marino
montana
farve

hard to compare the older QBs to the modern QBs.

[sanjay]

hi i fully support brett, he is really a very talented person and now has got retired but still his contribution can never be forgotten.

[electricwall]

brett was not the same qb without holmgren as his coach.

[princee18]

brett was great but not the best in my opinion.In my list, the top name is Joe Montana.He is quite talented and greatest among all.

[scribesunlimit]

Bernie Kosar. He still did a great job with the Cleveland Browns no matter what. Turned us from a nothing team in the early 80s to a powerful dynasty that lasted 5 years. Not many QBs can say they lifted a whole team like that. Kosar sure did. :D

[janice]

There are many great quarterbacks in the NFL..But I go for Favre..Bad thing is hes retiring...

[scribesunlimit]

There are many great quarterbacks in the NFL..But I go for Favre..Bad thing is hes retiring...

Or IS he? :D One never knows with Brett. I suppose if a team pays him handsomely enough for a season of work, he has no qualms about getting back into the game again. :D

[tongyun]

I'd have to go with Joe Montana. You can't argue with 4 Super Bowl rings. The man was cool under pressure and he executed the Bill Walsh offense like no one else could. He and Walsh were a terrific combination. By the time Walsh was in his third year with the 49ers (which was Montana's first full year at QB), he had things moving along well enough to win the Super Bowl.

[ianhimself]

Tom Brady. :)

But seriously, I'd probably go with Brett Farve. Even as a older QB, he was better than half the other QBs in the league last year. I'd compare him to the Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman. Always there to compete, no matter what kind of injury he had, always a fan favorite, the face of the franchise, and truely one of the best.

[tongyun]

Although I can respect everyone's belief that their quarterback is the best ever, this is one of those questions that will never be answered. There have been so many different eras of football and it's so difficult to compare one player from era A to another in era B. Just think about it. Tom Brady has all this time to sit in the pocket and wait for receivers to get open, receivers who can't be touched after they're 5 yards passed the line of scrimmage. Now go back 40 years when the secondary could beat the heck out of a receiver regardless of where the player was. Changes in rules just make it too difficult to judge players from differing eras. But, it's still a fun question to ask.

[digitaljohn]

Scott Mitchell. He was always there to lead the Lions to... nothing. Haha.

Seriously, I think Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and Brett Favre get the most common consideration, although it is really impossible to compare quarterbacks from different eras.

[ianhimself]

Scott Mitchell. He was always there to lead the Lions to... nothing. Haha.

Seriously, I think Dan Marino, Joe Montana, and Brett Favre get the most common consideration, although it is really impossible to compare quarterbacks from different eras.

I agree, the game of football has changed so much in the years, it's impossible to compare someone like Dan Marino to Brett Farve to Tom Brady.

[tongyun]

Scott Mitchell. He was always there to lead the Lions to... nothing. Haha.


Let's see. Mitchell is a former University of Utah quarterback who has lead his teams to nothing. In 2005, the 49ers drafted a quarterback from the University of Utah and he hasn't done much, so far. I hope this isn't a trend that will reflect poorly on quarterbacks for the University of Utah, otherwise, BYU fans will have total bragging rights over the quarterbacks that came from their university, e.g., Jim McMahon and Steve Young.

[SAFETYBLITZ]

Can't compare QB's from differrent eras. However, I say the following: Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino, and Brett Favre. Too early for Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

[electricwall]

I agree.