5 Best Quarterbacks of All-Time, Ranked

Ranking the best quarterbacks of all time is a complex challenge that requires balancing individual achievements, team success, and impact on the evolution of the game. 

NFL quarterbacks are often judged by Super Bowl wins, but true greatness combines production, efficiency, leadership, and the ability to elevate a team. 

This list weighs statistical output, MVP awards, All-Pro selections, championship performance, and longevity. Era adjustments are also considered, especially when comparing modern pass-heavy offenses to earlier generations.

Without further haste, here are the top 5 NFL quarterbacks of all-time.

1. Tom Brady

• Career: 2000 to 2022 (Patriots, Buccaneers)
• Career Stats: 89,214 passing yards, 649 touchdowns, 212 interceptions
• Accolades: 7× Super Bowl Champion, 3× NFL MVP, 5× Super Bowl MVP, 6× All-Pro selections

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Tom Brady’s career is without a true rival. His 89,214 passing yards and 649 touchdowns are both all-time records, and his seven Super Bowl victories stand alone in NFL history. 

Beyond the sheer numbers, Brady maintained a remarkably high level of play well into his 40s, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns as recently as 2021. His 20-year tenure with the New England Patriots defined an era, and he followed that with a Super Bowl title in Tampa Bay, proving his success wasn’t tied solely to Bill Belichick’s system. 

With 35 career playoff wins and 13 conference championship appearances, Brady set the benchmark for postseason excellence. Ranking the five best NFL passers in league history is inherently subjective, but Brady finding himself in the #1 slot is about as objective as this process could possibly get.

2. Peyton Manning

• Career: 1998 to 2015 (Colts, Broncos)
• Career Stats: 71,940 passing yards, 539 touchdowns, 251 interceptions
• Accolades: 5× NFL MVP (most in history), 2× Super Bowl Champion, 7× First-Team All-Pro

Peyton Manning redefined quarterback play through his control at the line of scrimmage and ability to manipulate defenses pre-snap. His 2013 season remains one of the most productive in league history, with 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, both single-season records at the time. 

Manning led the league in touchdown passes four times and passing yards three times, all while operating under different offensive coordinators and head coaches. Despite early playoff disappointments, he reached four Super Bowls and claimed titles with two franchises, a testament to his adaptability. 

Statistically dominant and intellectually unmatched, Manning’s legacy as a cerebral field general is firmly intact. If longevity and team success wasn’t a key part of the ranking criteria, it’s arguable Manning could be in legit contention to be the best quarterback that ever played.

3. Joe Montana

• Career: 1979 to 1994 (49ers, Chiefs)
• Career Stats: 40,551 passing yards, 273 touchdowns, 139 interceptions
• Accolades: 4× Super Bowl Champion, 3× Super Bowl MVP, 2× NFL MVP, 3× First-Team All-Pro

Joe Montana was the model of postseason consistency and poise. His 4–0 Super Bowl record, paired with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions across those games, cements his status as one of the most clutch performers in NFL history. 

Montana also led as insane 31 fourth-quarter comebacks and executed Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense to perfection, delivering accuracy and timing in an era less conducive to passing. 

His 1989 season, where he completed over 70% of his passes and threw for 26 touchdowns with only 8 interceptions, was particularly ahead of its time. Montana’s impact was felt not just in the stat sheet but in his ability to thrive under pressure in the game’s biggest moments.

Ultimately, Montana may be a victim of era denial and recency bias. He was the first truly dominant NFL quarterback and is the Michael Jordan in the Montana vs. Tom Brady debate.

4. Patrick Mahomes

• Career: 2017 to present (Chiefs)
• Career Stats (through 2024): 28,424 passing yards, 219 touchdowns, 55 interceptions
• Accolades: 2× NFL MVP, 3× Super Bowl Champion, 3× Super Bowl MVP, 2× First-Team All-Pro

Though still early in his career, Patrick Mahomes has already compiled a resume that rivals some of the game’s greatest. In his first six full seasons as a starter, Mahomes has led the Kansas City Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances, winning three. 

His early career includes a 50-touchdown MVP season in 2018 and multiple playoff runs with 10 or more touchdowns. His improvisational ability, arm strength, and command of Andy Reid’s complex offense have made the Chiefs perennial contenders. 

While projections should be cautious, Mahomes’ trajectory suggests he will continue climbing this list, especially given his early postseason dominance and efficiency.

Some already have Mahomes slated as the top NFL quarterback of all-time, but it’s arguably too early to allow him to pass up legends like Brady, Montana, or Manning. 

As a counter to Mahomes being the “Baby GOAT”, his two blowout Super Bowl losses offer a glaring example of his (slightly) flawed resume.

5. Johnny Unitas

• Career: 1956 to 1973 (Colts, Chargers)
• Career Stats: 40,239 passing yards, 290 touchdowns, 253 interceptions
• Accolades: 3× NFL MVP, 1× NFL Champion (pre-Super Bowl era), 5× First-Team All-Pro

Johnny Unitas was instrumental in bringing professional football into the modern age. His streak of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass stood until 2012, highlighting his consistency in an era dominated by the running game. 

Unitas led the league in touchdown passes four times and guided the Baltimore Colts to three NFL Championships, including the 1958 title game, which helped elevate the sport’s national profile. 

While his stats may not match modern standards due to the era, his influence on the position was profound. Unitas introduced a level of passing sophistication and leadership that became the standard for future generations.

Montana is arguably the greatest example of modernized football ignoring past legend’s impact, but Unitas feels it even more. In reality, however, he was positively dominant in his era.

Honorable Mentions

Finalizing the top five quarterbacks in NFL history isn’t easy, and there are bound to be some hurt feelings. 

In terms of statistical accomplishment and sheer skill-set, the following QBs are very difficult cuts from this prestigious list:

• Drew Brees – Finished his career with 80,358 passing yards and 571 touchdowns, holding multiple records upon retirement.
• Dan Marino – Revolutionized the passing game in the 1980s, with 61,361 passing yards and 420 touchdowns despite no Super Bowl titles.
• Aaron Rodgers – Four-time MVP with 475 career touchdowns and one of the lowest interception rates in league history.
• Brett Favre – Retired with 71,838 yards and 508 touchdowns, along with 297 consecutive starts.
• Steve Young – Elite efficiency combined with mobility, including a 70.3% completion rate and 36 rushing touchdowns.

One could make a compelling case for any of these quarterbacks to crack the top 5, but who would they unseat? Nobody here has won more than one Super Bowl as a starter, while Unitas thrived in an era where running the football was the top priority.

Defining Quarterback Greatness

Quarterback greatness blends individual performance with team success, innovation, and historical significance. While statistics are the foundation, the ability to produce in key moments—especially in the postseason—often separates the great from the legendary. 

Each quarterback on this list brought a unique skill set to the field, and their careers reflect different eras in NFL history. From Unitas establishing the position’s value, to Brady raising the standard for longevity and championships, this group represents the elite class of quarterback play. 

As of now, these are the best quarterbacks of all time, and while future stars may challenge the order, their legacy remains undeniable.