The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Time: The Guys Who Called the Shots, Threw Dimes, and Won Games When It Mattered Most!
The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Time didn’t just play the game—they owned it. These guys were the generals out there, calling the shots, reading defenses, and delivering throws that would make you say, ‘How’d he do that?’
From Tom Brady stacking Super Bowl rings like pancakes at breakfast to Joe Montana’s ice-water in his veins under pressure, these quarterbacks didn’t just win games—they rewrote history. And how about Patrick Mahomes? The kid’s already rewriting the record books and he’s just getting started. Or Johnny Unitas, who was out there inventing the position before it was cool.
These guys could throw dimes through a keyhole, lead comebacks that left jaws on the floor, and hit receivers so perfectly you’d think they had radar. That’s quarterbacking, folks! You don’t just need talent—you need toughness, leadership, and the ability to shine when the lights are brightest.
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#10. Drew Brees
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 209 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: San Diego Chargers (2001–2005), New Orleans Saints (2006–2020)
Drew Brees wasn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he played like a giant. When it came to precision passing, this guy was surgical, hitting receivers in stride like he had GPS built into his arm.
Brees didn’t just throw the ball—he carved up defenses with pinpoint accuracy, and his quick release left defenders wondering what hit them. With over 80,000 career passing yards, Brees didn’t just move the chains—he rewrote the record books.
And let’s not forget the Super Bowl XLIV victory, where he led the Saints to their first championship and brought an entire city to its feet. Drew Brees defined how the position should be played.
Accolades:
- 2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year
- Super Bowl Champion (XLIV)
- Super Bowl MVP (XLIV)
13x Pro Bowl Selection
#9. Aaron Rodgers
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 225 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Green Bay Packers (2005–2022), New York Jets (2023–present)
Aaron Rodgers makes throwing the football look easy, but what he does is anything but. This guy has a cannon for an arm and a knack for pulling off throws most quarterbacks wouldn’t even dream of.
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His ability to thread the needle in the tightest windows is unmatched, and when the game is on the line, Rodgers turns into a magician.
Whether it’s a Hail Mary that leaves your jaw on the floor or extending plays with his legs to find an open receiver, Rodgers has made a career of turning broken plays into highlights. With over 450 career touchdown passes, he’s not just good—he’s one of the best to ever do it.
Accolades:
- 4x NFL MVP (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021)
- Super Bowl Champion (XLV)
- Super Bowl MVP (XLV)
- 10x Pro Bowl Selection
#8. Dan Marino
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 224 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Miami Dolphins (1983–1999)
Dan Marino threw the football like an artist with a paintbrush, turning every pass into a masterpiece. His quick release was so fast defenders barely had time to blink, and his deep ball? A thing of beauty.
Marino redefined the passing game, lighting up scoreboards and setting records that stood for decades.
Sure, he didn’t win a Super Bowl, but Marino’s greatness wasn’t about rings—it was about changing the way the position was played. With over 61,000 passing yards and 420 touchdowns, he proved that pure talent and a golden arm can carry a team farther than anyone thought possible.
Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005)
- NFL MVP (1984)
- 9x Pro Bowl Selection
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
#7. Brett Favre
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 222 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1991), Green Bay Packers (1992–2007), New York Jets (2008), Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)
Brett Favre played the game like a kid on the playground, slinging the ball all over the field with reckless precision. Favre’s arm strength was the stuff of legends—he could throw the ball through a brick wall if he needed to.
But what set him apart was his fearlessness. He didn’t care about the odds; he believed he could make any play, any time.
With over 71,000 passing yards and 508 touchdowns, Favre was a gunslinger in the truest sense of the word. And that record streak of 297 consecutive starts? That’s toughness you can’t teach. Favre didn’t just play football—he lived it.
Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2016)
- 3x NFL MVP (1995–1997)
- Super Bowl Champion (XXXI)
- 11x Pro Bowl Selection
#6. John Elway
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 215 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Denver Broncos (1983–1998)
John Elway wasn’t just a quarterback—he was a competitor who played the game with grit and determination. Elway’s arm strength was legendary, firing footballs that felt like they were shot out of a cannon. And when the game was on the line, there was no one better.
The “Drive” in the 1986 AFC Championship? That’s football history, folks.
Elway wasn’t just clutch—he thrived in chaos, leading comebacks that turned losses into wins. Capping his career with back-to-back Super Bowl titles, Elway showed the world that toughness and leadership win championships.
Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2004)
- 2x Super Bowl Champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
- Super Bowl MVP (XXXIII)
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
#5. Johnny Unitas
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 194 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Baltimore Colts (1956–1972), San Diego Chargers (1973)
Johnny Unitas wasn’t just a quarterback—he was the blueprint for greatness. Known as the “Golden Arm,” Unitas brought a toughness and precision to the position that set the standard for everyone who followed.
He threw the ball with surgical accuracy and had a knack for delivering in crunch time, leading the Colts to multiple championships.
Unitas’ 47-game streak with a touchdown pass is a record that stood for decades, a testament to his consistency and brilliance. He wasn’t flashy, but he was as reliable as sunrise, and his leadership made him a true icon of the game.
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Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1979)
- 3x NFL Champion (1958, 1959, 1968)
- 3x NFL MVP (1959, 1964, 1967)
- 10x Pro Bowl Selection
#4. Peyton Manning
Height/Weight: 6’5”, 230 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011), Denver Broncos (2012–2015)
Peyton Manning didn’t just play quarterback—he controlled the game like a maestro leading an orchestra. Manning’s pre-snap reads were so precise it felt like he had the defense’s playbook in his hands.
Once the ball was snapped, he’d pick apart defenses with passes that looked like they were delivered by GPS. With over 71,000 passing yards and 539 touchdowns, Manning wasn’t just great—he was relentless.
Whether it was a perfectly placed deep ball or a clutch throw on third down, you could count on him to get the job done. And let’s not forget those two Super Bowl rings—Manning proved he wasn’t just smart, he was a winner.
Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2021)
- 2x Super Bowl Champion (XLI, 50)
- 5x NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
- 14x Pro Bowl Selection
#3. Patrick Mahomes
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 225 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2017–present)
Patrick Mahomes isn’t just rewriting the record books—he’s changing the game in real time. This guy has an arm that’s so strong it feels like he’s throwing rockets, and his ability to make off-platform throws is downright jaw-dropping.
When Mahomes scrambles, it’s not just chaos—it’s magic waiting to happen. In just a few years, Mahomes has already won three Super Bowl titles and two league MVPs, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Whether it’s a no-look pass, a sidearm dart, or a clutch throw in crunch time, Mahomes plays the game like it’s a highlight reel. This kid is the future, and the future looks unstoppable.
Accolades:
- 2x Super Bowl Champion (LIV, LVII)
- 2x Super Bowl MVP (LIV, LVII)
- 2x NFL MVP (2018, 2022)
- 5x Pro Bowl Selection
#2. Joe Montana
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992), Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)
When the game was on the line, there was nobody cooler than Joe Montana. This guy had ice water in his veins, delivering in the clutch time and time again. Montana didn’t just win games—he dominated them, leading the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles without a single loss.
His pinpoint accuracy and calm demeanor made him the ultimate field general.
Whether it was “The Catch” or a game-winning drive, Montana showed the world what greatness looks like under pressure. Joe Cool wasn’t just a nickname—it was the definition of how he played the game.
Accolades:
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000)
- 4x Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
- 3x Super Bowl MVP
- 8x Pro Bowl Selection
#1. Tom Brady
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 225 lbs
Position: Quarterback
Teams: New England Patriots (2000–2019), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2022)
Tom Brady didn’t just win games—he won everything. With 7 Super Bowl rings, Brady didn’t just rewrite history—he built it from the ground up.
This guy wasn’t the flashiest or the fastest, but his toughness, leadership, and ability to deliver in the biggest moments made him the ultimate competitor.
Brady had a knack for making every throw count, leading comebacks that left fans in awe and defenses in disbelief. From the “Tuck Rule Game” to the 28-3 comeback in Super Bowl LI, Brady proved he wasn’t just the greatest quarterback—he’s the greatest player the game has ever seen.
Accolades:
- 7x Super Bowl Champion
- 5x Super Bowl MVP
- 3x NFL MVP (2007, 2010, 2017)
- 15x Pro Bowl Selection
Final Rankings
If you enjoyed this post, check out the Top 10 Running Backs of All Time—the guys who carried their teams to glory—and the Top 10 White Quarterbacks of All Time, where legends of the pocket shine!
