From Slingin’ Sammy Baugh’s introduction of the gunslinger idea in the late 1930s to Joe Montana’s contribution in developing the West Coast offense, the NFL has seen many quarterbacks who have revolutionized the sport. No matter the advancements a quarterback made in his own era, it still takes more for someone to be remembered as an all-time great. When it came to completion rates, Virgil Carter led the NFL in 1971. Cam Newton holds the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL
- Dan Marino: 1984
With his 5,084 yards in that season, Marino surpassed the second-highest total in league history by 282 yards. The next-highest number in league history was 16, thus his 48 touchdown passes that year were 16 more. For his childhood team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Marino saved his greatest performance of the year. Miami defeated Pittsburgh 45-28 thanks to Marino’s 421 passing yards, which included two touchdown passes to Mark Duper and one each to Mark Clayton and Nat Moore.
- Tom Brady: 2007
Brady not only established the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a season at the time with 50, he also led the league in completion percentage (68.9%) and passing yards (4,806). The Patriots became the first and only team in the NFL to go undefeated during the 16-game regular season schedule thanks in large part to Brady’s historic season. Randy Moss, Brady’s go-to receiver, also established a record by receiving 23 touchdown passes.
- Kurt Warner: 1999
Warner’s almost miraculous rise to post one of the finest passing seasons in history was just made into an epic movie. The former standout of the arena league earned the “triple-crown” in his debut season as the starting quarterback of the NFL after leading the league with 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 65.1% of his throws.
Warner had a terrific start to the 1999 season and an even better end. In each of his first three starts, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw at least three touchdown passes. By completing the game-winning TD pass and earning MVP honours in the Rams’ thrilling Super Bowl victory over the Titans, Warner closed off his picture-perfect season.
- Joe Montana: 1989
One year after almost losing his starting position to Steve Young, Montana had his best season with the 49ers. However, when Young led the 49ers to a thrilling victory over the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana was able to keep Young off the field for the time being. After successfully completing a career- and league-best 70.2% of his throws, Montana won league MVP in 1989. He was flawless in the playoffs, completing 78.3% of his throws while tossing 11 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. Montana capped off his extraordinary season by tossing five touchdown passes and winning the Super Bowl XXIV MVP award.
- Brett Favre: 1996
Favre’s statistics this season don’t exactly match up with the other seasons in history, statistically speaking. Favre did, however, earn the second of three straight MVP awards and led the NFL with 38 touchdowns. After two strong showings in the NFC playoffs, Favre achieved something that very few quarterbacks were able to do: he defeated a team led by Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick in the title game.
In Super Bowl XXXI, Favre, a traditional gunslinger, made two audibles that helped the Packers defeat New England 35–21. His initial audible led to the first touchdown of the contest, a 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison. Green Bay took the lead permanently after Favre’s second audible resulted in an Antonio Freeman touchdown pass of 81 yards.
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