How to List the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

As the face of the franchise, NFL quarterback is the most glamorous position in sports. NFL quarterbacks carry the hopes of entire regions on their shoulders, date supermodels, meet presidents and motivate teammates to put their respective livelihoods on the line with each snap. The greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time have combined physical tools alongside gritty leadership to emerge as legends.

Instructions

  1. NFL Quarterback Statistics and Intangibles

    • 1

      Identify diverse resources for football information. Authoritative websites include NFL.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Profootballhof.com. Further, ESPN and Sports Illustrated regularly revise their lists for the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time.

    • 2

      Prioritize your ranking system according to statistics and intangibles. For example, your list may place a premium on Super Bowl championships. Touchdowns and passing yards are also important measures of quarterback play. In terms of intangibles, you may consider a quarterback's star power. For example, "Broadway" Joe Namath will always be remembered for his playboy lifestyle.

    • 3

      List starting quarterbacks who have won multiple Super Bowls. As of 2010, this list would include Terry Bradshaw (4), Joe Montana (4), Troy Aikman (3) and Tom Brady (3). Several quarterbacks, such as John Elway, Roger Staubach and Ben Roethlisberger, have won two Super Bowls. Prior to the modern era, Otto Graham won seven championships for the Cleveland Browns.

    • 4

      Rank quarterbacks according to passing yards and touchdowns. Analyze all-time and individual season stats. Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton and Dan Fouts have all put together impressive statistical records. Brett Favre is the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Favre should finish his career with more than 70,000 yards passing.

    • 5

      Evaluate team play. A quarterback can pad his stats and win championships if he is the leading man on a talented roster of Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers. For example, Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl XXXV ring at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, but he is not considered to be among the greats.

    Order Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time List

    • 6

      Brainstorm a list of greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. Your list may begin with the top 25 quarterbacks by passing yards. From there, you can add championship-winning QBs. To begin, you may think of Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas.

    • 7

      Observe the weaknesses of each quarterback in your brainstorm list. For example, Dan Marino put up impressive stats, but never won a Super Bowl. Alternatively, Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, but his legacy must be discounted due to the talent around him. Bradshaw's 1970s Steelers teams have sent numerous players to the Hall of Fame.

    • 8

      Put together a list, beginning with the greatest quarterback of all time. Say you select Joe Montana as the greatest quarterback of all-time. From there, your list may read: 2) Peyton Manning, 3) Dan Marino, 4) John Elway, 5) Brett Favre, 6) Johnny Unitas, 7) Tom Brady, 8) Steve Young, 9) Fran Tarkenton, and 10) Otto Graham.