You forgot to mention Brett Favre in your article. Let the all-time quarterback records/statistics that you speak of in your article speak for themselves in black and white.

The fact that Tom Brady is not on this page makes it not worth reading. You don't discuss the best QB in NFL history and not mention the QB who may set the record for SB Wins.

Brett Favre is not the all-time greatest. Many of his records are a product of a long career, which has been made possible by his blatant abuse of pain killers. Don't say it was an addiction and make him out to be a victim. The nfl punishes those who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs which have no impact on their on-field performance. the pain killers allowed Favre to continue playing with much less pain, which made it easier to play and perform. Jonny Unitis was a much better leader and quarterback. Others such as Elway, Marino, Montana Brady and Manning helped their team much more by taking much better care of the football and not putting their defense at risk with bonehead passes and plays. As for Tom Brady being the best quarterback ever because he may someday break one record is ridiculous. Aaron Rogers might someday break every record Favre has does that mean he is the best ever right now. I DON'T THINK SO.

I like how the pundits like to discredit the longevity of Brett Favre's career by bringing up the pain killer addiction which was was resolved in 1996! A mere 4 years into his 15 year career as a Packer. Dan Marino also had a career of 15 years, in fact Farve tied the TD record in the same 240 games that it took Marino to set the record. Arguably Manning will be the one to set all records for quarterbacking (aside from INTs) IF he can remain healthy for another 6-7 years. Being a fan of football, all I know is that Favre is electric, inspiring, and just plain fun (sometimes painfully so) to watch. He may not be the "best" but his greatness is forever indelibly linked to the sport.

Brett Favre is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Period. Records aside, no one has ever played with as much heart and tenacity as he has. Not mentioning him in this article is either a terrific and unbelievable oversight or an act of incredible ingnorance.

Anyone who says Brett Favre is even in the top ten all-time is either a Packer fan or is sentimental toward him for some other reason. There is no way that someone could say, with an unbiased opinion, that this guy ever maintained an all-time great level of play. Take an honest look at his career and its; poor game management, bad decisions, interceptions, inconsistency and a lack of ability to read defenses. Being a smart QB (quality) instead of just playing a lot of games (quantity)is what makes greatness. He's had the luxury of a great offensive line for many years. Just think what someone like Steve Young, with his consistent ability to carve up a defense, would have done with all that protection.

It's unfortunate that individuals don't look at the bottom line when putting forth their reasons for the best quarterback ever. I look at championships won and none can surpass Bart Starr. What most forget is that Starr and the packers won five NFL championships in seven years 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967, which included the first two super bowls. Bart Starr might not have the statistics of Dan Marino but Dan Marino does not have five NFL championship rings. Here are some other tidbits for those with short memories: Bart Starr lost only one playoff game, the first one he ever played in. After that, nada. He won every playoff game he was in except the first one against Philadelphia; Bart Starr called his own plays which says a lot about his ability to dissect defenses; and although he might not have the glorious statistics of Marino etc. al, he has the rings. No other quarterback, past or present can match that. And if memory serves, winning is what matters, no? Bart Starr is by far the best quarterback to play the game, hands down. Your statistics mean nothing if not supported by championships! And you want tough? How many recall the ice bowl, probably the greatest game ever played, when Bart was sacked 8 times by the Dallas defense but still went on to score the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left?

No my friends, statistics do lie! It's the championships that give credence to the statistics.

To said that Favre is responsible for "poor game management, bad decisions, interceptions, inconsistency and a lack of ability to read defenses." If YOU take an honest look at his career, you'll see the quarterback with the most wins being Favre. Is that bad game management. Favre also won all those games without a hall of fame running back or wide receiver. Only a few other QB's in the history of the game can say that. As far as the interceptions go, people always bring that up because they just go look up Favre's stats and think "man those ints are the only bad ones i'd better target that." At least 60 of Favre's interceptions were due to receiver errors, but unfortunately there isn't a stat box for that. If you go by skill at the position Favre is the best. If you go by superbowls Brady will be the best.

This has always been a good argument. If this was tennis or golf, an individual sport, then you could come closer to an answer. The problem would still be the different eras. There is a group of QBs that would be part of a special group from each era, the best of their time. Of more recent times, you have named the names. Who of these QB's have won a Super Bowl without a very good defense. None!!

They only can play their side of the ball. Elway was one of the best, but when he won the Superbowl, he was not as good a player as his earlier years when they lost the SB. Those earlier teams he carried on his back. When he won Terrell Davis was MVP, and Sharpe was the best at Tight End. Farve you can discredit for his Int, but he threw many of them because the game was out of reach, and threw them up for grabs. Count that against him, or that he played the game with a smile. Its just a game he understands that. He was MVP 3 years in a row. That by itself should put him in anyones select group of the best. Farve's biggest problem among football fans, has been Madden's constant sickening praise.

Montana is in there, but why so much praise for the coach when he died, if it was all Montana. Jerry Rice who was he? Who made who? Same could be said he New England. Is not the coach now considered among the best all-time? Who made who? Give any of these great QB's time, and they would pick you apart. There is no best ever, but I agree with every name mentioned above as being in the group that is the special group.

Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. True, he does make stupid plays once in a while but for every one of those he makes 10 outstanding plays that no one else can make, because no one else will attempt them for fear of making a lousy play once in a while. He has the skill, determination, attitude, longevity, and guts to be considered one of the greatest ever.

Bart Star is by no means the best quarterback of all time. He was surrounded by talent when he won all five of his championships. he was coached by one of the best coaches ever.He even had a HOF backfield. you wanna talk about championships lets talk about Tom Brady. He already has three and he has never really had a talented offense around him. now he does and lets check out his stats and by the end of this season he will break every major single season passing record, not including Int's and he will have his fourth SB ring.

Favre has played longer than any great qb, he's not the best but one of the best, Brady will be the greatest when it's all said and done. He's already racked so many legendary moments in his career one or two more super bowls would rap it up for him.

There isn't a better quarterback then Johnny U. Best quarterback to never win a ring is Dan Marino.

You forget Favre is the Ironman of the sport at Quarterback! He has played with more broken bones that many of us knew existed, while still maintaining his excellence. Many quarterbacks also tend to crumble under immense stress, however he had what would have been a career game the night following his father's passing. 399 yards and 4 touchdowns in the 1st half alone!! Thats 8 touchdowns and 798 yards if he stayed in for the second half. He holds the all time touchdown record, wins, soon to be yards, and has a superbowl ring. Tom Brady has had an all star cast since he entered the game. Top ranked players surrounding him, he is good, but not in the top 5. Brett Favre made a majority of his teammates good over the years. Because if you look at the statistics, many of his wide receivers after traveling to, or coming from other teams, had career seasons only in Green Bay. Brett Favre.

are you serious???????

Tom Brady has had an all star cast since he entered the game. Top ranked players surrounding him, he is good, but not in the top 5. Excluding 2007, name the all star cast please? Any pro-bowl receiver will do.

Tom Brady is an outstanding QB and already one of the best of all-time. However, to say he hasn't been surrounded by outstanding talent is silly. Since he took over in 2001 he has been on a great team (excluding 2002) every year. Don't forget, the Patriots have had the best defense in the league in this era. This constantly puts the offense in great situations. He has also had the fortune of being surrounded by superior coaching.

Football is such a team game that it makes it difficult to rate top quarterbacks. Both Dan Marino and Dan Fouts were amazing passers who never won the big one. This is of course because they were never part of a complete team. On the other hand Trent Dilfer and Jeff Hostetler both have rings. I'm pretty sure Fouts and Marino would have had a couple of rings if they played for the Patriots of the 2000s. By the way, Patriots WR Troy Brown was Pro-Bowler (an overrated honor anyway) for the 2001 Super Bowl Champs.

That's amazing that who wrote this does not believe that Brett Favre is not in the top 5. Brett and Joe Montana are the two best qb's to play the game. Joe had a great team around him with great receivers, Brett had Antonio Freeman in mid '90's to throw to. Who is he? To say that Brett has poor game management must be coming from somebody either from chicago or a third world country with no way to watch one game of his. He throws passes that nobody would attempt, sure some end up bad but like said in other arguments more than 50 will turn out outstanding. He will own every major record beating Dan Marino and every other qb mentioned above. It's not just the records he owns that makes him great he makes everybody around him better. Name a top 10 or even 20 receiver in the league and nobody will say Donald Driver or Greg Jennings, but he makes them great. Poor game management, are you serious? Cannot read a defense? Lets refresh your memories, super bowl XXXI checks out of a play throws the longest td to that date in super bowl history, guess he could have done better if he waved his arms around for 30 secs like peyton manning. He has had 15 seasons of 3000 passing yards or more in a row, nobody will do that for years. I guess he got lucky all those years. These arguments are just ridiculous, saying that aaron rogers could break brett's records, he can't play 2 games in a row cause he gets hurt all the time. Brett is tough painkillers or not, and when he did painkillers he never missed a game. Neither did he the other 15 years he didn't. Brett Favre will go down as the best qb to play to date and im not afraid to sign it like the rest of you anonymous cowards.

Cable

Tom Brady has NEVER had an all star cast on offense you must have been watching his games with Vaseline on the screen and mistakenly seen J. Rice or L. Swann or ..hmm i don't know Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison on the Patriots. Commercial boy Peyton is a great QB who has had pro bowl receivers for the last 5 years.

Brady's receivers have been ... Troy Brown, Deion Branch, David Patten, David Givens, and Reche Caldwell....do i have to even argue here? None of these guys will be in the Hall of Fame, and Brady still led them to the Super bowl three times. Moss is pretty much a lock for Canton but when he got to The Pats the status quo raised as well as we see Brady poised to get the records for passing yards and TDs for a season if he can manage 5 more in 3 games.....

The only one still with a steady job is Deion. Givens, Patten, and Caldwell are either not playing or the slot option. Troy Brown [bless him] is a possession receiver..all of them are. He was also the only smart one to realize a good thing and stay in N.E. because the others left for money and realized Brady was magnifying their potential. None of them ever made a pro bowl while on the team. The stars on the Pats during their past superbowls [besides him and vinateiri] were on defense ...Ty law, richard seymour, T. Bruschi, M. Vrable.

This year finally Brady can actually use his skills because he isn't being held back by his receivers. And no, a good defense doesn't make someone a good qb otherwise ...Kyle Boller and Rex Grossman would be the toast of the NFL. A good defense doesn't make a qb avoid bad decisions or look off the safety or recognize blitz packages at the line of scrimmage

At present the all time Qbs are as follows...

Tom Brady

Peyton Manning

Steve Young

Brett Favre

Dan Marino

Joe Montana

Fran Tarkenton

Bart Starr

Pocket passers, Clutch performers, game managers ...These guys didn't just latch onto a dynasty team like the 70's steelers... The quarterbacks that are excelling in the present get more kudos because in this age of free agency it's harder to be great, and also defenses are more sophisticated and seasons are longer

The truth of it all folks is Brett Favre is the most interchangeable QB to any system and any offense. This is perhaps the most significant factor in determining the best QB of all time, not how many chance super bowls they have won as a result of superior coaching and players around them. Manning, Montana, or Marino in the frozen tundra? I don't think so. Give Favre Rice or Moss and a probowl running back...maybe 7 mvps instead of 3 and a runner up to gannon? Favre could make something from nothing. One losing season in 15 yrs with a franchise that at times failed to put quality players around him. His pocket presence, leadership, and arm strength are just as good as ANY qb EVER. You might not think he was the best ever but to not have mentioned him in this article is perhaps crazy so i just did.

I agree mostly with the list above. However, John Elway should also be on the list.

John Elway played in 234 NFL regular season games, completed 4,123 out of 7,250 pass attempts, threw for 51,475 yards, threw 300 touchdown passes and 226 interceptions. Elway has appeared in the Pro Bowl nine times, and won the MVP award in 1987. Not to mention to Superbowl victories.

if you say the criteria for best qb all time is superbowl wins then how can you not talk about tom brady? im pretty sure he has 4 before he turned 30 and he's about to get another one this year

Whoever mentioned the ability to succeed in any system (interchangeable) hit the nail on the head. Could Brady be the 4 time winner he was if he played in Green Bay from 2000 till now? I don't know if the answer is yes or not, but I'm guessing he would have stats similar to the guy who's been there since '00. Same goes for a Manning. I'm too young to talk about the early Elway or Marino years (as I suspect many of the posters who are so high on today's QB's are) but I am guessing that if you sit down and ask how young think your favorite guy would have fared in one of the other top guys systems you'll come away with a pretty idea of who the best 3 are. Personally I think Favre is among them, but I can't say where he fits in - or even who the other 2 are.

how about everyone stop complaining and start living in the present. the past is gone and it's not coming back so focus on the future and stop the gossip. leave that to high school girls. if you played in the NFL then you have room to bad mouth other players but for now you're just gonna sit around talking on a computer. i respect everyone that has played in the NFL. they all deserve credit that's why they're professionals. it would not make any sense responding to this because i only go online about once a month. Great work PATS COWBOYS COLTS and PACKERS for 2008.

Packers fans' reasoning for saying Favre is the greatest of all time is like saying John Daly is the best golfer of all time. A quote from a previous post:

"He throws passes that nobody would attempt, sure some end up bad but like said in other arguments more than 50 will turn out outstanding"

That's just like Daly-attempting shots that no one else would and some end up bad, but some end up good. That doesn't make Daly the best ever just like throwing it up there anywhere doesn't make Favre the best ever.

Chucking the ball up there doesn't make you the best ever. Winning does. Consistency does. Winning championships does. The best ever are Montana, Elway, Starr, hands down. Bradshaw is up there, too. Soon we'll be adding Manning and Brady. C'mon guys, Favre is a drunk who can't get it done all the time, just like Daly.

Ok, who's this Brett Frave guy again?

Where's Elway? He's a winner. Great passing stats. Longevity. Probably the best scrambler besides Young. Until Davis he never had a good runningback. I think he's at least top 5.

What about Otto Graham? Not a big stats guy, but if you are talking about leadership and championships he is hard to beat. He led the Browns to the title game every year that he played. I think he was something like 9-3 in play-off games. Starr comes close with all of his wins at Green Bay.

Wow, Favre a drunk who can't get it done, huh? That is perhaps THE least thought out comment I've ever heard in a best QB ever debate. Personally, I believe there will never be a clear cut answer to the question. Brady will have the most rings, Montana the most consistency, Starr established the position as by far the most important on the field, and so on and so on. BUT, to say Favre is not to be considered amongst the "best", whomever you think the "best" is, is flat out ignorant.

"Doesn't get it done?" Oh I get it, those most wins ever must've come from the great talent around him. Remind me, how many HOF running backs or receivers did he play with? How many of his supporting offensive players ever led the league in rushing yards, receptions or receiving yards? How long did he play with any one receiver?

"Doesn't get it done?" Oh I get it, the most passing yards and touchdowns must've been the result of his long career. How many of those games did he miss by the way? Once he started that is, let's not forget, that whole first year was pretty much on the bench in Atlanta. But boy he was lucky to go to Green Bay instead of Atlanta, at least the throwing conditions are better. Oh wait, that's right, other than Soldier Field, Lambeau consistently has the worst throwing conditions. The fact that Brett played well over 100 games in northern Wisconsin and still holds records over guys who played in Florida and California doesn't count for anything.

I'm not saying Brett Favre is definitively the best. I'm saying to leave him out is plain stupid. And you're just a flat out jerk to mention the "drunk" part. Maybe we should take a ring away from Brady each time he has an "illegitimate" child or leaves a pregnant woman for a supermodel. If Troy Aikman is gay, maybe he shouldn't have been allowed to play football. Maybe Elway's 4th quarter comebacks don't count for squat because his ego wouldn't allow him to play for the Colts. Maybe Manning would be even better if he didn't spend every second making commercials. EVERYBODY has something off the field that can be held against them, and it has NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING to do with the debate about their play. Maybe Brett drank too much. Maybe Brady is a womanizer. Maybe Aikman is gay. Maybe Elway is a jerk. Maybe Manning is a man-diva. WHO THE HECK CARES? To say any of that behavior makes them a worse football player is wrong.

Yes Sir wow a bunch of you probably have never even watched Brett Favre play football if you are saying that he is not the greatest ever because if you have watched him play you would understand why 60 percent of the nation thinks he is the best QB ever to play the game YES SIR. Brett has also goon through the most adversity that any other athlete has ever gone through before so reconsider your vote.

Matt Bowe Plymouth, US

I am a die hard vikings fan and I will argue for Brett Favre being one of the best QB's of all time. Granted football is determined by many things defense, coaching, offensive line, wide receivers etc. This guy is simply a pain to watch when he is playing my team. I don't believe you could claim a "best" quarter back of all time because there are too many outside factors. But if I had to pick a quarterback who I would want on my team in his prime it would be Dan Marino or J. Unitus.

OK, I think it's time to backup Joe Montana........ 1st of all, in the SUPERBOWL....... Besides Joe, has any one of these other quarterbacks not thrown an interception in the Superbowl? Brady had his chance, then he blew it....... In the 49ers Back to Back Season...... I have yet to see any quarterback put up impressive numbers in the playoffs & into the superbowl....... Does everybody remember when the 49ers crushed John Elway & the Broncos? How about the playoffs leading into the superbowl? I have not seen any team crush every team in the playoffs & in the superbowl....... Beat Minnesota 41-13, Beat The High Powered Rams 30-3 & Crushed The Broncos 55-10 & til this day is the biggest lopsided victory in Nfl History!!! Ok, lets talk Stats!!! Joe was a 3rd Round Pick In the Draft...... Hmmmmm nuff said!!!! Not too mention a backup Quarterback at Notre dame!!! As for the 49er receivers: Read This........ On Jerry Rice

But National Football League teams, renowned for attention to detail, played Rice short. Most didn't have him at the top of their draft lists, didn't even rate him as the best wide receiver. Rice had come from a predominantly African-American college in the lowly regarded Southwestern Athletic Conference, a product of a gimmicky, spread-the-field passing offense that often ran up the score. Rice's competition was suspect, the thinking went, as was his college coaching.

The San Francisco 49ers thought differently. They thought enough of Archie Cooley, Rice's coach, to pick his brain on his unorthodox offense. They thought enough of Rice to trade up and take him with the 16th selection in the 1985 draft.

(John Taylor) (3rd Round Pick)

A third-round pick out of Delaware State, Taylor might have played second fiddle to Jerry Rice in the 49ers' offense, but he certainly left his mark on the game, earning two Pro Bowl selections (1988-1989) and three Super Bowl rings.

(Dwight Clark) (10th Round Pick)

Dwight Edward Clark (born January 8, 1957 in Kinston, North Carolina) was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987. He played his college football at Clemson University before being drafted in the 10th round of the 1979 entry draft. Clark embarked on a fine career in which he had 506 catches for 6750 yards and 48 touchdowns, along with 50 rushing yards. He led the NFL in receptions(60) during the strike shortened 1982 season, and made the Pro Bowl twice in 1981 and 1982 in his 9 NFL seasons.

Ok Now, Lets Talk Running Backs:

Roger Craig (2nd Round Pick)

Drafted in the second round, the movie star-handsome Craig had quite a career while with the 49ers: three Super Bowl rings; four trips to the Pro Bowl; over 8000 yards gained on the ground, and a further 4000 more via pass receptions. That's a lot of yards! Perhaps his best season was 1988, when he was named National Football Conference's offensive player of the year by United Press International after rushing for 1,502 yards and catching 76 passes for 534 yards.

Tom Rathman,

Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the (3rd Round)of The 1986 draft......

As you can plainly see, the 49ers didn't have superstars right out of college...... These players were low draft picks...... Even Brent Jones, He was selected in the 5th round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1986 NFL Draft. Jones won 3 Super Bowl rings with the 49ers and was three times named All-Pro (1992-1994) and is a four-time Pro Bowler (1992-95). He finished his 11 NFL seasons with 417 receptions for 5,195 yards and 33 touchdowns.

I can go on & on but I think I made my point...... I don't like the fact that peeps say that Joe was surrounded by pro bowl receivers & running backs...... These Players were not pro bowlers before they came to the 49ers...... They became pro bowlers while being a 49er..... Let us not forget Joe came back from a career ending back surgery & Joe came from the era when quarterbacks could still get nailed after the ball is thrown...... Brett Favre kinda reminds me of Jim McMahon of the Bears...... He had that no fear attitude until he got hammered & ended his career....... I honestly don't think The quarterbacks now could handle the hits laid out on quarterbacks back then....... That's why quarterbacks now, last a lot longer....... I tell you if Joe played in this era can you imagine what kinda damage he would do now? How about those 49ers of the 80's? If they were to play in this era now, I bet you they would've won a lot of superbowls in this era & Jerry Rice would be running wild because now they even have protection for the wide receivers too....... Oh well....... That's what I got to say......

Aloha

Oh & to that person that talked about Joe Montana Jerry Rice In The Frozen Tundra? Ummmmm does soldier field ring a bell? Freezing cold in the Bears Backyard!!! NFC Championship on the line? I think you better get the record straight...... By the way, that was the 1st superbowl in their Back to Back year....... The 49ers did go to the superbowl that year as major underdogs with a 10-6 record....... JOE MONTANA drove them down the field in the final minutes of the superbowl & threw the winning touchdown pass to (3rd round pick) John Taylor........ Ok, anymore comments? Nuff Said.......

Joe Montana is the best quarterback ever to play the game. There should be no question about it. Let's look at the potential list of quarterbacks: Montana, Staubach, Unitas, Graham, Bradshaw, Starr, Elway, and maybe Brady (even though he is too young right now). Staubach, Unitas, Graham, Bradshaw, and Starr had basically the same teams when they won their respective titles. Elway didn't win until the end of his career when he had a workhorse running back. Montana won 4 Superbowl titles with basically 3 different teams. The only constant was Montana. They had different offensive players and different defensive players and even different coaches (even though Seifert was an extension of Walsh for the '90 superbowl). I just don't see how anyone can say that Montana is not the BEST ever.

I love the moron that said about Favre, "Many of his records are a product of a long career, which has been made possible by his blatant abuse of pain killers. Don't say it was an addiction and make him out to be a victim."

First, he wasn't using an illegal drug like steroids. It was a legal pain killer, vicadin. Second, it did not help him play better. My understanding is he was getting 3-4 hours of sleep and constantly vomiting from them. The fact that he won an MVP like that is amazing. Finally, it happened in 1995. He has played over 10 seasons since then and won another 2 MVP titles, finished second in the MVP voting 3 other times, played in 2 more Super Bowls, winning one. He has 5 more 30 touchdown pass seasons since 1995.

Basically what this guy shows is a complete lack of understanding about the NFL. In other words he is a Vikings fan.

Joe Montana was the best quarterback ever.

The best quarterback of all times if you are judging all quarterbacks in the history of the NFL or football is Otto Graham. This guy played in 10 championships in a row in his 10 year career. He won 7 out of the 10 championships and his winning percentage is 86%. He won 3 NFL championships after the merge. His team, the Cleveland Browns, were the first team to really go undefeated though the NFL doesn't count the season. Otto threw and ran the ball better than any of those quarterbacks listed above. Otto Graham best ever period.

This article is pretty much spot on. How do you define best? There's many ways to look at it.

In order of what makes the best:

I'd say championships first.

Then stats.

Then the team around them. (it's a lot of luck to have a good team, but that's the game)

Surely greatness should be judged on wins. Also a great quarterback may have been stuck on a mediocre or worse team but with individual talent to make it appear good or even great at times. Otto Graham did have a great career but only played a few extra playoff games before getting on to the championship game. He sparkled in some and flopped in others. Bobby Layne was routinely there as well.

Tom Brady and Joe Montana are clear and alone on top. They won with whoever was there good or weak. they in an unexplainable way carried the team to the top or drove the great team to it's destiny.

The other greatest (that fit this criteria) in no particular order.

Baugh, Luckman, Graham, Layne, Unitas, Starr, Staubach, Bradshaw, Stabler (When will the HoF call?), Elway, Young, Farve and Manning.

Best of then rest

Aikman, Jurgensen, Fouts, Moon, Van Brocklin, Tarkenton,Marino, Kelly...

Greatest ever should be judged on winning 1st. Stats 2nd. Granted great stats may get you into Canton, but unless you can win the big game, you cannot be considered among the greats... unless you're Marino. I think he's the exception. As for Favre... Definitely the most durable QB of all time. I'm convinced he could play into his 50's if he wanted to. However, any record he has broken will probably be broken much sooner by Manning or Brady. Also, I'm surprised how many people haven't brought up Steve Young. If you consider that he spent the first 3-4 years as a backup, and became arguably the best quarterback in the league as soon as he became a starter. Also, his Career QB rating record might be a record that is never broken. I wouldn't say he is top 5, but he is most certainly top 10. Also, you've got to give respect where it is due. Johnny Unitas was so ahead of his time in every aspect of the game, he was to football how Bobby Orr was to hockey. He changed the Quarterback position. However, not to praise "The Golden Boy" too much, but if he can stay healthy, and play well into his mid-to-late thirties, I personally think that Tom Brady will stand alone, ESPECIALLY if they win this Superbowl and finish off the greatest season in Football history of 19-0, which may not be duplicated for a loooooong, long time. That is something that no other QB on the list will ever be able to have on their resume. So again, I think there are many QB's that could make the list of top 10, but here's my 2 cents:

1. Johnny Unitus

2. Tom Brady

3. Joe Montana

4. Dan Marino

5. John Elway

6. Brette Favre

7. Peyton Manning

8. Steve Young

9. Terry Bradshaw

10. Roger Staubach/Bart Starr

Joe Montana (Brady a close 2nd) is the absolutely the best quarterback of all time! He has 4 superbowl wins with no losses. He has a career QB rating of 92.3. An even more incredible QB rating of 96.2 in the playoffs. Montana played his best games against the best NFL defenses. No other QB can match that, NOT Brady, Unitas, Elway, Favre, Marino, Manning, or anybody mentioned.

Brady although very close, still hasn't matched Montana's numbers or Superbowl wins. The Superbowl loss to the very good but not great Giants team didn't help him.

Unitas had very ordinary numbers for many years. And he has a Superbowl loss. I'm still trying to figure out why so many people think he's the best. He was very good, but not the best.

Elway folded like a wet taco in 3 superbowls and wasn't that great in one of the Superbowls that he won.

Favre throws too many interceptions and has only won 1 Superbowl. Plus he lost one Superbowl to John Elway.

Marino choked in his only Superbowl. He wasn't even good enough go to another Superbowl, even though the AFC was very ordinary in the 80's and 90's.

Peyton Manning is excellent during the regular season. But on average doesn't play very well in the playoffs.

I can go on and on, but NO ONE compares!

All of you are retarded....

Joe Montana

Brett Favre

Steve Young

Dan Marino

Bart Starr

Dan Fouts

Troy Aikman

All meant the most to their teams, and were THE reason they had success. OR failure. Any way you look at it there is no "real top QB" because football is a team sport.

Dan Marino would have won 4 super bowls with even half of Montanas 49'rs, as would Aikman won 8 if he had any more talent around an average QB.

Hell Bradshaw could have had 10 SB rings if he would have had the offense of todays Patriots with his defense.

It is all relative. Each QB holds a place in football history based on each ones accomplishments individually. And each one deserves a place in our memory, but to say Brett Favre = Trent Dilfer cause they both won one super bowl? Sorry that response will always = you are retarded.

So next I will hear that Reggie White sucked as well cause he only had one super bowl....or does this mean Charles Haley is the all time greatest football player ever because he has 5 rings?

Lets put it this way....

Best passer to win superbowls with an excellent supporting cast..... Joe Montana

Most accurate passer, that had a career cut short ...Steve Young

Best QB to never win anything, but hold tons of records forever....Dan Marino

Worst Qb to win 4 SB rings, but was juuuuust good enough not to screw up his defensive geniuses......Terry Bradshaw

Best Qb to never win anything...period..Dan Fouts

Best QB to hold almost every current record, one SB ring, shoulda had 2 but Holmgren refused to run, shoulda had three but some tard allowed a 4th and 26 first down to a team that shouldnt have even been in the playoffs, and who was the only highlight for his team in the bad years, and who played the game like it should be....a game..Brett Favre

best QB LEADER.....Johnny Unitas

Best QB in game management, but rode his RB and his O line to SB victories........Troy Aikman

Best QB to win championships, be fairly accurate, but really not as special as he is made out to be.....but has a huge heart and a Great team behind him as well....Bart Starr

Most accurate, highest rated QB, that plays in a perfect system, with a perfect coach, and the best receivers in the game (stop whining pat fans your receivers have been out standing, not sucky like you all claim), oh did I mention, boring, scripted, yes extremely good, yet robot like with no heart. (makes Trent Dilfer look like a SB god).....Tom Brady

Biggest heart, most gracious Sb winning Qb...Trent Dilfer ( may as well throw him in since you all think SB wins are the only way to rate "the best"

Best QB to suck in Sb appearances......Fran Tarkenton

Best QB to have his coach cheat and tell him what the opponents DEf is gonna be....Tom Brady

Oh man did I go there? Sorry I did.....Yeah, put me as the Pats starting QB, tell me what the Def is gonna do, Ill guarantee I can throw for at least 25 TD's in that season.......Crap tape one of my arms behind my back and blindfold me, Ill still make 12 if you tell me where the defenders will be....

Hehe Thanks Eli Manning and the NYG for making it easier to stomach seeing The NE Patriots period. Also thanks for showing that Tom Brady is only as good as the system put around him. Ill place Tom Brady in my Top Qb list when he proves he didnt, nor the hoodie didnt cheat......sorry NE fans.......they got caught....deal with it...

Right now, it's Unitas and Montana for the top spot*. Anyone else is a runner-up - an all time great but still a runner-up.

*When Manning's career is over he will probably be considered the best QB ever.

To the guy who said Bart Star being the best QB ever is kinda funny....his stats are terrible, and did u know he coached the packers and the fans got pissed at him cause he sucked and the killed both of his dogs? yeah he maybe in some1's mentally challenged mind been the best QB ever but as a coach, i dont think so.

Greg cook definitely comes to my mind as best quarterback in the NFL talent wise. In 1969 he played for the Bengals but only one year due to injury. Could have been great. Played and compared to Terry Bradshaw.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback to ever play period. His poise in the clutch and his ability to be calm in any situation is what makes watching him worth while. Brady won superbowls with no more than a semi decent cast,( with the exception of Adam V.) I promise you this, Manning is fine but lets see him throw 45 touchdowns plus without Marvin Harrison. Brady did a job no short of excellence without a receiver core to be proud of and even this year with the team he finally deserves to have, he led the Patriots to 18 wins. He may have not won the superbowl, and no disrespect to Eli, but he didnt lose. Regardless of any excuses that may be made the fact remains that Brady went from unknown to champion, he went from bench to clutch when it mattered the most. Brady is the definition of great and he is the greatest quarterback perhaps even player to ever grace the NFL with his presence.