Top 10: Modern-Era Quarterbacks

The pure pocket passer, although not fast, Dan Marino had a knack for avoiding sacks.  Marino had a quick release, great pocket presence, an accurate arm. 

Marino too played much of his career without spectacular surrounding talent, but his 48 TD-pass season has to be credited as one of the most amazing single-season feats in football. 

Also Marino is the only QB to ever throw for over 5,000 yards.  With the exception of his 1993 campaign, Marino was an extremely durable quarterback, only missing 10 games (not counting the 11 he missed from the torn achilles tendon). 

It is my belief that Manning and Marino will, and must, go down in history as the two best pure-passing QBs.  It's also important to mention that Dan ranks No. 3 all-time in wins with 148, just one back of No. 2 man Elway. 

Marino's biggest knock is Super Bowls.  Zero wins.  I feel bad that such a talented QB never had the oppurtunity to win a Super Bowl, I dont think the lack of a ring is a testament to his abilities as a QB, but, rather, to the teams he was surrounded by and the misforunte he had.

Joe Montana

Four Super Bowl rings.  That says a lot for itself. 

Not only was Joe Montana near-perfect in the playoffs, he was also a great regular-season performer.  Montana topped the 100.0 mark three times for passer rating in a regular season, and led the league in completion percentage five times, once even topping 70 percent in 1989. 

Montana was calm under pressure and showed great leadership.  Montana was the perfect man for Walsh's West Coast Offense that has revolutionized the game, and I doubt that the game will ever find a QB as accurate and as well-suited for the system.

4-5 (Ordered)

4. Peyton Manning

Five or six years down the road Peyton Manning will hold every QB record imaginable.

He is the embodiment of professionalism and hard work.  Every year, you can pretty much expect Manning to put up 28 TDs and usually throw you no more than 12 interceptions. 

You know his completion percentage will be high, his passer rating high, and his win total high.  He is one of the smartest QBs to play the game, and one of the most efficient; he gives you day in and day out what you need to win in the NFL.  

5. John Elway

I'm sure I will hear many an angry comment for Elway's low placement. 

The point of sports is to win, and Elway did precisely that. He won 149 games in only 231 starts. 

Elway was also very durable, although he never would put up an impressive streak of consecutive starts, he always played in at least 12 of his team's games (after taking over full-time starting duties in 1984) and many times finished out the entire season without missing a game.

Elway also proved his longevity by, interestingly enough, having four of his best statistical years in his last four seasons as a pro.  Importantly, Elway also won two Super Bowls and made three other appearances, and, even though he didn't win them, it is impressive to think that one man brought his team to the big game that many times. 

Of course, you can't ignore his record 47 come from behind victories.  Elway also ranks fifth all time in TD passes with 300.

6-10 (Loosely Ordered)

Warren Moon

Despite starting his NFL career at age 28 (most rookies are 21-23), Moon still put up excellent numbers.  His 291 TDs put him only nine behind Elway and in 28 less starts.

It's interesting to speculate just how staggering his numbers would have been if he would have had a few more seasons in the NFL. 

Even so, Moon played at a high level at an advanced age, throwing for 25 TDs and 3,600 yards in 14 starts at age 41 for Seattle.  

Jim Kelly 

Kelly also started his NFL career at a relatively advanced age (26) and only played for 11 seasons, but, in those 11 years, he won four AFC championships, and, on the flip side, lost four Super Bowls.  

Kelly consistently threw for over 20 TDs, and, in eight out of 11 seasons, he threw for over 3,000 yards.  Kelly's career QB rating of 84.4 is only 1.3 points lower than Favre's of 85.7.

Fran Tarkenton

Before there was Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton had all of the QB records.  His 342 TDs and thrilling style of play made Tarkenton a nightmare for opposing teams.  There isn't much to say besides he was exciting, durable, and holds several records. 

Steve Young

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