Top Ten Greatest Quarterback-Running Back-Wide Receiver Combos Ever

Smith, Aikman and Irvin

Defense and the running game have long been thought of as the blue print for building an NFL champion.  The 1985 Chicago Bears and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens with their historical defenses and bruising rushing attacks are examples of such a formula.  But are such teams more exception than rule?

Looking back at great teams of the past, you will find the most common theme isn’t necessarily a dominant defense and a smash-mouth running game.  What you will find, however, is some of the greatest quarterbacks, greatest running backs and greatest wide receivers the game has known – often sharing the same huddle.  With playmakers at QB, RB and WR, some of the NFL’s best teams from years past have been able to attack defenses with both the run and pass with equal effectiveness.

Here is my list of the Top Ten Greatest QB-RB-WR combos in the history of the NFL (in ascending order):

10. Joe Theismann-John Riggins-Art Monk (Washington Redskins) – This threesome led the Redskins to 2 Super Bowls (winning 1 in 1982) in 4 seasons from 1982-1985.  Theismann was a 2-time Pro Bowler who led his team with a fire and grit seldom seen at the quarterback position.  John Riggins found the fountain of youth in ’83 and ’84 as he had his 2 best single season rushing totals at ages 34 and 35 – after his best days were thought to be long behind him.  If Theismann and Riggins were the overachieving, blue-collar types then Monk was the antithesis with his smooth, make-it-look-easy pass catching ability.

9. Terry Bradshaw-Franco Harris-Lynn Swann (Pittsburgh Steelers) – The Steelers won 4 Super Bowls from 1974 to 1979 with Bradshaw, Harris and Swann carrying the offensive load.  Sure, the infamous “Steel Curtain” defense was the calling card of this team, but the emergence of Bradshaw and Swann is what kept them on top for so long.  By their championship season in 1978, not only could they play stout defense and run it down your throat with Harris, they could also make the spectacular happen with the strong-armed Bradshaw and acrobatic Swann.

8. Roger Staubach-Tony Dorsett-Drew Pearson (Dallas Cowboys) – From 1977 to 1979, this trio led Dallas to a Super Bowl win, 2 NFC titles and 35 regular season wins.  By 1977, Staubach was an aging QB but had his two best seasons statistically to end his career.  Pearson was Staubach’s favorite target, and the electrifying Dorsett joined the two as a rookie in 1977 to add an explosive mix to the running game.

7. Bob Griese-Larry Csonka-Paul Warfield (Miami Dolphins) – Although Griese was missing (due to injury) for most of the 1972 Undefeated Dolphins Season, he has been credited by teammates as playing an integral role in that team’s historical accomplishment.  He came back with a Pro-Bowl season in 1973 to guide the Dolphins, along with All-Pros Csonka and Warfield, to a repeat title.

6. Kurt Warner-Marshall Faulk-Isaac Bruce (St. Louis Rams) – Warner, Faulk and Bruce were the headliners of “the Greatest Show on Turf” as they won the 1999 Super Bowl and finished runner-up in 2001.  Warner and Bruce seemed to come out of nowhere to combine with the newly acquired Faulk in 1999 to form one of the most feared offenses in NFL history.

5.    Peyton Manning-Edgerrin James-Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis Colts) – These three are the very definition of the ultimate QB-RB-WR combo.  In their prime together (from about 2003-2005), each might have been the best at their craft and were at the top of their respective Fantasy Football Position Rankings.  If this list was strictly for the top ten Fantasy combos of all-time, this Colts trio would head the list, but with no championships this is the highest I could rank them.

4.    Jim Kelly-Thurman Thomas-Andre Reed (Buffalo Bills) – It’s a shame that the time these three guys spent together will be remembered mainly for the 4 Super Bowl failures.  That unfortunate distinction often overshadows one of the most consistent stretches of excellence from a QB-RB-WR grouping.  From 1990-1992, Kelly, Thomas and Reed all made the Pro Bowl respectively while appearing in 3 straight Super Bowls.  If not for another trio to appear later on this list, they might have very well ended up with a couple of Super Bowl wins.

3.    Johnny Unitas-Lenny Moore-Raymond Berry (Baltimore Colts) – This potent combo propelled the Colts to back-to-back NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 while helping to bring NFL offenses out of the Dark Ages. Unitas and Berry are often credited with revolutionizing the downfield passing game in the late 1950’s.  If Unitas and Berry are the pioneers of the modern passing game, then Lenny Moore is the model for today’s dual threat RB.

2.    Joe Montana-Roger Craig-Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers) – Bill Walsh may have been the architect of the West Coast Offense, but Montana, Craig and Rice made it what it was – which was perhaps the most copied offense in the history of tackle football.  Montana with his quick release, intelligence and accuracy, Craig with his incredible versatility and Rice with his disciplined route running and unmatched ability to run after the catch – were all perfectly suited at for the West Coast Offense.  From 1985 to 1990, Montana-Craig-Rice won an average of 12 games per season and captured back-to-back titles in ’88 and ’89.

1.    Troy Aikman-Emmitt Smith-Michael Irvin (Dallas Cowboys) – When Irvin, Aikman and Smith all came to Big D in consecutive seasons in 1988, 1989, and 1990,  the ground work was set for the re-emergence of the Dallas Cowboys Dynasty.  All these guys did in their 10 years together is win 3 Super Bowls and resurrect one of the most storied franchises in all of sports.  Each time Jerry Jones marvels at the spectacle that is the new Cowboys Stadium, he should send a royalty check to each of the original Triplets.

Honorable mention: Bart Starr-Jim Taylor-Boyd Dowler (Green Bay Packers); Steve Young-Ricky Watters-Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers); Joe Namath-Matt Snell-Don Maynard (New York Jets)

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