Brett Favre Retires: Favre and the 10 Best Quarterbacks Ever

With the news that Brett Favre will officially announce his retirement (for real this time?) later today, the discussion will inevitably lead to where he ranks among the all-time quarterbacks.

Favre, an 18-year veteran, set numerous NFL all-time marks throughout his career but are those numbers enough to land him high among the Top 10 quarterbacks of all-time? Favre is undoubtedly an all-timer but where exactly does he fit among all the greats to reach under center?

We get the jump on all the other publications by presenting the the Top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history.

10. Terry Bradshaw

Bradshaw didn't retire with the biggest or best stats, but what he did retire with was four Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVP awards and the 1978 NFL MVP.

Bradshaw threw for 27,989 yards, a 212/210 TD/INT ratio and a career 70.9 QB rating. Again, not terribly impressive numbers. However, Bradshaw came through on the biggest stage by throwing for 932 yards in four Super Bowls with a 112.8 rating and at least a 100 rating in every game.

The former Steelers quarterback didn't light up the league, but he was the field general for arguably the best dynasty in NFL history.

9. Steve Young

Perhaps one of the most underrated players in the history of the league, Steve Young checks in with a seven-year prime that could rival others on this list.

Young was a modern Fran Tarkenton that wreaked havoc with his arm and his legs. Young had the highest QB rating six times during his career (most all-time) and retired with a career rating of 96.8.  He led the league in completion percentage five times (64.3 percent for his career) and posted a 232/107 TD/INT ratio.

Young also rushed for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Young went to the Pro Bowl seven times in seven years as a starter, was named an All-Pro three times, won two NFL MVP awards, and was named Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl XXIX. 

Imagine if he hadn't toiled for years in the USFL, in Tampa Bay, and behind Joe Montana.

8. Bart Starr

Before there was Favre in Green Bay, there was Starr. Starr led the Packers to five titles in the 1960s including three NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowl titles. 

The Packers legend threw for 24,718 yards and a 152-138 TD/INT ratio with a 80.5 career rating. Perhaps most important though was Starr's five seasons with the highest rating in the league.  Even Montana and Unitas didn't do that.

Starr went 9-1 in the postseason and led the Packers to three straight titles from 1965-1967.  No other quarterback in league history has accomplished such a feat.

7. Peyton Manning

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts hands off the ball against the New Orleans Saints during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Ge

Manning is the prototype of the new-era NFL quarterback.  He is the ultimate big play quarterback who has torched the league throughout his career.  Manning has throwing for at least 4,000 yards in 10 of his 12 seasons with a better than 2-1 TD-INT ratio for his career.

Manning has won double-digit games in 10 of his 12 seasons (131 games in all). Manning's career completion percentage stands at 64.8 percent with a career QB rating of 95.2.

Manning has four NFL MVP awards to his credit (most all-time) with 10 All-Pro selections and five First Team All-Pro selections.

Manning has just one Super Bowl victory to his credit, but he will retire as the most tactical and intelligent quarterback of the modern era.

6. Brett Favre

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GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings passes the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 1, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty I

Favre is the Wayne Gretzky of the NFL, holding seemingly countless records. Favre has thrown the most touchdowns (497), completions (6,083), yards (69,329), and holds the record for consecutive games played (285).

Favre won three consecutive MVP awards and was an 11-time All-Pro.  He led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI and played in another a year later.  Favre holds a 13-11 postseason record.

However, an NFL record amount of interceptions thrown (317) and history of sometimes reckless play keeps him a bit down the list.

5. Tom Brady

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HOUSTON - JANUARY 03: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots warms up before playing the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Has one quarterback ever meant so much to his franchise? The Patriots were an also-ran NFL team before Brady emerged from a sixth-round pick into a three-time Super Bowl winning franchise quarterback.

Brady has passed for over 3,500 yards in every season he has been health including records for most touchdowns in a season (50) and TD-INT ratio in a season (50-8) in 2007.

Brady owns a career 225-99 TD-INT ratio, a 93.3 career rating and a 97-30 record. He orchestrated the most prolific offense in NFL history and the only 16-0 record in league history. He is a proven winner and owns the most rings of any quarterback of the last 20 years.

4. Dan Marino

Marino made huge passing numbers fashionable before the NFL went to an all-passing style of offense.

The nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro still holds the record for most passing yards in a season (5,084 in 1984).  He owned the record for most career touchdowns (420) before Favre broke the record and most touchdowns in a season (48) before Manning and Brady both surpassed the mark.

Marino's lightning trigger and massive arm made him the example of the next generation quarterback after the Dead Ball Era ended in the late 1970s.

His lack of a Super Bowl victory bruises his legacy, but when talking about the quarterback position, Marino is unquestionably one of the best of all-time.

3. Johnny Unitas

Before there was Peyton Manning, there was Johnny U.  Unitas electrified the NFL in the 1950s and 1960s with his ability to throw the big ball when few others could.

He retired in 1973 with a then-record 290 touchdowns and 40,239 passing yards and a 118-64-4 career mark. Unitas was a three-time NFL MVP, six-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowler.  Unitas led the Colts to two NFL Championships (1958, 1959) and a win in Super Bowl V.

Unitas was the one of a kind in a era where quarterbacking was still a less singularly imposing position.

2. John Elway

The monster arm, the mobility, the deadly accuracy all combined to make Elway one of the most feared players in league history.

He retired with 51,475 yards and 300 touchdowns in his 16-year career.  He averaged 12.5 yards per completion and a touchdown on every 4.1 completions.  He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, five-time First Team All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl champion and geared the Broncos to five Super Bowls.  He retired with most victories ever by a quarterback with 148 and is widely considered as one of the most clutch, late-game quarterbacks in NFL history.

1. Joe Montana

When one thinks about the perfect combination of tools for a quarterback, the end result has to be Joe Montana.  The perfect feel for the game, the accuracy, the poise, the late-game heroics and the overall winning.

Montana completed 63.2 percent of his passes for his career with 273 touchdowns and 139 interceptions for his career.  Montana never threw more than 13 INTs in any season. He threw for 3,500 yards six times in his career, finishing with 40,551 yards for his career.  Montana retired with a 92.3 career rating.

Montana went 100-39 during his 49ers career (117-47 overall), won four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVP awards, and two NFL MVP awards.