The Evolution of the Quarterback: Yesterday's Legends vs. Today's Greats

In the illustrious history of the NFL there isn't a position more scrutinized or more dissected than that of the quarterback. Like the old saying goes, when things go bad the quarterback receives too much blame and when things are going great the quarterback receives too much credit.

But, I think it's fair to say that if the team were a snake the quarterback would be the head. Cut off the head and the body will die.

During this day and age there is not a more important player on the field. I'm a firm believer that for an organization to be successful in the NFL it has to have good ownership and a good to great quarterback. If those two pieces are there, everything else will fall into place.

But things haven't always been that way. During the 50's and 60's the only real thing a quarterback was expected to do was be a good game manager. Not that they're not expected to do that now but let's face it, if a quarterback is labeled only a good game manager today it means he's riding the bench or playing on the scout team.

Throughout the 50's and 60's offensive success depended mostly on the running game. And the most commonly used formation during that era was the pro-set. At that time the pro-set was generally a running offense that used play action fakes to set up deep passing attempts when defenses stacked up vs the running game.

Then in the 70's, along came a man by the name of Don Coryell and a strong armed quarterback named Dan Fouts and the quarterback position changed dramatically from that point on.

So, with that being said, the two primary questions this entire slideshow looks to pose and hopefully answer with viewer assistance is:

1. Is it possible or fair to compare a quarterback from yesterday (before 1970) to a quarterback from the modern era (1970-present)?

And

2. What exactly does a quarterback have to accomplish to be considered great?

Does it take a Super Bowl ring? A certain number of playoff victories? The league MVP? Over 30,000 career passing yards and 200 plus TDs?

Needless to say, it takes a number of things to go right for a quarterback to be successful but even if he does everything perfectly that still doesn't guarantee a Super Bowl victory. It takes a great team to win the Super Bowl, so I've never been one to believe that a quarterback needs a Super Bowl ring before he can be placed in the category of the "greatest ever."

A great quarterback should have the ability to motivate his teammates and make those around him better players, but there's actually only a few things that a quarterback has absolute control over. And that is the number of yards that he throws for, the number of touchdowns and the number of interceptions.Any success outside of that will depend on coaching and the level of play from his teammates.

However, on the flip side of the coin, a great quarterback plays a vital role in helping lead the team to a Super Bowl and that should be factored in when determining the status of a quarterback's career.

Taking all of these things and more into consideration I have developed a formula to rate a quarterback based on six key factors of their careers. And those are:

SUPER BOWL TITLES

SUPER BOWL APPEARANCES

PRO-BOWL APPEARANCES

LEAGUE MVP

TOUCHDOWNS

YARDS THROWN AND RUSHED

Each player will receive 50 points for every Super Bowl title, 15 points for every Super Bowl appearance, five points for every Pro-Bowl appearance, 25 points for every league MVP, one point for every touchdown and 10 points for every 100 yards thrown or rushed for. The numbers from the formula will then be totaled up.

Then, take the total number of games started and total number of years played, add those together, and divide that total by two to get an average.

Last, take the total number from the formula and divide by the average received from the games started and years played and you then have a quarterback rating number. For example:

Drew Brees has one Super Bowl title (50 pts.), one Super Bowl appearance (15 pts.), five Pro-Bowl appearances (25 pts.), 242 career TDs (242 pts.) and 35,745 total yards (3,570 pts.). Which equals a total of 3,902 points.

So far in his career he has started 137 games and played a total of 10 years. Added together it comes to 147; then divide that number by two and we get an average of 74.

3,902 divided by 74 equals 53. Which means Drew Brees has a quarterback rating of 53.

In the following pages I have rated 53 of what's considered by most to be some of the best quarterbacks of all time. And while offensive schemes and philosophies have changed dramatically over the years so has the importance and value of the quarterback.

Kurt Warner: Q.B.R. : 57

CAREER NUMBERS

32,344 total passing yards

208 total passing TDs

128 total INT's

286 total rushing yards

3 total rushing TDs

65.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Two time league MVP

Four time Pro-Bowler

Two time, First Team All-Pro

1999 NFL Bert Bell Award

1999 Super Bowl MVP

2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year

Aaron Rodgers: Q.B.R: 57

CAREER NUMBERS

12,723 total passing yards

87 total passing TDs

32 total INT's

926 total rushing yards

13 total rushing TDs

64.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

2009 Pro-Bowl

2010 Super Bowl MVP

 

Peyton Manning: Q.B.R: 56

CAREER NUMBERS

54,828 total passing yards

399 total passing TDs

198 total INT's

722 total rushing yards

17 total rushing TDs

64.9 career completion percentage

AWARDS

11 time Pro-Bowler

Four time league MVP

2006 Super Bowl MVP

Five time First- Team All-Pro

Two time NFL Bert Bell Award winner

2005 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

Joe Montana: Q.B.R: 56

CAREER NUMBERS

40,551 total passing yards

273 total passing TDs

139 total INT's

1,676 total rushing yards

20 total rushing TDs

63.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Eight time Pro-Bowler

Two time league MVP

Three time Super Bowl MVP

Three time First Team All-Pro

1989 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2000

 

Steve Young: Q.B.R: 54

CAREER NUMBERS

33,124 total passing yards

232 total passing TDs

107 total INT's

4,239 total rushing yards

43 total rushing TDs

64.3 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Seven time Pro-Bowler

Two time league MVP

1994 Super Bowl MVP

Three time First Team All-Pro

Two time NFL Bert Bell Award winner

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2005

Tom Brady: Q.B.R: 53

CAREER NUMBERS

34,744 total passing yards

261 total passing TDs

103 total INT's

607 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

63.6 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

Two time league MVP

Two time Super Bowl MVP

Two time First Team All-Pro

2007 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Drew Brees: Q.B.R: 53

CAREER NUMBERS

35,266 total passing yards

235 total passing TDs

132 total INT's

479 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

65.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Five time Pro-Bowler

2009 Super Bowl MVP

2006 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

2008 AP Offensive Player of the Year

2006 First Team All-Pro

2009 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Dan Marino: Q.B.R: 52

Two of the biggest travesties in all of sports is Pete Rose not being allowed into Cooperstown and Dan Marino never getting a Super Bowl victory.

CAREER NUMBERS

61,361 total passing yards

420 total passing TD's

252 total INT's

87 total rushing yards

Nine total rushing TD's

59.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Nine time Pro-Bowler

1984 league MVP

1984 NFL Offensive Player of the Year

1998 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Three time First Team All-Pro

1984 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2005

Brett Favre: Q.B.R: 51

CAREER NUMBERS

71,838 total passing yards

508 total passing TDs

336 total INT's

1,844 total rushing yards

14 total rushing TDs

62.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

11 time Pro-Bowler

Three time league MVP

1995 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

Three time First Team All-Pro

Two time NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Donovan McNabb: Q.B.R: 51

CAREER NUMBERS

36,250 total passing yards

230 total passing TDs

115 total INT's

3,400 total rushing yards

28 total rushing TDs

58.9 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

Daunte Culpepper: Q.B.R: 51

CAREER NUMBERS

24,154 total passing yards

149 total passing TDs

106 total INT's

2,652 total rushing yards

34 total rushing TDs

63.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Three time Pro-Bowler

Randall Cunningham: Q.B.R: 50

CAREER NUMBERS

29,979 total passing yards

207 total passing TDs

134 total INT's

4,928 total rushing yards

35 total rushing TDs

56.6 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1998 First Team All-Pro

Three time NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1990 NFL PFWA MVP

1992 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Warren Moon: Q.B.R: 50

CAREER NUMBERS

49,325 total passing yards

291 total passing TDs

233 total INT's

1,736 total rushing yards

22 total rushing TDs

58.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Nine time Pro-Bowler

1990 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

1989 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006

Ben Roethlisberger: Q.B.R: 50

CAREER NUMBERS

22,502 total passing yards

144 total passing TDs

86 total INT's

874 total rushing yards

14 total rushing TDs

63.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

2007 Pro-Bowl

2004 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year

Dan Fouts: Q.B.R: 50

CAREER NUMBERS

43,040 total passing yards

254 total passing TDs

242 total INT's

476 total rushing yards

13 total rushing TDs

58.8 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

1982 NFL PFWA MVP

Two time First Team All-Pro

1982 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1993

John Elway: Q.B.R: 49

CAREER NUMBERS

51,475 total passing yards

300 total passing TDs

226 total INT's

3,407 total rushing yards

33 total rushing TDs

56.9 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Nine time Pro-Bowler

1987 league MVP

1992 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

1998 NFL Super Bowl MVP

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2004

Norm Van Brocklin: Q.B.R: 49

CAREER NUMBERS

23,611 total passing yards

173 total passing TDs

178 total INT's

40 total rushing yards

11 total rushing TDs

53.6 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Nine time Pro-Bowler

1960 NFL AP MVP

1960 NFL UPI MVP

1960 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1960 First team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971

Otto Graham: Q.B.R: 48

CAREER NUMBERS

23,584 total passing yards

174 total passing TDs

135 total INT's

882 total rushing yards

44 total rushing TDs

55.8 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Five time Pro-Bowler

Three time NFL UPI MVP

Seven time First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1965

Johnny Unitas: Q.B.R: 47

CAREER NUMBERS

40,239 total passing yards

290 total passing TDs

253 total INT's

1,777 total rushing yards

13 total rushing TDs

54.6 career completion percentage

AWARDS

10 time Pro-Bowler

Three time AP and UPI league MVP

Three time NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Five time First Team All-Pro

1970 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1979

Drew Bledsoe: Q.B.R: 47

CAREER NUMBERS

44,611 total passing yards

251 total passing TDs

206 total INT's

764 total rushing yards

Ten total rushing TDs

57.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

Michael Vick: Q.B.R: 47

CAREER NUMBERS

14,609 total passing yards

93 total passing TDs

58 total INT's

4,360 total rushing yards

32 total rushing TDs

55.3 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

2010 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Jim Kelly: Q.B.R: 46

CAREER NUMBERS

35,467 total passing yards

237 total passing TDs

175 total INT's

1,049 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

60.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Five time Pro-Bowler

1991 First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2002

Roger Staubach: Q.B.R: 46

CAREER NUMBERS

22,700 total passing yards

153 total passing TDs

109 total INT's

2,264 total rushing yards

20 total rushing TDs

57.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

1971 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1971 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1978 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985

Y.A. Tittle: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

33.070 total passing yards

242 total passing TDs

248 total INT's

1,245 total rushing TDs

39 total rushing TD's

55.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Seven time Pro-Bowler

1957 NFL UPI MVP

1962 NFL UPI MVP

1963 NFL AP MVP

Three time First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1971

Boomer Esiason: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

37,920 total passing yards

247 total passing TDs

184 total INT's

1,598 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

57.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1988 NFL AP MVP

1988 NFL PFWA MVP

1995 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Winner

1988 First Team All-Pro

Steve McNair: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

31,304 total passing yards

174 total passing TDs

119 total INT's

3,590 total rushing yards

37 total rushing TDs

60.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Three time Pro-Bowler

2003 NFL AP MVP

George Blanda: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

26,920 total passing yards

236 total passing TDs

277 total INT's

344 total rushing yards

Nine total rushing TDs

47.7 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1961 AFL AP Player of the Year Award

1961 AFL UPI Player of the Year Award

1970 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1961 First Team All-Pro

1974 NFL Walter Payton Award Winner

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1981

Rich Gannon: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

28,743 total passing yards

180 total passing TDs

104 total INT's

2,449 total rushing yards

21 total rushing TDs

60.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

2002 NFL AP MVP

2002 NFL PFWA MVP

Two time NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Two time First Team All-Pro

Jim Everett: Q.B.R: 45

CAREER NUMBERS

34,837 total passing yards

203 total passing TDs

175 total INT's

596 total rushing yards

Four total rushing TDs

57.7 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1990 Pro-Bowl

Phil Simms: Q.B.R: 44

CAREER NUMBERS

33,462 total passing yards

199 total passing TDs

157 total INT's

1,252 total rushing yards

Six total rushing TDs

55.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Two time Pro-Bowler

1986 NFL Super Bowl MVP

Mark Brunell: Q.B.R: 44

CAREER NUMBERS

32,045 total passing yards

184 total passing TDs

108 total INT's

2,421 total rushing yards

15 total rushing TDs

59.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Three time Pro-Bowler

Joe Theismann: Q.B.R: 44

CAREER NUMBERS

25,206 total passing yards

160 total passing TDs

138 total INT's

1,815 total rushing yards

17 total rushing TDs

56.7 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Two time Pro-Bowler

1983 NFL AP MVP

1983 NFL PFWA MVP

1983 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

1982 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1982 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Dave Krieg: Q.B.R: 44

CAREER NUMBERS

38,147 total passing yards

261 total passing TDs

199 total INT's

1,261 total rushing yards

13 total rushing TDs

58.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Three time Pro-Bowler

Doug Williams: Q.B.R: 44

CAREER NUMBERS

16,998 total passing yards

100 total passing TDs

93 total INT's

884 total rushing yards

15 total rushing TDs

49.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1987 NFL Super Bowl MVP

Troy Aikman: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NUMBERS

32,942 total passing yards

165 total passing TDs

141 total INT's

1,016 total rushing yards

Nine total rushing TDs

61.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

1992 Super Bowl MVP

1997 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006

Joe Namath: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NIMBERS

27,663 total passing yards

173 total passing TDs

220 total INT's

140 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

50.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Five time Pro-Bowler

1968 AFL AP Player of the Year

1968 AFL UPI Player of the Year

1968 AFL Super Bowl MVP

1969 AFL AP Player of the Year

1968 First Team All-Pro

1974 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985

Bart Starr: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NUMBERS

24,718 total passing yards

152 total passing TDs

138 total INTs

1,308 total rushing yards

15 total rushing TDs

57.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1966 NFL AP MVP

1966 NFL UPI MVP

1966 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1967 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1966 First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977

Sonny Jurgensen: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NUMBERS

32,224 total passing yards

255 total passing TDs

189 total INTs

493 total rushing yards

15 total rushing TDs

57.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Five time Pro-Bowler

Two Time First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983

Fran Tarkenton: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NUMBERS

47,003 total passing yards

342 total passing TDs

266 total INTs

3,674 total rushing yards

32 total rushing TDs

57.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Nine time Pro-Bowler

1975 NFL AP MVP

1975 NFL PFWA MVP

1975 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

1975 First Team All-Pro

1975 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Vinny Testaverde: Q.B.R: 43

CAREER NUMBERS

46,233 total passing yards

275 total passing TDs

267 total INT's

1,661 total rushing yards

15 total rushing TDs

56.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Two time Pro-Bowler

Bernie Kosar: Q.B.R: 42

CAREER NUMBERS

23,301 total passing yards

124 total passing TDs

87 total INT's

265 total rushing yards

Five total rushing TDs

59.3 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1987 Pro-Bowl

Terry Bradshaw: Q.B.R: 42

CAREER NUMBERS

27,989 total passing yards

212 total passing TDs

210 total INT's

2,257 total rushing yards

32 total rushing TDs

51.9 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Three time Pro-Bowler

1978 NFL AP MVP

1978 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1979 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1978 First Team All-Pro

1978 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Earl Morrall: Q.B.R: 42

CAREER NUMBERS

20,809 total passing yards

161 total passing TDs

148 total INT's

878 total rushing yards

Eight total rushing TDs

51.3 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Two time Pro-Bowler

1968 NFL AP MVP

1968 NFL UPI MVP

Two time First Team All-Pro

1972 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Ken Anderson: Q.B.R: 40

CAREER NUMBERS

32,838 total passing yards

197 total passing TDs

160 total INT's

2,220 total rushing yards

20 total rushing TDs

59.3 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1981 NFL AP MVP

1981 NFL PFWA MVP

1981 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

1981 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

1981 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1981 First Team All-Pro

1975 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

Bobby Layne: Q.B.R: 40

CAREER NUMBERS

26,768 total passing yards

196 total passing TDs

243 total INT's

2,451 total rushing yards

25 total rushing TDs

49.0 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

Two time First Team All-Pro

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967

John Hadl: Q.B.R: 40

CAREER NUMBERS

33,503 total passing yards

244 total passing TDs

268 total INT's

1,112 total rushing yards

16 total rushing TDs

50.4 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Six time Pro-Bowler

1973 First Team All-Pro

1971 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

Bert Jones: Q.B.R: 40

CAREER NUMBERS

18,190 total passing yards

124 total passing TDs

101 total INT's

1,429 total rushing yards

14 total rushing TDs

56.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1976 Pro-Bowl

1976 NFL AP MVP

1976 NFL PFWA MVP

1976 NFL Offensive Player of the Year

1976 First Team All-Pro

Roman Gabriel: Q.B.R: 39

CAREER NUMBERS

29,444 total passing yards

201 total passing TDs

149 total INT's

1304 total rushing yards

30 total rushing TDs

52.6 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1969 NFL AP MVP

1969 NFL UPI MVP

1969 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

1969 First Team All-Pro

1973 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Ron Jaworski: Q.B.R: 39

28,190 total passing yards

179 total passing TDs

164 total INT's

859 total rushing yards

16 total rushing TDs

53.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1980 Pro-Bowl

1980 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Len Dawson: Q.B.R: 38

CAREER NUMBERS

28,711 total passing yards

239 total passing TDs

183 total INT's

1,293 total rushing yards

Nine total rushing TDs

57.1 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Seven time Pro-Bowler

1969 AFL Super Bowl MVP

Two Time First Team All-Pro

1973 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1987

Jim Plunkett: Q.B.R: 38

CAREER NUMBERS

25,882 total passing yards

164 total passing TDs

198 total INT's

1,337 total rushing yards

14 total rushing TDs

52.5 career completion percentage

AWARDS

1980 NFL Super Bowl MVP

1980 NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year

Bob Griese: Q.B.R: 36

CAREER NUMBERS

25,092 total passing yards

192 total passing TDs

172 total INT's

994 total rushing yards

Seven total rushing TDs

56.2 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Eight time Pro-Bowler

Two time First Team All-Pro

1977 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner

Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1990

Ken Stabler: Q.B.R: 35

CAREER NUMBERS

27,938 total passing yards

194 total passing TDs

222 total INT's

93 total rushing yards

Four total rushing TDs

59.8 career completion percentage

AWARDS

Four time Pro-Bowler

1974 NFL AP MVP

1974 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year

1974 First Team All-Pro

1976 NFL Bert Bell Award Winner