Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time: Full Tier List (2025 Update)
When it comes to ranking the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, everyone’s got an opinion — but this tier list cuts through the noise. We’re not just stacking QBs based on rings or raw stats. This is the full picture: talent, accolades, longevity, impact, and how much fear they struck in defenses when it mattered most. From the GOAT standing alone at the top to forgotten legends and modern stars still climbing the ladder, this is the most complete quarterback tier list you’ll find anywhere. These are the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of all-time.
For a more in depth analysis at the top Quarterbacks, check out this top 10 best Quarterbacks in NFL history list!
Table of Contents – Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-TIme
Tier 6
Tier 6 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time includes Len Dawson, Joe Namath, Donovan McNabb, Lamar Jackson, Sid Luckman, Josh Allen, Steve McNair, and Cam Newton.
Len Dawson – Kansas City Chiefs
Career Stats: 28,711 YDS, 239 TD, 30,987 TOTAL YDS
Before Mahomes, there was Len Dawson — cool under pressure and clutch when it mattered most. He led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl IV win and was named MVP of the game. Efficiency was his calling card in an era full of chaos.
Joe Namath – New York Jets
Career Stats: 27,663 YDS, 173 TD, 220 INT
The stats were rough, but the swagger was historic. “Broadway Joe” guaranteed a win in Super Bowl III and delivered — changing the NFL forever. Icon > stat sheet.
Donovan McNabb – Philadelphia Eagles
Career Stats: 37,276 YDS, 234 TD, 29 RUSH TD
Five NFC title games and one Super Bowl appearance, yet somehow still underrated. McNabb was the prototype for mobile QBs who could also sling it from the pocket. Philly fans may have booed him, but his résumé speaks louder.
Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
Career Stats: 20,059 PASS YDS, 6,173 RUSH YDS, 33 RUSH TD, 166 PASS TD
A one-man highlight reel with an MVP to back it up. Lamar redefined what a dual-threat QB could be and still has time to add to his legacy. Defenders guess — and still guess wrong.
Sid Luckman – Chicago Bears
Career Stats: 14,686 YDS, 137 TD, 4× NFL Champion
The blueprint for the modern passer back in the 1940s. Sid Luckman was dropping dimes before the forward pass was even cool. Four titles and a spot in Canton — respect your history.
Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
Career Stats: 26,434 YDS, 195 PASS TD, 65 RUSH TD
A freak athlete with a cannon for an arm and a linebacker’s mentality. Allen hurdles guys, throws off his back foot, and somehow makes it work. Now he just needs the playoff run to match the highlights.
Steve McNair – Tennessee Titans
Career Stats: 31,304 YDS, 174 TD, 37 RUSH TD
Tougher than nails and never backed down. Co-MVP in 2003 and led the Titans to a Super Bowl — where they came one yard short. McNair was the kind of QB who earned every yard he got.
Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers
Career Stats: 32,382 YDS, 194 PASS TD, 75 RUSH TD
MVP. Super Bowl appearance. The greatest rushing QB season ever. Cam was built like a defensive end and moved like a wideout. For a few years, he was completely unstoppable.
Tier 5
Tier 5 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time includes Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Dan Fouts, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Kurt Warner, Sammy Baugh, and Jim Kelly.
Philip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers
Career Stats: 63,440 YDS, 421 TD, 209 INT
Eli and Big Ben got the rings, but Rivers might’ve had the purest arm talent of the class. Never missed a start, even on torn ligaments. Trash talker, bolo tie icon, and king of the 4,000-yard season.
Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks
Career Stats: 46,135 YDS, 350 TD, 5,462 RUSH YDS
Before the Denver dip, Russ was a magician in Seattle — a Super Bowl champ and consistent playoff threat. Elite deep ball, elite escapability, and elite corniness. Let’s Ride was not elite.
Dan Fouts – San Diego Chargers
Career Stats: 43,040 YDS, 254 TD, 242 INT
Fouts was airing it out before it was cool. Anchored Air Coryell and dragged the Chargers to shootouts every Sunday. He might not have a ring, but his offense helped build the modern passing game.
Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
Career Stats: 62,792 YDS, 381 TD, MVP (2016)
Matty Ice had ice in his veins — until Kyle Shanahan forgot how clocks work. His 2016 MVP season was legendary, and outside of the 28–3 memes, his résumé holds up better than people think.
Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions / Los Angeles Rams
Career Stats: 59,809 YDS, 377 TD, Super Bowl LVI Champ
The most dangerous 0–100 guy in NFL history. Could go from 3 picks to 3 TDs in a heartbeat. Stafford finally shed the “empty stats” label when he won it all with the Rams.
Kurt Warner – St. Louis Rams / Arizona Cardinals
Career Stats: 32,344 YDS, 208 TD, 2 MVPs, 1 Super Bowl
From grocery store shelves to Canton. Warner went from stocking aisles to launching the Greatest Show on Turf. He also dragged the Cardinals to a Super Bowl — which feels illegal in itself.
Sammy Baugh – Washington Redskins
Career Stats: 21,886 YDS, 187 TD, 4× All-Pro
Played quarterback, punter, and safety — because the 1940s were built different. Slingin’ Sammy was the NFL’s first true star passer and still holds records. Dude once led the league in passing, punting, and picks. In one season.
Jim Kelly – Buffalo Bills
Career Stats: 35,467 YDS, 237 TD, 4× AFC Champ
Four straight Super Bowl appearances. Zero wins. But don’t let the 0–4 fool you — Kelly ran the K-Gun offense like a conductor. One of the most consistent winners of his era.
Tier 4
Tier 4 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time includes Bart Starr, Troy Aikman, Ben Roethlisberger, Warren Moon, Fran Tarkenton, Eli Manning, and Terry Bradshaw.
Bart Starr – Green Bay Packers
Career Stats: 24,718 YDS, 152 TD, 5× NFL Champion, 2× Super Bowl MVP
The original big-game quarterback. Starr didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but when the lights were brightest, he delivered — whether it was the Ice Bowl sneak or back-to-back Super Bowls to kick off the dynasty.
Troy Aikman – Dallas Cowboys
Career Stats: 32,942 YDS, 165 TD, 3× Super Bowl Champ
Aikman was never about numbers — he was about rings. Ran the Cowboys machine to perfection in the ’90s and got out before it broke down. Cool, poised, accurate, and tougher than people remember.
Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers
Career Stats: 64,088 YDS, 418 TD, 2× Super Bowl Champ
Big Ben played like a bouncer with a cannon. Slipped sacks like they were fly swatters and delivered clutch throws in huge moments. Pittsburgh always felt like a contender with him under center.
Warren Moon – Houston Oilers
Career Stats: 49,325 YDS, 291 TD (NFL), plus 21,000+ YDS in CFL
Moon was launching moonballs before it was trendy. A CFL legend turned NFL star, he threw one of the prettiest deep balls ever and proved Black quarterbacks could thrive at the highest level.
Fran Tarkenton – Minnesota Vikings
Career Stats: 47,003 YDS, 342 TOTAL TD, 3× Super Bowl Appearances
Before scrambling was a stat, Tarkenton was doing it live. Ran around like his jersey was on fire, extended every play, and still led the league in passing. Ahead of his time doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Eli Manning – New York Giants
Career Stats: 57,023 YDS, 366 TD, 2× Super Bowl MVP
Regular season? Mid. Postseason? Legendary. Eli slayed the 18–0 Patriots, then did it again four years later. No one in NFL history has a more confusing Hall of Fame case — or two better rings.
Terry Bradshaw – Pittsburgh Steelers
Career Stats: 27,989 YDS, 212 TD, 4× Super Bowl Champ
Stats were mid, but the dude just won. Four rings, two Super Bowl MVPs, and a rocket arm that helped power the Steel Curtain dynasty. You can’t tell the story of the NFL without him — even if he tries to interrupt you.
Tier 3
Tier 3 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time includes John Elway, Otto Graham, Roger Staubach, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, and Steve Young.
John Elway – Denver Broncos
Career Stats: 51,475 YDS, 300 TD, 2× Super Bowl Champ, 1× MVP
Big arm, bigger moments. Elway carried bad rosters to three Super Bowls, then finished his career with back-to-back titles once he finally had help. One of the most competitive and clutch QBs ever.
Otto Graham – Cleveland Browns
Career Stats: 23,584 YDS, 174 TD (NFL + AAFC), 7 Championships in 10 Seasons
All the man did was win. Graham led his team to the title game every single year he played. Doesn’t matter if it was AAFC or NFL — he dominated both. A true forgotten GOAT.
Roger Staubach – Dallas Cowboys
Career Stats: 22,700 YDS, 153 TD, 2× Super Bowl Champ
Captain America in cleats. Staubach was a Navy vet, a scrambling innovator, and the face of America’s Team. Late-game magic was his calling card — they didn’t call it the Hail Mary for nothing.
Johnny Unitas – Baltimore Colts
Career Stats: 40,239 YDS, 290 TD, 3× MVP
The flat-top king of the two-minute drill. Unitas was cool, clinical, and way ahead of his time. He made the passing game viable and led the Colts to “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
Brett Favre – Green Bay Packers
Career Stats: 71,838 YDS, 508 TD, 3× MVP, 1 Super Bowl
Gunslinger defined. Favre threw it hard, threw it often, and threw it to everyone — defenders included. But when he was hot, he was unstoppable. A true ironman with a cannon and zero conscience.
Steve Young – San Francisco 49ers
Career Stats: 33,124 YDS, 232 PASS TD, 43 RUSH TD, 2× MVP, 1 Super Bowl
Took the torch from Montana and ran with it — literally. Lefty, mobile, dead accurate, and smarter than your average QB. Led the league in passer rating six times. His peak was surgical.
Tier 2
Tier 2 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time includes Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Dan Marino.
Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
Career Stats: 32,352 YDS, 245 TD, 2× MVP, 3× Super Bowl Champ
The scariest part? He’s just getting started. Mahomes is already building a first-ballot Hall of Fame résumé — and doing it with flair. Sidearms, no-looks, comebacks — he’s redefining quarterback play in real time.
Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts / Denver Broncos
Career Stats: 71,940 YDS, 539 TD, 5× MVP, 2× Super Bowl Champ
Nobody has ever controlled the line of scrimmage like Peyton. A pre-snap savant and post-snap surgeon, he turned film study into an art form. His five MVPs speak to how dominant he was across two teams and two decades.
Joe Montana – San Francisco 49ers
Career Stats: 40,551 YDS, 273 TD, 4× Super Bowl Champ, 3× Super Bowl MVP
Cool, efficient, and perfect when it counted. Montana went 4–0 in Super Bowls and was built for the big stage. If Brady’s the GOAT, Montana was the prototype — the original gold standard of quarterback greatness.
Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints
Career Stats: 80,358 YDS, 571 TD, Super Bowl XLIV Champ & MVP
He didn’t have the arm strength or ideal size, but Brees outworked and outsmarted everyone. Led the league in passing yards seven times and brought a championship to a franchise that had never sniffed one.
Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
Career Stats: 59,055 YDS, 475 TD, 4× MVP, Super Bowl XLV Champ
Rodgers made football look effortless. Ridiculous efficiency, insane ball placement, and a highlight reel of throws that shouldn’t be possible. If rings weren’t part of the debate, he’d be knocking on the Tier 1 door.
Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins
Career Stats: 61,361 YDS, 420 TD, 1× MVP
Marino was doing 5,000-yard seasons before it was even a thing. The quickest release the game’s ever seen, a cannon for an arm, and zero fear. He didn’t win a ring — but he warped the league anyway.
Tier 1
Tier 1 of the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time features Tom Brady standing alone at the top spot.
Tom Brady – New England Patriots / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Career Stats: 89,214 YDS, 649 TD, 7× Super Bowl Champ, 3× MVP
It’s not a debate anymore. Seven rings, three MVPs, and more playoff wins than 28 franchises. Brady wasn’t the strongest, fastest, or flashiest — he was just the best. Clutchiest QB of all time, longest prime ever, and the only guy who got better after turning 40. The GOAT until further notice.
Full tier list ranking the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time, featuring Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Drew Brees, and more.
Conclusion
Ranking the Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time isn’t easy — the league has changed, the eras were wildly different, and every fan has their biases. But tiering them this way gives a clearer picture than any basic top 10 list. Tom Brady stands alone for now, but names like Mahomes are closing fast. Whether you agree, disagree, or want to fight over where Eli landed — that’s half the fun.
This list will evolve as careers continue and legacies grow. For now, these are the quarterbacks who left the biggest mark on the NFL — tiered and ranked with no fluff.
FAQ – Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time
Who is the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time?
Tom Brady is the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time, with 7 Super Bowl wins, 3 MVPs, the most passing yards in NFL history and the most passing touchdowns in NFL history.
Is Patrick Mahomes already a top-tier all-time quarterback?
Yes — Mahomes already has 3 Super Bowl rings, 2 MVPs, and a historic start to his career. If he stays healthy, he’s on track to challenge Brady’s legacy.
Why isn’t Dan Marino in Tier 1?
Marino had unreal talent and shattered passing records, but the lack of a Super Bowl ring keeps him just short of the top tier.
How are these tiers determined?
This list combines overall talent, accolades, peak performance, longevity, playoff impact, and how much a QB changed the game. Not just stats or rings — it’s the full picture.
Will this tier list be updated?
Yes — especially for active players like Mahomes, Allen, and Lamar Jackson. As their careers progress, their placements could rise (or fall).
Want more? Check out our full rankings across every position in NFL history, and let us know — who did we snub?
More Greatest NFL Player Rankings
Offense
- Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Running Backs of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Wide Receivers of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Tight Ends of All-Time
Defense
- Greatest NFL Cornerbacks of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Safeties of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Linebackers of All-Time
- Greatest NFL Defensive Linemen of All-Time
- Best Pass Rushers in NFL History
📲 Follow @sogfootball on Instagram — daily debates and stat drops.
