Best QB you have ever seen play football

[Breaker99]

What's equally hilarious is judging QB skill based off rings.

Except I didn't did I. Although having four rings is certainly better than 1.


My primary arguments....

11 TD's and zero interceptions in 4 super bowls

Playoff Record as Starting QB: 1981 (3-0), 1983 (1-1), 1984 (3-0), 1985 (0-1), 1986 (0-1), 1987 (0-1), 1988 (3-0), 1989 (3-0), 1990 (1-1), 1993 (2-1), 1994 (0-1)

Playoff Comebacks: 1993 (2),1988 (1),1983 (1),1981 (1)

Playoff Game-Winning Drives: 1993 (2),1988 (1),1983 (1),1981 (1)




No one can touch that.

He possessed an almost mystical calmness in the midst of chaos, especially with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. While others saw turmoil and danger after the snap, Montana saw order and opportunity. He was Joe Cool, the unflappable king of the comeback.

Take the 1989 Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The San Francisco 49ers were down by three points with 3:20 left when Montana spotted -- no, not an open receiver -- but a personality. "There, in the stands, standing near the exit ramp," Montana said to tackle Harris Barton. "Isn't that John Candy?" According to the story, everyone in the huddle cracked up that Montana was talking about John Candy in during the most important drive of the season and everyone loosened up.... And then he led the 49ers 92 yards, throwing for the winning touchdown with 34 seconds left.

This was one of Montana's 31 fourth-quarters comeback in the NFL.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Joe Montana
Dan Marino
Dan Fouts
Aaron Rodgers
Steve Young

 

[cowboycolors]

Johnny Unitas

Joe Montana

Saw Unitas at the end of his career he was slinging the ball around in the late 50's and 60's ended in the early 70's and would have thrived in todays pass happy league

IMHO

 

[DragonfromTO]

Wasn't that 1982? I think in 81, he played part of the season in San Diego before he was traded.

Yes 1981 was the year when he was traded, but it was also the year that he was NFC Defensive Player of the Year. He played only 3 games for the Chargers and played 11 for the 49ers, as well as the playoffs. He'd probably be pretty hurt to hear that you didn't consider him a part of the 49ers Super Bowl winning team despite that contribution.

 

[Wazmankg]

Johnny Unitas

Joe Montana

Saw Unitas at the end of his career he was slinging the ball around in the late 50's and 60's ended in the early 70's and would have thrived in todays pass happy league

IMHO

Johnny U would do just fine with today's rules. So would several other greats of that era. Why people think they wouldn't pick apart defenses the way a Manning, Rodgers, Brady or Brees does is beyond me.

 

[TexasMan]

The original Johnny Football

 

[Logicallylethal]

From the pure stand point of just throwing the ball it's got to be Dan Marino or Aaron Rodgers. No one threw a better spiral than those two. I would argue however that Rodgers throws a better bullet pass but Marino throws a better deep ball.

If you're talking statistics, if Rodgers continues at his pace...it's not gonna be close.

If you're going by resume it's Joe Montana or Tom Brady

Now...with the eye test...personally I think it's Peyton Manning hands down.

 

[NCChiFan]

When it counted??? Easy, Joe Montana.

 

[gohusk]

Joe Montana and his 2,800 average yards per season and his 18 TDs

Joe Montana played in an era where there was a concept of the "free shot" at the quarterback. Basically defenders could bulldoze the qb as long as they were a couple of steps away when he got rid of the ball. They actually called holding back then as well.

 

[NinerSickness]

Joe Montana played in an era where there was a concept of the "free shot" at the quarterback. Basically defenders could bulldoze the qb as long as they were a couple of steps away when he got rid of the ball. They actually called holding back then as well.

That's also a stupid calculation that doesn't take into consideration strike years & years in which he didn't play the whole season. It's the dumbest post of this thread.

Look at Montana's yards per attempt VS the average in his era. Steve Young, Kurt Warner & Joe Montana are the top 3 of all time in that category.

 

[TruHoxFan]

Roger Staubach and Joe Montana. Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas. Too many greats to really count most of which were playing before I was even born.

 

[lhagen931]

Staubach and Montana

 

[Southieinnc]

This gets old. I have seen them all. They were all great. I have my favorites but the stats are just hot air.

 

[Doublejive]

This gets old. I have seen them all. They were all great. I have my favorites but the stats are just hot air.

Yeah i have given this some thought now and i cannot really say "The Best" when i have seen many good one's over the years as said Marino was very good,Namath was tough contrary to what many may think,Elway with his comebacks was something to behold,Montana of course,Jim Zorn my local favorite,Favre,i cant even remember them all too early for me.

But yes point is is the teams too around the QB's you always remember certain games or playoffs like Doug Williams did in the SB with the Redskins,at least that is how i remember some QB's.

Today it is Brady,Peyton,Rodgers.

 

[Tacoma_canuck]

This gets old. I have seen them all. They were all great. I have my favorites but the stats are just hot air.

I agree but it was fun reading this whole thread and having a good laugh. Some people are creatures of only the here and now or the hype machine (a.k.a. ESPN). Keep names like Andrew Luck out of this, the kid is a great talent but let's see what he does first. It's still too early for Rodgers.
Manning and Brady have been the 2 best of this generation so far. Put homerism aside and just admit both are HOF'ers and probable top 5 or so ever. Montana was great (even in KC), Unitas was amazing, so many greats of a bygone era to count. While Elway and Favre are over-rated, they were both great and do deserve mention. Young was really good and people mention shortness of career, very true and Warner is in that category as well. Marino is hated and dismissed because he "never won the big one". Really unfair, imo. The most perfect release by any QB ever. Bradshaw grew into a great QB but is proof that there is more to winning championships then just QB's.
I've only watched on TV, never live, unfortunately but the best I've seen is Montana overall and I have never liked the Niners. Calm, cool, make any play needed but the reasonable argument is that some of that includes talent around him. Fwiw, all great QB's have success because of some talent around them. The most exciting to watch had to be Tarkenton. The modern day version may be Russell Wilson. Similar size, moves etc but a long way for Wilson to go before he gets any such "real" comparison. Fran probably deserved a ring as much as anybody.

 

[Tomhusker]

In no particular order.

Dan Marino
Joe Montana
Roger Staubach
Peyton Manning
John Elway

 

[night]

Dan Marino with Peyton Manning as a close second.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

This would of been a great thread for the off season, could of keep us busy all off season.

 

[HammerDown]

Pleeeeeeeeeeease tell me this debate is now over and done forever? Someone? Please?

 

[HammerDown]

"Doesn't mean a thing!" - delusional idiots