Where do Manning, Brady, and Favre rank among the all-time great QBs?

[Fan_Since_64]

Okay, I had so much fun putting together the info on the Hall of Fame receivers, and the Super Bowl thread contained plenty of discussion regarding where Peyton Manning and Tom Brady rank all-time among the QBs, so I figured well, why not throw some data out there and compare? (Hey, it's cold, it's the off-season, so why not?  )

Listed are all of the quarterbacks in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in two parts because of size), with brief summaries of their careers. Ranks shown in brackets with the career statistics are as at the time of their retirement (in some cases, as best as could be determined).

I left out single-wing tailbacks like Dutch Clark and Ace Parker, who often get listed among the QBs, not because they weren't great players, but because they really weren't used in quite the same way and the comparison just isn't fair. The lone exception is Arnie Herber, who was used more like a modern T-formation quarterback and owned all of the major lifetime passing records prior to Sammy Baugh.

At the end of the list are Tom Brady, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning, with their careers summarized as of the completion of this latest season. Compare, and see what you think...

Troy Aikman – 12 seasons. All-Pro - 3. Pro Bowl - 6. Led NFC in passing - 0. Led NFC in passing yards – 0. Led NFC in TD passes – 0. Career stats and ranks – 4715 att., 2898 comp. (10), 61.5 %, 32,942 yds. (19), 7.0 YPA, 165 TD (>20), 141 INT, 81.6 rating (18). Post-season: 11 - 5 record, 3 NFL championships.

Sammy Baugh – 16 seasons. All-Pro – 9. Pro Bowl – 1 (only existed during his last 3 seasons). Led league in passing – 5. Led league in passing yards – 4. Led league in TD passes – 2. Career stats and ranks – 2995 att., 1693 comp. (1), 56.5 %, 21, 886 yds. (1), 7.3 YPA, 187 TD (1), 203 INT, 72.2 rating (2). Post-season: 3 - 3 record, 2 NFL championships.

George Blanda – 26 seasons. All-Pro – 7, although once strictly as a PK. AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl – 4. Led league in passing – 1. Led league in passing yards – 2. Led league in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 4007 att., 1911 comp. (10) , 47.7 %, 26,920 yds. (11), 6.7 YPA, 236 TD (6), 277 INT, 60.6 rating (>20). Post-season: 2 - 3 record, 2 AFL championships.

Terry Bradshaw – 14 seasons. All-Pro – 3. Pro Bowl – 3. Led AFC in passing – 1. Led AFC in passing yards – 0. Led AFC in TD passes – 2. Career stats and ranks – 3901 att., 2025 comp. (15), 51.9 %, 27,989 yds. (12), 7.2 YPA, 212 TD (8 ), 210 INT, 70.9 rating (>10). Post-season: 14 - 5 record, 4 NFL championships. 

Len Dawson – 19 seasons. All-Pro – 5. AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl – 7. Led league in passing – 6. Led league in passing yards – 0. Led league in TD passes – 4. Career stats and ranks – 3741 att., 2136 comp. (8 ), 57.1 %, 28,711 yds. (10), 7.7 YPA, 239 TD (6), 183 INT, 82.6 rating (3). Post-season: 5 - 3 record, 3 AFL championships, 1 Super Bowl win (pre-merger).

John Elway – 16 seasons. All-Pro – 5. Pro Bowl – 9. Led AFC in passing – 2. Led AFC in passing yards – 2. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 7250 att., 4123 comp. (2), 56.9 %, 51,475 yds. (2), 7.1 YPA, 300 TD (3), 226 INT, 79.9 rating (>20). Post-season: 14 - 8 record, 5 AFC championships, 2 NFL championships.

Dan Fouts – 15 seasons. All-Pro – 6. Pro Bowl – 6. Led AFC in passing – 1. Led AFC in passing yards – 4. Led AFC in TD passes – 3. Career stats and ranks – 5604 att., 3297 comp. (2), 58.8 %, 43,040 yds. (2), 7.7 YPA, 254 TD (4), 242 INT, 80.2 rating (13). Post-season: 3 - 4 record, 0 NFL championships.

Otto Graham – 4 seasons AAFC, 6 seasons NFL. All-Pro – 10. Pro Bowl (NFL only) – 5. Led league in passing – 5 (NFL – 2). Led league in passing yards – 5 (NFL – 2). Led league in TD passes – 3 (NFL – 1). Career stats and ranks (NFL only) – 1565 att., 872 comp. (-), 55.7 %, 13,499 yds. (-), 8.6 YPA (1), 88 TD (10), 94 INT, 78.2 rating (1). Post-season: 9 - 3 record (5 - 0 AAFC; 4 - 3 NFL). 4 AAFC championships, 3 NFL championships.

Bob Griese – 14 seasons. All-Pro – 5. AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl – 8. Led AFC in passing – 2. Led AFC in passing yards – 0. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 3429 att., 1926 comp. (13), 56.2 %, 25,092 yds. (16), 7.3 YPA, 192 TD (14), 172 INT, 77.1 rating (11). Post-season: 7 - 5 record, 3 AFC championships, 2 NFL championships.

Arnie Herber –13 seasons. All-Pro – 3. Pro Bowl – didn't exist yet. Led league in passing – 3. Led league in passing yards – 3. Led league in TD passes – 3. Career stats and ranks – 1175 att., 481 comp. (2), 40.9 %, 8041 yds. (2), 6.8 YPA, 81 TD (2), 106 INT, 50.1 rating. Post-season: 2 - 2 record, 2 NFL championships.

Sonny Jurgensen – 18 seasons. All-Pro – 5. Pro Bowl – 5. Led NFL/NFC in passing – 3. Led league in passing yards – 5. Led league in TD passes – 2. Career stats and ranks – 4262 att., 2433 comp. (4), 57.1 %, 32,224 yds. (3), 7.6 YPA, 255 TD (3), 189 INT, 82.6 rating (1). Post-season: 0 - 1 record, 0 NFL championships.

Jim Kelly – 11 seasons. All-Pro – 3. Pro Bowl – 4. Led AFC in passing – 2. Led AFC in passing yards – 0. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 4779 att., 2874 comp. (9), 60.1 %, 35,467 yds. (10), 7.4 YPA, 237 TD (13), 175 INT, 84.4 rating (6). Post-season: 9 - 8 record, 4 AFC championships, 0 NFL championships.

Bobby Layne – 15 seasons. All-Pro – 4. Pro Bowl – 5. Led league in passing – 0. Led league in passing yards – 2. Led league in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 3700 att., 1814 comp. (1), 49.0 %, 26,768 yds. (1), 7.2 YPA, 196 TD (1), 243 INT, 63.4 rating. Post-season: 3 - 1 record, 2 NFL championships.

[Fan_Since_64]

Part 2:

Sid Luckman – 12 seasons. All-Pro – 9. Pro Bowl – didn't exist yet. Led league in passing – 1. Led league in passing yards – 3. Led league in TD passes – 3. Career stats and ranks – 1744 att., 904 comp. (-), 51.8 %, 14,686 yds. (2), 8.4 YPA, 137 TD (2), 132 INT, 75.0 rating (1). Post-season: 5 - 1 record, 4 NFL championships.

Dan Marino – 17 seasons. All-Pro – 8. Pro Bowl – 9. Led AFC in passing – 4. Led AFC in passing yards – 6. Led AFC in TD passes – 7. Career stats and ranks – 8358 att., 4967 comp. (1), 59.4 %, 61,361 yds. (1), 7.3 YPA, 420 TD (1), 252 INT, 86.4 rating (4). Post-season: 8 - 10 record, 1 AFC championship, 0 NFL championships.

Joe Montana – 15 seasons. All-Pro – 7. Pro Bowl – 8. Led NFC in passing – 5. Led NFC in passing yards – 1. Led NFC in TD passes – 4. Career stats and ranks – 5391 att., 3409 comp. (3), 63.2 %, 40,551 yds. (4), 7.5 YPA, 273 TD (4), 139 INT, 92.3 rating (2). Post-season: 16 - 7 record, 4 NFL championships.

Warren Moon – 17 seasons. All-Pro – 3. Pro Bowl – 9. Led AFC in passing – 1. Led conference in passing yards – 3. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 6823 att., 3988 comp. (3), 58.4 %, 49,325 yds. (3), 7.2 YPA, 291 TD (4), 233 INT, 80.9 rating (>20). Post-season: 3 - 7 record, 0 NFL championships.

Joe Namath – 13 seasons. All-Pro – 6. AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl – 5. Led league in passing – 0. Led AFL/AFC in passing yards – 3. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 3762 att., 1886 comp. (11), 50.1 %, 27,663 yds. (11), 7.4 YPA, 173 TD (15), 220 INT, 65.5 rating (>20). Post-season: 2 - 1 record, 1 AFL championship, 1 Super Bowl win (pre-merger).

Bart Starr – 16 seasons. All-Pro – 4. Pro Bowl – 4. Led league in passing – 3. Led league in passing yards – 0. Led league in TD passes – 0. Career stats and ranks – 3149 att., 1808 comp. (9), 57.4 %, 24,718 yds. (11), 7.8 YPA, 152 TD (16), 138 INT, 80.5 rating (4). Post-season: 8 - 1 record, 5 NFL championships, 2 Super Bowl wins (pre-merger).

Roger Staubach – 11 seasons. All-Pro – 5. Pro Bowl – 6. Led NFC in passing – 5. Led NFC in passing yards – 1. Led NFC in TD passes – 4. Career stats and ranks – 2958 att., 1685 comp. (25), 57.0 %, 22,700 yds. (21), 7.7 YPA, 153 TD (25), 109 INT, 83.4 rating (1). Post-season: 12 - 6 record, 4 NFC championships, 2 NFL championships.

Fran Tarkenton – 18 seasons. All-Pro – 6. Pro Bowl – 9. Led NFC in passing – 1. Led NFC in passing yards – 4. Led NFC in TD passes – 2. Career stats and ranks – 6467 att., 3686 comp. (1), 57.0 %, 47,003 yds. (1), 7.3 YPA, 342 TD (1), 266 INT, 80.4 rating (5). Post-season: 6 - 5 record, 3 NFC championships, 0 NFL championships.

Y.A. Tittle – 2 seasons AAFC, 15 seasons NFL. All-Pro – 4. Pro Bowl – 6. Led NFL in passing – 1. Led league in passing yards – 0. Led NFL in TD passes – 3. Career stats and ranks (NFL only) – 3817 att., 2118 comp. (1), 55.5 %, 28,339 yds. (1), 7.4 YPA, 212 TD (1), 221 INT, 73.6 rating (5). Post-season: 0 - 4 record, 0 NFL championships.

Johnny Unitas – 18 seasons. All-Pro – 9. Pro Bowl – 10. Led league in passing – 0. Led league in passing yards – 4. Led league in TD passes – 4. Career stats and ranks – 5186 att., 2830 comp. (1), 54.6 %, 40,239 yds. (1), 7.8 YPA, 290 TD (1), 253 INT, 78.2 rating (5). Post-season: 6 - 3 record, 3 NFL championships.

Norm Van Brocklin – 12 seasons. All-Pro – 4. Pro Bowl – 9. Led league in passing – 3. Led league in passing yards – 1. Led league in TD passes – 0. Career stats and ranks – 2895 att., 1553 comp. (4), 53.6 %, 23,611 yds. (2), 8.2 YPA, 173 TD (3), 178 INT, 75.1 rating (2). Post-season: 2 – 3 record, 2 NFL championships.

Bob Waterfield – 8 seasons. All-Pro – 5. Pro Bowl – 2 (only existed during his last 3 seasons). Led league in passing – 2. Led league in passing yards – 0. Led league in TD passes – 2. Career stats and ranks – 1617 att., 814 comp. (-), 50.3 %, 11,849 yds. (-), 7.3 YPA, 97 TD (3), 128 INT, 61.6 rating (-). Post-season: 2 – 3 record, 2 NFL championships.

Steve Young – 15 seasons. All-Pro – 7. Pro Bowl – 7. Led NFC in passing – 6. Led NFC in passing yards – 2. Led NFC in TD passes – 4. Career stats and ranks – 4149 att., 2667 comp. (14), 64.3 %, 33,124 yds. (16), 8.0 YPA, 232 TD (16), 107 INT, 96.8 rating (1). Post-season: 8 – 6 record, 1 NFL championship.

And now Brady, Favre, and Manning:

Tom Brady – 7 seasons. All-Pro – 1. Pro Bowl – 3. Led AFC in passing – 0. Led AFC in passing yards – 1. Led AFC in TD passes – 1. Career stats and ranks – 3064 att., 1896 comp. (>50), 61.9 %, 21,564 yds. (>50), 7.0 YPA, 147 TD (>50), 78 INT, 88.3 rating (7). Post-season: 12 – 2 record, 3 NFL championships.

Brett Favre – 16 seasons. All-Pro – 6. Pro Bowl – 8. Led NFC in passing – 1. Led NFC in passing yards – 5. Led NFC in TD passes – 5. Career stats and ranks – 8224 att., 5021 comp. (1), 61.1 %, 57,500 yds. (2), 7.0 YPA, 414 TD (2), 273 INT, 85.0 rating (13). Post-season: 11 – 9 record, 2 NFC championships, 1 NFL championship.

Peyton Manning – 9 seasons. All-Pro – 6. Pro Bowl – 7. Led AFC in passing – 3. Led AFC in passing yards – 5. Led AFC in TD passes – 3. Career stats and ranks – 4890 att., 3131 comp. (10), 64.0 %, 37, 586 yds. (13), 7.7 YPA, 275 TD (7), 139 INT, 94.3 rating (2). Post-season: 7 – 6 record, 1 NFL championship.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Anyone still think Manning's better than Brady?

[Sgt PSN]

I never did.  Brady now has recievers on the same level as Manning and he is throwing the ball all over the place and completing passes at at alarming rate (72.5%) and has now won 76 of his first 100 games in the NFL.  Rediculous.  Manning is a great QB in his own right and does some things that Brady can't do.  But Brady's flat out better all around. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The thing that gets me is what's happened to the likes of David Patten, David Givens, and Deion Branch since they left New England.  They all proved to be only passable at BEST.

The Eagles aren't going to be able to get within two TD's of the Patriots this season.  That's going to be an ugly game.

[SunMo]

maybe the patriots will be fat and slow from their Thanksgiving meal and the Eagles can come with a once in a lifetime gameplan and shock the world by keeping it under 10

[Sgt PSN]

The Eagles aren't going to be able to get within two TD's of the Patriots this season. 

Normally I'd be sarcastic and say something stupid like "Well, they'll be within 2 td's at kickoff." but I actually believe that the Patriots are so good this year that they will start the game with a 17-0 lead.    

[Feva]

The Eagles aren't going to be able to get within four TD's of the Patriots this season.  That's going to be an ugly game.

Agreed.

If anyone thinks the Eagles have a chance at beating that team... they seriously need to be stabbed in the brain with a baby spoon.

[rjs246]

I'll be at that game. Joy.

[Sgt PSN]

I hope you get punched in the throat by a seashell necklace wearing Sawx fan. 

[rjs246]

That's not the way they operate sadly. I'll get a whole lot of sympathy from the cheese-eaters and the rest of the crowd won't even bother acknowledging my presence because the Eagles won't even register on their radar as a meaningful opponent.

None of which will stop them from talking about baseball the entire game.

[Feva]

That's not the way they operate sadly. I'll get a whole lot of sympathy from the cheese-eaters and the rest of the crowd won't even bother acknowledging my presence because the Eagles won't even register on their radar as a meaningful opponent.

None of which will stop them from talking about baseball the entire game.

... and that's the most hurtful part.

It's like a man slapping another man instead of punching him because he knows that he doesn't even have to hurt the guy.  He knows damn well the other won't or can't hit back.

My analogies be bangin' yo.

[PhillyGirl]

That's not the way they operate sadly. I'll get a whole lot of sympathy from the cheese-eaters and the rest of the crowd won't even bother acknowledging my presence because the Eagles won't even register on their radar as a meaningful opponent.

None of which will stop them from talking about baseball the entire game.

This post made me laugh. Yes, out loud.