The “GOAT” debate is a widely prevalent topic in the world of sports. Whether it’s Jordan vs. LeBron, Ronaldo vs. Messi, Ruth vs. Ohtani or some other heated comparison, pundits and fans enjoy discussing which player’s career provides the best case as the greatest to ever play their respective sports.
The 2024-2025 NFL season finished with the Philadelphia Eagles dominating the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in a highly-anticipated Super Bowl LVII rematch that ended 40-22. Kansas City entered Super Bowl LIX with a chance to become the first team in league history to win three consecutive titles, which sparked some debate about the greatest quarterback of all time.
Patrick Mahomes was drafted out of Texas Tech in 2017, sat behind Alex Smith for a season, and was already a top-five quarterback in the league by the time he hit the field as a starter in 2018. In that season, Mahomes won his first MVP and led the Chiefs to the AFC championship game for the first time since the 1993-1994 campaign. Though they were bested by Tom Brady and the eventual champion Patriots in overtime, this game began a seven-year streak of AFC championship game appearances for the Chiefs.
Due to a combination of his raw talent and uncanny ability to rise to the occasion in the playoffs, Mahomes has undoubtedly had the most successful first seven full seasons of his career of any quarterback to ever grace the gridiron.
He has broken countless passing records and has led his team to appearances in five out of the last six Super Bowls, winning three of them. He has three Super Bowl MVPs and two NFL MVPs. Some have argued that if the Chiefs had completed the three-peat against the Eagles, Mahomes would have moved into the position of the greatest of all time.
Though it is impossible to discount the decorated career Mahomes has already had, I found this notion to be ridiculous. So much so that I felt the need to draft an article addressing that not only is Mahomes not yet the greatest quarterback of all time, but that he has not yet even cracked the top 10.
Despite returning to the Super Bowl in 2025, Mahomes was not a top-five quarterback this season. He struggled at the start of the year but eventually found his stride as the season wound down. Regardless, recency bias should not be a factor when constructing a list that analyzes a player’s entire career, so I would still consider Mahomes to be the best quarterback in today’s NFL.
However, longevity is one of the most important categories to consider when judging a player’s career, and if Mahomes retired today, his career numbers would not be enough to solidify himself as one of the ten best quarterbacks to ever play.
Without further ado, my list of ten quarterbacks who had the best overall career, which features primarily modern quarterbacks who benefitted from playing during a pass-heavy era, is as follows:
- Tom Brady:
After spending his college years in Ann Arbor, a heavily-overlooked Brady was drafted in 2000 with the 199th draft pick by the New England Patriots. The Patriots had no intentions of the Michigan Wolverine signal-caller becoming the starter at any point in the near future with four-time Pro Bowler Drew Bledsoe commanding the offense.
However, when Bledsoe took a hit that left him with internal bleeding in his chest cavity along with a partial rib tear, Brady got his chance. What the world did not yet know as they watched the skinny, unathletic 24-year-old quarterback take the field in Foxborough, was that they were about to witness the first glimpse of the undisputed legend that Brady became. A record-breaking 335 starts later, Brady officially retired with seven Super Bowl rings, which is more than any other player or team has won.
The Patriots won 17 AFC East titles and appeared in nine Super Bowls in Brady’s 20-year stint in New England. He won three MVPs, five Super Bowl MVPs and was selected to 15 Pro Bowls. He leads all quarterbacks in many major statistics, including passing yards and touchdowns. His 35 career playoff wins is more than double the amount of the quarterback with the second-most career playoff wins, which happens to be Mahomes with 17.
All this, plus the fact that Brady, at 41 and 43 years of age, is the only quarterback who has beaten Mahomes more than once in the playoffs, entirely contradicts the idea that Mahomes could be considered the top quarterback ever. Even if he surpasses Brady in terms of rings, there will always be the argument that Mahomes, in his prime, had his season ended twice by Brady, who was at the end of his career.
- Peyton Manning
The only quarterback who played in the 21st century that consistently went toe-to-toe with the Patriots dynasty and arguably had better numbers than Brady was drafted in 1998 to the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick from Tennessee. Manning’s career numbers are as good as anyone, and he holds a plethora of records that will be challenging to break.
The rivalry between Brady and both Manning brothers throughout their careers is unmatched. As expected, Brady and Manning are in first and second place, respectively, in career wins. Despite Manning being drafted first, Brady won three rings before Manning ever managed to defeat him head-to-head. Brady won the first six meetings against Manning, which included wins in the 2004 AFC Championship and the 2005 AFC Divisional Round.
However, Manning was finally able to defeat the Patriots in 2005, which is the point where the rivalry between Manning and Brady started to develop. Manning won six of his 11 final matchups against the Patriots, which included going 3-0 in AFC Championship games in 2007, 2013 and 2016. In 2013, Manning produced the best season any player has ever had, throwing for all-time records of 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns.
The major distinguishing factor when comparing the careers of Brady and Manning is Manning’s lack of Super Bowl wins, winning just two in 17 seasons. However, statistically, nobody was as dominant throughout their career as Manning. He has the most MVP awards of any player in league history with five and was invited to 14 Pro Bowls.
Manning finished his career on a high note, retiring after beating the 17-1 Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
- Joe Montana
The quarterback who set the standard for post-season success and introduced the concept of a dynasty to the football world cannot fall out of the top three on any reasonable quarterback list. After winning a national championship at Notre Dame, Montana entered the league and instantly cemented himself as a player who elevated his performance in crucial moments.
For decades, Montana was considered the greatest of all time, and this would not have changed if it were not for the 2000s Patriots. The powerhouse franchise that began on the shoulders of Montana in San Francisco was the first utterly unstoppable force in American sports.
Montana was selected to eight Pro Bowls in 16 seasons. He led the 49ers to four Super Bowl wins from 1982 to 1990, winning the Super Bowl MVP three times. Montana also won back-to-back league MVPs in 1989 and 1990. He is undefeated in Super Bowls and holds the record for Super Bowl QB rating.
His lack of passing yards and touchdowns is the only reason Montana is a level below Brady and Manning, because he is arguably the most impactful quarterback the game of football has had.
- Drew Brees
Brees is a perfect example of a guy who did everything right. He was not a dual-threat weapon or an exceptionally athletic player, but his fundamentals, accuracy and football IQ make Brees one of the greatest to ever do it.
Drafted out of Purdue in 2001, Brees spent the first five seasons of his career as a San Diego Charger, being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004. In 2005, Brees dislocated his right shoulder and tore his labrum and rotator cuff while diving for a live ball. This was his last snap as a Charger and many speculated that it would be his last snap ever.
Three months later, Brees signed a six-year, $60-million contract with New Orleans, where he had a first-ballot Hall of Fame-level career. He led the Saints to the NFC Championship in his first year as the starter. Over his 15 years with the Saints, Brees consistently ranked among the league leaders in every major passing statistic.
The Saints had never been to a Super Bowl before Brees arrival, but shortly after, they beat Manning’s Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. Despite being the best player to never win an NFL MVP award, Brees did claim a Super Bowl MVP and was named to 13 Pro Bowls.
He is second all-time in passing yards, completions and touchdown passes. He also was one of the most accurate quarterbacks ever, retiring with a 67.7% career completion percentage. Brees also holds the record for the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass with 54.
- Aaron Rodgers
After going severely under the radar in recruiting out of high school, the underdog Rodgers carved out an illustrious professional career and is now often described as the most talented passer in football history. The quarterback from Berkeley was a controversial draft pick in 2005 as the Packers current starter, Brett Favre was one of the best quarterbacks in the league with seemingly a few years left in the tank.
When Rodgers became the starter in 2008, he did not hesitate to demonstrate his exceptional raw abilities. Statistically, Rodgers is one of, if not the best regular season quarterback in NFL history. He has one of the highest passer ratings of all time and his ability to protect the football is noteworthy. He boasts one of the lowest interception rates in league history. Rodgers has four NFL MVP awards and won the Super Bowl MVP in 2010 after beating Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
Rodgers’ strong arm and ability to throw precise passes from long distances helped establish his legacy as one of the most skilled quarterbacks ever. His proficiency in orchestrating game winning drives has made him a feared opponent. Rodgers’ mobility and ability to make plays outside the pocket set him apart from more traditional pocket passers like Manning and Brees.
The only blemish on Rodgers’ esteemed resume is his lack of postseason success since winning the 2010 Super Bowl. He has 12 career playoff appearances, but no Super Bowl appearances since his first.
- Dan Marino
One of the most respected players of his generation, Marino made a lasting impact on the game of football and is held in high regard by many professional quarterbacks and analysts. Drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft, Marino quickly established himself as a prodigious talent. In his second season, Marino threw for an unprecedented 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, winning the NFL MVP and leading Miami to the Super Bowl.
Marino is considered the exception when discussing all-time greats because he has never won a Super Bowl. Typically, a championship is the basic measurement of success. However, Marino’s impact on football overrules his lack of Super Bowl rings. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times and was selected to nine Pro Bowls, eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.
One of Marino’s most notable attributes was his quick release, which allowed him to evade pressure and deliver accurate throws under duress.
Marino’s influence extended beyond the field; he redefined the quarterback position with his emphasis on the passing game, paving the way for future generations of quarterbacks. He has had a profound influence on modern quarterbacks and the style of modern offenses. In fact, Marino held the all-time passing yards and touchdowns records for a handful of years. He was also the first quarterback to pass for over 4,000 yards in six different seasons.
- John Elway
Elway’s NFL career is a testament to his exceptional talent and resilience, which have solidified his status as one of the greatest in league history. He was drafted as the first overall pick in 1983 and spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos.
He quickly established himself as someone who thrives under pressure, earning the nickname “The Comeback Kid.” Elway had 34 fourth-quarter comebacks in his career, which was a record at the time of his retirement. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and won the NFL MVP award in 1987. Elway’s career is a blueprint for what it means to be an elite quarterback at the highest level.
Elway’s career was marked by his versatility and athleticism. Elway was one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks, rushing for nearly 3,500 yards and over 30 touchdowns throughout his career. He was the third quarterback to ever win back-to-back Super Bowls and he won the Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXXIII, which ended up being his final career game.
- Johnny Unitas
Four-time NFL MVP “Johnny U” is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history. His Hall of Fame career, which spanned from 1956 to 1973, was marked by numerous records. He played the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts.
Unitas began his professional career with the Colts, a team that he eventually led to three NFL championships. His impact was immediate and profound. Over his 18-year career, Unitas threw for 40,239 yards and 290 touchdowns, impressive numbers that were groundbreaking for his era.
One of Unitas’ most significant contributions to the game was his role in popularizing the two-minute drill. His ability to remain calm under pressure and orchestrate game-winning drives became legendary.
Unitas was known for his incredible consistency and durability. He was selected to 10 Pro Bowls and won three NFL MVPs.
What truly set Unitas apart was his mental toughness and leadership. He was known for his meticulous preparation, football IQ, and ability to inspire his teammates. Unitas played through numerous injuries, including a broken nose, and his toughness became a hallmark of his career. His impact on the game is immeasurable, and his place in NFL history is secure.
game. His calm demeanor and precise execution under pressure set a new standard for quarterbacks in clutch situations.
During an era when the NFL was primarily focused on the running game, Unitas helped revolutionize the passing game. His ability to read defenses and make quick, accurate throws opened up new offensive strategies and demonstrated the potential of a more balanced attack. This shift laid the groundwork for the modern, pass-heavy offenses seen in today’s NFL.
- Brett Favre
If one were to use one word to describe Favre’s NFL career, it would be longevity. His resilient nature kept Favre in the league for 20 seasons. He started 297 consecutive regular-season games, a record for quarterbacks.
Favre’s journey began when he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. However, it was his trade to the Green Bay Packers in 1992 that set the stage for a legendary career. Favre quickly became the starting quarterback and led the Packers to unprecedented success. Under his leadership, the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI in 1997, defeating the New England Patriots.
Favre’s statistical achievements are equally impressive. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes and completions. While these records have since been surpassed, they underscore Favre’s prolific production and consistency over two decades. Very few quarterbacks on this list and in league history have been able to maintain a high level of success for as long as Favre did.
- Steve Young
One of the greatest dynasties in sports history, the 1990s 49ers, had a similarly effortless transfer of power from veteran star to young prodigy as the 2000s Green Bay Packers. Like Rodgers, Steve Young spent three seasons on the bench learning from a star quarterback, Montana. This time on the bench paid off, as Young won NFL MVP awards in 1992 and 1994 and was selected to seven pro bowls.
Young is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of all time and his 1994 season is widely regarded as the greatest season by a QB in NFL history. That year, the 49ers dominated the Chargers in the Super Bowl, as Young threw six touchdown passes and won the Super Bowl MVP. Young retired with one of the best winning percentages of any quarterback.
Young began his football career in the USFL and worked his way up to the 49ers, where he learned from the greatest quarterback on the planet at the time, Montana. This period of growth was crucial to Young’s later success.
He retired with a passer rating of 96.8, which was the highest in NFL history at the time.
He led the NFL in passer rating six times and in touchdown passes four times, showcasing his consistency and ability to perform at an elite level over multiple seasons. His ability to read defenses, make quick decisions, and deliver accurate throws made him a nightmare for opposing defenses.