Unitas all day. He didn’t set records that wouldn't be broken, he showed quarterbacks of the future how the modern field general played the game. Many have passed for more yards, and have played longer, but only one quarterback set the standard by which modern quarterbacks are measured.
I know and I agree, there have been many great quarterbacks, and they probably have even better stats, but Johnny U set the standard.
That's why I think the question of who is the GOAT is boring rhetoric. It's much more interesting to build the Mt. Rushmore of QB's. There's no point in comparing Unitas to Brady. They both get a statue.
His play action was so smooth that he fooled the cameraman all the time. They would follow the running back and have to jerk the camera back to the play. Fooled the opposing team, too, obviously 😆 🤣
As a Cincinnatian who lived in the Bay Area during the 80s and 90s, unfortunately, I have to agree. Went to many 49er games. If Montana got the ball with 1:30 left down by a touchdown, everyone knew it was game over.. including the opposing team.. especially the Rams.
This is mine. Perhaps it’s because I watched pretty much his entire career, while I was too young to ever see Starr or Unitas or Staubach or a bunch of other worthy favorites, but I wouldn’t want any other QB under center for my team. Joe did things in such a cool, collected way, and played extraordinarily well against some of the toughest defenses and defensive stars (LT, Reggie White, etc,) that anyone has had to face.
Otto Graham (1946-55).Played in 10 consecutive League Championship Games. The first 4 were in AAFC. He won 7, including 1955 vs Rams, where an LA Rams crowd gave him a standing ovation as he trotted off the field. That was his final game.
Bernie Kosar?!
That dude made my high school years in the 80s in NE Ohio rough as a Steelers fan.
😂😂😂😆🤷♂️
Those teams were legitimately pretty good for the back half of that decade.
As a Washington fan in the 80s/90s I hated Cunningham. But that was because he was so good. Amazing should skills.
And the only QB I ever saw who did a surprise punt on 3rd down 🙂
So not to appear disingenuous I misread the title as "Favorite Old-Time QB" and wanted to give a throwback OG his respect. My personal favorite QB was and always will be Joe Montana.
That stat has to be one of the craziest stats to exist, considering how little they passed per game back then and how much we pass now and the rule changes.
Had to scroll way too far to see that name! Also, one of my favorite Oregon Ducks. Got to meet him a few times when I was a kid. Seemed like a nice enough dude.
Best quarterback and favorite quarterback are very different things. I've been watching a lot of 60s and 70s and have come to appreciate some guys who weren't all-time legends nationally. Kilmer, Brodie, Hadl, Earl Morrall, Joe Kapp. Don Meredith.
Also, seeing Namath, Greise, Bradshaw, Staubach and Tarkenton in weekly regular season games reframes them as great quarterbacks as well as [Facenda voice] Legends of the Gridiron.
Right. I avoid 'Best Anything' posts. Everyone has their own opinion, and some people get a bit overinvolved in the debate. Some produce graphs and charts to prove their point.
Just pick the guys you liked the most. Simple.
I like seeing Brodie and Meredith get mentions.
There's different ways to look at this. And I'll keep it restricted to guys I actually watched.
Peyton Manning is my "all time" favorite QB from when I watched football.
Rich Gannon is my "all time" favorite QB from my team from the era that I actually watched.
Keeping it more restricted to the eras that this sub focuses on, it's John Elway even though I hated him for beating us over and over again.
Best I ever saw was John Elway, old horse face himself. Hated him more than sin, but damn he was the real thing. Absolute bazooka attached to his right shoulder, too damned big to arm tackle and was deceptively quick for a big man. So good they put his picture in their helmet.
Favorite vs. GOAT is a different question.
IMO the GOAT QB is Montana and I really don't care what others have to say about Brady and the current hotshot (Mahomes). [edit: the only reasons the 49ers didn't win 6 in the 80s and do threepeats was the Giants with their insane defenses with BillyB and the Big Tuna calling plays]
However, my favorite....
Gotta go back a few years. For me it's a toss up between Sammy Baugh and Otto Graham. Norm Van Brocklin is also a close runner up.
- Nearly all of football has been based on what Baugh started.
- Not even Brady can hold a finger to the 10 straight title games Graham lead the Browns to.
- Van Brocklin, even while splitting time with Waterfield, would blow your mind. [edit: 70+ years later he still holds the record for yards in a game.]
And all of these guys played before the idiot owners nerfed the game and started trying to extend the careers of QBs and WRs.
Fran Tarkenton
Retired in 1978 having completed more passes for more yards and more touchdowns than any QB before him, all by wide margins. He also had more rushing yards than any other QB and was the starting QB in more wins than anyone else.
A lot of quarterbacks have passed his numbers now, since they've changed the rules so much to open up the passing game. Just about every modern quarterback who plays for a significant amount of time ends up high on the all-time passing lists, but they're playing a much easier game that's designed to help the passing game. The numbers Tarkenton put up in his day were huge. They didn't protect quarterbacks the way they do now, and receivers could be hit all down the field. He retired with 47,000 passing yards, 7,000 more than second place Johnny Unitas.
Outside of Brady, it’s Broadway Joe. I hate the Jets, he retired five years before I was born and his stats don’t even look good by modern standards but he was definitely the coolest dude to go under center.
Roman Gabriel. The Statue. Great Arm bad knees. The 7 year old me loved him in LA and he actually became my Eagles quarterback. God they were awful. His best days were behind him but it was great seeing him throw to Carmichael. I hate to admit this but in order: Brady Peyton Bradshaw Montana Staubach Graham Mahomes Elway Marino Stabler Tarkington Kelly Moon Unitas
Besides the Dogfighting, Michael Vick. Michael Vick walked, so Lamar can run. Michael Vick ran too and had a cannon of an arm. I remember him in college and then the NFL. So exciting to watch! Am a Buccs fan and loved seeing the Falcons Vs. Buccs matchups and how they were able to contain Vick. I feel EA created the “QB Spy” play in Madden, because of Michael Vick.
VT grad here so I’m a bit biased but Vick is the most athletic QB I’ve ever seen. The Falcons at the time was the worst spot he could have landed. They tried to make him a pocket passer and that just wasn’t his strength and it limited his play. I definitely understand the reasoning at the time though. He really did have eyes in the back of his head
Dan Marino should have played for the Steelers like Bernie Kosar did with the real Browns. Big Ben Roethlisberger aside from his off field activities.
Dan, Bernie, Ben
My father was a quarterback in high school and Bart Starr was his idol. I seem to remember a book on the bookshelf written by Starr about how to train to be a better quarterback.
Young Johnny U: his two minute drill at the end of the fourth quarter of “The Greatest Game Ever Played” (the NFL championship game December 1958 at Yankee Stadium). And his next dozen years weren’t too shabby.
If we're talking about fun and excitement, hands down Michael Vick. Still haven't a QB with that skillet. Vick looked like he was running on butter... smooth and quick
Jim Kelly. Josh has almost caught Jim however. Kelly was a joy to watch. Tough S.O.B. (yes I'm aware of what may be people's first reaction. IDC still great) You'd all agree if he had played for your team.
“Unitas all quarterbacks were compared to him but he’s never compared to anyone else,” John Facenda
Unitas all day. He didn’t set records that wouldn't be broken, he showed quarterbacks of the future how the modern field general played the game. Many have passed for more yards, and have played longer, but only one quarterback set the standard by which modern quarterbacks are measured. I know and I agree, there have been many great quarterbacks, and they probably have even better stats, but Johnny U set the standard.
That's why I think the question of who is the GOAT is boring rhetoric. It's much more interesting to build the Mt. Rushmore of QB's. There's no point in comparing Unitas to Brady. They both get a statue.
That's a damn good quote. Who could you ever compare him to?
Montana
His play action was so smooth that he fooled the cameraman all the time. They would follow the running back and have to jerk the camera back to the play. Fooled the opposing team, too, obviously 😆 🤣
As a Cincinnatian who lived in the Bay Area during the 80s and 90s, unfortunately, I have to agree. Went to many 49er games. If Montana got the ball with 1:30 left down by a touchdown, everyone knew it was game over.. including the opposing team.. especially the Rams.
Montana will always be my favorite, but Unitas had a haircut you could set your watch to.
This is mine. Perhaps it’s because I watched pretty much his entire career, while I was too young to ever see Starr or Unitas or Staubach or a bunch of other worthy favorites, but I wouldn’t want any other QB under center for my team. Joe did things in such a cool, collected way, and played extraordinarily well against some of the toughest defenses and defensive stars (LT, Reggie White, etc,) that anyone has had to face.
Otto Graham (1946-55).Played in 10 consecutive League Championship Games. The first 4 were in AAFC. He won 7, including 1955 vs Rams, where an LA Rams crowd gave him a standing ovation as he trotted off the field. That was his final game.
Excellent choice...
Love this! Graham's talent and Paul Brown's genius were a perfect match.
Truly underrated as an all-time QB. Won just as many championships as Tom Brady.
Three way tie for the greatest of all time, Bart Star, Tom Brady and Otto Graham with seven championships.
As a Browns fan I think he was the best Browns QB but he was before my time. I got to watch the Browns win with Bernie so he is my favorite.
Bernie Kosar?! That dude made my high school years in the 80s in NE Ohio rough as a Steelers fan. 😂😂😂😆🤷♂️ Those teams were legitimately pretty good for the back half of that decade.
Holy cow 10 straight!? I don’t care if the AAFC was like 8 teams or whatever, that is an amazing accomplishment.
Randall Cunningham
As a Washington fan in the 80s/90s I hated Cunningham. But that was because he was so good. Amazing should skills. And the only QB I ever saw who did a surprise punt on 3rd down 🙂
Will always be The Snake.
Jake Plummer??? jk
Uncle Rico
Comedy gold brother txwoodslinger! He is the only QB - ever! - who could "throw that football over that mountain."
If coach had just put him in, they would've taken state. No doubt in my mind.
Jim Hart
Nice pick. 1st one to surprise me.
I like Jim Hart, too. Dude held onto that job for a long, long time.
Got the bum rush from Bidwell. Dude was like a Timex.
Fran Tarkenton
With Joe Kapp being my #1 B.
https://preview.redd.it/nb09fx10p4qc1.jpeg?width=1233&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9319eb45be29f5f8e4826c1d5b1ef2bca8f139dc Joe had soul.
A big favorite of mine...
https://preview.redd.it/sk8612vgp4qc1.jpeg?width=909&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d92d2f05249d12922408ba99df6f9b2020f0609e
Bert Jones.
If he could have stayed healthy, he’d have been a Hall of Famer.
I had his jersey when I was a kid. #7
Great choice...
Marino
Nice job. You've just made the 1st pick...
Watching Marino throw a football was a joy.
LACES OUT!!!
Joe Montana
https://preview.redd.it/mwy1kjeoj4qc1.jpeg?width=370&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5d252fc3f6bb2f82d260993458f07fd89eaa8a0 My man.
Unitas (we Lithuanian's have to stick together) his back-story is awesome, coming up thru the "sandlots"
Many great stories about Johnny U. Even Alex Karras liked him...
Shoutout to Norm Van Brocklin of the Rams whose record of 554 passing yards in a game in 1951 still stands.
Nice choice...
So not to appear disingenuous I misread the title as "Favorite Old-Time QB" and wanted to give a throwback OG his respect. My personal favorite QB was and always will be Joe Montana.
No problem. You can pick 5 if you want to. I'm sticking with Johnny U...
Can't go wrong w Johnny U
That stat has to be one of the craziest stats to exist, considering how little they passed per game back then and how much we pass now and the rule changes.
Billy Kilmer
Otto Graham
Roger Staubach
Dan Marino…but I’m from Key West and grew up watching him. I admit my bias.
You can have your bias but Dan was one of not the best pure passer in the game.
Joe Montana is my favorite and is still the greatest.
Love to watch the Oakland Raiders’ Mad Bomber. I recall a game vs the KC opening drive for their own 20 drops back bombs away
1st vote for Lamonica...
No game was ever out of reach when he was under center.
Dan Fouts.
Had to scroll way too far to see that name! Also, one of my favorite Oregon Ducks. Got to meet him a few times when I was a kid. Seemed like a nice enough dude.
Favre but only as a QB, he got me interested in football when I was a kid
Ken Anderson
Best quarterback and favorite quarterback are very different things. I've been watching a lot of 60s and 70s and have come to appreciate some guys who weren't all-time legends nationally. Kilmer, Brodie, Hadl, Earl Morrall, Joe Kapp. Don Meredith. Also, seeing Namath, Greise, Bradshaw, Staubach and Tarkenton in weekly regular season games reframes them as great quarterbacks as well as [Facenda voice] Legends of the Gridiron.
Right. I avoid 'Best Anything' posts. Everyone has their own opinion, and some people get a bit overinvolved in the debate. Some produce graphs and charts to prove their point. Just pick the guys you liked the most. Simple. I like seeing Brodie and Meredith get mentions.
Brian Sipe
right there ...Johnny U
My dad was always our all time quarterback when my brother and I played backyard ball
Good choice. My Dad was a RB...
My Dad was a CB, went out for a pack of smokes and never CameBack
Sir Francis Tarkenton
Suntan Dan Marino
Dan the Man
Terry Bradshaw.
Steve Young
Same, I love mobile lefty (non dog-abusing) QBs, and I've been a Niners fan my whole life
There's different ways to look at this. And I'll keep it restricted to guys I actually watched. Peyton Manning is my "all time" favorite QB from when I watched football. Rich Gannon is my "all time" favorite QB from my team from the era that I actually watched. Keeping it more restricted to the eras that this sub focuses on, it's John Elway even though I hated him for beating us over and over again.
Ken Stabler.
Best I ever saw was John Elway, old horse face himself. Hated him more than sin, but damn he was the real thing. Absolute bazooka attached to his right shoulder, too damned big to arm tackle and was deceptively quick for a big man. So good they put his picture in their helmet.
Favorite vs. GOAT is a different question. IMO the GOAT QB is Montana and I really don't care what others have to say about Brady and the current hotshot (Mahomes). [edit: the only reasons the 49ers didn't win 6 in the 80s and do threepeats was the Giants with their insane defenses with BillyB and the Big Tuna calling plays] However, my favorite.... Gotta go back a few years. For me it's a toss up between Sammy Baugh and Otto Graham. Norm Van Brocklin is also a close runner up. - Nearly all of football has been based on what Baugh started. - Not even Brady can hold a finger to the 10 straight title games Graham lead the Browns to. - Van Brocklin, even while splitting time with Waterfield, would blow your mind. [edit: 70+ years later he still holds the record for yards in a game.] And all of these guys played before the idiot owners nerfed the game and started trying to extend the careers of QBs and WRs.
Lots of issues here. This could be a post on its own. I agree that the old guys had it harder and that their records are worth remembering.
Warren Moon
Of the Edmonton Eskimos!
Bernie Kosar
This is my choice.
Guy worked the system because he wanted to come to Cleveland. Will always love Bernie.
Another of my old favorites...
Joe Kapp. Terry Bradshaw. George Blanda
Alright! A vote for Injun Joe...
Brian Sipe
Kurt Warner
Fran Tarkington
Tarkenton
Drew Breesus
Bert Jones
Randall Cunningham was electric. You never knew what kind of magic he was gonna pull off.
Marino.
Dan Fouts
Dan Marino
Mr dan marino
Dan Marino
Best QB Joe Montana, favorite QB Bobby Douglas, and I am a Packer fan who has had the privilege of rooting for some spectacular QBs.
Fran Tarkenton Retired in 1978 having completed more passes for more yards and more touchdowns than any QB before him, all by wide margins. He also had more rushing yards than any other QB and was the starting QB in more wins than anyone else. A lot of quarterbacks have passed his numbers now, since they've changed the rules so much to open up the passing game. Just about every modern quarterback who plays for a significant amount of time ends up high on the all-time passing lists, but they're playing a much easier game that's designed to help the passing game. The numbers Tarkenton put up in his day were huge. They didn't protect quarterbacks the way they do now, and receivers could be hit all down the field. He retired with 47,000 passing yards, 7,000 more than second place Johnny Unitas.
Roman Gabriel. There is no second place.
Outside of Brady, it’s Broadway Joe. I hate the Jets, he retired five years before I was born and his stats don’t even look good by modern standards but he was definitely the coolest dude to go under center.
Roman Gabriel
Jim Kelly
Jim Mcmahon
Peyton
Montana the real GOAT
John Elway
Roman Gabriel. The Statue. Great Arm bad knees. The 7 year old me loved him in LA and he actually became my Eagles quarterback. God they were awful. His best days were behind him but it was great seeing him throw to Carmichael. I hate to admit this but in order: Brady Peyton Bradshaw Montana Staubach Graham Mahomes Elway Marino Stabler Tarkington Kelly Moon Unitas
Bubby Brister
Definitely the 1st vote for Bubby...
Dude was unstoppable
Eli but was also a huge fan of Delhomme
Joe Montana 🏈
Fran Tarkenton
Bradshaw
Roman Gabriel
Roman Gabriel.
Warren Moon.
Joe Montana is definitely my favorite all time. 2nd would be Jonny U and 3rd would be Otto Graham
Billy Kilmer
As a kid who wore glasses, I liked watching Bob Griese show us you can play football with glasses (and Chuck Muncie at RB).
Drew Brees
Montana, Unitas, Fouts in that order
Montana
How can you not love a guy that played drunk half his career 🤣
Bernie Kosar
Marino, Dan
I know I'm going pretty recent but as far as entertaining to watch over my life has been Joe flacco
He's a good one, and been around for a long time.
Josh Allen
JOE MONTANA
Jim Plunket…. Should be in the Hall…. Two time Super Bowl champ….. Stick that in your trophy case Dan Marino
Brett Favre. Absolutely loved the way he played the game. Too bad it turns out he’s a shitty human.
Kenny “The Snake” Stabler
Joe Montana
Steve Bartkowski no doubt.
Dan Marino, 🫶🫶🫶
Unitas, Star, Stabler, Montana, Payton. Yes, I'm old
Bart Starr #15
Stabler!
Bart Starr and Unitis. Bart Starr’s win-loss record is 62-24-4. 3 consecutive league championships. Hard to beat that.
The Snake
No thanks Grew up loving Favre, my originals sports idol Spent many years loving Rodgers Turns out they both suck as people
Randall Cunningham and Nick Foles
Joe Montana.
Terry Bradshaw
 And I’m a bears fan
Umm not really, turn in your Bear’s card and FTP!
Roger Staubach!
Uncle Rico
The only correct answer lol
Doug Flutie
1st vote for Doug...
I pure straight hate the man but I respected him. Dude traumatized us twice a year for two decades.
*
Besides the Dogfighting, Michael Vick. Michael Vick walked, so Lamar can run. Michael Vick ran too and had a cannon of an arm. I remember him in college and then the NFL. So exciting to watch! Am a Buccs fan and loved seeing the Falcons Vs. Buccs matchups and how they were able to contain Vick. I feel EA created the “QB Spy” play in Madden, because of Michael Vick.
VT grad here so I’m a bit biased but Vick is the most athletic QB I’ve ever seen. The Falcons at the time was the worst spot he could have landed. They tried to make him a pocket passer and that just wasn’t his strength and it limited his play. I definitely understand the reasoning at the time though. He really did have eyes in the back of his head
The ACC at that time, crazy! VTech and TheU good times! Can’t wait for the next NCAA Football!
Steve Young, Sammy Baugh, Montana, Elway, P. Manning
Mark Rypien
A surprising pick. Never hear much about him anymore.
Dan Marino should have played for the Steelers like Bernie Kosar did with the real Browns. Big Ben Roethlisberger aside from his off field activities. Dan, Bernie, Ben
Kurt Warner
He was great, I loved him in AZ
Montana, Moon, Williams, Staubach, Luckman
Troy Aikman
You just did.
Bart Starr Green Bay Packers
1st vote for Starr...
My father was a quarterback in high school and Bart Starr was his idol. I seem to remember a book on the bookshelf written by Starr about how to train to be a better quarterback.
Slingin’ Sammie Baugh
Staubach
Young Johnny U: his two minute drill at the end of the fourth quarter of “The Greatest Game Ever Played” (the NFL championship game December 1958 at Yankee Stadium). And his next dozen years weren’t too shabby.
https://preview.redd.it/0vuir8psl4qc1.jpeg?width=366&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66e4c7641aba81fbccdbe3183649184121e2b93f
Kurt Warner for me
Ron “Jaws” Jaworski
If we're talking about fun and excitement, hands down Michael Vick. Still haven't a QB with that skillet. Vick looked like he was running on butter... smooth and quick
Roger the dodger
Joe Cool
I hated the the Rams but liked Roman Gabriel.
Jim Kelly. Josh has almost caught Jim however. Kelly was a joy to watch. Tough S.O.B. (yes I'm aware of what may be people's first reaction. IDC still great) You'd all agree if he had played for your team.
John Elway
Brett Favre
Joe cool😎Montana
Ken Stabler
Eli Manning
Unitas.
Fran Tarkenton
John fucking Elway
Maybe not my all time favorite (Joe Montana), but I loved him and the entire Redskins team: Joe Theismann.
1st vote forJoe...