NFL's top quarterback franchise? Historical countdown from No. 32 to 1

NFL’s top quarterback franchise? Historical countdown from No. 32 to 1

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In 2015, the NFL is a quarterback league. But which franchise has the strongest tradition at the position? We tried to answer this by identifying the top three signal-callers in each franchise’s history, and then ranking each group from weakest trio to strongest. A few notes:

A) The three passers for each team are ordered how I rank them against each other.
B) Some teams’ QB collections are like the “Jurassic Park” franchise — only one stellar installment, with the latest looking awesome … but not being around long enough yet for true perspective.
C) A few franchises employed legendary names — like the Chiefs with Joe Montana — but were dinged a smidge because those names became name brands in other locales.
D) EVERYTHING was considered, from stats to Super Bowls to tenures with specific teams.
n 2015, the NFL is a quarterback league. But which franchise has the strongest tradition at the position? We tried to answer this by identifying the top three signal-callers in each franchise’s history, and then ranking each group from weakest trio to strongest. A few notes:

A) The three passers for each team are ordered how I rank them against each other.
B) Some teams’ QB collections are like the “Jurassic Park” franchise — only one stellar installment, with the latest looking awesome … but not being around long enough yet for true perspective.
C) A few franchises employed legendary names — like the Chiefs with Joe Montana — but were dinged a smidge because those names became name brands in other locales.
D) EVERYTHING was considered, from stats to Super Bowls to tenures with specific teams.

32) Texans: Matt Schaub, David Carr, Ryan Fitzpatrick

Somebody had to be the caboose on this list, right? Schaub is far and away the best quarterback in the Texans’ brief history, having posted three 4,000-yard seasons in Houston while making two Pro Bowls. Fitzpatrick played effectively in 2014, but unfortunately got hurt — possibly costing the club a playoff berth. Carr had a rough go, but one wonders what could’ve been if he wasn’t hit seemingly every other play.

31) Jaguars: Mark Brunell, Byron Leftwich, David Garrard

Brunell was somewhat the prototype of what teams are looking for now in QBs coming out of college: He could throw accurately, throw on the run and scramble when needed. (Well, except for the fact he was left-handed.) Leftwich replaced Brunell with varying degrees of success. Garrard took over for Leftwich, and overall, was a more effective quarterback. Garrard also maintained a winning record in 76 career starts — it’s been all downhill in Jacksonville from there.

30) Ravens: Joe Flacco, Vinny Testaverde, Trent Dilfer

Flacco was about the easiest choice on any team’s list: A) He has been pretty doggone good since coming into the league in 2008; B) he won a Super Bowl and performed brilliantly in it; and C) there are as many great quarterbacks in Ravens history as there are Cal Ripkens running around. Testaverde threw 51 TD passes in two years with Baltimore. Dilfer was the starter on a Super Bowl winner. (That’s all I got, man.)

29) Panthers: Cam Newton, Jake Delhomme, Steve Beuerlein

Is it fair to say Newton is already the top quarterback in the history of the Panthers? The multi-dimensional threat is on the ascent and has already authored some of the top statistical seasons in Carolina’s 20-year NFL run. Delhomme could be brilliant in spots (SEE: second half, SB XXXVIII), but he was streaky. How many people know that Beuerlein threw for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns in a Panthers uni in 1999?

28) Buccaneers: Doug Williams, Brad Johnson, Josh Freeman

Williams was the first “franchise quarterback” the Bucs ever had — and, Jameis Winston aside, is the only one they can claim. Former owner Hugh Culverhouse’s decision to not pay Williams in the ’83 offseason set off an era of losing rarely seen in NFL annals. Johnson took the team (or rode the defense) to a Super Bowl. He was solid. Freeman had the potential to be just that, but after one stellar season in 2010, his stock plummeted.

27) Falcons: Matt Ryan, Steve Bartkowski, Michael Vick

Ryan is right on the cusp of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL right now, and frankly, has been a quality starter since the day he stepped on the field in 2008. Bartkowski did not get off to as fast a start, but became one of the league’s best in the early ’80s. He logged the NFL’s highest passer rating in 1983. Everyone wonders what might have been with Vick had he not lost two years of his prime to the dog-fighting scandal.

26) Lions: Bobby Layne, Matthew Stafford, Greg Landry

Contrary to popular belief, Layne — not Johnny Unitas — was the original two-minute quarterback. Layne won back-to-back NFL titles in 1952 and ’53, and was the starter for most of Detroit’s championship season of 1957. Stafford seems to have regressed somewhat from his brilliant campaign of 2011, but still is in the top-11-to-15 range of NFL quarterbacks. Landry was the last Pro Bowl QB (1971) in Detroit before Stafford made the cut 40 years later.

25) Bears: Sid Luckman, Jim McMahon, Jay Cutler

Take a little trip to Soldier Field today, and you just might see a Sid Luckman “42” jersey here or there — 65 years after he took his last snap!! Easily the top quarterback in Bears history, Luckman was a WWII veteran, earned induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and led the Bears to NFL titles in 1940, ’41, ’43 and ’46. McMahon won 25 starts in a row — including three playoff games — from 1984 to ’87. He just couldn’t stay healthy. And then there’s Cutler. Hmmm.

24) Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck, Dave Krieg, Russell Wilson

Hasselbeck’s decade-long run in Seattle already has been somewhat forgotten because of the spectacular play of Wilson. Yet, unlike Wilson’s teams, the clubs Hasselbeck led to the postseason were mostly there because of the offense. When hot, Krieg might have been better than both of them. One of the streakiest passers ever, Krieg took Seattle to the AFC Championship Game in his first year as a starter in 1983.

23) Chiefs: Len Dawson, Trent Green, Joe Montana

This might seem a bit low, given the quality of names on this list. The issue is that Montana only played two seasons in Kansas City, missing seven games in the process. He did guide the Chiefs to their first AFC Championship Game since Dawson in 1969. Green was as underrated as it gets, but ran into injury problems in 2006. Dawson, though, makes this group, as his stellar career included a Super Bowl MVP and earned him a gold jacket.

22) Cardinals: Jim Hart, Kurt Warner, Neil Lomax

Warner might receive a call from the good folks in Canton next February. An integral reason why: His career renaissance in Arizona. Warner was able to lead the Cardinals to a Super Bowl in 2008, a feat neither Hart nor Lomax could pull off. Hart was the team’s starter from the late ’60s until the early ’80s, when Lomax took over. The latter’s promising career was struck down by an arthritic hip that forced his retirement at age 30. Lomax threw for 4,614 yards in 1984.

21) Jets: Joe Namath, Chad Pennington, Ken O’Brien

Namath delivered arguably the biggest win in pro football history and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. So much of his career, however, is about what might have been sans injury after injury. Ditto Pennington, who was quite effective in the 2000s before shoulder woes hit hard. O’Brien logged the NFL’s highest passer rating in 1985, but a propensity for taking too many sacks and inconsistent play left fans wanting more.

20) Saints: Drew Brees, Archie Manning, Bobby Hebert

Brees could call it a day right now and he would walk into Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His window from 2006 through now is the most prolific run in NFL history in terms of passing yards. Manning never had a chance in New Orleans, as shoddy teams and shoddy health did him in — but he was able to stay healthy enough to make consecutive Pro Bowls in 1978 and ’79. Hebert led the Saints to their first postseason appearance in 1987.

19) Vikings: Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer, Daunte Culpepper

When Tarkenton retired following an 18-year career in 1979, he owned pretty much every major passing record in the book. Kramer succeeded him and put up some pretty impressive numbers, including the NFL’s best passer rating in 1986. Culpepper was quite productive early on, taking the club to the NFC Championship Game in his first year as the starter, but a knee injury eventually thwarted his run in Minnesota.

18) Eagles: Donovan McNabb, Randall Cunningham, Ron Jaworski

McNabb leads the Eagles trio of quarterbacks — a group that could have easily included some other names. Norm Van Brocklin was a coach on the field for Philly’s 1960 title team. Tommy Thompson won back-to-back championships at quarterback in 1948 and ’49. That said, Jaworski started 10 seasons in Philadelphia, taking the club to the playoffs four years in a row. Cunningham redefined how we think about the position.

17) Bills: Jim Kelly, Joe Ferguson, Jack Kemp

Kelly was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a fitting tribute to an 11-year run in Buffalo that saw eight playoff berths and four Super Bowl appearances. Ferguson started 12 seasons for the Bills, including consecutive playoff campaigns in 1980 and ’81. He owned virtually all of the team’s passing records until Kelly broke them. Kemp, who went on to become a U.S. Congressman, piloted the Bills’ 1964 and ’65 title squads.

16) Bengals: Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, Carson Palmer

Esiason and Anderson each won an NFL MVP award. Anderson has received some Hall of Fame buzz in recent years — deservedly so — but he’s never been a finalist. Both quarterbacks had a mid-career lull, although Anderson rebounded while still with Cincinnati. Palmer’s tenure with the Bengals was also marked by ebbs and flows. Unfortunately, knee and elbow problems derailed a very bright start for the former first overall pick.

15) Broncos: John Elway, Peyton Manning, Craig Morton

Elway is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in NFL history, and certainly among the top five of the Super Bowl era. The odd thing about his career is that he was a better overall player when the Broncos lost three Super Bowls than he was when they won back-to-back Lombardi trophies in 1997 and ’98. Morton started for the team for five seasons, including the 1977 Super Bowl campaign. Manning isn’t considered a “Bronco” per se, but we can’t ignore his mostly-brilliant run with the franchise — even if it has been short.

14) Oilers/Titans: Warren Moon, Steve McNair, George Blanda

McNair passed away decades too soon, yet his career in Tennessee will never be forgotten. His co-MVP (with Peyton Manning) in 2003 represents just one line on an impressive career résumé. Moon and Blanda are legends in the scope of pro football history, with Moon playing forever and serving as a role model for African-American kids who wanted to play quarterback. Moon led the Oilers to seven straight playoff berths from 1987 to 1993. Blanda led the franchise to the first three AFL title games, winning two.

13) Patriots: Tom Brady, Steve Grogan, Drew Bledsoe

Brady is only surpassed by Joe Montana in the pecking order of all-time quarterbacks, at least in the mind of this hack writer. Grogan once held the record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (12) — set in 1976 and since broken by Cam Newton. Grogan was a starter in New England for at least parts of 16 seasons, while Bledsoe commandeered the franchise from 1993 through 2000.

12) Raiders: Ken Stabler, Daryle Lamonica, Jim Plunkett

One of the toughest omissions from this entire exercise was Rich Gannon, who earned NFL MVP honors as a Raider in 2002. Tenure, unfortunately, did him in, as all of the above served the Silver and Black longer. Stabler won an NFL MVP, as well, and led the team to a win in Super Bowl XI. Lamonica threw more touchdown passes than anyone from 1967 to 1971. Plunkett, who led the team to two Super Bowl wins, narrowly edged out Gannon.

11) Giants: Eli Manning, Phil Simms, Y.A. Tittle

Strange as it might seem, Manning might go down as the top quarterback in franchise history despite his inconsistency and the fact Big Blue has been around since the ’20s. Simms enjoyed the best Super Bowl ever by a quarterback, yet his career was muddled with injuries. Tittle was the most productive passer in the NFL during his short — but famed — tenure in New York from 1961 to ’64.

10) Browns: Otto Graham, Bernie Kosar, Frank Ryan

Graham, simply put, is in the ballpark of the best players to ever lace ’em up. If winning is your criteria, he’s your guy. Graham led the Browns to championship game appearances in each of his 10 years, winning seven of them. Ryan, who led Cleveland to its last NFL title in 1964, edges out Brian Sipe. Ryan, who had a PhD in mathematics, racked up some numbers (sorry, couldn’t resist), leading the league in touchdown passes twice. Kosar looked to be headed toward the Hall of Fame before crumbling offensive lines, his inability to stay healthy and a rapid decline derailed the oft-awkward-but-effective passer.

9) Dolphins: Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Ryan Tannehill

A lot of us who watched pro football in the 1980s don’t buy the revisionist historians who place John Elway over Marino. Outside of Montana, Marino was the guy to watch — Isotoner gloves and all. Griese was generally considered a “game manager,” but when asked, he could throw the deep ball and put his team in the best position to win. It’s a barren wasteland after those two — but hey, Tannehill has potential, and put together a fine overall campaign in 2014. He easily bests everyone for the three-spot on our list. Even Jay Fiedler.

8) Chargers: Dan Fouts, Philip Rivers, John Hadl

Fouts falls right in line with Marino as the greatest quarterbacks to not win a Super Bowl. His play from 1978 to 1982 reshaped the standard of what we thought top-flight quarterbacks should produce — and made the 300-yard game commonplace. Rivers is already Hall of Very Good. And here’s a nod to Hadl, a truly forgotten quarterback who led the Bolts to a pair of AFL title games in the mid-’60s.

7) Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, Ben Roethlisberger, Neil O’Donnell

Placing the Steelers at seventh overall wasn’t difficult — picking the third Steelers quarterback was. O’Donnell or Bobby Layne? Went with the former, who quarterbacked Pittsburgh to four straight playoff appearances in the 1990s. Layne’s Hall of Fame days were mostly in Detroit. Bradshaw is one of only three quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. And when it is all said and done, Roethlisberger will end up in Canton.

6) Rams: Norm Van Brocklin, Kurt Warner, Bob Waterfield

While Van Brocklin won an NFL title with Philadelphia in 1960, he became a Hall of Famer with the Rams in the 1950s. His 554 passing yards in a game in 1951 are still a record, incredibly. “The Flying Dutchman” actually took over for Waterfield, who is also enshrined in Canton. Waterfield won titles in 1945 and 1951. Warner rounds out the group, having won two league MVPs and the MVP award in Super Bowl XXXIV.

5) Redskins: Sammy Baugh, Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Theismann

Yet another solid trio, with two of the three in the Hall of Fame and the last an NFL MVP in 1983. Baugh is one of the 20 greatest all-around players ever. Jurgensen played 18 seasons, posting the highest passer rating in the NFC in his final year. Theismann was a Russell Wilson-type who led the high-powered Redskins to back-to-back Super Bowls in 1982 and ’83.

4) 49ers: Joe Montana, Steve Young, John Brodie

Choosing between the Cowboys and 49ers at third and fourth was darn near impossible, so consider these next two 3a and 3b. Montana is the best quarterback of all time — yes, still today. His four Super Bowl wins — without a single interception in any of them — are tough to beat. He won NFL MVP twice, as did Steve Young. As did John Brodie, in 1970. If you were wondering about Y.A. Tittle, he is remembered more for his days in New York than in San Francisco, despite playing longer in the Bay.

3) Cowboys: Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo

Dallas comes in at No. 3 — narrowly — over the 49ers. Staubach retired as the NFL’s all-time best passer and arguably quarterback (behind perhaps only Unitas). Aikman is one of just four quarterbacks to start and win three Super Bowls. Romo currently holds the second-best career passer rating (97.6) behind only Aaron Rodgers. Bet few fans, or league analysts, know that stat.

2) Colts: Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck

Indy finishes at second overall despite a slight weakness on the anchor — Andy Luck looks wonderful (especially with the early-’70s bass-player beard), but has only played three years. Still, when evaluating the all-time quarterbacks a year ago, I had Unitas at No. 3 and Manning at No. 4. No club can boast two passers of this stature. Had we skipped Luck, Bert Jones would have been a solid choice. He won the NFL MVP in 1976.

1) Packers: Bart Starr, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre

Easy selection here at the top. Each player in this Packers’ triumvirate owns a Super Bowl ring. They also boast a combined six league MVPs and three Super Bowl MVPs.