Years: 1920 to 1929 (more rushing, basically no passing)
- Hall of Famer: Jimmy Conzelman (1920-1929), 13 career rushing touchdowns, 11 career receiving touchdowns, 169 points scored, 1 championship
- Hall of Famer: John "Paddy" Driscoll (1920-1929), 25 career rushing touchdowns, 4 career receiving touchdowns, 402 points scored, 1 championship
How I would rank them:
1. John "Paddy" Driscoll (Hall of Famer)
2. Jimmy Conzelman (Hall of Famer)
Years: 1930 to 1939 (still a lot of rushing, but passing is evolving)
- Hall of Famer: Earl "Dutch" Clark (scrambled a lot) (1931-1938), 11 passing touchdowns, 26 interceptions, 40.3 passer rating, 45.6% completions, 1 championship (triple-threat back)
- Hall of Famer: Benny Friedman (1927-1934), 66 passing touchdowns, 19 interceptions, 60.2 passer rating, 41.9% completions, 1 championship
- Hall of Famer: Clarence "Ace" Parker (1937-1946), 30 passing touchdowns, 50 interceptions, 53.1 passer rating, 46.7% completions, 0 championships
How I would rank them:
1. Benny Friedman (Hall of Famer)
2. Clarence "Ace" Parker (Hall of Famer)
3. Earl "Dutch" Clark (Hall of Famer)
Years: 1940 to 1955
- Hall of Famer: Sammy Baugh (1937-1952), 187 passing touchdowns, 203 interceptions, 72.2 passer rating, 56.5% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Arnie Herber (1930-1945), 81 passing touchdowns, 106 interceptions, 50.1 passer rating, 40.9% completions, 4 rings
- Hall of Famer: Sid Luckman (1939-1950), 137 passing touchdowns, 132 interceptions, 75.0 passer rating, 51.8% completions, 4 rings
- Hall of Famer: Otto Graham (1946-1955), 174 passing touchdowns, 135 interceptions, 86.6 passer rating, 55.8% completions, 3 rings
- Hall of Famer: Y.A. Tittle (1948-1964), 242 passing touchdowns, 248 interceptions, 74.3 passer rating, 55.2% completions, 0 rings
- Hall of Famer: Norm Van Brocklin (1949-1960), 173 passing touchdowns, 178 interceptions, 75.1 passer rating, 53.6% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Bob Waterfield (1945-1952), 97 passing touchdowns, 128 interceptions, 61.6 passer rating, 50.3% completions, 2 rings
How I would rank them:
1. Otto Graham (Hall of Famer), 3 rings
2. Sid Luckman (Hall of Famer), 4 rings
3. Sammy Baugh (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
4. Norm Van Brocklin (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
5. Y.A. Tittle (Hall of Famer), 0 rings
6. Bob Waterfield (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
7. Arnie Herber (Hall of Famer), 4 rings
Years: 1956 to 1970
- Hall of Famer: George Blanda (1949-1975), 236 passing touchdowns, 277 interceptions, 60.6 passer rating, 47.7% completions, 3 rings
- Hall of Famer: Len Dawson (1957-1975), 239 passing touchdowns, 183 interceptions, 82.6 passer rating, 57.1% completions, 3 rings
- Hall of Famer: Sonny Jurgensen (1957-1974), 255 passing touchdowns, 189 interceptions, 82.6 passer rating, 57.1% completions, 1 ring
- Hall of Famer: Bobby Layne (1948-1962), 196 passing touchdowns, 243 interceptions, 63.4 passer rating, 49.0% completions
- Hall of Famer: Joe Namath (1965-1977), 173 passing touchdowns, 220 interceptions, 65.5 passer rating, 50.1% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Bart Starr (1956-1971), 152 passing touchdowns, 138 interceptions, 80.5 passer rating, 57.4% completions, 5 rings
- Hall of Famer: Fran Tarkenton (1961-1978), 342 passing touchdowns, 266 interceptions, 80.4 passer rating, 57.0% completions, 0 rings, 8th all time in QB rushing
- Hall of Famer: Johnny Unitas (1956-1973), 290 passing touchdowns, 253 interceptions, 78.2 passer rating, 54.6% completions, 4 rings
How I would rank them:
1. Johnny Unitas (Hall of Famer), 4 rings
2. Bart Starr (Hall of Famer), 5 rings
3. Len Dawson (Hall of Famer), 3 rings
4. Fran Tarkenton (Hall of Famer), 0 rings
5. Sonny Jurgensen (Hall of Famer), 1 ring
6. George Blanda (Hall of Famer), 3 rings
7. Joe Namath (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
8. Bobby Layne (Hall of Famer), 3 rings
Years: 1971 to 1984
- Hall of Famer: Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983), 212 passing touchdowns, 210 interceptions, 70.9 passer rating, 51.9% completions, 4 rings
- Hall of Famer: Dan Fouts (1973-1987), 254 passing touchdowns, 242 interceptions, 80.2 passer rating, 58.8% completions, 0 rings
- Hall of Famer: Bob Griese (1967-1980), 192 passing touchdowns, 172 interceptions, 77.1 passer rating, 56.2% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Ken Stabler (1970-1984), 194 passing touchdowns, 222 interceptions, 75.3 passer rating, 59.8% completions, 1 ring
- Hall of Famer: Roger Staubach (1969-1979), 153 passing touchdowns, 109 interceptions, 83.4 passer rating, 57.0% completions, 2 rings
- Joe Theismann (1974-1985), 160 passing touchdowns, 138 interceptions, 77.4 passer rating, 56.7% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Jim Plunkett (1971-1986), 164 passing touchdowns, 198 interceptions, 67.5 passer rating, 52.5% completions, 2 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Ken Anderson (1971-1986), 197 passing touchdowns, 160 interceptions, 81.9 passer rating, 59.3% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
How I would rank them:
1. Roger Staubach (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
2. Terry Bradshaw (Hall of Famer), 4 rings
3. Bob Griese (Hall of Famer), 2 rings
4. Jim Plunkett (not a Hall of Famer), 2 rings
5. Joe Theismann (not a Hall of Famer), 1 ring
6. Dan Fouts (Hall of Famer), 0 rings
7. Ken Anderson (not a Hall of Famer), 0 rings
8. Ken Stabler (Hall of Famer), 1 ring
Years: 1985 to 2005
- Hall of Famer: Troy Aikman (1989-2000), 165 passing touchdowns, 141 interceptions, 81.6 passer rating, 61.5% completions, 3 rings
- Hall of Famer: John Elway (1983-1998), 300 passing touchdowns, 226 interceptions, 79.9 passer rating, 56.9% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Brett Favre (1991-2010), 508 passing touchdowns, 336 interceptions, 86.0 passer rating, 62.0% completions, 1 ring
- Hall of Famer: Jim Kelly (1986-1996), 237 passing touchdowns, 175 interceptions, 84.4 passer rating, 60.1% completions, 0 rings
- Hall of Famer: Dan Marino (1983-1999), 420 passing touchdowns, 252 interceptions, 86.4 passer rating, 59.4% completions, 0 rings
- Hall of Famer: Joe Montana (1979-1994), 273 passing touchdowns, 139 interceptions, 92.3 passer rating, 63.2% completions, 4 rings
- Hall of Famer: Warren Moon (1984-2000), 291 passing touchdowns, 233 interceptions, 80.9 passer rating, 58.4% completions, 0 rings
- Hall of Famer: Steve Young (1985-1999), 232 passing touchdowns, 107 interceptions, 96.8 passer rating, 64.3% completions, 3 rings (only 1 as starter), 6th all time in QB rushing
- Vinny Testaverde (1987-2007), 275 passing touchdowns, 267 interceptions, 75.0 passer rating, 56.5% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Drew Bledsoe (1993-2006), 251 passing touchdowns, 206 interceptions, 77.1 passer rating, 57.2% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Kerry Collins (1995-2011), 208 passing touchdowns, 196 interceptions, 73.8 passer rating, 55.7% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Boomer Esiason (1984-1997), 247 passing touchdowns, 184 interceptions, 81.1 passer rating, 57.0% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Phil Simms (1979-1993), 199 passing touchdowns, 157 interceptions, 78.5 passer rating, 55.4% completions, 2 rings, 1 as starter, had a monster game as starter (not a Hall of Famer)
- Steve McNair (1995-2007), 174 passing touchdowns, 119 interceptions, 82.8 passer rating, 60.1% completions, 0 rings, 9th all time in QB rushing
- Randall Cunningham (1985-2001), 207 passing touchdowns, 134 interceptions, 81.5 passer rating, 56.6% completions, 0 rings, 5th all time in QB rushing
How I would rank them:
1. Joe Montana (Hall of Famer), 4 rings
2. Steve Young (Hall of Famer) 3 rings, only 1 as starter
3. Brett Favre (Hall of Famer) 1 ring
4. John Elway (Hall of Famer) 2 rings
5. Dan Marino (Hall of Famer) 0 rings
6. Troy Aikman (Hall of Famer) 3 rings
7. Phil Simms (not a Hall of Famer) 2 rings, 1 as starter
8. Jim Kelly (Hall of Famer) 0 rings
9. Warren Moon (Hall of Famer) 0 rings
10. Drew Bledsoe (not a Hall of Famer) 1 ring
11. Steve McNair (not a Hall of Famer), 0 rings
12. Randall Cunningham (not a Hall of Famer), 0 rings
13. Boomer Esiason (not a Hall of Famer) 0 rings
14. Vinny Testaverde (not a Hall of Famer) 0 rings
15. Kerry Collins (not a Hall of Famer) 0 rings
Years: 2006 to Present
- Hall of Famer: Peyton Manning (1998-2015), 539 passing touchdowns, 251 interceptions, 96.5 passer rating, 65.3% completions, 2 rings
- Hall of Famer: Kurt Warner (1998-2009), 208 passing touchdowns, 128 interceptions, 93.7 passer rating, 65.5% completions, 1 ring
- Tom Brady (2000-2022), 649 passing touchdowns, 212 interceptions, 97.2 passer rating, 64.3% completions, 7 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Drew Brees (2001-2020), 571 passing touchdowns, 243 interceptions, 98.7 passer rating, 67.7% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Ben Roethlisberger (2004-2021), 418 passing touchdowns, 211 interceptions, 93.5 passer rating, 64.4% completions, 2 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Philip Rivers (2004-2020), 421 passing touchdowns, 209 interceptions, 95.2 passer rating, 64.9% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Aaron Rodgers (2005-present), 503 passing touchdowns, 116 interceptions, 102.6 passer rating, 65.1% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer), 10th all time in QB rushing
- Matt Ryan (2008-2022), 381 passing touchdowns, 183 interceptions, 93.6 passer rating, 65.6% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Matthew Stafford (2009-present), 377 passing touchdowns, 188 interceptions, 91.2 passer rating, 63.4% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Eli Manning (2004-2019), 366 passing touchdowns, 244 interceptions, 84.1 passer rating, 60.3% completions, 2 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Carson Palmer (2004-2017), 294 passing touchdowns, 187 interceptions, 87.9 passer rating, 62.5% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Russell Wilson (2012-present), 350 passing touchdowns, 111 interceptions, 99.8 passer rating, 64.7% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer), 4th all time in QB rushing
- Joe Flacco (2008-present), 257 passing touchdowns, 162 interceptions, 84.4 passer rating, 61.7% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Kirk Cousins (2012-present), 288 passing touchdowns, 126 interceptions, 97.4 passer rating, 66.9% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Andy Dalton (2011-present), 253 passing touchdowns, 150 interceptions, 87.5 passer rating, 62.6% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Donovan McNabb (1999-2011), 234 passing touchdowns, 117 interceptions, 85.6 passer rating, 59.0% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Matt Hasselbeck (1999-2014), 212 passing touchdowns, 153 interceptions, 82.4 passer rating, 60.5% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Alex Smith (2005-2020), 199 passing touchdowns, 109 interceptions, 86.9 passer rating, 62.6% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Jay Cutler (2006-2017), 227 passing touchdowns, 160 interceptions, 85.3 passer rating, 62.0% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Jared Goff (2016-present), 222 passing touchdowns, 94 interceptions, 95.7 passer rating, 65.6% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Patrick Mahomes (2017-present), 245 passing touchdowns, 74 interceptions, 102.1 passer rating, 66.6% completions, 3 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Lamar Jackson (2018-present), 166 passing touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 102.0 passer rating, 64.9% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer), 1st all time in QB rushing
- Joe Burrow (2020-present), 140 passing touchdowns, 46 interceptions, 101.2 passer rating, 68.6% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Dak Prescott (2016-present), 213 passing touchdowns, 82 interceptions, 98.1 passer rating, 66.8% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Tony Romo (2004-2016), 248 passing touchdowns, 117 interceptions, 97.1 passer rating, 65.3% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Justin Herbert (2020-present), 137 passing touchdowns, 45 interceptions, 96.7 passer rating, 66.5% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Tua Tagovailoa (2020-present), 100 passing touchdowns, 44 interceptions, 97.9 passer rating, 68.1% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (2014-present), 96 passing touchdowns, 52 interceptions, 97.6 passer rating, 67.4% completions, 2 rings, 0 as a starter (not a Hall of Famer)
- Jalen Hurts (2020-present), 85 passing touchdowns, 39 interceptions, 93.5 passer rating, 64.4% completions, 1 ring (not a Hall of Famer)
- Josh Allen (2018-present), 195 passing touchdowns, 84 interceptions, 93.4 passer rating, 63.3% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Baker Mayfield (2018-present), 171 passing touchdowns, 90 interceptions, 91.2 passer rating, 63.5% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer)
- Michael Vick (2001-2015), 133 passing touchdowns, 88 interceptions, 80.4 passer rating, 56.2% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer), 2nd all time in QB rushing
- Cam Newton (2011-2021), 194 passing touchdowns, 123 interceptions, 85.2 passer rating, 59.9% completions, 0 rings (not a Hall of Famer), 3rd all time in QB rushing
How I would rank them:
1. Tom Brady (not a Hall of Famer)
2. Patrick Mahomes (not a Hall of Famer)
3. Peyton Manning (Hall of Famer)
4. Aaron Rodgers (not a Hall of Famer)
5. Drew Brees (not a Hall of Famer)
6. Ben Roethlisberger (not a Hall of Famer)
7. Russell Wilson (not a Hall of Famer)
8. Kurt Warner (Hall of Famer)
9. Matthew Stafford (not a Hall of Famer)
10. Lamar Jackson (not a Hall of Famer)
11. Joe Burrow (not a Hall of Famer)
12. Eli Manning (not a Hall of Famer)
13. Matt Ryan (not a Hall of Famer, got a lot closer to winning a SB than Rivers)
14. Philip Rivers (not a Hall of Famer)
15. Josh Allen (not a Hall of Famer)
16. Jalen Hurts (not a Hall of Famer)
17. Joe Flacco (not a Hall of Famer)
18. Cam Newton (not a Hall of Famer)
19. Tony Romo (not a Hall of Famer)
20. Jared Goff (not a Hall of Famer)
21. Michael Vick (not a Hall of Famer)
22. Donovan McNabb (not a Hall of Famer)
23. Baker Mayfield (not a Hall of Famer)
24. Dak Prescott (not a Hall of Famer)
25. Justin Herbert (not a Hall of Famer)
26. Kirk Cousins (not a Hall of Famer)
27. Alex Smith (not a Hall of Famer)
28. Carson Palmer (not a Hall of Famer)
29. Matt Hasselbeck (not a Hall of Famer)
30. Andy Dalton (not a Hall of Famer)
31. Jay Cutler (not a Hall of Famer)
32. Jimmy Garoppolo (not a Hall of Famer)
33. Tua Tagovailoa (not a Hall of Famer)
John Frascella is a published sports author and NFL Analyst on X (formerly Twitter) @NFLFrascella. Follow him for all things NFL, NBA and MLB.
