Ranking the greatest quarterbacks of all-time: Here’s where Aaron Rodgers currently ranks on the list

While his plans for the 2025 season are a mystery, Aaron Rodgers’ place in NFL history is not. Regardless of what he does next, Rodgers will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time whenever he decides to hang up his cleats for good. 

Rodgers, 41, has a pretty stacked trophy case that includes four league NFL MVP trophies. Rodgers is also the owner of a Super Bowl MVP trophy after leading the Packers to their fourth and most recent Super Bowl win at the end of the 2010 season. Rodgers is also a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team. Not bad for a player who wasn’t recruited by a single major Division 1 program coming out of high school. 

Where does Rodgers rank among the best quarterbacks of all-time? To find out, we put together a list of the top-30 quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Here was the criteria used when making the list. 

• Individual accolades 
• Records set 
• Team success 
• Enduring legacy 

Only two active quarterbacks made the cut, but it’s safe to assume that Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Matthew Stafford, will each crack this list sometime in the near future. Eli Manning will probably crack the list one day as well, especially if he ever receives induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Honorable mention: George Blanda 

Owner of one of the most unique careers in NFL history, Blanda’s career spanned a record 26 seasons and included a stint as a linebacker with the Bears early in his career. A three-time AFL champion with the Oilers, Blanda is the last quarterback to throw seven touchdown passes in a game, doing so during a win over the Titans in 1961. Blanda was also a prolific kicker who became the first player to score over 2,000 career points. 

Honorable mention: Bobby Layne 

One of the NFL’s original gun slingers, Layne led the Lions to the franchise’s first two championships in 1952 and 1953. He capped off his career by going 27-19-2 in five seasons with the Steelers, who had just two winning seasons prior to his arrival in 1958. 

30. Norm Van Brocklin 

Van Brocklin helped revolutionize the quarterback position during the 1960s. After leading the Rams to the NFL title game in 1950, Van Brocklin capped off his career by leading the Eagles to a win over Vince Lombardi’s Packers in the 1960 NFL title game. 

29. Joe Namath 

Namath’s career is defined by his role in the arguably the biggest upset in the history of American professional sports. In Super Bowl III, Namath led the AFL champion Jets to a 16-7 win over the NFL champion Colts, who were 18-point favorites. Namath’s career accolades also includes him being the first player in AFL/NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season. 

28. Warren Moon 

Moon started his career in Canada before finally getting his shot in the NFL with the Oilers at age 28. Moon spearheaded a resurgence in Houston (who were just 13-35 in his first three seasons) that included seven consecutive playoff berths. Moon, whose patented deep ball helped him win back-to-back passing titles later in his career, was third all-time in career passing yards (behind only Dan Marino and John Elway) at the time of his retirement. 

During his 17-year career, Rivers led the NFL in passing yards (2010), touchdown passes (2008), completion percentage (2013), completions and attempts (2015) and average yards gained per pass attempt twice (2008-09). Rivers’ most memorable NFL moment may have been his gritty performance against the then-undefeated Patriots in the 2007 AFC title game while playing with a torn ACL. 

26. Len Dawson 

Dawson was the Drew Brees of his era as from an accuracy standpoint. He led his respective league in completion percentage eight times that included six consecutive times in the 1960s and a final time in 1975 (his final season) at the age of 40. Dawson quarterbacked the Chiefs in the Super Bowl I and was named MVP of Super Bowl IV, the final game played before the AFL-NFL merger. 

25. Sonny Jerguson 

Jerguson took passing to a new level on the 1960s, winning five passing titles during the decade. In 1967, Jerguson became the first quarterback in history to attempt 500 passes in a season. His 82.62 career passer rating was the best in NFL history prior to 1978, when the NFL made several rule changes to help advance the passing game. 

24. Dan Fouts 

Fouts’ career took off as soon as Don Coryell became his head coach. It was quite simply a perfect marriage, as Fouts mastered Coryell’s pass-happy offense to the tune of four consecutive passing titles. Fouts was also the winning quarterback in one of the greatest games in NFL history, a 41-38 overtime win over the Dolphins in the 1981 playoffs that was dubbed appropriately as the “Epic in Miami.” 

23. Jim Kelly 

Kelly led the Bills’ appropriately-named “G-Gun” offense that appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls, an NFL record. One of 18 quarterbacks with 100 career wins, Kelly led the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating in 1990 and in touchdown passes in 1991. 

22. Sammy Baugh

The origin of the modern-day quarterback can be traced back to Baugh, who led the NFL in completion percentage eight times during his 16-year career. In 1945, Baugh became the first quarterback to complete over 70% of his passes in a season. He led Washington to NFL titles in 1937 (his rookie season) and in 1942. 

21. Ken Stabler 

“The Snake” won NFL MVP in 1974 while leading a Raiders offense that boasted a record seven future Hall of Famers. Two years later, Stabler led the Raiders to the franchise’s first Super Bowl win that included an AFC title game victory over the two-time defending champion Steelers. Stabler’s name is synonymous with two of the most famous TD passes in history: the “Sea of Hands” and the “Holy Roller.” 

20. Y.A. Tittle 

Tittle was part of the 49ers’ legendary “Million Dollar Backfield” during the 1950s. He ended his career with the Giants that included one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. At age 37, Tittle led the NFL in completion percentage, touchdown passes and passer rating while leading New York to an NFL Championship game appearance. 

19. Kurt Warner 

Warner’s story was so unbelievable that it was actually made into a movie. Warner toiled as a grocery store clerk before enjoying success in the Arena Football League before getting an opportunity with the Rams. Warner then seized his opportunity to play when an injury ended then-Rams starting QB Trent Green’s season during the 1999 preseason. 

Warner quickly took the NFL by storm, becoming the first QB in history to throw three touchdowns in each of his first three starts. He capped off his storybook season by winning MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXIV on the strength of his game-winning touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce. 

Warner won two league MVP awards and played in two more Super Bowls. While his team lost both times, Warner threw for the second- and third-highest totals in Super Bowl history at that time (his 414 yards in the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Titans was the highest-single game total at the time). 

“Big Ben” started his career by going 13-0 as Pittsburgh’s starter during his rookie season, the best mark ever by a rookie quarterback. Roethlisberger followed that up a year later by becoming the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl as the Steelers became the first six seed to win it all. Three years later, Roethlisberger capped off one of the greatest Super Bowls of all-time by completing one of the most clutch passes in NFL history when he hit Santonio Holmes for the game-winning score. 

Roethlisberger was named to six Pro Bowls and is fifth all-time in career passing yards and eighth in career touchdown passes. He’s the only player in history with three games with at least 500 passing yards. He had back-to-back games with six touchdown passes back in 2014. 

17. Troy Aikman

Winning largely defines Aikman’s legacy. He was the first QB to win three Super Bowls in a four-year span. In his first Super Bowl, Aikman won MVP honors after going 22 of 30 for 273 yards and four touchdowns in leading Dallas to a 52-17 win over Buffalo. Aikman’s 70% career Super Bowl completion percentage stood as the all-time best mark until it was recently broken by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. 

16. Bart Starr

The leader of the Packers’ 1960s dynasty, Starr has a unique place in NFL history as the MVP of the first two Super Bowls. Starr (who led the NFL in completion percentage and passer rating four times) also authored one of the most iconic plays in NFL history on his quarterback sneak that sealed the Packers’ win in the 1967 NFL title game, also known as the “Ice Bowl.” 

15. Fran Tarkenton 

Tarkenton started and ended his career in Minnesota, where he led the Vikings to three NFC titles over a four-year span. Tarkenton (nicknamed “Scrambling Fran” for his peerless elusiveness in and out of the pocket) was a Pro Bowler in four of his five seasons with the Giants. He retired as the NFL’s all-time career passing leader, a title he held for 17 years. 

14. Roger Staubach 

Staubach didn’t become the Cowboys’ full-time starting QB until 1971, but he quickly made up for lost time. Staubach went 13-0 as Dallas’ quarterback that year that included his MVP performance in Super Bowl VI. He led Dallas to three more Super Bowls during the 1970s that included a blowout win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XII. Staubach, who had a penchant for leading the Cowboys on game-winning drives, recorded the first “Hail Mary” in NFL history that contributed the Cowboys’ third Super Bowl run. 

13. Terry Bradshaw 

Believe it or not, Bradshaw is the only Steelers player who has won league MVP, doing so in 1978. Bradshaw also won the first of two consecutive Super Bowl MVP awards that season while becoming the first (and only) QB to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice. In Super Bowl XIII (played at the end of the ’78 season), Bradshaw threw for then-Super Bowl records 318 yards and four touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 35-31 win over the Cowboys in the first Super Bowl played between two franchises that had already won multiple Super Bowls. 

In four Super Bowls, Bradshaw threw nine touchdowns against just three interceptions. He threw the game-winning score three times. 

12. Otto Graham 

Graham accomplished a lot during his career, with winning being at the forefront of his accomplishments. Graham (who is widely considered to be the best QB in history prior to Johnny Unitas) won seven championships that included three NFL titles. He went 9-3 in the postseason and played for a title in each of his 10 seasons with the Browns. Graham won 81.3% of his starts, the highest percentage of any QB in history with at least 1,500 pass attempts. 

11. Steve Young

Young’s pro career included two years in the USFL, two forgettable years with the Buccaneers and two Super Bowl wins in San Francisco as Joe Montana’s backup. Young didn’t become a full-time starter with the 49ers until he was 30 years old. Despite that, he enjoyed a prolific career that included seven straight Pro Bowl selections, two league MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP. His 96.8 career passer rating was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement. 

In Super Bowl XXIX, Young threw for a Super Bowl record six touchdowns and was the first QB to lead both teams in rushing in a Super Bowl. Speaking of running, Young was one of the most duel-threat QBs in NFL history. He’s sixth all-time among quarterbacks in career rushing yards and fourth in career touchdown runs. 

10. Drew Brees

Like Steve Young before him, Brees was an incredibly efficient player who reached a level of passing excellence few others have matched. Brees won seven passing titles, led the NFL in touchdown passes four times and completion percentage six times. Brees’ excellence spearheaded the Saints’ only Super Bowl win, a 31-17 victory over the Colts that saw Brees (who was named the game’s MVP) go 32 of 39 for 288 yards and two touchdowns. 

Only Tom Brady has more career touchdown passes and career passing yards than Brees, whose 5,476 passing yards in 2011 has been surpassed only by Peyton Manning. Not bad company to be in. 

9. Brett Favre 

The epitome of a gun slinger, Favre’s lengthy list of NFL records includes 336 career interceptions. Favre threw some legendary picks (including critical ones in three NFC title game losses), but his willingness to take risks also led to many breathtaking plays. It also contributed to the Packers’ first Super Bowl win in 29 years, one that included three total touchdowns from Favre, whose lone Super Bowl win came in the middle of his stretch of three consecutive MVP seasons. 

Along with his interceptions total, Favre’s most iconic record is his 321 consecutive starts, a feat that may never be equaled. 

8. Aaron Rodgers

There are two main differences when comparing Brees and Rodgers. Rodgers won four league MVPs (the second-most in history) while Brees oddly never won one. Rodgers also threw more than 10 interceptions in a season just four times compared to Brees’ 14 seasons. 

Like Brees, Rodgers played in and won one Super Bowl where he was named the game’s MVP. Rodgers’ career numbers don’t add up to Brees (largely because Rodgers spent his first three seasons as Brett Favre’s backup) but he is responsible for several of the most statistically insane QB seasons ever, including his fourth and final MVP season (in 2020) that saw him complete 70.7% of his throws with 48 touchdowns against just five interceptions. 

One of just two active players on this list, Mahomes is more than deserving of his top-10 position. The 29-year-old is already a two-time league and three-time Super Bowl MVP. He has an astonishing 106-27 record as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback that includes a 17-4 postseason mark. Mahomes’ five Super Bowl starts is tied with John Elway for the second-most in history. 

6. John Elway 

Elway’s brilliant career includes nine Pro Bowl selections, an NFL MVP award and back-to-back Super Bowl wins to close out his career. Elway was named Super Bowl MVP in his final game, a year after his famous helicopter run led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl win, an upset win over the defending champion Packers that ended the NFC’s 13-year Super Bowl winning streak. 

Elway’s career also included three other trips to the Super Bowl and his famous 98-yard drive (appropriately nicknamed “The Drive”) that forced overtime in the 1986 AFC Championship game. 

5. Johnny Unitas 

The best QB during the NFL’s first half-century, Unitas led the Colts to back-to-back title that included a victory in the NFL’s first game that went into overtime. The Colts’ 23-17 overtime win over the Giants in the 1958 NFL title game is also credited with helping take pro football’s popularity to a new level. 

Unitas’ career included four passing titles, being the NFL’s leader in touchdown passes four times, a Super Bowl win with the 1970 Colts and 47 straight games with a touchdown pass (which spanned from 1956-60), a record that stood for over 50 years before it was broken by Drew Brees in 2012. 

4. Dan Marino 

Many consider Marino to be the best pure passer in NFL history, and the stats back it up. In 1984 (his second season), Marino threw for then-NFL records 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns while leading Miami to its most recent Super Bowl appearance. Marino won five passing titles (including four in a five-year span early in his career) and led the NFL in touchdown passes three straight seasons from 1984-86. He retired after the 1999 season as the NFL’s career passing leader. 

3. Peyton Manning 

Manning’s rivalry with Tom Brady was similar to golf’s greatest rivalry between Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. When comparing the rivalries, Brady was like Nicklaus in that he won significantly more titles. But like Palmer, Manning’s legacy is more about his impact on the quarterback position and his status as one of the NFL’s greatest ambassadors. 

Manning was also a great quarterback, too. He won a record five league MVP awards, was the first starting quarterback to win Super Bowls with multiple franchises, and is the single-season record holder for most career passing yards (5,477) and touchdown passes (55). Oh, he also went 3-1 in his matchups with Brady in AFC title games. 

2. Joe Montana 

Considered the greatest QB of all-time pre Brady, Montana still has the unofficial title as the best QB of the 20th century. Montana’s “Joe Cool” nickname was well earned as he led the 49ers on two of his most famous game-winning drives in NFL history. His touchdown pass to Dwight Clark (nicknamed “The Catch”) led to the 49ers’ first Super Bowl berth while shifting the NFL’s balance of power from Dallas to San Francisco. Seven years later, Montana led a 92-yard drive that was punctuated by his game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor that sealed the 49ers’ third Super Bowl win during the 1980s. 

Montana went 4-0 in Super Bowls while becoming the first three-time Super Bowl MVP. Of his 92 pass attempts in Super Bowls, Montana threw 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions. His 59 rushing yards in Super Bowl XIX served as the single game record for a quarterback for 15 years. 

1. Tom Brady 

It’s hard to find anyone who would argue Brady’s standing as the greatest quarterback of all-time. Brady owns just about every significant NFL passing record, including the career marks for passing yards and touchdown passes. 

Brady also has three league MVP awards, a record five Super Bowl MVP trophies and has won more Super Bowls (seven) than any NFL franchise. He’s the oldest quarterback (at age 43) to win the Super Bowl and only the second starting quarterback (Peyton Manning being the other) to win Super Bowls with multiple franchises.