An ever-evolving formula to evaluate the greatest netminders of the past five decades. Statistical analysis is combined with contributions from quarterbacks, coaches, media members, and former NFL players on both sides of the ball.
1975-present, minimum 60 NFL starts.
1. TOM BRADY
2. JOE MONTANA
3. PEYTON MANNING
4. PATRICK MAHOMES
5. JOHN ELWAY
6. DAN MARINO
7. BRETT FAVRE
8. KURT WARNER
9. TROY AIKMAN
10. ROGER STAUBACH
11. TERRY BRADSHAW
12. AARON RODGERS
13. DREW BREES
14. STEVE YOUNG
15. JIM KELLY
16. KEN STABLER
17. DAN FOUTS
18. FRAN TARKENTON
19. BOB GRIESE
20. RUSSELL WILSON
21. BEN ROETHLISBERGER
22. ELI MANNING
23. KEN ANDERSON
24. WARREN MOON
25. JOE THEISMANN
26. JIM PLUNKETT
27. MATT RYAN
28. PHIL SIMMS
29. JOE NAMATH
30. MATTHEW STAFFORD
31. RANDALL CUNNINGHAM
32. PHILIP RIVERS
33. RICH GANNON
34. BOOMER ESIASON
35. JOE FLACCO
36. DONOVAN MCNABB
37. DANNY WHITE
38. STEVE MCNAIR
39. TONY ROMO
40. BERT JONES
41. DAVE KRIEG
42. STEVE BARTKOWSKI
43. CRAIG MORTON
44. JOSH ALLEN
45. CARSON PALMER
46. CAM NEWTON
47. DREW BLEDSOE
48. MARK BRUNELL
49. RON JAWORSKI
50. JOE FERGUSON
HM JEFF HOSTETLER
HM MARK RYPIEN
HM BRAD JOHNSON
HM ANDREW LUCK
HM KIRK COUSINS
HM BRIAN SIPE
HM DAK PRESCOTT
HM JARED GOFF
HM CHAD PENNINGTON
HM JIM EVERETT
FORMULA CONSIDERING WINS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, POSTSEASON SUCCESS, AWARDS, AND SCHEDULE. 66 SEASONS HAVE QUALIFIED AS "ELITE" SINCE 1970.
1. PEYTON MANNING (7)
2T. TOM BRADY (5)
2T. JOE MONTANA (5)
4. STEVE YOUNG (4)
5T. TROY AIKMAN (3)
5T. DREW BREES (3)
5T. BRETT FAVRE (3)
8T. KEN ANDERSON (2)
8T. TERRY BRADSHAW (2)
8T. DAN FOUTS (2)
8T. JIM KELLY (2)
8T. DAN MARINO (2)
8T. PATRICK MAHOMES (2)
8T. AARON RODGERS (2)
8T. KEN STABLER (2)
8T. ROGER STAUBACH (2)
8T. JOE THEISMANN (2)
8T. KURT WARNER (2)
* 45.5% OF ALL ELITE SEASONS SINCE 1970 WERE FROM SEVEN SIGNAL CALLERS: P. MANNING, BRADY, MONTANA, YOUNG, AIKMAN, BREES, FAVRE
BEST OVERALL SEASONS
BEST REGULAR SEASONS
BEST STANLEY CUP SEASONS
70s
80s
90s
00s
10s
20s
BEST BY TEAM
BEST BY COUNTRY
LEADERS IN SEASONS WITH ABOVE-AVERAGE WINNING PERCENTAGE
1. TOM BRADY (19)
2. PEYTON MANNING (14)
3T. BRETT FAVRE (10)
3T. AARON RODGERS (10)
5. JOHN ELWAY (9)
6. RUSSELL WILSON (8)
7. ROGER STAUBACH (7)
7T. BEN ROETHLISBERGER (7)
9T. JOE MONTANA (6)
9T. DREW BREES (6)
9T. JIM KELLY (6)
9T. MATT RYAN (6)
PERCENTAGE OF TOP THREE FINISHES IN THE FOUR MAJOR STATISTICAL PASSING CATEGORIES THROUGHOUT CAREER
1. PEYTON MANNING (57.4%)
2. DREW BREES (46.3%)
3. STEVE YOUNG (36.7%)
4. JOE MONTANA (35.0%)
5. DAN MARINO (33.8%)
6. FRAN TARKENTON (33.3%)
7. ROGER STAUBACH (31.8%)
8. KURT WARNER (29.2%)
9. PATRICK MAHOMES (28.6%)
10. BRETT FAVRE (27.5%)
SIGNAL CALLERS EVALUATED BY BEST FIVE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS (OVER 100 ACCUMULATED POINTS VIA VSE FORMULA)
1. PEYTON MANNING (2003-2007) - 144
2. STEVE YOUNG (1992-1996) - 141
3. PATRICK MAHOMES (2018-2022) - 137
4. BRETT FAVRE (1994-1998) - 132
5. DREW BREES (2009-2013) - 126
6. JOE MONTANA (1986-1990) - 122
7. TOM BRADY (2003-2007) - 121
8. TOM BRADY (2016-2020) - 115
9. DAN MARINO (1984-1988) - 113
10. JOE MONTANA (1981-1985) - 111
11. TROY AIKMAN (1992-1996) - 110
12. KEN STABLER (1973-1977) - 109
13T. DAN FOUTS (1978-1982) - 108.5
13T. FRAN TARKENTON (1972-1976) - 108.5
15. TOM BRADY (2010-2014) - 100
SIGNAL CALLERS EVALUATED BY BEST FIVE TOTAL SEASONS, CONSECUTIVE OR NON-CONSECUTIVE (OVER 100 ACCUMULATED POINTS VIA VSE FORMULA)
1. PEYTON MANNING (168)
2T. JOE MONTANA (158)
2T. STEVE YOUNG (158)
4. TOM BRADY (152)
5. DREW BREES (139)
6. BRETT FAVRE (136)
7. PATRICK MAHOMES (134)
8. AARON RODGERS (133.5)
9. KURT WARNER (131)
10. DAN MARINO (126)
11. ROGER STAUBACH (124)
12. TERRY BRADSHAW (114)
13. FRAN TARKENTON (112.5)
14. TROY AIKMAN (110)
15T. DAN FOUTS (109.5)
15T. KEN STABLER (109.5)
17. KEN ANDERSON (109)
ACCUMULATED POINTS BASED ON STRENGTH OF TEAM AND OPPONENT DURING PLAYOFF COMPETITION
1. TOM BRADY (44)
2. JOE FLACCO (28)
3. JOE MONTANA (26)
4T. TERRY BRADSHAW (22)
4T. PATRICK MAHOMES (22)
6. JOHN ELWAY (20)
7. TROY AIKMAN (19)
8. JIM PLUNKETT (16)
9T. KURT WARNER (15)
9T. ELI MANNING (15)
SIGNAL CALLERS WHO ELEVATED THEIR GAME THE MOST BETWEEN REGULAR SEASON AND PLAYOFF ACTION (MINIMUM TEN PLAYOFF STARTS)
1. JIM PLUNKETT (14.4)
2. TERRY BRADSHAW (12.1)
3. KURT WARNER (9.1)
4. KEN STABLER (8.9)
5. JOSH ALLEN (7.8)
6. MATT RYAN (7.2)
7. TROY AIKMAN (6.7)
8. JOE FLACCO (3.7)
9. WARREN MOON (4.0)
10T. JOE MONTANA (3.3)
10T. ELI MANNING (3.3)
ALL-TIME LEADERS IN NFL PASSER RATING
1. AARON RODGERS (103.6%)
2. PATRICK MAHOMES (103.5%)
3. DESHAUN WATSON (100.8%)
4. RUSSELL WILSON (100.0%)
5. DAK PRESCOTT (99.0%)
6. DREW BREES (98.7%)
7. JOE BURROW (98.6%)
8. KIRK COUSINS (98.2%)
9. LAMAR JACKSON (98.0%)
10. JIMMY GAROPPOLO (97.6%)
11. TOM BRADY (97.2%)
12. TONY ROMO (97.1%)
12T. TUA TAGOVAIOLA (97.1%)
13. LAMAR JACKSON (96.7%)
14. STEVE YOUNG (96.8%)*
15. PEYTON MANNING (96.5%)*
16. JUSTIN HERBERT (95.7%)
17. PHILIP RIVERS (95.2%)
18. KURT WARNER (93.7%)*
19T. JARED GOFF (93.6%)
19T. MATT RYAN (93.6%)
21. BEN ROETHLISBERGER (93.5%)
22T. DEREK CARR (92.3%)
22T. JOE MONTANA (92.3%)*
24T. JOSH ALLEN (92.2%)
24T. KYLER MURRAY (92.2%)
ACTIVE QB: 16
*HOF QB: 4
LEADERS AFTER APR APPLIED, FOLLOWED BY OFFICIAL NFL RANKING
1. STEVE YOUNG (99.3%)* - 14TH
2. AARON RODGERS (95.6) - 1ST
3. PATRICK MAHOMES (95.5%) - 2ND
4. JOE MONTANA (94.8%)* - T22ND
5. DESHAUN WATSON (92.8%) - 3RD
6. DREW BREES (92.3%) - 6TH
7. PEYTON MANNING (92.2%)* - 15TH
8. ROGER STAUBACH (92.1%)* - 66TH
9. RUSSELL WILSON (92.0%) - 4TH
10T. TOM BRADY (91.0%) - 10TH
10T. DAK PRESCOTT (91.0%) - 5TH
12. KURT WARNER (90.9%)* - 18TH
13. KIRK COUSINS (90.2%) - 8TH
14. LAMAR JACKSON (90.0%) - 9TH
15. JIMMY GAROPPOLO (89.6%) - 10TH
16T. FRAN TARKENTON (89.1%)* - T91ST
16T. TONY ROMO (89.1%) - 12TH
18. DAN MARINO (88.9%)* - 46TH
19. KEN ANDERSON (88.0%) - 76TH
20. JUSTIN HERBERT (87.7%) - 16TH
21. DANNY WHITE (87.5%) - T79TH
22. PHILIP RIVERS (87.2%) - 17TH
23T. BERT JONES (86.9%) - T109TH
23T. JIM KELLY (86.9%)* - T61ST
24T. DAN FOUTS (86.8%)* - 96TH
24T. NEIL LOMAX (86.8%) - T68TH
ACTIVE QB: 9
*HOF QB: 9
REGULAR SEASON
325 COMP 499 ATT 65.1% 4353 YDS 41 TD
PLAYOFFS
77 COMP 121 ATT 63.6% 1063 YDS 8 TD
13 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN TD, COMP % & PASS RTG
SECOND IN YDS
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 45
REGULAR SEASON
324 COMP 461 ATT 70.3% 3969 YDS 35 TD
PLAYOFFS
53 COMP 87 ATT 60.9% 623 YDS 9 TD
13 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN TD, COMP % & PASS RTG
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 42
REGULAR SEASON
398 COMP 578 ATT 68.9% 4806 YDS 50 TD
POSTSEASON
77 COMP 109 YDS 70.6% 737 YDS 6 TD
16 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN YDS, TD, COMP %, & PASS RTG*
SUPER BOWL FINALST
* "QUADRUPLE CROWN" ACCOMPLISHED TWICE SINCE 1970 (WARNER 2001)
TOTAL POINTS: 41
REGULAR SEASON
435 COMP 648 ATT 67.1% 5250 YDS 41 TD
POSTSEASON
72 COMP 100 ATT 72.0% 703 YDS 7 TD
14 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN YDS & TD
SECOND IN PASS RTG
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 40.5
REGULAR SEASON
375 COMP 546 ATT 68.7% 4830 YDS 36 TD
PLAYOFFS
68 COMP 107 ATT 63.6% 793 YDS 4 TD
14 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN YDS, TD, COMP %, & PASS RTG*
SUPER BOWL FINALIST
* "QUADRUPLE CROWN" ACCOMPLISHED TWICE SINCE 1970 (BRADY 2007)
TOTAL POINTS: 39
REGULAR SEASON
207 COMP 368 ATT 56.3% 2915 YDS 28 TD
PLAYOFFS
44 COMP 78 ATT 56.4% 790 YDS 8 TD
14 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN TD
SECOND IN PASS RTG
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 38.5
REGULAR SEASON
362 COMP 557 ATT 65.0% 4397 YDS 31 TD
PLAYOFFS
97 COMP 153 ATT 63.4% 1034 YDS 3 TD
12 REGULAR SEASON WINS
LED NFL IN TD, PASS RTG
SECOND IN YDS
THIRD IN COMP %
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 38
REGULAR SEASON
363 COMP 514 ATT 70.6% 4388 YDS 34 TD
PLAYOFFS
72 COMP 102 ATT 70.6% 732 YDS 8 TD
13 REGULAR SEASON WINS
LED NFL IN TD, COMP % & PASS RTG
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SUPER BOWL MVP
TOTAL POINTS: 38
REGULAR SEASON
362 COMP 564 ATT 64.2% 5084 YDS 48 TD
PLAYOFFS
71 COMP 116 ATT 61.2% 1001 YDS 8 TD
14 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN YDS, TD & PASS RTG
THIRD IN COMP %
SUPER BOWL FINALIST
TOTAL POINTS: 37
REGULAR SEASON
268 COMP, 402 ATT, 66.7%, 3465 YDS, 25 TD
PLAYOFFS
45 COMP, 65 ATT, 69.2%, 540 YDS, 3 TD
14 REGULAR SEASON WINS
NFL MVP
FIRST TEAM ALL-PRO
LED NFL IN TD, COMP % & PASS RTG
SECOND IN YDS
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST
TOTAL POINTS: 37
11. JOE MONTANA (1989)
12 - KEN STABLER (1976)
13T - JOHN BRODIE (1970)
13T - BRETT FAVRE (1996)
13T - JOE MONTANA (1984)
13T - FRAN TARKENTSON (1975)
17 - PEYTON MANNING (2013)
18T - PEYTON MANNING (2003)
18T - MARK RYPIEN (1991)
20T - BERT JONES (1976)
20T - PEYTON MANNING (2009)
20T - AARON RODGERS (2020)
23 - ROGER STAUBACH (1971)
24T - DREW BREES (2011)
24T - PEYTON MANNING (2004)
24T - MATT RYAN (2016)
27T - KEN ANDERSON (1981)
27T - BRETT FAVRE (1995)
27T - BRETT FAVRE (1997)
27T - JOE MONTANA (1981)
27T - AARON RODGERS (1997)
27T - BRIAN SIPE (1980)
27T - STEVE YOUNG (1993)
34T - TOM BRADY (2017)
34T - PATRICK MAHOMES (2018)
34T - JOE MONTANA (1987)
34T - ROGER STAUBACH (1977)
34T - JOE THEISMANN (1983)
39T - TROY AIKMAN (1992)
39T - TOM BRADY (2010)
39T - RICH GANNON (2002)
39T - JIM KELLY (1991)
39T - PEYTON MANNING (2005)
39T - KEN STABLER (1974)
39T - JOE MONTANA (1990)
47 - BOB GRIESE (1977)
48T - TROY AIKMAN (1993)
48T - TOM BRADY (2016)
48T - TOM BRADY (2020)
48T - DAN FOUTS (1979)
48T - PEYTON MANNING (2012)
53T - TROY AIKMAN (1995)
53T - RANDALL CUNNINGHAM (1998)
53T - DAN MARINO (1985)
56T - KEN ANDERSON (1975)
56T - DAN FOUTS (1982)
56T - DAK PRESCOTT (2023)
56T - MATTHEW STAFFORD (2021)
56T - JOE THEISMANN (1982)
61T - TERRY BRADSHAW (1979)
61T - DREW BREES (2018)
61T - LAMAR JACKSON (2018)
61T - JIM KELLY (1990)
61T - PHIL SIMMS (1986)
61T - STEVE YOUNG (1998)
67T - AARON RODGERS (2021)
67T - ROGER STAUBACH (1973)
69T - TOM BRADY (2003)
69T - DREW BREES (2006)
69T - WARREN MOON (1990)
69T - AARON RODGERS (2014)
69T - FRAN TARKENTON (1973)
69T - STEVE YOUNG (1997)
74T - TOM BRADY (2021)
74T - FRAN TARKENTON (1973)
76T - TOM BRADY (2004)
76T - TOM BRADY (2014)
76T - DAN FOUTS (1981)
76T - DAN MARINO (1986)
76T - CAM NEWTON (2015)
76T - AARON RODGERS (2010)
76T - AARON RODGERS (2012)
76T - TONY ROMO (2014)
84T - TERRY BRADSHAW (1975)
84T - BOB GRIESE (1971)
84T - BOB GRIESE (1973)
84T - JOHN HADL (1973)
88T - TOM BRADY (2001)
88T - DAUNTE CULPEPPER (2004)
88T - JOHN ELWAY (1993)
88T - JIM EVERETT (1989)
88T - BRETT FAVRE (2009)
88T - DAN FOUTS (1980)
88T - PATRICK MAHOMES (2019)
88T - PATRICK MAHOMES (2020)
88T - CARSON PALMER (2005)
88T - CARSON PALMER (2015)
88T - KURT WARNER (2008)
88T - RUSSELL WILSON (2013)
100 - EARL MORRALL (1972)
* 67% OF THE TOP 100 SEASONS SINCE 1970 WERE FROM 15 SIGNAL CALLERS: BRADY (10), P. MANNING (7), RODGERS (6), MONTANA (5), YOUNG (5), BREES (4), FAVRE (4), MAHOMES (4), AIKMAN (3), BRADSHAW (3), GRIESE (3), STAUBACH (3), WARNER (3)
FORMULA CONSIDERING WINS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, POSTSEASON SUCCESS, AWARDS, AND SCHEDULE. 569 SEASONS HAVE QUALIFIED AS "ABOVE AVERAGE" SINCE 1970.
1. DALLAS (31)
2. MIAMI (29)
3T. NEW ENGLAND (27)
3T. SAN FRANCISCO (27)
5. MINNESOTA (26)
6. GREEN BAY (25)
7. CINCINNATI (23)
8. DENVER (22)
9T. IND/BAL COLTS (21)
9T. NEW ORLEANS (21)
FORMULA CONSIDERING WINS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, POSTSEASON SUCCESS, AWARDS, AND SCHEDULE. 66 SEASONS HAVE QUALIFIED AS "ELITE" SINCE 1970.
1. SAN FRANCISCO (10)
2T. DALLAS (6)
2T. IND/BAL COLTS (6)
4. GREEN BAY (5)
5. NEW ENGLAND (4)
6T. CINCINNATI (3)
6T. LV/OAK/LA RAIDERS (3)
6T. LA/STL RAMS (3)
6T. MIAMI (3)
6T. NEW ORLEANS (3)
6T. WASHINGTON (3)
1. NEW ENGLAND 2001-19 (19)
2. SAN FRANCISCO 1981-98 (18)
3. NEW ORLEANS 2006-20 (15)
4. MIAMI 1981-92 (12)
5T. DALLAS 1975-83 (9)
5T. IND/BAL COLTS 2002-10 (9)
5T. KANSAS CITY 2015-PRES (9)
5T. SEATTLE 2012-20 (9)
9T. DALLAS 1991-96 (6)
9T. GREEN BAY 1993-98 (6)
1. ARI/PHO CARDINALS 1988-2007 (20)
2T. BAL/IND COLTS 1978-94 (17)
2T. KANSAS CITY 1973-89 (17)
2T. TAMPA BAY 1980-96 (17)
5. BUFFALO 2003-18 (16)
6. DETROIT 1996-2010 (15)
7. SEATTLE 1989-2002 (14)
8T. CINCINNATI 1990-2002 (13)
8T. OAKLAND 2003-2015 (13)
8T. MIAMI 2009-21 (13)
1. KANSAS CITY (9-1)
2. SEATTLE (8-2)
3T. GREEN BAY (7-3)
3T. NEW ORLEANS (7-3)
5. NEW ENGLAND (6-4)
28T. CHICAGO (1-9)
28T. CLEVELAND (1-9)
28T. JACKSONVILLE (1-9)
28T. NY GIANTS (1-9)
28T. NY JETS (1-9)
1. KANSAS CITY (+9)
2. BUFFALO (+5)
3. PHILADELPHIA (+2)
3T. MIAMI (+2)
5. FIVE TEAMS TIED AT +1
27T. CAROLINA (-6)
27T. JACKSONVILLE (-6)
29T. NY GIANTS (-7)
29T. WASHINGTON (-7)
31T. DENVER (-8)
31T. NY JETS (-8)
JOHNNY UNITAS
OTTO GRAHAM
JOE MONTANA
JOHN ELWAY
TOM BRADY
PEYTON MANNING
ROGER STAUBACH
TERRY BRADSHAW
AARON RODGERS
DAN MARINO
BRETT FAVRE
TROY AIKMAN