30 Best Quarterbacks of All Time

In 1981, Hall of Famer Dan Fouts was the first quarterback to rack up over 4,800 passing yards in a season, breaking his previous single-season record of 4,715 yards from the year before. Fouts was ahead of his time in the run-heavy NFL of the 1970s and 1980s, leading the NFL in passing yards four times. Though he put up spectacular stats, Fouts could never bring the Chargers to the Super Bowl.

It’s the two Super Bowl titles that cement Eli Manning’s place on this list. In addition to being named Super Bowl MVP in both wins, he’s been incredibly durable. His streak of 210 consecutive starts is second among quarterbacks. He also ranks eighth all-time in pass completions (4,895) and passing yards (57,023) and ninth in passing TDs (366).

Warren Moon is a legend in both the NFL and the Canadian CFL — spending his early career north of the border with the Edmonton Eskimos. Moon was signed by the Houston Oilers ahead of the 1984 season, playing his first snap of NFL football at age 28. He quickly made up for lost time, making nine Pro Bowls from 1988-1997 and earning the 1990 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Moon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Following the 2020 NFL season, Philip Rivers announced his retirement after 17 seasons. His statistics are among the best of all time — he ranks fifth in both career passing yards (63,440) and touchdowns (421). Rivers led the NFL in completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns in three different seasons.

He also ranked first in yards per attempt three different times. Rivers was exceedingly durable, never missing a game since taking over the Chargers starting job in 2006. He amassed eight Pro Bowl appearances in his storied career.

Bobby Layne was one of the NFL’s original “gunslinger” quarterbacks and helped the league move forward to the pass-heavy game we watch today. He led the Lions to two NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953, and was on the roster when they won the title in 1957 but was sidelined with a broken ankle. Layne was lauded for his toughness and leadership and consistently performed well throughout his Hall of Fame career — he made six Pro Bowls in his 15 seasons, leading the NFL in passing yards twice.