# The best QB ever poll **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 21, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953 "2013-01-21T22:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/21 "2013-01-22T15:26:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I assume you mean [Randy Wright](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrigRa00.htm), not [Randy White](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitRa00.htm). šŸ™‚ Oops. > [@kenobi 65](#): > > Although, I bet that White would have _still_ been a better QB than Wright. I have some crickets in my basement that are better QBā€™s than Wright. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/22 "2013-01-22T15:45:05Z")
A bad poll deserves bad results. Flutie, Griese, McNabb, Namath, and Vick. In another poll, I would go with Montana, Peyton Manning, Marino, Elway, and Favre, picking only players Iā€™ve actually seen. The toughtest omissions for me are Brady, Young, Moon, and Kelly. Give Rodgers two more high level years, and heā€™s in the conversation for top 5. Montana and Peyton are my top 2 and I canā€™t see my opinion changing on them any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/23 "2013-01-22T15:54:13Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Oops. I have some crickets in my basement that are better QBā€™s than Wright. I went to college with the guy, then had to endure him QBing my favorite NFL team for several years. We referred to him as ā€œRandy Wrongā€. Anyway, back to the pollā€¦with an exhaustive list, Iā€™d go with Unitas, Starr, Montana, Marino, and Elway, with Favre, Graham, and P. Manning just missing the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/24 "2013-01-22T16:04:56Z")
My votes: Graham, Unitas, Montana, Marino, Peyton Manning. I had to vote other because somehow Unitas isnā€™t on that list. The reason I when with this list is because itā€™s difficult to compare across eras. Graham was easily the greatest of his era by a huge margin, but how would he compare to Peyton? The game is just so different now, itā€™s not really a fair comparison. I also really tried not to pick ones that overlapped because it is pretty easy to see how two different QBs performed in the same era. The only significant overlap I have is between Marino and Montana, but I think thereā€™s enough dispute between who was better that they both deserve mention. Thatā€™s also why I only picked Peyton from the modern era. The reason being that I think Peyton is indisputably the best QB over the last decade or so, so thereā€™s no way anyone else could be the best ever if heā€™s not even the best of his own era. If I were to change anything, Iā€™d pick one between Montana and Marino to drop and add Starr. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/25 "2013-01-22T16:23:01Z")
In no particular order: Graham Montana Brady P. Manning Other/Johnny U. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/26 "2013-01-22T16:55:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I went to college with the guy, then had to endure him QBing my favorite NFL team for several years. We referred to him as ā€œRandy Wrongā€. > . He did have moments where he played at a very high level. Sadly they were only moments. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/27 "2013-01-22T17:21:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No Bret Favre? No Unitas? Two of the top five, in MANY opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/28 "2013-01-22T17:23:01Z")
Not having Unitas in the list is a huge ommission. My votes: Graham, Baugh, Montana, Other (Unitas) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/29 "2013-01-22T17:26:23Z")
I wish I could vote for Doug Flutie, he was always one of my favorite players, but not a top-20 QB. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/30 "2013-01-22T20:15:54Z")
Joe Theisman. ::Sticks fingers in ears:: La! la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, !!! ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/31 "2013-01-22T20:46:18Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > Flutie, Griese, McNabb, Namath, and Vick. Now weā€™re just throwing names out there. No way in hell any of these guys are even close to being in the top 5 QBā€™s of all time. > [@mkecane](#): > > In another poll, I would go with Montana, Peyton Manning, Marino, Elway, and Favre, picking only players Iā€™ve actually seen. The toughtest omissions for me are Brady, Young, Moon, and Kelly. Give Rodgers two more high level years, and heā€™s in the conversation for top 5. Montana and Peyton are my top 2 and I canā€™t see my opinion changing on them any time soon. This makes a ton more sense than Michael Vick or Joe Namath. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/32 "2013-01-22T20:47:27Z")
Graham, Montana and Brady. Any other selections are wrong, although, obviously, two of mine must also be incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/33 "2013-01-22T20:59:20Z")
Otto Graham Bart Starr Joe Montana Terry Bradshaw Thatā€™s using the best objective measuring stick I can find: Winning Championships. The goal of every team at the beginning of every season is (or should be) to win the championship. Therefore the players who do that the most often are the most ā€˜successfulā€™ā€¦and how can you judge ā€˜greatnessā€™ if not my measuring success? Otto Graham: 4 AAFC Championships ('46, '47, '48, '49) 3 NFL championships ('50, '54, '55). Bart Starr: 5 NFL Championships ('61, '62, '65) 2 Super Bowls (I & II) Terry Bradshaw: 4 Super Bowls (IX, X, XII, XIV) Joe Montana: 4 Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XIV) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/34 "2013-01-22T21:09:32Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Otto Graham > Bart Starr > Joe Montana > Terry Bradshaw > > Thatā€™s using the best objective measuring stick I can find: Winning Championships. > > The goal of every team at the beginning of every season is (or should be) to win the championship. Therefore the players who do that the most often are the most ā€˜successfulā€™ā€¦and how can you judge ā€˜greatnessā€™ if not my measuring success? Ugh. Itā€™s a team game. Trent Dilfer is not a better QB than Dan Marino. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/35 "2013-01-22T21:18:46Z")
Ryan Leaf Cade McNown Akili Smith Todd Blackledge JaMarcus Russell /slowly puts the pipe down and cackles maniacally :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/36 "2013-01-22T22:47:50Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Ugh. Itā€™s a team game. Trent Dilfer is not a better QB than Dan Marino. Trueā€¦but come up with a good argument against three of my four picks. As for the fourth, as a Steelers fan I just like to rile people up by ā€˜provingā€™ that Terry Bradshaw is better than Elway, Marino, Brady, Favre, Manning, other Manning, etcā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/37 "2013-01-22T23:30:51Z")
Rush Limbaughā€™s ā€œmedia biasā€ poll: Kordell Stewart Michael Vick Vince Young RG III (give him 2 years, tops) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/38 "2013-01-23T00:20:56Z")
Why is the QB who is 20th all time in QB rating (86) and 17th in completion pct ranked so highly? The other clue to who this overrated player is is that heā€™s also the career leader in interceptions with 336, nearly 60(!) more than the player who is 2nd on the list (George Blanda, 277). ETA - I guess he canā€™t be rated so highly if he didnā€™t even make this poll, but I did just see a list that had him ranked 6th all time, ahead of both Brady and Marino. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/39 "2013-01-23T00:43:38Z")
I didnā€™t vote for him (Brady, Young) but Warren Moon had the best throwing motion Iā€™ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953/40 "2013-01-23T01:25:31Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Trueā€¦but come up with a good argument against three of my four picks. > > As for the fourth, as a Steelers fan I just like to rile people up by ā€˜provingā€™ that Terry Bradshaw is better than Elway, Marino, Brady, Favre, Manning, other Manning, etcā€¦ Ah, well then thatā€™s good. Heā€™s the only pick of yours that I had a quibble with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-qb-ever-poll/647953.md?page=3)