There is nothing quite like watching a quarterback pull off a play so amazing, it leaves everyone in the crowd on their feet. Over the years, a handful of players have done that — not just once, but again and again. They’ve led their teams, made legendary comebacks, and changed the game of football forever.
When it comes to football, the quarterback is basically the MVP of the team. They are the ones calling the shots, throwing the passes, and making those game-winning plays that everyone remembers. The NFL has been around for over a century now, and in that time, some quarterbacks have stood out as absolute legends.
There have been tons of great quarterbacks over the years, but some quarterbacks just really stand out, whether because they’ve won a bunch of Super Bowls, set historical records, or just had that special something that made them unforgettable. These top 5 are the quarterbacks who made fans fall in love with the game and left their mark on football history.
#5 Patrick Mahomes
Although 63% of 110 surveyed Chronicle followers disagree Patrick Mahomes is a top 5 Quarterback of all time, according to a poll conducted on Instagram on Oct. 27, 2025, Patrick Mahomes makes the list at #5. Patrick Mahomes has already achieved legendary status despite still being in his prime. Through 2024, he has thrown for over 30,000 yards and scored 245 touchdowns. Additionally, Mahomes completed more than 66% of his passes, holding a career passer rating above 105, the highest in NFL history. Mahomes has already captured three Super Bowl titles, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two league MVP awards, all before turning 30. His mix of mobility, arm strength, and in the moment skill has transformed the modern quarterback position. If he maintains this pace, Mahomes could one day challenge Brady himself for the top spot. Mahomes is at 5 because he is still in the middle of his career and also has played in a much softer era in the NFL.
#4 Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning was the smartest and prepared quarterback to ever play the game. During his career, he passed for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns with a 65.3% completion rate, all while rewriting the NFL record books. Manning was a five-time NFL MVP — the most in league history — and a two-time Super Bowl champion. Known for his pre-snap adjustments and total control at the line of scrimmage, he was like a coach on the field. His 2013 season, in which he threw a [at the time] record 55 touchdown passes, remains one of the best single seasons ever. Manning’s football IQ and precision made him a generational quarterback. Peyton Manning comes in at fourth because although he had regular-season dominance and leadership, his inconsistent playoff performances kept him from placing higher.
#3 Joe Montana
Before Tom Brady, Joe Montana was the standard for postseason greatness. Over his Hall of Fame-worthy career, Montana threw for 40,551 yards and 273 touchdowns while completing 63.2% of his passes. A four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP, while also winning two NFL MVP awards and making eight Pro Bowl appearances. In four Super Bowls, Montana threw 11 touchdowns without a single interception, making his legacy as one of the most clutch players in football history. His leadership of Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense changed the definition of a quarterback position and laid the foundation for modern passing attacks. Joe Montana is at third because Montana was clutch and always showed up in big games, but the guys above him had longer careers and put up bigger numbers.
#2 Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is one of the most efficient and naturally gifted passer the game has ever seen. Across his career with the Packers, he has thrown for 59,055 yards, 475 touchdowns, and just 105 interceptions, giving him an astonishing 4.5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio — the best in NFL history. A four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV champion, Rodgers combines arm strength, precision, and creativity like no one before him. His 2011 and 2020 seasons, both MVP campaigns, remain two of the best quarterbacking performances ever recorded. Rodgers’ ability to avoid mistakes while making impossible throws changed what a elite quarterback looks like. If he had a better defense, he would have been the greatest quarterback of all time and won more super bowls than Tom Brady.
#1 Tom Brady
Tom Brady stands alone at the top as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Over a 23-year career, Brady threw for 89,214 yards, 649 touchdowns, and maintained a 64.3% completion rate, all while compiling more postseason wins than entire franchises. A seven-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Super Bowl MVP, he also claimed three NFL MVP awards and 15 Pro Bowl selections. Beyond the numbers, Brady’s best traits were his longevity and ability to carry his teams — from leading the early 2000’s Patriots team, to delivering a championship to Tampa Bay in his forties. His 35 playoff wins and unmatched calmness under pressure makes him the undisputed GOAT.
