Who is the greatest QB in the history of every NFL franchise?

The Cardinals have seen a few high QB peaks during the 21st century. Kurt Warner piloted the team to Super Bowl XLIII, and Carson Palmer delivered the best record (13-3) in franchise history. Kyler Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler. Neil Lomax matched that despite being on mostly bad teams. None of those passers completed eight seasons as Cards starters; Hart was in that role for 15 years . The former UDFA's career crested during Don Coryell's mid-1970s stay. That period brought two Cardinals playoff berths -- their only non-strike-year appearances in St. Louis -- including two NFC East titles in Roger Staubach's prime. Hart earned four straight Hart Pro Bowl nods in this period.

Not the talent Michael Vick was, Ryan both distanced himself from the player he replaced -- after a gap year marred by Vick's prison sentence -- in terms of longevity and peak. The Falcons went from 4-12 during the Bobby Petrino one-off to 11-5 in Ryan's rookie year, earning playoff entry four times between 2008-12. Ryan earned four Pro Bowl nods in total, delivering his best season in 2016. Ryan's second year in Kyle Shanahan's offense brought the only MVP award in Falcons history, and Atlanta's 33.8 points per game rank eighth in the Super Bowl era. The Super Bowl LI collapse aside, Ryan kept churning out productive seasons until a 2022 trade to the Colts.

Ed Reed will be tough to catch for the greatest player in Ravens history, but Jackson is soaring to historic heights. Through six seasons as a full-time starter, Jackson has three first-team All-Pro nods and two MVPs. Even Patrick Mahomes trails the All-Pro tally, as the greatest running quarterback in NFL history has arguably surged past (current form, not career standing) the Chiefs icon over the past two seasons. While the electric threat has stumbled repeatedly in the playoffs, the gap between the present Baltimore starter and his predecessor (Joe Flacco) is wide despite the latter's Super Bowl XLVII MVP honor.

This space's best active quarterback, Allen, obviously trails Jim Kelly in Super Bowl appearances. Thanks to the arms race in the AFC, Allen is unlikely to catch the Hall of Famer's four big-stage cameos. But Allen's superstar surge has not faded. We are now in Year 6 of such standing, as no team relies more on one player than the 2020s Bills have. Kelly simply resided lower in his era's QB hierarchy than Allen, who has been a top-four option for several years now. Allen has four top-five MVP finishes (to Kelly's two in an 11-year career); the 2024 MVP has powered a less sturdy Buffalo foundation to six playoff brackets in seven seasons. 

Jake Delhomme guided the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII in his first season and aided them to an NFC title game (2005) and a divisional-round berth (2008). This is not that close, though. Injuries shortened Newton's prime, and he never came close to replicating his MVP form after a Super Bowl 50 upset loss. But the dual-threat talent submitted an Offensive Rookie of the Year season and elevated Carolina to its franchise peak with four playoff berths from 2013-17. Oh, and that 2015 season: quite good. Contributing heavily to the dab craze, Newton went 3,837-636 and combined for 45 TDs, doing so despite a mediocre receiving corps. 

Seventy-five years after his retirement, Luckman remains the pick. It is a detriment to the Bears' roster building that no one is close. Jim McMahon and Jay Cutler had moments, and Billy Wade quarterbacked the 1963 team to an NFL title. Luckman, however, won four championships during the Bears' 1940s zenith. Chicago landed Luckman in the 1939 first round and turned him loose a year later, when a 73-0 title-game dismantling commenced. The six-time All-Pro set a single-season record with 28 touchdown passes in 1943, capping that banner year off with a five-TD masterpiece (with no INTs) in a championship win over Washington.

Unlike Josh Allen, Joe Burrow has not done quite enough to take over his team's slot. The ascending star will assuredly do so fairly soon, but he has finished just three seasons. Anderson lasted 16 in Cincinnati and thrived in Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense prototype. The third-round pick won three completion percentage crowns and rebounded from mid-career injuries to craft an early-1980s resurgence. Anderson won 1981 MVP honors and powered Cincy to Super Bowl XVI -- outperforming Dan Fouts in the "Freezer Bowl" to get there -- and completed an era-inappropriate 70.6% of his passes (albeit in a strike-shortened slate) in 1982. 

Another runaway here. Graham's resume is impeccable. Although a popular incorrect take -- the "playing against plumbers"-like refrain -- is lobbed at midcentury greats, Graham helping the Browns transition from the All-American Football Conference to the NFL to craft an instant dynasty is unrivaled across sports. After four AAFC titles, Paul Brown's conductor spearheaded Cleveland to six straight NFL championship games and three wins. The last two featured season-ending brilliance. Graham posted his one-of-a-kind six-TD (three pass, three rush) showing to down the Lions 56-10 in 1954 and re-retired after settling the Rams series in a 38-14 romp in 1955.

Staubach enjoyed less than a decade in a starting role, but the ex-Navy Heisman winner made his time count. He wrested the job from Craig Morton during the 1971 season, leading the Cowboys to a 13-0 mark in his starts. After an injury-marred 1972, Staubach quarterbacked Dallas to three more Super Bowls in seven full seasons as a starter. The escape artist/comeback maestro finished on top, posting his two best statistical seasons -- albeit after seminal rule changes -- to close his career. This came after Staubach guided a dominant 1977 Cowboys team to a Super Bowl XII win. Staubach retired after a frantic Week 16 comeback gave Dallas the NFC East title over Washington.

This space gave Peyton Manning the best Broncos QB season, but Elway's skillset may still reign supreme at the position in NFL history. All due respect to the "Three Amigos" WR cadre, the rocket-armed passer dragged three good, not great, late-1980s Broncos teams to Super Bowls. He drew some historically talented opponents . The 1987 MVP chugged along, orchestrating memorable comebacks during the 1990s, leading up to his late-career reunion with Mike Shanahan. Better rosters supported Elway, the 90s All-Decade first-team QB, en route to back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Elway's 1998 finale remains the Broncos' apex, as the team stifled three playoff foes and saw its QB deliver a 336-yard Super Bowl MVP walk-off.

Obviously not rivaling Matthew Stafford's stats -- in comically different passing environments -- Layne earned Hall of Fame entry largely because of his Detroit years. Layne played eight-plus seasons with the Lions, being the centerpiece for a few loaded rosters in the early 1950s. The machine worked thanks to its QB, who bettered Otto Graham's Browns in back-to-back championship games. That reign started a year after Layne tossed an NFL-high 26 TD passes in 1951. The Lions winning the 1957 title without him, after a midseason broken leg, led to an early-season 1958 trade -- and the possibly apocryphal "Curse of Bobby Layne." 

A near-dead heat still leans Favre here. Favre transforming a moribund Packers franchise -- who made zero non-strike-year playoff berths in the 20 seasons before Ron Wolf's 1992 trade with the Falcons -- and taking down the Cowboys-49ers duopoly represents enough of an achievement to eclipse Aaron Rodgers' four MVP awards. Favre is the only player to win three straight MVPs, and his Green Bay All-Pro count (six) eclipses Rodgers (five). Favre's durability also smashes Rodgers', even if the former's INT rate does not. Favre moving to the MVP tier after losing Hall of Fame-bound wideout Sterling Sharpe in his prime also aged well. 

Watson's 2020s arc can now safely be labeled a steep fall from grace; his Browns work -- after a litany of off-field problems and a trade request led him off the field in 2021 -- has brought stunningly poor results. In Houston, however, Watson was an ascending talent who briefly reached stardom. The 2017 first-round pick rebounded from a rookie-year ACL tear to book three straight Pro Bowl berths -- in a conference at points housing Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Watson guided the Texans to back-to-back playoff berths, including a rare climb out of an 0-3 hole (2018). The Texans escaped a mess with a historic trade haul in 2022.

Four of Manning's record five MVP awards came in Indianapolis; five of his seven first-team All-Pro nods recognized Colts work. Manning is on his own tier in the latter category, as no other QB has more than five. The lone other five-timer was a Colt, but Johnny Unitas earned those distinctions in a much smaller league. Before a limited version of Manning reignited the Broncos, his Colts edition was as bankable as they come. He dragged Indy to seven straight 12-plus-win seasons, winning Super Bowl XLI and falling short of a second title three years later. The Colts' 2011 drop to 2-14 does well to illustrate their 13-year starter's brilliance. 

As the waiting period for Trevor Lawrence continues to be extended, Brunell remains the clear choice for a largely QB-starved franchise. Acquired in a 1995 trade with the Packers, the brief Brett Favre backup -- amid a 19-year career -- had the Jaguars ready to roll by their second season. Brunell piloted the team from 2-6 to the AFC championship game, upsetting the Bills and Broncos in the process. The team climbed to a 14-2 mark in 1999, gliding to another conference title tilt. Hovering between game manager and star, Brunell lasted roughly eight seasons in the starter's seat. The Jags are still searching for a comparable run. 

For as much credit as Andy Reid deserves for the Chiefs' dynasty, it certainly was impossible without the level jump the team made upon trading Alex Smith and installing Mahomes under center. In terms of first-year starter showings, only Kurt Warner's 1999 rivals Mahomes' in the modern era. While the Kansas City icon has not approached his 5,000/50 summit since, he has ripped off an unfathomable stretch that includes a 7-for-7 AFC championship game attendance rate, three Super Bowl MVPs (in three comeback wins), and five top-stage appearances. The Chiefs may nauseate many, and Mahomes is on a cold streak (by his standards), but this is a historic resume for an NFL 20-something.

Stabler joined Staubach in not taking the starter keys until midway through his career. He was in Year 6 when John Madden finally benched AFL great Daryle Lamonica. The Raiders stayed on course, with Stabler spearheading their renegade brand. Oakland ventured to six AFC championship games in Stabler's first six seasons as a starter. This included a one-sided Super Bowl XI romp. Fortified by a Hall of Famer-laden offensive line and two Canton-bound wideouts, Stabler won the 1974 MVP award and twice surpassed 25 TD passes in a season, doing so before the 1978 rule changes ignited the passing game. The Raiders traded Stabler to the Oilers ahead of his age-35 season (1980).

Like Jim Hart, Fouts owes plenty of his success to the Air Coryell offense. Though the fiery Chargers passer-turned-Ian Eagle dinner guest elevated Coryell's system once the innovative coach arrived in San Diego. Paired with a historic pass-catching trio (Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner and John Jefferson/Wes Chandler), Fouts led the NFL in passing in four straight seasons. The Bolts voyaged to four consecutive playoff brackets and back-to-back AFC title games. Although a stunning upset to an undermanned Oilers team prevented a 1979 Chargers-Steelers AFC decider, Fouts was surgical in the Bolts' "Epic in Miami" outing two years later. A minus-59-degree wind chill awaited, barricading this high-flying arsenal from a Super Bowl.

Kurt Warner and Matthew Stafford have Super Bowl titles, but the pre-Super Bowl period brought the Rams' best stuff here. The team's two-QB setup pairing Van Brocklin and fellow future Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield produced a still-standing points-per-game record (38.8) in 1950. A year later, the two atoned for a shootout loss in Cleveland with a rematch triumph to give Los Angeles its first major sports title. Taking over as L.A.'s full-time starter in 1953, Van Brocklin earned six straight Pro Bowl nods and guided the Rams to a third championship appearance in 1955. The prickly passer's feud with then-Rams HC Sid Gillman keyed a 1958 trade to the Eagles. 

Installing Elway or Marino today would generate some social media attention. Elway's pocket-passing counterpart had no statistical equal during his prime, and even as friendlier rulebooks led to Marino's single-season records falling, no passing season rivals where the then-second-year ace soared to in 1984. Marino's 48 TD passes broke the record by 12, and he had the only 5,000-yard passing season until 2008. (Marino's '86 season -- 44 TDs, 4,746 yards -- is underrated.) The quick-release assassin never returned to a Super Bowl, but defensive support rarely came his way. He retired with every major passing record

The Vikings traded Tarkenton in his early prime, collecting a boatload of draft picks from the Giants in 1967. It can be argued that Tarkenton's skill peak came for ill-equipped New York teams, but he made his second Minnesota stint count. Reacquired in 1972, Tarkenton led the Vikings to three Super Bowl appearances from 1973-76. During that span, he won the 1975 MVP award and crafted numerous highlights. The scrambling talent blazed a trail for future nimble passers, and he retired miles ahead of his competition in career passing yardage (47,003) and touchdown throws (342). 

Brady's legendary career did involve a slow burn. Bill Belichick's defenses lessened the burden on the young QB early, and statistical success eluded the uber-popular New Englander in the early-going. Josh McDaniels and Randy Moss then unleashed a monster, with Brady's 50-touchdown 2007 -- driving a still-unmatched 16-0 regular season -- remaining an all-time QB season regardless of the Super Bowl loss. Brady made up for midcareer letdowns by crafting (by far) the longest prime in QB history. This involved four Super Bowl berths between ages 37 and 41, with titles 4, 5 and 6 -- including a legendary 25-point comeback to vex the Falcons -- immortalizing the polarizing great. 

Increasing Bo Nix belief stems from Sean Payton's accomplishments with Brees, who morphed from uneven Charger to franchise-changing Saint. The NFC South team won the most important derby in the free agency era; the Dolphins bowing out preceded the Saints making a stunning run to the 2006 NFC title game. Brees then took off, lighting up scoreboards as five 5,000-yard seasons followed. The deadly accurate passer set multiple completion percentage records as well. The Super Bowl XLIV MVP fueled the Saints to the total yardage standard in 2011 and remained elite into his late 30s. A few gutting playoff exits unfortunately restrained Brees during that stretch.

Affable off the field and unflappable on it, Manning is in the Hall of Fame queue. Although the Giants struggled during the second half of Manning's career, mirroring Philip Rivers' Chargers arc, he made his first half count. Manning's 2007 and 2011 playoff runs are two of the best ever, presenting a viable Canton case despite unspectacular regular-season work. The two-time Super Bowl MVP also saw Plaxico Burress' unfortunate shooting mishap deny a better 2008 Giants squad a potential Super Bowl shot. The younger Manning QB taking down an 18-0 Patriots team would have been plenty; an eerily similar climb four years later cemented the 15-year starter as a Canton-caliber performer.

Not adjusting stats for the era leads to considerable Namath skepticism, but the superstar's early-career stretch transformed the Jets. Namath's 4,007-yard 1967 season remained the NFL's only 4,000-yard season until the Air Coryell offense lifted Dan Fouts there -- in a 16-game season -- in 1979. Defenses enjoyed freer rein in Namath's years, but he topped that showing a year later by elevating the Jets to Super Bowl III -- where his famous guarantee preceded the Super Bowl's defining upset. The Jets went 10-4 in 1969, but Namath's knee trouble took hold by the early '70s and never truly let up. No Jet has approached Namath's stature since his prime ended early.

Norm Van Brocklin lasted three years in Philly, producing a title. Jalen Hurts now has a Super Bowl win, but it is still too early there. The debate came down to Cunningham vs. Donovan McNabb. The latter enjoyed the luxury of playing for Andy Reid, whereas Cunningham's brigade of coaches did not know how to harness his athleticism. Ahead of his time, the electric athlete (with an assist from a Reggie White-led defense) engineered a late-1980s Eagles turnaround. Cunningham guided Philly to four playoff berths from 1988-92, earning two MVP runner-up finishes in that span. This included an underappreciated 3,466-942 double in 1990. 

A reasonable debate can exist here. Bradshaw's three Pro Bowls make it difficult to understand the 1970s' All-Decade team voters installing him on the first team (ahead of Staubach), thus omitting a superior option in Tarkenton. Ben Roethlisberger fared better in terms of Pro Bowls, but his top numbers are closely tied to Antonio Brown's peak. Bradshaw enjoyed an all-time great cast, claiming the 1978 MVP award and played well in three Super Bowls, the latter two boosting the Steelers to 35- and 31-point nights. Bradshaw's 18-TD, nine-INT 1975, in a dominant Pittsburgh season, is also a much better-looking output considering the era's aerial constraints. 

Never confused with the top QB talent -- even in his own time -- Montana nevertheless staked a claim to the best ever by turning Bill Walsh's offense into a methodical force. Montana took the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter, conquering the NFC's previous ruler after Dwight Clark's storied reception. The 49ers built on their Cowboys conquest with an 18-1 1984 season, and Montana overcame injuries to guide a flawed 1988 team (while withstanding Steve Young's challenge) to a title via one of the defining drives in Super Bowl history. Winning back-to-back MVPs, Montana showed he could succeed post-Walsh, as the 1989 49ers team is this space's greatest ever. 

If Wilson is to earn Hall of Fame entry, the second chapter of his career needs to be isolated. The Seahawks obviously did their best work during Wilson's rookie contract, building a dominant Super Bowl champion and a 2014 team that should have claimed a second title. Wilson took off as a passer in 2015, and the Seahawks shifted to building around their ascending QB. Wilson threw at least 34 TD passes four times from 2015-20, keeping the Seahawks a playoff mainstay as their roster strength waned. Wilson's run-game prowess remains underrated; upon being traded in 2022, the 10-year Seattle starter ranked third all-time in QB rushing yards. 

Brady's first two Tampa seasons were enough for a franchise without much QB success. Choosing the Bucs over the Chargers in 2020 installed the aging megastar on a team with ready-made wideouts and a young defensive nucleus. That boosted Brady in 2020, as he adjusted during a non-Pro Bowl season. Brady delivered a good, not great Tampa debut -- albeit with an absurd seventh Super Bowl win added -- but lands here for a sublime 2021. At 44, Brady led the NFL with 43 TD passes -- the second-most of his career -- and a career-best 5,316 yards. This came with Rob Gronkowski and a pre-meltdown Antonio Brown missing time. The Bucs don't have enough competition for Brady's shaky 2022 to affect this placement.

Moon's playoff letdowns would be dissected endlessly had his career unfolded today, but the Run and Shoot conductor regularly dealt with defensive unreliability and general team dysfunction. The $1 million 1984 free agent prize drove the Oilers to seven straight playoff fields from 1987-93; no team matched this attendance rate in this span. This run included MVP votes in three seasons, two passing titles (1990, '91) and an 11-game Houston win streak after a 1-4 start in 1993. The Oilers rarely had the better team during their playoff losses, but a failure to reach one AFC championship game brought a sour note for the decorated QB on the way out of town.

Baugh's timeless punting exploits do not apply here, but his moving the passing game forward edges fellow Hall of Famer Sonny Jurgensen. Baugh led Washington to its first title in his 1937 rookie year, punctuating the championship with an ahead-of-its-time 335-yard, three-touchdown day to down the Bears. Baugh earned the first of his seven All-Pro honors that year. He lasted 16 seasons, claiming a second championship in 1942. Baugh retired well ahead of the pack in passing yards, and his 187 TDs were 50 more than the field when he called it quits after the 1952 season.