Top 5 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

Naming the top five NFL quarterbacks of all-time is a bit like ranking history's greatest guitar players. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and B.B. King all represent great guitar players of their generations, but each had a different style that made them unique. The same can be said about quarterbacks. From "three yards and a cloud of dust," to the pass-happy west coast and spread offenses, the role of the quarterback has changed significantly over time. The five quarterbacks to make this list have two things in common: they were standouts of their eras; and their playing days are all over. Sure, guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre could make legitimate cases for consideration, but until their body of works are complete, it would be unfair to rank their respective careers.

#5 '" Sammy Baugh (1937-1952)

Sammy Baugh played 16 seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins. A converted tailback, Baugh revolutionized the game of football, taking the forward pass from a rarely used gimmick play to a successful staple of the offensive playbooks. "Slingin' Sammy Baugh" struck fear in opponent's defenses, posing as a threat with both his legs and his right-arm. Not only did he lead the NFL in passing six different times, but he also held the lowest interception percentage in the league on five different occasions, meaning he not only passed often, but also accurately for his time. Baugh was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963, earning recognition as a quarterback, tailback, defensive back and punter.

#4 '" John Elway (1983-1998)

A career Denver Bronco, John Elway was actually drafted and then immediately traded by the Baltimore Colts in 1983. He went on to lead the Broncos to five different Super Bowl appearances, including back-to-back victories in the final two seasons of his career. In his prime, Elway posed a dual-threat to opposing defenses, using his cannon of an arm and quick feet to pick up yardage through the air and the ground. However, perhaps Elway's greatest asset was his leadership and success in clutch situations. Over the course of his career, Elway led the Broncos to 47 fourth-quarter comebacks, including the most famous of all, a 98-yard touchdown march against the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship Game, known simply as "The Drive." Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004, Elway holds nearly every Broncos passing record and ranks among the NFL top 3 passers in dozens of categories.

#3 '" Johnny Unitas (1956-1973)

Johnny Unitas, also known as "Johnny U" and "Mr. Clutch" was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1955, but never played a down for his hometown team. After earning a reputation in sandlot football leagues, he was given a chance to make the Baltimore Colts squad in 1956, where he would play the next 17 seasons before finally retiring as a San Diego Charger in 1973. With the advent of television, Unitas became one of the very first household names in professional football on a national scale, beginning with his epic drive in the 1958 NFL Championship Game. Unitas's teams reached four NFL Championship games and two Super Bowls, winning four despite the quarterback's injury problems. At the time of his retirement, Unitas held nearly every passing record for the Baltimore Colts and ranked at the top of near it in most NFL passing categories. He was elected into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

#2 '" Dan Marino (1983-1999)

Dan Marino was the sixth overall quarterback taken in the 1983 NFL draft when the Dolphins finally selected him at the end of the first round. Although four hall of famers were selected before him, Marino's outstanding 17-year career left the rest of the NFL wondering how they could have passed over him 26 times. On paper, Marino rewrote just about every record in NFL history. He was one of the first quarterbacks to carry a team with his arm, throwing for over 61,000 career yards and 420 touchdowns. Marino eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark 13-times during his career, including reaching 4,000 yards on six different occasions and also becoming the first quarterback to ever throw for 5,000 yards in a single season. Although Marino's Dolphins only had one losing season during his entire career, it was his failure to earn a championship ring that will haunt Marino's legacy forever. In reaching the AFC Championship Game three separate times, Marino only reached the Super Bowl once, where his team lost by 22 points despite tallying over 300 yards in the air. Marino was elected into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, perhaps as the greatest quarterback never to win a championship.

#1 '" Joe Montana (1979-1994)

Joe Montana had an improbable career of sorts. Once buried as the seventh-string quarterback on his college team at Notre Dame, Montana found his way into the NFL as a third-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers. Lacking the ideal size and arm strength of an NFL quarterbacks, Montana excelled because of his collected mindset and game management skills. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and the "Comeback Kid," no situation could frazzle Montana, a quality that was contagious with his teammates. Montana's 49ers won all four Super Bowls in which he started, including a memorable 92-yard game-winning drive with just seconds to play in Super Bowl XXIII. The drive, which propelled the 49ers over the Cincinnati Bengals, was just one of dozens of late-game comebacks throughout his decorated career. Montana's three Super Bowl MVP awards, numerous postseason records, and nearly flawless playoff resume only further accentuate his designation as the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time.

Sammy Baugh Hall of Fame Biography, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

John Elway Hall of Fame Biography, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

Johnny Unitas Hall of Fame Biography, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

Dan Marino Hall of Fame Biography, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

Joe Montana Hall of Fame Biography, NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame