The NFL Elite: Quarterbacks
The NFL quarterback is the most prominent and pressure packed position in team sports. It is undoubtedly glamorous- with intense media attention and enormous marketing opportunities creating an extremely high profile if you reach the top echelon. It is also very demanding because expectations are always high and criticism will erupt from all quarters if the performance doesn’t match the expectations and the high powered salary. You don’t win a championship without a great quarterback so franchises devote enormous resources in identifying the right guy. Although rigorous and time consuming, experience and objective results show it is not a science. The majority of first round draft choices have ended their careers with a losing record snd very few attain Super Bowl victories or superstar status. The rewards for a successful quarterback are plentiful: million dollar contracts, huge commercial opportunities, an “untouchable" status in their franchise city, generous and lucrative media and entertainment options post playing career. There is a great upside to NFL stardom but it is one of the great ironies that very few who play the position reach elite status. There are lot of journeyman. In any given season, with a 32 team league, you may have 4 quarterbacks with Hall of Fame potential, 6 to 8 others playing well and the balance best described as “pedestrian” or “mediocre." Most quarterbacks fail- they don’t win a championship or make a Pro Bowl.
The ultimate organisational challenge is selecting and developing a great quarterback. It is the key to the kingdom in building an outstanding team. Coaches and general managers lose their jobs when the overwhelmed quarterback choice and investment comes up a cropper. What makes the evolution process so difficult? Let’s examine what characteristics are commonly found in great quarterbacks.
The algorithm is demanding. A prospect must have a very good arm and be capable of making all the throws necessary to succeed at the NFL level. They must be accurate and precise, have excellent footwork and mobility, pocket presence, field vision, the ability to audible, mastery of the offence, understanding of the defensive schemes, decent athleticism and leadership qualities that inspire your teammates. Other intangibles include poise, confidence, intelligence and calmness under fire. Preparation and commitment to excellence is a must! The game has become very pass oriented and a great quarterback must have the ability to come from behind and light up the home crowd. Keeping your head on straight while others are losing theirs is a basic prerequisite. We must also recognise how the position has changed in the past 50 years. In the early days, a successful team built its offence around a successful running attack and a strong defence. The passing game was the third pillar. In 1961, only 3 teams averaged more than 25 points per game. Prior to 1980 only 2 quarterbacks had thrown more than 500 passes in a season. There was only 1 quarterback with a 4000 yard passing season before 1980. Since then, it has been done 73 times .
Therefore my “elite” list is very modern. There are no pre 1960 quarterbacks for 2 reasons. First, my standard rule is to only include players I have seen in person or on television and 1961 is my trigger date. Second, players like Baugh, Luckman, Layne and Graham would not have made it anyway because their career statistics are rather underwhelming. There are some transitional players who deserve consideration - Starr, Unitas, Tarkenton, Bradshaw, but the focus is on post 1980’s players. The West Coast offence, the spread and Air Coryell changed the games and the quarterback is now the Alpha Man. I look at the standard measures of excellence. Championships, passing yards , touchdowns, quarterback ratings, Pro bowls etc . Also, I have watched thousand of games and i know quarterback excellence when I see it! A fun list follows.
THE ELITE QUARTERBACKS:
1) Tom Brady
2) Joe Montana
3) Peyton Manning
4) Patrick Mahomes
5) Aaron Rodgers
6) Roger Staubach
7) John Elway
8) Brett Favre
9) Dan Marino
10) Drew Brees
11) Troy Aikman
12) Fran Tarkenton
13) Steve Young
14) Jim Kelly
15) Kurt Warner
16) Dan Fouts
17) Terry Bradshaw
18) Ben Roethelsberger
19) Bart Starr
20) Warren Moon
