Top 5 NFL playoff quarterbacks of all-time: Tom Brady No. 1?
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Clutch… ice in the veins… relentless… These are phrases often used to describe NFL quarterbacks who perform best under pressure. Regular season glory is good; just ask Dan Marino. But if you ever want to truly be considered an elite NFL quarterback you have to perform when it counts the most and that’s in the postseason. This is a list of guys who got it done in January. Here are the Top 5 NFL Playoff quarterbacks.
Honorable Mention: Kurt Warner – St. Louis Rams/Arizona Cardinals: In his 11 year NFL career Warner made the postseason five times and compiled a 9-4 record. That’s a .692 winning percentage. Warner led his teams to three Super Bowl appearances; twice with the Rams and once with the Cardinals. Although the Rams had appeared in a Super Bowl when they were in Los Angeles, the city of St. Louis had never had a team in the Super Bowl (Cardinals or Rams). In 1999, Warner went 3-0 in his first playoff run and captured the Lombardi and a Super Bowl MVP. Two seasons later Warner would have his team back in the big game and leading late. But on that day, the legend of Tom Brady was born and Warner and the Rams would fall short. In 2008 Warner took the Arizona Cardinals to their first ever Super Bowl appearance. Again Warner would have his team up late, but again his team would fall short as Ben Roethlisberger drove down the field for the winning touchdown. Warner owns the Top 3 passing games in Super Bowl history and is tied with Joe Montana for the most passing touchdowns during a single postseason – 11. He is also only the second quarterback to start in a Super Bowl with two different teams.
5. Eli Manning - New York Giants: After his second improbable championship run in four years Eli Manning has slid into 5th on this list. Love him or leave him Eli is indeed “Elite.” Well at least when it comes to the postseason. Manning is 8-3 in the playoffs with three come from behind victories and two game winning drives; both culminated in Super Bowl wins. Of Manning’s eight wins, seven of them have come on the road and most were unexpected. Collectively in the playoffs Manning has completed over 61 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Three of those interceptions came in his first playoff game, a loss, back in 2005. Manning is the Houdini of Super Bowls. Whether it was his death-defying escape from a sack in 2007 that allowed David Tyree’s impossible helmet catch or his perfectly thrown pass to Mario Manningham during last year’s heroics, Eli always has an Ace up his sleeve. He is a two-time Super MVP.
4. John Elway – Denver Broncos: John Elway went to the playoffs nine times in his 16 year NFL career and brought football fans some of the greatest playoff memories in NFL history. From ‘The Drive’ to ‘The Fumble’ to back to back Super Bowl titles, Elway compiled a .667 playoff winning percentage with a 14-7 record. Elway appeared in six AFC Championship games and five Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career. Elway lost his first three Super Bowls in games that weren’t even close as he played superior teams in the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and San Francisco 49ers. In 1997-98, with the addition of a strong running game led by Terrell Davis, Elway was finally able to get over the hump and win two Super Bowls to close out his career. Elway’s playoff numbers were 4,564 yards, 27 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
3. Terry Bradshaw – Pittsburgh Steelers: When you’re the starting quarterback in four Super Bowls and you win all four of them of course you make this list. What Terry Bradshaw did with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 70’s was nothing short of amazing. Bradshaw played 14 seasons with Pittsburgh and went to the postseason nine times where he accumulated at .737 winning percentage with a 14-5 record. To win back to back Super Bowls is a feat in itself, but to do it twice is incredible. Bradshaw was twice named the Super Bowl MVP.
2. Tom Brady – New England Patriots: Some guys are just born to be NFL postseason quarterbacks and Tom Brady is definitely one of them. Brady’s playoff legacy was born in his first year as an NFL starter when he led the Patriots on a game winning drive and their first Super Bowl title. Including then, in 11 seasons, Brady has gone to the postseason an impressive nine times. Keep in mind he missed a full year due to a knee injury. In nine playoff appearances Brady has amassed 14 wins to only five losses. Like Bradshaw, he too has a .737 winning percentage. Brady began his playoff run with nine consecutive wins, three Super Bowl Championships and two Super Bowl MVP awards. In 2007, Brady led the Patriots to a perfect regular season and up until the last few minutes of the game he had his team in position to win a fourth Super Bowl. As fate would have it, the Giant’s won the game and put a permanent black eye on what had been a perfect season. If Brady and the Patriots had hung on to win that game then without a doubt he would be No. 1.
1. Joe Montana – San Francisco 49ers/Kansas City Chiefs: And then there was one. Joe Montana is another four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback and sits atop this list. During his 15 year NFL career Montana went to the postseason an unprecedented 11 times. He is the All-Time NFL leader for playoff appearances by a quarterback with 23. Joe Cool as he was sometimes referred to won 16 postseason games with seven losses for a winning percentage of .696. Keep in mind that two of those losses came with the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of his career when the 49ers opted to go in a Younger direction. Montana passed for more postseason touchdowns than anyone with 45. In his four Super Bowls he threw for 1,142 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s a Super Bowl passer rating of 127.8 and it was good enough to earn him Super Bowl MVP honors three times along with the No. 1 spot on this list.
Follow Aaron on Twitter @Da_Bear_Truth.
You have to be kidding me. Joe Montana, had all GREAT players on both sides of the ball. Tom Brady, had no Jerry Rice with an exception of one or two year with Randy Moss, who by the way was on the downside of his career. No Roger Craig among other running backs to Montana disposal. How about San Fran defense, who got the ball back for more opportunities. Montana only has one more championship than Brady and Brady unlike Montana has to carry the whole load for his team. There are more teams able to beat up on each other in Brady’s era than Montana also. Nice try but I think you may have got this wrong. Just think about it really all the players Montana had around him both sides of the ball, he never had to perform the way Brady is asked to for his team.
Have a GREAT day and GOD BLESS you and your love ones.
Joe Montana was never linked to any type of CHEATING or VIDEOTAPING SCANDALS, which everyone knows is still going on today. Montana or Bradshaw could both be correct at number 1. Brady doesn’t deserve the list because nobody knows how he’s do if he played by the rules, but Matt Cassel has given any smart viewer an idea. I believe Troy Aikman should be 3rd on this list, with Elway at 4, 5 could go any way… Ben Roethlisberger, Bart Starr, Bob Griese & Roger Staughbach all deserve it, but don’t sell Eli Manning short. He may make a claim for that spot by seasons end this year if the Giants keep doing what they do best in the playoffs…
HAHAHAHA!!!!! Brady won 18 games in a row; (undefeated except the miracle catch) AFTER your favorite excuse- “spygate”; which never helped the Pats win ANY games. And Brady threw 50 TDs and only 8 INTs, went 36-4 another year, was voted MVP UNANIMOUSLY, the only time ever in history- or even close, threw fgor WAY over 5000 yards, and took his team back TWO more times- even though he had the 31st ranked D… AFTER “spygate”!!! As much as you HATE it!! Sad little hater man. Bradshaw, Big Ben, Griese and Staubach over Unitas??? That’s retarded. And to even mention Eli!!! Wow, man.
John, you must be from New England. That si the only explaination I have for you TRYING to compare Brady to Joe Montana. Tom Brady couldn’t sniff Montana’s jock. I will give you that Joe played with without a doubt, the greatest Receiver in NFL history. By the way, Rice didn’t show up until ’85, The year AFTER the 49ers crushed Marino and the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. He also played with arguably the greatest DB in history with Ronnie Lott. But lets get to important ststs. In four Super Bowls, Montana threw exactly ZERO interceptions. Also, The 49ers Won 3 of their 4 Super Bowls by decent margins, @ were Blow-outs. Tell Tom Brady, Nice try but no cigar. Brady is VERY good… but he is NO Joe Montana.
GET OFF BRADYS BACK,HES THE BEST OF ANY QUARTERBACK THERE IS IN NFL OR THE AFC..THEY BEEN THE MOST UNDEFEATED TEAM THAN ANY OTHER TEAM HAS BEEN…THE PATRIOTS GIVE THERE ALL, WHEN ALL THE OTHER QUARTER BACK CAN DO IS GOSSIP SHIT IVER BRADY CUZ THEY CANT HANDLE IT THAT HES THE BEST OF ALL..
Yeah I guess Brady is good, He will cry everytime someone hits him and if it wasn’t for cheating they would proubably never have all those wins.
You Brady Naysayers are so lame. Brady never cheated so STFU. Brady before he retires will pass Montana. Like it or not you are all just crybabies and jealous because NE has Brady and your sorry teams DON’t!
hahahahhahahah what about the 17 straight they won after the NFL sanctioned and watched them closely after “spy-gate”? also if you knew anything about the way the real NFL works, every single team was doing this, they just got caught. also its legal to videotape if the team sees you, they just were not seen so its illegal. regardless after that they won 17 straight so you’re a moron…
Funny. Brady gets SLAMMED to the ground almost as much as Cutler (right after he releases the ball), but he gets right back up with a vengeance; no crying. But you can make it up if it makes you feel better. It was proved that what YOU call cheating never had an OUNCE of impact on ANY games. But hey; a hater’s gotta hate. That’s your childish jealousy…. CRYING.
Ask Joe Montana. He said he’s honored to be mentioned in the same sentence with Tom. At least Rice showed up, right? He, Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott?? And don’t lie and tell us that John Taylor and Dwight Clark weren’t EXCELLENT WRs. And don’t try to tell us that SFs D wasn’t friggin killer! It makes ZERO difference what the score was!!! It’s about match-ups!! And the whole team!! And about the IFs and injuries and miracle (catches) and…… You must hate that Gizele snifs Brady’s jock.
Why do people always forget that Joe Montana won his first TWO Superbowls WITHOUT Jerry Rice. Rice’s rookie year was the year AFTER the 49ers beat Miami in the 1985 Superbowl after the 84 season, which was Montana’s 2nd Superbowl win. NOR did Montana have Roger Craig for his FIRST Superbowl win in 1982 (81 season). Ricky Patton led the 49ers with only 543 yards rushing, giving them one of the WORST running games in the league. By contrast, In his first three Superbowl wins, Brady had players such as Corey Dillon, who was more productive running the ball than Roger Craig with 1635 yards the year the Pats beat the Eagles in the Superbowl, and one of the most stifling defenses in the NFL led by the likes of Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinnest, to name just a few pro bowlers. The 49ers had good defenses as well. My point is that in his 3 Superbowl wins, Brady was surrounded by similar talent as Montana, with perhaps a better ground attack.
I agree with SOME of what you sat as well, but Roger Craig was better than an OLD Corey Dillon. The Pats did NOT have a better ground game. They had to replace Curtis Martin, then replace Corey Dillon, then… always slapping a new team together. Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, and most of these guys left the team for more money. Brady NEVER had a very good WR except the year they SHOULD have gone undefeated- except for a miracle.
I agree with some of your points, and I’m a Patriots and Brady die-hard fan, but I still have Joe ahead, and maybe Elway right beside Tom. And Starr and Unitas right up their butts.
I guess Bart Starr must be nonexistent. You may want to check your history books.
That is the problem with most NFL writers they forget that pro football was played prior to the Superbowl.Otto Graham had the highest winning percentage in pro football history,yet he is always forgotten.(Seven league titles in eleven years)Everyone will tell you Bart Starr won two Superbowls,but they forget(or don’t know)that Starr won three NFL titles before they were called the Superbowl.So he actully won five NFL Championships.
1.Otto Graham
2.Bert Starr
3.Joe Montana
4.Tom Brady
5.Terry Bradshaw
You missed Aikman. 11-4 playoff record with 3 superbowl appearances and 3 superbowl wins. Elway and Warner? No way he should be on the list before Aikman.
HAHAHA!!! Nope. You got it bass-ackwards. We’re talking about… THE QUARTERBACK!!! Not the TEAM! Troy himself will tell you- it wasn’t him. It was Emmitt, Irving, Jay, etc.. For you to discredit ELWAY????? You’re crazy!!! He’s about 12 positions ahead of Troy!!! (at #3) wow, dude
The best playoff quaterback of my life time was a guy named Roger Staubach. Bad list
Is that why he lost so many games? He’s about 7th. Go read all the stats, you silly. I must be older than you. I watched Bart Starr win 6 championships. But Joe is the best. And Brady and Elway are right up his ass. No matter how much you want to live in the past.
Bart Starr was 9-1 in his postseason career. After losing a close one in 1960 to the Eagles in the NFL championship game, he never lost a postseason game. He won the Ice Bowl and was the MVP in the first two Super Bowls. Look up his playoff stats at coldhardfootballfacts.com.
Brady is still at the top of his game and breaking nfl records on most weeks. He will be number 1 after leaving the game. He is a fierce competitor who expects those around him to perform well also. That video cheating is a joke. The Pats won their next 17 straight games under th watchful eys of the NFL. The filming is actually leagal but the rule applied to where teams couuld locate them. The Pats Haters just wont let this small part of planning a football game go (unless Brady was traded to their team).After they got cought they won the next 17 games and went to the SUPERBOWl. Tom Brady will retire from the nfl as the greatest quaterback ever to play the game. He still has a chanch to win one or two superbowls before he leaves the game. Brady belongs on the same line as Montana
Any list w/o Bart Starr is a joke.
Brady will never be in the same league as Montana or Bradshaw —– Both MOntana and Bradshaw played the game when the QUARTERBACKS didn’t WEAR SKIRTS like they do now. It’s because of SISSY QUARTERBACKS like BRADY that the game has changed so much tp PROTECT these POOR SISSY MEN. Tom Brady couldn’t wipe the sweat off Montana and Bradshaw’s brow —– THESE GUYS PLAYED WHEN—–REAL MEN PLAYED THE GAME —— and by the way—– the article is about WHO WON and WHO ACCOMPLISHED IT ALREADY —– not wanna be, like BRADY who MAY win one or two more Superbowls. BRADSHAW BELONGS RIGHT ON TOP OF THE LIST —- 4 Superbowls in 6 years —- There’s not anyone who comes even near that —- EXCEPT for MONTANA of course.
actually they played when people were out of shape and poorly trained. it was a rag tag crew of guys out there to kill each other. Now we have elite athletes, trained to their physical peak, and coached like a battalion of Green Berets. Put mid career Bradshaw in todays NFL and hes injured in less than a season and out for good. Same as all sports, thats why their are so many more concussions and injuries now, because the players are freaks of nature, 60/70/80s was guys with talent but not even close to the strength and conditioning they have today. wake up buddy…
oh and typing with so many caps makes you look like a “POOR SISSY MAN”…
Wow! Maybe if you hollered some more it would make some sort of sense. i doubt it. Your hatred for Brady only shows what a little child you are. He has decimated many of the previously referred to as the greatest’s records. He gets SLAMMED to the ground as much as anyone ever; just a 1/2 second after he releases the ball. And he pops right back up. Your calling him a sissy doesn’t even come close to making it so. It only shows how angry you are that he is considered by MANY, and many who are the best players of all time- to be the best. You mad bro? You still cryin’?? Joe and Terry themselves have said out loud that they’re honored to be mentioned in the same sentence with Tom Brady. Does that make you want to blow your own head off? I hope so- because it’s true! haha
The five names that appear all deserve consideration, but you left out some players that didn’t have benefit of the current playoff system. Based on the playoff standards that existed in their day should we not include Otto Graham, Norm Van Brocklin and Johnny Unitas? These three greats dominated the era in which they played. I don’t have stats to back up my claims, but I know they all won championships in the NFL.
Have you ever heard of Bart Starr.
Wow, really. I am beginning to believe that the opinions of some, should not be given. I agree with some of the previous responses. Where is Aikman and Starr and there is not one African American Quarterback on the list. I understand it is an opinionated list, so, I will say, good list, FOR YOU.
What African American would you choose to replace one of the quarterbacks on the list? Warren Moon was great, but never had good playoff success. Doug Williams made the Superbowl once with the Redskins, and led the Bucs to the NFC championship game once, but that would hardly put him on the list. Steve McNair would be the closest, but this is about playoff success, and one Superbowl appearance wouldn’t put him here either. I think the greater omissions are Bart Starr with 5 championships & Otto Graham with 7 championships in 10 appearances.
Agreed, their are admissions but there has never been a tried and true all star African American QB that has ANY playoff success. Hey maybe Newton will turn things around…
Kaepernick. He’s the new breed. He’ll be the next Tom Brady. RG3 too.
Let me guess; you are black. Aikman doesn’t come close to Joe, Tom, Elway, Unitas, Starr, Kurt, Fouts, Fran, Kenny Anderson. And two of my fave QBs all-time were Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham.
Why is it that the vast majority miss the point! Grant it the QB is the most important position But, it is a team effort, the team wins or loses. How many average at best and below average QB’s have won super bowls because they had outstanding teams, Dilfer, Williams, Hostetler,Rypien,Brad Johnson,Jim McMahan boy those names ring fear shout out greatness!How about the all time greats that never won a SB Marino, Tarkenton to name a few. Team effort people team efforts.Brady does not win againts St Louis if the defense does not hold Faulk and Werner on the 1 yard line and Venetari does not kick the 46 yarder with seconds remaining
Brady does not get in if Venateri does not kick the 42 yarder in the blizzard againts the Raiders,much too much emphasis is put on how great a QB is by SB wins. Terry Bradshaw was a very good QB but nowhere near the best and he and Joe Montana have the most SB wins in history with 4 great Pittsburgh team. Lets start distributing the credit to the team efforts.
This isn’t about TEAMS!! HELLO!?! You’re just pointing out the IFS (excuses) why Brady won!! Your saying the Patriots held anyone is a joke. Brady hater. haha.
Joe Montana was the greatest.to say Montana had great players on his side and Brady doesn’t is not true.He has had great offensive linemen who gives him all day to throw.You rarely see Brady running for his life like I saw Bradshaw@ Montana do.The few times i saw Brady under pressure he was horrible.Put him on the Besrs and he is another Jay Cutler.
Put Montana on the Bears and he’d be a piece of garbage. And I love Joe. Brady can’t run. And THAT is a testament to how great a QB he is; regardless! Your statement also shows how good Cutler really is! Just think if he played on a very good team- with great protection and a great coaching staff.
Brady is a great quarterback but doesn’t deserve to be number one. Montana is the best that played the game hands down. But one thing that was not mentioned which helped Joe become the best was his coach Bill Walsh and the west coast offense.
What about Otto Graham? He was one of the ALL time great quarterbacks and delivered under all kinds of pressure. Football has a much longer and storied history than just that played since the Super Bowl. Bummer!!!
Don’t you love guys who are fans of there teams. Well I love my team also ( Go Ravens ) But I love the game of Football 1st. I will never say that Ray Lewis is the Greatest LB of all time just because he plays for the Ravens……There has to be proof, behind that reasoning! Some guys will argue not because they have proof but because they have a Love for there team.
That being said, You are almost dead on with your top 5.
Joe will always be number 1.
Again…I am a fan first. I grew up hating the 49ers. I hated everthing about them. And when they DESTROYED my favorite player of All-Time ( John Elway ) in the Super Bowl…I hated them more.
Joe was always Calm,Cool, and he Collected 4 Trophies because of that.For thoose Pats fan ( and don’t get me wrong I Love Brady )
Even if he has 5 Lombardi Trophies He will always be 2nd to Joe Cool!
When the Bengals scored against him in the Super Bowl with little time left on the clock, His team was in a panic and scared. Joe went to the huddle and told everyone that John Candy was in the crowd and then he pointed him out. They smiled and laughed and more important they calmed down. They drove the field and won that Super Bowl.
Oh yeah another thing, for those who want to dethrown the King. Joe did not have Mr.Rice or Mr Craig When he won his 1st Superbowl.
Also Head to Head
Joe Montana 4-0, Tom Brady 3-1
Points Scored
Joe Montana 139-63, Tom Brady 90-84
Stats
Joe Montana 83-122 for a 1142yds, Tom Brady 100-156 1001yds.
Joe Montana 11 TDs 0 INTs, Tom Brady 7TDs 1 INT
Joe 17 Rushes 105yds, 2 TDs, Tom 4 Rushes 14yds 0 TD’s
Super Bowl MVP’s
Joe Montana 3, Tom Brady 2
Last Point
Joe has beaten Anderson,Boomer,Marino,and Elway
Tom has Beaten Delhomme,McNabb,and Warner with a lost to Eli.
Again I did not like The 49ers But the truth is the TRUTH.
It will always be Montana 1#
I like Brady, I LOVE Elway.
But then everyone has a Great case for there QB.
Terry Has 2 Superbowl MVP (1 MVP Game he threw 2TD’s but 3INT’s), But he had a great ofense, that made his stats look good. 4 Super Bowl wins gives him a strong case.
Captin Come Back played in 4 Super Bowls but went 2-2. He has 1 Super Bowl MVP and rushed for a lot of yards in those games for that era.
If you mention Kurt Warner ( And you did ) then you have to mention Bob Greise ( And I will )
Warner and Greise both played in 3 Super Bowls Kurt won a Super Bowl MVP and Bob won 1 more Super Bowl than Kurt.In Kurt’s 3 Super Bowl apperences avg him throwing the ball at least 43 times a game, So he put up Strong numbers. Bob lead his team to an Undefeated Season ( The Only Undefeated Season ).
And of Course Troy who has just as strong as a statment to be there as any. Lets be real, yes he had Emmitt, and Irvin (from The U) He had Novacheck and Moooooooose! But he earned he way to be the QB of that team. ( Year 1, 1-15 ) He has 1 MVP in a Super Bowl, He is 3-0 in the Super Bowls he played in. and only 1 INT thrown. He did not have the strongest of numbers like Warner does but he does have that Donut behind the 3 and the dash. and he earned those wins.
In my Opinon
1. Joe Montana ( The stats speach for it’s self )
2. Tom Brady ( 4 Super Bowls and still has a bright future )
3. John Elway ( Only QB to start in 5 Super Bowls )
4. Troy Akiman ( 3 wins, No lost, 1 MVP )
5. Sorry Kurt, You were throwing the Ball 43 per Super Bowl!
Terry Bradshaw!
not a bad list.remember this.greatness or the greatest is only measured by one statistic.superbowl rings.not touchdowns.not yards.not even wins.the only stat that matters is how many rings are on your finger.
HAHAHA!! There is SOOO much wrong here it’s hilarious. Yet I have the top 3 the same! Brady was a miracle catch and a walking boot away from another SB win, and he was winning another one with a minute to go with the 2nd worst D in the NFL, and w/out Gronk= his best target all year- until that very contest! He should have FIVE titles. AND… He’s been in FIVE out of TEN years playing! And injuries at the latter part of this season just got them eliminated from competing in his SIXTH big show. And btw, Brady took a couple of your stated stats away from Joe in last years’ SB and this recent years’ run. And last year, he set a record by throwing 16 consecutive completions in the big show. But, yeah; I have Joe ahead of Tom right now. But if Brady gets one more ring- he’s DEFINITELY going ahead of your man-crush. I LOVE Elway too. If both teams were absolutely equal, I’m not sure I’d rather have Joe over John. Aikman has no business even being CLOSE to this friggin list!!! That is just plain retarded!!! He doesn’t even come in the top 10!! Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, and the perennial loser- Jim Kelly (only once IN the SB).. are MILES ahead of Troy!! Troy was a game manager- like Brent Dilfer (and now, coincidentally Flacco). The DEFENSE wins many of these games, not some of these only fair to midlin’ QBs. Same with Bradshaws’ Steelers, btw. Now Griese!!! You’ve got to be kidding me!!!! I liked him, but Earl Morrell got them to the SB!! He wasn’t even close to being in the same league as these old warriors I mentioned.. OR Roger Staubach or Kenny Anderson or Warren Moon or Dan Fouts!! Eli doesn’t even deserve a look here, and for the same reasons, Greise doesn’t either. Not in the grand scheme of things; evaluating the *QB*, not the whole TEAM.
Johnny Unitas was the greatest of them all….period.
A highly opinionated but biased article. Biased toward recent players and flashy players. Montana and Bradshaw certainly belong on the list. Brady – questionable since his winning percentages and number of championships are not as good as others. Elway – even more questionable – he won two Super Bowls but lost 3. He gets picked because of his 4th quarter dramatics made for great media coverage, and he won in the last two years of his career, which obscures the rest of the failures. Warner – not hardly. A heart-warming story, but he’s only 1-2 in the big game. As noted above, there are some glaring omissions: Troy Aikman was 3-0 over 4 years with a playoff percentage of 0.733 (the same as Brady’s). He wasn’t flashy – but superb in leading the Cowboys. Bart Starr – as noted above, lost his first playoff game and then won the rest, including 5 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls. Roger Staubach – 2 Super Bowl championships and the two losses were to Bradshaw and the Steelers, each by 4 points.
Brady has the highest winning percentage on this list, what are you talking about? He’s 14-5 and he also missed a whole season. I personally don’t think Warner or Eli should be on this list but this list is ONLY based on stats, appearances and percentages. Also it would be “highly opinionated and biased article” you would only put “but” in between if one was good and the other was bad, both or negative adjectives so and is used.
AAAAaaaaHAHAHAHA!!! Typical Brady hater/ denier!! You got the stats all wrong, there junior. And Elway is a SOLID # 2 or 3!!! Some people only judge these things with faulty opinions based on emotions. That would be you.
Apparently the NFL did not exist before the 70′s. There are a few fairly talented people who played in the years prior and won a championship or two. The names Unitas and Baugh quickly come to mind. Please don’t get caught up in numbers alone. The rules are so different. Receivers used to get hammered all the time…and they could be hit anywhere on the field as long as the ball was not in the air. In this list, I think including Warner is a little silly–but the other four were undeniably great in the playoffs. Of course for decades the “playoffs” consisted of the championship game.
I see that the author is a Bears fan. Now I know why he’d ignore mentioning the statistically greatest play-off QB in history, Bart Starr. Typical Bears envy and resentment for a more successful franchise – total Packers NFL championships – 13, Bears – 9.
i have always heard that the greats ones are often compared to but they themselves are never compared to anyone…..with this being said, many are compared to johnny unitas but unitas is compared to none. now speaking of ice water in the veins…in the championship game against the giants where ameche scored the game winner, after untias had driven the colts into field goal range he calls an out pattern to jimmy mutscheller and after the game a reporter asked him, “wasnt you afraid of throwing and interception?” and unitas calmly replied, “when you know what youre doing you dont get intercepted”…those guys are all good but all comkpared to johnny U.
Good story. But they all have them. JU is about 4th, maybe 5th.
I’ve seen posters write that Montana was surrounded by more talent than Brady. Why do people always forget that Joe Montana won his first TWO Superbowls WITHOUT Jerry Rice. Rice’s rookie year was the year AFTER the 49ers beat Miami in the 1985 Superbowl after the 84 season, which was Montana’s 2nd Superbowl win. NOR did Montana have Roger Craig for his FIRST Superbowl win in 1982 (81 season). Ricky Patton led the 49ers with only 543 yards rushing, giving them one of the WORST running games in the league.
By contrast, In his first three Superbowl wins, Brady had players
such as Corey Dillon, who was more productive running the ball than
Roger Craig with 1635 yards the year the Pats beat the Eagles in the
Superbowl, and one of the most stifling defenses in the NFL led depending on the year by the
likes of Rodney Harrison, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinnest, Vince Wilfork, and Richard Seymour to
name just a few pro bowlers. The 49ers had good defenses as well, with Fred Dean, Lott, Wright, and the like. My
point is that in his 3 Superbowl wins, Brady was surrounded by similar
talent as Montana, with perhaps a better ground attack. Montana earned those wins just as much if not more than Brady did. Nor am I a homer; I’m a Jets fan (and a Bears fan), yet this clear to me.
And why do fools like you not mention that John Taylor and Dwight Clark were damn good receivers!? And STOP LYING!!! Corey Dillon did NOT play in TWO of those SBs!!! And Roger Craig was every bit as great as Dillon!! Perhaps MUCH MORE SO as Dillon was OLD by the time he went to the Patriots!!! So wasn’t Rodney!! And Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy went to other teams for more money after winning with NE! The Patriots had to slap new teams together every other year!! The ONE constant was Tom effin’ Brady!! You just have to disparage him because you hate on him because your Jets SUCK!!
Football is a the ultimate team sport. Not one guy won a super bowl you need a great team.
Youngsters should not be allowed to use the term “of all time”. In terms of Playoff performances, I can only assume your record keeping stopped short of some of the greatest of all time. The fact that Bart Starr appears no where on this list is proof enough.
i dont see how people can think brady is a great quarterback… he is good… if he was the great one then how was matt castle who cant complete a pass in kc able to make that team go 11-5? just sayin he is a product of the system nothing more… 1. montana 2. starr 3. bradshaw 4. elway 5. marino
MARINO as a PLAYOFF QB?? come on now….lastly Brady was a star even when Parcell’s coached the team so get your facts straight buddy…
haha. Yeah; Brady only owns most of the stats. ^fail…. MISERABLY. Montana, Brady, Elway, Starr, Unitas. That is the best list on the planet.
The 5 you mention are all great in the sense of the article, however, if you make it all time, the omission of Bart Starr at the top is a grotesque omission. 9 and 1 all time playoff record and the one loss was the first playoff game of his career. Expand the list to 10 and keep your five and add Graham, Van Brocklin, Unitas, Baugh and Staff and then let’s hear what order you place them in to truthfully call it “all time!”
What about Bart Starr? 5 championships in 7 years.
jsnow59@aol.com
Eli manning ROFLMAO
Eli Manning is on the list and not Peyton?? I don’t think so
haha, Peyton is a joke in the playoffs. The most non-clutch QB in history.
Y.A.Tittle was as good as the come
Nope. Legend grows with people who cannot move on. Look at the stats/ records.
Get Eli the EFF off this ridiculous list!!! He was only a small part of the games- like Brent Dilfer!! The MIRACLE catch was a fluke, and the defense won both SBs. Brady walked into the stadium in a friggin walking boot- in the 1st one, and his OLD team-mates were too slow to stop the young and FAST Giants maulers. And of course- Assante Samuel dropped the INT that would have sewed up that game. And DRAGGING the 31st ranked D; with a HORRIBLE secondary, and NO Rob Gronkowski (completely hobbled the only time in the whole season)- allowed the Giants to once again punch the Pats in the mouth in the 2nd matchup. IF you’re just talking the fairly recent era; move Kurt Warner up, and put Drew Brees in as the honorable mention. OR… listing Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas would lend a hell of a lot more credibility!!
Brady was winning two with a minute to go, and his defense gave them up. And last year they had no business being there with the 31st ranked defense! He dragged them there kicking and screaming! And if Gronkowski, Chandler Jones, Aqib Talib, Julian Edelman weren’t all beat to hell, Brady would have been in his SIXTH… in ELEVEN years playing!! You are blinded by your homerism of the 49ers. And btw, I was the biggest 49er and Joe cool fan! And Elway, and Starr, and Unitas, and Fouts, and Randall Cunningham, and Warren Moon, etc….