The NFL 100 for Quarterbacks | Sports Math Network

Who are the most productive quarterbacks in NFL history? That’s the question at the heart of our NFL 100 for Quarterbacks project, which will be updated at the conclusion of each season.

Using data from 1950 through the present day, QB Math has come up with an objective methodology, weighing a player’s longevity, average level of play, and peak performance to build a numbers-based hierarchy of every quarterback who has recorded at least one qualified appearance (five or more total attempts).

The foundational cornerstone of the rankings is our Rolling Player Rating (RPR), which begins with our Total Yards Added metric that evaluates a player’s passing performance, rushing performance, fumble avoidance, and sack avoidance. Each data point is essentially an evaluation of how a quarterback performed over his last 10 appearances.

From there, the NFL 100 looks at four different evaluations of players’ career scores in RPR:

RPR Sum: Calculated by adding together all RPR scores in a player’s career to look at total value added and reward longevity.
RPR Average: Calculated by averaging together all RPR scores in a player’s career to look at value added in an average start and reward a higher baseline level of performance.
16-Game Peak Average: Calculated by averaging together a player’s top 16 RPR scores throughout a career, even if they didn’t come in consecutive fashion. This rewards a player’s ability to reach a high level of play and either sustain it or achieve that level again and again.
True Peak: A player’s highest career score in RPR, which rewards the best 10-game stretch achieved by each player.

Those scores were calculated for every quarterback in NFL history (1950-present), including both regular-season and postseason performances, but the work wasn’t done there. Z-scores were then calculated in each category for each player so that the relative gap between quarterbacks mattered more than their pure ranks. From there, the four resulting Z-scores were summed to form the overall productivity rating used as the baseline for the historical hierarchy.

In essence, the idea is to reward different career paths by acknowledging that various trajectories can yield similar impacts. For example, consider the following two players, who wound up next to one another in the all-time standings while taking disparate routes:

161. Kordell Stewart: 1.538 productivity score

RPR Sum: -1036.764 (No. 740 all-time)
RPR Average: -12.491 (No. 559 all-time)
16-Game Peak: 44.052 (No. 135 all-time)
True Peak: 77.381 (No. 95 all-time)

162. Don Strock: 1.521 productivity score

RPR Sum: 168.848 (No. 131 all-time)
RPR Average: 4.329 (No. 133 all-time)
16-Game Peak: 25.268 (No. 177 all-time)
True Peak: 40.519 (No. 199 all-time)

Stewart put together a relatively long career (non-legend division), starting the majority of games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1990s and early 2000s before finishing his career with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens in nondescript fashion. He made one Pro Bowl and showed off enough mobility that he was able to remain productive at his peak and have top outputs that more than cancel out the overall negative score produced by a career with similarly low valleys.

Strock, though, was more mediocre throughout. His highs were lower, and his lows were higher. Only 22 of his 167 regular-season appearances (most of which came with the Miami Dolphins) were starts, and that prevented him from rising too high or falling too low.

Those trajectories are nothing alike, yet they’ve yielded similar scores here. And that’s the entire point as the methodology can reward astronomical peaks that were never sustainable, short-but-memorable careers, long-tenured above-averageness, and so much more.

However, the NFL 100 is, unfortunately, not built to give due credit to quarterbacks whose careers began — or took place entirely — before 1950, when we first have access to full game logs.

Take Otto Graham as an example. Spoiler alert: He checks in at No. 18 in the NFL 100 even though a significant chunk of his career doesn’t factor into the analysis.

Otto Graham pre-1950: 54 games (43 starts), 10,085 passing yards, 86 touchdowns, 41 interceptions, 200 yards, 11 touchdowns, 0 fumbles
Otto Graham post-1950: 72 games (71 starts), 13,499 passing yards, 88 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 682 rushing yards, 33 touchdowns, 35 fumbles

Graham would most assuredly rank even higher if the methodology were able to assess the totality of his career. How much higher? That part will remain up for interpretation, but it’s worth keeping that shortcoming in mind whenever you come across a player whose career didn’t begin until the middle of the 20th century.

Now, let’s run through the honorable mentions closest to making the top-100 cutoff, note the top active players who fell short of the NFL 100, and then dive into the actual rankings.

Honorable Mentions: Jake Delhomme (3.345), Jim Hart (3.386), Josh Allen (3.39), Eli Manning (3.425), Erik Kramer (3.445), Jim Plunkett (3.456), Dave Krieg (3.467), Matt Hasselbeck (3.468), Derek Carr (3.583), Tony Eason (3.597)

Top Active Threats: Jameis Winston (1.408), Baker Mayfield (1.479), Kyler Murray (2.51), Jimmy Garoppolo (2.571), Joe Burrow (2.636), Cam Newton (2.729), Justin Herbert (2.857), Ryan Tannehill (3.256), Josh Allen (3.39), Derek Carr (3.583)

100. Ed Brown: 3.631

Teams: Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts
Years: 1954-65
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 593.856 (No. 98)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.71 (No. 117)
16-Game Peak Average: 57.641 (No. 86)
True Peak: 72.62 (No. 112)

99. Ron Jaworski: 3.675

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs
Years: 1974-89
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 746.944 (No. 90)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 4.947 (No. 126)
16-Game Peak Average: 55.761 (No. 96)
True Peak: 74.595 (No. 104)

98. Doug Williams: 3.702

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders
Years: 1978-89
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 870.96 (No. 86)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 10.369 (No. 89)
16-Game Peak Average: 48.392 (No. 118)
True Peak: 72.274 (No. 113)

97. Vinny Testaverde: 3.727

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers
Years: 1987-2007
Rolling Player Rating Sum: -37.947 (No. 482)
Rolling Player Rating Average: -0.172 (No. 459)
16-Game Peak Average: 70.639 (No. 50)
True Peak: 86.046 (No. 69)

96. Wade Wilson: 3.745

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders
Years: 1981-98
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 172.368 (No. 130)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 1.833 (No. 151)
16-Game Peak Average: 61.763 (No. 73)
True Peak: 89.52 (No. 63)

95. Marc Bulger: 3.751

Teams: St. Louis Rams
Years: 2002-09
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 463.012 (No. 111)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.384 (No. 122)
16-Game Peak Average: 59.696 (No. 80)
True Peak: 78.75 (No. 89)

94. Jeff George: 3.756

Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders
Years: 1990-2001
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 594.693 (No. 98)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 4.915 (No. 129)
16-Game Peak Average: 59.74 (No. 79)
True Peak: 76.625 (No. 97)

93. Tom Flores: 3.785

Teams: Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs
Years: 1960-69
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 386.227 (No. 115)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.44 (No. 121)
16-Game Peak Average: 48.301 (No. 119)
True Peak: 96.822 (No. 43)

92. Greg Cook: 3.789

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals
Years: 1969-73
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 60.742 (No. 148)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 60.742 (No. 3)
16-Game Peak Average: 3.796 (No. 249)
True Peak: 60.742 (No. 145)

91. Bobby Thomason: 3.841

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles
Years: 1949-1957
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 369.07 (No. 118)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 6.151 (No. 113)
16-Game Peak Average: 54.896 (No. 101)
True Peak: 89.59 (No. 62)

Note: The first six games (zero starts) of Bobby Thomason’s career predated the 1950 cutoff and are not included in these rankings.

90. Elvis Grbac: 3.887

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens
Years: 1994-2001
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 601.975 (No. 97)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 7.921 (No. 104)
16-Game Peak Average: 57.236 (No. 89)
True Peak: 79.469 (No. 86)

89. Doug Flutie: 3.943

Teams: Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers
Years: 1986-2005
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,061.051 (No. 77)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 14.339 (No. 72)
16-Game Peak Average: 50.421 (No. 112)
True Peak: 67.578 (No. 123)

88. Lynn Dickey: 3.949

Teams: Houston Oilers, Green Bay Packers
Years: 1971-85
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 282.082 (No. 122)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 2.496 (No. 148)
16-Game Peak Average: 60.073 (No. 77)
True Peak: 96.27 (No. 44)

87. Bill Kenney: 3.962

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs
Years: 1980-88
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 766.915 (No. 89)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 10.226 (No. 90)
16-Game Peak Average: 55.527 (No. 97)
True Peak: 76.534 (No. 98)

86. Brian Griese: 3.977

Teams: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears
Years: 1998-2008
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 37.665 (No. 155)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 0.483 (No. 162)
16-Game Peak Average: 56.326 (No. 93)
True Peak: 111.952 (No. 25)

85. James Harris: 3.988

Teams: Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers
Years: 1969-79
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 971.9 (No. 78)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 20.248 (No. 49)
16-Game Peak Average: 50.755 (No. 111)
True Peak: 60.309 (No. 148)

84. Charley Johnson: 4.07

Teams: St. Louis Rams, Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos
Years: 1961-75
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,175.397 (No. 72)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 9.112 (No. 97)
16-Game Peak Average: 51.082 (No. 109)
True Peak: 78.861 (No. 88)

83. Nick Foles: 4.144

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears
Years: 2012-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 144.228 (No. 137)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 2.487 (No. 148)
16-Game Peak Average: 64.265 (No. 66)
True Peak: 102.248 (No. 36)

82. John Hadl: 4.145

Teams: San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, Houston Oilers
Years: 1962-77
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,072.179 (No. 76)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.796 (No. 115)
16-Game Peak Average: 59.641 (No. 81)
True Peak: 79.483 (No. 86)

81. Brad Johnson: 4.147

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys
Years: 1994-2008
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 909.873 (No. 82)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 6.74 (No. 110)
16-Game Peak Average: 60.136 (No. 76)
True Peak: 81.113 (No. 81)

80. Steve Grogan: 4.158

Teams: New England Patriots
Years: 1975-90
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,723.941 (No. 60)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 12.402 (No. 80)
16-Game Peak Average: 52.411 (No. 107)
True Peak: 61.231 (No. 144)

79. Billy Wade: 4.212

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears
Years: 1954-66
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,218.523 (No. 71)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 11.495 (No. 85)
16-Game Peak Average: 54.554 (No. 102)
True Peak: 74.733 (No. 103)

78. Bob Berry: 4.229

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons
Years: 1965-75
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,382.708 (No. 65)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 26.591 (No. 31)
16-Game Peak Average: 43.091 (No. 137)
True Peak: 58.433 (No. 153)

77. Joe Namath: 4.258

Teams: New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams
Years: 1965-77
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,251.631 (No. 69)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 9.411 (No. 96)
16-Game Peak Average: 60.424 (No. 75)
True Peak: 72.054 (No. 114)

76. Colin Kaepernick: 4.312

Teams: San Francisco 49ers
Years: 2011-16
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 620.41 (No. 96)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 10.884 (No. 87)
16-Game Peak Average: 56.917 (No. 90)
True Peak: 91.594 (No. 59)

75. Brian Sipe: 4.46

Teams: Cleveland Browns
Years: 1974-83
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 680.822 (No. 91)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 6.189 (No. 112)
16-Game Peak Average: 69.802 (No. 53)
True Peak: 88.164 (No. 64)

74. Chad Pennington: 4.565

Teams: New York Jets, Miami Dolphins
Years: 2000-10
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,279.787 (No. 68)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 15.236 (No. 68)
16-Game Peak Average: 56.692 (No. 91)
True Peak: 78.174 (No. 90)

73. Bill Nelsen: 4.581

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns
Years: 1963-72
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,322.907 (No. 67)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 17.877 (No. 56)
16-Game Peak Average: 57.426 (No. 87)
True Peak: 71.897 (No. 115)

72. Bobby Layne: 4.585

Teams: Chicago Bears, New York Bulldogs, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers
Years: 1948-62
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,168.16 (No. 73)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 8.226 (No. 102)
16-Game Peak Average: 63.443 (No. 67)
True Peak: 85.901 (No. 70)

Note: The first 23 games (13 starts) of Bobby Layne’s career predated the 1950 cutoff and are not included in these rankings.

71. Jim Everett: 4.63

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers
Years: 1986-97
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,638.731 (No. 61)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 10.641 (No. 88)
16-Game Peak Average: 62.068 (No. 71)
True Peak: 73.524 (No. 107)

70. Jared Goff: 4.655

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions
Years: 2016-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 551.674 (No. 101)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 6.896 (No. 109)
16-Game Peak Average: 69.166 (No. 56)
True Peak: 98.898 (No. 42)

69. Ken Stabler: 4.683

Teams: Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
Years: 1970-84
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 884.034 (No. 85)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.457 (No. 120)
16-Game Peak Average: 71.522 (No. 47)
True Peak: 91.474 (No. 60)

68. Andrew Luck: 4.74

Teams: Indianapolis Colts
Years: 2012-18
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,082.694 (No. 75)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 12.738 (No. 77)
16-Game Peak Average: 56.54 (No. 92)
True Peak: 95.024 (No. 49)

67. Ken O’Brien: 4.814

Teams: New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles
Years: 1984-93
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 359.824 (No. 120)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 3.129 (No. 140)
16-Game Peak Average: 81.768 (No. 34)
True Peak: 100.711 (No. 39)

66. Michael Vick: 4.98

Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
Years: 2001-15
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,519.101 (No. 52)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 12.874 (No. 76)
16-Game Peak Average: 61.806 (No. 72)
True Peak: 87.177 (No. 66)

65. Frank Ryan: 4.982

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders
Years: 1958-70
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,968.576 (No. 57)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 19.112 (No. 53)
16-Game Peak Average: 53.099 (No. 105)
True Peak: 76.043 (No. 101)

64. Jim McMahon: 5.009

Teams: Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers
Years: 1982-96
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,239.998 (No. 70)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 11.923 (No. 83)
16-Game Peak Average: 65.09 (No. 62)
True Peak: 92.678 (No. 57)

63. Earl Morrall: 5.126

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins
Years: 1956-76
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,274.338 (No. 50)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.245 (No. 65)
16-Game Peak Average: 57.878 (No. 85)
True Peak: 73.546 (No. 106)

62. Mark Brunell: 5.146

Teams: Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets
Years: 1994-2011
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,283.311 (No. 49)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 14.451 (No. 71)
16-Game Peak Average: 58.949 (No. 83)
True Peak: 76.165 (No. 100)

61. Craig Morton: 5.151

Teams: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Denver Broncos
Years: 1965-82
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,011.197 (No. 55)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 11.971 (No. 82)
16-Game Peak Average: 64.639 (No. 64)
True Peak: 80.132 (No. 84)

60. Steve Beuerlein: 5.157

Teams: Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos
Years: 1988-2003
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 934.334 (No. 80)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 8.268 (No. 101)
16-Game Peak Average: 69.602 (No. 55)
True Peak: 107.165 (No. 31)

59. Bernie Kosar: 5.177

Teams: Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins
Years: 1985-96
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,420.716 (No. 64)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 12.462 (No. 79)
16-Game Peak Average: 64.325 (No. 65)
True Peak: 95.132 (No. 48)

58. Milt Plum: 5.271

Teams: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants
Years: 1957-69
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 625.232 (No. 95)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 5.684 (No. 118)
16-Game Peak Average: 78.586 (No. 38)
True Peak: 112.505 (No. 23)

57. John Brodie: 5.435

Teams: San Francisco 49ers
Years: 1957-73
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,995.771 (No. 56)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 11.88 (No. 84)
16-Game Peak Average: 71.423 (No. 48)
True Peak: 83.601 (No. 75)

56. Neil Lomax: 5.51

Teams: St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals
Years: 1981-88
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,424.377 (No. 63)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 14.993 (No. 69)
16-Game Peak Average: 67.211 (No. 58)
True Peak: 100.421 (No. 41)

55. Lamar Jackson: 5.621

Teams: Baltimore Ravens
Years: 2018-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,152.883 (No. 74)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 25.62 (No. 33)
16-Game Peak Average: 59.93 (No. 78)
True Peak: 101.573 (No. 37)

54. Roman Gabriel: 5.802

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles
Years: 1962-77
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,735.675 (No. 41)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.887 (No. 60)
16-Game Peak Average: 66.433 (No. 60)
True Peak: 77.934 (No. 92)

53. Carson Palmer: 5.813

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals
Years: 2004-17
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,219.768 (No. 51)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 12.684 (No. 78)
16-Game Peak Average: 77.266 (No. 41)
True Peak: 84.671 (No. 73)

52. Matt Schaub: 5.853

Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens
Years: 2004-20
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,339.848 (No. 47)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 24.122 (No. 37)
16-Game Peak Average: 65.045 (No. 63)
True Peak: 78.162 (No. 90)

51. Deshaun Watson: 6.084

Teams: Houston Texans
Years: 2017-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,761.01 (No. 58)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 36.688 (No. 15)
16-Game Peak Average: 62.301 (No. 70)
True Peak: 82.223 (No. 79)

50. Bob Griese: 6.098

Teams: Miami Dolphins
Years: 1967-80
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,080.084 (No. 36)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 19.372 (No. 51)
16-Game Peak Average: 63.437 (No. 67)
True Peak: 81.028 (No. 82)

49. Greg Landry: 6.166

Teams: Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts, Chicago Bears
Years: 1968-84
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,184.6 (No. 52)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 21.418 (No. 45)
16-Game Peak Average: 68.317 (No. 57)
True Peak: 95.618 (No. 46)

48. Jeff Hostetler: 6.28

Teams: New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Washington Commanders
Years: 1985-97
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,109.149 (No. 53)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 24.814 (No. 36)
16-Game Peak Average: 70.268 (No. 52)
True Peak: 93.4 (No. 55)

47. Joe Theismann: 6.491

Teams: Washington Commanders
Years: 1974-85
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,315.235 (No. 48)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 17.809 (No. 57)
16-Game Peak Average: 77.515 (No. 40)
True Peak: 100.608 (No. 40)

46. Terry Bradshaw: 6.556

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years: 1970-83
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,610.244 (No. 28)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 20.63 (No. 48)
16-Game Peak Average: 66.488 (No. 59)
True Peak: 80.696 (No. 83)

45. Matthew Stafford: 6.595

Teams: Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams
Years: 2009-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,955.345 (No. 38)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.51 (No. 63)
16-Game Peak Average: 70.348 (No. 51)
True Peak: 100.974 (No. 38)

44. Daryle Lamonica: 6.785

Teams: Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders
Years:
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,874.204 (No. 39)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 23.754 (No. 40)
16-Game Peak Average: 74.896 (No. 43)
True Peak: 91.451 (No. 60)

43. Boomer Esiason: 6.824

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals
Years: 1984-97
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,975.238 (No. 37)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.715 (No. 61)
16-Game Peak Average: 81.943 (No. 32)
True Peak: 94.414 (No. 53)

42. Kirk Cousins: 6.839

Teams: Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings
Years: 2012-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,158.959 (No. 34)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 26.546 (No. 32)
16-Game Peak Average: 71.376 (No. 49)
True Peak: 86.134 (No. 67)

41. Rich Gannon: 6.884

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders
Years: 1987-2004
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,129.716 (No. 35)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 22.04 (No. 43)
16-Game Peak Average: 73.207 (No. 46)
True Peak: 94.65 (No. 51)

40. Troy Aikman: 7.059

Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Years: 1989-2000
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,705.948 (No. 42)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.012 (No. 67)
16-Game Peak Average: 82.901 (No. 30)
True Peak: 110.78 (No. 26)

39. Dak Prescott: 7.068

Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Years: 2016-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,621.414 (No. 44)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 32.768 (No. 21)
16-Game Peak Average: 74.05 (No. 45)
True Peak: 93.779 (No. 54)

38. John Elway: 7.176

Teams: Denver Broncos
Years: 1983-98
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 4,527.465 (No. 23)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 18.555 (No. 55)
16-Game Peak Average: 69.793 (No. 53)
True Peak: 83.388 (No. 77)

37. Randall Cunningham: 7.199

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens
Years: 1985-2001
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,065.414 (No. 54)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 14.147 (No. 73)
16-Game Peak Average: 90.115 (No. 21)
True Peak: 126.364 (No. 13)

36. Mark Rypien: 7.199

Teams: Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts
Years: 1988-2001
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 1,739.291 (No. 59)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 18.905 (No. 54)
16-Game Peak Average: 88.97 (No. 23)
True Peak: 127.067 (No. 12)

35. Y.A. Tittle: 7.203

Teams: Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants
Years: 1948-64
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,662.837 (No. 43)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.138 (No. 66)
16-Game Peak Average: 89.846 (No. 22)
True Peak: 108.52 (No. 28)

Note: The first 25 games (19 starts) of Y.A. Tittle’s career predated the 1950 cutoff and are not included in these rankings.

34. Steve McNair: 7.418

Teams: Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens
Years: 1995-2007
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,530.266 (No. 29)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 22.486 (No. 42)
16-Game Peak Average: 81.08 (No. 36)
True Peak: 95.878 (No. 45)

33. Donovan McNabb: 7.437

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings
Years: 1999-2011
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,695.559 (No. 27)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 21.739 (No. 44)
16-Game Peak Average: 81.599 (No. 35)
True Peak: 93.294 (No. 56)

32. Daunte Culpepper: 7.494

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions
Years: 1999-2009
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,600.149 (No. 45)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 26.806 (No. 30)
16-Game Peak Average: 87.539 (No. 25)
True Peak: 105.422 (No. 32)

31. Warren Moon: 7.594

Teams: Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs
Years: 1984-2000
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,387.183 (No. 31)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.523 (No. 62)
16-Game Peak Average: 85.345 (No. 28)
True Peak: 112.129 (No. 24)

30. Jim Kelly: 7.763

Teams: Buffalo Bills
Years: 1986-96
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,745.848 (No. 40)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 16.344 (No. 64)
16-Game Peak Average: 97.509 (No. 14)
True Peak: 119.324 (No. 17)

29. Norm Van Brocklin: 7.984

Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles
Years: 1949-60
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,510.403 (No. 30)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 28.774 (No. 29)
16-Game Peak Average: 84.307 (No. 29)
True Peak: 103.98 (No. 35)

Note: The first eight games (zero starts) of Norm Van Brocklin’s career predated the 1950 cutoff and are not included in these rankings.

28. Bert Jones: 8.157

Teams: Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Rams
Years: 1973-82
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,261.52 (No. 33)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 34.697 (No. 17)
16-Game Peak Average: 85.851 (No. 27)
True Peak: 104.21 (No. 34)

27. Don Meredith: 8.178

Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Years: 1960-68
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 2,383.078 (No. 46)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 25.085 (No. 35)
16-Game Peak Average: 91.549 (No. 19)
True Peak: 137.048 (No. 8)

26. Ben Roethlisberger: 8.313

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years: 2004-21
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 5,629.466 (No. 16)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 21.405 (No. 46)
16-Game Peak Average: 74.587 (No. 44)
True Peak: 91.907 (No. 58)

25. Trent Green: 8.415

Teams: Washington Commanders, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins
Years: 1997-2008
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,721.261 (No. 26)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 33.83 (No. 18)
16-Game Peak Average: 81.78 (No. 33)
True Peak: 110.542 (No. 27)

24. Jeff Garcia: 8.734

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Years: 1999-2009
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 3,726.466 (No. 25)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 32.125 (No. 23)
16-Game Peak Average: 91.985 (No. 18)
True Peak: 113.482 (No. 22)

23. Sonny Jurgensen: 8.752

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Years: 1957-74
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 5,155.505 (No. 20)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 33.261 (No. 20)
16-Game Peak Average: 78.021 (No. 39)
True Peak: 95.31 (No. 47)

22. Russell Wilson: 8.81

Teams: Seattle Seahawks
Years: 2012-present
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 5,243.048 (No. 19)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 31.776 (No. 24)
16-Game Peak Average: 80.879 (No. 37)
True Peak: 94.611 (No. 52)

21. Bart Starr: 8.877

Teams: Green Bay Packers
Years: 1956-71
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 5,430.964 (No. 17)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 33.524 (No. 19)
16-Game Peak Average: 82.39 (No. 31)
True Peak: 87.572 (No. 65)

20. Tony Romo: 9.003

Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Years: 2004-16
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 5,080.405 (No. 21)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 40.971 (No. 13)
16-Game Peak Average: 76.68 (No. 42)
True Peak: 95.031 (No. 49)

19. Len Dawson: 9.067

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs
Years: 1957-75
Rolling Player Rating Sum: 4,814.593 (No. 22)
Rolling Player Rating Average: 29.358 (No. 28)
16-Game Peak Average: 90.55 (No. 20)
True Peak: 107.619 (No. 30)