Thread: The GOAT Index: NFL coaches, execs rank best QBs since 1978

I found this article on ESPN and figured that this would be an article that would generate a lot of discussion if posted here.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2...odern-era-2017

The panel who established the list is comprised of: Pete Carroll, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Howard Mudd, Wade Phillips, Mike Reinfeldt, Ray Rhodes, Mike Shanahan, Al Saunders and Norv Turner, who possess a combined 330 seasons of NFL experience. All 10 are Super Bowl champions, having combined for 20 rings in 30 opportunities.

This is how they ranked the GOAT Top Ten QBs since 1978:

1. Brady
2. P. Manning
3. Montana
4. Elway
5. Rodgers
T-6. Marino
T-6. Favre
8. Young
9. Brees
10. Fouts

Thoughts and discussion on the list?

Pretty tough to disagree. You could really throw the top 4 in a bag and shake it up and any list would make sense. Rodgers at 5 is fine then after that not too much of an argument from me either.

How lucky are we? Two top-four QBs to watch as fans and win Super-Bowls with.

Originally Posted by BroncoWave

Pretty tough to disagree. You could really throw the top 4 in a bag and shake it up and any list would make sense. Rodgers at 5 is fine then after that not too much of an argument from me either.

Agreed. I could argue that Elway did more with less than any of the three above him, but that's probably my orange and blue glasses. Agreed, all four were GOATs.

Originally Posted by Tned

Agreed. I could argue that Elway did more with less than any of the three above him, but that's probably my orange and blue glasses. Agreed, all four were GOATs.

Personally, I would include Aaron R.

Dan Fouts over Jim Kelly or Warren Moon?

Fouts shouldn't be on the list.

Originally Posted by Slick

Dan Fouts over Jim Kelly or Warren Moon?

I personally think that those first four are really GOATs and you could argue that anyone of them could be considered the GOAT. After that, it gets into a more subjective rating of how good the QB was. Would Marino have been great without the great Oline he played with most of his career (and when he lost it, he went downhill fast). You could make a case for Aikman in the top 10.

Brees and Rodgers have been really good, great at times, but lacked constancy.

So, for me, it's the top four and everyone else and on the everyone else, you could change the order pretty substantially based on what criteria you use to match them.

Originally Posted by Slick

Dan Fouts over Jim Kelly or Warren Moon?

I'd take Young over Fouts, myself.

Originally Posted by Tned

I personally think that those first four are really GOATs and you could argue that anyone of them could be considered the GOAT. After that, it gets into a more subjective rating of how good the QB was. Would Marino have been great without the great Oline he played with most of his career (and when he lost it, he went downhill fast). You could make a case for Aikman in the top 10.

Brees and Rodgers have been really good, great at times, but lacked constancy.

So, for me, it's the top four and everyone else and on the everyone else, you could change the order pretty substantially based on what criteria you use to match them.

Aaron Rogers has been the best player in football for the last 5 years or so.

Peyton Manning had awful defenses in Indy, and for most of his time his line was bad.

Brady usually had good defenses and when he didn't he rarely, if ever, had a bad line.

Manning was the superior passer.

Manning was and always will be greater than Tom Brady, and that's before you factor in other issues.

Originally Posted by Von Kinger

I'd take Young over Fouts, myself.

Young is 8th on the list babycakes.


Fair point Tned. Tough to argue with.

Originally Posted by Slick

Young is 8th on the list babycakes.


Fair point Tned. Tough to argue with.

In my defense...I got nothing. I just derped.

Unless you meant Vince Young.

Originally Posted by Slick

Unless you meant Vince Young.

I didn't derp that hard!