Ranking the 25 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of the Last 25 Years

The past 25 years in the NFL have given us no shortage of quarterback greatness. From Super Bowl champions to stat-sheet dominators to guys who made fourth quarters feel like movie scripts, the league has been blessed with some serious arm talent and ice-cold clutch genes.

This list ranks the 25 greatest quarterbacks of the last quarter-century, based on longevity, peak performance, postseason heroics, and general football wizardry. You may not agree with every name or spot, but that’s half the fun.

25. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins
Flickr

He’s not the flashiest name on the list, but Cousins has quietly racked up stats that rival some Hall of Famers. He may not win every big game, but he’s always in the conversation and cashing checks.

24. Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck
Flickr

For a while in the 2000s, Hasselbeck was one of the steadiest hands in the league. He took the Seahawks to a Super Bowl and was the face of consistency in Seattle before Wilson ever showed up.

23. Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer
Wikimedia Commons

Palmer was one of the smoothest passers of his era, especially when healthy. His resurgence in Arizona gave his career a strong second act and reminded everyone what he could do when surrounded by talent.

22. Tony Romo

Tony Romo
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The guy threw a beautiful deep ball and could sling it with the best of them. He never got the postseason breakthrough, but his regular-season play was often elite.

21. Derek Carr

Derek Carr
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Say what you want, but Carr has been one of the past decade’s more durable and productive quarterbacks. He’s had to carry some wildly uneven teams and still managed to put up numbers year after year.

20. Daunte Culpepper

YouTube | Duke Wilson 14

For a stretch in the early 2000s, Culpepper was a full-on video game. He had a cannon arm, underrated legs, and the privilege of throwing to peak Randy Moss.

19. Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert
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Yes, it’s early—but Herbert’s talent is undeniable, and his numbers in his first few seasons are off the charts. If the Chargers ever figure things out, his ranking could skyrocket.

18. Cam Newton

Cam Newton american football player
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Cam was unlike anything we’d seen at his peak at the position—power, speed, and charisma in one package. His 2015 MVP season was electric, and his impact on the game exceeded the box score.

17. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford
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He finally got his ring in Los Angeles, but Stafford put up jaw-dropping stats in Detroit for years. He was one of the toughest quarterbacks ever to do it, with a rocket arm and endless fourth-quarter comebacks.

16. Michael Vick

Michael Vick
By Keith Allison from Baltimore

Vick changed the way we thought about quarterbacking. He made defenders look foolish with his legs and had an arm that could launch a football into orbit.

15. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan
Flickr

Matty Ice was as steady as they come for over a decade, and his 2016 MVP campaign was elite. That Super Bowl collapse haunts him, but his body of work speaks volumes.

14. Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb
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McNabb led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl, all while taking massive hits. He was the definition of durable and a legit dual-threat before it was cool again.

13. Philip Rivers

Philip Rivers
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The throwing motion was weird, the trash talk was relentless, and the production was undeniable. Rivers put up monster stats for nearly two decades and never missed a start.

12. Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson
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He’s the most electric quarterback of the past five years and already has an MVP. If health and team success align, he’ll climb this list quickly.

11. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger
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Big Ben racked up two Super Bowls and spent most of his career bullying defenses with his size and extending plays like few others could. His toughness and playmaking defined the Steelers for nearly two decades.

10. Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson
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Russ was the ultimate magician in his prime—escaping sacks, launching moonballs, and pulling off weekly miracles. His resume includes a Super Bowl win, another near-win, and a lot of winning football.

9. Josh Allen

Josh Allen
Wikimedia Commons

Allen is a physical freak with a rocket arm and bulldozer legs. He’s been knocking on the door of greatness for a few seasons now, and if he pushes through, the top five isn’t far away.

8. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers
Flickr

One of the most naturally gifted passers in NFL history, Rodgers made jaw-dropping throws look routine. He’s got the MVPs, the stats, the ring, and the aura of a quarterbacking savant.

7. Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow
Openverse

Cool as ice and precise as a surgeon, Burrow has turned Cincinnati into a legitimate powerhouse. Injuries have slowed him down sometimes, but when he’s on, few are better.

6. Drew Brees

Drew Brees wearing Saints helmet
Wikimedia Commons

The NFL’s all-time passing leader for a stretch and the savior of football in New Orleans. Brees did it with accuracy, intelligence, and leadership, carrying the Saints to a Super Bowl title and perennial contention.

5. Eli Manning

Eli Manning wearing a helmet
Wikimedia Commons

Say what you want about the regular season, but Eli was a giant slayer in the playoffs. Two rings, both against the Brady-era Patriots, and an unshakeable cool under pressure.

4. Steve McNair

Steve McNair
Wikimedia Commons

Toughness, grit, and leadership. McNair was a warrior on the field, and his near-MVP co-win in 2003 was the peak of an incredible, inspiring career.

3. Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes
Openverse

Already a two-time MVP and multi-time Super Bowl champ, Mahomes is rewriting the quarterback handbook in real time. The throws, the plays, the comebacks—he’s doing things that make your jaw drop weekly.

Read More: Ranking the 30 Most Overpaid Quarterbacks of All Time

2. Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning
Flickr

The sheriff dominated defenses with his mind and arm, piling up records, MVPs, and wins. He reinvented himself late in his career to win a second ring and walk off as a champion.

Read More: The 45 Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time, Ranked

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady
Wikimedia Commons

Seven rings. Countless comebacks. An unmatched legacy. The greatest quarterback of the past 25 years—and maybe ever—turned winning into a habit and left a trail of broken dreams in his wake.

Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Overrated NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

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