Quarterbacks aren’t always known for their brute strength, but don’t let the clean jerseys fool you—some of these guys could move mountains. Whether it’s upper-body power to throw a football through a brick wall or sheer physical toughness to shake off defenders, the strongest QBs brought way more than finesse to the field.
From legends who could bench-press linemen to stars built like linebackers, these quarterbacks didn’t just lead offenses—they bulldozed them. Here are the 15 strongest quarterbacks the game has ever seen.
15. Steve McNair
McNair was a tank in cleats, known for powering through tackles like a fullback. He played through pain and punishment with a level of toughness that defined his career.
14. Anthony Richardson
Even early in his career, Richardson is already one of the most physically imposing QBs ever. Built like a defensive end, he runs over defenders and flicks the ball like it weighs nothing.
13. Donovan McNabb
McNabb wasn’t just mobile—he was solid as a rock and incredibly hard to bring down. His strength made him a nightmare to sack and gave his throws some serious zip.
12. Josh Allen
Allen appears to have been designed in a quarterback lab, blending power and athleticism. His stiff arms, broken tackles, and 70-yard bombs all come from brute force.
11. John Elway
Elway had one of the most powerful arms the NFL has ever seen, thanks to his strong frame and natural torque. He could launch deep balls on the run like it was nothing.
10. Daunte Culpepper
At his peak, Culpepper was a physical beast who could throw defenders off like they were made of foam. He had the bulk and the biceps to match his cannon of an arm.
9. Brett Favre
Favre’s iron-man durability and ability to rifle passes into tiny windows earned him a reputation for sheer quarterback grit. He threw with a force that left receivers ducking in practice.
8. Justin Herbert
Herbert is a modern-day muscle machine with a howitzer for an arm. His size and strength let him fire lasers off his back foot and absorb hits like a tight end.
7. Randall Cunningham
Cunningham’s athleticism gets most of the love, but he was ridiculously strong for his frame. He had the arm to launch deep balls with ease and the physicality to slip out of sure sacks.
6. Jalen Hurts
Hurts is built like a powerlifter and has the squat numbers to prove it. He pushes piles, shrugs off blitzes, and brings weight-room strength straight to the field.
5. Terry Bradshaw
Before quarterback physiques were a trend, Bradshaw was already bringing country-strong energy to the position. He had an absolute cannon and took hits like a linebacker.
4. Cam Newton
Cam redefined what a strong quarterback could look like—part passer, part wrecking ball. His power running and deep-ball arm strength made him a true physical force.
3. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben lived up to the nickname, brushing off defenders like they were mosquitoes. Tackling him was like trying to bring down a refrigerator on roller skates.
Read More: Ranking the 30 Best Quarterbacks of All Time
2. JaMarcus Russell
Say what you will about his career, but Russell had one of the strongest arms in NFL history. The stories about him throwing 70-yard bombs from his knees are the stuff of legend.
Read More: The 15 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time
1. Tim Tebow
Tebow might not have been the most refined passer, but when it came to raw strength, he was a bulldozer. Whether running through defenders or grinding in the gym, his power was never in question.
Read More: 20 Football Legends Whose Stories Demand the Hollywood Treatment
