The Greatest Quarterback Careers in NFL History

Clockwise from top left: Joe Montana, Tom Brady, Johnny Unitas and "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The day after New England snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Super Bowl 49, I proclaimed to my dozen or so Twitter followers that Tom Brady now had the best résumé of any quarterback in NFL history.

Note that I didn't say he was the best quarterback the league had ever seen, that debate is far too subjective and there have been so many great ones, but it seemed logical that Brady had now checked off every box on his career checklist.

Absurd regular season numbers and MVP awards? Check. Every relevant postseason passing record and a record-tying four Super Bowl wins in a record six appearances? Check. A record-tying three Super Bowl MVP awards? Check. Arguably the greatest quarterback season ever in 2007 (not to mention an absurd 2010)? Check. Winning record against the "other" great QB of his era, Peyton Manning? Check.

While you could make a case that a number of other quarterbacks are "better" (however you define that), it's hard to make the case that any of them had a better career than Brady.


Or did they?

Super Bowl XLVIII: Well, That Was Unexpected

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

So, yeah…

That Super Bowl that was supposed to be epic like no other, and that editor Jeremy Conlin and I picked to be a close one in favor of Denver...

Well, things didn't go quite as expected.

After setting new NFL records for touchdowns and points scored this season, Denver's offense saw its first seven drives go something like this: Safety, punt, interception, interception returned for a touchdown, turnover on downs, punt and fumble.

The statistical best offense in league history had produced -9 points directly, and gave away another 14 points off of turnovers. Seattle led 36-0 in the third, on it's way to a dominant 43-8 Super Bowl victory.

What the hell's going on out here?

AFC Championship Primer: The Best Quarterback Seasons in NFL History

Tom Brady has gotten the better of Peyton Manning head to head, including a 24-point comeback earlier this year. The two will face off again Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, but which future Hall of Famer has had the best single season?

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

Yesterday, in honor of the NFC Championship's impending defensive struggle, we brought you the 10 best defensive seasons in NFL history. That was great and all, but maybe you've heard about the somewhat relevant quarterback rivalry that will take center stage during the AFC Championship Game?

Oh yeah, it's that Peyton Manning guy trying to beat that Tom Brady guy. Those two dudes are pretty good.

In fact, both of them found their way onto today's list of the 10 greatest quarterback seasons ever. We all know that Brady has gotten the best of Manning, going 10-4 against his old rival, including 2-1 in the playoffs, but it is Manning that is in the midst of a historic 2013 season, setting the single season record for both touchdowns thrown and passing yards.

Where do Manning's current season and the best of Brady rank on our list? Find out below.

Dude, Tom Brady's the Man, but is he the Best Ever?

Tom Brady: The World's Greatest Sugar Baby

By Joe Parello

I'm not a Patriots fan, but it's hard to deny that when the 49ers scream "Who's got it better than us?!" they are almost surely talking about Tom Brady.

Brady further proved his total baller-hood this week, accepting a 3-year, $27 million deal with the only team he's ever known, the New England Patriots. The interesting part of the deal is, while it does pay him a ton upfront and a good portion of it is guaranteed, it is well below market value for a quarterback of his caliber.

The average of $9 million annually Brady will take in is less than half the $20 million a year he could have demanded on the open market. So, why does taking half your value make you a baller? Allow me to explain: