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The 30 best quarterbacks in NFL history

By Randy Gurzi

Joe Montana #16, Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers prepares to throw a pass during the National Football Conference Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams on 14 January 1990 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, United States. The 49ers won the game 30 - 3. (Photo by Otto Gruele Jr/Allsport/Getty Images)
Joe Montana #16, Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers prepares to throw a pass during the National Football Conference Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams on 14 January 1990 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, United States. The 49ers won the game 30 - 3. (Photo by Otto Gruele Jr/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

14. Best NFL quarterbacks of all time: Drew Brees

Drew Brees came out of Purdue in 2001 with a couple of question marks according to the staff experts. They were worried about his height and the fact that he played in a spread offense. This led to him slipping into the second round, where the San Diego Chargers selected him with the first pick of the round.

Brees became the starter in 2002, but struggled at first, throwing 17 touchdowns and 16 picks. In his second season as the starter, he had 11 touchdowns against 15 picks and the team was 2-9 with him under center. This prompted the Chargers to bring in Philip Rivers the following year, but that’s also when Brees started to take off.

With the rookie sitting behind him, Brees went 11-4 while throwing 27 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. San Diego was 9-7 the following year but Brees suffered a shoulder injury that helped them make their decision. Brees ended up signing with the New Orleans Saints and developed into one of the best in the game under head coach Sean Payton.

Brees has his first 4,000-yard passing season that year as he helped resurrect the Saints franchise. He followed that up with 5,069 yards the next year becoming the first person since Dan Marino in 1984 to top the mark — something he’s now done five times in his career.

In 2009, Brees led the Saints to 13 wins and then went on a run in the postseason. They ended up shocking the favored Indianapolis Colts, bringing the first Lombardi Trophy to the city of New Orleans.

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