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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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Norm Van Brocklin, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams, Norm Van Brocklin (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) /

26. Best NFL quarterbacks of all time: Norm Van Brocklin

Probably the best fact about Norm Van Brocklin’s career is that he was the only player to beat Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers in a championship game. He did this in his final season in the league, which was with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the second time he won a title, his first coming with the Los Angeles Rams.

Van Brocklin, also known as “the Dutchman,” spent his first nine seasons in the league with L.A., after they drafted him out of Oregon in 1949. He played in a different era, where running was king so his stats don’t jump out at you as being that of a superstar. However, he does still hold the record for the most passing yards in a single game as he threw for 554 yards against the New York Yanks in a 1951 blowout win.

He did have two other shots at NFL titles during his tenure, but the Rams were defeated in 1950 and 1955 by the Cleveland Browns. After the 1957 season, the quarterback was considering retirement and even said he was done with the game. He then changed his mind but the Rams decided to move on and traded him to the Eagles for a first-round pick and a couple of players.

It proved to be a good move for Philadelphia as Van Brocklin made the Pro Bowl in all three seasons he played for the Eagles. He also was named the MVP during their championship season — which he officially retired after.

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