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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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Los Angeles Chargers, Philip Rivers
Los Angeles Chargers, Philip Rivers. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images /

23. Best NFL quarterbacks of all time: Philip Rivers

In 2004, the San Diego Chargers owned the No. 1 overall pick and everyone expected that selection to be Eli Manning. The Ole Miss product came into the league as NFL royalty being the younger brother of Peyton Manning and son of Archie Manning. However, Manning didn’t want to play for the Chargers — and made it well known that he felt this way.

That led to the Bolts taking Manning first overall and then immediately trading him to the New York Giants, who took Philip Rivers with the No. 4 pick. The two signal-callers switched homes and both have had their fair share of success.

For Rivers, it took a couple of seasons as he was originally behind Drew Brees, but he took over full-time in 2006 when Brees left for the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Rivers had great success as a starter, going 14-2 in his first full campaign.

He added 11 more wins the following season but became a legend in the playoffs for one of the gutsiest performances ever. After suffering a torn ACL in the postseason, Rivers went out and played the AFC Championship game on the mangled knee. They lost 21-12 to the New England Patriots but he won the respect of everyone in the NFL.

One of the fiercest competitors to ever play the game, Rivers is still going strong and has a strong desire to finally break through and win a title. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Rivers has 54,656 yards passing and 374 touchdowns. He’s set to add even more to that as he’s fresh off his sixth-straight season with more than 4,000 yards passing and had 32 touchdowns in 2018.

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