In the NFL organizations tend to succeed or fail based on the ability of their franchise QB. The organizations in the list below have been able to find QBs to build their team around and sustain success year after year. When analyzing who deserves to make it into the hall of fame you must look at two main factors. The first is the individual statistics of the player throughout his career considering both overall numbers and consistency. The second would be the player’s ability to win games, in the regular season, post-season, and most importantly Super Bowl appearances and wins. With those two factors in mind, I have built a list of seven active QBs that have shown either the numbers and consistency, or the ability to win in big moments that put them into the conversation for potential Hall of Famers. Some thrived in numbers and consistency but failed to win a championship like one of the older guys on the list. Then there are other franchise QBs who have won a lot in big moments but do not have crazy numbers like Eli Manning, who was not eligible for the list since he just recently retired. So with that being said you can make it into the Hall of Fame in two ways, either elite statistics or winning consistently. Luckily for the following seven active QBs, they have succeeded in one of the two ways, building a case to be in the Hall of Fame someday.
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots/Tampa Bay Buccaneers (#12)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
284 219-64-0 6,377 9,988 63.8%
Yards, TD’s,Ints
74,571 541 179
Playoff Record, Winning%
30-11 .732
Super Bowl Record
6-3
NFL MVP’s
3
2. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (#12)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
175 113-60-1 3,913 6,061 64.6%
Yards, TD’s,Ints
46,946 364 84
Playoff Record, Winning%
10-8 .556
Super Bowl Record
1-0
NFL MVP’s
2
3. Drew Brees, QB, San Diego Chargers/ New Orleans Saints (#9)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
274 163-111-0 6,867 10,161 67.6%
Yards, TD’s, Ints
77,416 547 237
Playoff Record, Winning%
8-8 .500
Super Bowl Record
1-0
NFL MVP’S
0
4. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (#7)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
216 144-71-1 4,651 7,230 64.3%
Yards, TD’s, Ints
56,545 363 191
Playoff Record, Winning%
13-8 .619
Super Bowl Record
2-1
NFL MVP’S
0
5. Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego or LA Chargers/Indianapolis Colts (#17)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
224 123-101-0 4,908 7,591 64.7%
Yards, TD’s, Ints
59,271 397 198
Playoff Record, Winning%
5-6 .455
Super Bowl Record
0-0
NFL MVP’S
0
Honorable Mention
6. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (#2)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
189 109-80-0 4,460 6,817 65.4%
Yards, TD’s, Ints
51,186 321 147
Playoff Record, Winning%
4-6 .400
Super Bowl Record
0-1
NFL MVP’S
1
7. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks (#3)-
Career Statistics
Starts, Career Record, Comp, Att, Cmp%,
128 86-41-1 2,436 3,777 64.5%
Yards, TD’s, Ints
29,734 227 68
Playoff Record, Winning%
9-6 .600
Super Bowl Record
1-1
NFL MVP’S
0
Some younger players like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson did not make the list due to lack of sample size, but both players if they keep up their current pace will one day be in this conversation as well. Thanks to their early success, and their ability to transcend the game for future generations.
As you can now see there are some on the list who have put up great numbers like Rodgers, Brees, Rivers, Wilson, and Ryan but haven’t been able to win multiple Super Bowls if any at all. The thing about this league can be frustrating is that it is truly a team sport, and if you don’t have a certain amount of talent around you it can become very difficult to win championships consistently. On the other hand, we see that some elite-level talents on this list such as Brady and Roethlisberger, have been fortunate enough to have pieces around them year after year. Which has allowed them both to win championships on a more consistent bases? The HOF welcomes the greatest of all time with open arms, and you can’t mention the greatest QBs of all time without the names of Rodgers, Brees, Rivers, Wilson, and Ryan regardless of the amount of championships they have won. In conclusion, you don’t have to be a consistent Super Bowl champion or put together the greatest statistical career to be in consideration to be in the Hall of Fame. To get in though, you must be great in one way or the other. The good thing for all seven of these QBs is that they have figured it out and put up the right stats either in wins or stats.
