One of the earliest accomplished NFL quarterbacks was Sammy Baugh, a man who practically helped shape the image of a successful quarterback in the early days of the sport. Baugh was the quarterback for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952 and helped keep Americans sane during times of much social, political, and security chaos. He won two NFL championships, a Pro Bowl, and was the NFL’s Player of the Year in 1947 and 1948.
The old-school quarterback broke the record for completion percentage eight times, as well as various other records over the years. Fans would tune in to watch Baugh accomplish higher and higher levels of success, which is why he was inducted into both the College Football and the NFL Hall of Fame. He was considered the 4th greatest college football player by SPORT magazine and even named as the Most Versatile Player of all-time by the NFL Network.
Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach had many nicknames throughout his distinguished career in the NFL as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback between 1969 and 1979. He began his NFL career rather late, after serving as a Lieutenant in the Navy Supply Corps during the Vietnam War. This led him to receive the nickname of Captain American, which also came from him sharing the same first name as Marvel's all-American superhero.
Staubach is Super Bowl champion, earning the Cowboys two wins in both 1971 and 1977. He also led them to win six Pro Bowls and was the NFL's Man of the Year in 1978. The Cowboys quarterback was also known as 'Roger the Dodger' and 'Captain Comeback,' nicknames which he earned through having one of the best NFL records of the time. Staubach was inducted into both the College Football and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Kurt Warner
Super Bowl champion Kurt Warner’s first rise to prominence was in 1998 as the quarterback of the St. Louis Rams, where he proceeded to win the NFL MVP award three years in a row from 1999 to 2001. Warner defied all expectations when he became one of the only two quarterbacks to ever win a Super Bowl in their first season, along with Tom Brady.
Warner holds the thirteenth-best passer rating of all time, which stands at 93.7 points. He also has the fifth-best passing completion percentage in the NFL to date, a whopping 65.5 percent. What really sets Warner apart from other quarterbacks in the NFL is that he had to prove his worth every step of the way and did it through sheer willpower and unbeatable work ethic.
Fran Tarkenton
Sometimes Being one of the best quarterbacks in the world can only take you so far if your team isn't up to par. Fran Tarkenton was an excellent passer and led the Minnesota Vikings to their first Super Bowl. They participated in four total but, ultimately, didn't win any of them. Despite his team's failures, Tarkenton retired, breaking every major quarterback record.
The accomplished quarterback passed over 47,000 yards throughout his 17-year career and had more than 3,600 rushing yards to his name. He's also the first player in NFL history to pass for four touchdowns in his first NFL game and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
John Elway
You almost forget that John Elway was ever one of the world's best NFL quarterbacks, now that he's one of the leading football executives in the world. Elway was affiliated only with the Denver Broncos throughout his career and was the second-best passer of his time in NFL history. He helped his team win two Super Bowl championships, and nine Pro Bowls and was one of the most decorated NFL quarterbacks of all time.
With more than 51,000 passing yards to his name, it's easy to see why Eway is so fondly remembered in the history of the NFL. Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and is one of the only Hall of Famers to still be very much involved in the game. His 16 seasons are a testament to his true dedication and love for the sport, traits which are still felt to this day in his incredible work for the sport.