Joe Namath, AKA “Broadway Joe,” started out in the American Football League (AFL) before transitioning into the NFL during the ‘60s and ‘70s. What made the quarterback so unique was his incredible charisma and charm. He helped the New York Jets win their first and only Super Bowl in 1969, which helped turn him into a household name.
In 1985, Namath was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an honor he earned with flying colors. His stats included more than 1,850 successful passes, with an average 50% success rate. That’s over 27,663 yards throughout his career, which puts him in the top 60 of all time. However, he is definitely in the top 10 when it comes to hunky football studs.
John Brodie
Not many people know this legendary quarterback today, but he was one of the most successful players back in the ‘60s. John Brodie retired in 1973 after 17 incredible seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he broke many of the teams, as well as the sport’s records. He was named the NFL MVP in 1970 and still has an impressive record even today.
Some of Brodie’s most impressive stats include a 31,548 yards pass and 214 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his greatest ranking actually relates to more undesirable categories, with 224 interceptions, putting him in 18th place in 2019. Still, if you want to be the best, you have to be willing to take risks. This is what puts Brodie as the opener on our list of the world's most legendary quarterbacks.
Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins was the first draft pick in the Carolina Panther's history, thanks to a combination of talent, fantastic moves, and an undeniable work ethic. Collins was the star quarterback in five different NFL teams throughout his career, with his most successful run being with the New York Giants. He played with the team in Super Bowl XXXV, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 34–7.
Collins turned out to be one of the more impressive quarterbacks of our time, with over 40,000 passing yards and more than 200 touchdowns. He currently stands at 18th place in NFL history when it comes to yards passed. In 2018, the legendary New York Giants quarterback was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Collins officially announced his retirement from the NFL on July 7, 2011.
Norm Van Brocklin
Although this quarterback only played for 12 seasons, he made it into nine Pro Bowls. Van Brocklin played mostly for the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles and helped them both win championships despite being an NFL active player for just over a decade. Some of his highlights include winning the NFL championship twice, both in 1951 and 1960.
Van Brocklin was inducted into both the College Football and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and 1971. He was also known as The Dutchman by many of his fans and was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1960. The star quarterback achieved an incredible lifetime stat of 8.2 yards per pass attempt, making him the third-best in history.
Y.A. Tittle
Yelberton Abraham Tittle Jr began his NFL career back in 1948, playing for the Baltimore Colts. He then transitioned to the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants before retiring in 1964. With 7 Pro Bowl wins and some of the most impressive stats of the time, the legendary quarterback retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and games played.
What truly set Tittle apart from other quarterbacks in his time was the sheer amount of touchdowns he helped facilitate, with over 240 to his name. In 1971, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after accumulating more than 33,000 passing yards throughout his successful career.