Who are the best quarterbacks, the GOAT, in the history of the NFL? Which quarterbacks were great during the 1990s and 2000s? Who dominated the 2010s? Is there a quarterback that will forever stand out among them? Let’s look at the best quarterbacks since 1990 and pick our favorites.
If you haven’t read the rest of this article, you’re missing out. So, read on for my list of the top 10 quarterbacks since 1990.
The Best NFL Quarterback of All Time
The quarterback is the most critical position in football. The passing game is vital to the success of current NFL teams, and a great quarterback is the key to success. While a quarterback can’t achieve greatness all by himself, a Super Bowl title, MVP awards, and setting records are signs of dominance. If you’re an NFL fan, you’ll surely remember the greatest quarterbacks.
Most people would agree that quarterbacks are the most important players on a football field. They’re the ones with their hands on the ball every single play, and they’re charged with leading their teams to victory. But what makes one great? Well, there are a few different ways of looking at it.
First of all, it’s hard to deny the value of physical capabilities. The quarterback is the face of a team, but they can’t win by themselves. They need offensive linemen who can protect them from blitzing defenders, receivers who can catch the ball and turn it into significant gains, and running backs who can take some pressure off them by carrying the ball when necessary. A quarterback who has all of these things at his disposal will give himself a better chance at success.
On top of that, let’s not forget about other stats like passing yards and touchdown passes—those are important too! If a player has fewer interceptions than touchdowns thrown, for example, he’s making smart decisions with his throws which leads us back to our first point about having talented teammates around him who will make plays when needed.
NFL Football in the 90s
It’s no secret that the 1990s was one of the best decades for NFL football. The games of this era were filled with high-scoring offenses and players who had larger-than-life personalities (and hairstyles). In addition, there was a shift away from run-heavy offenses, which led to some of the most exciting games in NFL history during this time. This decade also saw some of the best quarterbacks, receivers, and running backs play in what was known as the “pass-happy” era of NFL history.
In the 1990s, quarterbacks and wide receivers alike were re-writing record books seemingly every season. A decade brought us some of football’s greatest players and memorable moments, including the most remarkable comeback in Super Bowl LI. This was also the era that marked the beginning of the Super Bowl dynasty for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in New England.
Brady wasn’t the only quarterback who dominated in this era, though. Hall of Famers like Brett Favre, Steve Young, and Kurt Warner have played an essential role in this era, and it wouldn’t be fair to leave out the great performances from running backs like Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith. In addition, the NFL had a plethora of offensive talent during this period, which helped lead to incredible plays on both sides of the ball.
NFL Football in the 2000s
The 2000s in the NFL have seen the rise of a significant number of new stars and the continued dominance of some of the game’s biggest names. However, many of the league’s most accomplished players were nearing retirement at the turn of the century. It was time for a changing of the guard. Some future Hall-of-Famers would still have success in the new millennium, but they were nearing their end.
The 2000s in the NFL have seen the rise of the spread offense, increasingly strong passing games, and more and more mobile quarterbacks. This decade has also seen an increase in college offenses that use multiple wide receivers and no running backs.
The result is that play from “scrambling” quarterbacks who are not effective passers has become more commonplace. In addition, a flurry of new rules at the start of the decade aimed at promoting safety has led to a decline in run-oriented offenses. However, the increased emphasis on passing has resulted in many exciting games with high scores. Coaching quarterbacks from this decade include Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees.
NFL Football in the 2010s
The 2010s in the NFL were a decade of quarterbacks. After the league’s rules changed to protect its passers, offensive statistics went through the roof, and a new breed of quarterback came to define the decade. In recent years, Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray have burst into the league as talented dual-threat stars. Lamar Jackson has rekindled memories of Michael Vick by running with abandon while also completing passes downfield. But, of course, Russell Wilson has been doing it for years, and even Tom Brady—who is not known as a scrambler—has shown he can pick up yards on his feet when needed. On defense, they’re still trying to catch up to these guys.
But it wasn’t just young quarterbacks who defined the decade. Tom Brady led late comebacks in two Super Bowls and won another one by blowing out the Rams early; Drew Brees surpassed many of Peyton Manning’s records; Peyton Manning himself took home two Super Bowl rings; Philip Rivers made a run at every passing record without playing for a great team; Aaron Rodgers was off-and-on dominant; Matt Ryan was finally recognized as excellent after leading the Falcons to the Super Bowl, and Ben Roethlisberger was always there for Pittsburgh.
The Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks Since 1990
Tom Brady emerged as the NFL MVP in the decade since the Super Bowl. But before the New England Patriots drafted Brady, they drafted Drew Bledsoe, a gun-slinger who threw the ball deep and for many yards. Bledsoe made the Patriots relevant again, eventually leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance in 1996. Though his career ended in 1991 due to a devastating leg injury against Lawrence Taylor in the NFC playoffs, he is still among the best Quarterbacks of all time.
Another great player from the 1990s was John Elway. The No. 1 overall pick in 1983, Fouts was an underrated gem, but his stats didn’t make it a top 10 candidate. Despite his success in the 1980s, Fouts couldn’t lead his team to the Super Bowl. His passing yards per game ranked third in the NFL six times, but he wasn’t the only quarterback to make this happen.