Regular readers will remember that we are football fans, and that back in May we went through the annals of history and identified the greatest quarterbacks of each of the contemporary franchises in the National Football League. We broke those out by team for those in the American Football Conference and those in the National Football Conference. We wanted to continue this engagement with professional football, and we will have similar franchise lists in the future for other positions. However, with this list here we are doing another cross-section of sorts for the quarterback position. Here we are slicing not by franchise but by decade.
This is the second in a series of decade lists cataloging the best NFL quarterbacks of each decade. We previously covered the 2000s decade. Here we are of course talking about the best quarterbacks from the 1990s decade, defined as from 1990-1999 inclusive. As such, we are only looking at quarterbacks that played during this era and we are only talking about their time playing during this ten-year period. Someone might have been great in 1988 and 1989 or 2000 and 2001, but those years are not factored into their ranking on this list. And again, because we are focusing on individual performance in the quarterback position, we are not factoring in team success or championships. Team success is team success, and teams win championships. We are also focusing primarily on the regular season in order to maintain a baseline apples-to-apples statistical comparison of a sixteen game season. Otherwise, a mediocre quarterback on a good team would get a boost in statistics from their team making the postseason every year, while a potentially great quarterback on a mediocre team would be hampered by their team not making the postseason. There is no way to completely eliminate the team element in a team sport like football, but the focus on the regular season is an attempt to reduce it. We also factor in the official individual accolades such as Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-Pro selections, as these represent a degree of official consensus on who were the best players at a given position each year. Again, it is not perfect, but instead this is the attempt to quantify and compare individual performance over the span of a decade.
Now for the 1990s, identifying the top selection for the 1990s decade was not as clear cut as it was for the 2000s. Three different men led in the various metrics that we have been using. However, our top pick has the best overall argument between the various metrics. In reality, the top seven spots on this list should come as no surprise to football fans as these are all Hall of Fame quarterbacks. However, the specific order of those top seven is always going to be a bit contentious. The last three spots on the list are in some ways the most interesting. Our 8, 9, and 10 selections are all quarterbacks that seemed to be on career trajectories headed for greatness and the Hall of Fame, but who ran into obstacles along the way (often injuries) that either shortened their careers or saw them shuffled around to different teams trying to resurrect their career. But alas for what could have been, and hoorah for what was.
1. Brett Favre (Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers)
You regular readers will of course remember that last time we recognized Brett Favre as the second greatest quarterback of the 2000s decade. Well now we go back to the decade where it all started for Favre’s reign over the world of professional football. The top spot here for the 1990s decade was a little more contentious than it was for the 2000s. However, Favre is the best choice overall. Brett Favre ranks at or near the top of the aggregate categories that we look at, and he was a multiple year MVP and All-Pro.
This is all the more remarkable given that he only played in eight of the ten seasons in the decade. Favre put up not just single season numbers but aggregate numbers better than guys that played the full ten years. Favre was drafted by Atlanta in 1991 and sat as the backup for that one season. The Packers acquired Favre in a trade and he began the season as the backup to Don Majkowski. Majkowski tore a ligament in his ankle during Week 3 of the 1992 season. Favre finished the game and proceeded to start every Packers game for the next fifteen years until he retired for the first time after the 2007 season.
Favre of course secured his position as the permanent starting quarterback by being one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. Even though he only played for eight seasons during the 1990s, Favre ranks second behind only Dan Marino for most completions and most passing yards over the entire decade. Likewise, no one threw more touchdown passes during the 1990s than Favre. And amazingly, it is not even that close. Favre threw 235 touchdowns over the decade, while Steve Young and Dan Marino are tied for second place at only 200. Favre threw more touchdowns than Young’s combined passing (200) and rushing (33) touchdown total. That is not even counting the eleven rushing touchdowns that Favre had during the decade. These huge numbers led to Favre earning a number of accolades. He was named league MVP three consecutive years in 1995, 1996, and 1997. He was of course also named first team All-Pro for those three years.
2. Steve Young (San Francisco 49ers)
Steve Young was the other major contender for the top spot, and there is an argument to be made for Young that we will get to shortly.
Young played for two seasons in the United States Football League for the Los Angeles Express in 1984 and 1985. As that league unraveled, Young signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played for the 1985 and 1986 seasons. Tampa was a perennially horrendous team back then, and Young was traded to San Francisco for the 1987 season. He served as Joe Montana’s backup until the 1991 season where Montana was out for the season recovering from an elbow injury. Young was the starter for the 1991 season until he was injured and was replaced by Steve Bono. Young would have the first of his two MVP seasons in 1992.
Steve Young had a relatively unique style of play in that he was both a precision passer and a mobile/running quarterback. Steve Young is the unique quarterback that could lead the league in passer rating for six seasons during the 1990s as well as run for more yards and run for more touchdowns than any other quarterback during the 1990s. The reason why Steve Young was a great player was because he was a best of both worlds quarterback. He could do it all.
Young was named the league MVP for the 1992 and 1994 seasons. Young was the All-Pro king for the 1990s. He was named a first team All-Pro for the 1992, 1993, and 1994 seasons. Young was also a second team All-Pro for the 1995, 1997, and 1998 seasons. He threw for the fifth most completions, the sixth most passing yards, and tied Dan Marino for the second most passing touchdowns over the decade. Injuries prevented Young from putting up even better numbers during some of these seasons. If his seasons and ultimately his career had not been shortened by injuries, then he would have been our clear favorite for greatest 1990s quarterback.
3. Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins)
We will likely say this again when we do the 1980s quarterback decade list, but Dan Marino was an incredible quarterback and remains one of the greatest and most prolific passers ever. As long as Marino stayed healthy, he was able to rack up big numbers every single season. Simply put, Marino threw more completions and for more yards than any other quarterback during the 1990s decade. And as we said above, Marino was tied with Steve Young for the second most passing touchdowns over the decade. While these big numbers did not get Marino another league MVP, he was recognized as a second team All-Pro for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
4. Warren Moon (Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs)
Warren Moon is another one of these amazing stories. He went undrafted in 1978, and ended up playing in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos. He utterly dominated up there and had a Hall of Fame career in Canada before he came back to the United States. He signed with the Houston Oilers for the 1984 season and was the Oilers quarterback through the 1993 season. He would close out his professional career with stints in Minnesota, Seattle, and Kansas City before retiring after the 2000 season. Just to put that in perspective, Moon began his career in professional football in 1978 and ended it in 2000. That means that he technically played professional football in four different decades.
While Moon did not have the luxury of franchise stability throughout the 1990s decade, it did not seem to hurt him much on the aggregate numbers. Moon ranked third for most completions, third for most passing yards, and fourth for most passing touchdowns over the 1990s decade. Moon was not as beloved by the official organizations as some of the other men on this list, but he was named Offensive Player of the Year and second team All-Pro for the 1990 season. Moon is one of these quarterbacks that is often overlooked in discussions of the greatest quarterbacks ever, but the man literally had two Hall of Fame careers.
5. John Elway (Denver Broncos)
John Elway is another one of these players that is widely considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and deservedly so. We have not done the 1980s quarterback list yet, but he is another one that you should expect to see there. Simply put, Elway had another prolific decade here in the 1990s. He ranks fifth for most completions, fourth for most passing yards, and fifth for most passing touchdowns over the decade. Similar to Marino, these big numbers did not garner him another league MVP. However, Elway was recognized with second team All-Pro selections for the 1993 and 1996 seasons.
6. Troy Aikman (Dallas Cowboys)
Given the team success of the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s decade in winning three Super Bowls, it might surprise the casual reader to see Troy Aikman this far down the list. However, part of the reason why the Cowboys were such a potent offense during the 1990s was because of Emmitt Smith running the ball. That is not a swipe at Aikman, but is actually a testament to how solid and balanced the Cowboys offense was. When they needed to, the Cowboys could rely on Aikman to put up passing numbers comparable to anyone else on this list. But, because they had a stout running game, they Cowboys were not reliant on Aikman throwing for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns every year to have a chance, which is how the Dolphins were with Marino. Because the Cowboys were a balanced offense, Aikman put up solid numbers throughout the decade, but these numbers were never as massive as they would need to be to garner All-Pro attention. That is how Aikman can be fourth in completions, fifth in passing yards, and eighth in passing touchdowns over the decade and not even receive a second team All-Pro selection let alone a league MVP. But anyone that watched and analyzed professional football during the 1990s knew that Troy Aikman was one of the best quarterbacks in the game.
7. Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills)
Honestly, it pains me a little bit to have Jim Kelly this far down the list. Kelly’s career was shortened by injuries and he retired after the 1996 season, which for our purposes sadly means that his aggregate numbers for the decade are often lower compared to other people who played all ten seasons. However, Kelly was an impressive player and was a huge part of the Bills’ team success during the early 1990s in particular with their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
Even though he missed the last three seasons of the decade, Kelly still ranks surprisingly well in the decade numbers. He was twelfth in most completions, twelfth in most passing yards, and amazingly seventh in most passing touchdowns. Jim Kelly was also recognized as a first team All-Pro for the 1991 season and a second team All-Pro for the 1992 season.
8. Randall Cunningham (Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings)
Randall Cunningham was somewhat ahead of his time as a quarterback, especially in this mobile/running style of play. Had he come out around a decade later he would surely be much more remembered. Cunningham was the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles from the 1985 season through the 1995 season. He retired after the 1995 season, though he came out of retirement in 1997 to be the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, which he was for the remainder of the decade. Amazingly one of Cunningham’s best seasons ever was in 1998 where he led the Vikings to a 15-1 record, led the league in passer rating, and earned first team All-Pro honors. That 1998 Vikings team is still one of the greatest teams ever to not win a Super Bowl.
Randall Cunningham ranks second amongst quarterbacks behind only Steve Young for most rushing yards and fifth amongst quarterbacks for most rushing touchdowns over the decade. Cunningham is also the only quarterback from the 1990s to garner All-Pro selections for different teams. He was named second team All-Pro for the 1992 season when he was with the Eagles, and of course he was first team All-Pro with the Vikings for the 1998 season.
9. Drew Bledsoe (New England Patriots)
One of the many things that we can blame on Tom Brady is that people have forgotten how great and how promising Drew Bledsoe’s career was. If not for the misfortune of getting injured and having a backup named Tom Brady, Bledsoe was on a career trajectory headed for the Hall of Fame. Bledsoe was drafted as the number one overall pick by the Patriots in 1993, and largely lived up to it.
Drew Bledsoe led the league in passing yards and completions for the 1994 season. His decade aggregate numbers are also impressive, especially for a guy that did not come into the league until 1993. Bledsoe ranks seventh in most completions, eighth in most passing yards, and ninth in most passing touchdowns over the entire decade. Bledsoe was overlooked for the All-Pro selections despite his impressive numbers, but he was selected to the Pro Bowls for the 1994, 1996, and 1997 seasons.
Sadly for Bledsoe, the rest is a question of what could have been. He signed a massive contract extension with the Patriots before the 2001 season only to suffer a season ending injury in Week 2. He was traded to Buffalo the next season and was the Bills starter for three seasons, and then two years with the Cowboys. Bledsoe had a strong 2002 season with Buffalo despite the relatively mediocre team. However, after that season he never again achieved the statistical numbers or the team success that he had with the Patriots during the 1990s.
10. Mark Brunell (Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars)
People can object to placing Brunell here if they want. I certainly understand the argument that he did not play enough seasons as the starter during the 1990s. People forget though that Brunell and the Jaguars were a force in the league in the second half of the decade even if he did not have the aggregate numbers of others that played the entire decade. But are you really going to argue that Vinny Testaverde or Jeff George are truly more deserving of being named the tenth best quarterback of the 1990s? That would be like putting Matt Hasselbeck as the tenth best quarterback of the 2000s. Maybe you can stomach it, but I cannot. The number ten spot is a good one for the wild cards. That is what Rich Gannon was in the early 2000s, and in a slightly different way that is what Mark Brunell was in the late 1990s.
Mark Brunell was drafted in the fifth round of the 1993 draft by the Green Bay Packers. He served as Brett Favre’s backup in Green Bay for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. He was acquired in a trade by the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars and became the starting quarterback during the 1995 season. He would remain in that position until early in the 2003 season. Brunell’s style of play was similar to that of Steve Young as both a mobile/running quarterback and a quality passer. Even though he only played for the second half of the decade, Brunell ranks fifth amongst quarterbacks in rushing yards during the 1990s and is tied with Brett Favre for sixth amongst quarterbacks for rushing touchdowns over the entire decade. Brunell led the league in passing for the 1996 season. While we are not officially considering postseason success, it is worth remembering that Brunell led the Jaguars to postseason appearances in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 (and that they advanced as far as the AFC Championship game for both the 1996 and 1999 seasons). While Brunell was overlooked for All-Pro selections during the late 1990s, he was selected to the Pro Bowls for the 1996, 1997, and 1999 seasons.
The success of Brunell and those Jaguars teams during the late 1990s has been largely overlooked and forgotten as the years have moved on and the Jaguars franchise dropped into prolonged mediocrity throughout much of the 2000s and 2010s decades. However, if you were to ask fans and sports analysts in the year 2000 about who the best quarterbacks were during the late 1990s, then Mark Brunell would inevitably have been one of names at the top of their list.
Honorable Mentions to Round Out a Top 30 (in no special order)
- Kurt Warner
- Joe Montana
- Peyton Manning
- Mark Rypien
- Vinny Testaverde
- Jim Everett
- Jeff George
- Jim Harbaugh
- Boomer Esiason
- Stan Humphries
- Chris Chandler
- Jeff Hostetler
- Neil O’Donnell
- Dave Krieg
- Steve Beuerlein
- Jeff Blake
- Steve McNair
- Eric Kramer
- Scott Mitchell
- Trent Dilfer
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