Some people consider Joe Montana to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
Of course, on the other side of the argument is Tom Brady.
Brady or Montana – Who is the best to ever do it? … Well, neither if you ask Montana.
In a surprising twist to the epic debate over who is the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Montana has thrown hi full support behind Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino.
“Dan Marino is the best quarterback in NFL history,” Montana confidently declared.
Montana’s endorsement of Marino, who famously never won a Super Bowl during his illustrious career, has raised eyebrows.
In the eyes of many, Montana himself, with four Super Bowl victories, and Tom Brady, who boasts seven Super Bowl rings, would seem like more obvious choices for the title of greatest quarterback.
But Montana’s reasoning behind his choice is rooted in a deep appreciation for Marino’s exceptional skills, especially during an era that didn’t favor passing as it does today.
He highlighted Marino’s 1984 season as a prime example of his domination, during which Marino passed for a staggering 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Those statistics from Marino’s 1984 season are remarkably comparable to the MVP-winning numbers posted by Patrick Mahomes in a recent season (5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns).
Montana pointed out that Mahomes enjoyed the benefit of an additional 17th game and played in a much more quarterback-friendly environment due to rule and strategy changes that have favored passing in today’s NFL.
“Put Marino into today’s game where he gets free release … and his receivers, holy cow, weren’t very big,” Montana remarked in an interview with Men’s Health.
“Now these guys are 6’4,” 6’5.” I think [Marino] is probably one of the most unsung heroes of the game. People don’t talk enough about him or realize the numbers that he put up during the times that he put them up.”
Montana further praised Marino’s unique abilities, highlighting his quick release and precise accuracy: “He had a quick release. I had to step into a lot of things to get enough [force] on the ball. He had the perfect torque of his upper body and strength to deliver the ball quickly at a fast release with accuracy.”
What do you think of Montana’s choice for greatest quarterback of all-time?
(I’m sure Tom Brady, who idolized Montana growing up, isn’t too happy to hear it.)
Who do you think is the best quarterback ever?
How about a top 3???