Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of the '80s
From John Elway to Dan Marino — A look at the best NFL Quarterbacks of the 1980s.
The 1980s was a time when NFL Quarterbacks were starting to thrive and it was a decade filled with great passers. A lot of good Quarterbacks were left off this list because this list is only exclusive to the absolute best. Here on the https://medium.com/genaosportbuzz Publication is the countdown rankings from worst to first of the Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of the 1980s.
Let's get right into it!
10) Danny White: Dallas Cowboys
Stats for the Decade: 61–30 QB Record, 152 TD, 126 INT, 59.9 Cmp.%, 82.4 Rate, 21,229 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
Kicking off (pun intended) this list is Randy White, who is one of the more forgotten Quarterbacks of the ’80s. A quick look at his stats for the decade suggests he’s also a bit underrated. I think his lack of playoff success is what ultimately doomed White’s perception as a Quarterback. It also didn’t help that he had big shoes to fill after Roger Staubach retired.
9) Dave Krieg: Seattle Seahawks
Stats for the Decade: 57–37 QB Record, 169 TD, 116 INT, 57.8 Cmp.%, 83.7 Rate, 20,858 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bower
The Breakdown:
Krieg is another Quarterback who put up great numbers for his time and was better than he was supposed to be despite his limited physical tools. He was accurate and could throw on the run. He played for a small market team in Seattle, who at the time wasn’t nationally covered and, played a part in Krieg having one of the most impressive, but forgettable careers in Quarterback history.
8) Joe Theismann: Washington
Stats for the Decade: 53–30 QB Record, 110 TD, 85 INT, 59.1 Cmp.%, 81.7 Rate, 17,442 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 2x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro, 1x MVP, 1x Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Breakdown:
Had it not been for the Lawrence Taylor hit that ended his career, Theismann could’ve been higher on this list. As it stands he only played four and half seasons in the decade, but he makes this list because those four and a half seasons were fantastic. His MVP Season in 1983 was impressive as he led Washington to a 14–2 Record and had his finest season as a thrower with 29 Touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. Theismann was a winner and he helped Washington win a Super-Bowl in the 1982 NFL season.
7) Phil Simms: New York Giants
Stats for the Decade: 65–45 QB Record, 143 TD, 123 INT, 54.4 Cmp.%, 76.4 Rate, 24,492 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 1x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
This may seem a little too low for a Quarterback in Simms who helped the 1986 New York Giants capture a Superbowl. Simms had a historically efficient performance in the Super-Bowl with just 3 in-completions in 25 attempts, and 3 touchdown passes in route to a win and Super-Bowl MVP award. What keeps Simms from being higher on this list is his inconsistency as a starting Quarterback during the decade. Simms made the NFL Pro-Bowl just once during the decade.
6) Boomer Esiason- Cincinnati Bengals
Stats for the Decade: 42–35 QB Record, 126 TD, 76 INT, 56.6 Cmp.%, 87.3 Rate, 18,350 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x MVP, 3x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
A flashy, hotheaded, loud-mouthed Quarterback that could sling it. That was what Boomer Esiason was. Despite having big shoes to fill behind Ken Anderson, Esiason delivered the goods for the Bengals more often than not. The Bengals were a drive away from winning the Super-bowl in the 1989 NFL Season. The Bengals have had a good history of Franchise QB’s and in the 80’s Esiason was as good as it gets.
5) Jim Plunkett: Oakland Raiders
Stats for the Decade: 38–19 QB Record, 79 TD, 80 INT, 56.3 Cmp.%, 75.9 Rate, 12,576 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 2x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 1x Comeback Player of the Year Award
The Breakdown:
Jim Plunkett is long over-due for the NFL Hall of Fame. He should’ve been in by now. He’s a two-time Super-Bowl Champion and Super-Bowl MVP. His stats aren’t overly impressive but his record in the 80’s when he had pieces around him prove that he was a great Quarterback who can win the big games when you needed him to.
All in all, Plunkett was still able to throw for over 25,000 yards, and 164 Touchdown passes for his career which isn’t bad at all for his era. His work in the 1980s helped turn his career around and, Plunkett not being in the Hall of Fame is a travesty.
4) Dan Fouts: San Diego Chargers
Stats for the Decade: 53–45 QB Record, 172 TD, 141 INT, 59.9 Cmp.%, 84.4 Rate, 28,301 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 5x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro, 1x MVP, 1x Offensive Player of the Year
The Breakdown:
Dan Fouts was a statistical monster in the ’80s. The man threw for over 28,000 yards over 8 seasons in the decade. He averaged 27 Touchdown passes per 16 games played. He was the driving force to the explosive “Air Coryell” offense that was lighting up scoreboards in the ’80s. If Fouts had been able to win a Super-Bowl, his positioning in these rankings may have been higher.
3) Dan Marino: Miami Dolphins
Stats for the Decade: 62–39 QB Record, 220 TD, 125 INT, 59.6 Cmp.%, 89.3 Rate, 27,853 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 5x Pro-Bowler, 3x All-Pro, 1x MVP, 1x Offensive Player of the Year
The Breakdown:
It’s a shame that Dan Marino never was able to win a single Super-Bowl. If Marino had 1 or two Super-Bowls on his resume he’d probably be considered the best of all-time. Still, the arcade video game numbers he was putting up were insane. Even for today’s standards where the NFL is now passing friendly because of the rule changes that favor offenses.
Marino was the first Quarterback to ever throw for an insane 5000 yards in 1984. In 7 seasons in the decade, he threw for over 4000 yards 4 times. He averaged an insane 34 touchdowns per 16 games a season in the decade. Marino had a gun of an arm, pin-point touch, and accuracy. He was a gunslinger and made the Dolphins a fun team to watch.
2) John Elway: Denver Broncos
Stats for the Decade: 64–33–1 QB Record, 120 TD, 114 INT, 54.2 Cmp.%, 73.6 Rate, 21,195 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler, 1x MVP
The Breakdown:
The mere fact that John Elway dragged some mediocre Denver Bronco teams to three Super-Bowls in the ’80s was remarkable. Yes, he lost all three but that’s because the Broncos were exposed. All they had was John Elway and were out-matched at every other position especially defense. Elway has the strongest arm in NFL history, and his ability to show up in the clutch is legendary. You could even make the case for Elway being number one on this list.
1) Joe Montana: San Francisco 49ers
Stats for the Decade: 86–37 QB Record, 215 TD, 107 INT, 63.9 Cmp.%, 94.0 Rate, 30,958 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 4x Super-Bowl Champion, 3x Super-Bowl MVP, 1x Comeback Player of the Year, 1x Offensive Player of the Year, 1x MVP, 6x Pro-Bowler, 2x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
This one is no surprise. Montana was a four-time Super-Bowl Champ, and the MVP of the Super-Bowl three times. He threw for the second-most touchdowns in the ’80s and had an excellent completion percentage. His mastery of the Bill Walsh West Coast Offense was a huge reason for the 49ers' success, or should I say dominance, in the decade.
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