Top 10 NFL QB’s of the 90s
A look at the 1990s Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks — Who makes the list?
In today’s article, we will look at the Top 10 NFL QB’s of the 90s. The 1990s was a time for NFL Quarterbacks in which the passing game was beginning to evolve. Teams were more open to throwing the ball more and started to realize that a shift in Offensive game-planning was beginning. We were introduced to no-huddle offenses like the K-Gun and teams were starting to give their Quarterbacks more lee-way to throw the ball down the field. This list will be a count-down of the Decades top passers
Let's get into it!
10) Mark Brunell: Green Bay Packers & Jacksonville Jaguars
Stats for the Decade: 44–24 QB Record, 86 TD, 52 INT, 60.0 Cmp.%, 85.4 Rate, 15,572 Passing Yards, 1,540 Rushing Yards, 11 Rushing TD
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
Brunell makes this list on the back of his Play-off success. Together with Super-Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin, Brunell helped the Jaguars make 4 Straight playoff appearances in the ’90s, including an AFC Championship Appearance where they fell to the Patriots. Brunell was a solid Quarterback that did a good job of not turning the ball over and making plays/throws on the run when he had to. He was a better Quarterback than people remember and his 3 Pro-Bowl Appearances in just 5 seasons as a starter in the decade show that.
9) Randall Cunningham: Philadelphia Eagles & Minnesota Vikings
Stats for the Decade: 49–28 QB Record, 121 TD, 70 INT, 58.7 Cmp.%, 86.2 Rate, 16,624 Passing Yards, 2,304 Rushing Yards, 15 Rushing TD
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 2x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro, 1x Comeback Player of the Year
The Breakdown:
The cliche question “what if?”, is a stigma that has unfortunately been a part of Cunningham’s legacy. During the 90s Cunningham played a full or close to a full season only four times. That being said, his sheer talent and production, when he was healthy, is undeniable.
In three of his four healthy seasons during the Decade, Cunningham won 10 or more games three times. In 1993 before he went down for the season, the Eagles were 4–0, they would go 4–8 the rest of the way without him. He was very valuable and prolific. A Quarterback that could beat you with his legs and powerful arm. Cunningham was ahead of his time.
Cunningham’s 1998 season with the Vikings was one of the Greatest NFL Seasons for a Starting Quarterback in history. He threw for 34 Touchdowns, won 13 games in 14 starts, and posted a league-leading 106.0 Passer Rating. Going back to the “what if?” stigma, “if” Cunningham doesn’t get hurt he’s easily a top 5 Quarterback on this list.
8) Drew Bledsoe: New England Patriots
Stats for the Decade: 58–47 QB Record, 147 TD, 123 INT, 55.9 Cmp.%, 75.7 Rate, 25,966 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
The man that is remembered as the Quarterback was replaced by Tom Brady. The man is known as the Quarterback who took a nasty hit from New York Jets Line-backer Mo Lewis. These two things are a part of Drew Bledsoe’s Legacy. However, before the “hoopla” of Tom Brady came in 2001, Bledsoe was well on his way to becoming a potential future Hall-of-Fame Quarterback.
Bledsoe was a gun-slinger that threw the ball deep and for a lot of yards. It was he, not Brady that helped the Patriots become a relevant Franchise. He helped them make the Super-Bowl in 1996 and his consistent production made him one of the better Quarterbacks of the 90s.
7) Warren Moon: Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, & Kansas City Chiefs
Stats for the Decade: 67–51 QB Record, 189 TD, 133 INT, 60.6 Cmp.%, 83.8 Rate, 30,817 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Offensive Player of the Year, 7x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
Despite being in his mid to late thirties during the decade, Moon was lighting up the stat sheet. Twice during the decade, he threw for over 4,500 yards (which led the league), and twice he threw for over 30 Touchdowns. He threw for over 4,000 yards four times during the decade. Moon’s only blemish is his lack of Play-off success. Still, his gaudy and prolific numbers and production help him make this list.
6) Jim Kelly: Buffalo Bills
Stats for the Decade: 73–30 QB Record, 156 TD, 112 INT, 60.7 Cmp.%, 85.3 Rate, 22,566 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro, 4 Straight Super-Bowl Appearances
The Breakdown:
Losing four straight Super-Bowls is rough. On the other hand, getting to four straight is something we may never see again, and Jim Kelly’s command of the “K-Gun” offense was a huge reason for the Buffalo Bills' success during the 90s. Kelly was one of the more cerebral Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and was, Peyton Manning, before Peyton Manning (without the rings).
Kelly’s ability to check-in and out of plays, make quick decisions with the football and run the no-huddle was second to none. If Kelly wins at least one or two of those Super-Bowl Appearances, his career and spot on this list are viewed in a higher light. As it stands, he was a great Hall-of-Fame Quarterback that just couldn’t get over the “hump”.
5) Dan Marino: Miami Dolphins
Stats for the Decade: 85–54 QB Record, 200 TD, 127 INT, 59.3 Cmp.%, 84.1 Rate, 33,508 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Comeback Player of the Year, 4x Pro-Bowler, Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Breakdown:
This may seem a bit low for a Quarterback whom many perceive as the greatest they’ve ever seen. However, the Dan Marino of the 1980s was much better and more prolific than the 1990’s Dan Marino. Still, even in the 90s Marino was one of the elite Quarterbacks and his production and winning played a huge part in that.
Marino’s 200 Touchdown passes in the 90s are tied for second with Steve Young. Though he never won a Super-Bowl, he always gave his teams a chance to get there and was consistently guiding the Dolphins to the Playoffs. He may not have been the Marino of the 80s but he was still better than most of his peers and his Touchdown Passes, and Passing Yards in the Decade prove that. Marino’s 33,508 Passing Yards was the most in the entire decade.
4) Steve Young: San Francisco 49ers
Stats for the Decade: 84–31 QB Record, 200 TD, 80 INT, 66.3 Cmp.%, 101.2 Rate, 27,656 Passing Yards, 3,081 Rushing Yards, 33 Rushing TD
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 2x MVP, 1x Offensive Player of the Year, 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 7x Pro-Bowler, 3x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
Anytime you have to replace a fan favorite, incumbent long-time Starter, and or a future-Hall-of-Fame Quarterback, that is a lot of pressure to carry on your back. Steve Young didn’t get the memo because he immediately erased the Joe Montana era, took his job, and became a Hall-of-Fame Quarterback in his own right. He was ahead of his time though. An extremely accurate left-handed Quarterback that threw for a ton of Yards, Touchdowns, took care of the football, completed a high percentage of his passes, and made plays with his feet.
Young was the left-handed version of Aaron Rodgers in the 1990s. His stats were fantasy/video game-type numbers. He led the league in Passer Rating 6 times, Touchdown Passes 3 times, and Completion Percentage 5 times. He had 6 seasons of a Completion Percentage of 65% or higher. His production was ridiculous, in a good way. Add to that, a Super-Bowl Championship and Super-Bowl MVP, and Young earns himself a high spot on this list.
3) Brett Favre: Atlanta Falcons & Green Bay Packers
Stats for the Decade: 82–43 QB Record, 235 TD, 141 INT, 61.1 Cmp.%, 87.1 Rate, 30,894 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3 Straight MVP’s (1995–97), 1x Offensive Player of the Year, 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 5x Pro-Bowler, 3x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
You can make a case for Brett Favre being the number one Quarterback of the 1990s. I wouldn’t be mad at that. After all, the man did win 3 straight MVPs, won a Super-Bowl, made it to two, and threw for the most Touchdown Passes in the Decade. He was the pure definition of a gun-slinger.
Favre could throw for 30 touchdowns, but he could also throw for 18–20 Interceptions. With Favre, you always took the good with the bad. But the good outweighed the bad when you look back on his time with the Packers during the Decade.
2) Troy Aikman; Dallas Cowboys
Stats for the Decade: 90–53 QB Record, 149 TD, 109 INT, 62.2 Cmp.%, 84.5 Rate, 29,561 Passing Yards
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, Walter Payton Man of the Year, 6x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
For a man that didn’t put up prolific or gaudy stats, many may seem surprised to see Troy Aikman so high on this list. The fact of the matter is, he was an extremely accurate Quarterback that was asked to run the Cowboys system which featured the Running-game and opened up the big passing plays. He did that perfectly.
Aikman helped the Cowboys win 3 Super-Bowls during the 90s. Yes, he had, a great Offensive-Line, Defense, Emmit Smith, and Michael Irving, but when you Draft a Quarterback the whole point is to build a solid/great team around him anyway. The Quarterback then has to deliver the goods and lead the great team to the promised land. Aikman did that three times.
Aikman’s team didn’t require him to throw the ball 30 times a game. If they had, his numbers would’ve been much better. For someone who was labeled or viewed as a game manager, Aikman’s 29,561 Yards Passing in the 1990’s ranks 5th in the Decade. Not bad for a “game manager”. Bottom-Line, “Game-Managers don’t get to three Super-Bowls, and win all three. I don’t know any game manager that has been that “lucky” to be on such a team.
1) John Elway: Denver Broncos
Stats for the Decade: 84–49 QB Record, 180 TD, 112 INT, 58.8 Cmp.%, 84.5 Rate, 30,280 Passing Yards, 1,732 Rushing Yards, 22 Rushing TD
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 2x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 6x Pro-Bowler, Walter Payton Man of the Year
The Breakdown:
Put simply, John Elway is the best Quarterback of All-Time in my opinion. His time during the 1990s confirmed that. During the 90s, Elway's Broncos only had one losing season. He is one of if not the most clutch quarterbacks in NFL history.
Elway made big plays for his team when they needed it most. He had the strongest arm ever seen, prototypical size, mobility, strength, toughness, clutchness, mechanics, quick-release, production, leadership, and was a winner. If you asked NFL G.M.’s around the league how they would build their perfect Quarterback in a lab, all the traits, Physical tools, and attributes that Elway possesses would point to him.
In the 1980’s Elway single-handedly carried some mediocre Denver Bronco teams to three Super-Bowls. The Broncos were completely out-matched though and he could never get them over the hump. The ending to Elway’s career was fitting though and he was able to get two Super-Bowls and ride off into the sunset as a Champion.
The 1990s also saw a more polished John Elway as a Passer. His run from 1993–98 saw him throw for 142 Touchdowns, to only 69 Interceptions, Complete 60% of his passes and post a Passer Rating of 88.9. This was the peak of Elway’s Career and he retired an Elite Quarterback, that very well could’ve continued to play and be productive. Elway’s place as the top Quarterback of the 1990s is a no-brainer, especially when he is the best Quarterback of All-Time. Period.
Thanks for reading Guys and Gals, if you like my content be sure to give this article a clap, share, comment and give your opinion and follow my profile to get the latest articles I write.
