Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of the 60s
A ranking of the best quarterbacks from the 1960s era of the NFL.
The 1960s was a time where you rarely saw 3,000-yard passers. If a Quarterback in the ’60s threw for 3000 yards, that would be equivalent to being a 4,800-yard passer in today’s NFL. It was a different time so the standard of what is good or great statistics is viewed and should be viewed in a different light. Let's keep this in mind when looking into the rankings of the top signal-callers of the decade.
Also, keep in mind that these rankings are based on what the Quarterbacks did in the ’60s (1960–1969) and not their entire career. I’ll give you guys a preview….. there are 7 Hall-of-Famers on this list. That’s how much depth there is on this list.
Before we get started make sure to check out the previous Top 10 QB Lists below:
Let the countdown begin!
10) Y.A. Tittle: San Francisco 49ers & New York Giants
Stats for the Decade: 35–14–3 QB Record, 55.7 Cmp.%, 11,133 Passing Yards, 100 TD, 71 INT, 83.5 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x MVP, 3x Pro-Bowler, 2x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
Tittle only played four full seasons in the ’60s and in three of those he was arguably a top 5 passer. He led the league in touchdown passes twice and had two back-to-back seasons of 30 or more touchdown passes which were unprecedented at the time.
Tittle’s league-leading 36 Touchdown Passes in 1963 is still a New York Giants single-season record. Very impressive considering guys like Phil Simms and Eli Manning each played over 15 seasons for the team. Tittle’s lack of playoff success and the fact that he only had 3 great seasons in the decade keep him from being higher on this list.
9) Daryle Lamonica: Buffalo Bills & Oakland Raiders
Stats for the Decade: 40–4–1 QB Record, 49.2 Cmp.%, 12,274 Passing Yards, 105 TD, 83 INT, 74.9 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler, 3x AFL Champion, 2x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
One of the original gunslingers nicknamed the “mad bomber” and for good reason, Lamonica could sling it and throw for a lot of yards. Lamonica had three 3,000 yard passing seasons.
8) Roman Gabriel: Los Angeles Rams
Stats for the Decade: 51–24–4 QB Record, 51.5 Cmp.%, 15,406 Passing Yards, 109 TD, 75 INT, 76.1 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x MVP, 3x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
One of the more prolific passers of the ’60s, Gabriel wasn’t much of a clutch Quarterback. He never won a playoff game. However, he was a winner in the regular season and a great regular season player.
7) Don Meredith: Dallas Cowboys
Stats for the Decade: 47–32–4 QB Record, 50.7 Cmp.%, 17,199 Passing Yards, 135 TD, 111 INT, 74.8 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 3x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
One of the more forgotten and underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Meredith was an accurate passer for his time. He could scramble, and make throws on the run. A fun player to watch play and someone reliable and durable.
6) Fran Tarkenton: Minnesota Vikings & New York Giants
Stats for the Decade: 47–68–4 QB Record, 53.9% Cmp., 23,140 Passing Yards, 186 TD, 134 INT, 81.0 Rate, 2,672 Rushing Yards, 20 Rush TD
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 5x Pro-Bowler
The Breakdown:
Legacy-wise, you could make the argument that Tarkenton belongs higher on this list but, his best years came in the ’70s. Still, the numbers Tarkenton was able to put up in the ’60s were impressive. He didn’t win much but he made a reputation of being a great scrambling Quarterback that can hurt you with his legs and a strong arm.
Many forget Tarkenton’s time with the New York Giants. He was a four-time Pro-Bowler for them from 1967–1970 and threw for an incredible 92 touchdown passes for them in that span.
5) Sonny Jurgensen: Philadelphia Eagles & Washington Redskins
Stats for the Decade: 49–60–7 QB Record, 56.4 % Cmp., 26,222 Passing Yards, 207 TD, 154 INT, 82.4 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 5x Pro-Bowler 1x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
The numbers this guy put up throughout his career are ridiculous. He had a rocket arm and threw for a ton of yards. He didn’t play for a ton of winning teams but individually as a passer, he led the NFL in passing yards five times during the decade.
4) Bart Starr: Green Bay Packers
Stats for the Decade: 81–32–4 QB Record, 58.9% Cmp., 125 TD, 90 INT, 19,126 Passing Yards, 87.7 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 5x NFL Champion, 2x Super-Bowl Champion, 2x Super-Bowl MVP, 1x MVP, 4x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
Starr is the Bob Griese of his era. An above-average, Hall of Fame “Game Manager”. I mean that as a compliment. Starr was a master at calling the game from the line of scrimmage and was extremely accurate and clutch when his team needed him to be. He won 2 Super-Bowl MVPs in 2 Appearances and he rode his playoff runs and clutch play into the Hall of Fame.
3) Len Dawson: Cleveland Browns & Kansas City Chiefs
Stats for the Decade: 66–32–4 QB Record, 56.7% Cmp., 19,007 Passing Yards, 183 TD, 120 INT, 87.2 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 6x Pro-Bowler, 2x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
Many want to anoint Patrick Mahomes the best Quarterback in Chiefs history but the truth is, that title belongs to Len Dawson. Dawson led the Chiefs to their first Super-Bowl win and was one of the most statistically prolific Quarterbacks of the decade. He had style too and was a “cool” QB with swag. He had a propensity for smoking cigarettes while sitting on the sidelines during a game, he then would go back out on the field and throw touchdown passes. Now that’s BADASS!
2) Joe Namath: New York Jets
Stats for the Decade: 37–23–4 QB Record, 50.2% Cmp., 15,487 Passing Yards, 97 TD, 104 INT, 70.1 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 1x Super-Bowl Champion, 1x Super-Bowl MVP, 4x Pro-Bowler, 1x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
If Len Dawson was the Prince of swag during the 60’s Joe Namath was the King. Joe Namath was the “chosen one” during the ’60s and a box office draw for football. He was one of the most important and popular players of his era. On those things alone and the fact that he put money and fans in seats warrants his spot this high on the list.
People underrate Namath because of his inconsistent stats but the fact is he was much more important to the game than just the “box-score”. Namath’s biggest contribution came when he guaranteed the Jets win in Super-Bowl III. Namath lived up to his promise and delivered the New York Jets their first and only Super-Bowl win.
Namath’s masterful game-winning MVP performance in the Super-Bowl played a huge part in the NFL and AFL merging. It was thought the AFL was years away from being competitive with the NFL. Namath and the Jets pulled off the biggest upset in NFL History and proved the theory wrong. Namath has a case for being Number one on this list.
1) Johnny Unitas: Baltimore Colts
Stats for the Decade: 76–39–3 QB Record, 55.3% Cmp., 26,548 Passing Yards, 182 TD, 165 INT, 79.0 Rate
Accolades/Awards for the Decade: 2x MVP, 7x Pro-Bowler, 3x All-Pro
The Breakdown:
Although Unitas wasn’t able to win a Super-Bowl until the 1970 Season, he is best remembered for his work in the ’60s. Unitas was the Peyton Manning of his era. A master at the line of scrimmage and one of the best regular-season Quarterbacks this league has ever seen. Had he not been injured during Super-Bowl 3 maybe history would be different and Joe Namath doesn’t live up to his “Guarantee”. As it stands he was the gold standard for statistical excellence and masterful play calling at the line of scrimmage.
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