Where does Brees rank all-time?

jarens

Redshirt
Jul 1, 2010
106
18
0
Brees surpassed Favre for the career pass completions record this past weekend, and it's got me wondering where he fits in the QB discussion of all-time rankings. It's pretty eye-opening to see where he sits in his career:

Completions- 1st
Yards- 3rd
Touchdowns- 3rd
Passer Rating- 4th
Completion Percentage- 1st

From a purely statistical standpoint, Brees could be considered the best ever. But I'm not sure he'll crack the Top 10 when all is said and done. Is he underrated, or a stat-sheet stuffer?
 

NorthWillRiseAgain

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2004
8,760
4,757
113
Brees surpassed Favre for the career pass completions record this past weekend, and it's got me wondering where he fits in the QB discussion of all-time rankings. It's pretty eye-opening to see where he sits in his career:

Completions- 1st
Yards- 3rd
Touchdowns- 3rd
Passer Rating- 4th
Completion Percentage- 1st

From a purely statistical standpoint, Brees could be considered the best ever. But I'm not sure he'll crack the Top 10 when all is said and done. Is he underrated, or a stat-sheet stuffer?
A bit of both. He’s a top 10 career guy, but he also has a lot of stats late in some games their defense folded.
 
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SoFL Husker

All-Conference
Sep 16, 2017
8,101
3,691
0
Top 5 all-time.

I think Brady, Elway, and Montana are better. Probably Marino.

Never was a big Peyton Manning fan, but both he and Brees could be called a tie at 5? Both indoor Qbs. Stat machines.
 

SoFL Husker

All-Conference
Sep 16, 2017
8,101
3,691
0
Brees surpassed Favre for the career pass completions record this past weekend, and it's got me wondering where he fits in the QB discussion of all-time rankings. It's pretty eye-opening to see where he sits in his career:

Completions- 1st
Yards- 3rd
Touchdowns- 3rd
Passer Rating- 4th
Completion Percentage- 1st

From a purely statistical standpoint, Brees could be considered the best ever. But I'm not sure he'll crack the Top 10 when all is said and done. Is he underrated, or a stat-sheet stuffer?

Waiting for a Senior Citizen to bring up Sonny Jerguson, Johnny Unitas and Otto Graham.
 

19Football19

All-Conference
Dec 2, 2015
2,495
1,034
65
Brees surpassed Favre for the career pass completions record this past weekend, and it's got me wondering where he fits in the QB discussion of all-time rankings. It's pretty eye-opening to see where he sits in his career:

Completions- 1st
Yards- 3rd
Touchdowns- 3rd
Passer Rating- 4th
Completion Percentage- 1st

From a purely statistical standpoint, Brees could be considered the best ever. But I'm not sure he'll crack the Top 10 when all is said and done. Is he underrated, or a stat-sheet stuffer?

Imagine his stats under Bill in New England. Would be scary!! Quick slants - no one touches Brees, touch pass to the RB, etc.
 

Huskerwisdom

Senior
Jun 26, 2001
15,548
655
0
Top 5 all-time.

I think Brady, Elway, and Montana are better. Probably Marino.

Never was a big Peyton Manning fan, but both he and Brees could be called a tie at 5? Both indoor Qbs. Stat machines.

really need to just split things up by era -- this Marino and Montana are older, but back in the day and before then it was MUCH harder to put together the kind of passing attacks we see today. QB's were fair game, and with bump and run coverage and blocking rules that didn't allow holding, passing was a much more difficult thing.

What about Brocklin, Tittle, Dawson, Jurgenson, Luckman, Baugh, Graham, Starr? Unitas is as dominant as any and deserves to be mentioned in the top 5, definitely.

How good could have Aikman been in this era (and without a team that could smash teams with the running game?) - similarly guys like Bradshaw whose offense had other options, but if he had today's game would have put up huge yardage,

Can you imagine a guy like Fouts in today's world? Tarkenton with a bit of zone read? Steve Young with the zone read?


I put Brees pretty high, but the NFL is all about this year and last year and people struggle to remember the past. Think about Unitas - 3 time MVP, 3 titles, 10 time pro bowler... I don't think anyone even mentioned him on this list
 

jarens

Redshirt
Jul 1, 2010
106
18
0
really need to just split things up by era -- this Marino and Montana are older, but back in the day and before then it was MUCH harder to put together the kind of passing attacks we see today. QB's were fair game, and with bump and run coverage and blocking rules that didn't allow holding, passing was a much more difficult thing.

Top 5 all-time.

I think Brady, Elway, and Montana are better. Probably Marino.

Never was a big Peyton Manning fan, but both he and Brees could be called a tie at 5? Both indoor Qbs. Stat machines.

Even in the modern era (last 20 years or so), I don't think I'd even have Brees in my Top 5, which is crazy, given his career statistics. I'd take Brady, Manning, Favre, Rodgers and Roethlisberger before him. Bottom line: who do I want under center when trying to win a game?
 
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TheBeav815

All-American
Feb 19, 2007
18,955
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Brees makes your "All-Underrated" team for sure. The numbers don't lie, the guy can flat out sling it. He had some pretty awful teams around him a lot of those years.
 

jedimasterjed

All-Conference
Feb 14, 2013
5,895
4,474
113
It's hard to use statistics as comparisons due to how the game rules have changed so here is my top 10.
1. Joe Montana
2. John Elway
3. Tom Brady
4 Terry Bradshaw
5. Johnny Unitas
6 Roger Staubach
7 Peyton Manning
8 Steve Young
9. Drew Brees
10 Fran Tarkington
 

Solana Beach Husker

All-Conference
Aug 7, 2008
14,102
1,245
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Top 5 all-time.

I think Brady, Elway, and Montana are better. Probably Marino.

Never was a big Peyton Manning fan, but both he and Brees could be called a tie at 5? Both indoor Qbs. Stat machines.

Great point about indoor settings and turf. Another reason Brady is by far the best...played in the northeast, most of his most memorable games came in the cold, sometimes snow. And his entire division has crappy fields and/or weather....a vast majority of his games were played in less than ideal situations. This is why I would make Favre higher. Playing in a place that SHOULD have a dome SHOULD get you points.
 

TheNewNU_rivals50820

All-Conference
Dec 27, 2014
4,513
2,760
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Great point about indoor settings and turf. Another reason Brady is by far the best...played in the northeast, most of his most memorable games came in the cold, sometimes snow. And his entire division has crappy fields and/or weather....a vast majority of his games were played in less than ideal situations. This is why I would make Favre higher. Playing in a place that SHOULD have a dome SHOULD get you points.
Brady also plays in a historically weak division with 3 horribly run organizations and he has the greatest coach ever and the most well run organization ever. He's still one of if not the best ever but dont pretend he has a tough road to the playoffs every year because its not true.
 

DaddyBoi

Junior
Sep 1, 2018
285
379
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Honestly he’s barely top 5 of current qbs in my opinion. Never seen the guy carry his team through the playoffs like Brady, Manning, or Elway.
 
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