20 best quarterback seasons in NFL history

7. Terry Bradshaw, Steelers (1978)

Terry Bradshaw was the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a franchise that had been to one playoff game in its first 39 years of existence.

The former Louisiana Tech product struggled through a miserable rookie campaign and was in and out of the starting lineup as late as 1974. But later that year, he and the Steelers got hot down the stretch and the team won the first of back-to-back championships.

Those Pittsburgh teams relied on a running game as well as one of the great defensive units of any era. However, the league was beginning to transition to opening up the offenses and in particular the passing game.

Head coach Chuck Noll and the strong-armed Bradshaw were in an ideal situation. Wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were beginning their fifth seasons, and both were entering their primes. The Steelers used their passing attack to make life easier for Harris and the running game.

In his ninth year in the league, Bradshaw led the NFL with a career-best 28 TD passes with 20 interceptions. The team finished 14-2 and marched into the playoffs. They made easy work of the defending AFC champion Broncos (33-10) and out splashed the Oilers (34-5) in the conference championship game.

Then came Super Bowl XIII against the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys. Amazingly, Bradshaw came up with his first career 300-yard passing game (318). The 1978 NFL MVP was also this game’s Most Valuable Player as Pittsburgh prevailed, 35-31.