30 greatest NFL QBs of all time: Where does Patrick Mahomes rank now?

We’ve made it. This is the top ten quarterbacks in the history of this sport. Here, only the best of the best can take any claim to these spots. There is only one active quarterback left on the list, and he’s the namesake of the article. First, let’s look at the greatest quarterback for the most popular team in the NFL. Roger Staubach doesn’t have the stats as some others on this list. His 22,700 career yards ranks 97th on the all-time list. He’s behind Neil Lomax and Andrew Luck on the list.

However, Staubach didn’t get into the league until he was 27 years old. He served his country in the Navy, including a tour in Vietnam as a Supply Corps officer. The Cowboys drafted Staubach knowing they’d have to wait for him, and it took five years after he was taken in the 10th round that he’d play his first snap in Dallas.

Tom Landry was non-commital to Staubach at first, playing Craig Morton at QB for most of his first two years in Dallas. Then, Staubach took the reigns and never gave them back in 1971. Once he became the starter that season, he won all ten games and went on to come in second for MVP. That season, he won the Cowboys their first Super Bowl with a commanding victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Staubach went on to win another Super Bowl with the Cowboys in 1977, another dominant win this time against the Denver Broncos. He appeared in two other Super Bowls, both losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Without Staubach, the Cowboys likely never gain the insane popularity they have today. With Staubach at the helm, the Cowboys became the catalyst for winning that lasted for decades. While Staubach’s career only lasted 11 seasons, it was as impactful as anyone’s on this list.