If Drew Brees wins the Super Bowl this year, is he the greatest NFL QB ever?

I think Brady, Marino, Elway and Montana should be in one bucket. If I had to pick one, probably Marino. I put Manning and Brees in another bucket below them. lots of stats, domed stadiums, but not as much to show for it.

And then there are old timers like Unitas we should not forget about, though the further back in time you go, the more difficult the comparisons from eras are.

Depends on how it's measured, of course. The greatest player at any one position on a team sport, by definition, depends on other players/teammates. As such, I think those who count division, conference, or championship titles are not answering the question about who is the greatest at a given position - they're answering who is the greatest a that position on good or great teams. Brady is the best qb on the best team of his era, but that doesn't asnwer the question you asked. I don't think team titles or Super Bowl MVPs determine who's the best at a given position. Barry Sanders was the best back I ever saw, and statistically, the best ever I would say, but he never was on a team good enough to win a Super Bowl.

So, as Aikman points out, accuracy as a qb is #1, and Brees has that in spades. Last I knew of, he had something like 3/4 of the best seasons ever (70% or more completion rate!), so that along with his other stats, and the teams he has been on with them, make me think he's the best qb ever. That doesn't depend on him winning this or any Super Bowl.

He's not even the best Saints QB of all time

Ummmm..... ever heard of Y. A. Tittle?

Brees might be the most accurate QB of all time by completion %, but I don't think there's any question Brady is greater. Brees has the advantage of a dome, but has not statistically matched Brady in the more important stat where there is clear separation (avoiding INTs). Brady puts up points at the same/higher rate than Brees overall in a cold-weather city, while taking care of the ball better. If you don't think that's a huge part of Pats winning (a QB who gives long fields to the opposition, and puts the defense in position to succeed) you haven't been following NE very closely.

Tom Brady career Interception Rate is 1.8%. If you narrowed to his prime '07-'16, the number would be in the low 1s. Meanwhile for Brees, his career number is 2.4% and in his prime '06-'16, he was never under 1.8 and was 2% or higher 9 of 11 seasons. Payton has wisely shifted to a run-heavy attack of late and minimized the throws he has to make the last couple years.

Joe Namath's career stats are pretty sorry - 173 TDs versus 220 INTs. The guy should not be in the Hall of Fame.

Not by a long shot. Although I hate to admit it, no other contemporary QB can hold a candle to Tom Brady.

Suppose your team was down by 6 in a championship game, the ball is on your 10 and there are 3 minutes remaining. Who would you want as qb?

I would go with Brady, Montana, Elway, or even Rodgers over Brees.

Yes, incredible stats, his coach didn’t cheat like Bill B, and brees is only like 6’0 and can barely see over the o line

scenario1 wrote:

Suppose your team was down by 6 in a championship game, the ball is on your 10 and there are 3 minutes remaining. Who would you want as qb?

I would go with Brady, Montana, Elway, or even Rodgers over Brees.

Hmmmm.... I would go with Joe Namath. Rodgers hasn't done squat.

mfrank wrote:

So, as Aikman points out, accuracy as a qb is #1, and Brees has that in spades.... make me think he's the best qb ever. That doesn't depend on him winning this or any Super Bowl.

Tom Brady thinks that winning is the #1 measure of a quarterback.

For Some Reason wrote:

Brees piled up a lot of his yardage in the fourth quarter of games the Saints were losing badly.

He may be the best human being among the top QBs but Manning, Brady, Montana, Staubach and Steve Young were all better on the field.

They won 125 out of 208 regular season games since 2006, when he joined (60%). Worst team record over the period is 7-9. It's just been a team setup to pass first - coincidentally his worst statistical seasons have been 2006, 2011 and 2018 when they managed to get the running game properly.

So clueless For Some Reason....

I think it’s impossible to compare QBs from different eras with the changes in defensive rules.

Alan

I seem to recall Bountygate. You may say it was contrived and it very well may have been, and I will say the same thing about Deflategate. The Spygate thing was a brief violation of a league memo.

I think Tom Brady is almost indisputably the GOAT as he has had a historically dominant career along with stats almost in line with Brees, Manning etc. However, the difference in ability between the two is way way smaller than it looks based on career success. If you put Brady on the Saints for the past decade I seriously doubt they would have had much, if any more success than they've had. Especially if you consider intangibles as Brees has been a leader for the Saints in a way that I don't think Brady could be. Also, even the years where the Saints weren't great (7-9 seasons), their offense always was and their defense was terrible.

No, he won't exceed Brady and Manning.

But I have a follow up question:

Will he retire if he wins?

Go out on top before his skills diminish.

If so, I can see Nick Foles stepping in next for the Saints.

Star wrote:

No, he won't exceed Brady and Manning.

But I have a follow up question:

Will he retire if he wins?

Go out on top before his skills diminish.

If so, I can see Nick Foles stepping in next for the Saints.

Apart from the CAP space they dont have.... they have already Bridgewater (for now at least) & Taysom Hill.

3hr-marathoner wrote:

...Tom Brady thinks that winning is the #1 measure of a quarterback.

But, as I also said, who's the greatest "depends on how it's measured, of course." Winning is the measure of a team in a team sport, by definition. For forming or having an opinion on the greatest player at a given position, he or you or anyone else can setup your own criteria how ever you want. But that won't necessarily convince others, and I am unconvinced that winning is the only or best measure of who is the greatest in a team sport.