Patrick Mahomes (2017-Present) has been the Face of the League dating back to his first Super Bowl win over the 49ers in 2020. He has absolutely dominated the league and has been a total headache for defensive coordinators for years. The star Quarterback’s ability to make off schedule throws, extend the play and his quiet but impossible to defend mobility makes him a problem that no defense has solved yet.

Appearing in 4 of the 6 Super Bowls possible as a starter Mahomes has accompanied this incredible stat with 28,424 passing yards, 219 touchdowns (not counting rushing) and 63 INT’s. With a career rating of 103.5, the only question on everyone’s mind is can he keep it up?

My answer is yes, Mahomes has answered every narrative of making it back to the Super Bowl this year without incredible weapons, he did it without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and winning his first two road playoff game in hostile environments (BUF, BAL). With all that being said let’s look at the current GOAT and some other guys Mahomes needs to climb in order to get there.

The Case for Tom Brady

Anytime the GOAT conversation comes up it would be a disservice not to mention Tom Brady who is the consensus GOAT. He has nearly every positive record in the books and is going to keep those for a while. The highest passing yards in NFL history with 89,214, the most touchdowns in history with 649 and let’s not forget 7 Super Bowl rings.

Long story short, the former New England Patriot and Tampa Bay Buccaneer has done it all after starting his career off as a 6th round draft pick. Brady made an impact on football and football fans all around the world for decades terrorizing the league similar to how Mahomes has.

The Case for Peyton Manning

At the time of his retirement Manning held all of the most important records with the passing record (71,940) and the touchdown record (539). This was Brady’s biggest rival with them trading Super Bowl appearances what felt like every year. Many have compared Mahomes and Burrow to them, Manning went 2-2 in the four Super Bowl appearances losing in Super Bowl XLIV 31-17 and Super Bowl XLVII 43-8. On the other hand, he delivered in Super Bowl XLI winning 29-17. His final Super Bowl win came in Super Bowl 50 winning 24-10 and riding off into the sunset.

The Case for Jerry Rice

WR Jerry Rice (1985-2004) the best WR in NFL history had an incredible career catching 1549 balls, 22,895 receiving yards and 197 touchdowns. Making 13 pro bowls and 11 first team all pro teams is one of the most impressive resumes in league history.

Having Joe Montana and Steve Young as his quarterbacks definitely helped his case but doesn’t deny the insane talent Rice possessed. The 6’2 wideout won 3 Super Bowls and a Super Bowl MVP. Keep in mind Mahomes has a chance to get 3 rings with a win over the 49ers in the last game of the 23-24 NFL season.

The Case for Joe Montana

Along with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, these 3 QB’s are looked as at the best to ever play. 40,551 passing yards and 273 passing touchdowns is absolutely nothing to scoff at. 8 Pro Bowl selections, 3 first team all pro selections and 4 Super Bowl rings is what Montana accomplished during the 49ers dynasty. Montana while being a great Quarterback did have an incredible WR in Jerry Rice.

All in all, Mahomes is playing the best football we’ve ever seen a player play. Now the question is: Can he do it for as long as these greats listed above did? We’ll just have to find out after his date with the 49ers in SB LVIII.

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There is also the factor of championships that clouds this conversation. It’s a difficult balance to keep; on one hand, great quarterbacks often lead their teams to championships; on the other hand, individuals don’t win championships. Winning a championship is the job of a team. To determine who the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history are, all the elements that make up a career need to be properly contextualized, free of any recency bias, raw number worship, or blind adherence to championship wins.

10. Joe Montana

Joe Montana won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers dynasty of the 1980s. His efficiency as a passer was unmatched by any other quarterback of his era. He led the NFL in completion percentage five times, including in 1989 at 70.2% through 13 games, an incredible accomplishment in an era far less quarterback-friendly than the league is today.

Montana is also one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, constantly coming up big in moments when the 49ers needed it. He played a major role in the emergence of one of the league’s all-time greatest players, Jerry Rice, and the tandem became one of the most potent QB-WR pairs the league has ever seen.

9. Aaron Rodgers

Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He routinely makes throws that would be impossible for the vast majority of quarterbacks who have ever played. His ability to read defenses is also one of his greatest assets. Six times he has led the league in interception percentage index, an important diagnostic tool for making sense out of raw numbers.

The Green Bay Packers have routinely been contenders since Rodgers took over at the helm, leading generally more successful teams than his predecessor Brett Favre did. This speaks to his ability to adjust to a new situation. Throughout his career, he’s helped develop Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and Davante Adams.

8. Drew Brees

In the history of the NFL, there’s been only one quarterback who has helped to redefine the definition of airing it out more than Drew Brees. Four times he threw for over 5,000 passing yards in a regular season. What’s more, five times he completed over 70% of his passes in a regular season. This helped the New Orleans Saints become a perennial contender in the NFC.

Brees led the NFL in yards gained per game played six times, with a high of 342.3 in 2011, and led the Saints to a Super Bowl win to cap off the 2009 season against the Indianapolis Colts. Few players have done more to raise the standing of a franchise in the national sports conversation than he did for the Saints.

7. Sid Luckman

Sid Luckman was coined “the first great T-formation quarterback” by sportswriter Ira Berkow and is still recognized today for his ability to innovate in the passing game. The offensive leader of four Chicago Bears NFL championship teams was proficient in a way no other quarterback was at that particular time. In 1943, an incredible 13.9% of his pass attempts went for touchdowns.

Luckman is also remarkable for reasons aside from his playing career, being one of the most prominent Jewish athletes of all time, and playing during World War II while also being a member of the United States Merchant Marines. He is still tied for the most touchdown passes thrown in a game with seven, being the first quarterback in the NFL to accomplish this.

6. Otto Graham

Incredibly, Otto Graham was the leader of seven Cleveland Browns championship teams in his ten seasons. Four of these came in the AAFC before the franchise entered the NFL, a league they held a complete, undisputed dominance over. These teams also featured the great Marion Motley and were coached by the team’s namesake, Paul Brown.

With seven championships, Graham is tied with Tom Brady as the most decorated quarterback in the history of professional football. He also put up completion percentages over 60% twice in an era with absolutely no pity for offensive play, which is easily the equal of a 70% completion mark under today’s rules.

5. Roger Staubach

Captain America, in many ways, was the prototype for the contemporary scrambling quarterback. Leading the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl wins along the way, Roger Staubach lit up the NFL highlight reel with his elusive style of play which was unlike anything the league had ever seen at that particular time.

Staubach led the NFL in adjusted net yards per attempt four times and in passing rating index five times, with a high of 144 in the 1971 season. But what he’s remembered for more than anything else is being the leader of “America’s Team” whose style of play never knew a game was out of reach while the football was in his team’s possession.

4. Tom Brady

Tom Brady is the greatest of all time, right? We’ve heard it all a million times over. Pump the brakes. Those seven Super Bowls could easily have been two or three without Bill Belichick’s defenses. Nevertheless, Brady’s unmatched longevity and untouchable records are worth noting in and of themselves. He’ll likely be the only member of the 600-touchdown club to ever exist.

No one knows when Brady will finally call it a career, but considering 2021 was the first season he threw for over 5,000 yards, it’s possible he continues to play even after the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season comes to an end. He’s been one of the inevitable facts of life, along with death and taxes, for over 20 years.

3. Johnny Unitas

The great Johnny U had physical abilities unmatched by any quarterback of his era. He led the NFL in passing touchdowns in four consecutive seasons from 1957-1960. This allowed the Baltimore Colts to win three NFL championships, including a Super Bowl win against the Dallas Cowboys to cap off the 1970 season.

Johnny Unitas remains one of the most familiar household names among NFL players 50 years since his retirement. That’s a testament to just how he reimagined the possibilities of the quarterback position. The three-time MVP is one of the most complete passers in the history of the NFL, going for over 3,000 passing yards in a season several times in an era when that wasn’t an easy thing to do.

2. Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning is the greatest passer in the history of the NFL and it isn’t even remotely close. With the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, he was routinely above all other quarterbacks in the league. His 2013 season of 55 passing touchdowns still hasn’t been broken, even with the additional game added to the schedule in 2021.

Manning is the NFL’s only five-time MVP, a mark that likely stands for the foreseeable future. His game IQ is what sets him apart from his contemporaries, including his pocket presence, which was second to none. Despite being a non-scrambling quarterback, he led the NFL in sack percentage index six times, which lends itself to more than just having a good offensive line.

1. Sammy Baugh

Not only is Sammy Baugh the NFL’s all-time greatest quarterback, he’s arguably its all-time greatest player. No quarterback has ever had the efficiency of Baugh, let alone been able to lead the league in defensive interceptions (11 in 1943) while also being the league’s greatest punter. Simply put, he’s an unmatched figure in the history of the league.

Slingin’ Sammy forced the issue at the quarterback position at a time when that wasn’t generally done, and it paid off. He led the NFL in completion percentage index eight times and interception percentage index five times. In 1945, in ten games, he reached the 70.3% mark, which is nearly impossible to fathom. That number reasonably goes for at least 80% governed by the rules of today’s league. Simply unbelievable.

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By: Andy Davies

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Only the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers (both 6) have more Super Bowl wins than the 49ers (5). The 49ers’ five Super Bowls all came between the years of 1981 and 1994. They have lost two since, in the 2012 and 2019 seasons. The quarterbacks that led the 49ers to the Lombardi Trophy were Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young. Three of those five wins saw Montana as the starter and Young as the backup.

Young is seen by many as the best backup quarterback in history, considering the gold jacket that he earned despite many years as the backup to Montana. He would win a Super Bowl as the starter after the franchise moved on from Montana. Ever since Young decided to hang up his cleats, the 49ers have struggled to find his replacement. Have they found the guy in Trey Lance?

Perhaps, but here is why the quarterback situation involving Lance and current starter Jimmy Garoppolo could prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West during the 2021 season.

Struggles Since Young

Jeff Garcia was the man to come in for Young. During his five seasons in the Bay, he threw for 113 touchdowns and 56 interceptions as well as 16,408 passing yards. He had a 35-36 record as a starter for the 49ers in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the postseason, meaning he never hit the heights of his predecessor.

Alex Smith was the number one overall pick in 2005, shattering Aaron Rodgers’ dreams. However, he was a good quarterback, not a great quarterback. Colin Kaepernick replaced Smith and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They ended up losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a game often called the ”˜Blackout Bowl’. Kaepernick failed to live up to the standards he set that season.

He would be kicked out of the league for taking the knee in a protest against police brutality in 2016. He has not played a snap in the NFL since. Jimmy Garoppolo was traded from the Patriots to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. He gave hope to the organization after winning all five of the games he started in 2017. The fanbase had hope going into the 2018 season.

Many non-49ers fans had San Francisco down as their dark horse for the season. A season-ending injury to Garoppolo in Week 3 saw the starting role shared between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. However, the 49ers finished 4-12 as they went into 2019 with the second overall pick. Nick Bosa was selected and transformed the defense of San Francisco and Jimmy G had the best season of his career. He threw for 3,978 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Despite these stats, Garoppolo saw his production limited in the NFC Championship game as the coaching staff decided to use more of their running game. This led to many questions leading to the Super Bowl. The 49ers threw away a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter as they would end up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54.

Garoppolo was criticized heavily for an overthrown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that would have given San Francisco back the lead. His 2020 season saw a mixture of poor form and injury. During the 2021 offseason, the 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins to gain the number three overall pick. They took Lance with the pick, showcasing their intentions to eventually move off from Garoppolo. There is now talk of whether San Francisco and head coach Kyle Shanahan will start Lance in week one. The other scenarios discussed are either Lance coming in mid-season or sitting out the whole campaign as the backup to Garoppolo. The uncertainty will have a significant impact on the 49ers’ season.

The Strength of the NFC West

This is a problem that will affect all four teams in the best division in the NFL. There is a chance that all four teams can make the playoffs. Los Angeles has an exciting new quarterback in 2009 first overall pick Matthew Stafford. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray that they would never dream of trading away. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ starting quarterback is largely unpopular by fans, due to a mixture of the overthrown pass in the Super Bowl, his poor 2020 campaign and his injury record.

San Francisco has the least trusted quarterback in the division. With the position being one of the most crucial in all sports, it does not bode well for a team when there is uncertainty in the position. Garoppolo may be benched at some point during the season for Lance. However, the 49ers would be putting a rookie that will still be learning the system into the toughest division in the NFL.

Learning From Mahomes, Jackson, Tua and Burrow

If San Francisco are to help Lance succeed, they will need to take some lessons from recent draft classes. Patrick Mahomes, widely seen as the best quarterback in the league, spent all but one game of his 2017 rookie season as a backup to Alex Smith. The Chiefs then traded Smith the following offseason and Mahomes has never looked back. In his first three full seasons as a starter in the NFL, he has reached two Super Bowls, winning one. He has also been crowned MVP and Super Bowl MVP and reached three successive AFC Championship games. All three have been at home. On the flip side, 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow started in week one of his rookie year. He wouldn’t last the season, only playing ten games before injury curtailed his first NFL campaign. He was impressive before his injury but there are no guarantees he will be the same player when he returns.

Lamar Jackson was a backup to Joe Flacco during his 2018 rookie year but won the starting role midseason. He has since gone on to win an MVP award and is the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins brought Tua Tagovailoa in mid-season but he struggled in his rookie season. He is seen to already be on the hot seat, with many feeling the Dolphins rushed him in. These examples all show there are reasons for the 49ers to be hasty when it comes to choosing when to bring Lance into the starting role.

Lance Or Garoppolo In 2021?

The 49ers will have to decide soon who their starter will be in 2021. Considering Lance has only played one full season (2019), he is likely to start the season as the backup. He only threw for a combined total of 31 passing attempts, two touchdowns and 1 interception across the 2018 and 2020 seasons, albeit the latter campaign being disrupted by the pandemic. He is likely to be a work in progress but his 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in 2019 mean that he is one for the future.

Garoppolo will likely start in week one but it was clear from the NFC Championship game that Shanahan doesn’t completely trust him.

Jimmy G is a capable quarterback but his health is a concern. Expect Garoppolo to remain as the starter provided the 49ers are winning games but for Lance to come in should Garoppolo either be injured or start the season poorly.

Should this happen, this will be the end of Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco. Depending on timing, he will then be traded either before the deadline or in the 2022 offseason.

Can The 49ers Returning Players Avoid A Repeat Of 2020?

This is key if the 49ers are to challenge for both the NFC West and the NFC. After earning the number one seed and reaching Super Bowl 54 during the 2019 campaign, San Francisco finished 6-10 in 2020 and bottom of the division. A ”˜Super Bowl Hangover’ played its part but the main cause of such a decline was down to a colossal amount of injuries the team suffered. Along with the aforementioned Garoppolo, the 49ers also saw Bosa, Dee Ford, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Solomon Thomas miss large chunks of the 2020 season due to injury.

San Francisco had 33 players reported questionable and there were 186 occasions when the 49ers reported a player on injured reserve. They had the second-most injuries of any team in the NFL over the past twenty years. Should all these players come back, then this 49ers roster will be one of the best in the league. This will make life much easier for whoever the San Francisco starting quarterback is.

However, from the strength of the division to the uncertainty at quarterback, San Francisco will find it tough to win the NFC West.

The post Why the QB situation may prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

Joe Montana and Troy Aikman are two of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. They are both in the Hall of Fame and are widely considered to be in the top ten QBs of all time. Their list of accomplishments are both extremely impressive and they will always be remembered in NFL history. The question here is about which of these two legends should be ranked higher on the all-time list. Let’s compare their careers to make a determination.

The Case for Joe Montana

As the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers mostly in the 1980s and early 1990s, Montana put together one of the most impressive careers ever. He won four Super Bowls, which is the second-most for any quarterback in history, and won the Super Bowl MVP in three of those four victories. He won the regular season MVP twice and was selected to the All-Pro team five times, including three on the first team and two on the second team. He was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times and was clearly the best quarterback of his time.

In addition to all of the winning, he also filled up the stat sheet. He was the NFL leader in passing touchdowns twice and completion percentage five times. He finished his career with 40,551 passing yards and 273 touchdown passes. At the time of his retirement, he was considered by many to be the greatest quarterback to ever play the game because of the way he dominated the league. He was ahead of his time and revolutionized the passing game in the NFL.

The Case for Troy Aikman

Similar to Montana, the career of Aikman was also one that was defined by winning. He was the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys for the entire decade of the 1990s, and two additional years after, where he found a ton of success. He won three Super Bowls and was awarded the MVP of the game in one of them. He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times and was among the best quarterbacks in the NFL for every season that he played.

It was a relatively short career for Aikman and one that can be considered quality over quantity. He did not compile a ton of stats but still does rank in the top 50 in just about every passing category. His leadership, which is something that can’t be measured, was one of the best of all time. The Cowboys really dominated the NFL in the 90s and Aikman was a huge reason why.

The Verdict

The Aikman Cowboys and Montana 49ers are considered two of the best teams in the history of the NFL and for good reason. They both dominated their competition in the era they played in, and the quarterback play was a major contributor. Both QBs have a long list of accomplishments, but when comparing the careers as a whole side by side, it’s safe to say that Montana deserves to be ranked higher on the all-time list. He was statistically better for his career, won more individual awards, and an extra Super Bowl.

Aikman is probably in the top ten of all time, but Montana is easily in the top five and can be ranked as high as number two. The fact that Aikman never won a regular-season MVP hurts his case, while Montana was clearly the best quarterback of his era. Though he retired a long time ago, there have still been very few quarterbacks that are even in the same conversation as Montana. This is even more impressive considering the way the game has evolved more and more towards featuring the quarterback, and it’s reasonable to believe that he would be even better in the style of game played today. Aikman is definitely a legend, but he’s just not quite on the same level as Montana.

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