Joe Montana weighs in: The “best” quarterback in NFL history is not Tom Brady

When it comes to the debate over the greatest quarterback in NFL history, the name Joe Montana often finds its way to the top.

However, in a surprising revelation, the Hall of Famer himself believes that while he and Tom Brady may be in contention for the title of the “greatest”, the distinction of the “best” quarterback belongs to Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino.

Distinction between “greatest” and “best”

Joe Montana, a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most iconic quarterbacks in NFL history, understands the difference between being the “greatest” and the “best.”

While Montana has long been celebrated as one of the greatest quarterbacks based on career achievements, he believes the title of “best” quarterback, reflecting individual talent, belongs to Dan Marino.

“Even though I bested Marino at Super Bowl XIX,” Montana explained, “Marino’s exceptional talents make him my choice for the best quarterback of all time.”

Montana’s endorsement of Marino as the best quarterback is grounded in admiration for Marino’s unparalleled skills.

Marino’s quick release and impeccable accuracy left a lasting impact on the game. Montana remarked, “He had a quick release. I had to step into a lot of things to get enough force on the ball. He had the perfect torque of his upper body and strength to deliver the ball quickly with accuracy.”

Furthermore, Montana emphasized that Marino’s achievements are often overlooked. Playing in an era when defenses could target quarterbacks without restraint, Marino amassed impressive numbers. Montana suggested that if Marino were playing today, with modern rules favoring passing offenses and larger receivers, he could have achieved even more.

“Put Marino into today’s game where he gets free release … and his receivers, holy cow, weren’t very big,”Montana declared.

He went even further in his praise for the Dolphins legend by saying: “I think [Marino] is probably one of the most unsung heroes of the game. People don’t talk enough about him or realize the numbers that he put up during the times that he put them up.”

Who’s the best quarterback now?

Joe Montana acknowledges that his status as one of the top 3 greatest quarterbacks may not last forever. The consensus in recent years has leaned toward Tom Brady being the top, but Montana remains skeptical that will last for long.

Instead, he believes that the quarterback closest to the conversation is “by far”Patrick Mahomes.

“The things he does and is able to do are so different than what any other quarterback does who’s out there,” Montana commented.