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There have been several great quarterbacks throughout the history of the NFL. Most QBs have had their share of highlight moments, dream seasons, and dominant performances.
This is the first installment of every NFL team's best quarterback by division, starting with the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills Best Quarterback: Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly did not want to play for the Buffalo Bills when they took him in the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. Kelly joined the Houston Gamblers in the fledgling USFL, where he played his first two seasons and was named USFL MVP in 1984 before joining the Bills in 1986. From 1987 to 1995, Kelly was a perennial top-5 quarterback in major passing statistics and overall efficiency. His 18 fourth-quarter comebacks over that stretch rank second only to Dan Marino, the greatest quarterback in Miami Dolphins history.
Kelly has accomplished something that no other NFL quarterback has ever done: He led his team to four consecutive Super Bowls. The fact that the Bills fell short each time resulted in Kelly not receiving all the respect he deserves when great quarterbacks are discussed. He spent 11 seasons in Buffalo and is the Bills' all-time leader in yards, touchdown passes and quarterback rating. The Bills won six straight AFC East titles under Kelly's leadership. Kelly excelled in the no-huddle or "K-Gun" offense, which allowed the Bills to stay ahead of most defenses. Kelly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino
No quarterback in Miami Dolphins history comes close to the great Dan Marino, at least statistically. Many football fans say few quarterbacks in NFL history have matched the excellence of the former University of Pittsburgh star, who spent his entire 17-year NFL career all in Miami. Marino had perhaps the greatest throwing arm in NFL history and retired with more than 40 NFL single-season and career passing records.
Marino threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, an NFL record until Brett Favre broke it. The only major knock against Marino is that he never led the Dolphins to a Super Bowl victory.
But he did get the Dolphins to the Big Game in 1984, when he threw for a then-record 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
Was there any other answer? Tom Brady won 6 Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots before winning a seventh for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has NFL records in nearly every major counting statistic.
He has started more Super Bowls than any quarterback in NFL history and his 7 Super Bowl wins are the most by any player in NFL history. Brady was a throwaway sixth-round pick by New England in the 2000 NFL Draft who became arguably the greatest player in NFL history.
New York Jets: Joe Namath
There is no question who the greatest quarterback in New York Jets history is, and that man is Joe Namath. Namath had one of the strongest arms in NFL history, a lightning-quick release, and a style nobody could replicate. In 1967, Namath became the first quarterback to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season. One year later, he led the Jets to a victory in Super Bowl III, a huge upset over the highly favored Baltimore Colts after "guaranteeing" a win earlier that week.
Unfortunately, Namath's bad knees caught up with him and he retired after the 1977 season. Namath had his best seasons in the AFL, winning two league MVP awards in his first 5 seasons and being named to the All-AFL team 4 times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
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