Some of the best quarterbacks in NFL history have worn a number that’s on everyone’s mind today — 12. Perhaps none have been better than the QB who has played under center in New England for the past 12 seasons.
But including Tom Brady on such a poll of 12s would be simply unfair to the rest of his competition. So we’re looking to see which quarterback other than Brady is the best No. 12.
Terry Bradshaw is one of only two QBs to win four Super Bowls. He led the Steelers from 1970 to 1983 after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft. He won his first championship in 1974 and rattled off three more in just a six-year span. Bradshaw was voted into the Pro Football Fall of Fame in 1989.
Joe Namath might have been known more for his flamboyance than his statistics, but he still has the honor of leading the Jets to a victory in Super Bowl III after being considered serious underdogs. Namath famously guaranteed the victory. Namath is a hall of famer, despite completing just 50.1 percent of his career passes.
Jim Kelly led the Bills to four straight Super Bowls, but unfortunately lost all of them. Still, he had a 101-59 record under center with the Bills and compiled some impressive stats, including 35,467 yards during his hall-of-fame career.
The best current quarterback to wear 12 not named Brady is the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. Coming into the season there was some debate over whether he had passed Brady on the current list of best QBs. Rodgers won the Super Bowl two seasons ago and is on his way to another impressive year in 2012. He has 3,297 yards and 29 touchdowns through 13 games with just eight interceptions. His completion percentage is always among the league leaders — this year it stands at 66.9.
Roger Staubach was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys. Staubach was drafted in 1964, but didn’t make his NFL debut until 1969 due to serving five years in the military after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. Staubach was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after compiling 22,700 yards and six Pro Bowl appearances in his 11-year career.
So who do you think is the best non-Brady No. 12?
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