Editor’s note: As part of NFL’s Greatest Quarterback, fans will decide the best QB in each team’s history.
Joe Namath: Namath’s career statline may not look overly impressive, but he was one of the stars of the AFL and took part in what might be the most famous moment in the league’s history when he guaranteed a victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III and came through with the win.
Namath was the first professional quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in 1969 and was a two-time AFL MVP. He completed 50.1 percent of his passes in his career and had 173 touchdowns to 220 interceptions. He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Ken O’Brien: O’Brien was taken No. 24 overall in the quarterback class of 1983, after John Elway, Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly and Tony Eason and three picks before Dan Marino.
The Jets’ signal-caller led the NFL in quarterback rating in just his third NFL season. He is No. 25 all-time in interception percentage. O’Brien was voted to two Pro Bowls and was the AFC Player of the Year in 1985.
Richard Todd: Todd followed the same career path as Joe Namath, playing at Alabama under Bear Bryant, then getting drafted by the Jets to replace Namath.
Todd had a similar stat line to Namath as well — low completion percentage, more interceptions than touchdowns — but none of the accolades or championships. Todd did lead the Jets to the 1982 AFC championship game, but threw five interceptions in a 14-0 loss.
Chad Pennington: Pennington is best known for two things: being Randy Moss’ starting quarterback at Marshall and being the NFL’s all-time leader in completion percentage.
Pennington was extremely precise, but the biggest knock on him was that he lacked the big arm needed to threaten NFL defenses deep. Despite an injury-marred career, Pennington managed to go 2-3 in the playoffs with the Jets.
