John Elway is the greatest Quarterback in NFL history. Why do I say this? Two key stats point to Elway.
He played as a starting QB in more Super Bowls than any other QB in NFL history with 5.
He is the only member of any of the five teams he led to the Super Bowl to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Shannon Sharpe is not yet eligible and may get there but he‘d likely be the only other one). Think about that for a moment, and let's analyze it some more.
Every one of Elway's main competitors for greatest QB played on teams that contained Hall of Famers other than the competing QB.
Joe Montana played with fellow Hall of Famer, Ronnie Lott. Jerry Rice will join them as soon as he is eligible and was probably the greatest WR ever.
Steve Young also played with Rice.
Terry Bradshaw played with Hall of Famers, Mel Blount, Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann and Mike Webster.
Johnny Unitas played with Hall of Famers, Raymond Berry, Art Donovan, John Mackey, Gino Marchetti, Jim Parker, Lenny Moore and Ted Hendricks.
Roger Staubach played with Hall of Famers, Tony Dorsett, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, Randy White and Rayfield Wright.
Dan Marino played with Hall of Famer Dwight Stephenson and never won a Super Bowl.
Payton Manning just won a Super Bowl but will be joined in the Hall of Fame by Marvin Harrison and probably others.
Tom Brady has won three Super Bowls and may rival Elway one day but it is too early to say if any of Brady's teammates will join him in the HOF.
John Elway played with no Hall of Famers in his career yet he was able to bring five of the teams he quarterbacked into the Super Bowl, which he was victorious in twice. (Shannon Sharpe might make the Hall of Fame but is not there yet.) John Elway did far more as a QB with the least amount of talent around him and is therefore the greatest QB in NFL history.
