Steven Ruiz of USA Today's For The Win created a ranking of the top 100 quarterbacks of all time. Any list like this is going to come with controversy. Seattle Seahawks fans might complain about seeing Russell Wilson in the bottom half at No. 51. But that's not why you are here.
If you are reading this, you are likely a San Francisco 49ers fan. The franchise has had its share of great quarterbacks. Two names probably immediately pop into your head when asked to name the organization's all-time best passers — fan-favorites Joe Montana and Steve Young.
"To build this list, I used Pro Football Reference's 'approximate value' AV rankings to get a baseline, and then made some individual calls off of that," wrote Ruiz.
Where do the 49ers' two Hall of Fame quarterbacks sit on Ruiz's list? Montana comes in at No. 2, right behind former New England Patriots and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
"Montana never put up crazy stats but he may have been the most efficient quarterback to ever play," wrote Ruiz. "He was the perfect quarterback to run Bill Walsh's West Coast offense thanks to his unmatched sense of timing and impeccable accuracy. Montana was never rattled and saved his best performances for the postseason. Until the next guy (Brady) came along, Montana was the best to ever play the position."
While Montana sits ahead of Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, and John Elway, Ruiz ranks Young at No. 11 on his list. That places him behind Johnny Unitas, Dan Marino, Bart Starr, and Roger Staubach.
"Young's prime was short but, man, was it good," wrote Ruiz. "He set the league's passer rating record in 1994 during one of the greatest seasons a quarterback has ever produced. Young ranks fifth in career rating, which is remarkable considering the era he played in. He's also one of the best scramblers in league history."
As for others with more-than-minor 49ers ties, John Brodie — an often underrated quarterback — comes in at No. 37. Alex Smith comes in at No. 45. Steve DeBerg is listed at No. 62. Jeff Garcia sits at No. 66.
Former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, an NFL quarterback for 14 seasons, is listed at No. 69.
