Who is the Biggest QB in NFL History? A Deep Dive into the Most Legendary Passers

As a longtime football fanatic, I‘m fascinated by the history of the quarterback position and the giants of the game who left an enduring legacy. When discussing the "biggest" QBs, you have to consider both their sheer physical size and overall impact on pro football. After diving deep into the stats and records, here‘s my guide to the most influential passers in NFL history.

By Size: The Tallest and Heaviest QBs

First, let‘s look at which quarterbacks simply tower over their peers based on height and weight alone:

At 6‘8" and 240 lbs, Dan McGwire is tied as the tallest quarterback in NFL history alongside Brock Osweiler. He played rather uneventfully for the Seahawks in the early 90s.

Meanwhile, Sam Bradford holds the distinction as the heaviest QB to play in the league at 6‘5" and 250 lbs. The former No. 1 overall pick recently retired after an oft-injured career.

As you can see, being tall and heavy doesn‘t automatically lead to success. Now let‘s look at the QBs who delivered in the win column and record books.

By Greatness: The Quarterbacks With the Most Impact

Based on my knowledge as an avid football enthusiast, I consider these four quarterbacks to be the greatest and most influential of all time:

Tom Brady

• 6 Super Bowl wins (the most ever)
• 3 League MVP awards
• 5 Super Bowl MVPs (also a record)

To me, Brady stands at the top as the undisputed "GOAT." His unparalleled 20-year run of sustained excellence includes a record 14 Pro Bowl selections, 3 All-Pro selections, and 243 total wins (playoffs included). What‘s most impressive is how he continued playing at an elite level well into his 40s. Brady‘s longevity, records, and team success cement him as the consensus greatest QB ever.

Joe Montana

• 4 Super Bowl wins without a single loss
• 3 AP NFL MVP awards
• Known for his poise and calm under pressure

Montana was the backbone of the 49ers dynasty in the 1980s and helped establish the West Coast Offense as a dominant NFL scheme. His nickname "Joe Cool" encapsulates how he always seemed to thrive when the stakes were highest. Like Brady, Montana achieved greatness through both individual and team accomplishments.

Peyton Manning

• 5 AP NFL MVP awards (the most all-time)
• 2 Super Bowl wins
• Broke single season TD record (55) and has most career TDs (539)

Manning was a true field general and offensive mastermind who could read defenses like no other. He essentially coordinated the offense pre-snap and put up absurd statistical numbers throughout his career. Manning‘s 5 MVP awards demonstrate how he dominated the game from a individual standpoint for over a decade.

John Elway

• 2 Super Bowl championships
• NFL MVP (1987)
• Known for late-game comebacks and his rocket arm

Elway defined what it meant to be a gunslinger. He had one of the strongest arms ever and engineered dozens of memorable fourth quarter comebacks. Elway carried the Denver Broncos with his confidence and bravado while piling up wins and highlights.

Each of these quarterbacks displayed "greatness" in different ways. But their impact on the game collectively is unmatched in NFL history.

By Stats: The Record-Holding Passers

When judging quarterbacks by the raw numbers and record books, these men stand out:

Brady and Manning absolutely dominated from a statistical standpoint, while Brees proved that all-time greatness isn‘t limited to tall QBs. Each of them hold benchmarks that may never be surpassed.

Measuring Toughness: The NFL‘s Ironmen QBs

These quarterbacks displayed remarkable durability and availability during their lengthy careers:

• Brett Favre – Started a record 321 straight games from 1992 to 2010. He played until age 41.
• Tom Brady – His 220 regular season starts are the most ever. Won a Super Bowl title at age 43.
• Eli Manning – Never missed a game as a starter for 16 seasons. Started 210 straight from 2004-2017.
• Philip Rivers – Started 240 consecutive games from 2006 to 2020, second only to Favre all-time.

Rarely missing snaps or games due to injury, their insane levels of toughness allowed these passers to have some of the longest careers ever. Favre‘s 321 straight starts in particular may never be challenged.

The Journeymen: QBs Who Bounced Between Teams

In contrast to the tough ironmen, some quarterbacks made a career out of bouncing from franchise to franchise:

• Ryan Fitzpatrick – Remarkably played for 9 different teams since 2005. A true journeyman.

• Josh McCown – Also remarkably played for 9 teams across nearly two decades in the league.

• Chris Chandler – During 17 seasons, he was the starter for 8 different franchises. Most of any QB in the 90s/2000s era.

Despite the lack of stability, these well-traveled QBs provided valuable experience and often exceeding expectations when called upon. Teams knew they could rely on them for short-term solutions.

The New Generation Carrying the Torch

The days of Brady, Brees and Roethlisberger are nearly done. But a promising crop of young QBs aim to carry the torch:

Patrick Mahomes

• 27 years old
• NFL MVP (2018)
• Super Bowl Champion (2019)
• Known for no-look passes and improvisation

Mahomes has accomplished what some QBs never achieve by his third year in the league. His creativity and flair give Mahomes the chance to be an all-timer.

Josh Allen

• 26 years old
• MVP runner-up in 2020
• Powerful arm and athleticism
• Revitalized the Bills franchise

Allen quickly developed into an elite passer after being drafted in 2018. He has all the physical tools and leadership to keep Buffalo contending for a decade.

Joe Burrow

• 25 years old
• Led Bengals to Super Bowl in 2nd season
• Ultra-confident playing style
• Poised in the pocket with pinpoint accuracy

Coming off a historically great college career, Burrow translated seamlessly to the pros. With Joe Cool-like swagger, he‘s positioned as the next legendary Bengals QB.

Daniel Jones

• 24 years old
• Shows flashes of promise with Giants
• Mobile with some Eli Manning-like traits
• Working to limit turnovers and mistakes

While Jones has struggled with consistency so far, he offers enough tantalizing talent to potentially emerge as a quality starter soon. Time will tell if he can become a true franchise QB.

The NFL has been blessed with generations of talented passers. And based on the play of rising stars like Mahomes and Allen, the league looks to be in good hands at QB for years to come. The key will be continuing to learn from and honor the biggest icons of the past.

Overall, the history of great NFL quarterbacks is long and distinguished. While new players will continue to emerge, the most influential QBs of all time – based on size, stats, awards, and team success – have cemented their legacies and transformed the position in their own unique ways. Their impact on the game may never be matched.