Most Underrated NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

They deserve a lot more love.

Most Underrated NFL Quarterbacks of All Time

Some quarterbacks are so smooth in and around the pocket, Captain Morgan toasts them. Then, there’s the other 99.8 percent at the position, the mere mortals who lack the Wow Factor but consistently find ways to stay in the chase.

Now it's time to honor the underrated quarterbacks who played below the radar for much if not all of their careers. The criteria are a combination of individual statistics, achievements and won-loss records relative to the talent around them. To be eligible, candidates cannot have more than four All-Star Game-Pro Bowl appearances on their resumes. (Maybe next time, Jack Kemp, Daryle Lamonica and Donovan McNabb. You, too, Ben Roethlisberger.)

These are the most unsung NFL quarterbacks of all time. And they really deserve more love.

44. David Garrard

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars (2002-10)

Career: 9 seasons (2002-10)

Record: 39-37 (.513)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .618 completion percentage/206.0 pass yards/1.1 pass touchdowns

Bottom Line: David Garrard

David Garrard was the rare dependable back-up who would become equally solid as a starter, a fourth-rounder who was a threat with his legs as well as his right arm.

The East Carolina product was at his best in the 2007 playoffs when he engineered an upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers then held his own against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, both on the road.

43. Doug Flutie

Teams: Chicago Bears (1986-87) , New England Patriots (1987-89, 2005), Buffalo Bills (1998-2000), San Diego Chargers (2001-04)

Career: 12 seasons (1986-89, 1998-05)

Record: 38-28 (.576)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .547/201.3/1.2

Bottom Line: Doug Flutie

Some ’85 Bears teammates still whine that Jeff Flutie cost them a Super Bowl or two. Truth is, head coach Mike Ditka was to blame for the way he set up the young QB to fail on short notice.

The one-time Heisman Trophy winner was banished to the Canadian Football League, and it wasn’t until he went to Buffalo in his mid-30s that he showed what might have been. The people who bought more than 3 million boxes of Flutie Flakes can’t be wrong.

42. Jeff Garcia

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1999-2003), Cleveland (2004), Detroit Lions (2005), Philadelphia Eagles (2006, 2009), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007-08)

Career: 11 seasons (2002-10)

Record: 58-58 (.000)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .617/214.9/1.4

Bottom Line: Jeff Garcia

Jeff Garcia succeeded Canton-bound Steve Young, who replaced Joe Montana, another future Hall of Famer. Is there anything the late starter could have done to make us forget those Niners legends?

But the guy was nothing if not a competitor. In his first four seasons at the controls, he was a two-time Pro Bowler who led his team to a pair of playoff appearances. And he was about as good with the Iggles and Bucs well into his 30s.

41. Bernie Kosar

Teams: Cleveland Browns (1985-93), Dallas Cowboys (1993), Miami Dolphins (1994-96)

Career: 12 seasons (1985-1996)

Record: 53-54-1 (.495)

League championships: 1 (1993)

Statistics/game/starter: .590/208.7/1.1

Bottom Line: Bernie Kosar

Kosar had his legacy sacked by two revolting developments that were out of his control — The Drive and The Fumble, which effectively canceled two Super Bowl trips.

Otherwise, the guy might be a full-blown Browns legend instead of just another pretty good quarterback.

40. Jay Fiedler

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1995), Minnesota Vikings (1998), Jacksonville Jaguars (1999), Miami Dolphins (2000-04), New York Jets (2005)

Career: 9 seasons (1995, 1998-2005)

Record: 37-23 (.617)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .5988/188.0/1.1

Bottom Line: Jay Fiedler

We know Hall of Famers Bob Griese (.619) and Dan Marino (.613) own the top two win percentages among Dolphins quarterbacks with at least 50 career starts. But who’s a close third (.610)?

The guy who went undrafted out of Dartmouth? The last signal-caller in Aqua Orange Blue to actually win a playoff game? The one who looked more like a Keebler elf than a pro quarterback? No way! (Yes, way.)

39. Billy Kilmer

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1961-62, 1964, 1966), New Orleans Saints (1967-70), Washington Redskins (1971-78)

Career: 16 seasons (1961-62, 1964, 1966-78)

Record: 61-52-1 (.539)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .530/162.1/1.2

Bottom Line: Billy Kilmer

Whiskey Bill had a gut shaped like a football. When the converted UCLA tailback didn’t throw wobblers, he hobbled around on a right leg that'd been so badly broken that it was nearly amputated.

But darn if his Over The Hill Gang came out on top most of the time. See, all the career overachiever could do was win football games.

38. Steve Grogan

Teams: New England Patriots (1975-90)

Career: 16 seasons (1975-90)

Record: 75-60 (.556)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .521/184.8/1.5

Bottom Line: Steve Grogan

Shocker! Tom Brady is not the only quarterback in Patriots history. In a five-year stretch (1976-80), Steve Grogan was among the better quarterbacks in the league himself.

He also did something that Tomboy could never duplicate — throw the first touchdown pass in a Super Bowl in franchise history.

37. Neil Lomax

Teams: St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals (1981-88)

Career: 8 seasons (1981-88)

Record: 47-52-2 (.475)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .579/223.3/1.3

Bottom Line: Neil Lomax

While Neil Lomax didn’t perform any miracles, the two-time Pro Bowler was a difference-maker with one of the more shoddily managed, talent-challenged teams in the league. He passed for 4,614 yards and 28 touchdowns in a crazy-good 1984 season, numbers that only Kurt Warner would approach in the history of the franchise.

A hip problem forced the 29-year-old to retire prematurely, the result of constant abuse behind a porous o-line. That partly explains his 10.3 percent sack rate, the third worst in league history.

36. Matt Schaub

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (2004-06, 2016-20), Houston Texas (2007-13), Oakland Raiders (2014), Baltimore Ravens (2015)

Career: 12 seasons (2004-15)

Record: 47-46(.505)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .645/261.9/0.9

Bottom Line: Matt Schaub

Remember how rowdy Texans fans treated Matt Schaub like a pinata? Years later, a lot of those same lunkheads wish the guy had never left.

He’s still the runaway franchise leader in victories (46), pass yards (23,221) and touchdown passes (124).

35. Mark Brunell

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1994), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2003), Washington Redskins (2004-06), New Orleans Saints (2008-09), New York Jets (2010-2011)

Career: 17 seasons (1994-2006, 2008-2011)

Record: 78-73 (.517)

League championships: 1 (2009)

Statistics/game/starter: .560/188.9/1.2

Bottom Line: Mark Brunell

If Mark Brunell had spent his prime in a major market, there's no doubt he would have been held in higher esteem. A team-wide meltdown in the 1999 AFC Championship Game didn’t help him, either.

He ranks among the top 50 in pass attempts, completions and yards as well as game-winning drives in league history.

34. Matt Hasselbeck

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1999-2000),Seattle Seahawks (2001-10), Tennessee Titans (2011-12), Indianapolis Colts (2013-15)

Career: 17 seasons (1999-2015)

Record: 85-75 (.531)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .605/223.0/1.3

Bottom Line: Matt Hasselbeck

In his best five-year stretch (2003-07), Matt Hasselbeck posted a .635 win percentage, averaged 1.6 touchdown passes per start and had four first-place finishes. In his best such run, eventual successor Russell Wilson put up a .706 win percentage, 1.6 touchdown passes per start and three first-place finishes.

The major difference? Wilson had the Legion of Boom on his side.

33. Marc Bulger

Teams: St. Louis Rams (2002-09)

Career: 8 seasons (2002-09)

Record: 41-54 (.432)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .620/239.2/1.3

Bottom Line: Marc Bulger

Marc Bulger didn’t blink after he took the reins from future Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, the one-time Super Bowl hero.

He won 26 of his first 36 starts in the regular season and one more in the playoffs before thumb/back/leg issues and a lack of support took their tolls.

32. Steve Bartkowski

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1975-85), Los Angeles Rams (1986)

Career: 12 seasons (1975-86)

Record: 59-68 (.465)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .560/188.9/1.2

Bottom Line: Steve Bartkowski

In the 1980 season, the one that Steve Bartkowski had real talent around him, he threw 31 touchdown passes and was selected to the Pro Bowl team. We wonder what the guy could have done with the ’77 team and its Gritz Blitz defense.

He was limited to seven starts that season because of a balky knee that required 11 surgeries at last count.

31. Ed Brown

Teams: Chicago Bears (1954-61), Pittsburgh Steelers (1962-65), Baltimore Colts (1965)

Career: 12 seasons (1954-65 (12 seasons)

Record: 53-38-5 (.578)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .473/141.8/0.9

Bottom Line: Ed Brown

OK, so Ed Brown wasn’t Sid Luckman exactly.

But the shot-and-a beer QB was good enough to be a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time Most Valuable Player candidate and take a pair of teams to the brink of league titles.

30. Don Strock

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1974-87), Cleveland Browns (1988)

Career: 15 seasons (1974-88)

Record: 16-6 (.727)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .566/139.7/1.1

Bottom Line: Don Strock

How good was this underappreciated career backup? Good enough to play 14 consecutive seasons with the same team. Good enough to pass for 403 yards and three touchdowns off the bench in the ’81 Epic in Miami.

He was dang good as a starter when the situation called for it, too.

29. Craig Morton

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1965-74), New York Giants (1974-76), Denver Broncos (1977-82)

Career: 18 seasons (1965-82)

Record: 81-62-1 (.566)

League/Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .542/172.5/1.1

Bottom Line: Craig Morton

Craig Morton won consistently with more offense-minded Cowboys teams, but then he guided the defense-heavy Broncos to the first Super Bowl in their history.

Throw out his 8-25 record with hopeless New York Giants teams in between, and the heady QB won nearly two of every three starts in his career.

28. Milt Plum

Teams: Cleveland Browns (1957-61), Detroit Lions (1962-67), Los Angeles Rams (1968), New York Giants (1969)

Career: 13 seasons (1957-69)

Record: 56-41-6 (.573)

League/Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .546/162.1/1.1

Bottom Line: Milt Plum

As much as Milt Plum benefitted from the presence of Jim Brown in the backfield, coach Paul Brown was akin to a straitjacket on the sideline. The QB wasn’t allowed to call an audible!

Even so, he put together a five-year run (1958-62) that was as efficient as any of his era. His 1960 season remains one of the best ever at the position.

27. Jay Schroeder

Teams: Washington Redskins (1971-86), Los Angeles Raiders ()

Career: 10 seasons (1985-94)

Record: 61-38 (.616)

Super Bowl championships: 1 (1987)

Statistics/game/starter: .512/191.1/1.1

Bottom Line: Jay Schroeder

When Jay Schroeder got jobbed late in the 1977 season despite a 8-2 record, he admittedly didn’t handle it well. Blame him? While Doug Williams is remembered best as the Super Bowl XXII Most Valuable Player, few remember who got him there.

One year earlier, the UCLA product passed for 4,109 yards, a team record that stood for three decades.

26. Bill Nelsen

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1963-67), Cleveland Browns (1968-72)

Career: 10 seasons (1963-72)

Record: 40-31-3 (.562)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .506/182.7/1.2

Bottom Line: Bill Nelsen

The Browns have themselves to blame for the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty. If they hadn’t stolen Bill Nelsen in a 1967 trade, the Stillers would not have sucked badly enough to draft Terry Bradshaw three years later.

Nelsen went on to have a remarkable career for a guy who had two bad knees.

25. Neil O’Donnell

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1991-95), New York Jets (1996-97), Cincinnati Bengals (1998), Tennessee Titans (1999-2003)

Career: 13 seasons (1991-2003)

Record: 55-45 (.550)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .580/203.5/1.1

Bottom Line: Neil O’Donnell

Neil O’Donnell will forever be known as the guy who threw a bone-headed interception that sealed Super Bowl XXX. What most forget is that a rookie wide receiver who didn’t catch a single pass in the regular season ran the wrong route on the play.

Fact is, O’Donnell was one of the better QBs around for five seasons. Oh, and his 2.1 percent interception rate is the ninth lowest in league history.

24. Jim Everett

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1986-93), New Orleans Saints (1994-96), San Diego Chargers (1997)

Career: 12 seasons (1986-97)

Record: 64-89 (.418)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .579/224.3/1.3

Bottom Line: Jim Everett

We know — the record does make you tingly all over. But in the two seasons that Jim Everett had a real defense to ride shotgun, he threw the hell out of the ball.

Besides, the guy deserves to be here for his takedown of punkish broadcaster Jim Rome alone.

23. Dave Krieg

Teams: Seattle Seahawks (1980-91), Kansas City Chiefs (1992-93), Detroit Lions (1994), Arizona Cardinals (1995), Chicago Bears (1996), Tennessee Titans (1997-98)

Career: 19 seasons (1980-98)

Record: 98-77 (.560)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .585/207.6/1.4

Bottom Line: Dave Krieg

OK, so Dave Krieg wasn’t flashy and held onto the ball too long at times. But the guy was accurate, had a nose for the end zone and won a lot of games.

His only clunker as a starter came at age 37 with an awful Cardinals team. Not bad for a guy who went undrafted.

22. Stan Humphries

Teams: Washington Redskins (1989-90), San Diego Chargers (1992-97)

Career: 15 seasons (1989-90, 1992-97)

Record: 51-30 (.630)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .569/207.5/1.1

Bottom Line: Stan Humphries

While overshadowed by bigger names, Stan Humphries did what Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts couldn’t before him — take the Chargers to their first-ever Super Bowl.

He won more games than he lost in every season except the last one, when concussions cut his career short.

21. Randall Cunningham

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1985-95), Minnesota Vikings (1997-99), Dallas Cowboys (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2001)

Career: 16 seasons (1985-95, 1997-2001)

Record: 82-52-1 (.611)

League championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .566/186.2/1.3

Bottom Line: Randall Cunningham

If Randall Cunningham had been to a Super Bowl or two, he would be held in higher esteem, no doubt. His age 36 season (1998) remains the standard for old farts at the position.

The guy could run like a deer, although that blessing became a curse at times. His robust sack rate (10.1 percent) takes him down a few pegs in the order.

20. Jim Plunkett

Teams: New England Patriots (1971-75), San Francisco 49ers (1976-77), Oakland/ Raiders (1979-86)

Career: 15 seasons (1971-77, 1979-86)

Record: 72-72 (.500)

League championships: 2 (1980, 1983)

Statistics/game/starter: .527/172.3/1.1

Bottom Line: Jim Plunkett

In the regular season, the Stanford product was Jim Kerplunkett about every other week. But in big games, he often played like the Heisman Trophy winner in his college days.

Only Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Troy Aikman won more Super Bowls in their careers.

19. Jim Hart

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1966-83), Washington Redskins (1984)

Career: 19 seasons (1966-84)

Record: 87-88-5 (.497)

Statistics/game/starter: .511/186.2/1.1

League/Super Bowl championships: 0

Bottom Line: Jim Hart

Only future Hall of Famers Fran Tarkenton and Johnny Unitas had passed for more yards when Jim Hart hung them up. Not a bad short list to be on, ya think?

Problem was, opponent offenses ran through his teams or else he might be in the HOF conversation, too.

18. Danny White

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1976-88)

Career: 13 seasons (1976-88)

Record: 62-30-0 (.674)

Statistics/game/starter: .597/224.4/1.6

Super championships: 0 (1977)

Bottom Line: Danny White

As the successor to Roger Staubach, Danny White was caught between a rock and a future Hall of Famer.

Still, he averaged 11-plus dubyahs in four full seasons as a starter and engineered two fewer fourth-quarter comebacks (11) than Captain Comeback himself.

17. Boomer Esiason

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1984-92, 1997), New York Jets (1993-95), Arizona Cardinals (1996)

Career: 14 seasons (1984-97)

Record: 80-93 (.462)

Statistics/game/starter: .572/213.6/1.4

Super Bowl championships: 0

Bottom Line: Boomer Esiason

In his 20s, when Boomer Esiason had some talent around him, the slingin’ southpaw posted a .548 win percentage (51-42) and led the league in three major statistical categories.

Only then did Boomer go bust.

16. Jake Delhomme

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1999–2000), Carolina Panthers (2003-09), Cleveland Browns (2010), Houston Oilers (2011)

Career: 11 seasons (1999-2000, 2003-11)

Record: 56-40 (.583)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .593/212.8/1.3

Bottom Line: Jake Delhomme

Jake Delhomme outplayed Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVIII. That alone would be enough to make the cut here.

Jake The Snake was more than a one-game wonder, though. In the five seasons that he started at least 13 games, his teams posted 10, seven, 11, seven and 12 victories. Above all, the guy was a winner.

15. Don Meredith

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1971-86)

Career: 9 seasons (1960-68)

Record: 47-32-4 (.590)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .509/182.2/1.4

Bottom Line: Don Meredith

Most people remember Don Meredith for the crooner/analyst/Howard Cosell antagonist that he became on Monday Night Football after retirement. But don’t turn out the lights on his football career — the guy could sling it in his prime.

He took his share of lumps with the expansion Cowboys then guided them to consecutive NFL championship games.

14. Rich Gannon

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1987-92), Washington Redskins (1993), Kansas City Chiefs (1995-98), Oakland Raiders (1999-2004)

Career: 17 seasons (1987-93, 1995-2004)

Record: 76-56 (.576)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .603/210.4/1.3

Bottom Line: Rich Gannon

The Raiduhs have had more reclamation projects than most teams, and Rich Gannon was among the best of all. The journeyman didn’t wear Silver and Black until he was 34 years old, but he made up for lost time with an average of 10 wins and 26 pass touchdowns over a four-year span.

Yet the guy was such a grinder, few considered him to be one of the elite players in the league.

13. Mark Rypien

Teams: Washington Redskins (1988-93), Cleveland Browns (1994), St. Louis Rams (1995, 1997), Philadelphia Eagles (1996)

Career: 9 seasons (1988-96)

Record: 47-31 (.603)

Super Bowl championships: 1 (1991)

Statistics/game/starter: .566/217.8/1.3

Bottom Line: Mark Rypien

Of the four non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks to be selected Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, we would bet that Mark Rypien is the last one you remember. (The others: Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms and Doug Williams.)

It’s easy to forget that he had four-plus solid seasons. Not only could the guy throw the deep ball, but his sack rate (3.6 percent) was the fourth lowest in league history.

12. Tommy Thompson

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1940), Philadelphia Eagles (1941-42, 1945-50)

Career: 9 seasons (1940-42, 1945-50)

Record: 6-6 (.500)

League championships: 2 (1948-49)

Statistics/game/starter: .448/134.0/0.9

Bottom Line: Tommy Thompson

Tommy who?Let us introduce you toone of only 10 quarterbacks to win back-to-back league titles. The Tulsa product also led the league in 10 major categories over a three-year period.

Data is a tad sketchy from his era, but from what we know, the man was too good to be forgotten.

10. Phil Simms (Tie)

Teams: New York Giants (1979-81, 1983-93)

Career: 14 seasons (1979-81, 1983-93)

Record: 95-64 (.597)

Super Bowl championships: 2 (1986, 1990)

Statistics/game/starter: .546/208.2/1.2

Bottom Line: Phil Simms

While Lawrence Taylor and his crazed dogs on defense hogged the headlines, Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler (tied on this list) were taken for granted too often. Not only did Simms play at a consistently high level, but he did much of it at Giants Stadium, whose wind gusts were akin to a 12th defender on the field.

He’s a borderline Hall of Famer in our book.

10. Jeff Hostetler (Tie)

Teams: New York Giants (1985-92), Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1993-1996), Washington Redskins (1997)

Career: 13 seasons (1985-97)

Record: 51-32 (.614)

Super Bowl championships: 2 (1986, 1990)

Statistics/game/starter: .583/188.8/1.1

Bottom Line: Jeff Hostetler

Jeff Hotstetler doesn’t receive enough credit for his remarkable 1990 season. After the guy rotted on the Giants bench for four seasons and 14-plus weeks, he replaced the injured Phil Simms and reeled off five consecutive wins, three in the postseason.

He could have been the Super Bowl XXV Most Valuable Player, too. Did we mention that he won more games than he lost every season?

9. Chad Pennington

Teams: New York Jets (2000-07), Miami Dolphins (2008-10)

Career: 11 seasons (2000-10)

Record: 44-37 (.543)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .665/209.6/1.2

Bottom Line: Chad Pennington

Joe Namath may be the franchise GOAT, but in terms of efficiency, Chad Pennington is better almost across the board. The guy didn’t possess a bazooka arm, no thanks to four shoulder surgeries, but he made up for it with guts and savvy and remarkable accuracy.

Do you realize that he took his team to the playoffs three times in five seasons? The J-E-T-S!

8. Brad Johnson

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1994-98, 2005-06), Washington Redskins (1999-2000), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-04), Dallas Cowboys (2007-08)

Career: 15 seasons (1994-2008)

Record: 72-53 (.576)

Super Bowl championships: 1 (2002)

Statistics/game/starter: .616/220.9./1.3

Bottom Line: Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson didn’t play as big as his 6-foot-5, 235-pound size, but he excelled in two areas that tended to fly under the radar. He didn’t throw many interceptions or take many sacks.

As for whether the ninth-round draft pick could guide a team to a league championship, he answered that question in Super Bowl XXXVII rather emphatically.

7. Charlie Conerly

Teams: New York Giants (1948-61)

Career: 14 seasons (1948-61)

Record: 57-31-1 (.646)

League championships: 1 (1956)

Statistics/game/starter: .497/129.2/1.1

Bottom Line: Charlie Conerly

Even local Giants got on Charlie Conerly at various times in his career. C’mon, was that any way to treat a one-time league champion and one-time Most Valuable Player runner-up who won nearly two-thirds of his starts?

There are worse quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame at the moment.

6. Earl Morrall

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1956-, 2005-06), Pittsburgh Steelers (1957-58), Detroit Lions (1958-1964), New York Giants (1965-67), Baltimore Colts (1968-71), Miami Dolphins (1972-76)

Career: 21 seasons (1956-76)

Record: 63-36-3 (.632)

League/Super Bowl championships: 3 (1970, 1972-73)

Statistics/game/starter: .512/161.8/1.2

Bottom Line: Earl Morrall

Earl Morrall was sort of like the Mariano Rivera of pro football — or was Rivera the Earl Morrall of baseball — the cool hand who consistently saved games if not seasons. He was a member of the unbeaten ’72 Miami Dolphins among six teams, won three Super Bowl rings, was a one-time league Most Valuable Player and one-time runner-up, took part in a pair of Pro Bowls…

And the guy accomplished all of this even though he started fewer than 10 games in all except four seasons.

5. Ken Anderson

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1971-86)

Career: 16 seasons (1971-86)

Record: 91-81 (.529)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .593/185.4/1.1

Bottom Line: Ken Anderson

Is it possible that Ken Anderson has been underrated by so many for so long, he’s actually a tad overrated now? Discuss.

All we know is the guy held his own against Terry Bradshaw in the same division, outplayed Joe Montana in Super Bowl XVI and put up some of the best stats of his era. That’s plenty good enough for us.

4. Bert Jones

Teams: Baltimore Colts (1973-81), Los Angeles Rams (1982)

Career: 10 seasons (1973-82)

Record: 47-49 (.500)

Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .564/185.7/1.3

Bottom Line: Bert Jones

Bert Jones had it all — a freakishly good arm, natural leadership and rare instincts. At 25, he was selected Most Valuable Player in the league. Then, shoulder and neck problems sabotaged a potential Hall of Fame career.

You rarely hear his name mentioned with the best of the post-expansion era, so allow us to do it now.

3. John Brodie

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1957-73)

Career: 17 seasons (1957-73)

Record: 74-76-8 (.494)

Leagu/Super Bowl championships: 0

Statistics/game/starter: .548/189.9/1.3

Bottom Line: John Brodie

As far as we can tell, there were two obvious differences between John Brodie and Ken Stabler, his rival across the Bay — the Niner was a finer pure passer, while The Snake played with more good teams.

So, why is the latter in the Hall of Fame but the former isn’t?

2. Tobin Rote

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1950-56), Detroit Lions (1957-59), CFL Toronto Argonauts (1960-62), AFL San Diego Chargers (1963-64), 1966 Denver Broncos (1964)

AFL-NFL Career: 12 seasons (1950-59, 1963-64, 66)

AFL-NFL record: 13-6-1 (.675)

NFL record: NA

AFL-NFL championships: 2 (1957, 1963)

AFL statistics/game/starter: .560/161.65/1.25

NFL statistics/game/starter: NA

Bottom Line: Tobin Rote

It’s criminal that the only quarterback to win NFL and AFL championships hasn’t gotten more recognition. And he darn near won another in the Canadian Football League as well. He paced the NFL and AFL in no fewer than eight major statistical categories in his career.

What’s more, he was the first dual-threat quarterback in the pros. Four times he was the top rusher on his team. If that isn’t a Hall of Fame resume, then it should at least get him an honorable mention.

1. Frank Ryan

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1958-61), Cleveland Browns (1962-68), Washington Redskins (1969-70)

Career: 13 seasons (1958-70)

Record: 57-27-3 (.672)

League/Super Bowl championships: 1 (1964)

Statistics/game/starter: .512/161.9/1.6

Bottom Line: Frank Ryan

In his best five-year stretch, Frank Ryan won 73 percent of his games on 1.8 touchdown passes per game. That was Hall of Fame stuff in his day. Those also were his only seasons as a full-time starter. It wasn’t until the guy was 26 years old that he finally got a chance to prove himself.

He also was the quarterback when the Brownies won their most recent league title. That alone should be worth a bust in Canton, Ohio.