The QB GOAT Series: 17-15

Playoff success vs longevity separates this cohort, but all were highly efficient throughout their careers

I wrote up the methodology for how I measure quarterback career value and highlighted a few honorable mentions in a post last week.

I don’t agree 100% with all the rankings, but the beauty of stats-based analysis is that we can take representative data from nearly one million quarterback dropbacks over a century of the modern NFL to rank-order quarterbacks by value. Good luck watching, grading and comparing every quarterback snap from 1947 to 2022 and then forming your own film-watcher list.

I’m going to take this list in smallish chucks, going three-at-a-time until I get to the final two, who you might be able to guess, though the ordering may remain a mystery.

Links to past posts:

• 50-48, 47-45, 44-42, 41-39, 38-36, 35-33, 32-30, 29-27, 26-24, 23-21, 20-18

No. 17: ROGER STAUBACH

Regular: 16th, Peak: 14th, Playoffs: 44th

Roger Staubach was a college football Hall of Famer, Heisman trophy winner,¹ two-time Super Bowl winner, Super Bowl MVP, NFL Hall of Famer and selection to the NFL100 team (one of only all-time 10 quarterback selections). The QB GOAT methodology doesn’t have him listed quite as high as his reputation according to professional accolades, but he is easily in the top-20.

Staubach had a relatively short career versus other top quarterbacks, not playing in the NFL until his age-27 season after fulfilling his four-year military commitment. He also sat and mostly watched for two years before taking over as Cowboys starter at the age of 29. Staubach’s impact was immediate, going 10-0 as starter in the 1971 season, leading the league in ANY/A, yards per attempt and the lowest interception rate. He was second in MVP voting, behind Vikings pass rusher Alan Page.

In the same postseason, Staubach quarterbacked the Cowboys to the Super Bowl, though on relatively low volume. Over three games, Staubach was 31-51 (60.8%) for 321 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. Staubach’s 5.2 ANY/A in the Super Bowl run was okay, lowered significantly by a 16% sack rate, a negative trait Staubach held through the first half of his career. Staubach was named MVP of Super Bowl VI against the Miami Dolphins, but only needed to throw for 119 yards.

The next season in 1972, Staubach separated his shoulder and only threw 20 passes in the regular season, but did relieve Craig Morton in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the 49ers, leading the team to a 30-28 after trailing by 15 points going into the fourth quarter.

Outside of 1974, Staubach was a top-10 efficiency passer by ANY/A in every season, leading the NFL four times, including each of his last three seasons. Despite his efficiency, Staubach never was an All-Pro selection, likely due to his lower volume of pass attempts. Staubach never cleared 400 pass attempts until his second-to-last season, making it difficult to accumulate the counting stats that heavily influenced All-Pro selections.

Staubach had great surroundings on offense and defense, as the Cowboys made the postseason in every year of his career, save 1974. Despite such great opportunity, Staubach has a relatively low playoff ranking by the QB GOAT methodology with a career postseason passing efficiency of only 4.3 ANY/A. He did come to play again in the 1977 postseason, averaging 5.8 ANY/A on the way to his second Super Bowl victory.

Purely based on his professional performances, Staubach could be a little overrated in historical account, due to team success. But he did have headwinds to his career, not starting until almost 30 years old. Staubach wasn’t a high-volume passer, but added significant value on the ground, rushing for 2,264 and 20 touchdowns over his eight years as starter.

No. 16: FRAN TARKENTON

Regular: 8th, Peak: 15th, Playoffs: 95th