First of all, a clarification: the debate of the “greatest” player of all time is based both on the level of play and on career achievements. But the question of the “best” quarterback comes down to talent.
This is how Men’s Health presented the dilemma to Joe Montana. During a discussion in Dublin, the legend of the 49ers therefore delivered his verdict on the question of the best quarterback.
His answer: Dan Marino.
“He was throwing fast. He had good footwork. He had the right upper body twist and the power to throw fast and accurately,” says Montana.
Dan Marino, ahead of his time
At the time of his retirement, Marino was the quarterback with the most yards thrown in NFL history. He is now eighth in this ranking, but he is the only member of the Top 10 who has not played a match in the 2000s.
“Put Marino in the current NFL, with more throwing room… And his receivers, ohlala, his receivers weren’t very big,” Montana recalls.
“Now these guys are 1.93m or 1.95m. I think Marino is probably one of the most underrated and under-celebrated players in this game. People don’t talk about him enough or realize the stats he did in the time he was playing. »
In 1984, his second season, Marino threw for 5,084 yards, 48 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Unreal at the time. With 253.6 yards per game on average over his entire career, he was much more productive than Montana (211.2) and not so far from a Tom Brady (266.3) who nevertheless played in much more favorable conditions for attack.
Ironically, it’s partly Montana’s fault that Marino sometimes slips under the radar. Because it was his 49ers who beat Marino in his only Super Bowl appearance with the Dolphins.
