Greatest Quarterback of All Time!

Newk’s Bender on the Game

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know…..

The greatest quarterback of all time may in fact be the most winning professional athlete ever as well. Most people can’t name him and even doubt such an athlete exists when presented with his career accomplishments.

But if I ask you whether a quarterback who compiled an 80.2 winning percentage in the NFL, reached the Championship Game or Super Bowl in every one of his seasons, won three of them while also winning four championships in a rival league and one more championship in a DIFFERENT sport is the greatest of all time, would you agree? Would you believe those statistics? Could you name him?

Otto Graham compiled a 57-13-1 record in the NFL during his six seasons.  Including his first four years with the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC (All-American Football Conference, a rival league), he went 105-17-4 for his professional football career.

Playing six seasons in the NFL, reaching the title game all six seasons and winning three of them while having previously reached and won all four title games in the AAFC puts him at the top of my list.

Because of his athletic ability, Graham played one year in professional basketball, winning the championship with the Rochester Royals, today’s Sacramento Kings.

11 professional seasons in sports, going to the title game every season and winning the championship 8 times!!!

I understand the difference in comparing statistics and playing eras but when it comes right down to it, doesn’t winning count as the most important measure? We argue and debate on the greatest quarterback of all time but that conversation only involves winners and does not include QB’s who had “tools” and/or lack of support (Jeff George, Archie Manning). We look at Joe Montana staying cool in tight moments and leading his team to victory. We analyze Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas collecting titles. We turn our current debate to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, watching them compete for rings.  But to take the cumulative 16 titles these men won in 73 seasons and compare them to Graham winning 8 championships in 11 seasons puts the argument in perspective.

Any owner, coach or fan today would take a quarterback who could deliver seven Lombardi trophies in a ten year career, imagine!

To top it all off with class and style, Graham was convinced by Coach Paul Brown to play his final season after having announced he was done. Of course, Otto came back and led the Browns to another NFL title and retired for good as the greatest quarterback of all time.

All this because I know more about nothing…..