Where Drew Brees Stands Amongst QBs All Time
Few quarterbacks have ever played the position with the precision, consistency, and production that defined Drew Brees’ career. Over two decades in the NFL, Brees turned himself from an undersized second-round pick into one of the most statistically dominant quarterbacks in league history. However, when ranking the greatest quarterbacks of all time, his name doesn’t always come up as quickly as it should. Despite lacking the postseason hardware of some peers, his overall résumé demands serious top-tier recognition.
Drew Brees retired with a résumé that places him among the most accomplished quarterbacks the league has ever seen. He held the NFL record for career passing yards, 80,358, and completions, 7,142, at the time of his retirement. Though Tom Brady has since surpassed several of his records, Brees’ impact on the modern passing era remains unquestionable. He is the only player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season five times; no other quarterback has achieved this feat more than once. He led the league in passing yards seven times and finished with 571 career touchdown passes. His career completion percentage of 67.7% was the best when he retired, and he set the standard for accuracy and efficiency in a pass-heavy league. On statistics alone, Brees deserves serious top-five all-time consideration. His consistency, production, and technical mastery of the position put him in rare company, and few could match his ability to dissect defenses year after year.
However, the biggest knock on Brees in all-time rankings often centers around postseason success. While he led the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV title and earned Super Bowl MVP honors, he finished his career with a 9–9 playoff record and only one Super Bowl appearance. What is often overlooked is the context surrounding those numbers. Brees spent much of his prime carrying teams with historically poor defenses—units that routinely ranked near the bottom of the league. In many seasons, he put up MVP-level performances only to be let down by the other side of the ball. It wasn’t a matter of him not showing up; it was that he simply didn’t have the support that other all-time greats did in crucial postseason moments.
Late in his career, as injuries began to accumulate, Brees came agonizingly close to adding another ring. The Saints were among the NFC’s most talented teams in the final years of his career. Still, they suffered a series of heartbreaking playoff exits, most notably the “Minneapolis Miracle” in 2017, the controversial non-call against the Rams in the 2018 NFC Championship, and a narrow loss to Tom Brady's Buccaneers in the 2020 playoffs. Even while playing through rib fractures and shoulder issues in his final seasons, Brees continued to compete at a high level and keep his team in championship contention. The fact that he remained so competitive deep into his 40s speaks volumes about his mental toughness and football IQ.
A fair and balanced all-time ranking likely places a few quarterbacks ahead of Brees. Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl titles, three MVPs, and unmatched longevity make him the clear number one. Joe Montana's four Super Bowl wins and flawless postseason play put him near the top. Peyton Manning's five MVPs and two Super Bowl titles reflect his dominance and innovation. Patrick Mahomes, with three Super Bowl titles and two MVPs by age 29, is rapidly climbing the all-time ladder. Other names, such as Johnny Unitas, Dan Marino, John Elway, and Aaron Rodgers, are often mentioned in that elite company, depending on how one weighs talent, impact, and team success.
Even so, Drew Brees belongs in that conversation. On production alone, he’s arguably a top-five quarterback in NFL history. The lack of multiple Super Bowls might keep him just outside that tier for some, but the reality is that Brees did more than enough to earn a spot among the game’s most excellent. He was a pioneer of the modern passing game, a relentless competitor, and the heartbeat of a franchise that he helped rebuild from the ground up. In the end, he may not have the rings of a Brady or the highlight-reel flair of a Mahomes, but few quarterbacks ever played the position better or for longer than Drew Brees. His legacy is secure, and his place near the top of the all-time quarterback list is well deserved.
