The QB GOAT Series: 23-21

An all-time great winner, a steady performer who didn't get much help, plus a top-10 candidate who falls short by the numbers

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

No. 23: JOHN BRODIE

Regular: 26th, Peak: 18th, Playoffs: 39th

John Brodie is one of five quarterbacks to play at least 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and make the QB GOAT top-50. Brodie was the first quarterback taken in the 1957 NFL draft, but didn’t become the full-time starter until 1961, when the 35-year-old Y.A. Tittle (QB GOAT No. 31) was traded to the New York Giants.

Brodie led the NFL in ANY/A in 1961, but didn’t receive any accolades, perhaps because the 49ers only went 7-6-1, fifth in NFL’s Western conference. Brodie was a slightly above average passer the next few year, missing most of the 1963 season.

In 1965, Brodie led the NFL in pass attempts (391), completions (242), completion percentage (61.9%), yards (3,112), touchdowns (30), and had the NFL’s lowest sack rate (3.5%). Brodie’s somewhat elevated interception rate (4.1%) in an offense totally dependent on him lowered his ANY/A to slightly below the league leader. Brodie received fewer All-Pro votes than Johnny Unitas, despite leading in nearly every counting and efficiency stat, and playing two fewer games. Again, Brodie was probably a victim of #QBWINZ, with the 49ers finishing 7-5-1 and the Indianapolis Colts tied with the Packers for first the Western conference at 10-3-1.

Brodie was one of the bigger historically undervalued quarterbacks due to the lack of team success. From 1957 to 1969, the 49ers record with Brodie starting was 51-61-7. According to Pro Football Reference’s Simple Rating System, the 49ers defense was below average in nine of those seasons, and the 49ers were trapped in the same conference as the Green Bay Packers and Colts, with only one team making the postseason per conference.

Things finally turned around for Brodie in terms of team success and individual accolades in 1970. Brodie was named MVP and First-Team All Pro after leading the 49ers to a 10-3-1 record and NFC West title following the NFL’s expansion and NFL-AFL merger. Brodie led the now 26-team NFL in passing efficiency (7.5 ANY/A) and yards, also avoiding mistakes with the best interception and sack rates. The 49ers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Conference Championship, after defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round. The 49ers also made the playoffs in 1971 and 1972, but Brodie’s efficiency began to wane as he entered his late 30s, and his overall playoff record was 2-3, with a mediocore 4.8 ANY/A.

Beyond being overlooked by #QBWINZ, Brodie also may have been underappreciated for his sack avoidance and running value. Brodie had the league’s best sack rate six times, and that trait has become more recognized as a quarterback attribute in recent years. He also ran for 1,167 yard and 22 touchdowns in his career.

No. 22: DARYLE LAMONICA

Regular: 33rd, Peak: 25th, Playoffs: 10th