| Brett Favre |
Granted it's a great debate -- Brady, Manning, Montana, Elway, Marino, Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Unitas, Graham, Baugh, Starr, Title. I'm sure I missed one. Who do you pick ... as number 2?
For me it's not only statistics and wins, but a combination of things.
NFL Career Statistics: 
Statistically? Marino and Peyton Manning.
In terms of winning? Elway, Montana and Unitas.
Longevity? Tarkenton.
However, put these 3 factors together and Favre's name starts to bubble to the top. Finally, I started thinking of all the talent that played along side these great quarterbacks. Granted, some very good players complemented Brett Favre, but no real superstars come to mind.
Statistically
Brett Favre is NFL's all-time leader in every significant career passing category - touchdowns (442), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758) and yards (61,555). Granted over 17 seasons, you're going to compile big numbers. However, what impresses me is the efficiency with which Favre accomplished this and the Packer's offensive system.
He is the NFL's only three-time MVP
Winning
He's the all-time leader finishing his career with 160 wins. Since taking over as the Packers' starter in the fourth week of the 1992 season, he led Green Bay to a 160-93 regular-season record. That's the best in the NFL over that period.
Favre has led the Packers to 11 NFL playoff appearances, including seven division crowns, four NFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls (winning Super Bowl XXXI).
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:
"[Brett Favre] has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the National Football League. He is able to walk away from the game on his own terms - not many players are able to do that. The Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He has given Packers fans 16 years of wonderful memories, a Super Bowl championship among them, that will live on forever."
Longevity
17 seasons. But not end of story. Consider, 253 consecutive starts; 275 if you include the playoffs. This kind of durability borders on the mathematically impossible.
Since September 27, 1992, When Favre started his streak, a total of 212 other quarterbacks have started an NFL game.
Players Around Him
Any great offensive players that complemented Brett for more 2 seasons? Some very good players, but no one great. An above average offensive line over the 17 years at best.
NFL 2007: Maybe Brett Favre's Best Season
At age 38, Brett Favre compiled arguably his best year statistically and advanced the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship. His interception in OT against the Giants ends his career on a sour note. Yet, still a lot to admire:
Leads the Packers to NFC division title, NFC's number. 2 seed and NFC Championship.
Brett Favre named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
Only the fourth NFL player
Week 2 versus the NY Giants:
Brett Favre records his 149th career win and surpasses John Elway as the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Favre retires with 160 career wins.
Week 4 versus the Minnesota Vikings:
Brett Favre surpasses Dan Marino as the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes with 421. He ends his career with 442.
Week 15 versus the Saint Louis Rams:
Favre surpasses Marino as the all-time leader in passing yards. He ends his career with 61,655 total passing yards.
Favre starts all 16 games at QB for the Packers
253 consecutive regular-season starts. His streak ranks second in NFL history.
2010 Best NFL Season For Favre
Brett Favre
Minnesota Vikings
1969/10/10 40
6-2 222
Gulfport, MS
19
the Atlanta Falcons in 1991 (2nd round)
| Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | G | Rating | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/G | Y/A | TD | INT | Rush | Yds | Y/G | Avg | TD |
| 2009 | Vikings | 16 | 107.2 | 363 | 531 | 68.3 | 4202 | 262.6 | 11.5 | 33 | 7 | 9 | 7 | .400 | .700 | 0 |
Brett Favre - Summing it All Up
The statistics, wins, longevity, durability and lack of superstars around him in combination is what makes Brett Favre the best quarterback of all time. What makes you feel good about it is best summed up by Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson:
"The uniqueness of Brett Favre - his personality, charisma and love of the game - undoubtedly will leave him as one of the enduring figures in NFL history. ... His legacy is cemented as one of the most beloved players of his generation. Favre's hard-working approach and down-to-earth attitude appealed to football fans across the nation"
All-time Career Touchdown Passes Leaders
| Quarterback | Team(s) | TD Passes |
| Brett Favre | Atlanta, Green Bay | 442 |
| Dan Marino | Miami | 420 |
| Fran Tarkenton | Minnesota, NY Giants | 342 |
| Peyton Manning | Indianapolis | 306 |
| John Elway | Denver | 300 |
| Warren Moon | Hou., Minn., Sea., K.C. | 291 |
Chronology OF NFL Career Total Touchdown Passes Record
Eight players have held the NFL career touchdown pass record. Based on research provided by Elias Sports Bureau, the record holders were:
| Quarterback | Time Frame Record Held | TD Passes |
| Benny Friedman | 1930 to 1943 | 66 |
| Arnie Herber | 1940 to 1943 | 66 |
| Sammy Baugh | 1943 to 1962 | 196 |
| Bobby Layne | 1961 to 1962 | 196 |
| Y.A. Tittle | 1963 to 1966 | 212 |
| Johnny Unitas | 1966 to 1975 | 290 |
| Fran Tarkenton | 1975 to 1995 | 342 |
| Dan Marino | 1995 to 2006 | 342 |
| Brett Favre | 2007 | 442 |
Favre consistently disdained talk of statistics throughout his career, concerning himself most with his team's victories.
Since taking over as the Packers' starter in the fourth week of the 1992 season, he led Green Bay to a 160-93 regular-season record, tops in the NFL over that period.Not only is he great, but he has the most tangible passion and love for the game of any other football player in history. In the passion category, he is the most passionate quarterback to play the game, but statistically can be argued because of his one Superbowl victory in three appearances.
Quarterback Brett Favre formally announced his retirement three times: once in 2008 with the Green Bay Packers, the next year with the NY Jets, and in 2009 after a heartbreaking lost to the Saints on a Porter interception which resulted in a Saints game- winning drive in overtime with The Minnesota Vikings. Amidst all this "official retiring" lie a stratagem: perhaps a a ploy in the Wiley QB's mind to skip training camp or is it just that he can't leave football and keeps on coming back despite his ankle and body complications?
