Retired QBs with No Title: Who Would Win One Today?

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
February 7, 2025

Every year leading into the NFL season, and again into the Super Bowl, we see lists of the best quarterbacks – both active and retired – to never win the big game. CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr took his shot at the list, giving us his best 10 who are no longer active. I’ve got no qualms with his list but as I was reading it I wondered – would any of these guys have a shot today if their prime selves were placed on their team’s 2024 roster? Let’s take a look and see.

10. Boomer Esiason

Esiason threw for 37,290 yards and 247 touchdowns in a career that spanned 14 seasons between 1984 and 1997. Despite going to four pro bowls and winning the NFL MVP in 1988, he unfortunately spent most of his career playing for a pretty mediocre Cincinnati Bengals team. Esiason had a career record of 58-60 in games he started for the Bengals, and came oh so close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy before some guy named Montana came along and snatched it from him.

But the question at hand is, would Esiason have made the difference for the 2024 version of the Bengals? Unfortunately for Esiason – quarterback wasn’t an issue for Cincinnati this season. Veteran Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and made the Pro Bowl for the Bengals, who just missed the playoffs after finishing the regular season 9-8. This season’s version of the Bengals were ultimately undone by a defense that ranked in the bottom half or third of nearly every statistical category in the league. There’s nothing that Burrow – or Esiason could do about that.

Jonathan says: NO

9. Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan’s career highlights read a lot like Esiason’s. Ryan was named to the Pro Bowl four times and was league MVP in 2016, the year he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, also like Esiason, what appeared to be a certain Super Bowl win turned into a signature victory for another legendary quarterback. Ryan threw 38 touchdowns and had a 5:1 touchdown to interception ratio that season while throwing for 4,944 yards. He finished his career with 62,792 yards and 381 touchdown passes.

Unlike Esiason, a prime Ryan could have certainly made a difference for this year’s Falcons. In his best years, Ryan made use of his targets early and often while limiting turnovers. Kirk Cousins was anything but efficient this season for the Falcons, throwing a career-worst 16 interceptions in just 14 games. Atlanta was 6-3 through week nine before dropping six of its last eight games and turning over the reins to rookie play caller Michael Pennix. Atlanta’s defense finished in the bottom half of the league this season – but this is a team that was just one of three to beat Philadelphia this season, and also knocked off Tampa Bay twice. Better play at quarterback could have absolutely made the difference and gotten this team a shot at a postseason run.

Jonathan says: YES

8. Dan Fouts

Dan Fouts is in a long line of excellent quarterbacks that played on mediocre teams. A six-time Pro Bowler, and the 1982 AP Offensive Player of the Year, Fouts threw for 43,040 yards and 254 touchdowns over his 15-year career. Unfortunately, that career only included six seasons with winning records as a starter.

The Chargers made the playoffs this season on the back of the league’s top defense and an extremely efficient year from Justin Herbert (3,870 yards, 7:1 TD to INT). As good as Fouts was in his day, asking him to do more than Herbert to be enough to carry this team to a Super Bowl would have been a lot to ask.

Jonathan says: NO

7. Steve McNair

Air McNair was a quarterback truly ahead of his time. At 6’2, 230 pounds, McNair had a rocket for an arm and the body and legs of a bruising running back. He was looked at as unique when he was drafted out of Alcorn State in 1995, but he’d be viewed as the prototype if he came out today. McNair passed for 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns while adding 3,590 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground over a 13-year career that was primarily spent with the Titans. Like Esiason and Ryan, McNair is known for a Super Bowl loss rather than a victory.

Unfortunately, McNair being dropped on this year’s Tennessee Titans would be like adding a drop of water to an empty bucket. Tennessee’s quarterback play was incredibly poor, but it also had a bottom of the league defense. At best, McNair could have gotten this year’s team into the playoff conversation.

Jonathan says: NO

6. Donovan McNabb

Not many quarterbacks on this list have had the playoff success of McNabb. The Syracuse alum led the Philadelphia Eagles to five conference championships and a Super Bowl appearance during his 13-year career. The six-time Pro Bowler threw for 37,276 yards and 234 touchdowns and added 3,459 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. He’s maligned for his inability to lead the Eagles to the promised land, but his statistics are incredible considering his top five targets by games played together in Philadelphia are Greg Lewis, Todd Pinkston, Reggie Brown, Freddie Mitchell and Jason Avant. There are four more names on that list before you hit DeSean Jackson and four more before Terrell Owens.

There’s no question about this one. If McNabb had talents like A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith and Saquon Barkley at his disposal for the majority of his career, he likely wouldn’t be on this list. If a prime McNabb were to take Jalen Hurts’ spot, the Eagles would be in the exact same position they are today.

Jonathan says: YES

5. Warren Moon

A nine-time Pro Bowler, Moon played 17 years in the NFL despite beginning his league career at 28 after starting in the CFL. After a rocky first few seasons in Houston, Moon his his stride in 1988 when he began a run of eight straight Pro Bowl appearances. His 1990 season included career highs in completions (362), attempts (584), passing yards (4,689) and passing touchdowns (33). Moon finished his career with 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns, but never made a conference championship.

Houston made the playoffs this season and held a second-half lead against Kansas City in the AFC Divisional round. What the Texans didn’t have this season, was the sophomore follow up from C.J. Stroud that fans thought they might get. The second year pro was middle of the road at best in most passing categories. Moon could have provided an extra spark – and a gunslinger mentality that Stroud didn’t bring this year.

Jonathan says: YES

4. Philip Rivers

An eight-time Pro Bowler, Rivers made a career of putting up video game numbers and keeping fantasy football owners happy. The N.C. State alum passed for 63,400 yards and 421 touchdowns over a 17-year career. Rivers engineered 35 game-winning drives, including four in 2006 and 2013.

I said no to Dan Fouts earlier – but I feel a little bit different here. Everything I said earlier remains true. Justin Herbert was extremely efficient this year for the Chargers in a playoff system. But put the 2024 Chargers defense behind Rivers and allow him to air it out – that’s a team that can make some noise.

Jonathan says: YES

3. Jim Kelly

Poor Jim Kelly. Kelly took Buffalo to four straight Super Bowls between the 1990 and 1994 seasons. And four years in a row, Buffalo lost to an NFC East opponent. It’s hard enough being on this list for losing a Super Bowl. But being in the big game four times in a row and losing every time is brutal. The five-time Pro Bowler started for Buffalo for 11 years and threw for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns.

Buffalo was a ready made team this year, and was oh so close to finally getting past Kansas City and into the Super Bowl. A prime Jim Kelly could sub right in for Josh Allen and take the Bills weapons to the big game. Perhaps he’d even win one.

Jonathan says: YES

2. Fran Tarkenton

Known as “the scrambler,” Tarkenton terrorized NFL defenses for 18 seasons, passing for 47,003 yards and 342 touchdowns while running for 3,674 and 32 more scores. The nine-time Pro Bowler, 1975 MVP and Hall of Famer went to three Super Bowls. Tarkenton spent five productive seasons with the Giants, but played the majority of his career in Minnesota. Thus, we’ll use the Vikings.

Minnesota had a Super Bowl level team that got stuck playing in the NFC Divisional round as a 14-win team. Sam Darnold had an absolutely incredible season for the Vikings, playing up to the caliber that people expected when he was drafted by the Jets out of Southern Cal. With that said – add an ahead-of-his time Tarkenton who could carve up defenses with arm and legs? This team would be New Orleans bound.

Jonathan says: YES

1. Dan Marino

The man with perhaps the quickest release in NFL history. Marino, a nine-time Pro Bowler and MVP, ripped apart defenses for 17 years, including a record-setting 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in 1984. Marino passed for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns over his nearly two-decade career and consistently had the Dolphins in the playoffs. However, despite his success, the team could never quite get over the hump – and of course had the Bills at their early 90s peak to deal with.

Miami has a myriad of weapons that a prime Marino would absolutely torch defenses with – if he had time to throw. Miami allowed 42 sacks in 2024, and as good as Marino was through the air, he wasn’t known for his abilities with his feet. A prime Marino could get this team into the playoffs – but no further.

Jonathan says: NO