Career RANY/A Rankings

by Chase Stuart on March 23, 2015

in Quarterbacks, Statgeekery, Statistics

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“Yes, those ranks would be closer if we looked only at their numbers while with the Raiders.) Speaking of the AFL, Len Dawson fares fantastically well in this analysis. One reason is because he was so consistent: the Chiefs Hall of Famer didn’t have bad seasons at the beginning or end of h…”

Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt is my preferred basic measurement of quarterback play. ANY/A is simply yards per attempt, but includes sacks and sack yardage lost, and provides a 20-yard bonus for touchdowns and a 45-yard penalty for interceptions.

RANY/A, or Relative ANY/A, measures a quarterback’s ANY/A average to league average. Let’s use Aaron Rodgers as an example. This past season, he threw 520 passes and gained 4,381 yards and 38 touchdowns, while throwing five interceptions and being sacked 28 times for 174 yards. That translates to an 8.65 ANY/A average, best in the NFL in 2014.

The league average rate in 2014 was a record-high 6.14 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt; as a result, this means that Rodgers averaged 2.52 ANY/A above average, or had a RANY/A of +2.52. ((Difference due to rounding.)) But that is just for one season. To measure Rodgers’ career RANY/A, we need to do that for every season of his career, and weight his RANY/A in each season by his number of dropbacks.

For example, Rodgers had 14.7% of his career dropbacks come in 2014, which means 14.7% of his career RANY/A is based off of the number +2.52. During his other MVP season in 2011, Rodgers had a RANY/A of 3.49 on just 10 fewer dropbacks; as a result, 14.4% of his career RANY/A is based off of +3.49. If you multiply his RANY/A in each year by the percentage of dropbacks he had in that season relative to his entire career, and sum those results, you will get a player’s career RANY/A. Here, take a look:

Year	Att	Yd	TD	INT	Sk	SkYd	ANY/A	LgAvg	RANY/A	DB Perc	WtAvg
2005	16	65	0	1	3	28	-0.42	5.34	-5.76	0.5%	-0.03
2006	15	46	0	0	3	18	1.56	5.38	-3.82	0.5%	-0.02
2007	28	218	1	0	3	24	6.9	5.52	1.39	0.8%	0.01
2008	536	4038	28	13	34	231	6.64	5.7	0.93	15.3%	0.14
2009	541	4434	30	7	50	306	7.47	5.65	1.82	15.8%	0.29
2010	475	3922	28	11	31	193	7.5	5.73	1.77	13.5%	0.24
2011	502	4643	45	6	36	219	9.39	5.9	3.49	14.4%	0.5
2012	552	4295	39	8	51	293	7.33	5.93	1.4	16.1%	0.23
2013	290	2536	17	6	21	117	8	5.87	2.13	8.3%	0.18
2014	520	4381	38	5	28	174	8.65	6.14	2.52	14.7%	0.37
Total										100.0%	1.91

I went ahead and performed this calculation for every quarterback in NFL history with at least 1000 career attempts. Note that I excluded AAFC data for these purposes, but included AFL data. Rodgers rates with the 6th highest RANY/A in NFL history.

The top spot belongs to Sid Luckman, and here is how to read the table below. Luckman’s career began in 1939 and ended in 1950. He had 1,744 dropbacks over those years (for all seasons pre-1969, sack data was excluded, so this represents just attempts). Luckman produced 11,486 Adjusted Net Yards, but based on his era, he would have been “expected” to produce 6,223 Adjusted Net Yards. Luckman had a 6.59 ANY/A average, while the league average over his time ((Weighted by his number of dropbacks.)) was 3.57. As a result, Luckman was 3.02 Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt above average.

The below table shows the top 25 players by default, but you can change that using the dropdown box. In addition, the table is fully sortable and searchable.

Rk	Quarterback	First Yr	Last Yr	DB	ANY	EXP ANY	ANY/A	EXP ANY/A	RANY/A
1	Sid Luckman	1939	1950	1744	11486	6223	6.59	3.57	3.02
2	Otto Graham	1946	1955	1565	11029	6393	7.05	4.08	2.96
3	Arnie Herber	1930	1945	1175	4831	1390	4.11	1.18	2.93
4	Sammy Baugh	1937	1952	2995	16491	10160	5.51	3.39	2.11
5	Norm Van Brocklin	1949	1960	2895	19061	13067	6.58	4.51	2.07
6	Aaron Rodgers	2005	2014	3735	28930	21801	7.75	5.84	1.91
7	Peyton Manning	1998	2014	9336	67903	51646	7.27	5.53	1.74
8	Steve Young	1985	1999	4507	30894	23289	6.85	5.17	1.69
9	Roger Staubach	1969	1979	3271	18701	13236	5.72	4.05	1.67
10	Len Dawson	1957	1975	3908	23833	17448	6.1	4.46	1.63
11	Tommy Thompson	1940	1950	1424	7570	5322	5.32	3.74	1.58
12	Joe Montana	1979	1994	5704	37661	28810	6.6	5.05	1.55
13	Johnny Unitas	1956	1973	5260	34064	26290	6.48	5	1.48
14	Sonny Jurgensen	1957	1974	4356	28071	21755	6.44	4.99	1.45
15	Bart Starr	1956	1971	3208	21015	16368	6.55	5.1	1.45
16	Dan Marino	1983	1999	8628	56491	44248	6.55	5.13	1.42
17	Daryle Lamonica	1963	1974	2673	15588	11861	5.83	4.44	1.39
18	Tom Brady	2000	2014	7532	52379	42335	6.95	5.62	1.33
19	Tony Romo	2004	2014	4452	31523	25713	7.08	5.78	1.31
20	Fran Tarkenton	1961	1978	6741	39536	30765	5.87	4.56	1.3
21	Kurt Warner	1998	2009	4330	29075	23472	6.71	5.42	1.29
22	Dan Fouts	1973	1987	5923	34926	27515	5.9	4.65	1.25
23	Frank Ryan	1958	1970	2137	13992	11319	6.55	5.3	1.25
24	Philip Rivers	2004	2014	4963	34489	28650	6.95	5.77	1.18
25	Earl Morrall	1956	1976	2747	16882	13655	6.15	4.97	1.17
26	Drew Brees	2001	2014	7758	53095	44018	6.84	5.67	1.17
27	Y.A. Tittle	1948	1964	3817	22634	18310	5.93	4.8	1.13
28	Don Meredith	1960	1968	2308	14904	12297	6.46	5.33	1.13
29	Ken Anderson	1971	1986	4873	26703	21313	5.48	4.37	1.11
30	Charlie Conerly	1948	1961	2833	15433	12549	5.45	4.43	1.02
31	Bill Nelsen	1963	1972	1955	11086	9234	5.67	4.72	0.95
32	Russell Wilson	2012	2014	1371	9503	8208	6.93	5.99	0.94
33	Tom Flores	1960	1969	1716	9668	8109	5.63	4.73	0.91
34	Bob Waterfield	1945	1952	1617	8029	6564	4.97	4.06	0.91
35	Roman Gabriel	1962	1977	4666	25491	21298	5.46	4.56	0.9
36	Jeff Garcia	1999	2011	3857	24075	20622	6.24	5.35	0.9
37	Trent Green	1997	2008	3999	24964	21387	6.24	5.35	0.89
38	Bob Griese	1967	1980	3696	18874	15571	5.11	4.21	0.89
39	Ben Roethlisberger	2004	2014	5373	35456	30849	6.6	5.74	0.86
40	Bobby Layne	1948	1962	3700	19753	16628	5.34	4.49	0.84
41	Bobby Thomason	1949	1957	1346	6790	5654	5.04	4.2	0.84
42	Joe Namath	1965	1977	3871	20171	16941	5.21	4.38	0.83
43	Mark Rypien	1988	2001	2710	16149	13975	5.96	5.16	0.8
44	Bob Berry	1965	1975	1304	6670	5650	5.12	4.33	0.78
45	Bert Jones	1973	1982	2783	14105	11947	5.07	4.29	0.78
46	Billy Kilmer	1961	1978	3142	15772	13436	5.02	4.28	0.74
47	Matt Schaub	2004	2014	3366	21842	19347	6.49	5.75	0.74
48	John Hadl	1962	1977	4866	24809	21249	5.1	4.37	0.73
49	Jim Kelly	1986	1996	5102	29905	26255	5.86	5.15	0.72
50	Billy Wade	1954	1966	2523	14980	13214	5.94	5.24	0.7
51	Boomer Esiason	1984	1997	5523	32142	28329	5.82	5.13	0.69
52	John Brodie	1957	1973	4538	25368	22307	5.59	4.92	0.67
53	Ed Brown	1954	1965	1987	11430	10150	5.75	5.11	0.64
54	Doug Williams	1978	1989	2591	14079	12488	5.43	4.82	0.61
55	Chad Pennington	2000	2010	2633	16018	14408	6.08	5.47	0.61
56	Milt Plum	1957	1969	2420	14249	12799	5.89	5.29	0.6
57	Brett Favre	1991	2010	10694	63391	57071	5.93	5.34	0.59
58	Matt Ryan	2008	2014	4104	26451	24066	6.45	5.86	0.58
59	Rich Gannon	1987	2004	4508	25974	23506	5.76	5.21	0.55
60	Daunte Culpepper	1999	2009	3497	20667	18803	5.91	5.38	0.53
61	Craig Morton	1965	1982	4159	20353	18161	4.89	4.37	0.53
62	Charley Johnson	1961	1975	3510	18771	16950	5.35	4.83	0.52
63	Steve McNair	1995	2007	4798	27862	25394	5.81	5.29	0.51
64	Warren Moon	1984	2000	7281	41245	37520	5.66	5.15	0.51
65	Jim Hart	1966	1984	5319	25794	23078	4.85	4.34	0.51
66	Terry Bradshaw	1970	1983	4208	20085	18068	4.77	4.29	0.48
67	John Elway	1983	1998	7766	43520	39839	5.6	5.13	0.47
68	James Harris	1969	1979	1250	5507	4922	4.41	3.94	0.47
69	Troy Aikman	1989	2000	4974	28149	25856	5.66	5.2	0.46
70	Bernie Kosar	1985	1996	3638	20206	18577	5.55	5.11	0.45
71	Jim Everett	1986	1997	5180	29137	26825	5.62	5.18	0.45
72	Bill Munson	1964	1979	2056	10441	9532	5.08	4.64	0.44
73	Donovan McNabb	1999	2011	5784	34065	31532	5.89	5.45	0.44
74	Danny White	1976	1988	3191	17036	15682	5.34	4.91	0.42
75	Doug Flutie	1986	2005	2258	12688	11744	5.62	5.2	0.42
76	Steve Grogan	1975	1990	3840	19180	17598	4.99	4.58	0.41
77	Brian Sipe	1974	1983	3663	18199	16706	4.97	4.56	0.41
78	Mark Brunell	1994	2011	5030	28497	26537	5.67	5.28	0.39
79	Bill Kenney	1980	1988	2625	14020	13017	5.34	4.96	0.38
80	Ken Stabler	1970	1984	4074	19314	17771	4.74	4.36	0.38
81	Neil Lomax	1981	1988	3515	18741	17456	5.33	4.97	0.37
82	Colin Kaepernick	2011	2014	1224	7783	7342	6.36	6	0.36
83	Andrew Luck	2012	2014	1913	12108	11445	6.33	5.98	0.35
84	Carson Palmer	2004	2014	5159	31088	29310	6.03	5.68	0.34
85	Elvis Grbac	1994	2001	2574	14202	13421	5.52	5.21	0.3
86	Paul Christman	1945	1950	1140	5034	4689	4.42	4.11	0.3
87	Eddie LeBaron	1952	1963	1796	9134	8605	5.09	4.79	0.29
88	Neil O'Donnell	1991	2003	3488	19124	18148	5.48	5.2	0.28
89	Jeff Hostetler	1985	1997	2545	13957	13246	5.48	5.2	0.28
90	Pat Haden	1976	1981	1478	6748	6350	4.57	4.3	0.27
91	Brad Johnson	1994	2008	4577	25268	24073	5.52	5.26	0.26
92	Phil Simms	1979	1993	5124	26959	25635	5.26	5	0.26
93	Babe Parilli	1952	1969	3330	16341	15482	4.91	4.65	0.26
94	Joe Theismann	1974	1985	3942	19439	18424	4.93	4.67	0.26
95	Gary Danielson	1976	1988	2115	10428	9916	4.93	4.69	0.24
96	Bobby Hebert	1985	1996	3299	17548	16756	5.32	5.08	0.24
97	Jim McMahon	1982	1996	2799	14754	14099	5.27	5.04	0.23
98	Jack Kemp	1957	1969	3094	15076	14401	4.87	4.65	0.22
99	Jake Delhomme	1999	2011	3100	17683	17019	5.7	5.49	0.21
100	George Blanda	1949	1975	4019	19081	18246	4.75	4.54	0.21
101	Steve Beuerlein	1988	2003	3660	19822	19069	5.42	5.21	0.21
102	David Garrard	2002	2013	2460	14238	13768	5.79	5.6	0.19
103	Robert Griffin	2012	2014	1164	7144	6927	6.14	5.95	0.19
104	Jay Schroeder	1985	1994	3016	15883	15351	5.27	5.09	0.18
105	Dave Krieg	1980	1998	5805	30618	29606	5.27	5.1	0.17
106	Norm Snead	1961	1976	4447	22408	21684	5.04	4.88	0.16
107	Eli Manning	2004	2014	5889	34630	33688	5.88	5.72	0.16
108	Ron Jaworski	1974	1989	4480	21564	20897	4.81	4.66	0.15
109	Marc Bulger	2002	2009	3425	19206	18721	5.61	5.47	0.14
110	Ken O'Brien	1984	1993	3955	20590	20062	5.21	5.07	0.13
111	Cotton Davidson	1954	1968	1752	8360	8166	4.77	4.66	0.11
112	Tommy Kramer	1977	1990	3900	19261	18954	4.94	4.86	0.08
113	Jeff George	1990	2001	4325	22906	22585	5.3	5.22	0.07
114	Erik Kramer	1987	1999	2421	12834	12659	5.3	5.23	0.07
115	Jim Zorn	1976	1987	3362	15405	15162	4.58	4.51	0.07
116	Stan Humphries	1989	1997	2660	14009	13820	5.27	5.2	0.07
117	Cam Newton	2011	2014	2075	12496	12361	6.02	5.96	0.07
118	Byron Leftwich	2003	2012	1697	9350	9243	5.51	5.45	0.06
119	Rudy Bukich	1953	1968	1190	6323	6257	5.31	5.26	0.06
120	Craig Erickson	1992	1997	1174	6200	6141	5.28	5.23	0.05
121	Steve DeBerg	1978	1998	5320	26512	26252	4.98	4.93	0.05
122	Matthew Stafford	2009	2014	3260	19413	19277	5.95	5.91	0.04
123	Tobin Rote	1950	1966	2907	13215	13105	4.55	4.51	0.04
124	Matt Hasselbeck	1999	2014	5418	30189	29985	5.57	5.53	0.04
125	Steve Bartkowski	1975	1986	3812	17808	17707	4.67	4.65	0.03
126	Brian Griese	1998	2008	2989	16039	15978	5.37	5.35	0.02
127	Aaron Brooks	2000	2006	3198	17127	17071	5.36	5.34	0.02
128	Jim Finks	1949	1955	1382	5762	5740	4.17	4.15	0.02
129	Tony Eason	1983	1990	1741	8717	8693	5.01	4.99	0.01
130	Jay Cutler	2006	2014	4127	23932	23876	5.8	5.79	0.01
131	Jeff Blake	1992	2005	3489	18386	18345	5.27	5.26	0.01
132	Randall Cunningham	1985	2001	4773	24552	24617	5.14	5.16	-0.01
133	Chris Chandler	1988	2004	4385	22724	22785	5.18	5.2	-0.01
134	Scott Mitchell	1991	2001	2501	13065	13116	5.22	5.24	-0.02
135	Joe Flacco	2008	2014	3898	22732	22821	5.83	5.85	-0.02
136	Greg Landry	1968	1984	2610	10924	10987	4.19	4.21	-0.02
137	Joe Ferguson	1973	1990	4831	21622	21805	4.48	4.51	-0.04
138	Gus Frerotte	1994	2008	3313	17473	17602	5.27	5.31	-0.04
139	Steve Bono	1985	1999	1777	9224	9311	5.19	5.24	-0.05
140	Vinny Testaverde	1987	2007	7118	36726	37268	5.16	5.24	-0.08
141	Lynn Dickey	1971	1985	3422	15664	15925	4.58	4.65	-0.08
142	Jay Fiedler	1995	2005	1831	9520	9661	5.2	5.28	-0.08
143	Andy Dalton	2011	2014	2231	13073	13284	5.86	5.95	-0.09
144	Drew Bledsoe	1993	2006	7184	37226	37995	5.18	5.29	-0.11
145	Michael Vick	2001	2014	3457	18972	19389	5.49	5.61	-0.12
146	Wade Wilson	1981	1998	2645	13165	13496	4.98	5.1	-0.13
147	Shaun Hill	2005	2014	1265	7153	7313	5.65	5.78	-0.13
148	Mike Tomczak	1985	1999	2451	12260	12601	5	5.14	-0.14
149	Charlie Batch	1998	2012	1765	9075	9337	5.14	5.29	-0.15
150	Steve Pelluer	1984	1990	1055	5125	5284	4.86	5.01	-0.15
151	Chris Miller	1987	1999	3101	15663	16157	5.05	5.21	-0.16
152	Ty Detmer	1993	2003	1013	5070	5235	5	5.17	-0.16
153	Mike Livingston	1968	1979	1903	7288	7602	3.83	3.99	-0.17
154	Jim Harbaugh	1987	2000	4279	21471	22205	5.02	5.19	-0.17
155	Vince Ferragamo	1977	1986	1709	7991	8299	4.68	4.86	-0.18
156	John Friesz	1990	2000	1438	7222	7499	5.02	5.22	-0.19
157	Kyle Orton	2005	2014	2877	15936	16504	5.54	5.74	-0.2
158	Kerry Collins	1995	2011	6598	34032	35392	5.16	5.36	-0.21
159	Jason Campbell	2006	2014	2688	14715	15271	5.47	5.68	-0.21
160	Jim Miller	1995	2002	1086	5474	5702	5.04	5.25	-0.21
161	Jake Plummer	1997	2006	4634	23493	24586	5.07	5.31	-0.24
162	Jim Plunkett	1971	1986	4081	16973	17957	4.16	4.4	-0.24
163	Gary Cuozzo	1963	1972	1237	5386	5697	4.35	4.61	-0.25
164	Adrian Burk	1950	1956	1079	4216	4537	3.91	4.2	-0.3
165	Gary Hogeboom	1980	1989	1443	6826	7296	4.73	5.06	-0.33
166	Jon Kitna	1997	2013	4765	23713	25480	4.98	5.35	-0.37
167	Josh Freeman	2009	2013	2131	11626	12427	5.46	5.83	-0.38
168	Don Majkowski	1987	1996	2085	9947	10808	4.77	5.18	-0.41
169	Damon Huard	1998	2008	1040	5181	5613	4.98	5.4	-0.42
170	Vince Young	2006	2011	1387	7140	7725	5.15	5.57	-0.42
171	Steve Ramsey	1970	1976	1031	3735	4176	3.62	4.05	-0.43
172	Alex Smith	2005	2014	3429	18257	19747	5.32	5.76	-0.43
173	Richard Todd	1976	1985	3231	13718	15153	4.25	4.69	-0.44
174	Frank Reich	1985	1998	1000	4752	5211	4.75	5.21	-0.46
175	Rodney Peete	1989	2004	2590	12346	13560	4.77	5.24	-0.47
176	Archie Manning	1971	1984	4038	15534	17463	3.85	4.32	-0.48
177	Matt Cassel	2005	2014	2551	13492	14725	5.29	5.77	-0.48
178	Tony Banks	1996	2005	2583	12138	13432	4.7	5.2	-0.5
179	David Woodley	1980	1985	1384	6052	6801	4.37	4.91	-0.54
180	Tommy Maddox	1992	2005	1294	6076	6797	4.7	5.25	-0.56
181	Eric Hipple	1980	1989	1706	7473	8435	4.38	4.94	-0.56
182	Al Dorow	1954	1962	1207	4803	5484	3.98	4.54	-0.56
183	Quincy Carter	2001	2004	1040	4871	5475	4.68	5.26	-0.58
184	Ryan Fitzpatrick	2005	2014	3097	16173	18058	5.22	5.83	-0.61
185	Tarvaris Jackson	2006	2014	1156	5891	6606	5.1	5.71	-0.62
186	Ryan Tannehill	2012	2014	1801	9652	10776	5.36	5.98	-0.62
187	Bubby Brister	1986	2000	2405	10930	12464	4.54	5.18	-0.64
188	Derek Anderson	2006	2014	1613	8062	9102	5	5.64	-0.64
189	Marc Wilson	1980	1990	2291	10011	11521	4.37	5.03	-0.66
190	Jim Ninowski	1958	1969	1049	4787	5481	4.56	5.23	-0.66
191	Lamar McHan	1954	1963	1442	6049	7004	4.19	4.86	-0.66
192	Dick Wood	1962	1966	1194	4978	5779	4.17	4.84	-0.67
193	Steve Spurrier	1967	1976	1233	4344	5176	3.52	4.2	-0.67
194	Sam Bradford	2010	2014	1880	9713	11000	5.17	5.85	-0.68
195	Kordell Stewart	1995	2005	2528	11458	13201	4.53	5.22	-0.69
196	Kent Graham	1992	2001	1439	6417	7448	4.46	5.18	-0.72
197	Steve Walsh	1989	1999	1357	6151	7149	4.53	5.27	-0.74
198	Pete Beathard	1964	1973	1323	4903	5881	3.71	4.45	-0.74
199	Billy Joe Tolliver	1989	1999	1832	8183	9579	4.47	5.23	-0.76
200	Dan Pastorini	1971	1983	3301	11101	13617	3.36	4.13	-0.76
201	Rex Grossman	2003	2013	1654	7954	9264	4.81	5.6	-0.79
202	Mike Pagel	1982	1993	1624	6722	8060	4.14	4.96	-0.82
203	Tim Couch	1999	2003	1880	8277	9837	4.4	5.23	-0.83
204	Vince Evans	1977	1995	1508	6291	7561	4.17	5.01	-0.84
205	Trent Dilfer	1994	2007	3435	15243	18155	4.44	5.29	-0.85
206	Frank Tripucka	1949	1963	1745	6082	7568	3.49	4.34	-0.85
207	Steve Dils	1979	1988	1052	4341	5246	4.13	4.99	-0.86
208	Steve Fuller	1979	1986	1218	4823	5874	3.96	4.82	-0.86
209	Mark Sanchez	2009	2014	2325	11581	13625	4.98	5.86	-0.88
210	Chad Henne	2008	2014	2103	10318	12217	4.91	5.81	-0.9
211	Mark Malone	1980	1989	1734	7059	8639	4.07	4.98	-0.91
212	Hugh Millen	1987	1995	1054	4475	5435	4.25	5.16	-0.91
213	David Whitehurst	1977	1983	1079	3732	4721	3.46	4.38	-0.92
214	Josh McCown	2002	2014	1812	8597	10266	4.74	5.67	-0.92
215	Jack Trudeau	1986	1995	1747	7261	8908	4.16	5.1	-0.94
216	Bob Avellini	1975	1984	1220	3705	4921	3.04	4.03	-1
217	Zeke Bratkowski	1954	1971	1485	6143	7644	4.14	5.15	-1.01
218	Joey Harrington	2002	2007	2662	11678	14379	4.39	5.4	-1.01
219	Dave Wilson	1981	1988	1138	4408	5630	3.87	4.95	-1.07
220	David Carr	2002	2012	2534	10993	13715	4.34	5.41	-1.07
221	J.P. Losman	2004	2011	1060	4612	5767	4.35	5.44	-1.09
222	Dave Brown	1992	2001	1815	7513	9573	4.14	5.27	-1.13
223	Randy Johnson	1966	1976	1358	4697	6253	3.46	4.6	-1.15
224	Randy Wright	1984	1988	1204	4558	6002	3.79	4.99	-1.2
225	Joe Pisarcik	1977	1984	1010	3027	4282	3	4.24	-1.24
226	Scott Brunner	1980	1985	1117	4089	5482	3.66	4.91	-1.25
227	Jack Concannon	1964	1975	1160	3754	5284	3.24	4.56	-1.32
228	Christian Ponder	2011	2014	1152	5297	6819	4.6	5.92	-1.32
229	Dennis Shaw	1970	1975	1048	2915	4302	2.78	4.1	-1.32
230	Kyle Boller	2003	2011	1642	6659	9016	4.06	5.49	-1.44
231	Rick Mirer	1993	2003	2242	8511	11752	3.8	5.24	-1.45
232	Mike Phipps	1970	1981	1971	5232	8231	2.65	4.18	-1.52
233	Danny Kanell	1996	2003	1019	3707	5317	3.64	5.22	-1.58
234	Mike Taliaferro	1964	1972	1011	2659	4499	2.63	4.45	-1.82
235	Bobby Douglass	1969	1978	1358	2998	5576	2.21	4.11	-1.9

Even excluding his AAFC days, Otto Graham still produced absurdly dominant numbers. And Norm Van Brocklin continues to shine in this sort of analysis. From 1950 to 1955 — i.e., the whole of Graham’s career — there were two quarterbacks who were far ahead of the rest of the league, at least statistically. The great Graham/Van Brocklin debate continues unabated…

Since you no doubt already looked…. Peyton Manning ranks 7th, while Brady ranks 18th. Tony Romo is just a hair behind Brady at 19, while Philip Rivers narrowly edges out Drew Brees to round out the top five among active quarterbacks.

Considering this analysis ignores sack data from pre-1969, and does not exclude the bad years, the fact that Joe Namath still ranks 42nd is pretty impressive, at least to me. Namath finished his career with a 5.21 ANY/A average, but was at 5.84 prior to his final three seasons. He remains football’s most misunderstood quarterback. Other well-remembered quarterbacks who had really bad years at the beginnings or ends of their career like Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw fare even worse in this metric.

Joe Montana ranks 12th, and 6th if you remove the quarterbacks who entered the league prior to 1950. He’s even slightly ahead of Dan Marino. It bears repeating, since it seems so often lost: Joe Montana was one of the greatest regular season quarterbacks of all time, at least statistically.

Daryle Lamonica ranks 17th; Rich Gannon is 59th; Ken Stabler is 80th; Jim Plunkett is 162nd. You know who I think the best Raiders quarterback of all time really was. ((Yes, those ranks would be closer if we looked only at their numbers while with the Raiders.)

Speaking of the AFL, Len Dawson fares fantastically well in this analysis. One reason is because he was so consistent: the Chiefs Hall of Famer didn’t have bad seasons at the beginning or end of his career.

Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas are neck-and-neck in these rankings. Unitas actually has a slightly worse career ANY/A average, but jumps ahead of Starr due to playing in a slightly tougher era.

What stands out to you?

Tagged as: ANY/A, RANY/A

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