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Just because the NFL regular season doesn’t begin until September doesn’t mean passionate fans have taken a break from debating controversial rosters.
NBC football analyst Chris Simms is currently in the crosshairs of those fans after the 45-year-old ranked the greatest quarterbacks of all time based only on their career bests.
To the shock of many fans, Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, was not at the top of the list. Simms ranked Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning No. 1.
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Tom Brady is seen at CardVault by Tom Brady, opening in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2026. (Michael Simon/Getty Images for CardVault by Tom Brady)
But Brady wasn’t the No. 2 or No. 3 ranked quarterback, either. The New England Patriots legend was ranked by Simms as the No. 9 quarterback he would pick all-time in his prime.
Here is Simms’ full list.
- Staffing
- Patrick Mahomes
- Aaron Rodgers
- John Elway
- Brett Favre
- Josh Allen
- Lamar Jackson
- Dan Marino
- Brady
- Roger Staubach
Simms was taken down in the commentary box for his decision to let Brady lie so low.
“Bro, Brady threw for 5,000 yards and 50 TDs and went 16-0 in his prime and 14 years later threw for 5,300 yards and 43 touchdowns. His prime lasted a decade and a half and was better than anyone’s prime,” one user wrote.
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Tom Brady and Peyton Manning stand in front of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The user was referencing Brady’s 2007 season, when he helped lead the Patriots to an undefeated regular season. Brady led the NFL in completion percentage (68.9), yards (4,806) and touchdowns (50) that season.
The other season the user referenced was Brady’s penultimate season, his age-44 season, when he led the NFL in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43).
Another user wondered if Simms had a personal bias against Brady.
“What did Tom Brady do to make Chris Simms hate him,” the user wrote with a laughing-crying emoji.
Another user called the list “a joke,” while others used emojis to laugh at the absurdity of Brady’s placement.
Another fan questioned the criteria for the controversial list.
“I support anyone who realizes Brady is overrated. That said, what is the criteria for this? Longevity, peak? Eye test? Need more clarity. No idea how Elway is so tall,” the user wrote.
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Tom Brady and Joe Montana watch before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
One X user criticized the list, not because of Brady’s ranking, but because of the exclusion of another Pro Football Hall of Famer.
“Any all-time list without the great Joe Montana is just garbage and should not be taken seriously,” the user wrote.
Simms had one commentator agree with his ranking of Manning over Brady.
“Peyton Manning is the best quarterback of all time and I’m tired of people acting like he’s not. Brady wanted to be as good as Manning for the first four years of his career. Brady said so himself. Manning was absolutely incredible with the Colts. Brady is the best player of all time. His accomplishments are clearly second to none by the user,” Manning wrote.
Other fans took issue with the inclusion of Allen and Jackson on the list.
“Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson over Dan Marino and Tom Brady are so stupid,” wrote one user.
“OMG what a joke Lamar and Josh don’t even belong near this list…” wrote another user.
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Sunday Football Night in America host Chris Simms delivers the pregame show before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Another user questioned Staubach’s presence on the list.
“Brady is 1, Montana 2. Jackson and Allen don’t belong in this group. Elway should be much lower. Not sure if Staubach belongs here either,” the user wrote.
Simms played in the NFL for eight seasons and spent one season as an assistant coach for the Patriots. He played his college football at Texas.
