Green Bay Packers: Top Quarterbacks of All Time

In the storied history of the Green Bay Packers, a few quarterbacks stand taller, defining the team's success and embodying the spirit of one of the NFL's most cherished franchises. From the precision and poise of Bart Starr to the dynamic play of Aaron Rodgers, these signal-callers have not just led the team but have become legends, leaving a significant mark on the game.

Their journeys, filled with triumphs and challenges, paint a vivid picture of leadership and legacy, setting the stage for a closer look at those who have shaped the Packers' storied legacy.

The Pillars of Green Bay: A Legacy of Quarterback Excellence

At the forefront of the Packers' rich quarterback history stands Bart Starr, a name synonymous with resilience and tactical brilliance. Leading the team to five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls, Starr's legacy is etched in football history. His calm demeanor under pressure, especially in the legendary "Ice Bowl," exemplified the essence of a leader.

Following in his footsteps, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers further elevated the Packers' status with their unique blend of talent, determination, and flair, each securing MVP titles and Super Bowl victories, showcasing the evolving excellence at the quarterback position in Green Bay.

  • Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers, known for his unmatched precision and intelligence on the field, embodies the legacy of his time with the Packers. From taking the reins as the starting quarterback, he redefined the role with his remarkable ability to dissect defenses and consistently deliver game-winning plays. His storied career is punctuated by multiple MVP awards and a Super Bowl XLV victory, underscoring his brilliance and pivotal role in maintaining the Packers' competitive edge.

With many career highlights and awards under his belt, including a four-time winner of the NFL Most Valuable Player title, his 20-year NFL career makes him the quarterback to watch in the 2024 season. Currently playing for the New York Jets, Rodgers has become a firm favorite amongst fans of sports betting in New York, as he is eager and ready to come back from his injury setback from last season.

  • Brett Favre

Brett Favre's tenure with the Green Bay Packers is marked by an indomitable spirit and a passion that electrified Lambeau Field every game day. Known for his ironman streak, Favre started every game for the Packers from 1992 to 2007, showcasing durability that is rare in the brutal world of professional football.

His ability to turn seemingly impossible situations into memorable victories earned him three MVP awards and led the team to a Super Bowl XXXI win. Favre's gunslinger mentality, combined with his genuine love for the game, made him a fan favorite and a pivotal figure in the Packers' storied history, bridging the gap between the legends of the past and the stars of the future.

  • Bart Starr

Bart Starr, whose tenure with the Green Bay Packers spanned from 1956 to 1971, is a figure etched in football history as a paragon of leadership and clutch performance, cementing himself as a member of the Packers’ Hall of Fame. Commanding the Packers through the glory days of the Vince Lombardi era, Starr led the team to an unprecedented five NFL championships, which included back-to-back victories in the first two Super Bowls.

Starr was not merely a player with a strong arm; he was a tactician, known for his meticulous preparation and ability to read the game better than most of his contemporaries. Awarded the NFL MVP in 1966 and beloved by Packers fans for his down-to-earth demeanor and leadership on and off the field, Starr’s legacy is a testament to his enduring impact on the Packers and the game at large. His number 15 jersey is not just a number, but a symbol of excellence and the golden age of Packers football.

  • Lynn Dickey

Lynn Dickey's tenure with the Green Bay Packers, though often overshadowed by the towering legacies of his quarterback predecessors, was marked by a formidable passing game that left an indelible mark on the 1980s era of the franchise. From 1976 to 1985, Dickey's arm strength and downfield vision brought a high-octane dimension to the Packers' offense.

Despite challenges, including a difficult recovery from a broken leg, Dickey's resilience and determination to excel never wavered. His 1983 season stands out, where he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns, showcasing the skill and grit that Packers fans came to admire.

  • Don Majkowski

In the late 1980s, Don Majkowski brought a spark to the Green Bay Packers that rekindled the team's competitive fire. Known affectionately as "The Majik Man," Majkowski's biggest one year wonder for the Packers, the 1989 Pro Bowl season, remains a high point, as he led the league in passing yards and touchdowns.

His ability to electrify Lambeau Field with last-minute heroics and playmaking prowess captured the hearts of Packers fans. While his time as a premier quarterback was brief, due to injuries, Majkowski's impact was profound, setting the stage for the future successes that were to come for the franchise.

 

 

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Comments (17)

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HawkPacker's picture

March 29, 2024 at 05:56 am

Brings back a lot of memories.

The surprising thing to me is that Lynn Dickey was with the packers that long. It seems to me that he started with Houston and then went to Green Bay?

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vagem55's picture

March 29, 2024 at 06:02 am

With all due respect, I believe Cliff Christl would put a couple from the first 40 years or so ahead of your last two, if we consider more than passing statistics.

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Curt's picture

March 29, 2024 at 08:20 am

Probably need to slide Arnie Herber and Tobin Rote in there someplace. But the list is amazingly short...Cecil Isbell had a short run similar to Majik.

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NFLfan's picture

March 29, 2024 at 09:32 am

When it comes to Green Bay Quarterbacking in the Favre through Love era, I have to mention the unsung hero, Tom Clements.
His job was to pull back on the 'flair' & ego and put mechanics front and center. (I think this approach worked better w/Rodgers and Love)

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LeotisHarris's picture

March 29, 2024 at 11:06 am

He's hardly an unsung hero. And, let's review the Packers QB Coaches "in the Favre through Love Era:"

1992-1995 Steve Mariucci
1996 Marty Mornhinwig
1997 & 1998 Andy Reid
1999 Mike McCarthy
2000-2003 OC/Asst - Rossley/Bevell
2003-2005 Darrell Bevell
2006-2011 Tom Clements
2012-2013 Ben McAdoo
2014-2017 Alex Van Pelt
2019 Frank Cignetti Jr.
2019-2021 Luke Getsy
2022 - present Tom Clements

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NFLfan's picture

March 29, 2024 at 11:47 am

In the wider, non-Green Bay football community, I would venture that very few have heard of Tom Clements and therefore do not know of his impact on GB's last 3 QB's. The other coaches were meaningful, but Tom Clements is the architect of the current QB's form and mechanics as well as that of his 2 predecessors.

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lou's picture

March 29, 2024 at 12:48 pm

I would put Tobin Rote over Dickey and the Majik Man. He was the heart and soul of several poor teams, not only was he a great long passer (to Howton & McGee) but he was the teams best ball carrier, averaged 5 yards a carry and ran for 29 TD's in 7 seasons. The year he was traded to the Lions he won the NFL Championship 59-14 over Otto Graham and the Brown's (even threw a TD off of a fake field goal attempt) and then went on to win an AFL Championship with the Chargers in 1963 over Jack Kemp and the Bill's. In between those seasons he was the top QB in the CFL for Toronto.

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jurp's picture

March 31, 2024 at 04:36 pm

He also played in the CFL's Grey Cup and nearly pulled off the Trifecta of championships in three pro leagues. IIRC, he's the only QB to win titles in the NFL and AFL.

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Bitternotsour's picture

March 31, 2024 at 05:50 pm

George Blanda?

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barutanseijin's picture

March 29, 2024 at 02:31 pm

If one good year gets you on the list, why not 1 game? Matt Flynn made the most of a rare starting opportunity and set a couple Packer single game passing records in the final game of the 2011 season.

Considering the post-SuperbOwl playoff record of the QB ahead of him, they might as well have went with the hot hand and started Flynn against the Giants, too. Yes, ol’ Diva Boy would have thrown a fit, but what the hell, after the confetti in Dallas, it was all just a few farts in the wind anyway.

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sws105's picture

March 29, 2024 at 04:44 pm

Bart Starr….Quarterback rating almost 25 points higher in the playoffs (104) than regular season (80.5). This was at a time when quarterbacks were treated like running backs and offense linemen were not allowed to “hold”. Truly Amazing…….Pro Football’s Best post season and the Packers’ best Quarterback and it’s not even close!!

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HarryHodag's picture

March 30, 2024 at 09:38 am

All the numbers-crazed modern fans think about are all the things that in the end don't matter. What matters is who wins and who loses. Bart Starr was a winner. He didn't show off. You have to keep in mind this was when it was open season on quarterbacks. There were few rules protecting quarterbacks like there are now.(Show famous clip of Alex Karras pile driving Bart in the end zone).
To me, Bart will always be the top Packers quarterback. Two Super Bowl MVP's and championships. Favre one, Rodgers one.
I'm glad they mentioned Lynn Dickey and Don Majkowski, two good qb's. Dickey was hurt a lot and Majkowski threw too many interceptions. There's a modern bias to the article. Don Hutson revolutionized football as the first great NFL wide receiver. There were people throwing him the ball. Arnie Herber and Cecil Isbell weren't called quarterbacks at the time but they did the passing.

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LLCHESTY's picture

March 29, 2024 at 07:46 pm

No Cecil Isbell or Arnie Herbert? Herber lead the league in passing and TDs three times in the 1930s and Isbell was the passer for most of Huston's big years.

Recency bias!!

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Guam's picture

March 30, 2024 at 08:37 am

If they ranked "best QB and human being", Bart Starr would win by miles.

I met Starr a long time ago and he was the most gracious and kind professional athlete I have ever come into contact with. A current golf partner of mine and his wife were good friends of the Starr's for decades and he has nothing but the best things to say about both Bart and Cherry. The Packers were very fortunate to find not only an incredibly talented QB, but an even better person.

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Pack88's picture

March 30, 2024 at 08:45 am

One thing; the phrase Starr and strong arm do not belong in the same sentence. Simply is not true. He was a great, great leader of men and a steel eyed assassin but not strong armed by any means. My all time favorite player and the guy who epitomized thriving under difficult circumstances. How many can still remember, if not for Starr missing that 2nd Bear game in 63 GB probably would have 2 three peats.

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lou's picture

March 30, 2024 at 09:01 am

Their first 3 peat was 1929-30-31 which people forget so they actually have done it twice.

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Leatherhead's picture

March 30, 2024 at 09:23 am

Bart Starr could lead men to victory despite extreme adversity. People like that are rare and valuable.

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