Sometimes great quarterbacks just find a way to land on the right team at the right time. Every NFL team is looking for a franchise quarterback but often diamonds emerge from the rough and wind up becoming legends, lead teams to the Super Bowl and win the big game again and again. (Brady and Montana). Sometimes marginally-talented game-managers lead teams to titles. Jimmy Garoppolo (think the Patriots, who seem to make all the right moves, are regretting that trade?, is somewhere in between at this stage, but can join this exclusive group if he can guide the 49ers to a win against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
Here’s a look at the legendary QBs (well, most) who’ve guided their teams to the promised land and helped deliver a Lombardi Trophy.
Ken Stabler
Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1968 draft, the elusive and tough QB out of Alabama, who was nicknamed “Snake”, led the Raiders to a 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.
Joe Montana
Before he became “Joe Cool” while leading the 49ers to four Super Bowl titles and three SB MVP trophies, Montana was an under-the-radar third-round pick (82nd overall) out of Notre Dame.
Jeff Hostetler
Another third-round pick (there’s a theme here; wait until we get to Russell Wilson), “The Hoss” was plucked with the 59th pick in the 1984 draft out of West Virginia (after he’d transferred from Penn State) and later led the Giants to a 20-19 victory over the heavily-favored Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV.
Mark Rypien
Here come the sixth-round picks (shows you what scouts know). Rypien, out of Washington State, was drafted 146th overall in 1986. The long-ball throwing maestro later became MVP of Super Bowl XXVI, leading Washington to a 37-24 win over the Buffalo Bills. He tossed two touchdowns and 292 yards in the win.
Tom Brady
The NFL draft in 2000. The Patriots pull this off in the sixth round?! The 199th selection overall?! (Again — scouts. Shaking my head, like many of us.). Here’s a good piece from USA Today’s Andy Nesbitt from a couple years back about the six quarterbacks drafted before Brady. As you may have read or heard or seen, Tom’s had a solid career.
Brad Johnson
A ninth-round pick out of Florida State, Johnson enjoyed success with the Vikings and the Redskins before landing in Tampa Bay and leading the Bucs to a 48-21 romp over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Drew Brees
His story is unique. After a record-breaking college career at Purdue, Brees was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick, of the second round, number 32 overall. He was a Pro Bowler with the Chargers and then got injured and many experts felt his career was over. He signed with the Saints, led him the franchise’s first and only Super Bowl win (XLIV, after which he was named MVP) and, well, the rest is NFL-record-breaking history.
Russell Wilson
Another interesting journey. Wilson, as you can tell, is a hell of an athlete. He played football and baseball at North Carolina State before transferring to Wisconsin. Success everywhere, somehow he wasn’t selected until the 12th pick in the third round (75th overall) in the 2012 draft. After that, oh just seven Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, the 43-8 beatdown of the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Nick Foles
Another THIRD-ROUND pick (Pay attention NFL scouts!), Foles was selected 88th overall in the 2012 draft out of Arizona. He bounced from the Eagles to the Rams to the Chiefs to back to Philly. And then, when Eagles starting QB Carson Wentz went down with an injury late in the 2017 season, Foles stepped in and led the Eagles to Super Bowl LII. The Birds beat the Pats in a thrilling 41-33 win and Foles was named MVP.
