Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of the 1980s

At six foot five and 215 pounds, Bernie Kosar was one of the first prototypical drop-back passers to enter the National Football League. Kosar was born in Boardman, Ohio, and was drafted by the in-state Cleveland Browns in the 1985 Supplemental NFL Draft to save the hometown team. Following a collegiate career that saw him named to the Second Team All-American Team, Kosar decided to take his future into his own hands, and his agent and Bernie concocted a plan where he would forego the typical NFL draft and enter the NFL through the Supplemental Draft. This ensured that he would go to the Browns and not the Buffalo Bills who had the first pick in the draft. Kosar instantly became a fan favorite for the Browns, and he played in 12 games as a Rookie and threw for over 1,500 yards. 1986 was a breakout season for Kosar from a statistical standpoint when he threw for over 3,800 yards. He led the team to a first place finish in the AFC only to see it come crashing down when John Elway and the Denver Broncos marched 98 yards for a game winning TD that is known simply as The Drive. Kosar bounced back in 1987 and threw for over 3,000 yards in the 12-game strike shortened NFL season. His next season was cut short by injury. His 1989 comeback was again cut down by the Denver Broncos in the AFC Title Game. Bernie Kosar is still one of the Browns’ most celebrated and beloved players.

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While Randall Cunningham may not have the same gaudy passing stats as some of the other drop back passers on this list, his impact on the National Football League at the quarterback position is undeniable. Coming out of the University of Nevada Las Vegas in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft, Cunningham had a mix of speed and agility that was unheard of for an NFL QB at that time. During his highlight reel career, Cunningham frustrated defenders with his elusiveness, strong arm, and all around God-given talent. Cunningham was brought in to backup Ron Jaworski, and Cunningham had an immediate impact on the game with his ability to scramble and run for big gains coming out of the pocket. In 1987, Randall Cunningham became the Eagles permanent starting quarterback, and he started to make grains in his accuracy and passing numbers. By 1988, Cunningham was considered one of the top quarterbacks in the entire National Football League, and he was named the starter for the National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl that was held in Hawaii. His performance earned him the honor of being named the game’s Most Valuable Player. 1988 was also the year when Randall was able to lead the Eagles to a hard-fought NFC Eastern Division Title. Rockin’ Randall Cunningham’s popularity soared towards the end of the decade, just like the Philadelphia Eagles as a whole, and he passed for over 3,400 yards in each season from 1988 – 1990. After leaving the Eagles, he played five more seasons for the Vikings, the Cowboys and the Ravens. Cunningham finished his career as the NFL’s top rushing quarterback of all time and set the tone for spread football.

Daniel Francis Fouts was a third round draft pick out of the University of Oregon who entered the NFL in 1973. At the start of the decade, Fouts was in the midst of a four year stretch when he threw for over 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. The Chargers, a bumbling franchise before the arrival of Fouts, became an extremely dynamic offense that had a passing attack that was feared by teams throughout the NFL. Over the course of his 16 year career, he was the third quarterback at the time to pass for over 40,000 yards. In 1980 and 1981, Fouts led the chargers to the AFC Conference Championship Game but his team came up short in each of these big games. This was the closest that Fouts would get to the Super Bowl during his career. In 1982, he was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Football Player for his superior performance on the field. Fouts was a starter for one of the NFL’s most memorable contests. While the Ice Bowl may get all of the headlines and time on the NFL Network’s throw back time slots, Fouts and the Chargers took part in the Freeze Bowl where temps below negative fifty degrees seriously hampered the Chargers and their high-flying offense in a 27 – 7 loss to the Bengals. For all of the accomplishments and accolades that he enjoyed during his prolific career, Dan Fouts was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame as one of the members of Canton’s distinguished class of 1993.

While young fans may now know Phil Simms more for his voice and opinions that he offers in the broadcast booth more than his on-field performance, sorry Bronco Fans, Simms was an extremely proficient QB that led an efficient New York Giants team throughout the decade. While some see Simms as little more than a game manager for a dominant defense and a stout running game, most see him as a QB who was an expert decision maker and leader for Bill Parcells and the Giants. After being drafted out of tiny Morehead State in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft, Simms spent his entire professional career with the Giants. Simms was thrust into the starting roll during his rookie season, and he finished second in Rookie-of-the-Year voting. The first half of the 1980s were filled with injuries and inconsistent performance from Simms. Giants’ fans and management were rough on the young QB during this stretch, but it did harden him for the scrutiny that comes with being the starting QB for a football team in the brutal New York market. 1984 was his breakout season when he passed for over 4,000 yards. Simms led the Giants to the Super Bowl in the 1986 – 87 season, and he had one of the finest games of his career on the biggest stage. His 22 of 25 performance sealed his legacy as a clutch performer and erased any doubts about his greatness. His outstanding career stats and impact on the organization led the New York Giants to retire his #11 jersey.

With Joe Cool at the helm, the San Francisco 49ers were perhaps the greatest dynasty in the history of the NFL. Number 16 led the 49ers prolific West Coast Offense to the top of the league during his exciting tenure with the club. Joseph Clifford Montana was born in Pennsylvania, and he went on to play college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Montana battled injuries throughout college, and he was only the 82nd player selected in the 1979 draft. Montana spent his first year and a half in the League in a backup role, and he did not breakout until the 1981 season. He guided the team to a 13-3 record and in the NFC Title Game against the Dallas Cowboys, he hit Dwight Clark for the go ahead touchdown with 51 seconds left that would live on in NFL history as The Catch. The next year he passed for almost 4,000 yards before the team came up short in the NFC Title Game against the Washington Redskins. 1984 was a bounce back year for the Niners who went on to defeat the Miami Dolphins for the title. Montana threw for over 330 yards in the Super Bowl in a performance for the ages. Joe Cool would go on to win two more titles as the starting QB for the Niners, and he finished his career with over 40,000 yards passing and a QB efficiency rating of 92.3. His ability to play at his best under pressure is what has placed Montana at the forefront of the conversation for the title of greatest QB of all time. Montana led the 49ers to a 4-0 record in the Super Bowl.

The 1980s saw some of the finest quarterback play in the history of the NFL, and these ten quarterbacks all left a mark on the game that is still felt today. Quarterbacks will always be compared against Montana, Elway and Marino. It is a marvel that some of their records still stand today in an era where teams throw the ball upwards of 50 times a week on a regular basis. These 10 NFL quarterbacks helped define the position and transform the NFL into a game that is predicated on the pass instead of the run. For their collective effort, this group of players is one of the most respected ever. Fans who missed their play and do not appreciate their greatness should visit YouTube or NFL.com for highlights immediately.