NBC football analyst Chris Simms has drawn the ire of NFL fans for his controversial ranking of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, based solely on the prime of their careers. Simms placed Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning at No. 1, with Tom Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback, ranked at No. 9.
Simms' list also included Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, John Elway, Brett Favre, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Dan Marino, Brady, and Roger Staubach. The analyst's decision to rank Brady so low, and to place rising stars like Allen and Jackson ahead of established legends, ignited a firestorm in online fan communities.
Many fans took to social media to criticize Simms' criteria and his placement of Brady. One user pointed to Brady's 2007 season, where he threw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns while leading the New England Patriots to an undefeated regular season, and his age-44 season performance of 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns, arguing that Brady's prime extended for an exceptionally long period.
Other fans questioned Simms' objectivity, with one user posting, "What did Tom Brady do to make Chris Simms hate him." The general sentiment from many commenters was that the list was a "joke" or lacked clarity in its criteria, with some questioning the high placement of John Elway and the inclusion of Roger Staubach.
While the majority of reactions were critical, a few users defended Simms' rankings. One commenter agreed that Manning was the better quarterback, citing Brady's own past acknowledgments of Manning's skill early in their careers. However, this viewpoint was overshadowed by widespread disagreement, particularly regarding the placement of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson above both Brady and Dan Marino.
Simms, a former NFL player and coaching assistant, has been a prominent football analyst for NBC. The debate over quarterback rankings is a common occurrence among NFL fans, especially during the offseason, highlighting the passionate engagement with the sport's history and its star players.