The 10 best quarterbacks in the history of the Green Bay Packers

Few teams have found success at the quarterback position like the Green Bay Packers. Three Packers quarterbacks—Arnie Herber, Bart Starr, and Brett Favre—are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Aaron Rodgers will join them at the conclusion of his career.

Green Bay has enjoyed several successful eras with winning seasons and championship glory, all fueled by elite quarterback play.

The Packers believe in drafting quarterbacks before they need to, giving them time to learn and develop before stepping onto the field as the face of the franchise. Rodgers waited three years behind Favre before building a Hall-of-Fame resume that was even more impressive than his predecessor's.

For a franchise with such a rich history at quarterback, ranking the greatest is no easy task. The Packers are fortunate to have so many all-time greats to choose from.

Criteria for selection

What makes a legendary quarterback?

Career stats? Passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and passer rating play a major role in determining how successful a quarterback is. Football is a team game and requires more than just one player to perform, so individual stats can help paint a clearer picture.

However, numbers don't tell the full story. Some statistics mean more than others, as do records. Wins also matter. Throwing for a bunch of yards means nothing if it doesn't translate to victories. The best quarterbacks tilt the field in their team's favor.

Other factors also count, from iconic plays at the most important times to longevity and legacy. Sustaining success for over a decade is a far greater challenge than doing it for a few seasons. All of these variables were considered when putting together our rankings. The Packers have enjoyed decades of elite quarterback play with franchise legends who check every box.

No single metric defines a great quarterback. Stats, performances, talent, win/loss records, championships, and moments all count.

The top 10 quarterbacks in Packers history

10. Matt Flynn (2008-2011, 2013-2014)

Matt Flynn is more than just a former Packers backup quarterback. He is a record-holder. Aaron Rodgers is the only other quarterback in franchise history to match Flynn's record of six touchdown passes in a single game. Flynn raised the bar in a stunning 45-41 victory over the Detroit Lions to close out the 2011 regular season. He completed 31 of 44 passes for 480 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception.

Flynn was never a full-time starter and doesn't check the box for longevity, but he created moments that last a lifetime.

In 2013, with Rodgers out due to a broken collarbone, the Packers called on Flynn. He came off the bench to lead a 16-point comeback in a 26-26 tie with the Minnesota Vikings. A week later, he led Green Bay to a stunning come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Falcons and then overturned a 26-3 halftime deficit to stun the Dallas Cowboys. These performances weren't just for fun. It saved the Packers' season while Rodgers recovered.

Flynn only started six games for the Packers, but his performances had a significant impact.

9. Tobin Rote (1950-1956)

Tobin Rote didn't get much help from his supporting cast, but he still put up impressive numbers during his seven-year run in Green Bay. This is highlighted by the fact he won an NFL championship with the Detroit Lions in his first season after leaving the Packers.

Quarterbacks in today's NFL need the ability to make plays on the ground. Rote was doing this in the 1950s. Along with throwing for 11,535 yards, 89 touchdowns, and 119 interceptions, he also rushed for 2,205 yards and 29 touchdowns for the Packers.

His rushing ability stressed defenses, but Rote also made an impact as a passer. To this day, he ranks fifth all-time in passing touchdowns and passing touchdowns for the Packers. Had Rote had the opportunity to play in the more talented Packers teams that came in the years ahead, he may have posted even better numbers.

8. Jordan Love (2020-present)

Jordan Love makes the top 10 after only one season as a starter. The former first-round pick overcame a slow start to display MVP potential in the second half of the year, raising fans' hopes that the Packers may have hit the quarterback jackpot three times in a row.

Alongside the youngest offense in football, Love stepped up to throw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 17 starts. Most impressively, he threw 18 touchdowns with only one pick in a 6-2 finish to the season.

Packers fans are most excited by Love's performance in the stunning wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 76.2 percent of his passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, earning an almost perfect passer rating of 157.2. Love has superstar potential and will quickly climb these rankings if his late-season performances are a sign of what's to come.

7. Cecil Isbell (1938-1942)

Cecil Isbell may have only played five seasons in the NFL, but his impact is undeniable. He did it all.

Not only was Isbell a fantastic passer, throwing for 5,945 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 52 interceptions across 54 games, but he also rushed for 1,522 yards and 10 scores. He punted, kicked, and played defense, making nine interceptions across three seasons. He could do everything.

From 1938 to 1942, Isbell became an NFL champion, a five-time All-Pro, and four-time Pro Bowler, and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns twice. He also became the NFL's first 2,000-yard passer. It earned Isbell a place in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team. Had he continued to play, there's a great chance Isbell would've become a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Longevity is the only thing preventing Isbell from climbing higher in our rankings, but he made a significant impact in only five seasons with the Packers.

6. Don Majkowski (1987-1992)

Don Majkowski didn't have the same longevity as some of the other quarterbacks on this list, but he produced many memorable moments during his six-year stay in Green Bay.

Majkowski reached an elite level in the 1989 season, throwing for 4,318 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions while leading the NFL in passing yards. The Packers went 10-6, their only winning record across a 13-year stretch.

However, the former 10th-round pick was hit with awful injury luck in the seasons that followed, with Majkowski starting only 19 games across the next three years. He threw 15 touchdowns with 22 interceptions in that time, and the Packers went 7-12.

While his time in Green Bay didn't end the way he hoped, Majkowski provided plenty of great memories, especially in 1989. He finished his career ranked sixth all-time for the Packers in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns.

5. Lynn Dickey (1976-1985)

Before there was Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre or Don Majkowski, Lynn Dickey was lighting up defenses while wearing the green and gold. Dickey spent nine seasons in Green Bay after beginning his career as a backup for the Houston Texans.

Turn on YouTube, and it may feel a little strange watching Dickey throwing passes in the No. 12 jersey, later to be worn by Rodgers. But before Rodgers was building his Hall of Fame resume, Dickey was among the NFL's best passers. He threw 133 touchdown passes during his nine-year stay with the Packers, a record that ranks fourth in franchise history.

While Dickey was an outstanding passer, his lack of mobility and issues protecting the football prevented him from reaching the next level. Dickey averaged 0.9 rushing yards per game during his Packers tenure. For comparison, Rodgers averaged 15.3 yards per game. Dickey rushed for just 98 yards in 105 games. He also threw 151 interceptions for the Packers, including a league-high 29 in 1983.

However, the good far outweighed the bad. In the same 1983 season, Dickey led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. Only Rodgers, Favre, and Bart Starr have more passing yards and touchdowns for the Packers than Dickey.

4. Arnie Herber (1930-1940)

The Packers have enjoyed many legendary quarterback-receiver combinations over the years, from Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams to Brett Favre and Sterling Sharpe. Before them, Arnie Herber and Don Hutson combined to dominate the league. Their first connection was an 83-yard touchdown against the Chicago Bears, and the rest was history.

With Herber, the Packers' offense changed the game with their use of the forward pass. He led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns three times and had the best yards-per-game average on four occasions. And that's not factoring in his first two seasons when the league didn't record statistics.

Herber helped the Packers win four NFL championships while earning three All-Pro honors and one All-Star selection. He is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and made the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team.

He was ahead of his time, quickly becoming the league's best passer. Herber destroyed defenses with the deep ball, often finding Hutson. Together, defenses had no answer for them. Herber spent 11 seasons with the Packers and will forever be remembered as one of the team's greatest-ever passers.

3. Brett Favre (1992-2007)

The Packers have enjoyed three decades of success, and it all started with the right arm of Brett Favre. General manager Ron Wolf sent a first-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Favre in 1992, a franchise-changing decision.

Favre leads the Packers all-time in passing yards and trails only Aaron Rodgers in touchdown passes. With three MVPs, 11 Pro Bowls, six All-Pros, a Super Bowl ring, and countless records, Favre is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he deservedly earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His aggressive approach led to some of the most incredible throws you could ever wish to see, but also plenty of interceptions. Favre led the league in passing touchdowns four times and in interceptions three times. Still, his 61,655 yards, 442 touchdowns, and 286 interceptions make him one of the best to wear the green and gold.

When you think of Favre, you think moments.

Arguably his greatest performance came in 2003. Just one day after the death of his father, Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in a near-perfect performance against the Oakland Raiders. How about his 54-yard touchdown pass to Andre Risdon in Super Bowl XXXI, or when he dived into the end zone on a nine-yard scramble to beat the Atlanta Falcons and keep the Packers' playoff hopes alive in 1994?

Favre started 253 consecutive games for the Packers, a record that will never be broken.

2. Bart Starr (1956-1971)

When we broke down the criteria for these rankings, we factored in statistics, wins, championships, talent, and moments. Bart Starr checked every box.

Despite playing in a different era that featured far less passing, Starr still ranks third all-time in Packers history for passing yards and touchdown passes. His resume is as good as any quarterback to play the game, helping Green Bay win five NFL championships and two Super Bowls. He was named Super Bowl MVP twice, made four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams and was named the NFL MVP in 1966. Four times, Starr led the league in passer rating.

He posted great numbers and played a starring role in the Packers' dominance throughout the 1960s, but what about moments?

Well, Starr's quarterback sneak in the Ice Bowl is among the most iconic plays in league history. Despite the wind chill reaching minus-48 degrees, Starr led a game-winning drive finished off by his legendary quarterback sneak to get into the end zone.

Starr saved his best for the postseason. After losing his first playoff start, Starr led the Packers to nine straight victories, throwing for 1,753 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in the postseason. He is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the Packers' all-time greats.

1. Aaron Rodgers (2005-2022)

Aaron Rodgers could be the most talented quarterback to ever play the game. During his 15-year run as the starting quarterback, fans sat in astonishment as Rodgers made throws that seemed impossible. He is the Roger Federer or Lionel Messi of the NFL. He doesn't just post incredible numbers, but does it with elegance and style.

A simple flick of the wrist could result in the most incredible of touchdown passes. Picture perfect.

Not only did Rodgers land four MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, and five All-Pros while setting countless NFL and franchise records, he created moments that will last a lifetime.

Rodgers turned into a superhero in a playoff run for the ages, resulting in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV triumph. He saved games—and seasons—by mastering the art of the Hail Mary pass. He ran the table, he R-E-L-A-X-ed, he drew up plays in the huddle to take down the Dallas Cowboys, and he led a 20-point comeback to beat the Chicago Bears on one leg.

While Rodgers is often criticized for "only" winning one Super Bowl, he played the quarterback position at a level only a few in NFL history can match. He left Green Bay with a franchise-best 475 touchdown passes, 59,055 passing yards, and just 105 interceptions. Rodgers holds several league records, including the highest single-season passer rating (122.5 in 2011) and the lowest interception percentage in a season (0.3 in 2018).

In terms of statistics and numbers, Rodgers sits at the top of the NFL mountain among the best to ever play the game. He brought winning football to Green Bay, helping the team reach the postseason 11 times in 15 seasons, including a Super Bowl victory. And as importantly, Rodgers created moments that will stick with Packers fans forever.

The 10 best quarterbacks in Packers history by touchdown passes