Former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana weighed in on the debate about who is the NFL’s greatest-ever quarterback, offering a surprising choice for his all-time No. 1.
Speaking with Men’s Health, Montana boldly stated that ex-Dolphins standout Dan Marino was the best to ever do it at the quarterback position.
“He had a quick release. I had to step into a lot of things to get enough on the ball,” Montana said of Marino. “He had the perfect torque of his upper body and strength to deliver the ball quickly at a fast release with accuracy.”
Montana also mentioned that the era Marino played in had an impact on his decision, citing the fewer rules in place to protect the quarterback.
“I think [Marino] is probably one of the most unsung heroes of the game,” he added. “People don't talk enough about him or realize the numbers that he put up during the times that he put them up."
In 2021, Montana declared Tom Brady as the greatest quarterback of all time after he won his seventh Super Bowl. In 2022, when asked a similar question by The Spun, the 67-year-old hesitated to make the same declaration about Brady.
Now, he’s putting forth Marino’s name for his all-time No. 1 quarterback.
Of course, Montana himself is also in the conversation for the best quarterback of all time, having won four Super Bowls and two MVP awards during his illustrious career.
