(last updated on February 14, 2026)

Since 2003, the Seattle Seahawks have made 16 playoff appearances. That includes four Super Bowl trips and two Lombardi Trophies for winning Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl LX. Youngster Mike Macdonald and legendary coaches Mike Holmgren and Pete Carroll have played a big role in Seattle’s sustained successful run over the last few decades, but Chuck Knox also led a decent era of Seahawks football in the mid 80s. For these coaches to secure a lot of wins, they needed some great quarterbacks to do it. Now let’s look down from the Space Needle over the Kingdome, Husky Stadium, and Lumen Field to identify the top quarterbacks of all time for the Seattle Seahawks.

Sam Darnold has only played one season in Seattle, but he led the team to a Super Bowl title, so that immediately gives him a place with the best quarterbacks in Seahawks history. The third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has been passed around like an appetizer tray at a cocktail party for most of his NFL career. After his 2025 season, he may have a home for a while. He led Seattle to a 14-3 regular season and the NFC’s top seed behind 4,000+ passing yards, 25 TD strikes, and a 67.7 completion %. Then in three postseason victories, Darnold went for a total of 5 TDs to 0 INTs and a 102.4 passer rating. Most impressive was his performance in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams: 346 yards passing, 3 TDs, no picks, and a 127.4 passer rating. His Super Bowl LX stats weren’t overwhelming, but he did enough to secure Seattle its second Lombardi Trophy. In one glorious year, Sam Darnold has already earned the honor of a top quarterback in Seahawks history.

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Geno Smith’s name carries with it a kind of journeyman feel, but when Russell Wilson left Seattle, Smith stepped in and quietly become one of the best quarterbacks in Seahawks history. For the first several years of his career, Geno Smith, the 39th overall pick of the 2013 draft by the Jets, bounced around the NFL with marginal results. He came to Seattle in 2020 as a backup, but then he flourished as their starting QB. In 2022, Geno’s first season as the Seattle starter, he led the league in completion % (69.8), threw for 4,282 yards, had 30 TDs to only 11 INTs, and posted a 100.9 passer rating, winning the CPOY award in the process. Plus, he led the Hawks to the playoffs in their first year without Russell Wilson. From 2022 to 2024, he also eclipsed 3,000+ passing yards as he has kept his team in playoff contention (including a career-high 4,320 yards in 2024). Smith’s record as the QB in the Northwest was 28-24, and he is fifth on their all-time passing yards list (12,961). Geno Smith certainly turned his career around in Seattle, and he earned a spot with the top quarterbacks of all time for the Seahawks.

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You always remember your first. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks since their inception know Jim Zorn well. This lefty was the first quarterback for the franchise from 1976 to 1984. Zorn threw for 2,571 yards as a rookie and actually led the league in attempts (439) for a 2-12 expansion team. In 1978, the Seahawks finished 9-7 off of the strength of Zorn’s solid, third-in-MVP-voting season: 3,283 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns. Then he bested those numbers in 1979 with 3,661 yards and 20 TDs as Seattle once again was 9-7. Jim threw for over 10,000 yards in his first four seasons which was a rare feat at that time. As the 1980s came, this QB and the Hawks fell back into losing ways before making their first playoff appearances in ‘83 and ‘84. By that point, Zorn had passed the reins to Dave Krieg, but he left his mark on Seattle. He was inducted in the team’s Ring of Honor in 1991 and is still fourth all time for the team in both passing yards (20,122) and passing TDs (107). Jim Zorn was the first man behind center for Seattle, and he still ranks as one of the best Seahawks quarterbacks of all time.

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If you’re the first QB to ever lead a team to the Super Bowl, then you have a special place with that franchise. Matt Hasselbeck led the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XL and was one of their best quarterbacks ever. Originally a late-round draft pick by the Packers in 1998, Mike Holmgren brought Hasselbeck to Seattle in 2001. Then this BC product had seven seasons of 3,000+ passing yards and got the Seahawks to the playoffs six times between 2003 and 2010. In 2005, Hasselbeck led his team on a magical, 13-3 Super Bowl run. That year he threw for 3,459 yards and 24 touchdowns with career highs in completion % (65.5) and passer rating (98.2). To get the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL, #8 had a superb performance in the NFC Championship Game (a 34-14 romp over Carolina) … a 71.4 completion %, 219 yards in the air, 2 passing TDs, and a 118 passer rating. The Hawks lost to the Steelers in the big game, but Matt established he was a legit NFL quarterback. Only one Seattle QB has thrown for more yards than Hasselbeck’s 29,434, and his 174 TD tosses aren’t bad either. Matt Hasselbeck made his team a regular postseason participant for about a decade, so he definitely earned a spot with the best quarterbacks in Seattle Seahawks history.

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If you’re making a list of under-the-radar quarterbacks in the 1980s, Dave Krieg has to be near the top. Krieg came to Seattle as an undrafted free agent from Milton College in 1980, and when he left 12 seasons later, he was maybe the best quarterback in Seahawks history. When Dave became the starter midway through the 1983 season, he made an immediate impact with 2,139 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes, and a 95 passer rating. He led the team to their first ever playoff appearance and got them to the 1983 AFC Championship Game after wins over Denver and Miami. Then in 1984 #17 led Seattle back to the Divisional Round of the playoffs with perhaps his best season: 3,671 yards passing and 32 TD strikes. He also got the team to the postseason in ‘87 and ‘88. This unheralded QB had four years of 3,000+ passing yards and three Pro Bowl trips as a Seahawk. He also led the NFL in TD% three times (‘83, ‘87, & ‘88) and completion % once (65.6 in ‘91). Dave Krieg’s 70-49 record as the starting quarterback in Seattle shows how he helped the franchise become consistently competitive, and then when you see gaudy numbers like 26,132 passing yards and 195 TD passes, you know this guy was one of the top quarterbacks of all time for the Seahawks.

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Even the most impartially objective observer would have trouble not calling Russell Wilson the best quarterback ever for the Seattle Seahawks. Russ moved on after the 2021 season, but he tops the franchise in virtually all passing categories by a wide margin … a 104-53-1 regular-season record, 37,059 passing yards, 292 passing touchdowns, a 101.8 passer rating, 32 game-winning drives, and many more. He also happened to lead the Seahawks, along with the Legion of Boom, to back-to-back Super Bowl trips and their first Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XLVIII. Some people forget this future Hall of Famer was a third-round pick in 2012, yet he far outlasted Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin. Seattle made the playoffs eight times with Wilson and advanced to at least the Divisional Round six times. In Seattle’s Super Bowl title year of 2013, Wilson threw for 3,357 yards and 26 TDs with a 101.2 passer rating. Robot Russell passed for 3,000+ yards and 20+ TDs all 10 seasons with Seattle. That goes along with an ultra-solid completion % of 65. There’s also the added element of Wilson’s legs and escapability that led to 4,689 ground yards, 23 rushing TDs, and 274 first downs with his feet. We could go on and on about Russ’s accomplishments in Seattle, but what it all strongly indicates is that Russell Wilson is very likely the greatest quarterback of all time for the Seahawks.

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(last updated on February 5, 2026)

The New York Jets have been an NFL franchise since 1970, plus about a decade in the AFL, and in that time, the number of players who appeared on the Jets roster was substantial. The corps of running backs lined up for the team has consisted of bruisers, bangers, and speed demons who have all wreaked havoc on opposing defenses.

As we embark on a journey through the careers of the best running back legends, we will explore the impact of the top five rushers in the NY Jets’ history. With their exceptional athleticism, these players have captivated audiences and left us in awe, becoming beloved figures among fans and inspiring respect and admiration.

This post will delve into each standout player’s accomplishments, impact, and legacy, reminding us of the significant contributions that not only helped shape the Jets’ identity but also cemented their place among the greatest running backs in team history, a legacy all Jets’ fans can be proud of and feel connected to.

We will examine the following regular-season criteria to select the quintet of the franchise’s greatest running backs. This process involves a comprehensive review of rushing yards, overall touchdowns, receptions, and awards with the team. Secondly, if applicable, we will look at playoff numbers with the club, what stats they may have had in the league while not a member of the subject franchise, and any other circumstances or events warranting consideration.

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(last updated on February 3, 2026)

There is a reason they call Green Bay Titletown … 13 NFL championships (including four Super Bowl wins) … that is four more than any other franchise. The Super Bowl trophy is even named after iconic Packers head coach Vince Lombardi. Prior to him there was another legendary coach Curly Lambeau … as in Lambeau Field. Mike Holmgren wasn’t a bad coach either. Their long-time GM Ron Wolf even has a bust in Canton. In addition to these coaching and front office immortals, the Green Bay Packers have been blessed with some special quarterbacks. Three of them would rank high on the all-time list of best QBs in NFL history. And their current young gunslinger is pretty special as well. How about you grab a beer and a brat as we recount the top quarterbacks of all time for the Green Bay Packers.

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(last updated on February 3, 2026)

From the past gridiron greats in the All-America Football Conference to the modern-day NFL stars, the Cleveland Browns have been home to some of the most iconic running backs in football history. Let’s dive into the careers of the top five running backs who have left their mark on the shores of Lake Erie and the franchise’s legacy.

As we trek on this captivating journey through time, we will delve into the careers of the top five running backs in the Cleveland Browns’ history. These players have not only showcased their exceptional athleticism but have also become beloved figures among fans. From the franchise’s early days to the modern era, these running backs have captivated audiences with their performances on the field.

This post will delve into each standout player’s accomplishments, impact, and legacy. Their significant contributions helped shape the Browns’ identity and cemented their place among the greatest running backs in NFL history, a legacy that every Cleveland fan can be proud of.

We will examine the regular-season criteria to select the quintet of the franchise’s best ball toters: rushing yards, overall touchdowns, receptions, and awards while with the team. Secondly, if applicable, we will look at playoff numbers with the club, what stats they may have had in the league while not a member of the subject franchise, and any other circumstances or events warranting consideration. This comprehensive evaluation process ensures that the rankings are well-informed and reliable.

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(last updated on February 3, 2026)

This edition of our series through each current franchise in the National Football League takes us to the Steel City of Pittsburgh. The Steelers franchise started in 1933, and the team and its fans have always had an affection for productive running backs.

This article will explore the careers of the top five running backs in Pittsburgh Steelers history. These players have not only demonstrated outstanding athleticism but have also become iconic figures among fans. From the franchise’s early years to today, these running backs have left an unforgettable mark on the team’s legacy.

We’ll examine each player’s key accomplishments, impact on the team, and lasting influence on the Steelers’ identity. Their performances on the field helped shape the franchise and solidified their places among the greatest running backs in team history.

To determine this elite group, we’ll evaluate several key regular-season metrics, including rushing yards, total touchdowns, receptions, and individual awards earned while with the Steelers. Additionally, we’ll consider their playoff performance with the team and, if relevant, their achievements outside of Pittsburgh—whether in other parts of their NFL careers or noteworthy events that further define their legacies.

Join us as we break down the careers of these standout players who helped shape the rich history of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the running back position itself.

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