With QBs that have retired in the last 5 years, there are some interesting HOF debates that I see coming up. Right now the sure-fire HOF guys are Brady, Brees, and Rodgers when he retires. The next tier, however, is a lot more interesting. You have Matt Ryan, Big Ben, and Rivers who are all very close. What’s interesting is that according to Pro Football Reference’s HOF Monitor, they all have fairly similar scores even though they have different resumes. Ryan has the MVP/All-Pro 1 season which is pretty much required unless you have 2 Super Bowls. Ben doesn’t have a crazy MVP season, but he does have those 2 Super Bowls and 17 good years. Then Rivers has some crazy counting stats. I think that Ryan and Roethlisberger have a slight edge over Rivers but it is very hard to separate the 3. So my question is do we think any of them make it? If they do it opens up the debate for a lot of players in the future. Also, how do we think the HOF committee weighs Rings/MVPS/All-Pro teams? The media is always so focused on the rings but looking at the resumes of HOF QBs there are a lot more without rings than there are without All-Pro seasons.
Edit: Here is the PFR Monitor. The average HOF QB has a score of 108. Ryan has a score of 106, Ben has a score of 100, and Rivers is at 98.
Brady - yes
Rodgers - yes
Brees - yes
Roethlisberger - yes
Manning #3 - yes
Rivers - 50/50, but probably eventually yes
Ryan - no
Mcnabb - no
Romo - no
Smith - no
Wilson - 50/50, but probably eventually yes
Luck - no
Cousins - no
Stafford - unlikely but plausible
I know I’m a homer, but Ben seems like a sure fire lock to me. Two SB wins, a third appearance. The only QB in the group above with that many is Brady.
I think Rivers gets in before Matt Ryan. Rivers played 2 more seasons, they have similar yardage, Rivers has the edge in touchdowns, and Rivers has a 0.558 record where Ryan has 0.532.
I know Ryan has a Super Bowl appearance where Rivers does not, but that didn’t end all too well for Ryan. Reads like a black smudge.
That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ryan and Rivers both get in. Just may take a while.
Eli would be surprising…
Where is Stafford ranked?
Ben is a lock. Matt Ryan will take some time but I feel like he’ll make it eventually. That MVP greatly helps push him over the line, I feel like
It’s amazing to me that in my prime football-watching youth, we had like 3-4 clear HoF QBs in the league: Peyton, Brees, Brady, and then Rodgers.
After that though? Lots of debate.
Even among the current crop, who looks to be on that tier besides Mahomes’?
Ben and Eli are in. Ryan and Rivers are not.
they all have great counting stats. Ben and Eli have the rings which are really important. Ryan has the 1 MVP but thats really it… he only has 4 pro bowls even and pro bowls are a low bar. Rivers has no mvp, all pros, or rings- no shot.
joe namath is in the hall so…
I think 28-3 and 33-0 keeps Matt Ryan out of the hall. To me those overshadow his one exceptional season.
Rivers is worthy, the Chargers weren’t good enough for him, and they continue to fail an equally talented QB today. If you can have the number 1 offense and defense but go 8-8 and miss the playoffs that’s on the organization.
I think the real debate here is whether Eli’s 2 rings get him in before Ben despite Ben being objectively more successful in all other measures.
It usually comes down to rings. If they’ve got one, its the 3000 hit club for baseball level.
Lack of ring has kept Ken Anderson out and I absolutely think Rivers is HOF level but some are gonna hold that against him
Matt Ryan wasn’t good enough
Big Ben shouldn’t be allowed due to his shady ongoings off the field.
Rivers is like but falls short as well
Rings dont make the QB though for me as its a team game you dont win one without a good team
Big Ben is a first ballot Hall of Famer probably.
2 Super Bowl wins, high on the all time list in a lot of career stats.
Do y’all think Rivers hasn’t officially retired yet because he’s trying to put some space between himself and his counterparts?
I can’t think of a single Phil Rivers highlight.
And the only game I remember his Chargers beating Colts in the playoffs one time.
He was never a top 3 QB in the NFL in any season.
Stats are great. Chargers fans love him. Sounds like Wall of Fame or Ring of Honor, but no even close to Hall of Fame.
Would prefer Ben not getting in. Those super bowls were terrible performances.
That’s a guy elevated by the talent around him, not elevating the talent himself.
HOVG in my opinion.
Ben is a lock.
Eli probably gets in.
Ryan probably doesn’t get in.
Rivers definitely does not get in, which I hate.
I think he is the best QB out of all four, but he doesn’t have any awards except for Pro Bowls and only made it to the AFCCG once and that won’t cut it. The HOF is based on winning, awards, and championships much more than career stats.