OT - Who was the greatest long ball passer you ever saw?

[Eriebear]

I'm going old school and saying Joe Namath. (Even through I hate the Jets) . Watch him on You Tube. One thing about Joe, he never rainbowed his throws. He was the 1st. QB to throw for over 4,000 yds. Shea Stadium was not a great passing stadium (Windy) but Joe had a amazing strong arm. It's off season , who do you think?

[IE]

I'll go with Elway. He really had an arm, and excellent deep accuracy.

More recently, Matt Stafford was the guy I'd name.

Recently, I like Mahomes even though Allen might have a rep as a slightly bigger arm. I think Mahomes' deep accuracy is uncanny.

In the next couple of years, I expect JF1 to compete - because his arm and deep accuracy are ready to explode. He just needed better protection and better deep guys.

[wulfy]

Despite not having a cannon arm, Kenny Stabler threw an extremely catchable deep ball.

[wab]

Agree with IE. Elway from back in the day and most recently Stafford.

[thunderspirit]

One of the Dan's — Fouts or Marino.

[dplank]

Marino probably, but just to throw a name out there that you rarely hear: Neil Lomax

[IE]

One of the Dan's — Fouts or Marino.

Forgot Fouts too. Absolutely one of the best.

[karhu]

Another vote for Fouts. Everyone knew that the long ball was coming, and even though he didn't have Elway's arm strength or Josh Allen's overall arm talent, Fouts was uncannily accurate deep.

[Hema2.0]

Fields and it's not even close! That's for my bud DD

[EricTighe]

Jim Plunkett and Doug Williams come to mind.

[The Grizzly One]

Sonny Jurgensen too.

[docc]

The Mad Italian Bomber..Daryl Lamonica...

Or if you didn't care where that monster arm sent it,,, Bobby Douglas

[circlecitybear]

Docc you beat me to it. Lamonica was great. Another was the old Charger John Hadel

[Grizzled]

The Mad Italian Bomber..Daryl Lamonica...

Or if you didn't care where that monster arm sent it,,, Bobby Douglas

The 'Mad Bomber', Daryl Lamonica. Of course, Al Davis pushed this type of offense on the Raiders, he loved fast receivers and big plays.

1950s: Otto Graham or Norm Van Brocklin (I'm old but they're still before my time)
1960s: Joe Namath or Daryle Lamonica
1970s: Terry Bradshaw
1980s: Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason
1990s: Steve Young
2000s: Peyton Manning
2010s: Aaron Rodgers

[IE]

Docc you beat me to it. Lamonica was great. Another was the old Charger John Hadel

Hadl had a nice target in Lance Alworth, didn't he? That guy's stats before he trailed off at the end of his career are epic. Only 100 ypg at 20 ypc and a TD PER game for like 8-9 years. Crazy.

[UOK]

Warren Moon immediately came to mind.

[dplank]

Warren Moon immediately came to mind.

Good call. He had that high arching “moon ball”

I suppose I’m the only one told enough Neil Lomax to Roy Green - that was an epic duo when I first started watching football in the 80s.

[wulfy]

Warren Moon immediately came to mind.

Good call. He had that high arching “moon ball”

I suppose I’m the only one told enough Neil Lomax to Roy Green - that was an epic duo when I first started watching football in the 80s.

I remember when Neil Lomax got drafted by the Cardinals .... I read about him in the ... wait for it .... newspaper .... I had never heard of him or Portland State. This was before players were drafted from other schools than the Big 10, SEC, Big 8 or PAC 10.

Ok, I'm going to get on my pterodactyl now and get to work.

[wab]

Good call. He had that high arching “moon ball”

I suppose I’m the only one told enough Neil Lomax to Roy Green - that was an epic duo when I first started watching football in the 80s.

I remember when Neil Lomax got drafted by the Cardinals .... I read about him in the ... wait for it .... newspaper .... I had never heard of him or Portland State. This was before players were drafted from other schools than the Big 10, SEC, Big 8 or PAC 10.

Ok, I'm going to get on my pterodactyl now and get to work.

I have a funny story about Lomax. I was like 6 when my dad took me to my first NFL game in St Louis. The Cardinals were playing the Bears and I had zero knowledge about football, but I was immediately enthralled with #34. I asked who he was and my dad said, "that's Walter Payton". It was at that moment I became a Bears fan.

My grandpa (who was the world's biggest Ottis Anderson fan) and his brother were involved with the Cards PR department at the time, so we got to go into the locker room after the game. Lomax came up to me and offered to sign a ball, which was cool (even though I had no idea who he was) and when he was done I asked where in the locker room Walter Payton was because he's who I really wanted to sign it. I remember he laughed and was cool about it...he said something like "yeah, when you find him let me know, I'd like his autograph too".

I remember leaving the arena absolutely furious that there was only St Louis Cardinals merch.

[LacertineForest]

I remember when Neil Lomax got drafted by the Cardinals .... I read about him in the ... wait for it .... newspaper .... I had never heard of him or Portland State. This was before players were drafted from other schools than the Big 10, SEC, Big 8 or PAC 10.

Ok, I'm going to get on my pterodactyl now and get to work.

I have a funny story about Lomax. I was like 6 when my dad took me to my first NFL game in St Louis. The Cardinals were playing the Bears and I had zero knowledge about football, but I was immediately enthralled with #34. I asked who he was and my dad said, "that's Walter Payton". It was at that moment I became a Bears fan.

My grandpa (who was the world's biggest Ottis Anderson fan) and his brother were involved with the Cards PR department at the time, so we got to go into the locker room after the game. Lomax came up to me and offered to sign a ball, which was cool (even though I had no idea who he was) and when he was done I asked where in the locker room Walter Payton was because he's who I really wanted to sign it. I remember he laughed and was cool about it...he said something like "yeah, when you find him let me know, I'd like his autograph too".

I remember leaving the arena absolutely furious that there was only St Louis Cardinals merch.

That's a great story! Thanks for sharing it.

[Otis Day]

Warren Moon immediately came to mind.

Good call. He had that high arching “moon ball”

I suppose I’m the only one told enough Neil Lomax to Roy Green - that was an epic duo when I first started watching football in the 80s.

Warren Moon is how I thought of as well.

dplank, I remember Jim Hart to JV Cain and Jackie Smith.

[thunderspirit]

Good call. He had that high arching “moon ball”

I suppose I’m the only one told enough Neil Lomax to Roy Green - that was an epic duo when I first started watching football in the 80s.

I remember when Neil Lomax got drafted by the Cardinals .... I read about him in the ... wait for it .... newspaper .... I had never heard of him or Portland State. This was before players were drafted from other schools than the Big 10, SEC, Big 8 or PAC 10.

Ok, I'm going to get on my pterodactyl now and get to work.

LOL, @wulfy.

I do remember Lomax (and Green), though honestly I only saw a little of him because the Cardinals were never on TV.

[spudbear]

I think you have to see them play live to appreciate how well they threw.
No votes for Favruh or Joe Montanolow?

Guess I'd have to vote Marino though it kills me to say it after the way he picked apart the greatest D to ever play.
That kid Herbert in SD may be a candidate for this list someday.

[Shadow]

Has got to be Elway for me.

[Arkansasbear]

It's close between Elway and Marino for me.

[dave99]

Johnny Unitas had a great deep ball to go with the demeanor of a riverboat gambler holding four aces.

[Johnny Bollocks]

Elway, Marino, Fouts (who was ending career as I started getting into football). One thing that always frustrates me about the 'best QB never to play in a Superbowl' conversation...nobody ever seems to mention Fouts.

Or Shane Matthews.

[MACKSMACK]

I seem to remember Jeff Blake having a nice looping deep ball. Also, I forgot he was on the Bears, lol

[IotaNet]

I don’t know about the greatest ever but peak Russell Wilson threw some beautiful rainbows.

[docc]

Rich Gannon had a cannon..but the bad rap on him was as a teammate..2002 almost 4700 yds//