NFL

Big Ben only. Other two are not HOF.

I’ve never quite understood people who use Super Bowl/championship wins as criteria for the HOF in both football and other sports.

What you do is essentially condemn any player who didn’t win a Super Bowl because of a variety of factors that very well might have been out of their control. If a good player is stuck on a really bad team, why hold them off the ballot because “they didn’t win anything”? Football especially is a team sport where there is heavy emphasis on the team aspect.

Take Philip Rivers, I firmly believe he deserves the HOF. Nothing about the numbers he put up says he shouldn’t be. Is it really Rivers’s fault he had Marty Schottenheimer as coach? A guy notorious for being unable to win the big game? Or Mike McCoy? Or Anthony Lynn? Despite what the Patriots did during this time, people should remember that getting to the Super Bowl is hard, let alone winning it.

And that argument cuts both ways I think. Joe Thomas is in the hall of fame? Okay but what did he win? He didn’t play a single down his entire career in the playoffs. But he has a ton of all pros so it’s fine. Okay, so that would mean unless you are literally the best player in the entire country at your position year after year, if you don’t win anything that disqualifies you from the HOF? That’s some pretty backwards logic if you ask me.

Ben gets in, Matt Ryan maybe eventually.

I think going forward Dak Prescott will be a good line to measure a HoF qb. If you're better than him you'll have the stats just need longevity.

I think Ben is borderline and Newton, Ryan, and Rivers are below borderline. Eli will probably get in Namath style

Any meaningful comparison of QBs would have to standardize their performance to the average player in that year for each year of their career.

I think Ben get's in. he has good stats, decent longevity, playoff success, superbowl wins.

Matt Ryan has a case, mainly the MVP under his belt and stats. But then let's compare him with say... Rich Gannon. Gannon didn't have nearly as good stats, but also played in an era where you couldn't put them up the same. He also has a single MVP. He also has 4 pro bowls. He has 2 first team all pro's to Matt Ryan's only one. He also has 2 Bert Bells to Matt Ryans one.

he is not in the hall of fame, nor do I think anyone is really considering him for it. I think Matt Ryan falls there as well.

I don't want to make a hard declaration that Philip Rivers will not make the hall of fame.. but Matt Ryan imo has a better case than him and likely won't make it.

I feel like Matt Ryan is a good litmus test for future HOF potential for QBs.

Above -> gets in eventually Below/equal -> probability doesn’t get in

Just give them participation plaques.

Honestly I think the Hall of Fame line is gonna be called the "Rivers Line" for a long time. If you had a better career than Rivers, you're in the HOF. Literally all Rivers needed was maybe an All Pro selection and/or a SB win and he makes it in. There's no debate on his individual skill. I think Eli gets in on how impactful he was in the playoffs and the fact that he took down the Patriots twice. Ben is a slightly worse Rivers, with 2 SBs so he gets in from a career perspective. Ryan might be on par with Rivers, but he does have an SB appearance, MVP and an All Pro selection. So I think he gets in, but not so soon.

MVP/All-Pro 1 season which is pretty much required unless you have 2 Super Bowls

I think this is probably the line.

This will be extremely fascinating. The easy decision would just be to say the line is somewhere in the large gap between Brees and Roethlisberger. But realistically, Ben is a HOFer and his induction will open the debate for so many others (Eli, Rivers, Ryan, Russ, even Stafford would have to get a brief discussion).

This is why I really hope they wait several years before inducting anyone not named Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Mahomes.

Ben gets in for sure, Eli gets in for sure, Ryan does not get in for sure, rivers does not get in for sure, Russ most likely does not get in anymore. It’s pretty simple. Now you can say Ryan Is a better qb than both those guys and I would agree but it doesn’t really matter. You can say Eli doesn’t deserve it and I agree but it doesn’t really matter. Cam I think is interesting as a mvp and has the ridiculous running/td stats, but he also does not get in. Also aikman and these other QBs being in doesn’t move the needle for these guys that are better QBs. It’s different eras.

Rivers will not sniff the HoF lmao

Ben gets in due to the SB's, even if one was literally in spite of his play.

Eli gets in because he was the most important single player for not just two SB's, but for the entirety of those SB playoff runs.

Rivers might get in because of accumulated stats but I dont think so without the winning when it counts.

Matt Ryan has no chance.

Eli it’s the litmus. He should get in. His career is all around better then Ryan and rivers (I’m a huge rivers guy but Eli had the batter career )

Only Ben can get in, and Eli not without making the hall a joke.

Big Ben is getting in, not Rivers and Ryan

Big Ben is getting in because of the rings and being a Steeler. I don't think the other two get in, but Ryan's case is stronger thanks to the MVP, AP1, Super Bowl appearance, as well as an OROY.

None of those guys you mentioned should get in. There’s a reason why people set Peyton, Brady, Rodgers, and Brees into a category of their own. It’s because they are HOFers. Ben, Ryan, and Rivers aren’t in that tier.

At no point in his career has Philip Rivers stood above his peers statistically or award wise. Why do so many people believe he should be a first ballot hall of famer? The HoF is very picky and particular especially when it comes to QBs. His class has too many above him and the new QBs are already surpassing him award wise (statistically as well with time)

Big Ben is sure fire Bress was never and mvp don’t know why he gets so much praise

Big Ben and 2 Superbowls is in. Or he would be the first ever double SB QB not to go.

The others are messy, and by the time they come round Russ and Kirk and Stafford are probably in people's minds as well to cloud up the thinking. And potentially by that point they are being compared to the 2027 career records of Mahomes, Lamar, Tua, Lawerence, and anyone else who is going along for future considerations.

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.

Eli for sure. He’s in for winning against the perfect season Patriots in the Super Bowl. Ben, I’m obviously extremely bias but I don’t know. His off the field stuff will make it unlikely at least on first ballot. Rivers and Ryan aren’t going in. Really good quarterbacks of this era will be judged against Peyton and Brady. Sure it’s unfair but it’s how it is.

Other positions need catching up. Hell Ken Riley just got in. Lorenzo Neal, Dwight Freeney, Reggie b Wayne and Torrie Holt aren’t in yet. All of them just based off memory (pretty sure they aren’t in) plus Willie Anderson should but that’s my bias and he only was eligible this year.

Do y’all think Rivers hasn’t officially retired yet because he’s trying to put some space between himself and his counterparts?

Ben absolutely gets in, I don't think Rivers and Ryan should. They're both in the Hall of Very Good.

I think Greeny said something to the effect of "can you tell the story of the NFL without this player." The HoF is exists tell the story of great football players over the years. Sorry to Charger fans and Falcon fans but you easily can tell the story of that particular era of football without Matt Ryan and Phillip Rivers.

Ben and Eli will both get in based on rings and longevity. I know Eli was never a super dominant regular season QB, but he’s A) a Manning B) responsible for two of the wildest SB wins of all time and C) probably has 2 of the 10 greatest plays in that contest.

rivers does not deserve to get in, but the hall is quickly becoming over-inclusive.

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.

Ben yes, Ryan and Rivers clear no

The fact that Eli Manning will probably get in and Rivers probably won’t is disturbing.

Big Ben - Yes [two super bowl rings speaks for itself]

Matt Ryan - I'm gonna say no. At least not first ballot.

Rivers - Yes, but again, probably not first ballot.

Strange that you put Big Ben as a potential borderline case but not Eli Manning, because Roethlisberger was a better QB at every stage of his career than Manning was

You forgetting about Eli Manning

This the nicest r/nfl has been to Ben Roethlisberger, and I don't know how to deal with it lol

He's my favorite active player, and is my overall favorite except for Barry.. but I feel like Stafford is another one of these guys. And it really isn't his fault. The Lions were fucking awful. Just a trash organization for the entire time he was there, and he's still by far the greatest Lions QB in the super bowl Era.

But I don't think he quite gets in. The super bowl may get him there though, and I personally think he should make it. Guys like Rivers, Ben and Ryan had extremely talented teams and orgs around them for many years out of their careers.

Stafford had like...4 in Detroit. And then the super bowl year with the Rams.

Imo Ben makes it, the other 3 don't.

Looking through that list, Warren Moon is the only QB in the hall with no championships and no 1st team all pro seasons. He only has 1 more pro bowl than rivers. Both played the same number of seasons. Both had a highest career finish of 3rd in the MVP voting. Moon has 1 2nd team AP I suppose. I feel like if Moon's in Rivers should probably be voted in at some point.

HOF is honestly more about what people remember about a player more than anything. Like what is there legacy when people talk about them.

Rodgers will be remembered as having the greatest arm talent of all time. He obviously gets in.

Brees will go down as one of if not the best pure passer of all time. At minimum the most accurate ever that proved to be able to win. He is a lock.

Tom Brady is the GOAT…

Big Ben will be remembered one of the most ultimate winners, who is one of the most naturally talented QBs of all time. I think he easily gets in.

But that then brings us to -

Matt Ryan - I just don’t know what exactly will he be remembered for. I know A LOT of people think of the blown Super Bowl lead when they think of him. And even disregarding the Super Bowl, it’s also just I don’t think he is that memorable of a QB. For perspective even tho he is without a doubt the best and most successful QB in franchise history, I think there are A LOT of fans who still think of Michael Vick when they think of the Atlanta Falcons. So yeah I honestly don’t know if he gets in

Eli Manning - I don’t think he will get in but him beating Brady in 2 Super Bowls honestly does help him a ton. Like if he were to beat 2 other QBs I don’t think he has a shot. But the fact Brady’s legacy is so huge and Eli’s legacy his so closely tied to it. I think it’s possible he gets in but unlikely

Then the most interesting one I think is Russell Wilson. Because his career with the Seahawks was not only VERY successful, but he also carved out a lane that I think would really be remembered by the voters. That being he will probably be considered the ultimate scrambling QB. But now with everything on the Broncos it really has hurt his legacy and honestly boosted Pete Carrols

I've always thought that Big Ben is more product of great team play and coaching than his own skill.

He's played under two hall of fame coaches compared to the other QBs who had a revolving door of coaches but still constantly produced.

Come on Big Ben is def getting in. Not 1st ballot but he's in. Ryan and rivers nope imo

I think Ben gets in. He has 2 rings and all the stats needed along with 6 pro bowls. Ryan and rivers are on the fence due to the lack of postseason success. Ryan edges rivers because of the MVP and Super Bowl appearance so I think Ryan will get votes and rivers is just below them.

Follow up question where does Eli manning rank with them? He has the counting statistics along with 2 rings and 2 Super Bowl MVPs with 4 pro bowls. His efficiency wasn’t as good as those 3 and he was a .500 qb on his career. How much weight do the SB MVPs hold because none of the other 3 have them.

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.

Eli is a sure-fire HOF guy, period. No way he's not getting in with 2 SB MVPs and being top 10 on a few of the all-time passing stat leaderboards.

Ben yes. Ryan and Rivers no.

Ben Roethlisberger shouldnt get in though he likely will eventually. The others are a no. For Ben only 5 get in per year and he eligible same year as Adrian Peterson and Gronk who are locks as 1sr ballot and easily over him. Then you have Richard Sherman and Eric Weddle who are HoFs though maybe not 1st ballot. Plus the interesting case of Antonio Brown who on paper is 1st ballot but all the other stuff with him may make him wait. This isn't even considering all the players from prior years.

He probably gets in eventually but he won't be 1st ballot. He isn't even a top 5 QB of his era and all he really has to hang his hat on is two superbowl wins that were more defense than him. His rape allegation will also be factor. AP has his child abuse stuff but he has all time rushing stats which Ben does not.

Some will probably want to argue my top 5 thing: Peyton, Brady, Rodgers, and Brees overlap most his career. At the beginning there was still Favre and Warner. At the end there was Mahomes and Jackson. In the middle you besides Ryan, Rivers, and Eli you have Stafford all putting up similar stats. Then you have shorter duration QBs like Newton who for a few years were better. Ben is the epitome of a Hall of Very Good QB who will sneak in because a great team around him and a future HoF coach helped him to two superbow

Ben absolutely gets in, no question.

I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion I think there needs to be 2 criteria met, regular season and post season.

Have a "Hall of Very Good" for those that can't meet both criteria.

Do I think Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer? No way. Will he be? Of course.

He meets the post season but the guy never scared a team playing him.

Ben is the only of those 3 that get in.

The biggest thing holding Rivers back is West Coast bias. If he'd been playing in a major market, he would have been a first rounder, no question.

Eli gets in before Ryan or Rivers. He’s top 10 in most counting stats and has two superbowls MVP’s and has never had anything close to HOFer on his offense. I believe Strahan is the only HOF teammate he’s ever had and Strahan was in the twilight of his career. In 2007 their defense was ranked 17th and 2011 they were ranked 25th. He was an underdog in both super bowls and won them with game winning touchdown drives. You can rail on his not so flashy regular season numbers, but this guy had two halfway decent teams his entire career and he won superbowls with both of them. If you think the guy who blew the biggest superbowl lead ever, with a much better team than Eli has ever had is getting in before him than you’re nuts.

Eli Manning lol. It’s funny because Eli has TWO rings and TWO SB MVPs, while being top 10 in most counting stats of all time and is seen as only a borderline case for the HOF like Rivers and Ryan, while Big Ben has 2 SB rings with no SB MVPs and is seen as a lock for the HOF.