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Ranking the Top 16 Quarterbacks of the Modern Era

Defining "greatness" is a subjective exercise that can be sculpted by statistics, flair and fandom.

All of that matters, but what truly makes a great signal-caller? Championships should fall in the equation, without question. So should victories. Numbers are important, too, especially against the quality of competition.

But certain quarterbacks can transcend the position and the sport, becoming synonymous with the position and an irreplaceable leader. Quarterbacks are justly rewarded—six of the last seven Heisman Trophy winners were quarterbacks—but they also catch much of the flak when things go wrong.

For every championship that A.