Elway vs marino

Answer 1

Marino. No contest. Marino finished with way more TD passes (420 to 300) and passing yards (61,361 to 51,475), a higher completion percentage (59.6 to 56.9), and a much higher passer rating (86.4 to 79.9). Marino was also named First-Team All Pro 3 different times while Elway never was. Marino also led the NFL in passing yards 5 times, TD passes 3 times, passer rating once, and was the least sacked QB for 7 consecutive seasons (1983 through '89) and 10 times overall ('94, '97, '99) due to his quick release. In contrast, the only category Elway ever lead the league in was passing yards in 1993.

Marino was substantially better by every objective criteria. Unfortunately because Elway's career ended in storybook fashion with two Super Bowl titles, a myth has taken hold among some that he was equal to or even better than Marino. He wasn't. Elway was a good quarterback whose reputation has been unduly enhanced by his fortune in playing with Terrell Davis, Mike Shannahan, and a great defense at the end of his career. Remember, he crashed and burned in 3 Super Bowl blowout losses before Terrell Davis came along.