Forward Pass Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joe Montana

Joe Montana was a cerebral player with an excellent arm and good feet. He led the San Francisco Forty-Niners to four Super Bowl championships and was voted MVP three times. He led the NFL in throwing touchdowns in 1982 and in 1987. He holds numerous records including throwing for the most passes without throwing an interception, 122 throws over four games.

Answer: Brett Favre

Brett Favre was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from the fourth game of the 1992 season, all the way through the 2007 season. When he retired he held multiple records including the most career passing yards and the most wins. His nickname of "The Gunslinger" is a reference to the power of his arm, his mental toughness, and his ability to play even when injured.

Answer: The Denver Broncos

One of the most prolific passers in NFL history, John Elway led the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He threw 300 touchdowns during his career and is one of the few players to rush for a touchdown in four different Super Bowls. Part of his success was due to his accuracy when throwing and his mobility on the ground.

Answer: Baltimore Colts

From 1956 until 1972, Johnny Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to numerous championship games. In 1960 he set a record for the most consecutive games played in which he threw a touchdown pass at 47. This record was not broken for 52 years until it was broken by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees who went 54 games. Known for his arm strength as well as his accuracy, Johnny Unitas is usually considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

When he retired in 1973 he had thrown for 290 touchdowns and over 40,000 passing yards.

Answer: He led his team to the biggest comeback victory in an NFL game.

Frank Reich played most of his professional career as a back-up quarterback. But at one time he held the record for leading his team to the biggest comeback victory in the NFL. What is even more amazing is that he also held the record for the same thing in collegiate football.

In 1993 he took the Buffalo Bills to a victory after they had been losing the game 35-3 in the third quarter. While his career statistics may not be as good as some of the other players in this quiz, his comeback skill show him to be as good as any of them on any given Sunday.

Answer: Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw played his entire career, from 1970-1983, with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His great arm helped him to become the first quarterback to win three and then four Super Bowls. Bradshaw was a formidable leader and an epitome of toughness. His powerful arm was somewhat inconsistent but his other skills made up for it.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, he retired with 212 passing touchdowns and almost 28,000 passing yards.

Answer: Troy Aikman

All of these men played quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys at one time or another. But it was Troy Aikman who led them to three Super Bowl victories and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. During his career he threw for 165 touchdowns and almost 33,000 yards. Aikman was a humble quarterback who felt that his skills as a quarterback were greatly accentuated by the skilled players who surrounded him on his team and helped make him into the great quarterback he became.

Answer: False

Although he was one of the finest quarterbacks to ever play the game, these statements about Steve Young are incorrect. Young did not start playing until 1984, and in 1995 he threw for a record breaking six touchdowns in Super Bowl XXIX while leading the San Francisco Forty-Niners.

At his retirement in 1999, he had the highest passer rating of any quarterback who had thrown at least 1,500 passes. He also held the record for the most rushing touchdowns and threw for 232 passing touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Answer: True

Probably the greatest quarterback in the NFL to have never won a Super Bowl, Dan Marino retired after throwing an amazing 420 touchdowns. Known for his powerful arm and quick release he was able to lead the Miami Dolphins to an AFC championship ten times in the 17 years he was their quarterback.

His second year in the NFL he broke the season record for touchdown throws when he threw 48 scores. Marino held numerous records when he retired in 1999, what he did not hold was a Super Bowl ring in his hand.

Answer: George Blanda

George Blanda, known as "The Grand Old Man" scored over 2,000 points in his 26 years in the NFL. He was both a quarterback and a placekicker and played until he was 48 years old. In 1962, when football was more of a running game, he had two games in which he threw for over 400 yards.

At the time this was basically unheard of. When he retired in 1975, he had thrown for 236 touchdowns and played in four different decades.