5 Quarterbacks Who Would Have Won More Rings on Different Teams — And 5 Who Needed Their Team More Than They Admit
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The quarterback is arguably the most important position in all of football, as they lead their team on the field to victories in games and maintain the team’s reputation off the field.
Quarterbacks in the NFL have gone from managing pass-happy offenses to becoming a focal point of success, regardless of being a pocket passer or an elite runner.
The NFL has seen some iconic quarterbacks capture one or more Super Bowl championships throughout their legendary careers, while others would’ve won a Super Bowl on a different team, and some guys needed their teams to help push them to a championship victory.
Here at TPS, we’re going to look at quarterbacks who would’ve won multiple Super Bowls on different teams, and quarterbacks who needed their teams more than they would admit.
As a sidenote, active quarterbacks don’t make the cut, as many of them still have time to win one or multiple Super Bowls.
Which quarterbacks could have won more or won it because their team was already good?
Would’ve won on another team: Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins)
Marino is arguably the best quarterback who has never won a Super Bowl and is rightfully enshrined in Canton for all of his accomplishments on the field.
However, a couple of reasons why Marino wasn’t able to win it all on the Dolphins were the lack of a consistent running game and a dominant defense on the opposite side of the ball.
Marino led the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX, but the team was defeated 38-16 by Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.
A team Marino could’ve joined when he had the chance was the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he was a Pittsburgh native, while the team had a talented defense in the 1980s and 1990s, giving Marino the chance to potentially win a Super Bowl.
Marino would’ve been a major upgrade at quarterback over Neil O’Donnell, who led the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX, only to lose to the Dallas Cowboys 27-17.
In the end, Marino stayed loyal to the Dolphins and finished his Hall of Fame career with them, guiding them to the playoffs 10 times in his 17 seasons with the team.
Needed their team more than they admit: Troy Aikman (Dallas Cowboys)
Although Aikman was talented in his playing career. He made six Pro Bowls, threw for over 32,942 yards, threw 165 touchdowns against 141 interceptions, and is in the Hall of Fame.
However, many have argued that Aikman had an even more talented roster around him during the Cowboys’ dynasty years in the 1990s, with Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, and Jay Novacek.
The Cowboys’ offensive line was considered one of the best in the league at the time, as it was nicknamed the “Great Wall,” protecting Aikman from opposing defenses. The offensive line had Hall of Famers Larry Allen and Erik Williams, along with Pro Bowlers Nate Newton and Mark Stepnoski.
Not to mention, the Cowboys had arguably the best defense for most of the 1990s, with Hall of Famers like Charles Haley, Deion Sanders, and Darren Woodson in those units.
As we mentioned earlier, Aikman was very talented, but the Cowboys had the most complete roster during his prime.
If Aikman were on a roster like the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, or Kansas City Chiefs in the 90s, he wouldn’t have been able to win a Super Bowl, as those rosters didn’t have the offensive playmakers Aikman had during his tenure with the Cowboys. Well, he may not even like the Cowboys now.
Would’ve won on another team: Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings/ New York Giants)
Tarkenton is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks to never win a Super Bowl, as he created plays through scrambles, his ability to extend plays, and break defensive pressure during his time with both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants.
Tarkenton made it to three Super Bowls in his career, but he lost all of them to the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Oakland Raiders, respectively.
The Vikings also lacked a strong running game, as the teams Tarkenton squared up against in the Super Bowl had strong and versatile runners in the backfield.
However, the teams Tarkenton played on had no elite defense to back him up, even though the “Purple People Eaters” defense on the Vikings was talented.
If Tarkenton were on the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, or the Pittsburgh Steelers, he would’ve won at least two or three Super Bowls, as a perfect cherry on top for his Hall of Fame career.
If Tarkenton had remained with the Giants, he could’ve found a more effective system, even though they didn’t have much postseason success at the time.
Needed their team more than they admit: Trent Dilfer (Baltimore Ravens)
Dilfer has had one of the more interesting careers in the NFL, as he made the Pro Bowl once with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in the 1997 season.
Dilfer joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 as a backup for Tony Banks, who wasn’t much of a starter.
The Ravens had five straight games without scoring an offensive touchdown, as the team’s defense had legendary Hall of Famers like Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, and Pro Bowler Sam Adams.
Banks was benched for Dilfer mid-season, as head coach Brian Billick wanted a functional leader who would win more games.
Dilfer went on an 11-game winning streak after losing his first start, and he was able to help the Ravens get to Super Bowl XXXV, where they dominated the New York Giants 34-7, thanks to the defense leading the way.
Dilfer was no Pro Bowler with the Ravens by any stretch of the imagination. He was a decent game manager who got the job done and led the team to its first Super Bowl championship.
However, Dilfer was replaced by Elvis Grbac in 2001, and the Ravens lost in the Divisional Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ray Lewis even told Colin Cowherd in 2018 that cutting Dilfer was one of the Ravens’ biggest mistakes, as the team shuffled through multiple quarterbacks before landing Joe Flacco in 2008, who led the team to a Super Bowl XLVII victory in 2012.
Would’ve won on another team: Jim Kelly (Buffalo Bills)
Kelly is remembered as the Hall of Fame quarterback who carried the Bills in the late 1980s and 90s, with his elite leadership, commanding the high-paced “K-Gun” offense, and having immense toughness.
Kelly led the Bills to four-straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, but the team lost all four of them to the New York Giants, Washington, and the Dallas Cowboys, respectively.
The teams Kelly’s Bills ran into during the Super Bowl had dominant defenses, more elite offenses, excessive turnovers at the worst times imaginable, and missed opportunities that were out of Kelly’s control, like in Super Bowl XXV when kicker Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning kick, and the ball went wide right.
Teams that Kelly could’ve won a Super Bowl with in the 1990s include the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Denver Broncos, as they had the rosters that he would’ve benefited from, as they had impressive run-games and formidable defenses that suffocated their opponents with ease.
It would’ve been incredibly awesome to see Kelly join the Broncos as a backup quarterback in the late 90s and be a part of their back-to-back Super Bowl Championship window, and join John Elway as a champion riding off into the sunset.
However, Kelly spent his entire NFL career with the Bills and made a name for himself in Western New York, and the rest is history.
Needed their team more than they admit: Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Although Bradshaw is a Hall of Fame quarterback for all he accomplished with the Steelers in the 1970s, his career wouldn’t have been the same if he hadn’t been a part of them.
When Bradshaw first entered the league, he threw 24 interceptions and needed time to grow, while the Steelers’ defense was doing most of the work for the team.
Bradshaw was also booed and mocked by fans during his first few seasons between 1970 and 1973 before the Steelers won their first Super Bowl in the 1974 season.
He shaw admitted he developed his initial toughness from the boos and jeers from the Steelers fans at the time.
Bradshaw also had talented teammates on offense, like Larry Brown, the late Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, and John Stallworth, along with the “Steel Curtain” defense, earning their way to four Super Bowls during that decade, masking Bradshaw’s inconsistencies.
If Bradshaw were on a team like the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, or Green Bay Packers, he wouldn’t have had the success that he had in the 1970s, as those teams didn’t have the offensive tools for Bradshaw to work with and an elite defense.
At least he still demands perfection from the position nowadays.
Would’ve won on another team: Warren Moon (Houston Oilers/ Minnesota Vikings)
Moon’s career in the can be described as resilience, breaking barriers, and incredible longevity, thanks to his strong arm and surgical precision on offense.
Moon was dominant during his time with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings, making these teams into playoff contenders in the 1980s and 90s.
Unfortunately, Moon was never able to get any of the NFL teams he played for into the Super Bowl, as the Oilers weren’t able to get past the divisional round of the playoffs, despite having a high-powered offense.
Both the Vikings and Oilers teams Moon played on lacked elite defensive support.
Moon technically has rings when he helped Edmonton win five straight Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982, but he does not have any Super Bowl rings.
One of the most heartbreaking games Moon played with the Oilers was in 1993, when they were up 35-3 against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. The Bills came back and won the game 41-38 in overtime.
If Moon played for a team like Washington, which had an elite defense at the time, he would’ve been able to win at least one or two Super Bowls with head coach Joe Gibbs.
Another team that Moon would’ve won a title with includes the San Francisco 49ers, as they had the star power and defensive talent that took them all the way and more during the time period. Not to mention, Moon would’ve learned from Joe Namath.
Moon’s career is still legendary, and he’s rightfully enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for all he’s accomplished in the NFL.
Needed their team more than they admit: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Roethlisberger is praised for his longevity and individual brilliance during the later parts of his career.
He was very lucky that both Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin coached incredibly talented defenses that helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win two Super Bowls.
Roethlisberger also had an incredible offensive line protecting him throughout most of his career in the “Steel City.”
However, Roethlisberger went from being a game manager in the beginning of his career to relying on “outside of structure” plays in the latter half of his career.
If Roethlisberger were drafted to a team like the New York Jets, Houston Texans, or Jacksonville Jaguars, he wouldn’t have had the success we’ve seen during his career, as those teams didn’t have the elite defense and bruising running backs the Steelers had.
Nevertheless, Roethlisberger will be a lock for Canton when he’s eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for all he’s done with the Steelers.
Would’ve won on another team: Philip Rivers (San Diego/ Los Angeles Chargers)
Rivers is one of the most prolific quarterbacks to play in the NFL, as he spent most of his career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and had two brief stints with the Indianapolis Colts.
Rivers had an elite offense during his time with the Chargers, and had Pro Bowl playmakers like LaDainian Tomlinson, Lorenzo Neal, the late Vincent Jackson, Kassim Osgood, and Antonio Gates to work with.
He was never able to play in the Super Bowl, as the Chargers’ teams he was on lacked a strong defense, and the coaching wasn’t great either.
If the Chargers didn’t fire Marty Schottenheimer, he would’ve improved on their 2006 season.
If Eli Manning didn’t request a trade from the Chargers to the New York Giants on draft night back in 2004, Rivers could’ve been a Super Bowl champion with them.
Ladanian Tomlinson even said in an interview that the Chargers should’ve traded Rivers to a title contender back in 2016, to at least give him the chance to earn a Super Bowl ring, but it never happened.
Rivers will be a Pro Football Hall of Famer for all he accomplished with the Bolts from their time in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Needed their team more than they admit: Brad Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Similar to Trent Dilfer, Johnson wasn’t a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, even though he made two Pro Bowls in his career. He was a good game manager who got the job done, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs in 2002.
That Bucs team had arguably the best defense in the NFL that season, with Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Shelton Quarles causing havoc.
Johnson had some brief moments of success with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington before joining the Bucs in 2001, but none of those teams were championship competitors.
Johnson’s 2002 season was the best in his career, as he threw 22 touchdowns against six interceptions, even though he wasn’t an elite quarterback.
If Johnson were on a team like the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, or Kansas City Chiefs in 2002, he wouldn’t have seen the same success that he saw with the Bucs.
