Where would a 4x Super Bowl champion Jim Kelly rank on the all-time QB list?

[TheFrenzy]

On most "All Time" lists, Kelly generally comes in somewhere between #15 and #25. Which might seem pretty fitting considering his career stats are mostly rank between 15th and 25th all-time. He finished with:

Attempts: 4,779
Completions: 2,874
Percentage: 60.1
Yards: 35,467
Touchdowns: 237
Interceptions: 175
Rating: 84.4

However, he did lead the Buffalo Bills to four straight Super Bowls. Something that has never been matched. Now, the third of these was admittedly a blowout against the up-and-coming Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s, but the other three could have easily ended with the Bills hoisting the Lombardi trophy.

- If Norwood doesn't push the kick wide right, Kelly gets ring #1.

- If the Bills didn't have the second-to-worst defense in the league, maybe they don't give up those first half point to the Redskins/Football Team and Kelly gets ring #2.

- Can't make much of an argument for Super Bowl XVII, but for the sake of this argument let's say the Bills offense protects the ball better and doesn't turn it over nine times. Kelly gets ring #3 and the unprecedented three-peat.

- If Thurman Thomas doesn't immediately fumble the ball (which was returned for a touchdown) to start the second half when the Bills were leading, Kelly probably gets ring #4 and is all alone by a mile with four straight Super Bowl wins.

Where does he rank if two plays, one half of defense, and one game's worth of ball security go differently?

[49ersSF]

He'd be Terry Bradshaw if he won all 4.

[BeastMode27]

#1 QB all time in ability to mentally get over things?

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

He'd be Terry Bradshaw if he won all 4.

I would counter that most lists already rank Kelly and Bradshaw fairly close. Mainly because Kelly was a phenomenal QB talent with strong stats who came up short in the big game while Bradshaw was the opposite—a statistically average guy who played big in big games.

If you combine the them—great stats, talent, and four SB wins—I think it's hard to keep Kelly out of the Top 10.

[49ersSF]

I would pick him just ahead of Bradshaw on the list if he gets all 4. At best, he's in that Aikman area on the list. Another to ponder would be Fran Tarkenton. If he wins 3 Super Bowls to add to the fact he retired the all time leader in passing yards, 9 Pro Bowls, NFL MVP he is solidly in the top 10.

[BGT Masters]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

I would pick him just ahead of Bradshaw on the list if he gets all 4. At best, he's in that Aikman area on the list. Another to ponder would be Fran Tarkenton. If he wins 3 Super Bowls to add to the fact he retired the all time leader in passing yards, 9 Pro Bowls, NFL MVP he is solidly in the top 10.

Kelly is arguably better than Aikman or at least even with him. If Kelly had won 4 straight that would mean Aikman has zero.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by BGT Masters

Kelly is arguably better than Aikman or at least even with him. If Kelly had won 4 straight that would mean Aikman has zero.

Aikman would still have one. Against the Steelers in 1995.

[oplum29]

Originally Posted by 49ersSF

He'd be Terry Bradshaw if he won all 4.

sadly i agree.

especially with the Frank Reich comeback against Houston...it would all but put him in that same category, not a Top 10 all-time, around the 11-20 rankings

[Brian48]

I think 4 straight would carry more weight than just winning 4 over a career. Alas, that was not to be.

[superdan49]

Bills were out of rhythm at the start of XXVI against the Skins. Thurman Thomas couldn't find his helmet and was out at least the first few plays. I don't think they really had a chance in that one (final score was closer than indicated), but they certainly had a chance in number 4 versus the Cowboys.

With 2 wins, I still think Kelly is top 15.

[Seahawks fan]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Aikman would still have one. Against the Steelers in 1995.

If Aikman only wins 1 SB is he a hofer? His regular season stats are worse than some very pedestrian QBs like Matt Hasselbeck.

[BostonNut]

Not as high as the nine time champion Tom Brady! Actually making it ten...they would have rolled those 06 Bears.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by BostonNut

Not as high as the nine time champion Tom Brady! Actually making it ten...they would have rolled those 06 Bears.

Do you mean if the Jets hadn't turned in the Cheatroits for cheating and Shady Brady would have the defense's signals for his whole career.

[TheFrenzy]

You also have to wonder what his RC would be worth given that those four Super Bowl losses happened right as the sports card industry began to explode.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

You also have to wonder what his RC would be worth given that those four Super Bowl losses happened right as the sports card industry began to explode.

His Super Bowl losses happened at the height of the boom and as the sports card industry began to die.

[BostonNut]

Originally Posted by rats60

Do you mean if the Jets hadn't turned in the Cheatroits for cheating and Shady Brady would have the defense's signals for his whole career.

[hairysasquatch]

This was all resolved on X-Files- Cigarette Smoking Man rigged it!

[BGT Masters]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Aikman would still have one. Against the Steelers in 1995.

I knew that. Just wasn't thinking when I typed it.

Originally Posted by Seahawks fan

If Aikman only wins 1 SB is he a hofer? His regular season stats are worse than some very pedestrian QBs like Matt Hasselbeck.

Nope.

[marinocollector]

Jim Kelly was very good, but he wasn’t scary good. He was a perfect QB for one of the greatest teams in NFL history; who will go down as one of the biggest team failures ever.

I think he’s top 25. But can’t put him past 20 myself.

If he won those 4, he’d be looked at the same way everyone looked at Tom brady before 2007.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by marinocollector

Jim Kelly was very good, but he wasn’t scary good. He was a perfect QB for one of the greatest teams in NFL history; who will go down as one of the biggest team failures ever.

I think he’s top 25. But can’t put him past 20 myself.

If he won those 4, he’d be looked at the same way everyone looked at Tom brady before 2007.

Where does Marino rank if he wins a single Super Bowl?

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Where does Marino rank if he wins a single Super Bowl?

Most people say that’s the only knock on Marino. He was insanely popular. Probably top 2-3 all time solid. Rather than the 4-6 he hovers around.

[oplum29]

Originally Posted by Brian48

I think 4 straight would carry more weight than just winning 4 over a career. Alas, that was not to be.

not much honestly, because of how stacked those Bills teams were.

remind me of Ken Dorsey at Miami...nobody ever talks about him, but they talk about Winslow, Reed, Portis, Andre Johnson, etc

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by oplum29

not much honestly, because of how stacked those Bills teams were.

remind me of Ken Dorsey at Miami...nobody ever talks about him, but they talk about Winslow, Reed, Portis, Andre Johnson, etc

............

......you think Kelly would have been stuck with the “game manager” tag????

I think a LOT of people are underestimating just how much weight we (even subconsciously) give to rings.

If Vinatieri misses three kicks, the Seahawks run the ball at the goal line, and the Falcons don’t suffer a beyond-historic meltdown.......Brady is 1-8 in Super Bowls and is considered Jim Kelly 2.0 and a fringe Top 10 QB of All-Time.

Literally a total of five plays (none of which involved Brady) are likely the difference between TB12 being the undisputed GOAT and being the greatest Choke Artist of All Time.

If Kelly wins those four consecutive rings, he’s absolutely in the Top 5 of All Time and probably in the discussion for the Top 3.

[jscotta1989]

He would definitely be top 10 most accomplished.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by jscotta1989

He would definitely be top 10 most accomplished.

jscotta just made my “cool guy” list.