Colin Kaepernick Ranked His Top Five NFL Quarterbacks
The former NFL quarterback revealed his all-time top five list during a recent podcast appearance.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Do you prioritize personal legacy over statistical performance when ranking professional athletes?
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick shared his list of the top five quarterbacks in league history on the All The Smoke podcast. His selection included Doug Williams, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Montana.
Why it matters
The rankings sparked immediate debate among football fans, particularly regarding the notable exclusion of five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning from the top five.
Kaepernick listed five quarterbacks in his top ranking, while Peyton Manning holds a record of 5 NFL MVP awards and 2 Super Bowl championships. It remains unclear how other legendary signal-callers were excluded from the final five.
The players
Colin Kaepernick
He is a former NFL quarterback who last played professionally in 2016.
Peyton Manning
He is a retired NFL quarterback known for winning five MVP awards and two Super Bowl titles.
Doug Williams
He is recognized as the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in NFL history.
The details
During his appearance on the All The Smoke podcast, Kaepernick named Doug Williams, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Montana as his selections. The inclusion of Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, drew particular attention alongside the omission of other league MVPs.
Timeline
Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016.
The podcast appearance occurred in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
Kaepernick's list forces a retrospective look at the evolution of the quarterback position, following the path established by the 1988 Super Bowl XXII victory. His ranking recontextualizes historical achievements within the current debate over the greatest players of all time.
The exclusion of Peyton Manning from this top five list serves as a reminder of the subjective nature of evaluating quarterback talent based on varying career metrics. Fans debating these rankings must reconcile Manning's five MVP awards against the specific playstyles preferred by individual analysts.
The takeaway
Quarterback rankings remain a highly subjective topic that often creates divide among sports enthusiasts. Listeners are encouraged to compare specific career achievements like MVPs and championships when evaluating these historical lists.
Further reading
For more discussions on league history and player analysis, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Belleville News-Democrat.
Live Poll
Do you prioritize personal legacy over statistical performance when ranking professional athletes?
