NFL fans blast Chris Simms for low placement of Tom Brady on QB rankings

Just because the NFL’s regular season doesn’t begin until September doesn’t mean passionate fans have taken a hiatus from debating controversial lists.

NBC football analyst Chris Simms is currently in the crosshairs of those fans after the 45-year-old ranked the greatest quarterbacks of all time based only on the primes of their careers.

To the shock of many fans, Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, was not at the top of that list. Simms ranked Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning No. 1.

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Tom Brady is seen at the CardVault by Tom Brady opening in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2026. (Michael Simon/Getty Images for CardVault by Tom Brady)

But Brady wasn’t the No. 2- or No. 3-ranked quarterback either. The New England Patriots legend was ranked by Simms as the No. 9 quarterback that he would choose of all time in his prime.

Here is Simms’ full list.

1. Manning
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. John Elway
5. Brett Favre
6. Josh Allen
7. Lamar Jackson
8. Dan Marino
9. Brady
10. Roger Staubach

Simms was eviscerated in the comment section for his decision to leave Brady so low.

“Bro, Brady threw for 5,000 yards and 50 TD’s and went 16-0 in his prime and 14 years later he threw for 5,300 yards and 43 touchdowns. His prime lasted a decade and a half and was better than anyone’s peak,” one user wrote.

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Tom Brady and Peyton Manning stand before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

The user referenced Brady’s 2007 season, when he helped the lead the Patriots to an undefeated regular season. Brady led the NFL in completion percentage (68.9%), yards (4,806), and touchdowns (50) that season.

The other season the user referenced was Brady’s penultimate season, his age-44 season, when he led the NFL in yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43).

Another user wondered if Simms had personal bias toward Brady.

“What did Tom Brady do to make Chris Simms hate him,” the user posted with a laughing-crying emoji.

Another user called the list “a joke,” while others used emojis to laugh at the absurdity of Brady’s placement.

A different fan questioned the criteria for the controversial list.

“I support anybody that realizes Brady is overrated. That said, what is the criteria for this? Longevity, peak? Eye test? Needs more clarity. No idea how Elway is that high,” the user wrote.

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Tom Brady and Joe Montana look on before Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

One X user criticized the list, not because of Brady’s ranking but because of to the exclusion of another Pro Football Hall of Famer.

“Any all-time list without the great Joe Montana is just trash and not to be taken seriously,” the user wrote.

Simms did have one commenter who agreed with his ranking of Manning over Brady.

“Peyton Manning is the best quarterback of all-time and I’m tired of people acting like he’s not. Brady wanted to be as good as Manning for the first four years of his career. Brady has said so himself. Manning was absolutely unbelievable with the Colts. Brady is the best player of all-time. His achievements are clearly second to none, but Manning was the better QB,” the user wrote.

Other fans took issue with the inclusion of Allen and Jackson on the list.

“Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson over Dan Marino and Tom Brady is so stupid,” one user wrote.

“OMG what a joke, Lamar and Josh don’t even belong near this list…” another user posted.

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Sunday Football Night in America host Chris Simms delivers the pregame show before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

A different user questioned Staubach’s presence on the list.

“Brady is 1, Montana 2. Jackson and Allen do not belong with this group. Elway should be much lower. Not sure about Staubach belonging here either,” the user wrote.

Simms played in the NFL for eight seasons and spent one season as a coaching assistant for the Patriots. He played his college football at Texas.

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