Ranking the top 50 quarterbacks in NFL history…
40. Ken Stabler
Drafted in the second round (52nd overall) by the Oakland Raiders in 1968 out of the University of Alabama, Ken Stabler sat behind veteran quarterbacks early on before emerging as the starter in 1973, quickly becoming one of the league’s most clutch performers.
Over 10 seasons with the Raiders, Stabler led the team to five straight AFC West titles (1973-1977) and their first Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XI (1977), where he threw for 180 yards and a touchdown in a 32-14 rout of the Minnesota Vikings.
His standout 1974 season featured 2,469 yards and 26 touchdowns, earning him NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and First-Team All-Pro honors. He made four Pro Bowl appearances (1973, 1974, 1976, 1977), led the NFL in touchdown passes twice (1974, 1976) and orchestrated iconic playoff moments like the “Sea of Hands” and “Ghost to the Post” throws.
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Traded to the Houston Oilers in 1980, Stabler played two seasons there before finishing with the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1984, retiring mid-season at age 38 due to declining performance and knee issues.
Stabler’s career totals stand at 27,938 passing yards, 194 touchdowns, 222 interceptions and a 59.8 percent completion rate across 184 games. He was 96-49-1 as a starter.
Nicknamed “The Snake” for his elusive early mobility and sly off-field persona, Stabler’s standout attributes were his pinpoint accuracy, especially on deep balls, cool demeanor in high-pressure situations, and ability to read defenses pre-snap, often audibling effectively.
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He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016 after his 2015 death from colon cancer and remains an icon of the Raiders’ rebellious 1970s dynasty.
But who ranks ahead of Stabler at No. 39 all-time?