Gary Kerkorian

Daniel Jones operates in a completely different stratosphere. Jones has the arm talent, mobility, and processing speed Kerkorian never possessed—he's throwing to receivers running routes the 1950s game couldn't fathom. Kerkorian was a journeyman who threw for 1,862 yards across four seasons; Jones is a franchise QB competing in real time. It's not a comparison; it's a timeline gap.

No, Gary Kerkorian never made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His four-season career with the Colts and Steelers—1,862 passing yards and 12 touchdowns—simply didn't generate the sustained excellence Canton demands. He was a solid mid-1950s backup, nothing more. The Hall's doors remain closed to him.

Kerkorian would be a practice squad casualty in 2026. Modern rules have transformed quarterback demands—he'd face blitzers reading defenses he couldn't process fast enough, throwing to receivers running vertical seam routes at speeds he never encountered. The passing game has evolved exponentially since his era. His 1,862 career yards suggest a player who couldn't consistently execute even in a simpler offensive environment.

It's not even close. Manning sits at 98.73 career passer rating compared to Kerkorian's modest numbers—Manning threw for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns as a Colt alone. One's a first-ballot Hall of Famer and generational talent; the other's a historical footnote. Different eras, different universes.