| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Montana | 49ers | 13 | Elite | Great | Elite | 85.15 | Aura |
| 2 | Steve Young | 49ers | 13 | Great | Great | Great | 53.48 | Sigma |
| 3 | Jimmy Garoppolo | 49ers | 6 | Great | Good | Good | 39.41 | Slaps |
| 4 | John Brodie | 49ers | 17 | Average | Average | Average | 37.30 | Slaps |
| 5 | Colin Kaepernick | 49ers | 6 | Average | Good | Good | 36.61 | Slaps |
| 6 | Brock Purdy (INJ) | 49ers | 4 | Average | Good | Good | 35.23 | Chill |
| 7 | Y.A. Tittle | 49ers | 10 | Good | Subpar | Subpar | 30.96 | Delulu |
| 8 | Jeff Garcia | 49ers | 5 | Average | Good | Subpar | 29.60 | Delulu |
| 9 | Mac Jones | 49ers | 1 | Good | Good | Subpar | 28.99 | Delulu |
| 10 | Alex Smith | 49ers | 7 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 18.30 | NPC |
| 11 | Frankie Albert | 49ers | 7 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 17.84 | NPC |
| 12 | Blaine Gabbert | 49ers | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.32 | NPC |
| 13 | C.J. Beathard | 49ers | 3 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 15.28 | NPC |
| 14 | Jim Plunkett | 49ers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.07 | NPC |
| 15 | Lamar McHan | 49ers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.00 | NPC |
| 16 | Nick Mullens | 49ers | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 14.95 | NPC |
| 17 | Ken Dorsey | 49ers | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 13.43 | NPC |
| 18 | Steve Bono | 49ers | 4 | Good | Good | Non-Factor | 13.41 | NPC |
| 19 | Shaun Hill | 49ers | 3 | Average | Good | Non-Factor | 12.00 | NPC |
| 20 | Steve DeBerg | 49ers | 3 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 11.99 | NPC |
| 21 | Elvis Grbac | 49ers | 3 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.91 | NPC |
| 22 | George Mira | 49ers | 5 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.88 | NPC |
| 23 | Jeff Kemp | 49ers | 1 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.83 | NPC |
| 24 | Matt Cavanaugh | 49ers | 3 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.75 | NPC |
| 25 | Jim Powers | 49ers | 4 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.62 | NPC |
| 26 | Steve Spurrier | 49ers | 9 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.28 | NPC |
| 27 | Tim Rattay | 49ers | 6 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 9.24 | NPC |
| 28 | Tom Owen | 49ers | 2 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.22 | NPC |
| 29 | Bob Gagliano | 49ers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.14 | Cooked |
| 30 | J.T. O'Sullivan | 49ers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.72 | Cooked |
| 31 | Trey Lance | 49ers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.79 | Cooked |
| 32 | Troy Smith | 49ers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.79 | Cooked |
| 33 | Brian Hoyer | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.74 | Cooked |
| 34 | Jim Druckenmiller | 49ers | 2 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.10 | Cooked |
| 35 | Joe Reed | 49ers | 3 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 7.02 | Cooked |
| 36 | Joshua Dobbs | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.96 | Cooked |
| 37 | Norm Snead | 49ers | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.72 | Cooked |
| 38 | Sam Darnold | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.62 | Cooked |
| 39 | Scott Bull | 49ers | 1 | Subpar | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.60 | Cooked |
| 40 | Ty Detmer | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.36 | Cooked |
| 41 | Bob Waters | 49ers | 4 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.32 | Cooked |
| 42 | Brandon Allen | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.31 | Cooked |
| 43 | Chris Weinke | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.16 | Cooked |
| 44 | Cody Pickett | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.13 | Cooked |
| 45 | Dennis Morrison | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.06 | Cooked |
| 46 | Earl Morrall | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.97 | Cooked |
| 47 | Jim Cason | 49ers | 6 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.77 | Cooked |
| 48 | Mike Moroski | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.41 | Cooked |
| 49 | Steve Stenstrom | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.13 | Cooked |
| 50 | Trent Dilfer | 49ers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.02 | Cooked |
All-Time 49ers QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest San Francisco 49ers quarterback of all time?
Joe Montana holds the top spot with a rating of 85.15, driven by his “Elite” regular-season performance, “Great” fantasy impact, and “Elite” playoff showings across 13 seasons, earning them “Aura” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Joe Montana compare to the greatest quarterback of all time?
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. His highest rating is with the New England Patriots—a fitting 133.7—and overall is even higher because of his Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay. Joe Montana’s 85.15 with the 49ers, while leading the team to four Super Bowl victories in the 1980s and earning three Super Bowl MVPs,
doesn’t match Brady’s sustained excellence across eras—his overall rating with both Tampa and New England totals 148.5.
For a full comparison, check out the All-Time QB Rankings here.
What is the difference between HeyTC’s QB Rating and ESPN’s QBR?
QBR is an outdated model that doesn’t take into account whether the quarterback won the game—its first flaw. Winning is everything; who cares if Quarterback X has the highest QBR but doesn’t win games? Its second flaw is that it doesn’t factor in playoff and Super Bowl success.
By contrast, the HeyTC QB Rating is a composite score evaluating a quarterback’s tenure with his team, factoring in regular-season performance, fantasy football value, playoff success, and overall franchise legacy.
Is Brock Purdy one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Brock Purdy is good, he’s not Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is still the best quarterback in the NFL. For the complete NFL daily quarterback rankings, check out our list that include some surprises.
What do the “Season,” “Fantasy,” and “Playoffs” columns mean?
These columns use qualitative tiers to assess regular-season excellence (e.g., Good for standout play), fantasy (e.g., “Elite” for top scorers), and postseason performance (e.g., “Great” for significant playoff runs)—forming the foundation of the overall ranking.
How do San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how San Francisco 49ers’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—and get our bold prediction on when this team will win its next Super Bowl—check out the All-Time Team QB Rankings here.
What do the slang terms in the “Overall” column mean (like “Aura,” “Sigma,” or “NPC”)?
These terms, inspired by our “Dad Glossary,” add a playful, informal spin to describe quarterback impact:
- Aura/Elite: Legendary, game-changing dominance.
- Sigma/Great: Consistently elite performers.
- Slaps/Good: Solid, reliable contributors.
- Chill/Average: Dependable but unremarkable.
- Delulu/Mediocre: Overhyped with underwhelming results.
- NPC/Subpar: Forgettable and inconsistent.
- Cooked/Non-Factor: Complete busts.
How often is this list updated?
The list is updated throughout the year, with major revisions during the NFL postseason and after the Super Bowl to reflect evolving careers of quarterbacks.