The Best Arm in NFL History

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I think it's important to distinguish "arm talent" from "arm strength."
Jamarcus Russell had an absolute cannon.. but, in addition to his issues just running and NFL offense.. could never layer passes the way Stafford can. Heck.. have you seen Anthony Richardson chuck it? CANON.

I don't even know if Marino could layer passes the way Stafford can.. I'd have to go look at a bunch of highlights. Marino at his peak was just ridiculous.. so much fun. That Bears MNF game was one of the best QB performances ever.

Stafford's combo of brute strength.. plus the ability to layer passes.. plus his timing.. makes him a top 5 "arm talent" guy all-time, imo.
 
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If you google Geoff George weaknesses he had a big arm but that's it. Several other problems prevented him from succeeding. Many of us knew some of them back when he played.

He's no where near Stafford's overall arm talent and wisdom.
 
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Greg Cook is widely regarded by legendary coaches like Bill Walsh and Paul Brown as having possessed one of the strongest and most naturally gifted arms in NFL history, though a devastating rookie shoulder injury cut his career short before he could cement that status


1786468745182.webp


 
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Sonny Jurgenson had a whip but played on crappy Skins teams.

Gabe had a big arm.

I thought Vinny threw a nice ball with zip.

I agree on Namath...super quick release and no flutter. He made it look easy.

Terry Bradshaw

Until he hurt his shoulder, I liked Bert Jones

Marino

Elway

Favre
 
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This is the most absurd collection of throws I've ever seen.

Can't help but think, had Matt not been on the Lions, if he wouldn't have ended up being considered a top 5 QB of all time. If he can somehow snatch two more SB's here, he might still get there.
 
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RamDino said:
Stafford's brain is as good as his arm, and that's saying a lot. Some of those throws were in such tight windows and he only had a millisecond to decide to throw it or not. Hall of Fame? Absolutely. Already in.
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Right on the $$ (for me, at least).
Maybe it’s because I’m only seeing him game in and game out in his mid to late 30’s, but his arm has fallen short every now and then. No biggie. Like you said, it’s his mental processing and pinpoint accuracy that sets him apart.

Two recent plays that set him apart from 95% of QBs occurred just last season in the playoffs.
1) that throw to Parkinson vs the panthers. Incredible catch by a guy who knew no matter how tight the coverage, #9 could put it where only he could catch it. Unbelievable play that had me screaming, “he caught it!”

2) that do or die pass to Adams at the sideline (bears?). There are currently several, if not many QBs in the league right now, who can make that throw.
…but with a defender draped all over your receiver leaving no room for error? With your whole fucking season on the line?
Lamar and Josh come to mind. Those guys have big arms too. I doubt they make that throw under those circumstances. Not just an opinion, going off of past results.

I would add one more point, RamDino:
Ever notice how the great ones complete more improbable throws, some of which look like he had no business throwing? Their receivers believe in him and are not surprised. They know the only place it can be and expect it.

Stafford doesn’t even have the best arm CURRENTLY in the league, but we have the best QB.
 
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Psycho_X said:
He's always had one of the best but the level of his decision making and accuracy has been another level the last couple of years. I'd say almost night and day from when he got here in 2021 to last season and he was amazing already in 2021. So many throws last year that just seem unreal... you watch it on film and you still have to rewind to see if what happened actually happened and your eyes weren't making shit up.

I fully believe if Stafford had McVay most of his career he'd go down as a top 3, if not argued as #1, QB all time. He had a new OC every year and damn near new coach every other in Detroit. Beyond his physical and mental attributes I think you can see what 5 years under one coach with a defined offensive philosophy and playbook can do for a cerebral and talented QB. Add in a front office that excels at drafting/signing pass catchers with elite hands. There's a lot of reasons we obviously hope Stafford can stretch his career into his 40s but one of the top ones would be seeing him do what he did in 2025 over 3-4 more years to claim a spot among the best QBs in history.
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I think you bring up a defining point when it comes to BOTH Stafford and McVay:
They are getting the most out of each other.

McVay has a QB talented and smart enough to run his system—one that has to be constantly changing and evolving to stay ahead of the league. No matter what he comes up with, he has the QB whole can comprehend it.

Stafford, having that capacity and ability, would, and has been wasted on simpletons running the show.

And THIS is the reason I never believed in jimmy g-string.
He could not have done what Stafford is doing—and he had his chance.
 
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First off, fun topic. Perfect for offseason.

For all of us Marino fans, I admit I developed more respect for him as the game changed.

Let’s just take a bow for the GSOT. I was already saying it then, “football is now boring when the Rams aren’t playing.”
The league saw it that way too.

Hence all of the rule changes that have changed all of the passing records.

“I might not have all the records, but I know every one they brake was mine.”
~Wilt Chamberlain

At the time Kurt Warner led the Rams to a title, he was only the second QB to ever throw over 40 TDs. He threw for over 4000 yards. Nothing to sneeze at, but Marino stood alone as the ONLY player to throw for over 5000.

Drew Breese made it an annual occurrence.

So what was life as a QB like before all of those changes?
1)you could go to head and below the knees.
2)you could land with full force and body weight onto the QB

That is why the running game was always so important—it protected your QB. It is amazing that a guy not known for scrambling, survived so long and was so prolific. Throwing 40-50 times a game back then was incredibly risky if that was your game plan week in and week out.
…I believe Marino had only one 1000 yard rusher as a dolphin.

Well, then there’s defense, right?
Sometimes. One year Marino threw 10 TDS in his two games vs the jets. Lost both!

Someone posted on that ‘85 Monday night game vs the bears. Yeah, it figures it would be at the hands of Dan Marino. He was a stiff who couldn’t scramble and the bears defense was scary mean.
…but we’re talking Marino.

Marino was a bad ass. He might not have been the best,
“But when they start to call roll, sooner or later they have to mention my name.”
~Reggie Jackson
 
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I asked AI. So many choices. Interesting. I'm old enough to agree with the #1 pick. He was so quick with the release and had the zip.
This is one way to look at it. So many great arms.

These are only the QBs that threw at the combine. I asked about Mathew Stafford I'll post after this one.


Has there ever been a study of quarterback arms with release and velocity who has the strongest or the quickest release combined with velocity


Yes, there have been several scientific, biomechanical, and media-led sports science studies analyzing quarterback release time and ball velocity. [1, 2]
When combining the quickest release (measured in milliseconds from the time the hands separate to ball release) with the highest velocity (measured in miles per hour), Dan Marino is widely considered by biomechanical analysts as the historical standard. In the modern era, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes are the gold standards for pairing elite velocity with an incredibly rapid release. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Data: Velocity vs. Release Time
Data from the NFL Combine, ESPN’s Sport Science, and private biomechanical tracking firms reveal how the strongest and quickest arms stack up. [1, 2, 3]


QuarterbackMax Ball VelocityAverage Release TimeNotes / Study Source
Dan Marino~58–60 mph0.25 – 0.28 secondsWidely studied as the quickest, most efficient upper-body mechanical release in history.
Aaron Rodgers~60–62 mph0.30 – 0.32 secondsRenowned for generating elite velocity using a unique, abbreviated "flick of the wrist" release.
Josh Allen74.3 mph (Sport Science) / 62 mph (Combine)~0.38 – 0.40 secondsHolds the highest velocity ever recorded in a sports lab, though his release motion is slightly longer to generate maximum torque.
Patrick Mahomes62 mph~0.33 – 0.35 secondsPairs maximum combine velocity with the ability to alter his release point and speed from unorthodox platforms.
Joe Milton III62 mph~0.37 – 0.39 secondsTied the NFL Combine velocity record in 2024, demonstrating raw arm power but a longer mechanical load.
Joe Burrow56 mph0.35 secondsFrame-counting studies show an incredibly fast "trigger time" (mental decision to arm acceleration), making up for average velocity.

Key Insights from Biomechanical Studies
  • The Power Source: Biomechanical camera tracking proves that velocity does not actually come from the arm. Hard throwers generate velocity through rapid hip-to-shoulder separation and rotational torque, transferring force from the ground up through the core. [1, 2, 3]
  • The "Quick" Release Secret: A quick release is defined as an elite window of 300 to 400 milliseconds. Quarterbacks like Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers achieved this by minimizing the "ball dip" (bringing the ball down to the chest or waist during the wind-up) and immediately driving the elbow forward. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • The Velocity Limit: At the NFL Combine, the radar gun limit for a drafted quarterback sits right at 62 mph (held jointly by Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Milton). However, when allowed a full crow-hop and maximum body torque in a sports science laboratory setting, Josh Allen reached a peak of 74.3 mph. [1, 2]

The Ultimate Combination
If you are looking for the absolute peak combination of both traits, Dan Marino is the historical answer (unmatched release quickness with high velocity), while Aaron Rodgers represents the pinnacle of the modern era, pairing a blindingly fast release with the ability to drive the ball 60+ mph on a rope into tight coverage. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
 
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I asked about Mathew Stafford. Many ways to measure a QB. It's not just about release and arm strength.


how come Matthew Stafford's not on the list


Matthew Stafford is not on the list because he didn't throw at his NFL Combine, meaning he has no official, baseline radar-gun speed data recorded by standard scouting metrics. [1, 2, 3]
While he is universally regarded by coaches and peers as having one of the most elite, naturally powerful arms in NFL history, his metrics don't fit the specific "quickest release combined with maximum velocity" criteria due to his mechanics:

1. No Official Combine Radar Data
When Stafford came out of Georgia in 2009, he opted not to throw during the drills in Indianapolis, choosing instead to throw at his private Pro Day. Because of this, he missed the official, standardized 60+ mph tracking database used by draft analysts to rank historical velocity. [1, 2, 3, 4]

2. A "Heavy" Thrower vs. a "Flick" Thrower
Stafford's arm strength is often described as "heavy" power. [1, 2]
  • The Torque: To generate his terrifying ball velocity, Stafford utilizes a deeper, classical "coil" phase where he loads his upper body and drops his elbow back. This creates incredible whip and allows him to drive the ball 70+ yards downfield. [1, 2, 3]
  • The Drawback: This deeper torque-generating motion naturally takes a few milliseconds longer than the abbreviated wrist-flicks of Dan Marino or Aaron Rodgers, putting his raw mechanical release time slightly outside the historic top tier. [1]

3. The "Time to Throw" Clock
Biomechanical and NextGen stats differentiate between release time (the physical motion of the arm) and time to throw (processing time in the pocket). Stafford has never relied on a hyper-fast release to survive; instead, he uses elite anticipation to throw open tight windows before they develop. Data shows his processing clock has actually elongated as he has aged, holding onto the ball longer to push vertical concepts downfield rather than relying on rapid-fire, quick-release checkdowns. [1, 2]
If the list were strictly about raw arm talent and off-platform power, Stafford would unquestionably sit near the very top. However, when strictly measuring the mathematical intersection of a sub-0.30 second arm-snap and clocked radar speed, his mechanical profile sits just outside that specific group.
 
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Ram65 said:
I asked AI. So many choices. Interesting. I'm old enough to agree with the #1 pick. He was so quick with the release and had the zip.
This is one way to look at it. So many great arms.

These are only the QBs that threw at the combine. I asked about Mathew Stafford I'll post after this one.


Has there ever been a study of quarterback arms with release and velocity who has the strongest or the quickest release combined with velocity


Yes, there have been several scientific, biomechanical, and media-led sports science studies analyzing quarterback release time and ball velocity. [1, 2]
When combining the quickest release (measured in milliseconds from the time the hands separate to ball release) with the highest velocity (measured in miles per hour), Dan Marino is widely considered by biomechanical analysts as the historical standard. In the modern era, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes are the gold standards for pairing elite velocity with an incredibly rapid release. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The Data: Velocity vs. Release Time
Data from the NFL Combine, ESPN’s Sport Science, and private biomechanical tracking firms reveal how the strongest and quickest arms stack up. [1, 2, 3]


QuarterbackMax Ball VelocityAverage Release TimeNotes / Study Source
Dan Marino~58–60 mph0.25 – 0.28 secondsWidely studied as the quickest, most efficient upper-body mechanical release in history.
Aaron Rodgers~60–62 mph0.30 – 0.32 secondsRenowned for generating elite velocity using a unique, abbreviated "flick of the wrist" release.
Josh Allen74.3 mph (Sport Science) / 62 mph (Combine)~0.38 – 0.40 secondsHolds the highest velocity ever recorded in a sports lab, though his release motion is slightly longer to generate maximum torque.
Patrick Mahomes62 mph~0.33 – 0.35 secondsPairs maximum combine velocity with the ability to alter his release point and speed from unorthodox platforms.
Joe Milton III62 mph~0.37 – 0.39 secondsTied the NFL Combine velocity record in 2024, demonstrating raw arm power but a longer mechanical load.
Joe Burrow56 mph0.35 secondsFrame-counting studies show an incredibly fast "trigger time" (mental decision to arm acceleration), making up for average velocity.

Key Insights from Biomechanical Studies
  • The Power Source: Biomechanical camera tracking proves that velocity does not actually come from the arm. Hard throwers generate velocity through rapid hip-to-shoulder separation and rotational torque, transferring force from the ground up through the core. [1, 2, 3]
  • The "Quick" Release Secret: A quick release is defined as an elite window of 300 to 400 milliseconds. Quarterbacks like Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers achieved this by minimizing the "ball dip" (bringing the ball down to the chest or waist during the wind-up) and immediately driving the elbow forward. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • The Velocity Limit: At the NFL Combine, the radar gun limit for a drafted quarterback sits right at 62 mph (held jointly by Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Milton). However, when allowed a full crow-hop and maximum body torque in a sports science laboratory setting, Josh Allen reached a peak of 74.3 mph. [1, 2]

The Ultimate Combination
If you are looking for the absolute peak combination of both traits, Dan Marino is the historical answer (unmatched release quickness with high velocity), while Aaron Rodgers represents the pinnacle of the modern era, pairing a blindingly fast release with the ability to drive the ball 60+ mph on a rope into tight coverage. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses
Click to expand...
The problem with that kind of technological data is it doesn’t have any before it’s time. Therefore, the discussion gets reduced to what is included in that data.

Kinda the way SBs count, but championships before that are forgotten.
 
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