Who Is The Most Clutch NFL Quarterback Currently Active?

Aug 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) meet on the field after the game Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Giants 28-20. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Arguments will rage continuously over who is the “best” quarterback in the NFL. There are so many ways to make that argument from wins to stats and so on. However, another more specific debate fans love to have is over which quarterback is the most clutch. In order to make any sort of determination, it’s important to identify what being clutch means.

In order to make it tangible, this article will detail the “clutch factor” into three categories: 4th quarter comebacks, game-winning drives and championship victories. Not just the total number of each will be calculated but also the percentage when put against the number of games they played.

For example:

If quarterback X has 10 comebacks in 32 games while quarterback Y has 10 comebacks in 27 games, quarterback Y is can be considered more clutch because though they have the same number of comebacker, he did it with fewer opportunities.

Bearing this in mind, here is the breakdown.

4th Quarter Comebacks

Peyton Manning = 41 in 256 games (16.01%)
Tom Brady = 35 in 209 games (16.74%)
Eli Manning = 26 in 169 games (15.38%)
Ben Roethlisberger = 25 in 159 games (15.72%
Drew Brees = 25 in 202 games (12.37%)
Tony Romo = 24 in 151 games (15.89%)
Matt Ryan = 20 in 110 games (18.18%)
Philip Rivers = 20 in 148 games (13.51%)
Carson Palmer = 18 in 144 games (12.50%)
Jay Cutler = 17 in 119 games (14.28%)

Game-Winning Drives

Peyton Manning = 52 in 256 games (20.31%)
Tom Brady = 46 in 209 games (22%)
Drew Brees = 36 in 202 games (17.82%)
Ben Roethlisberger = 35 in 159 games (22.01%)
Eli Manning = 31 in 169 games (18.34%)
Tony Romo = 28 in 151 games (18.54%)
Matt Ryan = 27 in 110 games (24.54%)
Carson Palmer = 26 in 144 games (18.05%)
Philip Rivers = 23 in 148 games (15.54%)
Jay Cutler = 21 in 119 games (17.64%)

Championships

Tom Brady = 4
Eli Manning = 2
Ben Roethlisberger = 2
Peyton Manning = 1
Drew Brees = 1
Tony Romo = 0
Philip Rivers = 0
Matt Ryan = 0
Carson Palmer = 0
Jay Cutler = 0

When combining the three charts together, it paints a pretty clear picture. Tom Brady finished 2nd in total number of 4th quarter comebacks and comeback percentage. He comes in second with overall game-winning drives and (a very narrow) third in percentage. What puts him over the top is the decisive final category, as he has two more rings than his closest competition in Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

It isn’t possible to factor in any of the cheating allegations like Deflategate. This is based on pure numbers. Among active NFL quarterbacks, Tom Brady has proven the most effective in clutch situations.

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