Joe Montana: It's "Almost Impossible" to Compare Quarterbacks From Different Eras

Though many already accept New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL, there are still some who maintain that Joe Montana is GOAT.

And, when asked, the former San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback did not hold back on sharing his opinion on the matter.

Montana said it is “almost impossible” to crown one player as the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time because of how the position has changed from one era to the next.

“There’s a different feeling when you have to stand there, know you are going to get hit in the face and then driven into the ground and still stay there and throw the ball accurately,” Montana said. “Which are two things that are not being done today. So the game at that level becomes somewhat easier for a quarterback, allows you to play longer in your career because you are not taking those kinds of hits consistently, week in and week out.”

Montana went undefeated in four Super Bowls with the Niners. Brady has gone 5-3 in eight with the Pats and has the opportunity to extend that record to 6-3 with a win in Super Bowl LIII.

In the past, Montana has also said he would be hesitant to label Brady as the GOAT because of how the game has changed over time.

“Eh, everybody wants that title I think,” he said last year. “I think it’s really hard to give anyone that title. Tom obviously has had a tremendous career and I have a lot of respect for what he’s done and all he’s accomplished. You know, everybody tried to compare us and there’s just no comparison. The way I look at it, I mean if you go back and try to compare when I played to guys who played long before me if you look at Otto Graham and Sammy Baugh, those guys were way ahead of their time in what they were able to accomplish. You can hardly find film on them, but you know, the game is forever changing and I just say enjoy everyone for what it’s worth. Yeah, I’m just happy to be in the conversation, but obviously, Tom is just putting up stupid numbers so it’s going to be hard for anybody to catch him I think.”