Strongest NFL arm you have seen

Jeff George is the first man to come to mind. Of course he made up for that with a two cent head.

When Vick would just flick his wrist and the ball would fly 70 yards down field.

But George, Vick and Cunningham are right there.

Elway.

But best pure passer with arm strength? Marino. He would just flick his wrist and the ball would go 50 yards.

a cannon.

Vick had amazing mechanics to flick the ball but not sure it was as strong as Elway. George had a strong arm but just seemed like such a dick I couldn’t watch him often 😂🤣.

.

Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period..

I think both of them are from the same planet in another universe that produces these freaks.

Google the "Elway Cross" to get a better idea of Elway's arm.

Farve was reputed to have an extremely strong arm.

Elway threw a very hard ball that was difficult to catch.

.

I could not believe how effortless his throwing motion was with a tight spiral

the other day that Bert Jones is the most underrated thrower of a football he has ever seen. He said he could a football through a carwash, and it wouldn't get wet.

In comment 16397217 bw in dc said:

Quote:

the other day that Bert Jones is the most underrated thrower of a football he has ever seen. He said he could a football through a carwash, and it wouldn't get wet.

EA loved Bert. Haha.

I saw Jeff George in person for the Redskins - it didn't seem human.

I agree with those saying Marino, Elway, and George. I'd include Rodgers, Allen, and Mahomes of the current guys.

I'll also mention Warren Moon, who was as clean a thrower as you could want, so I have an excuse to post this GIF. Great thrower.

In comment 16397218 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

Quote:

In comment 16397217 bw in dc said: Quote: the other day that Bert Jones is the most underrated thrower of a football he has ever seen. He said he could a football through a carwash, and it wouldn't get wet. EA loved Bert. Haha.

He was on Russo's show a few weeks ago discussing the Lions last championship. It was an awesome listen...

🤣

Great Arm - Yes
Rarely was above 60% completion %
Almost twice as many Picks as TDs if I recall
On a bunch of teams (wore out his welcome quickly) . . .

Why?

Head Case, un-coachable, but most of all suffered from this ailment . . .

My Arm will set me free - no it won't.

Saw him throwing 40 yarders on a rope! Underrated QB, as well. He had a seriously strong arm. Another guy was Jeff George.

But he was a moron. The archetypal “million dollar arm, ten cent head” guy. He could make every throw on the field - both high velocity and touch passes.

I still think Elway had a bit stronger arm, but he didn’t have the same touch George had.

Kerry Collins had a bazooka of an arm

Cunningham. Once saw him throw 70 yards rolling out.

because lots of guys with strong arms were bad QBs, as noted above. Jeff George. JaMarcus Russell, too, I think. I don't remember Dan McGuire's arm, but maybe.

According to news accounts at the time, Elway's receivers in college would talk about getting the "Elway cross": The seams on the tip of the ball would hit their hands so hard it would leave a mark. I've never heard of anything like that before or since.

what you're looking for. Fastball or distance or both?

I think Mahomes and Allen went back and forth for a while passing each other in longest distance and I want to say it was something like 80 yards. I think Mahomes might have even thrown a ball close to 80 yards at his pro day.

I believe Baker Mayfield has the longest pass completion (on a ball traveling in the air not like Victor Cruz 99 yard reception) and it was a 70-yard hail mary (ball traveled 70 yards in the air).

but if you're talking pure fast ball guys like Favre and George have to be near the top.

I don't know those older guys ever tried to see how far they could throw it. They probably did. They should bring back those types of contests like from the Sehorn days and have them at the pro-bowl. until someone gets hurt. lol. Make the NFL pro-bowl like the NHL all-star game and it would be more fun.

but I'm going Marino, Elway and Cunningham.

Someone out to dig into some of the old Pro Bowl distance throwing competitions and see if we are missing any diamonds in the rough.

Here's one, for instance...
Link - ( New Window )

but worth noting are Jay Cutler and Michael Bishop. Bishop’s was on display at Kansas St. but he never made it in the NFL, I think he bounced around for a few years. But he had a cannon when watching him in college.

In comment 16397198 chuckydee9 said:

Quote:

Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period..

Brady? More arm talent than Elway?

You are disqualified from ever talking football again

In comment 16397217 bw in dc said:

Quote:

the other day that Bert Jones is the most underrated thrower of a football he has ever seen. He said he could a football through a carwash, and it wouldn't get wet.

This was definitely the way I recall him being spoken about. Was too young to really appreciate him.

so I'll throw a really random name that I'm not even sure is an appropriate entry: Browning Nagle.

I honestly have very little recollection of his arm, but I vaguely remember something about him being able to throw it 50+ yards from his knees.

George and Elway.

Plunkett, Unitas, Namath, and Bradshaw

.

and didn't he throw it like 60 yards on his knees?

Elway for me was the strongest arm

Billy Wade, George Mira, Sonny Jergensen.

Longest NFL throw I've ever seen, personally is this one - Justin Herbert from his 35 to the end-zone to receiver Jalen Guyton (against the Giants in 2021). I was seated in a end-zone seat. The came in like a howitzer shell ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YCeBSahkzQ

But that's not the most impressive arm I've ever seen. I grew up with a kid (in Texas) who I saw throw a ball end-zone to end-zone. Don't know what happened to him, probably prison where many of those young men ended up, back then.

In comment 16397249 BigBlueShock said:

Quote:

In comment 16397198 chuckydee9 said: Quote: Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period.. Brady? More arm talent than Elway? You are disqualified from ever talking football again

Show me one throw better by Elway than Brady to Moss 2nd last play of SB.. otherwise don't bother disqualifying people..

thats a 67+ yard throw in game hitting the WR in stride. and not a heave like a hail mary..
Brady Throw - ( New Window )

.

In comment 16397242 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

what you're looking for. Fastball or distance or both? I think Mahomes and Allen went back and forth for a while passing each other in longest distance and I want to say it was something like 80 yards. I think Mahomes might have even thrown a ball close to 80 yards at his pro day. I believe Baker Mayfield has the longest pass completion (on a ball traveling in the air not like Victor Cruz 99 yard reception) and it was a 70-yard hail mary (ball traveled 70 yards in the air). but if you're talking pure fast ball guys like Favre and George have to be near the top. I don't know those older guys ever tried to see how far they could throw it. They probably did. They should bring back those types of contests like from the Sehorn days and have them at the pro-bowl. until someone gets hurt. lol. Make the NFL pro-bowl like the NHL all-star game and it would be more fun.

Thats the point I am trying to make.. For all intensive purposes, Mayfield has a below average arm.. yet he throws in game much further than guys like Elway, Marino ever did in game.. throwing in backyard with shorts on is different..

Kent Graham?

Kent Graham?

.

Other strong but a bit further down that best list are Josh Allen, Bert Jones and Terry Bradshaw.

The guy had a cannon. Elway and Mahomes might have been better, maybe, but if so, not by a lot.

Elway Cross...see attached.
Elway Cross - ( New Window )

excellent arm but Allen and Herbert both have stronger arms.

.....I remember John Madden showing the point of ball and showing on the Telestrator how it spun lol, and saying that's what was imprinted on the chest of receivers.

But Elway "looked" like he was trying to throw it that hard, a lot of effort.

Marino also comes to mind too but his quick release was his calling card. But he could wing it.

I've never seen a QB throw as effortlessly as Aaron Rodgers. It's almost like he flicks his wrist and out it comes with velocity.

Maybe a bit overlooked, in terms of pure strength - Randall Cunningham was rumored to be able to throw it 100 yards (or close to it IIRC). But his release was so long and deliberate.

In comment 16397275 chuckydee9 said:

Quote:

thats a 67+ yard throw in game hitting the WR in stride. and not a heave like a hail mary.. Brady Throw - ( New Window )

Two things there:

1. Great play by Webster
2. Realy glad Moss did not high point that...luckily it wasn't underthrown a bit.

Brady is proof arm strength can be developed.

threw the hardest, Vick for the distance with ease.

Side bar Warren Moon threw the most perfect looking balls
Tight spirals and soft arcs. Its him and Steve Young but that lefty motion screws it up.

In comment 16397298 BillKo said:

Quote:

.....I remember John Madden showing the point of ball and showing on the Telestrator how it spun lol, and saying that's what was imprinted on the chest of receivers. But Elway "looked" like he was trying to throw it that hard, a lot of effort. Marino also comes to mind too but his quick release was his calling card. But he could wing it. I've never seen a QB throw as effortlessly as Aaron Rodgers. It's almost like he flicks his wrist and out it comes with velocity. Maybe a bit overlooked, in terms of pure strength - Randall Cunningham was rumored to be able to throw it 100 yards (or close to it IIRC). But his release was so long and deliberate.

Cunningham is said to have thrown it 76 yards in a QB competition in 1993, not 100 yards lol....but it was a good story :)

He had an absolute cannon

Would break his receivers fingers the ball would be gunned so hard. The players would talk in awe about the sound the ball would make on his release. He also set the national record for the javelin in high school. Strong armed QB.

You all forgot the late Pillsbury throw boy. His one great t trait was he had the strong arm anyone had ever seen. One one his great throws was in warm ups of a 2007 game against the packers when he threw a ball accurate to a fan in the 15th row of the third level from mid field,

In comment 16397198 chuckydee9 said:

Quote:

Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period..

Elway had the strongest arm I have ever seen. Brady is up there, yes.

...

Been already named but I will add Vinnie Testeverde.

ball, 30/40/50 yards, than Bert Jones. I felt sorry for his receivers, in attempting to catch his long passes.

Kyle Boller.

Just never got the recognition he deserved
His team around him stunk....he was known more for his Lite Beer commercials than his abilities as a QB

of this thread and started thinking of 350 pound linemen. I'm a dumbass!

Moon
Marino
Cunningham
Nagle - wasn't his shtick, that he could throw the ball 70+ yards on his knees?

Jeff George - I always felt a big issue was he'd get pissed due to a drop or wrong route. Then he'd lose all touch and every pass was flung with all he had, making matters worse.

I think he has the second longest throw behind Randall Cunningham.

Supposedly this kid on Tennessee (Joe Milton) can throw it a long ways.

He could throw ropes.

Effortless release.

88 yard TD - ( New Window )

In comment 16397430 ConsistentGiantFan said:

Quote:

He could throw ropes.

Colts. Were no Ravens then. AFC East Baltimore Colts.

In comment 16397271 chuckydee9 said:

Quote:

In comment 16397249 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 16397198 chuckydee9 said: Quote: Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period.. Brady? More arm talent than Elway? You are disqualified from ever talking football again Show me one throw better by Elway than Brady to Moss 2nd last play of SB.. otherwise don't bother disqualifying people..

If posts were QBs, yours would be Johnny Manziel.

He threw it from his own 7, his receiver caught it at the opposing team's 4 yard line.

the NFL combine has tested and measured QB velocity since 2008, so there are a lot of guys before that already mentioned who we don't have data for who pre-date 2008, and there are other guys that didn't throw at the combine since, such as Matt Stafford, another guy with a big arm.

But Josh Allen does hold the combine record throwing 62 mph.

His WR's have stories of how they would have a "cross" mark on their bodies from the tip of the ball when he threw it at them.

Strongest arm I ever saw at Albany camp was Kerry Collins. You could hear the sound of the ball hitting a WR clearly from 30-40 yards away! You didn't hear that from Eli, Warner or any of the other QB's there.

In comment 16397221 Go Terps said:

Quote:

I saw Jeff George in person for the Redskins - it didn't seem human. I agree with those saying Marino, Elway, and George. I'd include Rodgers, Allen, and Mahomes of the current guys. I'll also mention Warren Moon, who was as clean a thrower as you could want, so I have an excuse to post this GIF. Great thrower.

Not sure I'd rank Moon that high for hard throwing. But, overall, I think he is a grossly underrated QB, especially when talking about all time rankings.

Nobody, that I saw, threw it harder. He also had a legendary arm in baseball, drafted by the Yankees. He threw a seed from the warning track to home plate in his brief minor league career.

In comment 16397275 chuckydee9 said:

Quote:

thats a 67+ yard throw in game hitting the WR in stride. and not a heave like a hail mary.. Brady Throw - ( New Window )

That and the throw to Moss in the SB against us. The ball went 70 yards. Not sure Brady was the strongest but damn his arm was definitely underrated!

In comment 16397231 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

But he was a moron. The archetypal “million dollar arm, ten cent head” guy. He could make every throw on the field - both high velocity and touch passes. I still think Elway had a bit stronger arm, but he didn’t have the same touch George had. Kerry Collins had a bazooka of an arm

I was going to say Kerry Collins. The fleaflicker vs IND always stands out. Look how far this ball travels in the air and he hits Toomer right in stride. He throws it from about the 5 yard line.
Flea Flicker - ( New Window )

Vick and nobody threw an easier deep ball than that guy in his prime. Flick of the wrist the ball went 65 yards with a tight spiral

68 yards in the air and right on Moss in stride.
Brady might not have topped the velocity list but jeez that was some throw. Just tipped away, man that was way too close.

Just that he didn't have the velocity of an Elway or Marino

Could throw a ball through a wall, just not the one he was aiming for.
Douglas highlights - ( New Window )

In comment 16397627 MOOPS said:

Quote:

68 yards in the air and right on Moss in stride. Brady might not have topped the velocity list but jeez that was some throw. Just tipped away, man that was way too close.

FWIW, wasn't Tyrod Taylor's throw to Slayton 62 yards in the air?

In comment 16397547 Costy16 said:

Quote:

In comment 16397231 Greg from LI said: Quote: But he was a moron. The archetypal “million dollar arm, ten cent head” guy. He could make every throw on the field - both high velocity and touch passes. I still think Elway had a bit stronger arm, but he didn’t have the same touch George had. Kerry Collins had a bazooka of an arm I was going to say Kerry Collins. The fleaflicker vs IND always stands out. Look how far this ball travels in the air and he hits Toomer right in stride. He throws it from about the 5 yard line. Flea Flicker - ( New Window )

56 yards?

Elway cross in SB 21. Funny segment.

I think he once threw an interception that traveled 75-80 yards in the air.

In comment 16397677 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

Just that he didn't have the velocity of an Elway or Marino

I'm hearing that QBs can have any mix of arm strength and velocity. Velocity can be had without a very strong arm, and vice versa.

Just looked up Deshaun Watson with a very low clocked combine velocity of 45 mph, and yet I think people would say he has good arm strength for deep balls.

Then you have guys without notably strong arms that had plenty of velocity to be hall of famers - Brady, Montana, Brees, P. Manning, Young, Rivers, etc.

I would say velocity is more important for being a top QB, and arm strength is a luxury.

.

flick of the wrist baby

Bert Jones had a cannon

...

I think he once threw an interception that traveled 75-80 yards in the air.

In comment 16397829 Beer Man said:

Quote:

Bert Jones had a cannon

Remember seeing him as a kid. I was just learning the game and didn't really understand how much a weapon having a strong arm was. I just could tell the pass looked different coming out of his hand

In comment 16397290 Section331 said:

Quote:

The guy had a cannon. Elway and Mahomes might have been better, maybe, but if so, not by a lot.

Bert Jones, before injury, had the strongest arm the NFL has ever seen. Pastorini was nuts too, but a touch below OG Bert.

Brett Favre mentioned. He could sling it a bit.

ANd just found it online too, doesn't mean it was real but I heard this as a kid

Story about Dan Pastorini's arm strength
He was at some kind of conference with several HoF QBs and spotted them on a hotel balcony on the fourth floor. They challenged him to throw a ball up to them from the ground. His words:

"The ball sailed perfectly over their heads, above the balcony, above the next floor and hit a 10th-story balcony.

Jenkins turned to Bobby Layne and said, “Did you see that? Can you believe the arm strength in that kid? Can you believe he threw a football up 10-stories?”

Unitas chimed in, “Yeah, but his receiver was on the fifth floor.”

In comment 16398006 Thegratefulhead said:

Quote:

ANd just found it online too, doesn't mean it was real but I heard this as a kid Story about Dan Pastorini's arm strength He was at some kind of conference with several HoF QBs and spotted them on a hotel balcony on the fourth floor. They challenged him to throw a ball up to them from the ground. His words: "The ball sailed perfectly over their heads, above the balcony, above the next floor and hit a 10th-story balcony. Jenkins turned to Bobby Layne and said, “Did you see that? Can you believe the arm strength in that kid? Can you believe he threw a football up 10-stories?” Unitas chimed in, “Yeah, but his receiver was on the fifth floor.”

GF is Grandfather....err

For me. Took him years to dial it back to a speed that helped his receivers rather than hurt them in Tampa.

Three that come to mind.

Jeff George could basically throw as good as anyone. Maybe other guys had as good an arm but not sure if anyone could have been much better.

In comment 16397485 allstarjim said:

Quote:

In comment 16397271 chuckydee9 said: Quote: In comment 16397249 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 16397198 chuckydee9 said: Quote: Brady's throw in SB 42 to Moss on the second to last play was way more arm talent than Elway has ever shown.. and Guys like Allen have a much better arm than Brady.. so I really doubt that Elway and Marino had better arm talent.. may be if you adjust it for respective time period.. Brady? More arm talent than Elway? You are disqualified from ever talking football again Show me one throw better by Elway than Brady to Moss 2nd last play of SB.. otherwise don't bother disqualifying people.. If posts were QBs, yours would be Johnny Manziel.

I'm waiting to see if you can actually show me a better throw by Elway that shows more arm talent than Brady.. and if you go back to my original post you'll see I'm not even claiming Brady as great Arm talent.. just saying that current guys are far superior..

I remember he could roll right, throw across his body to the left side of the field and put an x in his receiver's chest. It seemed to me he took chances that other QBs could not because of that arm strength.

I moved to Colorado in 83 and saw Elway throw every week which is why I was terrified he would single-handedly beat the NYG in the 86 Superbowl, especially since S Terry Kinard was injured and replaced by the slower S Herb Welch.

Smoking...

In comment 16397404 Aloha Alan said:

Quote:

I think he has the second longest throw behind Randall Cunningham. Supposedly this kid on Tennessee (Joe Milton) can throw it a long ways.

Milton for sure can. He has a true rocket of a right arm.

If I'm not mistaken, didn't Kordell Stewart and like Drew Bledsoe throw it farther than Favre in that epic Pro Bowl competition?

this old bald guy tossing 50 yard spirals like it was playing
15 yard catch.I said "who the hell is that? "
I was told Y.A. Title

.

And not sure where the poster got the idea he was not big. He was a large man. 6 foot 4 and listed at 215 to 220 but probably even a little bigger. And this was in the 1980s.

In comment 16404302 gtt350 said:

Quote:

this old bald guy tossing 50 yard spirals like it was playing 15 yard catch.I said "who the hell is that? " I was told Y.A. Title

cue the photo with the blood streaming down the sides of his head

In comment 16404484 mort christenson said:

Quote:

And not sure where the poster got the idea he was not big. He was a large man. 6 foot 4 and listed at 215 to 220 but probably even a little bigger. And this was in the 1980s.

Elway was that generations Allen (or visa versa)

the uprights on his knee during his pro day? That's 60 yards all arm and torso. I remember seeing it when it happened and couldnt believe it.

Horrendous player though.

In comment 16404904 PatersonPlank said:

Quote:

In comment 16404484 mort christenson said: Quote: And not sure where the poster got the idea he was not big. He was a large man. 6 foot 4 and listed at 215 to 220 but probably even a little bigger. And this was in the 1980s. Elway was that generations Allen (or visa versa)

I attended Phillipsburg High School in northwest Jersey. We're a football and wrestling powerhouse. Before my time there, we had a player named Jim Clymer who went to Stanford and played with Elway in the '80s. I have been out with Jim a few times and spoke to him about playing with Elway.

Jim told me when he first practiced with Elway he was overwhelmed by the ball velocity. He couldn't react quickly enough to catch the ball with just his hands. So, he caught nearly everything with his body. When practice ended, he took off his shirt and noticed a red mark on his chest that was very painful. He looked in the mirror and could see the cross at the end of the ball basically tattooed into his skin.

The "Elway Cross". It was a real thing...