Joe Montana has claimed that the best quarterback of all time is Miami Dolphins legend Dan Marino, stating he is an “unsung hero” of the sport.

Montana is a name that is often mentioned in discussions for one of the greatest throwers in the league, given his successes with the San Francisco 49ers throughout the 1980s. The Hall of Famer won the Super Bowl four times, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the league twice and is widely regarded as the most clutch quarterback of all time.

However, his success with the 49ers was punctuated by many other great quarterbacks in the league, including Brett Favre, fellow San Francisco legend Steve Young and John Elway. However, one man that Montana believes is the best quarterback of all time is Miami Dolphins icon Marino, who he battled against during his career.

Tom Brady is often tipped as the greatest of all time in the sport, with his seven Super Bowl wins – more than any other quarterback – as well as leading the NFL in the most games won (286), most career passing yards (102,614) and most touchdowns thrown (737).

Despite this, Montana told Men’s Health that Marino is the best, despite getting the better of him in Super Bowl XIX. The 68-year-old said: “I think [Marino] is probably one of the most unsung heroes of the game.

“People don’t talk enough about him or realize the numbers that he put up during the times that he put them up. He had the perfect torque of his upper body and strength to deliver the ball quickly at a fast release with accuracy.”

Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino gets ready to throw a pass in first quarter action in Mimi's NFL season opener against the Indianapolis Colts 31 August at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, FL. Marino is starting his 15th year as Dolphins quarterback.

Marino is regarded as one of the best players to never win the Super Bowl ( 

Image:

RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)

Marino is considered to be one of the greatest players ever to never win a Super Bowl, despite making play-offs 10 times and appeared in the 1985 Super Bowl game – a match-up he lost 38-16 to Montana’s 49ers.

The Dolphins quarterback was the first in NFL history to reach 5,000 yards passing in one season and was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1984.

However, in terms of achievements, Brady far outranks Marino and even Montana – who he has claimed as one of his idols in the position. Brady has won seven Super Bowls, is a five-time Super Bowl MVP, and is the only NFL quarterback to be named to two all-decade teams in the 2000s and 2010s.