Quarterbacks with strong arms are highly coveted in the NFL. The ability to throw the ball far downfield with velocity is a huge asset for an offense. Throughout NFL history, there have been many quarterbacks with cannon-like arms. But which QB has the strongest arm of all time?
How Arm Strength is Measured
There are a few ways arm strength can be quantified in NFL quarterbacks:
- Velocity – How fast can they throw the ball, measured in miles per hour via radar guns.
- Distance – How far can they throw the ball downfield.
- Deep Ball Accuracy – Completion percentage on long throws over 20+ yards.
Radar gun measurements are the most objective way to compare arm strength. However, arm strength is about more than just speed. Being able to throw the deep ball with accuracy while maintaining velocity is also important.
The Strongest Arms in NFL History
Based on radar gun velocity measurements, these quarterbacks have had some of the strongest arms ever:
- Patrick Mahomes – The Kansas City Chiefs QB has topped the charts with a throw over 60 mph in gameplay. In practice, he’s hit over 70 mph on the radar gun.
- Josh Allen – The Buffalo Bills quarterback has thrown over 62 mph in games. He’s hit over 70 mph on the gun in practice.
- Aaron Rodgers – While not the fastest overall, Rodgers can throw over 60 mph into his late 30s with elite precision.
- John Elway – One of the strongest arms ever, Elway famously threw the ball over 70 yards in-game during his career.
- Michael Vick – Early in his career, Vick threw over 60 mph regularly with flicks of his wrist.
- Jay Cutler – Cutler generated huge torque and could throw over 60 mph without straining.
- Joe Flacco – While inconsistent, Flacco could hit over 60 mph in his prime and excelled at the deep ball.
- Colin Kaepernick – Kaepernick had one of the strongest arms ever measured, breaking 60 mph as a rookie.
- Brett Favre – Favre’s gunslinger mentality was backed up by his cannon arm, which allowed him to take risks downfield.
Who Has the Strongest Arm Ever?
Based on all the available data, Patrick Mahomes likely has the strongest arm talent ever measured. He can make every throw with ease across the field and consistently hits over 60 mph on deep passes. While others like Vick, Elway, Cutler, and Allen may have peaked higher on single throws, Mahomes has the top arm talent combo across velocity, distance, and precision.
However, other quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, John Elway, and Brett Favre also have very strong cases as the best arms in league history. Rodgers can rival anyone in precision downfield and still throws lasers late into his 30s. Elway amazed with raw throwing power able to go 70+ yards. Favre built his Hall of Fame career around taking risks thanks to his cannon right arm.
Mahomes Arm Strength Analysis
Let’s take a deeper look at some of Mahomes’ most impressive feats of arm strength:
- Threw a ball over 80 yards in the air at a Chiefs practice
- Launched a pass over 70 yards off his back foot for a touchdown against the Buccaneers
- Fired a bullet pass 61 mph for a TD strike against the Raiders
- Completed multiple no-look and sidearm throws 40+ yards downfield
- Has one of the quickest releases ever timed under 0.4 seconds
Mahomes clearly has a special combination of arm talent, flexibility, mechanics, and touch. He can change arm angles and still deliver perfect strikes downfield. The unique ways Mahomes adjusts his release points and throwing platform allow him to maximize velocity. His natural arm strength is impressive by itself, but his ability to optimize torque through his kinetic chain makes his arm truly elite.
Josh Allen’s Arm Strength
Josh Allen is Mahomes’ top competitor for today’s strongest arm. The Bills QB makes throws that seem impossible:
- Launching a pass 67 yards in-game vs the Cardinals
- Throwing with 63 mph velocity clocked with handheld devices
- Hitting 70+ mph throws in practice
- Flicking 60+ yard bombs downfield off-platform
- Excellent completion percentage on deep outs and comebacks
Allen generates incredible speed and distance without appearing to strain. His lanky 6’5 frame and flexible torso allow impressive whip-like acceleration. Allen also has huge 11.5-inch hands, helping him grip and control the ball at high velocities. His baseline arm strength rivals anyone, but his mechanics hold him back slightly compared to Mahomes.
Arm Strength Leaderboard
Here is how the quarterbacks with the strongest arms ever rank in terms of pure arm strength:
| Quarterback | Peak Velocity | Distance | Precision | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Mahomes | 80+ mph | 80+ yards | Excellent | 99 |
| Josh Allen | 70+ mph | 70+ yards | Very good | 97 |
| John Elway | 60+ mph | 70+ yards | Good | 95 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 60+ mph | 65+ yards | Elite | 95 |
| Michael Vick | 60+ mph | 60+ yards | Average | 94 |
| Brett Favre | 60+ mph | 65+ yards | Good | 93 |
| Jay Cutler | 60+ mph | 60+ yards | Average | 92 |
| Joe Flacco | 60+ mph | 65+ yards | Average | 90 |
| Colin Kaepernick | 60+ mph | 60+ yards | Average | 90 |
How Arm Strength Translates to the Field
While having benchmark arm strength is important, it’s not everything for an NFL quarterback. Things like timing, accuracy, decision making, pocket presence, and reading defenses are equally if not more important. Arm strength gives a quarterback a physical edge, but elite QBs pair it with intangibles and immeasurable traits.
Brett Favre is the perfect example – his gunslinger mentality was only possible because of his cannon arm, but his guts, grit, and football instincts made him a Hall of Famer. Similarly, Aaron Rodgers melds his elite velocity with otherworldly precision gained from experience and obsessive mechanics study.
For young guns like Mahomes and Allen, their arm talent gives them gravity-defying upside. But they’ve also shown the ability to hone their decision making and football IQ. Ultimately, arm strength alone guarantees nothing in the NFL. But when paired with the right skillset, it can elevate great quarterbacks to elite status.
Importance of Arm Strength By Era
The importance of arm strength has evolved over football history along with offensive and defensive trends:
- Pre-1980s – Less important with less deep passing and more running game focus.
- 1980s – More important with rise of vertical passing offenses.
- 1990s – Maintained importance with dominant pocket passers.
- 2000s – Critical for stretching zone defenses and throwing deep bombs.
- 2010s – Safety rules reduced deep balls, short passes gained emphasis.
- 2020s – Extremely important again with spacing concepts requiring deep balls to open underneath.
In today’s NFL, arm strength is essential for pushing the ball downfield to create space for receivers. Athleticzone defenses require seam strikes to open easy underneath throws. Favorable safety rules also allow aggressive deep shots. For modern quarterbacks, extraordinary arm strength is often the trait that unlocks elite upside.
Developing Arm Strength
While much of arm strength comes from natural talent, it can be developed and improved. Some keys for building arm strength include:
- Resistance band training to overload muscles
- Flexibility and mobility work to optimize torque
- Careful weight training to avoid injury
- Throwing mechanics drills for accuracy
- Core strength development to stabilize shoulders
- Nutrition and recovery techniques
- Proper warmup and cooldown routines
Quarterbacks aiming for the NFL need to begin strength building early. However, many can still improve their baseline arm talent through deliberate training if deficiencies are identified.
Risks of Overuse Injuries
Chasing maximum arm strength can be risky if not managed properly. NFL quarterbacks are susceptible to overuse injuries including:
- Shoulder instability
- Rotator cuff tears
- Labrum tears
- Elbow ligament sprains
- Finger, wrist, and hand injuries
Throwing mechanics dictate much of the stress placed on the arm. But aside from technique, limiting pitch counts for young QBs is vital. Building up slowly over time ensures the connective tissue and muscles develop to tolerate high forces. Proper rest, nutrition, and rehabilitation are also required to avoid devastating arm injuries.
Conclusion
Patrick Mahomes possesses the strongest arm talent ever measured in the NFL. His once-in-a-generation velocity, distance, and precision combination lifts his arm strength above any other quarterback in history. However, field vision, decision making, and intangibles ultimately make elite NFL quarterbacks.
While arm strength provides an enormous advantage, it must be paired with football IQ to unlock its full potential. Mahomes and Allen represent the future of quarterbacking with bazooka arms tailor-made for today’s spacing concepts. But they stand on the shoulders of gunslingers like Favre and Elway, whose cannons revolutionized passing decades ago.
There will surely be future young quarterbacks challenging Mahomes for the strongest arm accolade. But for now, the eye-popping improvisational strikes Mahomes delivers on a weekly basis solidify his status. Defenders beware – no arm has ever produced more jaw-dropping highlights. With Mahomes at the helm, the limits of arm strength will be pushed to new levels.