NFL quarterbacks and tech companies rule their respective universes - here are 7 spot-on comparisons

Tech companies and NFL quarterbacks have a surprising amount in common.

While tech stocks carry outsized influence, often dictating the direction of the whole market, professional football teams are also at the whim of their signal-callers. The market would crash if tech stocks started failing - the dotcom bubble anyone? - just like how an injury to an NFL team's starting quarterback usually spells certain disaster.

Now, as the NFL season approaches, many casual football fans are trying to get up to speed on which players and teams to watch. And there's no better place to start than with the guys who are throwing the passes.

Below is a breakdown to help make sense of it all, with a special focus on the tech companies that best embody some of the league's most notable quarterbacks.