30. Larry Allen, OL (1994-07)
Larry Allen was among the many reasons Emmitt Smith became the NFL's all-time leading rusher. | Tim Heitman-Imagn
29. Bob Lilly, DT (1961-74)
Bob Lilly is one of the greatest Cowboys of all time.
28. Emmitt Smith, RB (1990-04)
Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher.
27. Jonathan Ogden, OT (1996-07)
Jonathan Ogden is among the best offensive tackles in NFL history. | James D. Smith-Imagn Images
26. Bruce Smith, DE (1985-03)
Bruce Smith was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
25. Sammy Baugh, QB (1937-52)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, two-time NFL champion, four-time first team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 33 jersey retired by Washington
24. Rod Woodson, DB (1987-03)
Rod Woodson holds the NFL record for fumble recoveries (32) by a defensive player and interceptions returned for a touchdown (12). Woodson was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1993
23. John Hannah, G (1973-85)
Former Patriots guard John Hannah is the best interior offensive lineman in NFL history.
22. Randy Moss, WR (1998-12)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1998 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 2007 Comeback Player of the Year, four-time first team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team
21. Ronnie Lott, DB (1981-94)
Ronnie Lott was one of the hardest hitters in NFL history.
20. Patrick Mahomes, QB (2017-present)
Patrick Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion. three-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL MVP, 2018 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, two-time first team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler
19. Aaron Donald, DT (2014-23)
Aaron Donald is the youngest defensive player to make the list.
18. Deion Sanders, CB (1989-00, 2004-05)
Deion Sanders is among the top playmakers in NFL history.
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, two-time Super Bowl champion, 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, six-time first team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
17. Ray Lewis, LB (1996-12)
Ray Lewis is the NFL's all-time leader in tackles.
16. John Elway, QB (1983-98)
John Elway won two Super Bowls to finish his NFL career.
15. Anthony Muñoz, OT (1980-92)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, nine-time first team All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowlers, 1991 NFL Man of the Year, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
14. “Mean” Joe Greene, DT (1969-81)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, four-time Super Bowl Champion, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of The Year, 1979 NFL Man of the Year, five-time first team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 75 jersey retired by Steelers
13. Barry Sanders, RB (1989-98)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1997 NFL MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, 1989 Offensive Rookie of the Year, six-time first team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 20 jersey retired by Lions
Arguably the most exhilarating rusher of all time, Barry Sanders excelled at evading defenders and turning negative plays into positive gains over his Hall of Fame career with the Lions.
12. David “Deacon” Jones, DE (1961-74)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, five-time first team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 75 jersey retired by Rams
11. Johnny Unitas, QB (1956-73)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl V champion, three-time NFL champion, three-time NFL MVP, 1970 NFL Man of the Year, five-time first team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th, 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 19 jersey retired by Colts
10. Don Hutson, End (1935-45)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Three-time NFL champion, two-time NFL MVP (Joe F. Carr Trophy), eight-time first team All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1930s All-Decade Team, NFL’s 50th, 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, five-time NFL scoring leader, No. 14 retired by Packers
In one game, Hutson scored 29 points in a single quarter, an NFL record that the league no longer recognizes.
9. Dick Butkus, LB (1965-73)
Major Achievements: From 1965-1973, linebacker Dick Butkus was the ever-imposing force in the middle of the Bears’ defense. Hall of Famer Bill George preceded Butkus as the Bears’ middle linebacker, but even he knew his time was running out when Butkus arrived.
8. Peyton Manning, QB (1998-15)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, two-time Super Bowl Bowl champion, Super Bowl XLI MVP, five-time NFL MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 2012 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, 2005 Walter Player Man of the Year, seven-time first team All-Pro, 14-time Pro Bowler, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 18 jersey retired by Colts and Broncos
7. Joe Montana, QB (1979-94)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL MVP, 1989 Offensive Player of the Year, three-time first team All-Pro, eight-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 16 retired by 49ers
6. Reggie White, DE (1985-00)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl XXXI champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time first team All-Pro, 13-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary Team, No. 92 retired by Packers and Eagles
5. Walter Payton, RB (1975-87)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl XX champion, 1977 NFL MVP, 1977 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1977 NFL Man of the Year, five-time first team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 34 retired by Bears
4. Lawrence Taylor, OLB (1981-93)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Two-time Super Bowl champion, 1986 NFL MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time first team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary Team, No. 56 retired by Giants
Lawrence Taylor tops our list as the best defensive player in NFL history.
3. Jim Brown, FB (1957-1965)
Major achievements: Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1964 NFL champion, three-time NFL MVP, eight-time first team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler, 1957 Rookie of the Year, 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th, 75th and 100th Anniversary Team, No. 32 retired by Browns
It’s hard to find a player more dominant at their position in the history of the NFL than Jim Brown. Over his nine seasons in the league, the bruising fullback out of Syracuse led the league in rushing yards eight times. Only five running backs have even led the NFL in rushing yards four times—Steve Van Buren, O.J. Simpson, Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders—and all but Van Buren had longer careers than Brown.
Despite playing just nine years during an era when NFL seasons were 12 or 14 games, Brown still ranks 12th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list. He was in his prime when he retired, too, having rushed for 1,544 yards in his final season in the league. He could be much higher on the all-time rushing list had he continued playing.
Along with rushing yards, Brown also led the NFL in rushing touchdowns a record five times. Outside of Hutson, he’s the only non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award multiple times in his career, winning it three different times. He remains the NFL record-holder for career rushing yards per game (104.3) and rushing yards per carry for a player with at least 1,500 attempts (5.2). No other player has averaged 100 rushing yards per game over their entire career.
2. Jerry Rice, WR (1985-2005)
Major Achievements: Pro Football Hall of Famer, three-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXIII MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 10-time first team All-Pro, 13-time Pro Bowler, NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 80 jersey retired by 49ers
While many NFL greats are known for being the first to enter the building and last to leave, Rice’s work ethic was unmatched. Rice’s offseason workouts were legendary, with the 49ers receiver running The Hill and treacherous wind sprints to stay in top condition. When Rice tore his ACL during the first game of the 1997 season, he came back three months later to play in Joe Montana’s jersey retirement game, catching a touchdown in the game before missing the remainder of the season.
It’s that work ethic that not only allowed Rice to return from a torn ACL in three months, but play at his best in the biggest moments and achieve unprecedented longevity at the position. In his first Super Bowl, he caught 11 passes for a record 215 yards and a touchdown, and was subsequently named the Super Bowl MVP. He holds a record 589 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns across all his Super Bowl appearances.
Rice finished his career as the NFL’s all-time leading receiver, finishing his career with 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns—all records. He led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns six times, and recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1986-96. Though many receivers are considered past their prime by the age of 30, Rice put up 12,274 receiving yards after turning 30. It’s why he’s the only player to become a 10-time first team All-Pro. It’s also why despite the influx of receiving talent in the modern era, Rice’s records remain unbreakable.
1. Tom Brady, QB (2000-2022)
Patriots, Tom Brady, NFL.
Major Achievements: Seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, three-time first team All-Pro,15-time Pro Bowler, No. 12 jersey retired by Patriots
The goal of the NFL is to win Super Bowls, and nobody did this better in the history of the sport than Tom Brady, which alone is enough to make him the greatest ever. Over his incredible career, Brady won a record seven Super Bowls and appeared in 10 total. If you take out the 2000 and 2008 seasons—which he barely played in—Brady made the Super Bowl in nearly half of the seasons he played, a remarkable feat. He made eight consecutive AFC championship games from 2011-18, and holds the record for quarterback wins (251) and postseason wins (35).
