Introduction:
Compiling the Top 10 list of professional football league players is not a child’s play. It is one of the most debated and challenging things to do. From over 100 legends of the sport, narrowing it down to 10 is a task. And while preparing this list, I had to keep my biases aside, recognize the greats, and submit to the obvious facts. Some defining parameters considered are Hall of Fame inductions, career stats, awards & reputations, impact on the game, and game-changing historical moments. Feel free to agree, disagree, argue, debate, or simply browse the list. Read to find out if your favorites made the list. Whom did we miss?
Here are the Top 10 ranked greatest NFL players of all time:
10. Johnny Unitas
Position: Quarterback
Years Active: 1956 to 1973
Teams Played: Pittsburg Steelers (1955), Baltimore Colts (1956-1972), San Diego Chargers (1973)
Notable Achievements: Most Valuable Player (1959, 1964, 1967), 3 Championship Titles with Colts (1958, 1959, 1968), 1 Super Bowl (V), Most consecutive games for touchdown pass.
AKA: Golden Arm
Hailed as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Johnny Unitas is the undisputed champion of passing and touchdowns. Unitas is credited with popularizing the sport back in the late 50s. He started his career with Pittsburgh Steelers but rose to fame when he joined Baltimore Colts under the guidance of legendary coach Weeb Ewbank. He won his first championship with the Colts by defeating New York Giants in a nail-biting finish. Colts won it 23-17 in sudden death, and many dubbed it “the greatest game ever played”. This match also saw the first overtime game in the history of the NFL.
9.Deion Sanders
Position: Cornerback
Years Active: 1989 – 2006
Teams Played: Atlanta Falcons (1989-1993), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Dallas Cowboys (1995-1999), Washington Redskins (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2004-2005)
Notable Achievements: 2 Super Bowl Champion (XXIX, XXX), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1994), Jimmy Thorpe award
AKA: Neon Deion, Prime Time
The only athlete ever to feature in both Super Bowl & World Series, Deion Sanders was a supreme athlete in his prime. Known for his exploits in Baseball & Football league, Sanders is arguably the best cornerback this game has ever seen. He played 14 seasons with various teams and won 2 Super Bowls. He has also been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and made into the All-Pro First Teams 6 times. Now, he is the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and continues to impact the game from the sidelines.
8. Reggie White
Position: Defensive end
Years Active: 1985-2000
Teams Played: Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1992), Green Bay Packers (1993-1998), Carolina Panthers (2000)
Notable Achievements: Super Bowl Champion (XXXI), 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year
AKA: The Minister of Defense
Spent 15 seasons as one of the most highly regarded defensive end players in the National Football League, Reggie White reigned supreme. Two times NFL Defensive Player of the year, a Super Bowl Champion, and 13-time Pro-Bowl Selection, he holds the second position for all-time NFL career sack leaders with 198. ESPN SportsNation voted him one of the Eagles’ most outstanding players. Inducted to the Hall of Fame posthumously, Reggie White left a long-lasting impression on the sport.
7.Peyton Manning
Position: Quarterback
Years Active: 1998 – 2015
Teams Played: Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011), Denver Broncos (2012-2015)
Notable Achievements: 2 Super Bowl Championship (XLI with Colts, 50 with Broncos), 5 times Most Valuable Player, Most Career Passing Yards (71,940) and touchdown passes (539)
AKA: The Sheriff
A second-generation NFL quarterback, Peyton Manning is the prodigal son of Archie Manning. Manning has a passing rating of 96.5 and helped transform the struggling Indianapolis Colts into a force to be reckoned with, leading them to 11 playoff appearances. Manning also holds the record for the most passing touchdowns in a single season with a tally of 55. One of the defining moments in Peyton Manning’s career was the match played between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears, where he completed 25 of 38 passes for 247 yards and one touchdown, leading the Colts to a 29-17 victory, earning the MVP award.
6. Walter Payton
Position: Running Back
Years Active: 1975 – 1987
Teams Played: Chicago Bears
Notable Achievements: Super Bowl Championships (XX), NFL Most Valuable Player, (1977), Offensive Player of the Year (1977)
AKA: Sweetness
One team man, Walter Payton, spent his 13 years playing with Chicago Bears. He set the record for most career rushing yards, was a 9-time Pro-Bowl selection, and was pivotal in helping Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory. His philanthropic ventures off the field equally matched his charismatic personality on the field. He founded Walter Payton Foundation to support underprivileged children. His game against Minnesota Vikings is dubbed the “Walter Payton Game,” where he rushed for 275 yards on 40 carries, breaking the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game, helping the Chicago Bears win the game 10-7. Payton passed away after a rare liver disease at 45, but his legacy still lives on.
5. Joe Montana
Position: Quarterback
Years Active: 1979 – 1994
Teams Played: San Francisco 49ers (1979-1992), Kansas City Chiefs (1993-1994)
Notable Achievements: 4x Super Bowl Championships (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV), 3x Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV), 2x NFL MVP (1989, 1990)
AKA: Joe Cool, the Comeback Kid
Joe Montana has one of the most illustrious careers in the NFL and is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. He was the NFL Offensive player of the year (1989), won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1986), and made 3 times into the First team All-Pro in 87, 89, and 90 seasons. Montana was also named “Sportsman of the Year” in 1990 by Sports Illustrated. While Joe Montana has endless career highlight reels, his match against Dallas stands out. Dubbed “The Catch,” Montana made the game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark. Not to forget, a Super Bowl-winning 92-yard drive against the Cincinnati Bengals in XXIII is some of the most iconic moments in the history of the NFL.
4. Lawrence Taylor
Position: Linebacker
Years Active: 1981 – 1993
Teams Played: New York Giants
Notable Achievements: 2x Super Bowl Championships (XXI, XXV), NFL MVP (1986), 3x NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)
AKA: LT
Lawrence Taylor is one of the greatest linebackers ever, known for his speed, strength, and exceptional ability to disrupt opposition offensive plays. Inducted into the Hall of Fame within six years of his retirement, Lawrence Taylor was a trailblazing linebacker that even his contemporaries acknowledge. Again, a one-team man, he spent his entire playing career with New York Giants and won the most valuable player award in 1986. LT’s memorable game must be against the San Francisco 49ers in the 1986 divisional playoff. Taylor recorded three sacks, one forced fumble, and a picturesque interception, leaping into the air to grab the ball with one hand—a moment fans would watch repeatedly. The Giants went on to win the game by 49-3, which propelled them to the Super Bowl Victory.
3. Jim Brown
Position: Running Back
Years Active: 1957 – 1965
Teams Played: Cleveland Browns
Notable Achievements: 3x NFL MVP Awards (1957, 1958, 1965), 8x rushing titles (1957-1965), Career Rushing Touchdowns (106)
Jim Brown was known for his speed, agility, and ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact. He is easily the best running back in NFL history. In his relatively short career of 8 years with the Cleveland Browns, he has made it into Pro Bowl Selection in every season he played. He specialized in stopping the opposing runs. His performance against Baltimore Colts saw him scoring four touchdowns, rushing for 237 yards for 31 carries, and catching two passes for 17 yards solidifying his position in the NFL lore. He retired at 29 to pursue a career in acting, but he is regarded as the most influential and dominant player the league has ever seen.
2. Tom Brady
Position: Quarterback
Years Active: 2000 – Present
Teams Played: New England Patriots (2000-2019), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020-Present)
Notable Achievements: 7x Super Bowl Championship (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII, LV), 5x Super Bowl MVP (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, LV), 3x NFL MVP (2007,2010,2017)
AKA: Tom Terrific
Tom Brady is the most decorated NFL player in the game’s history. Apart from seven super bowl championships (most-ever), five Super Bowl MVPs, and 3 NFL MVPs, he is in 14 Pro Bowl Selections, and awarded twice as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Brady has also recorded more career playoff wins than any other player and most career postseason passing yards and touchdown passes in the sport’s history. His longevity is second to none, and he is still playing at the age of 40. His list of NFL career records is never-ending, including Most Career Quarterback Wins (251), Most Career Passing Attempts (12,050), Most Career Passing Completion (7,753), Most Career Passing Touchdowns (649), and longest touchdown passes (99 yards). Many regard him as the GOAT (Greatest of all Time) because of what he achieved. And although his fans will recount most of the matches he played as the most remarkable moments, Super Bowl LI was a stand-out. Brady led the New England Patriots to one of the most thrilling comebacks in the history of the Super Bowl, overcoming a 28-3 deficit to win the game. Brady threw for 466 yards and recorded two touchdowns. He is still going strong with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ready to etch some more moments to his story.
1. Jerry Rice
Position: Wide Receiver
Years Active: 1985-2004
Teams Played: San Francisco 49ers (1985-2000), Oakland Raiders (2001-2004), Seattle Seahawks (2004)
Notable Achievements: 3x Super Bowl Championship (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX), Super Bowl MVP (XXIII), 2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987,1993), 10x First Team All Pro
AKA: World
Jerry Rice is the most regarded NFL player in history. His work ethic & longevity have been admired by his peers and fans. His superb catching abilities made him a worldie, hence the nickname. The greatest wide receiver ever, he shared the field with some big names like Joe Montana & Roger Craig. His precision of patterns, tremendous strength, trail running, sudden change in direction, uphill wind sprints, and catching abilities made him unbeatable. He has set a host of NFL records, and his rise from rags to riches still inspires youth to follow the path he left. Rice’s jersey number 80 became iconic for the 49ers, and fans even today hail him as the greatest.
Conclusion
While rankings are subjective, coming to a consensus was essential. Each of them had a contribution in their own way to the sport. Outside this list, countless other legends of the sport are equally praise-worthy, but if you ask me, these legends will easily make the top 10 rankings for anyone. Do you agree with our list? Whom do you want to see on this list? It’s time you share your Top 10 Ranked NFL players of all time.
