This is the tenth installment in my roughly one million part series The Grand List, or: the top 1000 pro football players ever, or something like that. Keep in mind I have forced myself to order these players, and that ordinal rankings naturally imply a bigger (or, sometimes, smaller) difference than really exists. While you’d be crazy to swap one of these guys with Tom Brady or Lawrence Taylor, at this point in the list, most players are interchangeable with one another and are often determined by preference. This isn’t the definitive list. It’s just a big list, ^[1]Based on a wealth of information and mine’s no better than yours.

Previous articles in the series

The Grand List, part 1: Includes honorable/special mentions and players 1000-990.
The Grand List, part 2: Includes players 989-965.
The Grand List, part 3: Includes players 964-940.
The Grand List, part 4: Includes players 939-901.
The Grand List, part 5: Includes players 900-876.
The Grand List, part 6: Includes players 875-851.
The Grand List, part 7: Includes players 850-810.
The Grand List, part 8: Includes players 809-780.
The Grand List, part 9: Includes players 779-750.

Let’s do this.

The Grand List, Continued

749. Jack Rudnay (1969-1982)
Offensive Center
Kansas City Chiefs

A joker off the field but a serious competitor on it, Rudnay was a fiery and passionate player who earned respect of teammates and opponents alike. He had decent size for his era, and he had roughly average strength, but he had great quickness and sound technique that allowed him to outleverage defenders in the run game and thrive in Hank Stram’s moving pockets. Rudnay didn’t have the good fortune to play with great skill players, getting the end of Dawson and Taylor and little more, but his performance on some forgettable teams earned him four Pro Bowls and all pro selections.

748. Jon Kolb (1969-1981)
Offensive Tackle
Pittsburgh Steelers

Kolb was on the short side, but he was compact and powerful. So powerful, in fact, that he was widely regarded as the strongest man in the NFL at his peak. He was an incredible drive blocker with an excellent understanding of angles. Not just a brute, Kolb could also protect Terry Bradshaw’s blind side, and he was particularly adept at keeping rushers from getting their hands on him. He was never voted to a Pro Bowl, but he did earn an all pro nod and was the starting left tackle on four championship teams, paving the way for Franco Harris to win the game’s MVP award and standing ground long enough for Bradshaw’s deep passing attack to earn the gunslinger two SBMVPs of his own.

747. Troy Vincent (1992-2006)
Cornerback
Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Washington

Troy Vincent spent four years playing corner for the Dolphins and intercepted 14 passes, but when he moved to the Eagles in 1996, he moved into the stratosphere. Vincent made five straight Pro Bowls for the Eagles, leading the league in interceptions one year and in passes defensed another. In 1996, Dr. Z called him and Bobby Taylor the best tandem of young cornerbacks in the NFL. Known as much for his tackling as for his coverage skills, Vincent forced 12 fumbles in his career in addition to his 47 interceptions. The 2002 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Vincent also went on to earn graduate certificates from the likes of Harvard, Stanford and Kellogg. ^[2]Thanks to Tom Nawrocki for offering to write about Vincent.

746. Richie Petitbon (1959-1972)
Safety
Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Washington

Petitbon was an elite safetyman for the Monsters of the Midway before transitioning to a sold starter role with the Rams and Washington. He was a do it all defender, equally adept at taking on the run or the pass. A solid open field tackler who could also make plays near the line of scrimmage, he was a boon to Chicago’s run defense. Petitbon was also a superb deep field cover man with a nose for the football. In 1962, he intercepted six passes for a league-leading 212 return yards and a score. The following year, as a member of the legendary 1963 Bears championship squad, he snagged eight interceptions as one of the team’s key defensive playmakers. ^[3]Fellow safety Rosey Taylor had nine. They had one touchdown apiece and combined for 333 return yards. Petitbon followed up his all pro regular season by picking off one of five interceptions thrown by Y.A. Tittle in the title game.

745. Johnnie Gray (1975-1983)
Safety
Green Bay Packers

Lifelong Packer Johnnie Gray could play free and strong safety and performed each role at a high level. He wasn’t a big guy, but he could lay the wood, and he excelled at separating the football from the ball carrier. His biography includes no black ink or postseason honors, but much of that comes down to him playing on a post-dynasty Green Bay team that didn’t garner much attention. Had he played at the same level on a team like the Rams or Cowboys, he would have had a handful of Pro Bowls and maybe a few all pro nods. But the tape doesn’t lie; what the self-described hard-nosed safety did on the field puts him among the best ever to play his position.

744. Kyle Juszczyk (2013-Present)
Fullback
Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers

If I were treating all positions equally, Juszczyk would rate higher. ^[4]I have a natural bias against fullbacks and special teams players, at least for the sake of this list. That bias doesn’t extend to running backs, regardless of the extent to which they matter. Juice is an all around fullback who can contribute as a blocker or with the ball in his hands. He is a capable lead blocker in the run game, and he can stay in the backfield on pass plays to keep the quarterback on his feet. Importantly, he can also go out on routes and win matchups with linebackers. Sure, Juszczyk has just 1824 yards from scrimmage in his seven year career, but gaining yardage isn’t really the whole point of having a guy who can function as a guard in the backfield. He does well as a rusher and receiver when given the opportunity, and he has been one of the few fullbacks with heavy use during the course of his career.

743. Chad Brown (1993-2007)
Linebacker
Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots

Brown was a terrific athlete with great speed, underrated strength, and an explosive first step. He was also smart and adaptable. His athleticism and intelligence combined to make him a versatile defender who could play the role of Will, inside backer in a 3-4, rushbacker, or defensive end in nickel situations. After making a Pro Bowl and all pro team with the linebacker capital of the NFL, Brown moved to Seattle and continued to produce at a high level. He retired with 79.5 sacks, which is an incredible number for a linebacker who was rarely used as a pure pass rusher.

742. Cleveland Elam (1975-1979)
Defensive Line
San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions

Before knee injuries robbed him of what looked like a Hall of Fame career in the making, Elam was one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles ever to play. In 1976, he brought down opposing passers 14.5 times, an incredible number for an interior defender. The following year, he gave us what is arguably the most impressive pass rushing season by any defender ever (at least statistically). Elam had 17.5 sacks for a San Francisco defense that saw just 312 opponent dropbacks, meaning he picked up a sack on 5.61% of opponent pass plays. Only Bubba Baker’s 23 sack campaign in 1978 rates higher (5.68%), and Baker did it as an edge rusher. ^[5]Elam had 28 sacks per 500 dropbacks. When comparing the sack rate in 1977 with the historical one to adjust for era, he gets credit for 25.6 season-sacks. Among tackles, compare that with 22.2 for … Continue reading A position change, in addition to his injuries, limited his effectiveness at the end of his brief career, but at his best, he was the best.

741. Albert Haynesworth (2002-2011)
Defensive Tackle
Tennessee Titans, Washington, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots

While with the Titans, Haynesworth was among the most dominant defensive forces in football. Such was his talent that his mere presence on the field dissuaded teams from running against Tennessee. That arguably hurt the Titans because it encouraged opponents to use more efficient plays, but that isn’t his fault. He could only control his own performance, and his own performance was a thing of beauty. Able to use raw power to penetrate and make plays in the backfield, old steady to make stops at the line, or draw doubles to free up other players, Haynesworth seemed to overmatch the opposition with relative ease. Had he played out the end of his career the way he started, he would be a surefire inner circle Hall of Famer rather than just a legendarily bad free agent signing. His late career bout of ennui keeps him from ranking higher, but what he did at his peak gets him on the list. That peak includes three all pro selections, two pro bowls, and a defensive player of the year award.

740. Keith Fahnhorst (1974-1987)
Offensive Tackle
San Francisco 49ers

Fahnhorst was an average athlete for his position, but he put in the work to hone his technique and master his craft. Despite usually being at an athletic disadvantage against pass rushers, he rarely lost battles. And this was in an era dominated by freaky pass rush specialists. He was a little slow coming off the snap, but he usually managed to find his way back into the play and have success, whether drive blocking or kicking back in pass pro. The late great ended his career with one Pro Bowl, three all pro selections, and a pair of Super Bowl rings.

739. Joe Theismann (1971-1985)
Quarterback
Washington, Toronto Argonauts

A late bloomer and an early ender, Theismann began his pro career with selections to two all star teams in the CFL before signing with Washington at age 25. His first role in the NFL was returning punts, which in itself should give you an idea of the caliber of athlete he was – certainly in the upper echelon for a quarterback. He played a little under center his first four years in the league before finally earning the starting role at age 29. Bookended by the famous injury at the hands of Lawrence Taylor, that left Theismann with eight seasons as a primary passer in the NFL. In those eight years, he played his way into two Pro Bowls and all pro teams, a Bert Bell award in 1982, and consensus MVP honors in 1983. He capped off each player of the year season with Super Bowl appearances, winning the former and losing the latter in an upset. Not just a product of the masterful Joe Gibbs, Theismann played well under Jack Pardee and Joe Walton as well. When Gibbs got there, the quarterback’s play elevated, with its apex arguably coming in the 1982 postseason, where Theismann threw eight touchdowns to three picks at 8.4 yards per attempt (110.7 rating). Neat but useless trivia: in Theismann’s first six years as a starter, he passed for more yards in each successive season. ^[6]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 combined regular season and postseason action plays, Theismann ranks 49th in Total Adjusted Yards above Average (VAL) with 2830 and 52nd in TAYP+ (105.2).

738. Mark Brunell (1993-2011)
Quarterback
Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers

I have said before that Archie Manning was 75% of Roger Staubach. If Archie was 75% Staubach, Brunell was 75% of Steve Young. From 1995-2002 (ages 25-32), he averaged 301 yards and two touchdowns per 16 games on the ground. He only made three Pro Bowls and never made an all pro team or earned MVP honors (nor should he have), but he was nonetheless impressive. After backing up Brett Favre for a year in Green Bay, Brunell took the reins of the expansion Jaguars and played way better than anyone could have hoped. In 1996, his second season as a starter, he led the league in passing yards and led all quarterbacks in rushing yards – he was the first to do that since Tobin Rote in 1957, when the league was much different. He was a careful steward of the ball, posting just one season with an interception rate worse than league average. In 11 qualifying seasons, Brunell’s ANY/A was better than average eight times, including at age 36 (before being good at age 36 was old hat). ^[7]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Brunell ranks 55th in VAL (2425) and 50th in TAYP+ (105.5).

737. Trent Green (1993-2008)
Quarterback
Kansas City Chiefs, Washington, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, BC Lions

Green’s career is an interesting study in entanglement, because no matter where he went, he seemed to perform as well as the other quarterbacks on his roster. With the Greatest Show on Turf Rams, his injury paved the way for Hall of Fame passer Kurt Warner to win his first MVP award. But when Warner was hurt, Green put up comparable numbers, even if the team didn’t win as much. In both Washington and Kansas City, he posted good-to-great stats, but the men who replaced him also had good stats. Without diving deep, this would lead you to believe he was a product of his environment. In both cases, the offenses with and without him didn’t look the same. This is especially true with the Chiefs, where a 33 year old Damon Huard appeared to match the play of Green – then 36 and on his last legs. However, Green was a deadly intermediate and downfield passer who was also accurate, sort of a poor man’s Troy Aikman. When his backups played, they tended to play in modified offenses when coordinators changed designs to require less of them. You also see this with guys like Andrew Luck and Cam Newton, whose ability to play led coaches to ask more of them. Why the don’t try to build in more easy stuff for the top guys, I may never know. On the whole, I believe Green is overrated by those who look solely at stats and underrated by those who want to give too much credit to his teammates. ^[8]Especially his offensive lines, as I don’t believe there is a big difference between an average line and a great line, at least when quarterback production is concerned. Among qualifying … Continue reading

736. Michael Roos (2005-2014)
Offensive Tackle
Tennessee Titans

The tall Estonian Titan was a superb all around left tackle during his decade in the NFL. He was a good run blocker, which came in handy playing for rush-happy coaches like Fisher and Munchak. More importantly, Roos was a high level pass protector who rarely allowed pressure and almost never gave up sacks. He kept his passers upright despite playing a bulk of games in front of guys who loved holding onto the ball as long as possible to make something happen. His 2008 campaign is among the best tackle seasons of recent vintage, seeing him give up just one sack and 15 total pressures while protecting the skeleton of Kerry Collins, in addition to doing a masterful job in the ground game. Roos retired with three all pro selections and just one Pro Bowl, showing just how informed voters are.

735. Vincent Jackson (2005-2016)
Wide Receiver
San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When we talk about deep threats, we normally refer to speedy receivers who take the top off of defenses. Jackson was a different kind of deep threat, the kind who won not because of speed but because of elite size, wingspan, body control, and strong hands. These combined to make him a matchup nightmare for much smaller defensive backs. He was able to earn targets at intermediate and deep levels and easily beat defenders for control of the football. Jackson was a first down machine, with 80% of his catches resulting in the chains moving for his offense. That is an insane figure given the proliferation of short passing, ball control oriented offense during his career. In his eleven pro seasons, he produced over 900 True Receiving Yards seven times (meaning he had seven years of WR1 production), including two seasons with over 1400. ^[9]Jackson’s seven best TRY seasons: 1427, 1407, 1320, 1313, 1172, 1016, and 994.

734. Ricky Williams (1999-2011)
Running Back
Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Toronto Argonauts

After Williams boasted one of the greatest collegiate careers of any player at any position, New Orleans coach Mike Ditka decided to foolishly give up a king’s ransom to draft him fifth overall. It was a dumb move, but like the Herschel Walker trade before it, we shouldn’t allow the stupidity of those in management take away from the ability of the players themselves. Prior to his first retirement, he was a true workhorse who had 30 or more carries in a game 13 times and twice eclipsed 40 carries. During that five year stint (with the Saints and Dolphins), he averaged 1865 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns per 16 games. After taking some personal time away from the league to renew his spirit in Canada, Williams returned to the NFL in a more limited role but did manage 1385 yards and 13 touchdowns at age 32 – a record six years after his last thousand yard season. Ostracized in his day, one could argue he was ahead of his time as a man who chose life on his own terms rather than bow to the league.

733. Lawrence McCutcheon (1972-1981)
Running Back
Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos

McCutcheon only had five prime years, but they were really good years. From 1973-1977, he made five straight Pro Bowls and a pair of all pro teams, and he averaged 1679 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns per 16 games. In that timeframe, he was a bell cow back who had 21 touches per game. McCutcheon wasn’t big, but he ran with power, and he also had some nifty moves. The Rams didn’t throw to backs that much, but he was also a good receiver when given the opportunity. Clutch also came up big in the postseason, surpassing 100 yards in four of his five playoff appearances.

732. Tedy Bruschi (1996-2008)
Linebacker
New England Patriots

Bruschi was the perfect linebacker for a Bill Belichick-coached defense: tough, smart, and capable of making big plays in high leverage moments. It takes a certain level of toughness to play linebacker in the first place, but to do it into your mid-thirties in Foxboro winters is next level. That’s not even accounting for the fact that he returned and played for three more years after a stroke. In terms of smarts, he was a leader in Belichick’s complex defense, and he always found his way around the ball, despite relatively limited athleticism for a middle linebacker. His diagnostic ability is the main factor in his knack for coming up with splash plays. Of his 12 interceptions, he returned four for touchdowns. He also forced fumbles and tipped passes that turned into touchdowns for teammates, and that sort of thing doesn’t tend to end up in a box score. While he may not have been the best player, Bruschi was a leader on a defensive dynasty that helped bring three Lombardi Trophies to New England.

731. Rubin Carter (1975-1986)
Nose Tackle
Denver Broncos

Carter wasn’t big for a nose tackle, even by the standards of his own era. But he was what I refer to as a big strong boy – a man whose strength seems to dwarf that of other grown men. He didn’t get after the passer like, say, Curley Culp, but he was a heavy duty run stuffer who clogged running lanes and swallowed blockers whole. His ability to stand his ground at the point of attack, often drawing double teams, allowed bigger names like Alzado, Gradishar, and Jackson to make big plays. Without Carter, the Orange Crush would just be the Orange Squeeze.

730. Odell Beckham (2014-Present)
Wide Receiver
New York Giants, Cleveland Browns

Beckham broke the sports internet with his famous catch on Monday Night Football, but his talent goes far beyond a poster. He has good straight speed and quick cuts, and he’s an elusive runner. That makes him a terror after the catch. Combine that with his complete lack of fear over the middle, and he is one of the most deadly slant route receivers ever. OBJ obviously has great hands and can make flashy plays, but he sets himself up for those plays with immediate separation and acceleration out of his cuts and by winning off the line of scrimmage against man coverage. Through his first three seasons, he averaged 1551 yards and 13 touchdowns per 16 games. After injury, he was less dynamic but still capable of being a productive receiver, with over 1000 TRY in every healthy season. ^[10]His five healthy-season TRY numbers: 1503, 1433, 1377, 1067, and 1056.

729. Bryce Paup (1990-2000)
Edge Rusher
Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings

A common criticism of Paup is that he found himself in a favorable situation in his best seasons. However, the same can be said of most players ever to have great seasons, so a friendly environment isn’t too big an issue. He had good footwork and a seemingly endless arsenal of hand moves to keep blockers away from his body. Those, in concert with his sense of timing for opposing cadences more than compensated for relatively limited raw physical talent. Paup was really only great at rushing the passer, but he could do it from any technique, and he had a knack for high leverage sacks. In his defensive player of the year campaign, all six of his multiple sack outings came in close victories.

728. Keenan McCardell (1992-2007)
Wide Receiver
Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Washington

McCardell was a low draft pick who didn’t have much opportunity to make an impact until he had already been in the league for four years. Once he got the chance, he made the most of it, going over 1000 yards in five of the next eight seasons (at a time when that still was impressive). He seamlessly filled the role of top receiver in the absence of the more celebrated Keyshawn Johnson in 2003, with the last big season of his career. McCardell did manage a solid 917 yards at age 35. When it was all said and done, he was one of just 33 receivers with eight seasons over 1000 TRY. ^[11]McCardell’s top seasons by TRY: 1316, 1292, 1233, 1205, 1172, 1155, 1055, and 1054.

727. Keyshawn Johnson (1996-2006)
Wide Receiver
New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers

Johnson played with an attitude that his ability merited and an edge and toughness usually reserved for linebackers. He was an top flight possession receiver who had a big body and strong hands that enabled him to outmuscle defenders for contested passes with seeming ease. Although he was a known diva, like Terrell Owens after him, he was also a gritty player who would take hits and play hurt. Johnson also threw blocks on the edge with the best of them (he was arguably the best of them). He didn’t play with a stellar group of gentlemen under center, but he could produce with anyone. All you had to do was give him the damn ball. And give him the ball they did; Johnson had eight seasons of high end production, including a year as the top receiver of the champion Buccaneers. ^[12]Johnson’s eight top seasons by TRY: 1478, 1339, 1300, 1234, 1191, 1065, 985, and 945.

726. Tom Rathman (1986-1994)
Fullback
San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders

A Bay Area brawler, Rathman spent his nine seasons in the NFL as a brutal lead blocker for the 49ers and Raiders. He was an elite run blocker who was also at home protecting Joe Montana and Steve Young. When he wasn’t blocking, he was a capable runner and one of the finest receiving fullbacks in the game. In 1989, he led all backs with 73 catches, and he followed up his productive regular season with 81 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout victory over the Broncos in the Super Bowl. In all, Rathman totaled 420 yards from scrimmage and three scores during his two title runs in San Francisco.

725. Robert James (1969-1974)
Cornerback
Buffalo Bills

James was a defensive end in college before transitioning to cornerback in the pros. If you witnessed the power he packed into his small frame, you’d believe he could play linebacker in the in the NFL. He completely annihilated receivers in bump and run coverage to the point where many point to him as the reason for league rules changing to open up the passing game. James didn’t have many interceptions, but that was because he was a genuine shutdown corner who effectively eliminated a read for opposing quarterbacks. In his six years in the league, he made three Pro Bowls and two all pro teams, while Lou Saban called him the best player he ever coached.

724. Dale Carter (1992-2005)
Cornerback
Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings

Carter was a great player who could have been an all-timer. Superb in both man and zone coverage, he could stick to his man like a shadow, throw him off his timing at the line, or give him a false sense of security while baiting the quarterback. He was an emotional guy who played with an edge, giving up a few more penalties than you’d like. Like another elite cover man, Champ Bailey, Carter would also have a few stray series with mental lapses that saw him get beat. Sometimes the quarterback would exploit it, and sometimes he’d get lucky. Regardless, when he was on his game, he arguably trailed only Deion and Rod among man and zone cover corners during his playing days.

723. Jimmy Orr (1958-1970)
Wide Receiver
Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers

Orr was small and fleet footed, using his dazzling speed to beat secondaries to the tune of 27.6 yards per reception as a Steelers rookie. He led the league twice more in that metric, including 25.6 at age 33, and he retired with a 19.8 average. While he didn’t always have the highest volume totals, Orr was a big pay waiting to happen for both John Unitas and Earl Morrall. He played his role well, earning three all pro nods for his efforts. His receiving totals don’t look impressive by today’s standards, but by TRY, he posted eight seasons of high end production, including four years over 1200. ^[13]Those eight seasons from Orr, by descending TRY: 1456, 1364, 1281, 1233, 1189, 1000, 932, and 912.

722. Drew Hill (1979-1993)
Wide Receiver
Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons

Hill didn’t do much in Los Angeles, but a move to Houston saw his fortunes turn around. At 5’9″ he was on the short side, but he possessed elite short area quickness, lateral agility, and ability to run after the catch. This served him well early in his career as a kick returner, and it helped him thrive with Warren Moon in the run and shoot offense. Hill didn’t have his first season as a top receiver until he was 29, but he nevertheless had seven straight seasons of productive play, with 1129 yards and seven touchdowns per 16 games from ages 29-35. ^[14]Hill’s top seven seasons by TRY: 1556, 1321, 1313, 1181, 1137, 1120, and 971.

721. James Farrior (1997-2011)
Linebacker
Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets

The Ultimate Farrior was an exceptional linebacker throughout his career, whether it be on lackluster Jets squads or fearsome Steelers units. He was always steady and made few mistakes, and he was particularly sound against the run. But it wasn’t until he added splash plays to his repertoire that he started getting any attention. Playing on a loaded roster that went 15-1 in the regular season, he was free to play a little looser, and he rewarded the team with four interceptions (one return score), three sacks, three fumble recoveries, and nine tackles for loss. Farrior came up big in his first Super Bowl run, batting away three passes and picking off another, in addition to being in on three sacks. A genuinely great player who happened to share a division with arguably the very best ever to play his position, Farrior rarely seemed to get his due.

720. Jack Reynolds (1970-1984)
Linebacker
Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers

Hacksaw had his best years with the Rams, but he tasted more success in San Francisco, winning two titles with the 49ers. He wasn’t an extraordinary athlete, but he was a heady player whose instincts kept him near the ball on most plays. He just always seemed to know what the offense wanted to do, sniffing out plays like a hunting dog. A vicious hitter and a colorful character, Reynolds was among the finest run stopping linebackers ever to play. He’d rank higher if he had more success in coverage or at least got to play more on third downs.

719. Butch Byrd (1964-1971)
Cornerback
Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos

The Bills franchise leader in interceptions (40), George “Butch” Byrd was a solid, muscular cover man with good speed and marvelous ball skills. For the first seven years of his eight year career, he was an elite corner who shined in a league known for its pass happiness. While he didn’t have the length of some of the other greats, his body positioning usually seemed to be top notch, and his expert body control allowed him to post a per-16 game average of seven interceptions for 109 yards and a touchdown for those seven beautiful years. Byrd also stole a pass in two of his three postseason games and added solid punt return production as well. He was a major figure in Buffalo’s two championship teams, and he earned himself five all pro nods before calling it quits.

718. Chandler Jones (2012-Present)
Edge Rusher
New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals

Generally, pressure rate from a defender is more predictive of future sack rate than sack rate itself is. Players who don’t generate pressure at a high rate aren’t likely to put up big sack numbers very often. Every rule in football seems to have its exceptions, and Jones is the exception to this rule. He is in many ways an anti-Howie Long. Long put pressure on the passer regularly but had bad luck finishing the job, whereas Jones doesn’t win his matchups nearly as often but seals the deal consistently when he gets into the backfield. He is a sack artist in the purest form, with 96 quarterback takedowns in eight years, including five consecutive seasons of at least 12.5 sacks. Moreover, Jones is one of just two players in history with at least 19 sacks and eight forced fumbles in a single season. ^[15]He joins Robert Mathis, who accomplished the feat in 2013.

717. Donnie Edwards (1996-2008)
Linebacker
Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers

Edwards could play inside and outside (Will) with roughly equal success. He provided his teams with valuable high end coverage in nickel situations, but he could also dog the quarterback and make stops at the line of scrimmage. While he only made one Pro Bowl and two all pro teams, his play was better than his postseason honors suggest. Edwards had a penchant for splash plays, scoring six times on defense (returning four interceptions and two fumbles) and throwing in 23.5 sacks, 28 interceptions, and 76 tackles for a loss or no gain for good measure.

716. Dennis Smith (1981-1994)
Safety
Denver Broncos

Smith had freaky athleticism, the kind that jumps off the screen when watching. He wasn’t Olympic caliber fast, but he was quick and strong, and he looked like he could leap right out of the stadium if he had to. Smith used his resilin infused legs to block three kicks in his career, in addition to breaking up myriad passes. He blew up runs in the backfield and could blitz the passer when called upon. His two interceptions in the AFC Championship Game helped the Broncos overcome a strong Cleveland squad. Smith retired with six Pro Bowl selections and three all pro nods.

715. Monte Jackson (1975-1983)
Cornerback
Los Angeles Rams, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Jackson wasn’t big, but he is among the most powerful corners ever to lace up a pair of cleats. He was a veritable shadow in man coverage, with elite ball skills to boot. Similar to Deion, he didn’t appear to have much interest in run defense (but with what we know now about the relative value of coverage and run defense, I’d call that a minor demerit at worst). When he wanted to, he could decleat a runner. A true shutdown corner with the Rams, Jackson picked off 10 passes with 3 touchdown returns in his sophomore campaign, earning the first of his two all pro picks.

714. Tommy Davis (1959-1969)
Punter
San Francisco 49ers

A Dr. Z favorite, Davis remains one of the most anonymous of all players with a claim to a spot on their position’s Rushmore. Unlike a Lechler, he didn’t let bombs fly indiscriminately but, instead, had a great touch on his kicks and avoided touchbacks and returns. He was a quick kicker who almost never allowed a kick to get blocked, and he always rated highly in net punting average. Davis managed to accomplish all this despite having to tame the wild winds of Kezar Stadium whipping off the Pacific. ^[16]Davis was also the team’s kicker, but he wasn’t very good at it.

713. Ralph Neely (1965-1977)
Offensive Tackle
Dallas Cowboys

Neely was a steady and dependable right tackle in an era when that was probably the more difficult tackle position, as defenses tended to put their best pass rushers on that side. So, while he didn’t have to protect anyone’s blind side, he did have to face stiff competition. A slim 6’6″ and 265 pounds, Neely was fast and had sure feet, enabling him to easily surmount defenders when blocking in the open field. After beginning his career with an all rookie selection, followed by four straight all pro nods, Landry had him move to right guard and, later, left tackle (where he remained for his career). The shift resulted in some lost effectiveness, and he suffered a fractured leg the next year. While Neely came back to play at a high level, his performance never quite reached the standard he set earlier in his career.

712. Mike Wilson (1977-1989)
Offensive Tackle
Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Toronto Argonauts

Wilson is among the most underrated players in history, having never found his way on a Pro Bowl or all pro roster (despite blocking for a pair of popular quarterbacks and bookending the line with the best ever at his position). A gargantuan man for his era, Wilson had more than enough power to move defenders off the spot. More than that, he was light on his feet, which served him well in pass protection, especially for Ken Anderson who often took too long to get rid of the ball. A move to the Pacific Northwest didn’t see Wilson lose his effectiveness, as he remained a potent blocker.

711. Stan Brock (1980-1995)
Offensive Tackle
New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers

Brock joins Wilson in the league of underrated gentlemen. He played long enough to see the requisite body type for his position change dramatically, and he had the frame to keep up with changing demands without losing the ability to actually perform on the field. His best area of play was pass protection, where he was thrown right into the deep end, earning the difficult task of blocking for the oldest Manning, who often danced more than necessary. Whether it was Manning, or later Stabler, Wilson, or Hebert, Brock toiled in obscurity providing some of the finest pass blocking available anywhere, with little to show for it. A move to San Diego didn’t garner him any more recognition, but he did get to play in a Super Bowl before he retired.

710. Houston Antwine (1961-1972)
Defensive Tackle
Boston/New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles

Among the top defensive tackles of the AFL, Antwine went to six Pro Bowls and was named to six all pro teams, in addition to earning a first team selection for the AFL’s all decade team. At 6’0″ and 270 pounds, he was built like a bulldog, and he played with similar tenacity (a stark contrast from his jovial personality off the field). With his low center of gravity, Antwine was rarely blown off the ball, usually holding firm against the run. But pass rushing was his calling card. With far greater athleticism than you’d expect from looking at him, he shot out of his stance like a sprinter to find his way into the backfield. With his superior interior rush, Antwine led the Patriots in sacks each year from 1967-69.

709. Bud McFadin (1952-1965)
Defensive Tackle
Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers

If any man kept Antwine from holding the title of the top defensive tackle in the upstart AFL, it was McFadin. A budding star in the NFL, with three all pro selections with the Rams in the fifties, McFadin saw both his career and his life nearly come to an end when he was accidentally shot in the stomach. After spending three seasons of his prime out of football, the new league’s Broncos expressed interest. McFadin signed and picked up where he left off, dominating offensive linemen. He started off his AFL career with four consecutive all pro seasons and was one of the few bright spots on a dreadful Denver defense. McFadin could arguably be a little higher, but I tend to look at his career as part redemption story, part evidence of the lack of parity between the two leagues. That a guy who was one of the best in the NFL could be shot in the stomach, miss three years of football, and then become the very best in the AFL says that either we witnessed a miracle or the younger league was severely lacking, particularly in depth.

708. Rosey Grier (1955-1966)
Defensive Tackle
New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams

A key member of two Fearsome Foursomes, Grier did a lot of the dirty work so that his teammates could get the glory making plays in the backfield. This was the case when he played with Hall of Famers and all stars in America’s two largest cities. Indeed, Jim Katcavage, Andy Robustelli, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, and Lamar Lundy all owe him a very nice coffee mug, or whatever is an appropriate gift for an 87 year old badass. A behemoth, playing around 300 pounds in an era when that was not at all common, Grier simply consumed offensive linemen. He won a title with the Giants and, while he wasn’t too popular with Pro Bowl voters (just two selections), he managed to pick up all pro honors in five different seasons.

707. Phil Villapiano (1971-1983)
Linebacker
Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills

A second round pick of the Raiders in 1971, Phil Villapiano burst onto the scene in that season’s third game, a Monday Nighter against the Browns when Howard Cosell couldn’t stop talking about the speedy, hard-hitting rookie linebacker. By his third season, he was a perennial Pro Bowler, eventually going to four straight. His longtime coach John Madden ranked Villapiano among the greatest outside backers of his time, raving about his open-field tackling. Early in Super Bowl XI, with the game scoreless, the Vikings took over on the Oakland three after blocking a punt, but Villapiano blew into the backfield past Hall of Fame tackle Ron Yary, forcing a fumble, and the rout was on. ^[17]Thanks to Tom for this section on Villapiano.

706. Thomas Davis (2005-Present)
Linebacker
Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers

Entering the 2009 season, Thomas Davis was entering his fifth year in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Expectations were especially high as the young Davis improved statistically each year as an off-ball linebacker. Unfortunately, seven games into the season, Davis tore his ACL. He then tore it again before the 2010 season. After coming off back to back knee injuries in 2011, the outlook for Davis’ future was understandably bleak; he then tore the same ACL for the third time in as many years. Many believed Davis’ career was over, but Davis did not subscribe to that train of thought. In 2012, Davis returned to the team as a special teams player and backup linebacker. Not only did he earn his starting role back, he posted his first of five straight 100+ tackle seasons. In 2019 with the Los Angeles Chargers, Davis posted another 100+ tackle season at age 36, and has since been signed by Washington to play in 2020. The once oft-injured defensive playmaker became quite an iron man, but his perseverance was on full display in 2015 when he and other team captains led the Panthers to the fourth NFC Title game in team history. In the second quarter, Davis broke his forearm. Before leaving the field, he told teammates he’d have surgery in the morning. He did, and two weeks later Davis accumulated seven tackles in Super Bowl 50. ^[18]Thanks to my friend Karl Safchick for writing this section about Davis. You can follow Karl on Twitter or make fun of his takes at @KarlSafchick.

705. Jessie Tuggle (1987-2000)
Linebacker
Atlanta Falcons

Tuggle was a tackling machine. Records have him leading the league in tackles four times, though those numbers often come from coaches books rather than from the play by play. It is unlikely he actually averaged 179 tackles per season from 1989-95, but even if we say coach books give him too much credit and take away 25% for inflation, that still leaves him with an impressive 134 tackles per year. Unfortunately, without having access to every full game of his career, we simply cannot know for certain how many tackles he had. Fortunately, it doesn’t really matter, because what the tape we have shows is an active and frenzied linebacker who played bigger than his body, all over the field making plays against the run. Tuggle wasn’t elite in coverage, but he was adequate, and he was a capable blitzer when given the chance. By luck or by skill, he found himself in position to return five fumbles for touchdowns during his career, a figure that trails only Jason Taylor’s six.

704. Lorenzo Neal (1993-2008)
Fullback
San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Neal was a hulking brute who played for nearly a quarter of the teams in the NFL. Wherever he went, destruction followed, with bodies of linebackers left in his wake. He laid some of the most devastating lead blocks you’re likely to see, picking off defenders with no ruth at all. If he didn’t have a clear shot at leveling a potential tackler, he had the technical prowess to get into position to redirect him with finesse instead. When he played for the Bengals, he helped Corey Dillon maintain his success. With Tennessee, he helped Eddie George achieve his best seasons. Then he went to the Chargers and helped one of the greats, LaDainian Tomlinson, rush for an average of 1546 yards and 18 touchdowns per year from 2003-07.

703. Daryl Johnston (1989-1999)
Fullback
Dallas Cowboys

Moose Johnston could lay the wood when he had to, but his real strength was technique and rapport with his running back and offensive line. A master craftsman, he had a knack for holding up defenders just long enough to take them out of the play, or moving them just far enough to be a step away from getting a hand on a runner. Johnston has noted that his relationship with his offensive line was such that, if a guard blew a run block, that guard wouldn’t have to worry about the whiff and, instead, could move on to the second level with the knowledge that Moose would pick up the block. Emmitt Smith, the main beneficiary of Moose’s dirty work, always spoke of the fullback’s sacrifice, putting his body through hell to clear defenders out of the way so Smith could carry the ball and get the money and fame.

702. Patrick Mahomes (2017-Present)
Quarterback
Kansas City Chiefs

Too early? Maybe, but I do not care even a little. It is unheard of for a quarterback to perform at the level he has, at his age, and not have a legendary career. Barring career-ending injury, Mahomes is going to rocket up this list. ^[19]It is my hope that he will end up as QB1 so there can finally be someone in the GOAT conversation who I actually find likable. He plays at an elite level within structure and transcends to an ethereal plane when playing out of structure. Capable of throwing from any angle to anywhere on the field, he routinely makes throws most passers wouldn’t even attempt. For the type of playmaking machine he is, you may expect him to be a high variance gunslinger, but he is not; he is among the most consistent performance ever at the position, with only a few games that even qualify as average. ^[20]I know, sample size. Mahomes combines his penchant for big time plays with a paucity of bad plays, putting him in rare air among even the best quarterbacks in history. He has only started 36 games in his career, but he has already won an MVP award, had an abbreviated season of MVP-worthy play, won a title while earning Super Bowl MVP honors, and never lost by more than one score. With an average deficit of just 4.5 points in losses, he always gives his team a chance. ^[21]Mahomes is 19 plays shy of qualifying, but his rank among those quarterbacks would be 45th in VAL (3024) and 1st in TAYP+ (126.0).

701. Julian Peterson (2000-2010)
Linebacker
San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions

In 2020, linebacker Isaiah Simmons was selected 8th overall in large part due to his tremendous versatility; Simmons won the Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker, but on any given snap was as likely to be playing defensive end, safety, or even cornerback— essentially anything but defensive tackle. Julian Peterson, by contrast, entered the league in 2000 and retired in 2010, at a time when “positionless football player” was still an insult, not a compliment. Late during the 2002 season, his third in the league, injuries in the secondary led to the 49ers playing Peterson at defensive end, linebacker, safety, and cornerback, and Peterson answered the bell, making his first pro bowl. Over the next few years gimmicks would be trotted out for him, and he’d demonstrate the breadth of his skills, especially en route to a consensus All Pro award in 2003. Eventually, however, the league abandoned experimentation and simply left him where they were most comfortable with him, at edge-rushing linebacker, and he performed admirably. But while he undoubtedly had a great career, Peterson leaves lingering questions about whether he was perhaps just 20 years too early to the party, playing in a league that wasn’t quite ready for him. ^[22]Thanks to my friend Adam Harstad for writing this section. You can find him on Twitter @AdamHarstad.

700. Goose Gonsoulin (1960-1967)
Safety
Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers

A lean wiry safety – one of the first to be compared to a roaming center fielder – Goose Gonsoulin picked off 11 passes in the AFL’s inaugural season, including four in one game against the Bills. Known for his durability and toughness, Gonsoulin was an all-AFL or Western Division All-Star safety for six of his seven years in the league. When he retired in 1967, Gonsoulin was the AFL’s leader in career interceptions. In 1984, he became an inaugural member of the Broncos Ring of Fame. ^[23]Thanks, once more, to Tom, who wrote this section on Goose.