It’s time for part 18 of the Grand List, or: the top one thousand players in pro football history who played a significant amount of time in the NFL, or something like that. In today’s section of the list, we have likely-to-be-controversial quarterback rankings, a wide range of defensive linemen, a feast of interior blockers, some versatile backs (of both the running and defensive persuasion), several receivers underrated because of the modern passing explosion, and three very different linebackers. Only three active players are featured today, but I will repeat my caveat from last time: because most of this list was presented prior to the 2020 season, last year’s performances—good and bad—will have no bearing on a player’s ranking moving forward. I have every intention of posting the list, in full, with updates, provided Chase lets me publish such a long post. Maybe I’ll just post it as a list and only write about new additions, not to be mistaken for New Editions (so no Mike Bivins). Alas, I have rambled too long.

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.
The Grand List, part 10: Includes players 749-700.
The Grand List, part 11: Includes players 699-650.
The Grand List, part 12: Includes players 649-600.
The Grand List, part 13: Includes players 599-550.
The Grand List, part 14: Includes players 549-500.
The Grand List, part 15: Includes players 499-450.
The Grand List, part 16: Includes players 449-400.
The Grand List, part 17: Includes players 399-350.

Festina, folks.

The Grand List, continued

349. Charles Haley (1986-1999)
Edge Rusher
San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys

Known more for his mercurial attitude and five Super Bowl rings than for his production on the field, Haley is a player whose outsized reputation in those areas has left him underrated for his actual play. When he finally got inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many fans and media bemoaned his inclusion because of his relatively low sack totals. It’s true, 100.5 sacks is a fairly low number for a guy known as a pass rush specialist, but Haley was simply unfortunate to play in an era when other measures for pass rush productivity weren’t widely tracked. Based on film study, if pressures were recorded back then the way they are now, he would consistently rank near the top of the league. Back issues certainly limited his effectiveness at times, but when he was healthy there were few who could match him. Had he stayed healthy, the coveted 120 sack mark would have been pretty easily within reach. Haley twice earned NFC defensive player of the year honors. Not just along for the ride on title teams, he made the postseason in ten different years and registered at least one sack in eight of those playoff appearances.

348. Gene Brito (1951-1960)
Defensive End
Washington, Los Angeles Rams, Calgary Stampeders

Brito began his career playing on offense, finding moderate success as an end. A move to defense saw him reach a Hall of Fame worthy level of play. He was as quicker off the ball than anyone else in that era, consistently putting offensive linemen on their heels trying haplessly to catch a lightning strike. Once his move to the defensive line became permanent, Brito earned all pro honors in five of the next six seasons. he earned the Deacon Award for best defensive end in both 1955 and 1956. His 1955 campaign was especially superb, and it earned him the Godzilla Award for defensive player of the year. Sadly, ALS ended his career prematurely, but Brito was as good as any gold jacket at his position when he played.

347. Steve Atwater (1989-1999)
Safety
Denver Broncos, New York Jets

Atwater was a bit of an anomaly in that he didn’t create many splash plays or force many turnovers but was nonetheless exciting to watch. Most of that excitement came from his downhill style of play, in which he would come up and give hell to anyone with the ball. A big guy, especially for his era, Atwater could decleat a runner (just ask the Nigerian Nightmare). Occasionally, he’d gamble on a big, game-changing type of hit and it would bite him—see his miss on Rice in Super Bowl XXIV—but he was undeniably an enforcer who could make ball carriers and would-be receivers hesitate just a little. Those little hesitations added up over the course of a game. The rare whiff aside, Atwater was typically a sure tackler who had rare range against the run and short pass. Although he was a free safety, he played run support at a level most strong safeties never approached. Although he wasn’t known as a playmaker, and he wasn’t going to erase the deep field, his underneath coverage was special. The highlight of that coverage came on a point blank pick of Jay Schroeder that’s as amazing as any interception you’ll ever see. ^[1]Atwater earned the Tunnell Vision Award for best safety in 1991.

346. Paul Krause (1964-1979)
Safety
Minnesota Vikings, Washington

Krause is best known as the career leader in interceptions. With 81 picks, only Emlen Tunnell (79) is even close to his career total. With interception rates having dropped dramatically since his playing days—with little sign of ever going back to the way things were—it is unlikely Krause’s record will fall any time soon. With such a secure hold on a marquee record, it may be odd to have the Hall of Fame safety ranked just 346th on the list. There are a few reasons he isn’t higher. First, he couldn’t provide adequate run support in an era that prized rushing the ball. Second, in the context of the passing environment in which he played, Krause’s interception totals aren’t as impressive. If we account for league interception rates and passes faced, more recent players like Reed and two Woodsons stand out much more. However, it merits mention that no other players in his era matched his totals. And Krause wasn’t DeAngelo Hall, building a reputation on grabbing a few picks in between getting roasted by receivers. Instead, he was a superb centerfield type with good instincts and sure hands, capable of limiting deep completions in the days when the deep ball was the rule of the day. He earned the Tunnell Vision Award in 1964 and 1975. Achieving such an honor twice over a decade apart isn’t something some run of the mill schmuck can luck into.

345. Fletcher Cox (2012-present)
Defensive Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles

The presence of Aaron Donald is the only thing keeping Cox from being hailed as the premier defensive tackle of the last five years. He took a while to get going, but he came into his own in 2015, the start of his half decade of dominance. His 2018 season is one of the top campaigns at the DT position in recent history. Cox maintained his normal high baseline of run play and combined that with a career best pass rushing performance. He pressured opposing quarterbacks 101 times, 11 of which were sacks. His success comes from an uncanny blend of power, short area speed, fluidity, and intelligence. While there are plenty of linemen who can convert speed to power or power to speed, but Cox can to either in an instant. This allows him to keep blockers off balance (physically and mentally), and he uses his elite closing speed to disrupt the passer.

344. Geno Atkins (2010-present)
Defensive Tackle
Cincinnati Bengals

Atkins entered the league as a relatively obscure fourth round pick the same year Suh came out of college looking like a Reggie White–Joe Greene hybrid. Subsequently, while Suh got the press, Atkins quickly set himself apart as the superior player, consistently creating havoc like a little wrecking ball. At 6’1″ he has a built in leverage advantage that allows him to play loose and not worry about being too high. With his height and quickness, he sometimes seems to disappear in a scrum and reappear in the backfield, standing triumphant over a foe. While he is known for his explosion off the snap and sometimes thought of as a finesse player, the best move in his arsenal is probably his bull rush. His leverage and spring loaded punch allow him to put offensive linemen on skates straight away. If a blocker anchors, Atkins can counter to a pull or swim in the blink of an eye, leaving opponents blocking air. An elite pass rusher, he has three seasons with double digit sacks and another two with nine sacks. And it goes nearly unnoticed because he plays in Cincinnati and is a contemporary of the best player in history at his position. ^[2]Atkins earned the Mean Award for best defensive tackle in 2012.

343. L.C. Greenwood (1969-1981)
Defensive End
Pittsburgh Steelers

In one of the rare cases a fanbase cries out for their special hometown player to make the Hall of Fame and is actually right, Greenwood is one of the all time greats who hasn’t gotten his due. Sometimes written off because of who his teammates were (as though they didn’t also benefit from playing with an elite edge player), he may remain on the outside looking in because voters don’t want too many members of the same defense in the Hall. At 6’6″ and 245 pounds, Greenwood had a long and lean build that required him to play under control in order to avoid being the high man. He tended to be successful in that endeavor. Playing solid run defense and maintaining the edge well, Greenwood also ate quarterbacks for breakfast. His closing speed could have been better, so his 82 career sacks undersell his actual ability to actually put pressure on passers (those great linebackers weren’t just getting all their interceptions of their own accord). While he didn’t actually play any better than normal in the playoffs, much of his legend is built off of his performance in Super Bowl X, in which he brought down Captain America four times—a Super Bowl sack record that still stands. ^[3]His first sack was unblocked, the second was a hustle sack, the third saw Staubach scramble right into him, and the fourth was a cleanup sack.

342. Roger Brown (1960-1969)
Defensive Tackle
Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams

Brown was a behemoth with cat quickness. He played around 300 pounds in the sixties when that was unheard of (outside of Les Bingaman, who didn’t have a quarter of the athleticism). As you may expect from a man with his size advantage, he excelled at clogging up running lanes and absorbing double teams. However, he was arguably even better against the pass. Though sacks weren’t officially recorded until 1982, many credible sources confirm that Brown once had six sacks in a single game (against the Packers, no less—and one of them was a safety). He was so good that he actually received MVP votes from multiple publications, which is a rare feat for a defensive tackle.  Had there been a defensive player of the year award in 1962, he would have been on the shortlist for the honor. I had him behind Robustelli for the DPOY award that year, ^[4]Joe Schmidt and Herb Adderley were also fantastic. but I did name him the Mean Award winner. When paired with Karras, the interior line for the Detroit defense was nearly impossible to block for a whole game. The giant was named to an all pro team in half of his seasons (five of ten).

341. Harry Carson (1976-1988)
Linebacker
New York Giants

The proliferation of passing and new understanding that modern linebackers need to excel in coverage can lead to revisionist history regarding the quality of players from an earlier period of the game. Carson is an example of such a player. A converted defensive end, he had nary a chance at being the next Schmidt or Lambert in terms of cover skills. However, when you consider what was asked of him, Carson played his role as well as you could have asked. He is one of the premier run stopping middle linebackers in history, and he could blitz well when called upon. Early in his career, he was a highly active and frenetic defender who flew around with abandon. He eventually settled down a bit without losing his effectiveness. What’s more, he became a steady type of player who was rarely out of position and whose presence allowed LT to get away with freelancing without fear of ruining the gameplan. Carson routinely blew up lead blockers and destroyed rushing plays even when he didn’t make the tackle himself. Not just a downhill type of guy, he also had the speed to chase plays across the field. Carson was a six time all pro who twice earned NFC linebacker of the year honors from the NFLPA.

340. Doug Flutie (1985-2005)
Quarterback
Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New Jersey Generals, Chicago Bears

Typically, I am opposed to using counterfactuals to present the case for someone’s greatness. Attempting to define a player by events that didn’t happen is a fool’s errand. However, in the case of Flutie, the NFL’s foolishness has left us no other errands to run. Rather than try to do it myself in the single paragraph to which I am trying to hold myself, I want to highlight an informative post from Brad Oremland, in which he details the case for Flutie as one of the great quarterbacks in pro football history. ^[5]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Flutie ranks 84th in VAL (1150) and 59th in TAYP+ (104.9).

339. Jim Kelly (1984-1996)
Quarterback
Buffalo Bills, Houston Gamblers

Coming out of college, Kelly eschewed the NFL for what he believed to be the greener pastures of the USFL. In his two seasons with the Gamblers, he was easily the best quarterback in the junior league. His 83 touchdowns in 36 games are evidence of his ability (albeit against inferior competition). Upon joining the Bills, Kelly immediately played well, and this was prior to the Bills having the strong supporting cast that helped them reach four consecutive Super Bowls. While it’s true that he had a good line, great running back, and solid set of receivers, Kelly also had to play home games outside in Buffalo (plus away games in Giants and Foxoboro Stadiums). The help outweighs the hurt, but it’s still important to add in that context. Kelly may have been the best quarterback in football during the 1990 and 1991 seasons, playing at an MVP level both years. Similar to Favre or McNair, he was a tough player willing to play hurt and put his body on the line for the team—and they loved him for it. ^[6]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Kelly ranks 35th in Total Adjusted Yards above average (VAL) at 3881 and 31st in TAYP+ (107.4).

338. Randall Cunningham (1985-2001)
Quarterback
Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens

Cunningham is one of the players I would most love to see in a modern offense. How his skills would translate for a coach like Andy Reid is one of the great what ifs in all of quarterbacking. In reality, he played his formative years for a coach who hated quarterbacks, including, it seemed, his own. The scheme was archaic and often relied on Cunningham to be more of an athlete than a passer in order to make things happen. This, in addition to inanely strict enforcement of the in-the-grasp rule during his prime, likely robbed him of more yardage—by air or by ground. And it surely robbed the fans of many breathtaking plays. It also added to the absurd number of sacks he took early on. But make no mistake, many of those sacks were the fault of a young and brash player with maybe a smidge too much confidence in his ability to make something happen. Granted, he could make plays, but the man was mortal. Cunningham took a while to become a refined passer, but his transformation is indicative of his ability to learn from the mistakes of his youth and work to improve. ^[7]Even his ability to throw on the run wasn’t as great as you’d expect from just watching the highlights. His 1990 and 1998 seasons illustrate the way he developed and morphed as his athleticism declined. In 1990, he threw for 30 touchdowns and ran for 948 yards. In 1998, he threw for 34 touchdowns and led the league in every meaningful efficiency metric while rushing for just 132 yards. An All-America selection at punter in college, Cunningham could also fill in on special teams in a pinch. His unique skillset earned him player of the year honors in three separate seasons. ^[8]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Cunningham ranks 71st in VAL (1589) and 89th in TAYP+ (102.8).

337. Troy Aikman (1989-2000)
Quarterback
Dallas Cowboys

Aikman tends to be underrated by box score stats, as he didn’t throw that much near the goal line (or anywhere else) and relied on one of the great runners in history to follow one of the great lines right into the end zone. However, simple box score stats disagree what was clear to observers when he played and what the advanced stats have revealed long after his retirement: that he was good at things that mattered. He is similar to a Griese or Starr in terms of not passing often but doing it well when needed. At his peak, playing with great teammates but not necessarily in a system designed to boost passing stats, Aikman’s efficiency numbers were consistently near the best in football: from 1991-1996, his ranks in DVOA were fourth, second, first, third, first, and seventh. Then he effectively met the end, save one rebound year in 1998.  The brevity of his peak, combined with his lack of eye popping box score stats, has led for many to retroactively deride his career and criticize Hall of Fame voters for even considering him. However, the more advanced the stats get, the more they like his game. And the tape agrees. I haven’t even mentioned the playoff performances and the rings that followed. ^[9]We all know he has three rings. But Aikman didn’t ride the coattails of a great cast to get those rings. From 1992 to 1995, Aikman played in eleven postseason contests. His passer ratings in … Continue reading Anecdotally, he is one of the most accurate passers I have ever studied. At one point, he had the highest completion rate of anyone not to play in a West Coast Offense style scheme. I never thought he was the very best quarterback in football, but he was often close to it. ^[10]Dr. Z disagreed, naming him the top passer of 1993. ^[11]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Aikman ranks 40th in VAL (3469) and 48th in TAYP+ (105.8).

336. Bobby Dillon (1952-1959)
Safety
Green Bay Packers

Dillon had a short career that keeps him from being a bit higher on the list, but he was among the finest safeties in history during his brief tenure in the NFL. A prototype free safety in the Christiansen mold, he had good speed and ball skills. He liked to bait passers into throwing interceptions. Sometimes it backfired, but it paid off more often than not. From 1953-58, Dillon had 47 interceptions for 934 yards in just 69 games. Even with the high interception rate of the era, those numbers are remarkable for their consistency (9, 7, 9, 7, 9, 6). He’s also the co-owner of the single game pick record (four). A wrap up and pull down type of tackler, rather than a slobberknocker, he didn’t miss often. However, he did seem hesitant at times and didn’t always provide good help on tackles. If you look at the years he played, you’ll notice he was gone by the time the Packers became The Packers, meaning he stood out when the team was bad and didn’t just sit back and benefit from playing behind a standout front seven. ^[12]Dillon earned the Tunnell Vision Award for best safety in 1955.

335. Jimmy Patton (1955-1966)
Safety
New York Giants

Like Dillon, Patton also possessed great speed and instincts. In order to give himself more of a speed and agility edge, he played without hip pads so he could move unencumbered. This gave him an excellent ability to break on passes to knock the ball down or steal it altogether. His deep ball ability was a perfect match with New York’s downright scary pass rush, as he was well suited to capitalize on any pressured throw. From 1958-1963, he averaged nine interceptions per 16 games. Patton was no slouch against the run. Always willing to put himself in the middle of the action, he threw his body around recklessly to make tackles against much bigger runners. His all around play earned him the Tunnell Vision Award three times from 1958-1961. Oh, and he was also a good return man in limited opportunities. A six time all pro, Patton should have had a bronze bust in a small Ohio town long ago.

334. LeRoy Butler (1990-2001)
Safety
Green Bay Packers

With Butler, the name of the game was versatility. He was a strong safety and thrived at all of those things you’d expect a great box safety to do well: he covered the underneath stuff superbly, read his keys and filled his gaps, and made tackles like a linebacker. Before moving to safety, he was a cornerback, and he possessed the requisite cover skills for that position. Those skills came in handy when he played in the slot, which he did often. Butler would likely be more celebrated today, when his nickel talents would be in higher demand. In addition to playing man in the slot, he could blitz from the safety position efficiently. Really, he was a do it all player who could execute any assignment on any given play, making him a dangerous man to play against. Dr. Z once said that Butler’s skills “lifted the position to a new dimension.” A steady every down player, he was also a playmaker, and his 38 interceptions, 20.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 31 TFLs, and three touchdowns speak to that. Butler was a four time all pro and invented the freaking Lambeau Leap. What more do you need? ^[13]Butler earned the Tunnell Vision Award for 1993, 1996, and 1997.

333. Cliff Harris (1970-1979)
Safety
Dallas Cowboys

Captain Crash was a hard hitting enforcer who could also wrap up soundly and cover well. He was like Jack Tatum if Tatum could cover at an all pro level. On third and long, he’d move to nickel, where his ability to break quickly inside or outside—or to attack the short pass with an obscene level of aggression—was at a premium. He was sound in man coverage when playing in the slot, which is a difficult assignment with the receiver having plenty of room to work with and all the advantage. Harris was also a reliable return man who could get positive yardage but was never much of a threat to score (similar to someone like Edelman today). He won the Tunnell Vision Award in 1976 and 1978 and was Dr. Z’s top guy in between.

332. Charles Mann (1983-1994)
Defensive End
Washington, San Francisco 49ers

Mann made four trips to the Pro Bowl and received two all pro nods in his career, but his play was much better than the postseason honors would lead one to believe. One of the reasons his honors and awards are low is that he was a peer to arguably the two greatest players ever at his position, and they tended to bogart all pro nominations. Their presence also meant he was never the best defensive end in the league. However, he was consistently among the top handful of edge defenders for a full decade. From 1985-1991, in particular, he was probably the best end in the league not named White or Smith. Mann had four seasons with double digit sacks (plus 9.5 in the strike-shortened 1987 season), but he was more than just a pass rusher. He was long and powerful and used that great wingspan to keep blockers away from him in order to shut down the run better than almost anyone.

331. Michael Dean Perry (1988-1997)
Defensive Tackle
Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Perry spent ten years in the league and was healthy for nine of them. In that time, he was a Pro Bowler and all pro six times, and he earned the Mean Award in 1990. He was on the smaller side , but he was one of the quickest interior defenders in history. At the snap, he was off the ball so fast that guards could get nary a hand on him by the time his hips were level with theirs. And by that time, it was curtains for quarterbacks. He averaged about 14 plays in the backfield per season (sacks plus tackles for loss). His ability to attack both the pass and the run as an undersized player is rare, and he could be thought of as an upper-middle-class man’s Aaron Donald. Perry played in both 30 and 40 front bases in the early part of his career, which deflated some of his box numbers. Had he played as a dedicated under tackle like a Sapp or Donald, he’d be in Canton or on the hundreds of “biggest Hall of Fames snubs” articles that litter the internet.

330. Charley Taylor (1964-1977)
Wide Receiver
Washington

Taylor was probably the best possession receiver of his era. He was big and tall and adept at beating defensive backs on contested balls. And few could compare to his ability to haul in catches. When he retired, he had more of them than any receivers in history (and he was fourth in yards). Once he got the ball in his hands, he ran with aggression and picked up tough yards after the catch. He attacked defenders in a way that may remind modern observers of Anquan Boldin or Andre Johnson. On top of his prodigious talent for pulling in passes, Taylor may very well be the best blocking receiver in history. Not content to block smaller defensive backs downfield, he could also hold his own against linebackers in the middle of the action. ^[14]Taylor ranks 40th in career True Receiving Yards (TRY) with 12830; Taylor’s best TRY seasons: 1519, 1370, 1203, 1190, 1164, 1055, 1052, 957, 956.

329. Tommy McDonald (1957-1968)
Wide Receiver
Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns

McDonald wasn’t a big guy, but he was savvy, and he was tough. From the flanker position, he was adept at beating the corner off the line and catching a ball over the top. He had some of the best hands you’ll ever see—without the help of gloves or additives. McDonald staked his claim as a top flight possession receiver despite his stature and lack of a facemask to shield him from big hits. He had the requisite ability to pick up extra yards we often attribute to small wide outs, often ducking under tackles to pick up extra real estate. McDonald earned the Bambi Award for best receiver in 1961 when he led the league in yards and touchdowns. He had a nose for the end zone and averaged 13 touchdowns per 16 games from 1958-1963. Like Favre or Gronk, McDonald played in such a way that his love for the game was palpable, and he was an easy player to root for. ^[15]McDonald ranks 48th in career TRY (12441); McDonald’s best TRY seasons: 1598, 1591, 1528, 1411, 1353, 1076, 988.

328. Franco Harris (1972-1984)
Running Back
Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks

Harris didn’t really have the insanely high peak that many associate with great backs, but he was a consistent producer, year in and year out. The big rumbling back began his career with nine straight Pro Bowls, and he had an equal number of seasons with over 1200 yards. All but two of those seasons came in the era of 14 game seasons. Although he was a big guy, he was much faster than the slow motion NFL Films features may indicate, and he had underrated lateral agility. Instead of trying to use his mass to run over defenders, he tended to take glancing blows and avoid superfluous contact. He also had a pair of soft hands that he could have showed off in an offense that featured him more in the passing game. One can’t discuss his legacy without mentioning his Super Bowl MVP and his role as the star of maybe the most famous (or infamous) play in NFL history, the Immaculate Reception. When he retired, he trailed only Jim Brown and Walter Payton in career rushing yards and touchdowns.

327. Len Dawson (1957-1975)
Quarterback
Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

When you look at Dawson’s numbers compared against those of the passer immediately ahead of him on this list, it becomes necessary to delve into the negatives in order to explain his lower ranking. From a statistical perspective, he is one of the most efficient passers of all time. He led the AFL in completion rate seven times, passer rating six times, touchdown rate and adjusted yards per attempt five times, and touchdowns four times. Dawson had a good arm and wasn’t afraid to push the ball downfield, and his mobility was perfect for Stram’s moving pocket. I gave him the Automatic Award for AFL MVP in 1962 and 1966, as well as the Slinger Award for best quarterback in 1962 and every year from 1964-1966. He was an undeniably great quarterback who posted great stats, won a lot of games, and even picked up a few rings along the way. However, Dawson couldn’t crack the starting lineup for five years in the NFL and looked to go down as one of history’s forgotten players until given a new lease in the rival AFL. The upstart  league featured worse defenses and little depth, which made quarterbacking a fair bit easier than it was in the established league. He also played for an innovative coach and was surrounded by a wealth of talent. With that being said, it’s hard to ask him to have done much more than he did, and I doubt the best NFL quarterbacks of the era would have done much better in the same situation. ^[16]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Dawson ranks 21st in VAL (6215) and 24th in TAYP+ (109.3).

326. Terry Bradshaw (1970-1983)
Quarterback
Pittsburgh Steelers

Bradshaw’s career doesn’t look that impressive, statistically, when looking at the entirety rather than the peak. The strong armed gunslinger entered the league as a wild stallion and took a solid half decade to settle down. He was always a phenomenal deep passer and underrated athlete, but he had to work at the more nuanced aspects of the position before he became truly great. Once he got his timing and accuracy under control, he went from being a guy who was good enough in the regular season and able to turn it on in the playoffs to a guy who was the team’s sole indispensable player during their later Super Bowl runs. Bradshaw earned MVP honors in 1978 and remains one of the great playoff performers in history. ^[17]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Bradshaw ranks 33rd in VAL (4023) and 58th in TAYP+ (105.0). This includes all the statistically subpar early years that drag down his career … Continue reading

325. Joe Namath (1965-1977)
Quarterback
New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams

Box scores scouts love to proclaim that Broadway Joe is the most overrated player in history and is only in the Hall of Fame because his defense helped his guarantee come true. However, even a little bit of digging into the numbers lays that notion to rest rather quickly. Looking only at numbers and not even mentioning the tape that was almost unanimously regarded as the best in the game, we see a quarterback whose infamous interceptions came at about a league average rate, but whose net yards per dropback were often several standard deviations above average. And those picks came much further down the field because Namath was a greedy passer who wanted to gut defenses with huge chunks of yardage at a time. His 15.7 yards per completion during his prime is statistical evidence of that. ^[18]Of the players with at least Namath’s 14.7 career mark, only Bill Nelsen (14.7), Don Meredith (14.7), and Daryle Lamonica (14.9) were within five years of starting their careers as recently as … Continue reading Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Namath ranks 31st in VAL at 4289 and 42nd in TAYP+ (106.4). That doesn’t put him in Brady/Manning territory, but it’s damn good. Once you get into the tape, you see a player who looked like he was put on earth to throw a football. He had a release that was at once smooth and quick, and that helped him avoid sacks better than almost any other passer in history. He could make any throw, to either side of the field, and it wasn’t uncommon to see him flick the ball forty yards downfield on a rope. I gave him the Automatic Award for MVP in 1968 (AFL) and 1972 (NFL).

324. Matt Ryan (2008-present)
Quarterback
Atlanta Falcons

I often refer to Ryan as Diet Peyton for his methodical, consistent, and almost boring style of play. He rarely excites, especially when compared with his predecessor, but he has been about as consistent as it gets since jump street. In maybe the best era ever for quarterback play, he almost always rates near the best in the league. He was excellent as a rookie, was an underrated MVP candidate in 2010 and 2012, and won consensus MVP honors in 2016. In most other seasons, he was also very good. We saw what kind of performance he was capable of when paired with a creative offensive coach during his MVP campaign. After taking a year to get acclimated to his new scheme, Ryan delivered a season that ranks fourth in ANY/A, fifth in passer rating, and fifth in TAY/P all time (among QBs with a regular starter role). His 9.3 YPA that year was the highest figure since Kurt Warner‘s 9.9 in 2000. Many have argued that Ryan has benefited significantly from throwing to Roddy White and Julio Jones. It’s true that White was very good, and Jones is one of the best ever. But the former didn’t break out until Ryan arrived, and the latter’s absence has never seemed to have an impact on Ryan’s production. One of the biggest knocks on him is that he was rarely viewed as the top guy during his career. However, given that his direct contemporaries included four inner circle Hall of Famers, I don’t consider that much of an issue. ^[19]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Ryan ranks 22nd in VAL (5923) and 27th in TAYP+ (108.8).

323. Stan Jones (1954-1966)
Offensive Guard, Defensive Tackle
Chicago Bears, Washington

Hailed as the first NFL player to include a dedicated weight training regimen as part of his normal routine, Jones was a muscle maven who didn’t quite look like the other guards of his era. His incredible physical strength means he had very little trouble with defensive lineman of his generation who didn’t match his passion for conditioning. He also had the skill needed to be an elite offensive lineman, but it was the power that was his calling card. J0nes’s athletic prowess translated to him playing guard as an all pro level, tackle at a Pro Bowl level, and even playing defensive tackle pretty well when he inexplicably switched sides of the ball late in his career (this included a season of him playing both sides of the ball before the full transition). I named him the winner of the Hog Award for best guard in 1956 and 1959.

322. Walt Sweeney (1963-1975)
Offensive Guard
San Diego Chargers, Washington

Sweeney was a big fella who could move and was quite a sight to behold pulling out in front of a runner to vaporize outmatched defenders in the open field. Despite his height (6’4″ is tall for a guard), he rarely sacrificed leverage against shorter players. He had the requisite power to manhandle defenders, which led to some great highlight reel type plays in which he was utterly dominant. But more important than that ^[20]To me, at least. I could be wrong. was his consistently dependable play. Not one to blow up a defender on first down and then whiff on second down, he rarely was the reason for a failed play. The great Merlin Olsen credited Sweeney as the best guard he had to face. When paired with Ron Mix, he helped give the Chargers one of the mightiest right sides the league has ever seen. In addition to his nine Pro Bowls and six all pro selections, Sweeney earned the Hog Award for both 1967 and 1968.

321. Ted Washington (1991-2007)
Nose Tackle
Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots

Playing at 6’5″ and upwards of 365 pounds, Washington was a mountain of a man. Despite his immense size, he lasted forever and played a ton of snaps without seeming to wear down. The sheer length of his career is amazing enough, but the fact that he actually played at a high level for so long takes it to another level. If people cared about nose tackles, he’d have a strong shot at the Hall of Fame. However, given the lack of prestige associated the position, as well as his nomadic career, he doesn’t have much chance. Washington only had 34.5 sacks, but that wasn’t his game. He could singlehandedly push the pocket if not doubled, and if they devoted another lineman to him, he had the power and skill to occupy the blockers as long as necessary before disengaging and making the play. And while he didn’t make plays against the pass himself, his presence allowed other to do so (from both a matchup and a schematic perspective). Few, if any, have ever played the run as well as Washington. Even in his final season, as a 39 year old playing for a franchise best known for its ineptitude, he played the run at a high level through five games before injury ended his season and, ultimately, his career.

320. John Henry Johnson (1953-1966)
Running Back
Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers, Calgary Stampeders

Before making his way to the NFL, Johnson spent a season in the Canadian Football League (this is when the leagues were more comparable in quality and the CFL often paid more). In his lone season in the great white north, he won the league’s MVP award and was among the best players on both offense and defense. Then he began his transient career in the States. He split time often, as was customary at the time, but he was always a quality runner when given the opportunity. When he went to Pittsburgh at age 31, he finally got the chance to be a lead back. Johnson went on to become the best old back in history, topping a thousand yards in 14 game seasons at ages 33 and 35. If you follow aging patterns, you will know that running backs tend to peak in their twenties and dwindle significantly by the time they reach thirty. Assuming JHJ followed normal aging patterns, it can be assumed that he was even better when he was sharing his carries with the Million Dollar Backfield or the likes of Geldman and Cassady. After gaining more yards in his last six seasons than he did in his first seven, Johnson retired as the fourth leading rusher in history. But focusing only what he did with the ball in his hands ignores his greatest strength. He had no problem sacrificing his body to spring other backs on long runs or to keep his quarterback upright. And he wasn’t just willing; he was also able. He delivered such a pop that you’d swear John Henry played with a hammer in his hands.

319. Deron Cherry (1981-1991)
Safety
Kansas City Chiefs

Cherry was a tremendous pure free safety whose attention to detail in the film room that paid off on the field. Others may have been faster on the track or quicker around a few cones, but he made plays they didn’t. Most would call him instinctive for his ability to nearly always appear in the right place at the right time, but much of that can be chalked up to his study habits. That’s not to say he wasn’t a good athlete. His burst to break on the ball and close on potential receivers was a boon to his great mind, and he had the speed necessary to patrol the deep field. He had a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his consistent turnover numbers, including a run of 40 picks in 88 games during his six Pro Bowl seasons. Cherry was sublime in 1988 when 13 opponent possessions ended with the ball in his hands; earned the Tunnell Vision Award for his performance that year (to add to the one he already earned in 1985). While he was at his best playing deep, he could also step up and make key stops in the run game. Dr. Z said, on more than one occasion, that he preferred Cherry to the consensus best ever in the Bay Area.

318. Roger Craig (1983-1993)
Running Back
San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings

One of the premier dual threats in history, Craig is perhaps the third best receiving back ever (behind Faulk and Moore). While many backs have run a lot and caught some balls, or hauled in many passes but not rushed much, he had a good split between the two and was adept in both areas. Over the first seven seasons of his career, he averaged 964 rushing yards and 612 receiving yards per 16 games. That includes two seasons over 2000 scrimmage yards and one season in which he became the first player ever to gain 1000 yards on the ground and through the air. In Walsh’s offense, he often vultured his own carries with receptions (why get a four yard run when you can get an eight yard reception), but it was his ability to provide that balance that made him so valuable to the scheme. While he didn’t master the route tree like Faulk, Craig was a solid route runner and great after the catch. As a rusher, he had good balance and ran with a smoothness reminiscent of Marcus Allen. When he had to stay in to block, he was a reliable pass protector who didn’t mind getting blown up by a blitzing linebacker in order to help the team. Craig was a truly complete back whose stats, while amazing, don’t give him enough credit.

317. Tiki Barber (1997-2006)
Running Back
New York Giants

The New York Giants selected Barber 36th overall in the 1997 and then spent years coming up with reasons not to use him. In 1998 they signed free agent Gary Brown, in 1999 they took Joe Montgomery in the 2nd round, in 2000 they drafted Ron Dayne in the 1st. Barber didn’t top 200 touches until his age-25 season, but once he did he immediately made the Giants’ earlier hesitation look foolish. He accumulated more yards from age 25 onward than any running back except Frank Gore, Emmitt Smith, or Walter Payton, and averaged more yards per game than anyone but Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. He also had five 200+ yard rushing games, the 3rd-highest total in history. Rather than declining with age, Barber was just peaking when he decided to walk away from football, topping 2,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his last three years, totals that represented the 3rd-most, most, and most yards of any player at ages 29, 30, and 31, respectively. He was a top-notch receiving threat out of the backfield who played about a decade before that kind of skillset would be truly appreciated, joining Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen as the only players in history to top 10,000 yards rushing and 5,000 yards receiving. His yardage totals likely overrate him a bit, since piling up huge chunks of yardage is basically all he did. But piling up huge chunks of yardage is immensely valuable, and few backs in history were Barber’s match. ^[21]Many thanks to Adam Harstad for penning this ode to Barber. ^[22]Note from Bryan: Tiki won the Supersonic Award for best running back in 2005. That’s the season another running back inexplicably took home MVP honors.

316. Ricky Watters (1991-2001)
Running Back
Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers

Watters was a transient player with a widely publicized bad attitude. It is those two things that have kept Canton from calling, because it certainly isn’t his play. No matter where he went, he simply produced. He began his career with nine consecutive great seasons. His 13-game 1993 campaign was the only year in which he didn’t eclipse 1400 yards. Watters gained 14466 yards and averaged 1665 yards and 10 touchdowns per 16 games for nine straight years. ^[23]That includes a Supersonic Award for 1996, when he led all players in yards from scrimmage. If you believe that entanglement issues make it difficult to really judge a player, and that playing with a wider array of teammates allows us to have more information about the talent of the individual, Watters is your man. For all the flack he received for his “For who?” comment, he was a willing and capable pass blocker. He was a fluid runner who could turn around defenders with finessed steps rather than the joint-popping jukes of a Barry or Shady. When he had to, he could also lower his shoulder and initiate contact to pick up extra yardage. He was also a solid route runner with good hands and after the catch ability. Proscout, probably the premier scouting firm, has him as the top back not yet in the Hall of Fame (with Craig a close second).

315. Edgerrin James (1999-2009)
Running Back
Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks

If you look at his career as a whole, James looks like a great back who is hard to distinguish from the seemingly endless supply of great backs from the turn of the century. However, I cannot judge his career without the context of an injury that could have ended it altogether. Edge played 38 games in the NFL before tearing his ACL. In those games, he gained 5297 yards from scrimmage. ^[24]That’s an average of 139.4 yards per game and a pace of 2230 yards per 16 games for the first three years of his career. No player in history has produced more yardage through 38 games than he did. ^[25]For the rest of his career, he remained a solid and complete back, but when he was healthy, he was an inner circle Hall of Fame type talent. He was able to put up such gaudy numbers because he was so good that he made giving snaps to another running back a useless endeavor. With refined pure running skills, sound route running, soft hands, and elite pass protection, there wasn’t any need to spell him. Perhaps his most defining trait was his pad level, or the ability to play low. Keeping his center of gravity low gave him more functional power, allowed him to play with better balance, and made him nigh impossible to arm tackle. James is among the best ever at getting limbo low to the ground and gaining an extra yard or two moving almost completely horizontally. This is one of the skills that helped him achieve the highest rushing success rate of any runner since reliable play by play stats have been available ^[26]That is, since 1983, the beginning of the Football Outsiders era. Edge is the only runner who was successful on more than half of his carries. His pad level also aided in pass pro, which he did at a very high level. In fact, if you wanted to put him on Rushmore, you wouldn’t get much pushback from me. ^[27]I named him the winner of the Supersonic Award (best RB) and the Sweetness Award (OPOY) for his 2000 performance.

314. Earl Faison (1961-1966)
Defensive End
San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins

Nicknamed Tree, the 6’5″ 270 pound Faison fit the bill. That’s pretty big for an edge rusher today; in the sixties, it was downright monstrous. When it comes to pure, natural power, he may have been tops among all players in his era. He didn’t spend hours in the weight room working on improving his strength. No, he just woke up and was the strongest guy in town. But he was more than that. Faison was a fluid athlete who could bend and beat blockers with quickness as well. He used his explosion and raw power to dismantle double teams with aplomb. If he didn’t make it to the backfield, his long arms enabled him to swat passes at a high rate (though I couldn’t give you an exact number). His length and quick reactions helped him pick off six passes in his career, which is pretty impressive for a guy his size. Sometimes Faison appeared aloof, but when he was on, he was unstoppable. Others played for longer, but few matched his dominance. That’s why he ranks this high despite so few healthy seasons.

313. Billy Shaw (1961-1969)
Offensive Guard
Buffalo Bills

Shaw was sort of a boring player whose greatness doesn’t jump off the screen at first glance. However, careful study of his game reveals a master craftsman whose ability to do everything right more than offsets his lack of flashy plays. He was a consistent type who didn’t make jaw dropping blocks. Instead, he won his battles over and over and over in nearly mundane fashion. The AFL wasn’t known for defense, but the defensive tackles, in particular, were one of the highlights of the league (and would give fits to NFL guards when they played). You’d watch Shaw against these behemoths and note that he never tossed anyone around. Then you’d keep watching and notice that his guy almost never made a play. Shaw was also good in space, with an especially keen eye for picking off little defensive backs. He played nine years and made eight Pro Bowls and seven all pro teams, and I named him the Hog Award winner every season from 1963 to 1966.

312. Mark Gastineau (1979-1990)
Defensive End
New York Jets, BC Lions

A pass rusher extraordinaire, Gastineau had 20 sacks in 1981, 19 in 1983, and 22 in 1984. His best season was probably 1983. Although he had three more sacks the following year, his run defense in ’83 was elite for the first time in his career. ^[28]In 1981, he had 8.5 run stuffs, but most of those seemed to be by happenstance while he was flying into the backfield toward the quarterback. In ’84, he started facing an absurd number of double teams and eventually seemed to eschew run defense altogether. For a guy who appeared to rely heavily on pure hustle, it’s possible he just wore out down the stretch and wasn’t just the lazy run defender many contemporaries made him out to be. Besides, his primary role was to kill quarterbacks, and he was the best at it. He accrued 107.5 sacks before retiring at the relatively young age of 32. John Turney opined that Gastineau could have reached 140 career sacks if he had hung around as a designated pass rusher till he reached a ripe old age, and I agree. There aren’t many players in history who matched his pure pass rushing excellence. However, I am not going to punish him for not sticking around as a role player as the sickle of death slowly fell on his career; what he did at his peak is enough to earn him this ranking.

311. Jay Hilgenberg (1981-1993)
Offensive Center
Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints

A tough guy who played with an edge, Hilgenberg was the perfect type of player for the brash but hardnosed Bears of the eighties. He was incredibly quick, which allowed him to get into position to make any block a coach could draw up. Technically sound as well, he rarely seemed to get too high, miss with his hands, get off balance, or miss an assignment. If he lost a play, it usually meant it was just to a better player, and that’s just something that happens. Hilgenberg was the pivot man on a standout offensive line that helped the great Walter Payton prolong his productive career. The defense gets all the credit, but the OL was remarkable and vital to the Bears success. That line wouldn’t have been the same without the man who earned a handful of all pro nods and a pair of Iron Awards for best center (1988-89).

310. Justin Smith (2001-2014)
Defensive End
San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals

Smith was a farm-strong type of guy who only seemed to get more and more powerful as he aged. He was a serviceable 40 end for the Bengals before bulking up and moving to the 30 end role in San Francisco. There, he became what many have called the engine that made the 49ers defense go. He put pressure on passer often, typically with his hellish bull rush move, and his ability to get away with holding regularly allowed him to free up other pass rushers to make plays. During his playing days, I don’t think anyone was better at calling and executing stunts with pass rushers. Smith could penetrate or control a gap with equal effectiveness, and his virtuosity against the run allowed the 49ers to confidently play the pass more with their secondary while fielding just three down linemen. In 2010, I have him the Deacon Award for best defensive end and the World Award for most outstanding player in football. ^[29]Only four players have earned the World Award since: Gronk and Kittle once apiece, Watt thrice, and Donald five times.. The following year, he won the Mean Award for best defensive tackle and the Godzilla Award for defensive player of the year.

309. Gene Hickerson (1958-1973)
Offensive Guard
Cleveland Browns

Hickerson took a while to get started, but when he finally hit his stride, he became one of the best guards in the game. He wasn’t huge, but he had athleticism in spades and was especially adept at getting out in front of a ball carrier and deforesting plenty of acreage for backs to run free. As part of one of the better offensive lines in history, he helped Brown look like a god among men and helped Kelly look like—at the very least—a demigod. He earned the Hog Award for his blocking in 1967 and 1968, and he earned a spot on an all pro team seven times. His career was canonized with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Despite this, Hickerson is but a fading memory, his era a mere ghost that has given way to the living and breathing present.

308. Abe Woodson (1958-1966)
Cornerback
San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Cardinals

Woodson was a great man cover corner with greater athleticism than the men he covered. Others popularized bump and run, but he was one of the first to be truly great at it. While terms like this are debatable, he has an argument as the first shutdown corner—a guy who scared offenses so much they stopped looking his way altogether. Like a Gale Sayers on defense, few could plant a foot and reach full speed as quickly as Woodson. This meant a receiver was rarely more than a half step away from him. If they tracked pass deflections back then, he would likely have a high rate of them, offsetting his relatively paltry interception numbers. In addition to being an elite cover specialist, he remains one of the best all around return men in history. Woodson could hurt opponents on both kickoffs and punts. He led league in longest punt return and longest kickoff return twice apiece and scored seven times on combined kick returns. His kickoff return averages of 31.3 and 32.2 yards in 1963 and 1963 earned him the White and Gray Award for both years. Interestingly, he never returned an interception for a score (though he did take a fumble recovery to the house).

307. Drew Pearson (1973-1983)
Wide Receiver
Dallas Cowboys

Pearson was on the receiving end of the original Hail Mary, one of the most famous plays in NFL history. However, he was far more than just a highlight discussed when a modern player desperately heaves a ball to the end zone. He was a complete receiver who could function as a possession receiver or a deep threat. It wasn’t his speed that allowed him to beat defenses over the top, but rather his ability to create separation though his change of pace style route running that left defensive backs confounded. Pearson was also a tough player who would pull in a pass over the middle while taking a direct hit from a heat seeking safety and not wince or shy away on the next risky catch. ^[30]Pearson is 60th in career TRY (11447). His best TRY seasons: 1439, 1350, 1253, 1230, 1142, 981, 977, 939.

306. Bob Hayes (1965-1975)
Wide Receiver
Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers

When adjusting for the technology, medical knowledge, and training techniques of their respective eras, Bullet Bob is clearly the fastest player in NFL history. In fact, he may be the fastest person ever to live (check out his anchor leg of the 4×100 at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and remember he did it on a cinder track and in borrowed shoes). Hayes gets credit for changing the game, though he didn’t really change anything or cause defenses to do anything new, in particular. Nothing that Harlon Hill and Del Shofner hadn’t already inspired, at least. Hayes just happened to be faster than those before him, and that speed scared defenses into rolling coverage his way quite often. To borrow a phrase used of another great receiver, all he did was catch touchdowns. In fact, nearly a fifth of his catches ended with him in the end zone. I gave him the Bambi Award in 1966, when he led the league in touchdowns and was a close second in yards. Hayes’s speed also made him a good returner, though he didn’t do it as often as he probably should have. ^[31]Hayes is 62nd in career TRY (11346). His best TRY seasons: 1730, 1566, 1540, 1536, 1393, 1340, 1076.

305. Cliff Branch (1972-1988)
Wide Receiver
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Los Angeles Cobras

When Branch was in his prime, defenses ruled the day, and the ability to get one quick score was at a premium. There was no methodically driving down the field into scoring position drive after drive like we are used to seeing today. That’s why men like Branch were necessary. As one of the all time great deep threats, he always gave the Raiders a chance to score or get in range for a field goal. Few receivers have ever carried a vertical passing game as well as he did. While he didn’t sustain his greatness for that long, he had the highest peak of any receiver in the Dead Ball Era. He’s not on the list for having a long, productive career; he’s on the list for being a lethal weapon at his peak, however how brief that peak may have been. Branch earned the Bambi Award in both 1974 and 1976, and in several other seasons played well even when his numbers didn’t match his play. ^[32]Branch is 37th in career TRY (13242). His best TRY seasons: 2065, 1776, 1500, 1376, 1269, 1048, 990, 936.

304. Harold Jackson (1968-1987)
Wide Receiver
Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings

It is baffling how little love Jackson’s career gets from Hall of Fame voters. The majority of fans aren’t interested in learning about the history of the game, so his low position in the public eye makes sense. But those with an eye toward the past overlooking him seems sillier by the year. No one during Jackson’s time as a starter had more catches, yards, or touchdowns than he. And he didn’t just stay healthy and play at a steady rate. he boasted black ink in all three areas while maintaining 17.9 yards per catch (fifth in that timeframe). When he retired, only Don Maynard, who played most of his career in the AFL, had more yards. Unfortunately, Jackson’s peak occurred during the low mark of NFL offense, and he has all but vanished into the ether history. Had he achieved the same feat a decade earlier or later, he’d be a legend. A small guy who could run like the wind, he was a great deep ball receiver who could take the top off of a defense. Like Pearson, Jackson could also win with more nuanced routes and always seemed to be there to pick up a first down. ^[33]Jackson is 22nd in career TRY (14767). His best TRY seasons: 1647, 1422, 1364, 1344, 1299, 1165, 1046, 1007, 992, 922, 904.

303. Zach Thomas (1996-2008)
Linebacker
Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys

Thomas was a heady player with good cover skills who likely would be more valuable today than he was when he played. He made a ton of tackles but was not very good at fighting off blockers. Think of him as more of a chase down a play tackler than a beat a blocker tackler. If a lineman engaged him, he rarely seemed to be able to disengage and make a play. Regardless, he was an active player who never slowed down and always seemed to be near the ball when the play was over. He had good playmaker numbers (20.5 sacks, 18 picks, and four scores) to add to his wealth of tackles. Thomas made seven all pro teams (solely from the Associated Press), in large part because, when he played, the AP format included two inside linebackers (1984-2015). That is to say, in the format under which Lambert and Butkus played, he would have been a second teamer (which is still very good) or not made an all pro team at all. ^[34]It bears noting that all pro linebacker spots used to go almost exclusively to middle linebackers, with outside backers getting no love. Huff and George, for example, got votes that could have gone … Continue reading

302. Chris Hanburger (1965-1978)
Linebacker
Washington

Hanburger was a terrific blitzer who took down passers 46 times in his career. He added 19 picks, 17 recoveries, and five scores to round out his playmaking checklist. At 218 pounds, he wasn’t very big for a linebacker in the big run thumper era, but he was fast and agile, capable of chasing down pesky ball carriers all over the field. He could stick with backs and, occasionally, tight ends in coverage with no problem. There weren’t any noticeable weaknesses in his game. Like Thomas, he was a contemporary of some of the best ever at his position and, this, wasn’t recognized as the best of his own era. Regardless, he did manage to earn six all pro nods, including one every year from 1972-1976. He also earned NFC defensive player of the year honors in 1972. A notorious clothesline tackler, Hanburger put fear of god in runners not looking to get decapitated before a live audience.

301. Bob Young (1966-1981)
Offensive Guard
St. Louis Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints

Young was a champion strongman with nearly unrivaled power. You’d think with his significant strength advantage, he’d be a mauling run blocker type, but he was actually better in pass protection. In fact, my affection for pass pro is what earned Young his high ranking on this list. That isn’t to say he couldn’t get a good push in the ground game—he certainly could—it’s just that his pass protection is among the very best of any guard ever to play. Dr. Z believed that he was actually better than his more celebrated counterpart, Conrad Dobler, and the tape I’ve seen confirms this. However, Dobler was great too, and when the two teamed up with Dan Dierdorf and Tom Banks, they formed perhaps the best pass blocking line in the storied history of the NFL.

300. Kevin Mawae (1994-2009)
Offensive Center
New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks

Mawae was on the small side, but he fired off the ball with aggression not usually associated with the pivot role. What he lacked in size, he made up for tenfold in athletic ability and technical proficiency. He had good balance that allowed him to play with high level functional strength that his stature suggested he shouldn’t have. His understanding of blocking angles allowed him to move bigger blockers, and his athleticism allowed him to make tough reach blocks not every center could make. Mawae was also adept at neutralizing linebackers in space. A good puller who could get downfield quickly and find a man to destroy, he almost always gave his backs a shot at a big play. In fact, his pulling was so respected that the Jets eventually began using him as a decoy to set up some beautiful counters. Fierce in pass pro, Mawae would deliver a pop before retreating to the passive role. Pro Football Focus only has data covering his last four years in Tennessee, but even at the end he earned high grades as a pass blocker. He also taught himself to snap lefthanded when he broke his right hand. While Mawae didn’t reach the heights of someone like Stephenson, he had almost no lows, and that matters a great deal on a weak link unit like the offensive line. In addition to being a great player, he was respected by his peers and named president of NFLPA. ^[35]If awards are your thing, I gave him four Iron Awards for best center. And he made eight Pro Bowls and all pro teams.