The old adage is that you build teams from the inside out. I don’t know if that is or ever has been true, but I know this: with 23 of the 50 players coming from the offensive of defensive line, part 20 of the Grand List is built from the inside out. At the same time, this is perhaps the most diverse section of the list, as it includes a player at every position, including the highest ranked kickers and punters in the series. There isn’t much controversy this time, with every player either a current or future Hall of Famer or a perennial all star. Enjoy.

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.
The Grand List, part 18: Includes players 349-300.
The Grand List, part 19: Includes players 299-250.

Here we go, then.

The Grand List, continued

249. Fred Dean (1975-1985)
Defensive End
San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers

Beginning his career as a very good full time end in San Diego, Dean ended up part of the Gene Klein purge, ultimately finding his way to San Francisco. With the 49ers, he became a stellar designated rusher, providing the team with the extra pressure it needed up front in order to grab its first Lombard Trophy. ^[1]Dean retired with 93 sacks and countless pressures. After splitting the season between both teams, he earned a defensive player of the year award for his immediate impact in San Francisco. He was on the small side, but he fired off the line, stayed low, and made stops in the backfield against the run and the pass. In terms of pure speed, he is easily among the fastest linemen in history. On top of that, he had power that seemed to come from the bottom of the earth, because it sure as hell couldn’t come from that diminutive frame. Dean’s strong legs allowed him to anchor down against the run at times when similar small speed rush types would get blocked out of the play or simply run over.

248. Dave Robinson (1963-1974)
Linebacker
Green Bay Packers, Washington

Robinson joined a Packers squad that was already a defensive juggernaut, and that fact seemed to cloud judgment on his performance. Even after Lombardi left, the dynasty was over, and the man kept playing killer defense, it was hard for some to shake the idea that he benefited significantly from his surroundings. Of course players on great teams benefit from their environments, and the great players help other great players benefit as well. Canton is littered with such players. Most of them, including Robinson, were great on their own merit and could have thrived anywhere. Robinson had all the physical tools to excel at linebacker or end, his college position. He was a force against the run—virtually nothing got outside of him. While he wasn’t as refined, at least initially, as some of the other strongside thumpers more accustomed to the position, he was nevertheless effective because of his athletic superiority. Similar to Wilcox, but faster and not quite as strong, he owned his side of the line and could always make the tackle or force a runner to help. In addition to being one of the top run stuffers at the position, Robinson had his share of splash plays, with 27 interceptions and 22 sacks in his career. ^[2]Robinson also earned the Dobre Shunka Award for best outside linebacker in 1967.

247. Chuck Howley (1958-1973)
Linebacker
Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears

Howley was an astounding all around performer who remains one of the Hall of Fame’s biggest snubs. ^[3]Depending on your view of what constitutes a Hall of Famer, you may believe he is one of the few actual snubs, rather than the pet project of a fanbase. You will often hear that a linebacker can do it all, but it’s usually hyperbole. In Howley’s case, it is true. He could dog the passer, drop into coverage with the very best, tackle in open space, or attack and make stuffs against backs. He had a penchant for big plays, with 25 interceptions, 26.5 sacks, and 18 fumble recoveries in his career. A common criticism is that he benefited from Landry’s scheme, but when you compare him with any other linebacker to play for the Hall of Fame coach, Howley was better by a country mile, particularly in coverage. In fact, few outside linebackers in history have matched his ability in coverage. ^[4]Brooks and Ham are the obvious choices, and they are almost universally hailed as Rushmore level outside linebackers. Early on, he played on the strongside, and he excelled at that before exploding on the weakside. Howley earned five first team all pro selections and another second team nod. He earned three Dobre Shunka Awards. He was named MVP in a Super Bowl his team lost. Howley is a top ten player at his position, and his absence from Canton is a shame. ^[5]When I say his position, I mean outside linebackers who aren’t primarily pass rushers. This is to separate guys like Taylor, Thomas, and Miller from guys like Ham, Brooks, and Howley. It gets a … Continue reading

246. Roger Wehrli (1969-1982)
Cornerback
St. Louis Cardinals

Wehrli was not the first shutdown cornerback in football. He was, however, the first about whom the term was liberally applied. A smooth speed corner, Wehrli was a perfect match for the deep ball receivers of the seventies. He had good hip flexibility that allowed him to turn and run downfield without losing a step. His reactions were elite, and he could plant a foot in the ground and break on a route as well as anyone. Compared with many other all stars contemporaries at his position, he had relatively scant interception numbers, with a high of just six (1970 and 1975). That is because he tended to play tight coverage and didn’t try to bait quarterbacks, so the passers looked elsewhere. When running through the secondary, the six time all pro seemed to glide more than run, as if an invisible hand guided him through the play.

245. Lem Barney (1967-1977)
Cornerback
Detroit Lions

On his second defensive snap as a pro, Barney picked off Bart Starr and took it to the house. He didn’t slow down from there. As a rookie, he led the league in interceptions, return yards, and scores. In his first four seasons, he had 32 picks for five touchdowns. After that, teams smartened up and started avoiding him, which wasn’t all that common in an era when quarterbacks viewed shying away from defenders as besmirching their masculinity or some such nonsense. Barney could stick to his man like glue, and he had superb ball skills that helped him make quarterbacks pay for testing him. Frankly, he made splash plays look easy. When he hung up his cleats, Barney had 56 picks for 1077 yards and 7 scores, looking back on his career with pride in his ability to turn defense into offense. A common refrain, he was suck in Detroit and only able to play in one postseason game in his career—a 0-5 loss to the eventual NFC champion Cowboys, in which he shut down every receiver who lined up across from him. ^[6]Barney was also a good return man and could fill in at punter, though he wasn’t very good at that. He earned two Prime Time Awards for best cornerback.

244. Terrell Suggs (2003-present)
Edge Rusher
Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs

Rushbackers like Mack, Miller, and Watt have dominated the last decade, and their success has poured bleach on the collective memory of Suggs. But we shouldn’t forget what a monster the man was in his prime. A key fixture and main pressure generator on consistently great defenses, he was unblockable at times. He produced seven seasons with double digit sacks (including one at age 35), and his 139 career sacks put him 14th on the career list. ^[7]Suggs will almost certainly drop to 15th once we get full data for Doug Atkins, who we will cover later. Early in his career, he was explosive off the ball and could maintain speed while bending around the tackle. As he lost some spring, he offset it with a deep repertoire of moves and counters to embarrass a new generation of tackles in a different way. With a powerful upper body, he could also mount an abusive power rush to drive blockers into the backfield. He was so consistently excellent at his peak that he was the only player I saw have sustained success against Joe Thomas. His 37 forced fumbles rate among the highest figures on record. Suggs wasn’t just good at putting pressure on the passer. He is one of the best run stopped ever off the edge. Pro Football Reference lists him with 202 tackles for loss, which is an absurd number. He made just two all pro teams in an era of stiff competition, but he was selected to seven Pro Bowls and earned defensive player of the year honors in 2011.

243. Kurt Warner (1995-2009)
Quarterback
St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Iowa Barnstormers, Amsterdam Admirals

I have been critical of Warner in the past, primarily for playing with a talented group of teammates and in locations conducive to offensive production, so seeing him rank this highly may shock those who have seen these criticisms. However, when I took the time to study his game, I developed a greater appreciation for him. While those critiques hold weight, as does the notion that he was too turnover prone, Warner was nonetheless a great quarterback. His career arc was strange, and his story was inspiring, but his ranking here is based on his performance rather than his narrative. Playing in a passing attack that required him to attack defenses downfield in ways more quarterbacks aren’t asked to, Warner’s turnovers are easily explained by throwing the ball farther and holding the ball longer while routes developed. While modern quarterback play is almost defined by short passing, Warner’s bloodthirsty approach to passing was a throwback to Marino or earlier Rams legend Van Brocklin. Despite dropping intermediate and deep bombs regularly, he regularly boasted one of the league’s top completion rates (leading thrice). This is because he was one of the most accurate passers in history, capable of hitting the target on deep crossers as easily as some connect on a slant. At his peak, he scared defenses in a way few ever have. Warner only played three full seasons in his career, and he led his team to the Super Bowl in each season. That includes two teams without recent success that he immediately turned around. ^[8]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 actions plays, Warner ranks 23rd in Total Adjusted Yards above Average (VAL) with 5672 and 15th in TAYP+ (110.9). He earned two Slinger Awards for best … Continue reading

242. Joe Stydahar (1936-1946)
Tackle (premodern)
Chicago Bears

Stydahar was a big and powerful man who overpowered opponents in the ground game, frequently pushing them several yards off the line of scrimmage. He was also adept in executing complex pass protection assignments in Clark Shaughnessy’s offensive scheme. On defense, he was even better. With his large frame, Stydahar was capable of eating up double teams with ease. When he faced a solo block, he put his man on skates with brute force. He took two years out of the end of his prime to go fight in the Pacific and then returned for two final seasons, By that time, he was good in spurts, but he didn’t have it left in him to dominate a full game anymore. At his peak, he was phenomenal. I went as far as to name him the winner of the World Award for most outstanding player in the league for his performance on both sides of the ball in 1939.

241. Turk Edwards (1932-1940)
Tackle (premodern)
Boston Braves/Washington

Edwards earned the nickname the Rock of Gibraltar because opponents couldn’t budge him, whether on offense or defense. He didn’t have the best mobility, but he was fast for his size, and he was one of the strongest in the game when he played. He was a solid offensive lineman, but his forte was defense and destruction. His raw power gave him the ability to force his way through the line and wreck plays as they developed. That same skill came in handy blocking punts. Remember, this is an era when the punt game was more important than today. His ability to impact field position in a low scoring era of football was a boon to his team. In 1937, he was arguably the best player in football and helped a rookie Sammy Baugh lead Washington to a title. Unfortunately, a freak injury during a coin toss ended his career while he was still on top.

240. Link Lyman (1922-1934)
Tackle (premodern)
Chicago Bears, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Bulldogs, Frankford Yellow Jackets

Lyman was sort of the anti-Edwards. He wasn’t weak, but his strength didn’t wow anyone. Instead, Lyman won his battles with quickness and technique. He had good lateral mobility and would slide around offensive linemen, causing them to whiff frequently. Prior to the snap, he was active along the line of scrimmage, constantly changing his technique and frustrating and confusing offensive linemen who didn’t have the benefit of years of experience facing shifting fronts like modern blockers do. Lyman was also a hustle player who had no problem running down plays from behind when his chaos schemes didn’t work. He was a sure position blocker on offense as well, but he was among the best in the business as a defender.

239. Ray Guy (1973-1986)
Punter
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Considered by most to be the greatest punter of all time, Guy is the only player at his position to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. He had a booming leg that gave him great hangtime, allowing him to land the ball deep downfield without sacrificing much in return yardage. He didn’t have the finesses that a prime Tommy Davis had, as he could put quite a few in the end zone, but he was more consistent and held onto his ability to punt effectively for much longer. Unlike fellow Raiders punting legend Lecher, Guy didn’t frequently outkick his coverage. One of his finest traits was his quick trigger leg that enabled him to get off big kicks before the rush got there. His three blocks in 1049 punts (0.29%) is the 16th best figure in history among punters with 500 or more kicks. ^[9]Chris Gardocki is the king, having punted 1177 times without a blocked kick.

238. Cris Carter (1987-2002)
Wide Receiver
Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins

After a slow start of his own making, Carter grew into one of the most accomplished receivers in history. He possessed a pair of the softest hands ever. Combined with his superb concentration and body control, those hand enabled him to become probably the best boundary receiver ever to play. He became a touchdown machine late in his career. From ages 30-34, he had 65 touchdowns. He played 117 games before his age 30 season and 117 after. In the first set of 117 games, Carter had 49 touchdowns. In the second set, he had 81. Only Terrell Owens (81) and Jerry Rice (104) have matched his post-30 scoring production. Carter led the league in touchdown receptions thrice, and he had consecutive seasons of 122 catches. He gets knocked for rarely being the most productive receiver on his team, even in his most productive seasons, but his ability to get open at will and catch anything within reach meant defenses couldn’t focus on guys like Reed and Moss as much as their speed warranted;. Carter retired second in catches and touchdowns and fourth in yards (now sixth in catches, thirteenth in yards, and fourth in touchdowns). ^[10]Carter ranks 12th in career TRY (16531). His best TRY seasons: 1596, 1578, 1481, 1467, 1338, 1320, 1301, 1254, 1071, 926, 902.

237. Tim Brown (1988-2004)
Wide Receiver
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It may seem like blasphemy to put Brown behind the graceful and acrobatic Carter, but I prefer the Raiders legend by a hair. He was a precise route runner with sound hands. On tape, a common sight was Brown shaking the corner and finding himself open, only for his quarterback to make any number of boneheaded decisions. When the passer did look his way, Brown was reliable after the catch, using his short area quickness to pick up extra yardage. When he first came into the league, he was a fairly raw playmaker. His first touch in pro football was a touchdown, and he set the still-standing rookie record for all purpose yards. But he didn’t get to see the field much on offense. Al Davis preferred to use him as the team’s not-so-secret weapon on third downs. Brown would trot onto the field, and everyone on the defense, in the stands, and in the comfort of their own homes knew they were going to him, and he got open and moved the chains anyway. Eventually, his talent became too undeniable to reserve for a nonsense role, and he became a full time starter. The result was him going over 1000 yards nine years in a row and remaining a valuable contributor to a Super Bowl team at 36. When he retired, he ranked third in receptions and touchdowns and second in receiving yards (now seventh in yards and catches and ninth in scores). His 100 receiving touchdowns are impressive when you consider he didn’t play with a good starting quarterback until he was 33. ^[11]Brown also made nine Pro Bowls, but many of those stem from playing in the AFC when the better competition was in the NFC. His peak as a starting receiver was 1993-2001. In that time, his ranks in … Continue reading

236. Jason Peters (2004-present)
Offensive Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills

Peters is a freak, simply put. A college tight end with athleticism to match, he has played offensive tackle around 330 pounds. With such a rare blend of size and athleticism, he has the ability to flat out dominate most opponents. A run blocker supreme, Peters explodes out of his stance and manhandles defenders at the point of attack. After his initial push, he easily discards his man and moves downfield quickly to pick up another opponent.  In pass pro, he has a smooth set and quickness to mirror the quickest speed rushers. His size and power enable him to anchor against the best bull rush. I named him the Guardian Award winner for best tackle in 2011 and 2014, seasons in which he spent much of his time trying to keep defenders away from his frustratingly inconsistent quarterbacks—which has been the story of his career. Peters has had an issue with false starts, but the good outweighs the bad by a mile.

235. Darrell Green (1983-2002)
Cornerback
Washington

Green was an effective starter for about twice as long as most good cornerbacks. And though he lost a step with age, just one lost step still left him faster than almost anyone else. One of the underrated things about his world class speed was that it allowed him to focus on his technique, because he always had the ability to recover. At 5’9″ and 184 pounds, he looked like he wouldn’t be able to match up against bigger receivers. Then the game started, and he used his top notch spatial awareness, laser focus, and flawless technique to frustrate the larger guys. His style of play was perfectly suited for the new league, with the Mel Blount Rule making it increasingly difficult for another Mel Blount type to emerge. Green didn’t have to mug a receiver at the line and through the route; instead, he just matched his man, step for step, play after play, game after game, for two decades. He wasn’t the playmaker type, but that was largely because quarterbacks knew better than to give him the chance. ^[12]Green was also a pretty good punt returner who was able to produce consistently high averages despite a lack of big plays. He just caught the ball, gave his offense a solid 10-15 yards of field … Continue reading

234. Tony Boselli (1995-2002)
Offensive Tackle
Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans

Boselli was tall and powerful, with the physical prowess to humiliate his opponents. What made him the best was his attention to detail and ability to maintain sound leverage and technique when many power types tend to focus on just overpowering defenders. He had a nasty attitude and played with aggression, like a Boomer Brown, but he also had the down to down consistency of a Kenn. Anecdotally, he seemed to somehow play even better against the toughest competition. In a league that contained Ogden, Jones, Roaf, and Pace, Boselli was the best of them all, but only briefly. That brief candle shone bright enough to earn him a lofty ranking on this list. Before injury snuffed the flame, Boselli earned two Guardian Awards, as well as a World Award for his masterful 1999 campaign. Had he remained healthy and kept his level of play, he’d probably be in the top fifty of this list.

233. Gary Zimmerman (1984-1997)
Offensive Tackle
Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Express

Zimmerman was the top offensive tackle in the USFL before joining the Vikings. In the NFL, he proved himself to be one of the greatest pass blocking tackles in history (in the 5-7 range). What made him so good in pass pro was his quick feet and good balance that allowed him to mirror pass rushers. He also had long arms and precise hands that kept defenders from gaining control. Zimmerman remains underrated as a run blocker, likely because he wasn’t a mauler. Instead he just got the job done. An eventual pairing with Shanahan in Denver led him to the infamous Gibbs zone blocking scheme that played to Zimmerman’s strengths—that is, athleticism and ability to block on the move—and he took his run blocking to another level. He earned a Guardian Award in 1987, was a first or second team all pro eight times, and made the all decade teams for both the eighties and the nineties.

232. Richard Dent (1983-1997)
Defensive End
Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers

Many of the great pass rushers on the edge win with speed. Dent won with pure power. He could deliver a pop with his hands that shook the very soul of a blocker, and from there it was pretty much curtains for quarterbacks. Dent started off slow against the run but improved to become a very good edge setter over time. I like that he didn’t rest on his laurels. Not content to be a pure sack master, he put in the effort to become an all around player. That said, he didn’t seem to have a high motor on the field, and he could have been much better than he was had he tried harder. That he was able to produce a Hall of Fame career speaks volumes about his natural talent. A Super Bowl MVP and Deacon Award winner for best end in the league, Dent was the premier pass rusher on a loaded Bears team. He had 121.5 sacks from 1984-1993, good for 13 sacks per 16 games for a full decade. His 137.5 sacks put him 13th on the career list, and his 37 forced fumbles are about as impressive as Suggs’s. ^[13]Dent ranks 13th on the career list for which we have reliable information. It is almost a certainty that Doug Atkins is above him, but we need more concrete info to support that. Gino Marchetti may … Continue reading

231. Tombstone Jackson (1966-1972)
Defensive End
Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns

Tombstone played a full season five times in his career. Outside of those five seasons, he participated in a total of twelve games. That he ranks this highly on the list is a testament to how dominant he was when he stepped on the field. He had incredible—almost unbelievable—power and could throw a larger tackle into the backfield on his way to the quarterback or ball carrier. This wasn’t like Reggie White setting up a blocker for the famed hump move, throwing him when he is off balance. No, this was a grown man tossing another grown man out with the trash. Jackson was explosive off the line, though he didn’t have the closing speed to chase down a play to the other side, like a Peppers or Taylor. He could sink inside and still overpower interior linemen, or he could play standup linebacker and set the edge from there. His head slap was more brutal than Deacon’s and is, frankly, hard to watch with modern understanding of how brains work. Alzado referred to him as the enforcer who dominated his entire side of the line, both during and in between plays. His physical intimidation was so great that it actually made offensive linemen play worse in fear of making him mad. In his abbreviated career, he earned three Deacon Awards (two AFL, 1 NFL), one Godzilla Award, and one World Award. Official statistics aren’t kept for ends from his era, so there is little tangible proof to support his greatness, ^[14]We just have to take the word of literally everyone who played with or against him, or who watched him play with a critical eye. but few defenders are more deserving of the Sayers exception to the Hall of Fame. ^[15]It is worth noting that Jackson’s 82 games played are more than 16 players currently in Canton. Though, to be fair, only four of them began their career after 1950.

230. Ray Childress (1985-1996)
Defensive Lineman
Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys

Childress was a big and tall lad with great length. He used those long arms to lock out blockers and keep them from getting even a semblance of control on him. With his mitts on his man, he could read the backfield and shed quickly in order to make the stop. Always a force against the run, even when he didn’t make the play, he could force runners into traffic, similar to what we’ve seen more recently with Justin Smith. Childress had great technique that included sound use of his hands and quick and nimble feet that allowed him to penetrate without losing balance or play fast without losing control. Equally at home as a 30 end or a defensive tackle, he excelled no matter what scheme his teams ran. On top of his run stuffing prowess, he could get after the passer, particularly from the interior, where he earned most of his 76.5 career sacks. A six time all pro, Childress also earned the Mean Award for best defensive tackle in 1993.

229. Charlie Sanders (1968-1977)
Tight End
Detroit Lions

Like Mackey and Ditka before him, Sanders was a do it all tight end. He was fast and ran solid routes, and he was very good after the catch. His great vertical leap and soft, strong hands made him an ideal target for passes in traffic that other players wouldn’t have warranted. While his numbers don’t look impressive by today’s standards, one must remember that he played in an era that depressed receiving totals, in addition to playing in an offense that didn’t see the tight end as a featured weapon. Thus, similar to Bavaro or Francis, he was much better as a receiver than his numbers would have you believe. Despite not being a primary weapon, Sanders went over 500 True Receiving Yards (the baseline for a good season at the position) in all but one season. ^[16]His top TRY seasons: 925, 904, 814, 803, 716, 675, 670, 612, 611. To boot, he was a terrific blocker—a role in which he was featured. He could generate a push for a runner, and he had a better pass set than most tight ends (though he would have been better used dominating a linebacker on a route). A broken shoulder in 1972 brought an end to what was shaping up to be his best season as a pro. He returned to form, but a subsequent knee injury in an exhibition game took away his effectiveness and led to his retirement. ^[17]Sanders was elected to seven Pro Bowls and three all pro teams, as well as the 1970s all decade team.

228. Morten Andersen (1982-2007)
Kicker
New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings

Accounting for his longevity as an effective player, Andersen may be the most valuable kicker of all time; but this list isn’t about the most valuable players, even within positions. ^[18]If the list was based solely on value, the top fifty would just be quarterbacks, and the whole thing would look weird and wrong. Because I care more about peak play, the list reflects that preference. And while his peak was great, it wasn’t quite as high as that of a few other kickers. However, it would be absurd to look only at the peak and ignore the fact that he still provided value after most at his position are retired. Thus, he is my third ranked kicker, which I think is a fair balance. Andersen had a good peak, earning a Toe Award for best kicker in two seasons (1986 and 1992) and producing plenty of good to very good seasons. ^[19]By my reckoning: 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. He was good from all ranges, which led to some selection bias in his accuracy numbers. Because of his big leg, he was allowed to attempt some deep kicks that often would have seen a team trot out a punter instead. On top of his prowess as a placekicker, Andersen was also a great kickoff specialist.

227. Nick Lowery (1978-1996)
Kicker
Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, New England Patriots

Relative to his peers, Lowery was the most accurate kicker in history (aside from Groza, whose competition was laughable by comparison). He was an effective deep kicker, setting the record for most games with multiple makes from beyond fifty yards. He did it in cold, windy stadiums, overcoming conditions that have been shown to significantly deflate kicking numbers. He earned Toe Awards in 1985, 1988, and 1990, and he was on the shortlist in 1983 and 1992. Unlike nearly every other great kicker in history, Lowery only had one below average season—his last. He made clutch kicks but didn’t get the recognition because he didn’t make those kicks for great teams. Lowery probably should have been the all decade kicker for the 1980s, and he had an argument for the 1990s as well.

226. Joe Klecko (1977-1988)
Defensive Lineman
New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts

Klecko could play any position on the line, from edge to nose, at an all pro level. As an end in 1981, he led the league with 20.5 sacks. Dr. Z named him the NFL player of the year, remarking on his ability to play the run or the pass, as well as perform at a high level through injury. Klecko’s ability freed up sack master Gastineau to pin his ears back and run wild on quarterbacks. I gave him both the Deacon and Godzilla awards for that year. In 1985, the first season of his permanent move to nose tackle, he had 7.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. In that role, he served as the fulcrum around which the Jets defense pivoted, providing unrelenting inside pressure and remaining a fortress against the run. It simply didn’t matter where they lined him up—he was dominating. Klecko also blocked five kicks in his career. When considering his overall play in a number of different roles along the defensive front, it is clear Klecko belongs in the Hall of Fame.

225. Fred Smerlas (1979-1992)
Defensive Tackle
Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers

Smerlas is probably the second best nose tackle in history. ^[20]Or third, depending on how you want to treat middle guards who played more like a nose than like a linebacker (so Willis versus George). He lined up in 0 technique and would blow up the center on seemingly every play. With a stout frame and a base like a faithful old oak tree, he couldn’t be moved off his spot. As is often the case with nose tackles, his dominance allowed others to get the glory. However, he could be a wrecking ball when coaches weren’t asking him to absorb punishment. In 1981. he was the a defensive player of the year runner up as a nose tackle, which tells you a great deal about his level of play (he had 6.5 sacks, several pressures, and was a force against the run). I named him the Mean Award winner for best defensive tackle that season. The reason the Buffalo Bermuda Triangle worked at all, his ability to eliminate the run while getting a decent pass rush in nickel allowed the Bills to play essentially any coverage they wanted behind him without having to worry too much about run fits for safeties. Smerlas earned five Pro Bowl and all pro nods, which are the most ever among pure nose tackles.

224. Tom Sestak (1962-1968)
Defensive Tackle
Buffalo Bills

Sestak was similar to Childress in some ways. He was tall and had great length. Length is a useful tool to have to keep blockers at bay, but it usually comes with height that can put a defender at a leverage disadvantage. Like most of the greats, Sestak was able to make good use of his size without allowing the negative aspects of it to come into play. The reason, as usual, is that he played with good pad level, maintaining good leverage and balance throughout the play, even when facing much shorter linemen with lower natural centers of gravity. Sestak could play all over the line with success against both the run and the pass. He played just seven seasons, but he was an all pro in six of them. His best campaign came in 1964, when he had 17.5 sacks, mostly as an interior rusher, while shutting down the run a creating a general level of havoc and dismay for offenses on every down. His performance earned him the Mean and Godzilla awards for the AFC. Sestak would be a shoo in for Canton had he not been felled by injury.

223. Patrick Peterson (2011-present)
Cornerback
Arizona Cardinals

Peterson is an interesting cat because he plays a position typically associated with braggadocio, but he tends to just quietly go about his business of locking down great receivers one on one. Typically tracking number one receivers (which doesn’t happen nearly as often as the talking heads like to imply), he has drawn the toughest assignments of any cornerback since Revis. Blessed with rare athletic ability, even by NFL standards, he has an uncanny size-speed-balance combo that has allowed him to match up against shifty and quick guys, big and fast ones, and tough possession receivers with equal success. His charting numbers don’t stack up to those of some of his contemporaries, but much of that comes down to his ability leading him to be in positions to do things most corners aren’t asked to do. In a fairly complex defense, Peterson has executed with aplomb. I named him the Prime Time Award winner for his lights out performance in 2015. He was also a very good returner early in his career, leading the league in punt return yards and scores as a rookie while boasting an impressive 15.9 average. In 2018, he became the thirteenth player to earn eight Pro Bowl nods in his first eight seasons.

222. Benny Friedman (1927-1934)
Quarterback (premodern)
New York Giants, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cleveland Bulldogs, Detroit Wolverines

Friedman was the league’s first great pure passer, as much as anyone could be a great passer in his antediluvian era. As far as the records available are concerned, he led the league in passing yards each year from 1927-1931 and led in rushing yards in 1928. In 1929, his 1677 passing yards outstripped second place by 1000 yards. With little in the way of reliable numbers to go off, I have Friedman tentatively named the winner of four Slinger Awards for best quarterback and one Sweetness Award for offensive player of the year. The only things keeping him from ranking higher are the brevity and one dimensionality of his career. By age 27, his days as an effective offensive weapon were over. Even before that, he was merely average on defense in an era when a player quarterback had to be good on defense and special teams to be considered a truly great player. Friedman gets points for helping usher in a new breed of football, but contemporaries and historians generally prefer the next guy among premodern quarterbacks.

221. Paddy Driscoll (1917-1929)
Quarterback (premodern)
Racine/Chicago Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Hammond All-Stars, Hammond Pros, Great Lakes Navy

Driscoll is the reason players, coaches, and writers of the era didn’t look at Friedman’s passing numbers and immediately proclaim him the Savior of the Forward Pass. Consensus among those who saw them both play was that Driscoll was the superior football player, even if the original Passing King was the better passer. He was among the league’s rushing leaders every year, and he was one of the top passers each season as well. Observers described him as a fast and wily defender. The numbers available support the contemporaneous view that he was the best kicker in the NFL’s first decade. Driscoll was also a great punter, which was far more important in the days of short runs and field position battles. If I felt more comfortable declaring award winners that far back, Driscoll would own three Toe Awards, a pair of Automatics, and one Slinger. He was also a “champion” in 1925, if you buy it.

220. Russell Wilson (2012-present)
Quarterback
Seattle Seahawks

Some may argue that this is far too high a ranking for an active quarterback with less than a decade in the league. I say that’s poppycock. Wilson has been among the best and most valuable players in the league since earning the starting job as a third round rookie. He takes too many sacks, but he makes up for it with a plethora of big plays. A great deep ball passer who throws accurately on the move, he is among the best ever at improvising when the play breaks down. He has consistently produced great efficiency numbers despite rarely playing with a great supporting cast or a creative scheme. Although the sacks hurt his stats, he has never had an ANY/A+ below 104. When adjusting for depth of target and receiver separation, Wilson stands out as one of the most accurate passers of the last thirty years. He has often played in an offense designed to waste two downs and pray he can bail out the team on third and long. This has left him with little margin for error, and he usually comes through anyway. Wilson is also a good runner when the situation calls for it, though he isn’t a run first quarterback. And despite his diminutive frame and propensity for sacks, he manages to avoid big hits and has started 144 out of 144 possible games since entering the league. Wilson has made the Pro Bowl in seven of his first eight seasons, ^[21]Pro Football Reference incorrectly lists him as having missed the honor in 2014. and I named him the Automatic Award winner for his outstanding performance carrying his offense in 2019. ^[22]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Wilson ranks 30th in VAL (4308) and 22nd in TAYP+ (109.5).

219. Jason Witten (2003-present)
Tight End
Dallas Cowboys

Witten is the type of player commenters talk about when they refer to real tight ends. That is, he is a solid receiver and can hold his own as a blocker as well. While he wasn’t on the level of a Brenner or West, he was a very good blocker for a tight end. He could stay in and pass protect, and he was effective blocking down or sealing the edge. No one would call him an athletic marvel like Davis or Gronk, but he was tough as nails and refused to be covered. As far as possession receivers go, Witten was as reliable as they come. Few have ever matched his ability to find a hole in the zone and give the quarterback a safe option. He seemed to have a telepathic connection with Tony Romo, as Witten was always able to get himself in a position where his quarterback could find him. For some reason, he wasn’t used as a red zone weapon as much as his skillset should have demanded. Nonetheless, he ranks fifth in touchdowns among tight ends. He is also second in both catches and yards. I named him the Gonzo Award winner for best tight end in 2007, 2010, and 2012. ^[23]Witten ranks 28th in career TRY (14099). His top TRY seasons: 1305, 1123, 1083, 1064, 971, 960, 939, 931, 917, 864, 813, 802, 738, 653, 548.

218. Jerry Kramer (1958-1968)
Offensive Guard
Green Bay Packers

Kramer’s path to the Hall of Fame was an interesting one. He retired in 1968 and was finally inducted in the centennial class, 52 years later. It isn’t all that uncommon for great players to fall by the wayside and eventually get picked up by the senior voters. But it’s pretty weird in Kramer’s case. This is a guard who won five championships on a legendary dynasty that was most famous for running an outside sweep behind pulling guards. He is the author of the most famous block in history, a goal line block on the great Jethro Pugh in the Ice Bowl. With five first team all pros and two second team selections, he is among the most decorated guards in history. All those things are true, and yet he waited decades. Weird, right? Let’s talk about his actual performance on the field. Kramer was a good puller, which was key in Lombardi’s offense. He was a fundamentally sound run blocker with good quickness and lateral mobility. He sealed inside blocks well and almost always won the leverage battle, enabling him to drive defenders out of the play. If he had a weakness, it was in pas pro. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t exactly Jim Parker either. His footwork was inconsistent, which led to playing off balance, especially against faster pass rushers. As well as he got under his opponent’s pads in the run game, he was confounding in his inability to do so against the pass rush. He was not as great as you’d expect at picking up pressure, but the biggest knock is that he seemed to stop playing if he got beat by a pass rusher, which I imagine Starr didn’t love. But he could kick a few field goals in a pinch.

217. Y.A. Tittle (1948-1964)
Quarterback
San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts

Tittle once held the career marks for passing yards and touchdowns. Following a long career playing at a high level for an inconsistent San Francisco squad, he moved to a New York team that had better pieces in place. There, from ages 35-37, Tittle produced the best three year stretch of his career. Up to that point, it was one of the best three year runs the league had ever seen from a quarterback. In 1962, he set the NFL’s single seasons record for touchdown passes. The following year, he broke his own record. His 36 touchdown passes weren’t eclipsed until Marino came along two decades later. I named him the Automatic and Slinger winner in both seasons, as well as the Sweetness winner in the latter. Similar to Brady, he was an average athlete who had a preternatural ability to pick up a rushing first down or touchdown in short yardage. In New York, he led the Giants to the title game three years in a row. In the first two trips, he lost to the juggernaut Packers at the beginning of the Lombardi dynasty. In his last chance, he met a Chicago squad that fielded one of the best defenses in history. These losses shaped his legacy, but they were but a small portion of his career. ^[24]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Tittle ranks 29th in VAL (4706) and 44th in TAYP+ (106.3).

216. Philip Rivers (2004-present)
Quarterback
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers is one of the goofiest looking passers ever to play, but he made it work. He was unafraid to make any throw, and he often took chances that more conservative passers wouldn’t. Sometimes it backfired, but it also made for many game breaking plays and made him dangerous even against the toughest defenses. He was a hypercompetitive leader who could talk trash with the best of them and produced regardless of who played around him. While he gets knocked for seeming to throw too many interceptions late in close games, his teams wouldn’t have been in position to play a close game at all without him keeping the offense afloat. Also, he retired with as many fourth quarter comebacks as noted clutch passer Eli Manning. Unlike Manning, Rivers played at an MVP or MVP-adjacent level in at least three seasons, and he was well above average in several others. His seven seasons with an ANY/A+ score of 115 or greater are equal to Favre, Fouts, Rodgers, and Young, and they trail Brees, Brady, Manning, and Marino. ^[25]Minimum 300 attempts. With a lower threshold, Graham and Van Brocklin would likely join him. That’s pretty good company. First downs aren’t captured in that stat, but Rivers also exceled at moving the chains. I named him the Automatic and Slinger winner for his heroic performance for a mediocre team in 2008. ^[26]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Rivers ranks 17th in VAL (7489) and 21st in TAYP+ (109.6).

215. Ox Emerson (1931-1938)
Offensive Tackle (premodern)
Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions, Brooklyn Dodgers

Ironically named Ox, Emerson stood just 5’11” and weighed in at a little over 200 pounds. What he lacked in size, he made up for in athletic ability and technical acumen. He was fast and quick and was especially adept at pulling and blocking in the open field, freeing runners like Clark and Caddel to make long runs. Using his stature as an advantage, he was almost always the low man in a scrum. He helped pave the way for the 1936 Lions rushing attack that still holds the record for yards per game (240.4). From 1934-1937, the Lions averaged 197.3 yards per game on the ground, and over 200 in contests in which Emerson participated. On defense, he was quick and able to slide between blockers like liquid, reconstituting in the backfield to make plays. In 1935, he missed five games with a broken back. Detroit failed to have a winning record in those games. With him in the lineup, they were better on both sides of the ball and ultimately won the title game in resounding fashion. Contemporaries held him in high regard in his prime, naming him first team all pro every year from 1932-37.

214. Buck Buchanan (1963-1975)
Defensive Tackle
Kansas City Chiefs

Buchanan was a towering figure in the middle of the Kansas City defense. When motivated, he pushed the pocket with ease, and he was especially great when paired with Culp. He had freakish speed for a man his size, reportedly running the 40 in 4.9 seconds at 6’7″ and around 260 pounds. Versus the run, he usually didn’t penetrate all that much, instead using his speed to move laterally to make plays in the run game almost like a linebacker. Buchanan gets a lot of credit for dominating Tingelhoff in the Super Bowl, but most of the time it was Culp working over the legendary center. ^[27]Buchanan did have success when attacking Tingelhoff, but he just didn’t spend as much time facing him as Culp did. Culp also performed better in that game than Buchanan did. His size allowed him to bat down passes at a high rate, as well as block kicks when lined up over the long snapper. Buchanan was one of seven DTs named to  NFL 100 All-Time Team, which shows the high opinion many have of him. However, on tape he looks more in the 15-20 range at the position, which still makes him one of the greatest players in history. His play in 1967 and 1968 earned him a Mean Award in each season. But if he did the exact same things in his career, but was four inches shorter, I believe he wouldn’t have the same Buyanesque mythology surrounding him and, thus, would not rate so highly among so many who remember him as a larger than life figure when they were young.

213. Alex Karras (1958-1970)
Defensive Tackle
Detroit Lions

Karras was an incredibly active player who seemed to be everywhere at once. He was explosive off the ball and had good short area quickness, making him a terror as a pass rusher. He generated quick pressure that gave passers nightmares. His 16 sacks in 1965 adjust to a shade over 18 when accounting for pass attempts faced and league sack rate. That year earned him the Mean Award and a possible Godzilla Award. ^[28]So far, 1965 has been the most difficult year to name a defensive player of the year. The race between Karras and Willie Davis is the closest I can remember. His 105 sacks put him fourth in career sacks among defensive tackles. He was the consummate hustle player chasing down plays away from him on seemingly every other down. Short and thick, and moving full speed all the time, watching him was like watching a child’s bouncy ball in a phone booth; he would get knocked down and spring right back up and keep running full speed. Despite playing so fast, he maintained assignment discipline and didn’t freelance too often. If he didn’t get home, he would get his hands up and disrupt passing lanes. Based on games studied, he seemed to have a bit of an issue with jumping offside, but the pressure and disruption he provided was more than enough to offset a few penalties.

212. Frank Gatski (1946-1957)
Offensive Center
Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions

Gatski stepped into the starting lineup in his third season and immediately became the best center in football. From 1951 to 1955, he earned four first team all pro nods and one second team nod. All told, he played for 12 years and went to 11 title games, winning eight. That makes him one of the winningest players in history. Teammates called him the Iron Man, and there are few players about whom such a term has ever been so apt. The man never missed a game or even a practice during his football career—not his pro career, his entire career, dating back to high school. And the team didn’t carry a backup, so he didn’t really take snaps off either. Gatski was sure in pass pro, which was hard with the rules favoring defenders, as well as the longer pass patterns receivers tended to run back then. Tall and lean, he didn’t fit the mold of a prototypical center. However, he had a strong upper body that kept him from getting pushed around, as well as good positioning that allowed him to play with balance. He had the nerve to ask for a raise and was sent packing. Lucky for him, he landed on his feet, winning a title with the Lions over his former team.

211. Doug Atkins (1953-1969)
Defensive End
Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns

Atkins was a huge guy with good athleticism and surprising leaping ability. Often he would just jump over a blocker. That wouldn’t be recommended today, but it was a joy to watch. He took about a half decade to really break out, but he became dangerous when he finally figured it all out. He slimmed down, which increased his quickness and ability to penetrate. His speed around the edge helped him set up an inside counter that often left opponents flat on their backs. Many called him the strongest man in the NFL when he played; that may or may not be the case, but it is easy to see why observers and opponents said that. Atkins developed such a good understanding of leverage and anticipation of a blocker’s moves that he could play with functional strength that was without peer in that era. A stud pass rusher, John Turney confirmed that he likely retired in the 150 sack range, which would put him between 5 and 7 on the career list. He made an all pro team at end in ten different seasons, and he was also a superb kick blocker from the interior.

210. Andy Robustelli (1951-1964)
Defensive End
New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams

Robustelli was not as quick off the ball as you’d like from a speed rusher, but he was fast and had a good arc rush. He refined his skillset as he aged, and actually became a superior player as an old man, earning a Deacon and Godzilla Award in 1962. He wasn’t that stout at the point of attack or strong against the run consistently, but his pass rush prowess was good enough to offset that. So far, he is credited with 111 documented sacks, but it is likely that there are around 10 to 15 missing. That would put him just outside the top 20 on the career list, which is no mean feat. Robustelli had a knack for recovering fumbles. It isn’t clean if that was a matter of skill or happenstance, but the fact of the matter is he ended up with the ball, and the other guys didn’t. Like Atkins, he was a feared kick blocker from the inside. Unlike Atkins, Robustelli did it with pure speed. He made an all pro team in 11 different seasons, which puts him in the honors pantheon. However, on tape he looked more like a top 20-25 end than a top 10 end.

209. Calais Campbell (2008-present)
Defensive End
Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars

Like Buchanan and Atkins, Campbell is a gargantuan human being who could get his hands up and blot out the sun against both quarterbacks and kickers. But defense is the reason he ranks so highly here. He could anchor the end as a one gap 5 tech in a 30 front, sink inside and rush in nickel, or rush from the outside in a 40 front. He could beat his man with speed or with power. Double teams only delayed the inevitable, and solo blocks tended to end in embarrassment for the offense. One of the most physically imposing players ever, he feels even bigger than he is. Campbell has been nearly impossible to run against, using his long arms to use an offensive lineman as a meat puppet before throwing him aside to make a play. When moved to a scheme more favorable to rushing the passer, he put up 25 sacks in two seasons. He plays with heavy hands and is able to get good leverage despite being a giant, resetting the line of scrimmage on his own terms. Campbell has developed an extensive arsenal of moves and counter moves that have helped him continue to win even after getting old. His career highlight was came in 2017 when he was named the PFWA defensive player of the year. That season, he led a defense that helped the Jaguars reach the AFC Championship Game with Blake Bortles at QB.

208. Elvin Bethea (1968-1983)
Defensive End
Houston Oilers

Bethea thrived as both a 40 and 30 front end, but he really was transcendent in the latter role. When teamed with Culp and Brazile, he helped form one of the great defensive triads in history. Unfortunately, their primes didn’t line up for long, and they never had the sustained offense to get them anywhere. He became a starter in his second season, and he averaged 13.7 sacks per 16 games in his half decade as a 40 end. In the end, he took down opposing passers 105 times, even though he spent the last few seasons of his career in a run stopping role. Quicker than fast, as they say, Bethea could get under a tackle in a heartbeat and then use his power to drive him into the backfield. Or he could counter and get his man off balance and duck under on his way to the passer. Bethea was a five time second team all pro. I never gave him a GridFe award, but he was on the shortlist a few times. ^[29]Similar to Drew Brees and the MVP race, he kept being almost the best without ever clearly being the very best.

207. Donnie Shell (1974-1987)
Safety
Pittsburgh Steelers

Shell consistently performed at a high level in a role that saw him take on a wide array of assignments. Depending on the situation, he would cover deep on one play and take away a deep threat. On the next play, he would play in the slot, checking a receiver in man coverage or blitzing off the edge. The play after that, he might line up as a light linebacker. Regardless, he was sure to act as an enforcer with bruising hits that made backs and receivers think twice next time. When he wasn’t going to the knockout punch, he was a sure open field tackler, rarely getting beaten one on one. Among safeties who were also good in coverage, Shell is among the best ever against the run. The man did it all. He was also a solid special teams contributor who flew down the field and threw his body around to make tackles. He earned the Tunnell Vision Award for best safety in 1980.

206. Nolan Cromwell (1977-1987)
Safety
Los Angeles Rams

Injuries keep him from ranking higher on the list, but at his peak, Cromwell was as good a safety as there ever has been. It has become cliché to say that a player had no weaknesses. The phrase is overused and often untrue. But Cromwell is an exception. He was a Rushmore level cover man, capable of playing single high and erasing the deep passing game like few before or since. ^[30]Christiansen, Robinson, Reed, and Thomas are his main competition there. When called upon to play strong safety, he did it well. He wasn’t very big, but he could play the thumper role like Harris or Tatum. He could also read run keys and avoid falling for play action so well that it seemed like he bugged the opposing huddle. As a slot corner—or sometimes even an outside corner—he could blanket a receiver. In sub packages, he would play linebacker and cover the underneath stuff to perfection. Like Shell, Cromwell hit hard and didn’t have to sacrifice sure tackling to do it. Equally effective on run or pass blitzes, Cromwell created chaos at the line of scrimmage when called upon. He was smart player who understood offensive schemes, and he matched it with elite physical skills. That combo tends to spell disaster for the competition. Cromwell is also one of the best placekick holders ever, with sure hands and an unmatched ability to run a fake. And he was great at blocking punts too. ^[31]I named Cromwell the Tunnell Vision winner for 1981, but he could have easily won it in the following two seasons as well.

205. Mick Tingelhoff (1962-1978)
Offensive Center
Minnesota Vikings

Tingelhoff was a great all around center. Not an overwhelming physical specimen, he relied on technique and athleticism to win his battles. He was good at position blocking and played with superb leverage, similar to Saturday among modern centers. With dedication to maintaining his conditioning, he never looked tired and would often appear even better late in games. Tingelhoff was sublime in space, effectively neutralizing linebacker. He was also a good puller who took near perfect angles on his blocks. At the snap, he would explode out of his stance and get a good initial pop and follow-through. He was smart and good at diagnosing pressure, and he had good lateral agility, which combined to make him an incredible pass blocker. That was good, because he had to block for a quarterback who regularly went off script and made life harder on his offensive line. Unlike most starting centers, Tingelhoff was also his team’s long snapper, which saved them a roster spot. The only real knock on Tingelhoff is that he could get overwhelmed by big nose tackle types. He was fortunate not to have to face them too often, though it really hurt his legacy against Culp in the Super Bowl. ^[32]I named Tingelhoff the Iron Award winner for best center six times. That is a lot, but I have found that the centers with the highest expected performance tend to have the best (or near best) … Continue reading

204. Johnny Hekker (2012-present)
Punter
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

One of the best-ever punters at kicking for distance also happens to be one of the best at kicking for placement. That punter is Hekker, and he has been near perfect at his position for most of his career. He may be relatively new to the scene, but I believe he is the greatest voluntary turnover specialist of all time. He is rarely blocked, doesn’t kick it into the endzone, and forces fair catches. He stands out from his peers as much as Guy did, but he does it in an era with much better competition. A 2018 post on expected points values relative to expectation shows how far ahead of everyone else he really is. He has produced easily the most EPA, EPA/P, and EPA over expectation relative to the spot of the snap, and no one comes all that close. Hekker used his huge leg to bail out his team when the offense was terrible, and he used his finesse to deliver pinpoint punts when his better offenses got the ball to midfield before giving it away. At his peak, the Rams ranks in Football Outsiders punting metrics (based on yardage): 1, 5, 5, 1 (more than double the runner up), 3. He is a good hold and faker, with three touchdowns and ten other first downs, compared with just eight incompletions. His prime may be over already, but the six time all pro’s peak was better than anyone else’s (and Guy’s prime wasn’t all that long either).

203. Justin Tucker (2012-present)
Kicker
Baltimore Ravens

Tucker is the perfect kicker. He is accurate, he has a big leg, and he generally plays well under pressure. His field goal rate above average and points above average numbers aren’t necessarily the best ever, but that is because he plays in the greatest era ever for kickers. Compared with predecessors like Groza, Stenerud, or Andersen, it is impossible for him to be as far ahead, given their competition was nowhere near the level of his. He is a consistently great performer at a position perhaps best defined by relative inconsistency. A Timo Riske study found that, when accounting for uncertainty moving forward, Tucker’s floor was about equal to the future expectation of the second best kicker in the league. Football Outsiders measures a team’s field goal and extra point performance based on league average rates from the same yard lines, with an adjustment made for weather effects. Baltimore’s ranks in their FG/XP metric since 2012: 3, 2, 6, 7, 1, ^[33]The margin between them and the runner up was about equal to the difference between number two and nineteen. 1, 3, 1. Baltimore may be considered the South to some, but it gets cold in the winter and would not be described as friendly kicking weather by anyone arguing in good faith. His first eight seasons ^[34]Remember, 2020 isn’t included here. have all been good to great. If we ranked every kicker by their eight best seasons, we would get to cherry pick the top eight performances from the other great kickers from history while not being allowed to throw any of his seasons away, and Tucker would still come out on top. I have given him four Toe Awards so far, and he has been a close contender nearly every year of his career. ^[35]I thought it was fitting to put the best punter and best kicker back to back, but out of the top 200. This is to try to balance acknowledging their tremendous play with showing respect to the players … Continue reading

202. Tony Dorsett (1977-1988)
Running Back
Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos

Dorsett eased into the offense as a rookie, and his carries were kept curiously low throughout his career (perhaps a revealed preference of his coaches to limit the wear and tear on his small frame), but he was electric whenever he touched the ball. He had blazing speed and acceleration that allowed him to turn the corner on an outside run or swing pass and burst into the open field before defenders could get close to him. His balance through contact allowed him to pick up big yardage on inside runs, as he did on his famous 99 yard carry against the Vikings. Dorsett doesn’t have the volume numbers that you’d expect to see from a back ranked this highly, but that is just a matter of usage. He wasn’t meant to be the guy churning out short gains into a crowd of giants. Rather, he was meant to gash defenses for big gains on sweeps and screens. Quality over quantity, as it were. Dorsett was also great playoff performer, with over 100 yards from scrimmage per game.

201. Marcus Allen (1982-1997)
Running Back
Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs

Today, Allen is underrated by box score scouts under 35. Those who played with or against him, watched him play, and/or understand how to contextualize his numbers know how great he was. I named him the winner of the Sweetness Award for offensive player of the year in 1985. I also gave him a pair of Supersonic Awards for best running back, as well as a Motley Award for his work at fullback when he swallowed his pride and blocked for a talented part timer. Rather than go into more detail here, I’ll direct you to his chapter in my unpublished book on running backs.

200. Bobby Mitchell (1958-1968)
Wide Receiver/Running Back
Washington, Cleveland Browns

Perhaps no player in history suffers more than Bobby Mitchell from our tendency to evaluate careers in pieces rather than holistically. From 1959 to 1961 he was one of the best running backs in the NFL, ranking 5th in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns (and averaging 1300 and 12 per 16 games) despite backing up Jim Brown. He was also one of the best returners, ranking 3rd in total return yards and first in both kickoff and punt return touchdowns. Then he moved to receiver for Washington, breaking color barriers (as one of the players who integrated the last franchise and the first black receiver to make a pro bowl and all pro team). After he retired, he spent 30 years in the front office and nearly became the first black GM. The whole of his career is more than just the sum of its parts. But this analysis, while important, ignores how damn good he was as a receiver, anyway. In 1962, he had the best 7-game start to the season of any receiver in NFL history. He was the first player to top 1200 receiving yards twice, a mark he smashed with 1384 and 1436 in his first two seasons. He held the record for the most receiving yards from ages 27-32—his first six seasons at the position—for 26 years until Rice and Ellard finally surpassed him in 1993 (partially aided by schedule expansion). Not just a trailblazer and barrier-breaker, Mitchell was one of the best and most productive receivers in history, and the only reason his final stats aren’t more eye-popping is because he spent his first four years as a fantastic running back and returner, instead. Bobby Mitchell had football in his blood and excelled at everything he touched. ^[36]Thanks to my friend Adam Harstad for this writeup on Mitchell. Note from Bryan: Mitchell earned the Bambi Award for his 1962 season and lost in basically a coin flip in 1963. Because of the shape of … Continue reading