Strap in for part 21 of the Grand List, or: the top 1000 players in pro football history (who played enough time in the NFL to show they could succeed there). Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but I’ve never been much for marketing and SEO optimization. Today’s section has a little something for everyone, with a wide enough distribution of positions to fill a full offense and defense—with subs. There are underrated non-Hall of Famers and legends often cited as the best at their positions. We have ballers from 1925 to the present, with versatile Swiss Army Knife types and guys who happened to do one thing but did it at an all time great level. We’re not at the part yet where people start questioning my sanity or telling me to take a nap in traffic, but we’re getting close!

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.
The Grand List, part 20: Includes players 249-200.

Words, words, words…

The Grand List, continued

199. Yale Lary (1952-1964)
Safety, Punter
Detroit Lions

Lary was a rangy safety with good ball skills. He could come up in run support and lay the lumber to separate the ball from a prospective receiver, and he could cover deep. When paired with Christensen, the two could effectively nullify the deep passes that were common in the era. With a nose for the ball, Lary picked off 50 passes in 133 career games. Although he was a terrific punt returner early in his career, that talent didn’t translate to production after the interception. he wasn’t a “turn defense into offense” type, so to speak. While he was a safety first, Lary also happened to be a big legged punter who excelled at kicking for distance, leading the league in gross average thrice. Reliable records are unavailable for net yardage, but footage shows that he may have outkicked his coverage more often than desired. Nevertheless, Lary was a valuable all around player whom I honored with both the Tunnell Vision (best safety) and World (most outstanding player) awards for his performance in 1956.

198. Rickey Jackson (1981-1995)
Rushbacker
New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers

Jackson retired with 136 sacks, which currently ranks 16th on the career list. His 40 forced fumbles put him in elite company, and his 29 fumble recoveries put him in a tie with Jason Taylor for the second most ever by a defender. A strongside rushbacker, he would play end in nickel and terrorize quarterbacks. But he was more than just a pass rusher. Jackson could make plays in the backfield against runs or screens, and he could hold his own in coverage. In fact, he made plays all over the field, with his name seemingly popping up on every page of Saints gamebooks. He was the premier pressure generator for the feared Dome Patrol, perhaps the greatest linebacking corps in history. When the Dome Patrol was whole, the Saints never had a losing record. After a franchise history full of rotten cabbage, they gave brought some hope to the Big Easy. And, unlike most other great linebacking groups before or since, they did it without a great defensive line protecting them.

197. Andre Tippett (1982-1993)
Rushbacker
New England Patriots

Tippett entered the league as a rushbacker the year after Jackson and LT set the world on fire and often played in the shadow of both. He finished his career with 100 sacks, which is a lower total than what most of the all time greats at the position were able to produce, but much of that stems from his role on defense, as well as injuries. Tippett set the edge in the run game better than players like Jackson and Greene, and he was as good in coverage as any rushbacker this side of Miller. At his peak, he could harass quarterbacks as well as anyone. He had 18.5 sacks in 1984 and 16.5 the following year. His total of 35 sacks is tied with Ware for the most in consecutive seasons by any linebacker. bear in mind, he also didn’t play with the same caliber of teammates most other legendary pass rushing linebackers did. Tippett possess elite acceleration at the snap and a wide arsenal of hand moves that he borrowed from his extensive karate training. He had a good power rush, especially for his size. Injuries robbed him of several games, but when he was playing above 80%, he was electric. From 1983-1988, he only played 13 games per season but averaged over 12 sacks per year (14 sacks per 16 games). The Patriots legend earned DPOY honors from the NEA in 1985 (shared with Howie Long) and earned a spot on four all pro teams.

196. Ty Law (1995-2009)
Cornerback
New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Denver Broncos

Cornerbacks in the modern game seem to be judged much more harshly than in earlier generations. Regulatory changes make their jobs increasingly difficult, and receivers become freakier athletes with the dawn of each season. Increased access to film, as well as the ability to share findings widely on the internet, have made it easy to poke holes in every player in a way that simply wasn’t possible when Dick Lane was taking heads. A true shutdown corner may never have really existed, but when players in the past are discussed, we tend to highlight their achievements while overlooking their shortcomings in a way we don’t do for more recent players. For this reason, in particular, Law has become an underrated performer. Belichick has often valued corners who can win most of his matchups with a receiver in man coverage, thus freeing up safeties to provide help elsewhere and making the entire defense stronger; it’s trickle-down economics that actually works. Before Revis and Gilmore, Law was that corner. He could get in a receiver’s face and press him at the line, turn and run with him stride for stride, break on short passes, bait quarterbacks into turnovers, control his zone like a despot, and tackle in the open field. His assignments were difficult, typically tacking the top receiver anywhere on the field, and he thrived in that situation. He was a playoff stud with six interceptions in 13 postseason games. That includes the biggest play in New England’s upset victory over the Greatest Show on Turf Rams, a pick 6 on Kurt Warner. Law led league in picks twice, seven years apart and with two different teams. He excelled under different coaches running different schemes, because eliminating a receiver one on one translates into any language. ^[1]I named him the Prime Time Award winner for top cornerback in 1998 and 2003.

195. Louis Wright (1975-1986)
Cornerback
Denver Broncos

Wright’s exploits in the run game are well known and widely celebrated, and with good reason. He was a sure tackler and was particularly adept at forcing cutbacks when the sweep came his way. But his real value came in his ability to trail top receivers all over the field and effectively take them out of the game. He didn’t get many interceptions for two reasons. First, he did his job so well that quarterbacks simply refused to test him. Second, and his biggest demerit as a player, he didn’t have the softest hands and would drop a few interceptions. Of course, those dropped picks are still failures for the offense and show that he was good enough in coverage to consistently make plays on the ball. At 6’2″ and with great speed, he could eliminate deep passes. With superb instincts and the ability to maintain fluid motion even when breaking with a receiver, he was seemingly always in position on the quick underneath stuff too. I named him the Prime Time winner for his role on the great Orange Crush defense in 1978, and he was in the running in several other seasons. The fact that neither he, nor any other member of that mythic defense, is in the Hall of Fame is one of the organization’s greatest oversights.

194. Jackie Smith (1963-1978)
Tight End
St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys

Smith is the rare great player who is perhaps best known for the biggest mistake of his career. While it certainly was a misstep—one which he made at 38 years old in the final season of his career with a team for which he had never caught a regular season pass—he was so much more than a dropped pass. ^[2]Also, Smith’s role as “the sickest man in America” lives in infamy, while relatively few bring up fellow Hall of Famer Randy White fumbling a kickoff and seeing Bradshaw hit Swann … Continue reading Before age caught up with him, he was a tremendous athlete with the speed to beat defenses over the top and the power to crush opponents in the run game. Historian John Turney once compared him to Gronk without modern day training advantages, and (as usual) he’s right. In his own era, he was similar to Mackey in his ability to create big plays from the tight end position and lay out defenders in the rushing attack. He earned the Gonzo Award for best tight end in 1967. His performance that year is among the greatest seasons ever from a tight end. While maintaining consistent excellence as a blocker, Smith produced 1205 yards and nine touchdowns receiving in 14 games, giving him a pace of 1377 yards and 10 scores in a 16 game schedule. Oh, and he boasted an astounding 21.5 receiving average. ^[3]Smith ranks 88th in career True Receiving Yards (10195). His top TRY seasons: 1570, 1043, 993, 913, 844, 763, 729, 659, 569, 550, 549, 544.

193. Pete Pihos (1947-1955)
End, Defensive End
Philadelphia Eagles

Pihos was a wide receiver who was in many ways a proto-tight end. In fact, he is often listed as a tight end in many reference sources. However, he doesn’t fit the bill as we define the position today, or even as Ditka and Mackey played it. In fact, he wasn’t too much different in his role than were several other ends who lined up inside. He just happened to be bigger and a better blocker than the others. Offensively, his last three seasons were his best seasons, when he averaged 1232 yards and 12 scores per 16 games. Those numbers would make him a Pro Bowler today. In each of those seasons, his TRY was over 1350, giving him three elite receiving production seasons. Pihos was also a crushing blocker with soft hands. Funny enough, coaches hated the way he crossed his arms when he caught the ball. He reportedly compromised with the coaching staff, telling them he’d stop doing it when he dropped a pass. He never had to stop doing it In a pinch, he filled in at defensive end and became an all pro on defense as well. That sort of thing is far less likely to happen today, given the increased focus on specialization, but it remains an impressive feat the highlights his versatility and willingness to do what it took for the team to win. All told, Pihos was an all pro in eight different seasons, and he won the Bambi Award for best receiver in 1953. ^[4]Pihos ranks 108th in career TRY (9588). His top TRY seasons: 1510, 1449, 1359, 1266, 957, 950, 925, 851.

192. Johnny Blood (1925-1941)
Halfback (premodern)
Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Duluth, Pottsville Maroons, Milwaukee Badgers, Buffalo Tigers

Dubbed the Vagabond halfback, Blood played for five different teams, and thrived with them all. A troubadour singing his song throughout the Midwest, he was playmaker who could zigzag his way for long gains on the ground or take a pass to the house. McNally’s longest stop came in Green Bay, where he was a key figure for four title teams. He was fast and shifty, playing with flare and confounding defenders who grew weary of chasing him all over the field. He was an excellent boundary receiver, giving guys like Carter, Lloyd, and Nelson a run for their money. Always a threat to score with the ball in his hands, he found himself in the end zone on runs, receptions, interceptions, and returns. Although records are embarrassingly scant from his early career, what little information we do have suggests he was the best receiver among those who came before Hutson. He had an MVP caliber year in 1931 when he earned the Automatic, World, and Sweetness awards. On defense, Blood was a ball hawking type with a nose for the ball, and threw himself around with abandon against the run.

191. Verne Lewellen (1924-1932)
Halfback (premodern)
Green Bay Packers, New York Yankees

Lewellen was an exceptional halfback with great breakaway speed, and the fleet-footed runner often found himself in the end zone with a trail of dusty defenders in his rearview. He held the record for career touchdowns (51) until Hutson rewrote the book on scoring. In an era when versatility meant something much different than it does today, he could also effectively relieve Dunn at quarterback. Lewellen was also a plus punter. When he played, field position was far more important than it is today, and teams often marched down the field by exchanging better punts than their opponents. Thus, punting was at a premium, and Lewellen was the best at it. Like Guy, he could catch good hang time and punt for distance, pinning prehistoric offenses deep in their own territory. He was also accurate and could angle his kicks out of bounds inside the 10 like you’d expect from a modern punter. His performance in 1930 earned him the World and Automatic awards, and he was on the shortlist the year prior. A cog in three title teams, the five time all pro is among the most glaring omissions from Canton.

190. Cliff Battles (1932-1937)
Halfback (premodern)
Boston Braves/Washington

A shooting star type of player, Battles had a brief but brilliant career. He played just six season, but he made an all pro team in each one. battles was big and fast with great football instincts that he used to evade tacklers with ease when he got the ball. He is the first player on record with a 200 yard rushing game, and he thrice led the league in scrimmage yards. A small crease was all he needed to break a long play; with his long stride and turbo acceleration, if he had two steps without being touched, he was as good as gone. He earned the Supersonic Award for best running back in 1932, 1933, and 1937. That final season also saw him earn the Sweetness Award for OPOY and the Automatic Award for MVP. Battles played well on defense and was a feared hitter. While some players reach the end by injury or decline in play, it was a contract dispute with a pig man that ended his career.

189. Johnny Robinson (1960-1971)
Safety
Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs

With the skill to patrol the deep field and nullify the long ball better than nearly anyone, Robinson is on “Range Rushmore” among safeties. ^[5]Others in the running for this esoteric Rushmore include Reed, Christensen, Thomas, and Cromwell. He wasn’t a big guy, but he could hit hard, and he was a sure tackler. Unafraid to put his nose in there and take on any ball carrier, he took pride in providing solid run support. Robinson had great instincts for where the ball was going, on both running and passing plays. Because he was so smart, he was able to play aggressively and often jump routes. In the way that our biggest strengths can also become our biggest weaknesses, Robinson could be fooled by action passes and sometimes was overly aggressive in coverage and blew the play. However, he was typically sound over the top. A big game player, he picked off Blanda twice in the 1961 AFL Championship Game, and he had an interception and a fumble recovery in Kansas City’s upset Super Bowl win over the Vikings. He earned the Tunnell Vision Award for best safety in both 1966 and 1970. Robinson didn’t seem to be slowing much by age 33, but he suffered a career ending injury in the NFL’s longest-ever game, a double overtime loss to the Dolphins.

188. Earl Thomas (2010-present)
Safety
Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens

A stellar patroller of the deep field, Thomas’s ability to mitigate long plays allowed his corners to play more aggressively. His rare instincts and physical gifts made it seem like he was shot out of a cannon on every play, darting all over the field to discourage passers from getting too cute. But he wasn’t just about playing in coverage. He played closer to the line of scrimmage than most free safeties, allowing him to be more active in the run game. And while many can mitigate the big play, Thomas has also been lights out against intermediate routes. The word generational is tossed around far too often, but his range in his prime truly merits the designation. At his peak, he could cheat to the strong side of the field and still make deep plays on the weak side. He could line up in the box and still break up long passes. His unique skill set meant he earned assignments that had an incredibly high degree of difficulty—one that his peers simply weren’t good enough to assume. Good free safeties often receive the label of centerfielders; with his ability to play vertically, Thomas effectively played centerfield and second base at the same time. In doing so, he made his teammates’ jobs easier and elevated his entire squad. ^[6]I named him the Tunnell Vision Award winner in 2013, but he was in the top three or four every year of his prime. Sometimes others would execute their easier assignments better than he executed his … Continue reading

187. Bobby Wagner (2012-present)
Linebacker
Seattle Seahawks

Wagner and Kuechly are listed back to back here, but you can think of them as effectively tied. Going back and forth for the title of best linebacker on earth during their careers, their battle for supremacy was a joy to behold for the better part of a decade. For his part, Wagner has great athleticism, with speed to play sideline to sideline and run with his man in coverage or lock down his zone. He has been excellent at the middle linebacker blitz, notching about three sacks per season. Wagner has a knack for sniffing out where the run is going and snuffing it out in a hurry. He didn’t get the attention that the Legion of Boom received, but his ability to cover the middle and shut down the run was crucial to the success of the great Seahawks defensive dynasty. His spatial awareness and football IQ are in the top one percent of the top one percent at the position. Wagner has a habit of making big plays, but he has never sacrificed down to down consistency to do so. Watching him play, it felt like you had as good a chance to get struck by lightning in your living room as you did seeing him miss a tackle. He earned the Enforcer Award for best middle linebacker each year from 2016-2018.

186. Luke Kuechly (2012-2019)
Linebacker
Carolina Panthers

Injuries ended what looked like (and may still be) a Hall of Fame career. It took him a few years to figure it out in coverage, but once he did, he became one of the most consistent coverage backers in the game. When added to his prolific ability to make plays around the line of scrimmage, his overall play reached a level few at the position have ever reached at their peaks. Early on, McDermott’s defense was based on executing fundamentals at a high level and not really doing anything exotic. Later, the Wilks scheme had Kuechly moving around all over the place to blitz or disrupt in some other way. Regardless of the design of the defense, he asserted himself as the standard bearer at the position. He made plays in the backfield at a higher rate than any other MLB I’ve ever seen, ^[7]For reference, he had two more stuffs than London Fletcher, despite playing in 46% of the games. and he was adept at covering the intermediate field in both man and zone coverage. Defensive passer rating is kind of a dumb stat, but Kueckly’s figure was about 20 points better than the positional average (the average for MLBs is high because passing around ten yards deep in the middle of the field—over the head of a linebacker after play action—tends to be the biggest payoff in football). He did this primarily by constantly keeping the ball in front of him and making immediate tackles if a receiver caught anything underneath. With an off the charts football IQ, postseason honors every year of his career, and role as the leader of a defense that gave its offense great field position and helped the quarterback win MVP honors on the way to a 15-1 regular season record, Kuechly should get the Sayers treatment with regard to the Hall of Fame.

185. Mike Kenn (1978-1994)
Offensive Tackle
Atlanta Falcons

Kenn started his career as a good run blocker who was raw in pass pro. He put in the work, and it paid off handsomely. With relentless determination to perfect his craft, he became a Rushmore level pass protector at the tackle position. To this day, few have matched his proficiency in the area. He was quick and smooth in his retreat, capable or mirroring the quickest rushers and resetting against counters. He had deceptive strength and could anchor well against the power rush as well. Although he stood 6’7″ and was nearly always the tallest person on the field, it was rare to see him let a defender get leverage on him. Kenn is a 17 year starter whose five all pro and Pro Bowl selections don’t do him justice. The man was still playing at an all pro level in his 14th season and was even better prior to that. I named him the Guardian Award winner for his superb work in 1980. ^[8]It was a narrow win over Slater. He is tied with Lomas Brown for the most games started at tackle (251). Not only is he the best eligible offensive lineman not in the Hall of Fame, he’s better than many who already own a gold jacket.

184. Joe Perry (1948-1963)
Running Back
San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts

With blazing acceleration and a scary fifth gear, the jet could reach Mach-3 in two steps and leave defenders doubled over and aching for oxygen. He was part of a committee with two other Hall of Famers, but he was the clear leader of the pack. Sharing time hurt his volume numbers, but Perry was still able to stake his claim as the career leader in rushing yards and touchdowns during his career. And he wasn’t just a compiler who put together a few weak seasons to climb the charts. He was the first back with consecutive seasons with over 1000 yards on the ground, and he was able to maintain a career rushing average of 5.0 yards over nearly 2000 carries. Perry warned the Supersonic Award for best running back in 1949, 1953, and 1954, with the latter season seeing him bring home the Sweetness Award as well. The NEA also named him the league MVP that year. Perry’s peak was high, and he sustained his excellence over a long period of time, even if his workload didn’t show it.

183. Thurman Thomas (1988-2000)
Running Back
Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

Thomas was the most complete back of his era. A solid runner and reliable receiver, he led the league in yards from scrimmage four years in a row, and he ranked second the year after that.  averaged 1943 yards and 11 scores per 16 games for half a decade. That is a long period of dominance at a position known for a brevity of effectiveness. In a down year for quarterbacks, he earned consensus MVP honors in 1991. Thomas ranks third in postseason rushing yards, and it isn’t just a byproduct of making it there often. He had over 120 scrimmage yards in eight postseason games, and he had at least 75 in five more. There were no real weaknesses in his game, as he was a good runner, both inside and outside, a quality receiving option out of the backfield, and a solid blocker. His total package skillset was a boon to Buffalo’s no huddle attack, as it meant the offense could attack in a variety of ways without substituting players. While he wasn’t particularly big, strong, quick, or fast, he knew how to play football. Sometimes, that’s enough.

182. Warren Sapp (1995-2007)
Defensive Tackle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders

Sapp was an interior pass rusher extraordinaire. A vital piece of the famed Tampa-2 defense, the pressure he created from the 3 technique was instrumental to a scheme that thrived on forcing short passes and creating turnovers. For his size, he was incredibly quick, especially in the first few steps. His jump off the snap meant he penetrated regularly—from 1999-2000, he made 39.5 plays behind the line of scrimmage, which is among the best two year spans ever from a defensive tackle. Sapp retired with 96.5 sacks, which puts him sixth among defensive tackles on the career list. ^[9]He is tied with Pugh and ranks behind Page, Randall, White, Karras, and McMichael. He will probably rank behind Donald before too long. His premier pass rushing season came in 2000, when he unofficially led the league with 16.5 sacks. The previous year, he earned defensive player of the year honors and the first of four first team all pro selections. Sapp was only okay against the run (he had as many tackles for loss as his cornerback), but he really wasn’t there to be a complete player. he was there to terrorize passers, and he did it well.

181. Sid Luckman (1939-1950)
Quarterback
Chicago Bears

The first great T formation quarterback, Luckman was an accurate passer to all levels of the field. He was incredibly efficient, which comes from a mix of his individual greatness and the fact that he played in a great scheme with some of the best teammate support any quarterback has ever had. To give an idea of the caliber of his teammates, in 1940, the Bears had the most commanding victory in NFL history, with a 73-0 demolition of Washington in the championship game. Luckman himself attempted four passes (for 88 yards and a score) and ran once (for a one yard touchdown). The rest of those points came from six rushing touchdowns and three pick sixes. ^[10]Is it pick sixes or picks six? Who decides these things? However, one doesn’t produce the way he did just by having good teammates. Luckman himself was a top notch passer. His 1943 season is—by a considerable margin—the most statistically dominant season a quarterback has ever had. His 28 touchdown passes stood as a record for 16 years, and 107.5 passer rating wasn’t matched in the NFL until 1960. ^[11]Unitas threw 32 touchdowns in two more games in 1959. Plum had a 110.4 passer rating in 1960.  The season included a still-standing record seven touchdown passes in one game. He capped off his MVP campaign with the third of his four career title victories. Luckman was dominant in the postseason, albeit on limited plays. He had 112 action plays in the postseason and managed a Total Adjusted Yards per Play figure of 6.54, which was 3.60 better than league average when he played. Among quarterbacks with as many plays, only Starr ranks higher. ^[12]Luckman ranks 23rd in playoff VAL, despite his relatively low number of plays. His 1943 performance is the third highest ranked game by VAL, trailing just two Peyton Manning vs Denver games from 2003 … Continue reading He was also an adequate defensive back and punter, though his roles outside of offense don’t earn him any points with me. ^[13]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 action plays, Luckman ranks 11th in Total Adjusted Yards above Average (VAL) at 8842 and 5th in TAYP+ (115.8).

180. Willie Roaf (1993-2005)
Offensive Tackle
New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs

Roaf played 13 seasons in the NFL. He didn’t make the Pro Bowl as a rookie, nor did he make it in the season injury ended his time in New Orleans. But he made it every other season of his career. A mountain of a man, he was a killer drive blocker who typically blocked his man into oblivion. He was a natural tackle who often got by on pure talent, seemingly ignoring technique much of the time. Although he had great athletic ability for a man his size early in his career, he would sometimes lose focus on his conditioning and be susceptible to the quicker pass rushers. Later in his career, he seemed to get this under control, but by that time he began to struggle with power rushers. However, when he was focused, he was about as good as it gets. Capable in pass pro, his real talent was in the run game. Like Shell before him, he could latch on and send his man to the bell of hell if he felt like it. Roaf earned Guardian Awards for best tackle in both 1995 and 2002, and his move to Kansas City provided the team with an offensive line that was the driving force behind one of the greatest sustained offenses in history.

179. Art Shell (1968-1982)
Offensive Tackle
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Shell was a hulking power tackle who could seemingly block a mountain out of the way for a back to run unencumbered. He teamed with Upshaw to form the most celebrated left side of all time. From a modern perspective, being a great left tackle is the ultimate thing a lineman can do, but when he played, right tackles were generally the premier offensive linemen. Teams didn’t tend to think of blockers in terms of blind side protectors; instead, they put their best tackle on the right, because the best pass rushers usually lines up over the offenses right side. ^[14]Oddly enough, Shell wasn’t a blind side blocker either, at least not when protecting the Southpaw Stabler. Shell was good enough in pass pro, but his reputation as a great pass blocker gets blown out of proportion because he had some of his best performances in the area on the biggest stage, and he has gotten the NFL Films apotheosis afforded to many who played in Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Dallas in the seventies. His assignments weren’t too difficult, compared with someone like Wright or Dierdorf, and he didn’t stand out as consistently excellent on a down to down basis as they did. The key for a tackle in pass pro is to get as many stalemates as possible. Shell didn’t nullify his man at quite the same rate as the tackles above him on this list; the difference is that when he won his play, he won it convincingly. That’s not to say he was not a great player. His ranking on this list suggests I believe him to be a clear Hall of Famer and among the best ever at his position. I also believe the hagiography surrounding his career has led him to be remembered as a top five tackle, when the tape shows a player who belongs in the 10-12 range. ^[15]Shell was named the 1977 AFC offensive lineman of the year by the NFLPA and Football Digest. I named him the winner of the guardian award in both 1974 and 1977.

178. Jim Ringo (1953-1967)
Offensive Center
Green bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles

Ringo was the quick type of pivot man. He was never going to maul an opponent into submission. Instead, he won with great position blocking, using his lateral mobility and balance to cut his man off from the play. Despite his relatively slight frame, he was able to drive larger defenders off the spot by staying low and maintaining good leverage and balance. At the second level, Ringo artfully blocked in space, picking up linebackers with ease. His quickness allowed him to cut off defenders on the sweep, which was vital to the famed play’s success; there wouldn’t be any running to daylight if the play ended in the backfield. Also sound in pass pro, Ringo’s all around play earned him Iron Awards for best center in 1957 and each season from 1959-1962. He had talented teammates but was impressive on his own. He excelled before Lombardi arrived, as well as during his time with the Eagles.

177. Zack Martin (2014-present)
Offensive Guard
Dallas Cowboys

Martin entered the league on a line that already contained two guys who looked like future Hall of Famers, and it can be hard to disentangle performance in those cases. Frederick retired and Smith had trouble staying healthy, and Martin continued to destroy opponents game after game. He flashed the ability to dominate from day one, but early on he could have stretches of inconsistency. He worked to reduce those and is now, in effect, the theoretical ideal of what a modern guard should be. Martin’s career is still young, but he has proven himself to be a technical virtuoso who uses his hands and feet perfectly. His leverage never slips. He has the fluidity to stick with the best interior pass rushers, the power to erase his man in the ground game, and the tracking talent to pick off linebackers and defensive backs in space. A throwback blocker with a nasty streak, his run blocking may have longtime fans waxing poetic about the days of John Hannah, and he can neutralize the pass rush like Wilkerson. Martin is at the point now where he has already had more dominant seasons than most Hall of Fame guards. If he keeps up his current level of play, we may one day be talking about him in the same breath as Hannah, Allen, and Parker.

176. Steve Hutchinson (2001-2012)
Offensive Guard
Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans

Hutch was a tough road grader type with a nasty streak in the mold of John Hannah. He seemed to love nothing more than to drive his man into the cheap seats. Hutchinson had a powerful upper body that he used to control defenders, and his strong base gave him the ability to hunker down against power rushers. To top it off, he was quick and made a habit of killing defenders on traps. His mobility also came in handy on plays that had him pulling, and he excelled blocking downfield for Alexander and a young Peterson. Hutchinson’s exploits as a mauler are the stuff of legend, but he was also a capable protector in the passing game. His physical talent meant he almost never got pushed around by the big guys or matadored by the quick ones. ^[16]The most notable exception came in the final year of his career against Watt. He was technically sound and rarely penalized. His ability to play with a high level of aggression and not get called for penalties is impressive. Hutch twice won Offensive Lineman of the Year from the NFLPA (2006 and 2009), and I named him the Hog Award winner for his performance in 2005.

175. Marshal Yanda (2007-2019)
Offensive Guard
Baltimore Ravens

Consistently underrated by mainstream media until a half decade into his career, all Yanda did was show up to work and do his job better than everyone else. He’s one of the top pass protectors ever at the position, and he rarely hurt his team with holding penalties. Playing for 13 years, not only did he never have a bad season, he never even had a year that was any less than very good. That is to say, at his very worst, he was among the best—even when playing right tackle early on or left guard later on. Yanda possessed excellent awareness and attention to the little things, things as simple as giving a hip check to a defensive lineman on his way to block a linebacker. He had precise hands and nimble feet, and he rarely got knocked off balance. Yanda played with patience after the snap, ^[17]But not before the snap; he was a false starter. often letting defenders come to him before countering their attacks. He made an all pro team in nine different seasons, and he won the  Hog Award in both 2014 and 2016.

174. Jim Langer (1970-1981)
Offensive Center
Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings

Langer wasn’t a huge guy, but he had an incredibly powerful upper body that he used to lock out tackles or throw around linebackers. He was a mauler in the run game, and he was especially dangerous on doubles with Kuechenberg. Opponents hardly stood a chance against the dominant duo. The two famously teamed up to erase the Purple People Eaters in the Super Bowl. Langer’s power provided him the ability to match up with behemoths like Buchanan, but he also had the mobility to take on explosive players like Page. His movement skills, in particular, made him one of the top pass blocking centers in history. Even if he couldn’t manhandle an opponent, he could at least hold his foe to a draw. And he was adept in blitz pickup as well. Langer only started seven full seasons, but he was easily the best in the league until Webster hit his stride. He earned Iron Awards for best center in 1975 and 1977.

173. Robert Brazile (1975-1984)
Linebacker
Houston Oilers

Like Bell and Hendricks, Brazile was sort of a cross between a rushbacker and an off ball type. Technically, he was a weakside backer, even in the 30 front. Unlike many of the 3-4 rushbackers of recent vintage who primarily rush the passer, Brazile had a wide range of responsibilities that included staying put and setting the edge, as well as dropping into coverage often. He could blitz as well as any one (48 sacks), but also played superb coverage (13 interceptions and 76 pass deflections). Dubbed Dr. Doom for his ability to knock the soul out of an opponent, he was the rare athlete of his era who could be placed in a game next year and fit right in with modern athletes. Brazile had incredible speed and could chase down any ball carrier or passer, and his coverage and diagnostic skills were sound enough that he could have been a Hall of Fame middle linebacker if his team needed him to be. He made more plays in the first half of his career, but he remained as good as ever after that; it’s just that Culp and Bethea aged out and offenses could focus more on him. Brazile was an all pro in six seasons, and he earned the Dobre Shunka Award for best outside linebacker in 1978 and 1979.

172. Kevin Greene (1985-1999)
Rushbacker
Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers

They called him the Sackmaster, and it’s not hard to see why. Greene he had double digit sacks in ten different seasons, with four different teams. He finished his career with 160 quarterback takedowns, good for fourth on the career list and easily the most from a linebacker. Once he became a starter, Greene averaged 12 sacks per 16 games for a dozen years. His 26 fumble recoveries are among the most ever for a defender. Greene had great speed and burst, and he was able to translate that to power very well, often using speed to get blockers off balance before getting the best of them with the bull rush. He was also able to invert that recipe, setting up the power move and deftly transitioning to the speed rush. He was kept out of the Hall of Fame for longer than necessary based on the myth that he was a one trick pony. Even if he was a one trick pony, he was pretty damned good at that one trick. But he was more than just a Sackmaster; he was a hustle player who would chase down backs across the field; he wasn’t Dave Wilcox against the run, but he held his own; he was also fine in coverage and would even play Mike on some downs. The NFLPA named him linebacker of the year three times, and the NEA gave him defensive player of the year honors in 1996—when he led the league in sacks as a 34 year old in his first year with a new team.

171. Steve Smith Sr. (2001-2016)
Wide Receiver
Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens

Casual fans often dismissed Steve Smith because of his height, but Smith was a bully on the field. ^[18]He was actually just a bully, full stop. During his career he got into a training camp fight with teammate Guilian Gary, then later broke teammate Anthony Bright’s orbital lobe, then later broke … Continue reading Smith relished a battle; only 5’9”, he rarely out-leaped opposing defenders, but his eagerness to outmuscle them made him one of the best in the game at making contested catches deep downfield. Similarly, the delight he took at playing through contact made him one of the best punt returners in the NFL, topping 1900 all-purpose yards in each of his first four healthy seasons before the team finally took him off special teams to save him for offense. His career statistics are gaudy, but they underrate his contribution because he consistently played on such run-heavy teams. He’s one of two receivers to enter the league since the dead ball era whose teams averaged fewer than 480 attempts per year. ^[19]Eric Martin is the other. When adjusted for team passing volume, his career (and his 2005 and 2008 seasons in particular) begins to look like a math mistake. Smith also played his best when the stakes were the highest, averaging 100 yards and a touchdown per game over eleven career playoff contests. ^[20]Thanks to my friend Adam Harstad for writing about Smith. A note from me: I love that Smith played bigger than his body and had the speed to be a deep threat, the open field moves to be a dangerous … Continue reading

170. Jared Allen (2004-2015)
Defensive End
Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers

Allen entered the league with little fanfare. He ended his career as one of the most remarkable defensive ends in NFL history. From 2005 to 2013, he averaged 13.3 sacks per 16 games. Allen had eight seasons with double digit sacks, finishing with 136 in his career; that’s good for 16th on the career list. He led league in sacks twice and fumble recoveries and tackles for loss once. His four safeties are an official record at any position. ^[21]Tied with Doug English, Ted Hendricks, and Justin Houston. Allen put consistent pressure on passers, even when he didn’t get the sack. And he was an above average run defender for most of his career. He excelled at getting his hands up to bat passes, particularly early in his career. A bootstraps type player, Allen was pure hustle and played with sound technique that allowed him to overcome relatively limited athletic talent. Late in his career, he probably played too many snaps and tended to wear down by the end of the season, and that is a double edged sword when judging a player. If he weren’t so good, they would have rotated him; if they had rotated him, he may have had more impact later in the season. Allen earned the NFL Alumni defensive lineman of the year award twice, and I named him the Deacon Award winner for best defensive end in 2007 and 2009.

169. Richard Seymour (2001-2012)
Defensive Line
New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders

Seymour joined the Patriots at the start of their first dynasty and immediately became one of the team’s best players. He won rookie of the year honors in 2001, and two years later produced one of the all time great seasons from a 3-4 end. With eight sacks and 10 pass deflections, as well as numerous pressures and plays made by allowing others to get the credit, Seymour had already become the best defensive lineman in the league. He was a run stopping force as an end in base and tackle in nickel, but he could also get after the passer when called upon. His 57.7 career sacks are not a reflection of his rushing prowess, but rather a reflection of his role within the defense and willing to sacrifice individual accolades for the glory of the team. Whether Belichick needed someone to play the role of disruptor or two-gapping anchor who freed other to make plays, ^[22]Back when teams actually employed two-gap in base. Seymour could do it at a high level. He would even play nose when needed and take a beating while his linebackers flew to the ball. He was a tall player with long arms that he’d use to control offensive linemen while he read the backfield. ^[23]His length also helped him block seven kicks in his career. Seymour was also a powerhouse and had underrated quickness. There were no real weaknesses to his game. Ultimately, he didn’t get the paycheck he desired and decided to walk away rather than play for less than he thought he was worth.

168. Aeneas Williams (1991-2004)
Cornerback
Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

Even with a name straight out of an epic saga, Williams didn’t stand out in a league that featured Neon Deion in his prime. That’s a shame, because he was a baller through and through who excelled at every aspect of the cornerback position. He was a ball hawk who scored on nine pick sixes and three fumble recoveries, but he was also a steady man cover artist and would often trail number one receivers and make them look silly. It just happened that he did it on mostly bad teams, while Sanders opted for the mercenary route. ^[24]That’s not a value judgment on Sanders. It was his career to treat as he pleased. Williams trained with track coaches to improve his straight line speed, but it was his football intelligence that allowed him to play faster. He knew the routes the offenses were using to attack him, and he knew how to position himself to defeat those attacks. His hand placement was impeccable, and he rarely seemed to miss with his press shots. And he tackled like a linebacker, in case you’re into complete players.  Williams was a great postseason player, but his presence on the cellar dwelling Cardinals meant he almost never made it to the big stage. In six postseason games, he had six picks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. A five time all pro, Williams earned the Prime Time Award in 1997.

167. Dan Fouts (1973-1987)
Quarterback
San Diego Chargers

Fouts was a tough, big-armed trigger man with good deep ball accuracy. The MFIC took big gashes out of defenses and had three seasons with over 8.5 yards per pass. He led the league in both yards per game and net yards per dropback six times apiece. In 1979, he set the single season record for passing yardage in a season with 4082. The next year, he broke the record, pushing the mark all the way out to 4715. The year after that, he set the record again, this time with 4802. In 1982, Fouts averaged 320.3 yards per game, which was easily the highest mark of his career. The strike (and the AP unbelievably giving their MVP award to a kicker) all but drove that performance out of public consciousness. However, his production over a full season would have made him the first passer to eclipse 5000 yards. Our cultural obsession with round numbers would have enhanced his legend. I named him the Sweetness Award winner for 1979 and the Slinger and Automatic Award winner for his outlandish 1982 campaign. ^[25]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Fouts ranks 15th in VAL (8141) and 13th in TAYP+ (111.4).

166. Ben Roethlisberger (2004-present)
Quarterback
Pittsburgh Steelers

Early in his career, Big Ben played on run oriented teams that depressed his volume totals. By the time the Steelers began to lean into his ability to dominate games, he had already unfairly earned a reputation as a game manager. That’s an especially odd designation in Roethlisberger’s case, given that it normally applies to high percentage, short yardage passers who just try not to lose the game. He was not that. While he didn’t throw that many passes as a young man on veteran teams, he was a big play waiting to happen whenever they put the ball in his hands. He took too many sacks early on, but that is partly a byproduct of the passing game relying on him to make something happen in an uninventive passing scheme with few receivers who could get open consistently. A big guy who is hard to bring down, he could have taken quite a few more sacks than he did. The end is nigh, but Roethlisberger has been an aggressive passer who would fit in perfectly on the great Steelers or Raiders teams of the seventies. He hasn’t been particularly great in the playoffs, so it’s hard to point to his pair of rings as a reason for such a lofty ranking. Instead it is his play over the full course of his career—which has helped his teams reach the postseason in the first place—that earns him this spot on the list. ^[26]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Roethlisberger ranks 20th in VAL (6901) and 26th in TAYP+ (109.3).

165. Bart Starr (1956-1971)
Quarterback
Green Bay Packers

Starr is perhaps most known for his fistful of championship rings and the fact that an NFL man of the year type award bears his name. Those two things are related. The character and leadership that led others to name an award after him also inspire the men around him to fight harder. Without Starr, the Lombardi Packers are a perennial contender. But they’re not a dynasty. He was respected and loved by teammates in a way that few, if any, have ever achieved. You could tell listening to them talk about him or reading their interviews that they would have taken a bullet for him; playing hard for him, then, was not even optional. It was automatic. As a player, Starr was an accurate passer who took deep shots down the field and played at his best when the stakes were the highest. ^[27]Starr had 221 plays in the postseason, which is just shy of the official 224 cutoff the NFL uses for rate stats. In those 221 plays, he produced 1939 Total Adjusted Yards, good for 8.77 TAY/P. That … Continue reading Many point to the strength of his running game and his relatively low volume and call him a glorified game manager. However, when you watch the games under Starr, the Packers would often rely on his arm to build an early lead and then use the famous ground game to secure the lead. Then, as today, if you’re giving credit to running backs, you’re pointing the arrow in the wrong direction. ^[28]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Starr ranks 28th in VAL (4718) and 38th in TAYP+ (106.7).

164. Cortez Kennedy (1990-2000)
Defensive Tackle
Seattle Seahawks

Early in his career, Kennedy was a dominant force. He was a rock against the run and could penetrate like a needle injecting pain into the offense. In 1992, he took home defensive player of the year honors for his incredible work against the pass and run (14 sacks and 14 tackles in the backfield on running plays). I named him the winner of both the Mean Award and Godzilla Award for DPOY that season. Tez had a low center of gravity (and there was quite a bit of gravity) and was like a wrecking ball smashing into overmatched offensive linemen. He didn’t have the support around him that many greats at the position did, but he managed to get himself noticed anyway, earning all pro selections in five seasons. Too much mileage caused him to slow down later on, but at his peak, he was dynamite.

163. Nick Mangold (2006-2016)
Offensive Center
New York Jets

A mauler at a position that usually features leaner, quick guys, Mangold had the dominant run blocking skills to ragdoll nose tackles and clear big lanes for Jets ball carriers. He could make the tough reach blocks the slimmer centers could make, but he could also physically impose his will on defenders in a way his contemporaries simply could not. In fact, he often solo blocked in situations most centers would get help, and he still did his tougher job better than they did their easier job. And he managed to do it without putting his offense behind with penalties. With good athleticism and elite awareness, Mangold excelled blocking at the second level and picking off scraping backers. Tasked with protecting a lineup of oblivious quarterbacks, he became a king without a crown. He was far and away the best center of his generation but remained relatively anonymous because of the embarrassing quality of his offenses. Mangold earned the Iron Award each year from 2008 to 2010, as well as 2014.

162. Dan Hampton (1979-1990)
Defensive Line
Chicago Bears

Hampton played end and tackle, but his peak performance came primarily as a devastating interior defender. He was a key figure in one of the great defensive dynasties in modern history, one that excelled by putting pressure on opposing offenses. Hampton, Dent, and Mongo made life easier on each other, as well as on their playmaking secondary and linebacking corps. He was great in his own right but also made those around him better, and the multiplying effect of his presence; playing nose tackle in base, he anchored the entire defense, providing them the ability to bring pressure from anywhere and maintain coverage responsibilities. The Danimal played chaotically, seeking to destroy anything in his path, and he never seemed to get tired. He had incredible power and good mobility for his size. Like Seymour, Hampton could anchor or penetrate—essentially, he could do anything a defensive coordinator could dream up. He earned the Mean Award and Pro Football Weekly’s DPOY award for his masterclass in defensive line play in 1982.

161. Bryant Young (1994-2007)
Defensive Line
San Francisco 49ers

Young spent much of his career overshadowed by pass rushing tackles like Sapp, but his more complete skill set made him a more valuable player. Also, he only finished his career seven sacks shy of the Hall of Famer while besting him by 13 more tackles for loss in the run game. While the famous player got to play under most of the time and focus on penetrating, Young often had to play nose and sacrifice stats for others to make plays. Had he played 3-tech his entire career, he would likely have over 100 sacks to his name. Young had impressive upper body strength that he used to hold up blockers, while he read and reacted to the play in the backfield. He had a strong base and could gobble up double teams buffet style. That skill alone would make him a valuable Aaron Smith type player. But Young was also a quick penetrator when the defense asked him to be and could get into the backfield to disrupt the play. He was a high energy guy and was as technically sound as they come. ^[29]I gave him the Mean, Godzilla, and World awards for his dominant performance in 1996.

160. Shannon Sharpe (1990-2003)
Tight End
Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens

More a descendent from Winslow than from Mackey, Sharpe was not going to consistently set the edge in the run game, nor was he going to find himself one on one in pass pro in many situations. However, he wasn’t as bad at it as the popular narrative would have us believe. He wasn’t Russ Francis, but he was an adequate blocker who put in full effort on every play and didn’t shy away from it. But if the coach was keeping him in to block too much, he was wasting Sharpe’s best skill. During his career, he was peerless as a receiving tight end. He could line up inside or in the slot and beat whomever was tasked with covering him, and he was particularly adept at play between the 20s, helping his teams move from their own territory into scoring position. Post career, he was often cited for his braggadocio, but no matter how hard he talked, he played even harder. It’s fair to say Sharpe refused to let anyone outwork him on a given play. He earned the Gonzo Award for best tight end in 1993 and each season from 1996-1998.  ^[30]Sharpe ranks 58th in career TRY (11652). His top TRY seasons: 1278, 1271, 1249, 1151, 1038, 965, 956, 870, 754, 697, 689.

159. Dave Casper (1974-1984)
Tight End
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings

A former college tackle, Casper became one of the finest blocking tight ends the league has ever seen (after taking his lumps early on and figuring out the pro game isn’t the same as playing with teenagers). As a receiver, he was similar to Witten in his relative lack of athleticism but abundance of savvy. He seemed to have a natural feel for how to get open and move the sticks. Casper was a star in two of the most famous plays in NFL history, recovering the fumble in the infamous Holy Roller and playing the part of the Ghost in the Ghost to the Post. But he was so much more than a few NFL Films highlights. Casper was a top flight receiving option whose stats look pedestrian today because of the era in which he played. He was an exceptional red zone threat, and he was a punishing blocker who could neutralize an end in pass pro or cut off his man in the ground game. He was the best tight end in the league in 1976 and 1978, earning Gonzo Awards for each season. ^[31]Casper ranks 178th in career TRY (7852). His top TRY seasons: 1254, 1202, 1181, 1090, 930, 807, 766.

158. Antonio Gates (2003-2018)
Tight End
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

When Gates entered the league as an undrafted free agent, expectations were low. An elite athlete with incredible spatial awareness and control over his body, a season to learn the game at the NFL level was all he needed to establish himself as the best in the world. With his ability to kill defenses from the slot or running down the seam, get open deep or turn short passes into big gains, he was reminiscent of Charger legend Kellen Winslow. Often contrasted against contemporary Jason Witten—the real tight end—throughout his career, many noted that he simply couldn’t block and that the Dallas star was superior. However, while Gates wasn’t a blocker, his big play receiving ability dictated defenses in a way Witten never could. Sure, he couldn’t block down on an end, but his presence on the field could make defensive coordinators take a man out of the box, which is probably even more important for team rushing success. A devastating red zone threat, 93 of his positional record 116 touchdowns came from the twenty or closer. I named h8im the Gonzo winner in 2005, 2006, and 2009. ^[32]Gates ranks 30th in career TRY (14076). His top TRY seasons: 1375, 1361, 1249, 1236, 1185, 1011, 973, 926, 910, 837, 649, 627, 619.

157. Kenny Easley (1981-1987)
Safety
Seattle Seahawks

Easley was the total package. He is among the most naturally gifted athletes ever to play the position. Blessed with elite speed, great length, and an explosive shoulder, he had the athletic ability to do anything his mind could imagine. Easley got by on that alone for the first year of his career, but by 1982, he had mastered the mental aspect of the safety position and rivaled Lott as the best safety in the game. He had good range and great instincts, similar to a faster Polamalu, and he was a vicious hitter. Seemingly always near the ball, the ballhawking Easley was a human highlight reel. In coverage, he had to contend with guys like Winslow and Christensen twice per season and still managed to look great. I named him the Godzilla winner for his 1984 performance when he had 10 picks and a pair of touchdowns, and I graded him as the best safety in the league every year from 1982-1984. Sadly, his career ended prematurely on account of kidney problems stemming from overuse of Ibuprofen, which was handed out like candy in the Seattle locker room.

156. Dermontti Dawson (1988-2000)
Offensive Center
Pittsburgh Steelers

Dawson began as a guard but didn’t take long to establish himself as the best center in the league. He was a great athlete with a good initial pop that hit defenders like an electric shock. He fired out of his stance and drove bigger defenders out of the way, and he could track linebackers and even safeties with ease. An active powerlifter, Dawson possessed unnatural physical power that was only amplified by his technical prowess and allowed him to neutralize shade tackles without help. His ability to pull from the center position gave the Steelers schematic options other teams didn’t have at the time. His lateral mobility allowed him to stay with the quick pass rushers, and he was savvy in blitz pickup. The NFL Alumni named him the best offensive lineman in the league in 1996. He was a fist team all pro selection six times, and he earned the Iron Award five times from 1992-1997.

155. Ron Yary (1968-1982)
Offensive Tackle
Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams

Yary was similar to Shell in many respects—a dominant run blocker who could seemingly move the very foundations of the earth. What separates him from the Raiders great is that he had the same level of outcomes but on more difficult tasks. He had tough run blocking assignments for most of his career, and dominated regardless. As a right tackle, he faced better pass rushers, and he tended to be successful against them, even when blocking for a scrambling maniac who made life hard on him. ^[33]People often talk about Shell dominating Marshall, but few discuss Yary doing the same thing to the Deacon himself in just his first year as a starter. While Yary didn’t embarrass defenders in pass pro the way Shell did, he held them to draws at a higher rate, which looks less impressive but is more valuable to an offense. He had an incredibly powerful upper body and good feel for leverage that enabled him to have his way with linemen in the run game, and his length and athleticism helped him fend off pass rushers. The NFLPA voted him the NFC offensive lineman of the year each season from 1973-1975. He won the Football Digest top lineman award in 1973, the Forrest Gregg Award for Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1974, and the National 1000 Yard Club Outstanding Blocker of the Year award in 1975. I named him the Guard Award winner in 1971, 1973, and 1975.

154. Bill Willis (1946-1953)
Middle Guard
Cleveland Browns

As a middle in a five man front, Willis was sort of a nose tackle/middle linebacker hybrid and could be called the AAFC’s best inside linebacker all four years or the best defensive tackle thrice, depending on how you apply modern terms to old school football. Fast and unbelievably quick, Willis was much more athletic than the men he was facing. He would often run right by them off the snap or beat them with some fancy footwork. In fact, he was so fast over the line that he was often accused of jumping offside. But he wasn’t jumping the gun—he was the bullet. His ability to defeat centers with lightning speed caused them to change the way they lined up and snapped the ball. When he wasn’t hauling ass into the backfield, he could also deliver a nasty forearm shiver to get a blocker off balance. if the play called for it, he had the sideline to sideline range of an elite middle linebacker. Willis also had the speed and instincts to play in coverage and was particularly effective when Len Ford joined the team and had quarterbacks running for their lives. He won five titles and played on defenses that ranked first in points allowed six times and second twice during his eight year career ^[34]The defense remained great when he left, ranking first the next four seasons and inside the top fiver the seven years after that. His stellar play earned him a spot on an all pro team every season he played. He was a defensive player of the year contender in 1950, 1952, and 1953. Willis did all this despite having to deal with racist taunts from mouth breathing opponents and dimwitted fans alike. ^[35]As a criticism, Willis could occasionally get overpowered on inside runs and was susceptible to traps, but he won his plays more than he lost.

153. James Lofton (1978-1993)
Wide Receiver
Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams

Lofton was the rare receiver who was a deep burner who also happened to catch a ton of passes. The result was legendary speedster retiring as the career leader in receiving yards. He didn’t play for great teams until he was 33, but he produced regardless. He was most productive from 1980-1985, when he averaged 1264 yards per 16 games at a whopping 19.2 yards per reception. Given the way the league had begun adopting shorter passes into offenses, his AFL style big play threat was all the more remarkable. Lofton was tall and smooth, but he was also skilled in the nuances of the position. His mastery of his craft meant he didn’t lose his big play ability as age slowly drained his speed. From ages 31-35, he averaged 20 yards per catch. Lofton played well in the postseason, despite the fact that he was well past his prime in all but one playoff appearance. His first seven playoff games with the Bills came from ages 33-35 and saw him gain 526 yards and five touchdowns. The six time all pro rarely seems to come up in best of lists, despite very clearly being one of the top receivers in history. ^[36]Lofton ranks 7th in career TRY (17008). His top TRY seasons: 1592, 1470, 1413, 1402, 1350, 1273, 1229, 1199, 1095, 1087, 1043, 977.

152. Dave Wilcox (1964-1974)
Linebacker
San Francisco 49ers

Wilcox was a man Dr. Z wouldn’t stop raving about until fellow voters finally relented to put him in the Hall of Fame. He is probably the best ever at shutting down runs to the outside. Setting the edge like no one else could, Wilcox at times seemed unblockable. He always seemed to know where the blockers were coming from and avoiding getting hooked. With huge triceps and peerless upper body strength, he overpowered opponents. And he had to be attacked by a lineman, because skills players just weren’t skilled enough to handle him. Wilcox’s particular talents are out of vogue these days, as strongside backers don’t have as much a place against the high flying attack of modern offenses. But in his day, he was the best at the very important—but often overlooked—skill of erasing runs to his side of the field. He could also dog the passer and was adequate in coverage. Big Dave was a textbook open field tackler who happened to hit like a freight train. He didn’t go for the knockout shot; it’s just that he was so powerful that all his hits were big hits. Despite making an all pro first or second team in eight different seasons, he still had to wait thirty years to make it into the Hall of Fame. ^[37]I named Wilcox the Dobre Shunka winner for his work in 1972 and 1973.

151. Lenny Moore (1956-1967)
Running Back
Baltimore Colts

Moore could have made the Hall of Fame purely as a runner or purely as a receiver. Instead, he made it as the ultimate dual threat back. He retired with over 5000 rushing yards and 6000 receiving yards, a feat that only Marshall Faulk has matched. Both elusive and fast, he led the NFL in yards per carry four times, with three seasons over 7.0. Moore also had six seasons with at least 15 yards per catch, including three over 18. Simply put, he was a game changer with explosive ability. A prolific scorer, he once scored a touchdown in 18 consecutive games and retired trailing only Jim Brown in career trips to the end zone. Moore is the only player with 40 scores on the ground and through the air. His great balance allowed him to slide off a big hit, land on one foot, reach top speed by his next step, and put points on the board before the defenders could get up from their missed tackles. In 1964, he earned the NEA’s MVP award. I named him the best running back and offensive player of the year in 1957 and 1958. The latter year, I also named him the World winner for most outstanding player on the heels of a season in which he gained 7.3 yards per carry and 18.8 yards per catch, ^[38]Leading the league in yards per touch the third of six times in his career. scored 14 touchdowns, and picked up 128 yards per game.

150. Ken Houston (1967-1980)
Safety
Washington, Houston Oilers

With 12 Pro Bowl selections to his name, Houston has the most of any safety. A common criticism is that, despite his abundance of Pro Bowl nods, he was only an all pro twice. That belief is anchored in bias toward the Associated Press’s all pro team, which is not the NFL’s official all star team, despite being the most popular. While the AP honored him with a first team nod in 1975 and 1978, other major publications named him their first team safety in 1969, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978; and he earned a place on the second team in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1979. ^[39]I also named him the Tunnell Vision winner in 1971. To simplify: Houston found his name on a first or second team all pro list from a major awarding body for twelve consecutive seasons beginning in 1968 (or in all but his first and last years). Put some respect on the man’s name. He was tall and long, and he had just enough speed to be a good ball hawk. Only Shell (52) surpassed his 49 interceptions as a strong safety. He forced a slew of fumbles, and he was great at deflecting passes with his long arms. Houston was dangerous with the ball in his hands after a pick, with 898 return yards and nine touchdowns. He was not a great tackler but was a big hitter. Unfortunately those big hits too often led to big whiffs. Regardless, his all around play was good enough to forgive the mistakes, and no player has ever been without flaws. ^[40]Maybe one day I will get into the discussion on the NFL’s Untouchables—the players you aren’t allowed to criticize, even with valid claims.