This marks the penultimate section of the Grand List, or: the top 1000 players in pro football history (or something like that). Keep in mind, of course, that I have purposely excluded the 2020 season because I began publishing the list before the season started. It feels a little silly to write as though the past season didn’t happen, but I don’t think it would be fair to count a season for higher ranked players that I didn’t include for lower ranked players. Today’s section covers players 50 through 21, and the top 20 will follow when I get around to it. This range includes many players often considered the greatest of all time at their respective positions, a few modern players who are probably higher here than they appear on most lists, and the last of the premodern stars. I have little doubt everyone who reads will be in complete agreement with these choices.

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.
The Grand List, part 21: Includes players 199-150.
The Grand List, part 22: Includes players 149-101.
The Grand List, part 23: Includes players 100-51.

We’re almost there.

The Grand List, continued

50. Bruce Matthews (1983-2001)
Offensive Line
Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans

Throughout his 19-season career, Matthews proved to be an incredibly versatile lineman. He played all five positions on the offensive line, starting 39 games at tackle, 87 at center, and 167 at guard. He didn’t just start; he starred. Proving he was more than just a guy who could fill in at a position, Matthews earned Pro Bowl and all pro honors at all three positions on the offensive interior, and his 14 total trips to the all star game are tied for the most among all players. In addition to his versatility, Matthews was also remarkably durable. At the time he retired, he had started more games than any player in history, and his 293 mark currently trails only Brett Favre‘s 298. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Matthews’s long and distinguished career is that it took place during the most significant explosion in defensive line size in modern history. He began his career in 1983, while specialization didn’t become pronounced at a modern level until around 1993. That means he entered the league playing against opponents who averaged about 260 pounds, and he excelled against them. When he was forty years old, his average matchup on the interior came against opponents who averaged about 290 pounds (but were still just as quick and fast). Matthews was able to deftly span eras without losing any effectiveness.

The three biggest reasons for that are his natural athleticism, his high football IQ, and his attention to the little things. As a young man, he had great mobility and was a plus blocker in the open field. He could pull and trap in the run game, and he could slide smoothly into position in pass pro. His frame allowed him to add a little more muscle as the league got bigger around him, and he was able to do that without sacrificing much of his hallmark agility. Elite football brains have allowed many players to keep earning reps after their bodies have slowed down. Late in his career, his understanding of every assignment on the offense, as well as the way defenses match up against different schemes, kept him on the field and playing well against a new generation of opponents. In many ways, technique goes hand in hand with football IQ, but I have chosen to look at them separately. In the case of Matthews, it was the refined skill and focus on doing things the right way, every time, that allowed him to win his matchups with such frequency. He didn’t make the highlight reel blocks that make linemen famous, but he was consistent and rarely made mistakes. I’ll take that over a swing and a miss all day. ^[1]I named Matthews the Hog Award winner for best guard each season from 1988-1990.

49. Jack Lambert (1974-1984)
Linebacker
Pittsburgh Steelers

The fierce Lambert was an imposing figure who loved lining up right in front of quarterbacks prior to the snap in order to strike fear into their hearts. Despite his legacy of intimidation, it was his ability to both gracefully navigate traffic to make plays on ball carriers and swiftly drop into coverage that stand out on tape. He is among the greatest cover men ever to play middle linebacker, and he changed the way the position is played, manning the hole between the two deep zones in Bud Carson’s Cover-2 defense. Lambert was simply capable of covering deeper than other linebackers. In a way, he was like Urlacher if the Bear was sound against the run. Tall, lean, and mean as a snake on the field, he was a hard hitter who looked to separate the ball from its carrier with each hit. But he wasn’t just a head shot artist; he was a sure tackler who usually won his one on one matchups with backs. In addition to his excellence in coverage and soundness against the run, Lambert was a playmaker who retired with 28 interceptions, 23 sacks, and 17 fumble recoveries. With his ability to stymie opposing passing attacks and create big plays, Lambert was a key cog in the Steel Curtain’s defensive destruction machine that brought four Super Bowl titles to Pittsburgh.

Most people tend to have Lambert ranked in the top three among middle linebackers, and many lists feature him in the top forty players in history. I considered putting him a big higher, but he played behind a man many consider the greatest DT in history, an end many believe should be in the Hall of Fame, and two other very good linemen. He also lined up between arguably the greatest off-ball outside linebacker ever and a perennial all star. He played with two Hall of Fame defensive backs and a number of very good ones. Lambert shined on film and has great testimonials from teammates and opponents alike, but the level of talent around him makes me hesitant to rank him higher on the list. Don’t take that to mean I don’t admire his play (a 49 ranking is pretty high, all things considered). I gave him the Enforcer Award for best middle linebacker in 1976 and each season from 1980-1983. I also named him the Godzilla and World award winner for defensive player of the year and most outstanding player in 1976. With his placement here, he can be considered the first member of Middle Linebacker Rushmore to appear on the list.

48. Joe Schmidt (1953-1965)
Linebacker
Detroit Lions

Often, when I can’t decide between two players at a position, or if I tend to go back and forth on them, I will just rank them back to back. Lambert and Schmidt are two such player. I tend to have Schmidt and Lambert rated about evenly, and I often flip them depending on the direction of the wind that day; today, it’s blowing toward Schmidt. On a Detroit Lions defensive dynasty full of star defenders, Schmidt was the man they considered their leader. He earned a first-team all pro selection every season from 1954-63, and he was the defensive captain for nine years. He was named the Associated Press NFL Lineman of the Year in both 1956 and 1957. On top of that, players voted him the league’s most valuable defensive player in 1960. ^[2]I gave Schmidt the Enforcer Award for 1954, 1957-1958, and 1960-1962. I also gave him the Godzilla Award in 1960 and the World Award in 1961. While Bill George may have been first to star at MLB, Schmidt took the position to another level. He was a brilliant tactician who understood offensive football and how to combat it. He often countered quarterback calls with his own adjustments, and he saw plays coming with the acumen of a chess master. Similar to the Ray Lewis of his day, he was a great athlete who had sideline to sideline range against the run and short passes. And once he was in range, the tackle was as good as made. With great upper body power, he could swat away blockers in traffic and find his man, and he always went for the sure tackle, despite being a hard hitter. That sort of thing doesn’t make the highlight reels, but it gets the job done.

The thing that stood out the most when watching Schmidt was his ability against the pass. The passing game was still on the archaic side during his career, but the deeper shots meant players had to cover a lot of ground in man. He wasn’t very tall for a linebacker, but his instincts and speed got him in position to effectively erase the receivers in his coverage. Few in history have had the ability to completely negate the run all day long and drop back to steal the ball out of the air quite like Schmidt did. When not helping in coverage, he was dogging the passer, and he did so excellently. We don’t have solid records that far back, but research shows he had a good number of sacks for a linebacker in a low-passing environment. He threw in 24 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries as a menace who was always around the ball. Schmidt also seemed to play better late in games. Part of that I chalk up to his economy of motion. He was smart and efficient player who didn’t seem to waste movement that often. Turn on film from the pre-merger era, and you are likely to see quite a few defenders who just run around like recently decapitated chickens without actually doing anything. Schmidt wasn’t one of those guys.

47. Charles Woodson (1998-2015)
Defensive Back
Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers

As a fourth-overall draft choice and the only primarily defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Woodson had sky-high expectations entering the league. He more than lived up to the challenge over an 18-year, 271 game career that saw him intercept 66 passes, force 33 fumbles, recover 18 fumbles, take down quarterbacks 20 times, and score 13 defensive touchdowns. ^[3]Adjusting for era, he and Reed have more career adjusted interceptions than any players in history. Those numbers support the claim that Woodson is among the top playmakers in NFL history. Woodson was a gifted athlete, but he honed his technique to such perfection that he was able to excel in a variety of roles well after he’d lost a step physically. He was rarely beaten in man coverage, despite often facing top receivers early on. He could play aggressive press man or silky smooth off coverage. And he was equally adept as a zone defender, where his instincts and tackling ability served him well. Had he found his way onto a Dungy-led defense, he could have been the greatest cover-2 corner in history. His ability to cover both outside and in the slot is well-known. Whether playing big tight ends split out or shifty little slot specialists, Woodson stood century over the slot and allowed none to pass.

Injuries spurred some lackluster play in the middle of his career, but he got a fresh start in Green Bay and revitalized his career. ^[4]It’s hard to knock him too much for a few mediocre seasons when he produced so many excellent seasons at a position known for inconsistency. Many of the revered players at the position had … Continue reading Serving as a starting nickelback in 2009, he led the league in interceptions and return touchdowns, forced four fumbles, and notched two sacks on his way to a defensive player of the year award. As a tackler, he was so effective that he was able to, in effect, serve as a de facto outside linebacker. Woodson had the range and instincts to play safety as well, which he did with aplomb during the latter part of his career. If he was needed to play deep zone, he could do that. Then he could step up in run support as a box defender on the next play. He was the consummate playmaker and may be the most well-rounded of all cornerbacks ever to grace the field. ^[5]I gave Woodson the Prime Time Award for best cornerback in 2000 and shortlisted him in several other seasons. I didn’t name him the DPOY in 2009 like most did, but that is only because Revis … Continue reading

46. Tony Gonzalez (1997-2013)
Tight End
Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons

Each year, I give the Gonzo Award to the league’s best tight end. ^[6]Somehow, no one has ever picked one up, and now I have a closet full of these things. Gonzo, of course, is term of endearment bestowed upon Gonzalez, the most prolific tight end in NFL history. It is fitting, then, that no other player has earned as many of his namesake award as he has, with six. ^[7]That’s 1999-2001, 2003-2004, and 2008. Gonzalez is yet another in a storied line of evolutionary players at the position. He was a successful collegiate basketball player and used many of those skills to thrive in the NFL. In particular, Gonzalez was adept at boxing out defenders in order to make easier catches. He also put his rebounding skills to work, using his excellent body control and concentration to high point the ball and snatch it out of the air, often in heavy traffic. He was also a smooth route runner at a time when tight ends weren’t exactly known for their grace. And while he wasn’t exactly Ed West, he was a decent enough blocker who put in the work and didn’t just eschew the responsibility because he wasn’t great at it. He worked hard to improve in the area, and it paid off. None of this would have made much difference if he couldn’t catch. But, boy, could he catch. Among all eligible receivers ever to step foot on the field, Gonzo’s hands compare favorably with anyone’s. Those hands also held onto the football once he was in possession. He fumbled three times in 1998 and two more times in 1999. After that, he only fumbled one more time in 14 seasons.

Despite heavy usage as his team’s primary receiving threat for most of his career, Gonzalez’s impeccable conditioning provided him with unrivaled longevity. He set the statistical lead at his position by a country mile, and he didn’t just do it by compiling in a slow and steady manner. He was steady, but he was anything but slow. Gonzalez led tight ends in receiving yardage in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008. He ranked second in 2005 and 2006. He ranked third in 2002 and 2012. And he ranked fourth in 2011 and 2013, at ages 35 and 37. By the time he retired, he ranked second in receptions (behind only Rice), fifth in receiving yards (Rice, Owens, Moss, Bruce), sixth in receiving touchdowns (Rice, Moss, Owens, Carter, Harrison), and second in receiving first downs (Rice). In every major category, Gonzalez trailed either just Jerry Rice, or Rice and a few Hall of Fame wideouts. Those numbers would cement a player’s legacy as a wide receiver. To do it as a tight end is a remarkable achievement.

45. J.J. Watt (2011-present)
Defensive End
Houston Texans

Few defenders can claim that they were ever the very best in the league when they played. From 2012 to 2014, Watt wasn’t just the best defender in the league; he was the most outstanding player at any position. I named him the World Award winner in each of those seasons. He earned defensive player of the year honors in 2012, 2014, and 2015. That timeframe may be considered his peak. During that time, Watt averaged 17.3 sacks, 95.3 pressures, four forced fumbles, and 10 pass deflections per season. That includes an astonishing 119 pressures in 2014. I gave him the Deacon Award in each of his DPOY seasons, and I gave him the Mean Award for best defensive tackle in 2013, based on his production as a 3-tech in nickel situations (i.e., most situations). Whether playing as a pure edge rusher, a one-gap 30 end, or under tackle, he was unstoppable during his stretch as the league’s top guy.

He has been an effective edge rusher as a defensive end, but he is a truly magnificent interior penetrator when he sinks to play defensive tackle in nickel situations. He joins Deacon Jones as the only players with multiple seasons of at least 20 sacks, and his ability to understand when to stop rushing and, instead, focus on batting passes at the line is the stuff of legend. Watt set himself apart as a pass rusher while also making his mark as arguably the best run-stopping defensive end in football, an oft-overlooked aspect of his game. Before injury, his play rivaled the very best of the Minister or the Deacon, but without any of their weaknesses (yes, even the best had weaknesses). Even after injury robbed him of his explosion and some of his power, he has played at an all pro level. Let that sink in: Watt was so good that the shell of his former self remains an all pro caliber defender. That is because he remains a relentless player who seems to consider the idea of taking a play off as pure blasphemy, and he maintains good technique that has allowed him to succeed despite a body that has tried to fail him for years. The human brain is a ridiculous thing, and it is prone to copious biases. One of those is recency bias. It is easy to watch the current version of Watt and think of him as a very good defender and leave it at that. If this is happening to you, do yourself a favor and watch some Houston games from 2012-2015. They’re easy to find.

I have studied all the greats from Ford to White, from Peppers to Campbell. Watt has the highest peak of any defensive end I have ever seen.

44. Aaron Donald (2014-present)
Defensive Tackle
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

It seems it isn’t a matter of if, but when Donald will rise to the top of his position. With each passing season as a destroyer of worlds, the evidence becomes stronger and stronger, pointing to one thing: Donald is the best defensive tackle in history. He doesn’t have the number of quality seasons under his belt as the four I generally refer to as “Defensive Tackle Rushmore,” but he has proven to be the best in the world at what he does from the very first game of his career. He has never had a down year, and he has dominated in the most competitive era of professional football and during a time when many have complained that rules are making things too easy for offenses. ^[8]Never mind the fact that only the very best offenses in history have managed to score on half of their drives and, for the average offense, there is only about a 50% chance of picking up two first … Continue reading If you rank every great player at his position by their X best seasons, with X being the number of total seasons in Donald’s career, you would, by necessity, have to include every year of his career. For players with longer careers, you would have the luxury of picking and choosing to find their X best seasons. I believe, even after cherry picking, Donald would still come out on top.

In terms of the awards I give, his dominance is unprecedented. He has taken the Mean Award in every season of his career. He has taken the World Award four times and the Godzilla Award twice. ^[9]Through 2019, that is. I can’t wait to update all of these statements in just a few months. Many players have dominated their position groups, but very few have done it in the salary cap era, and fewer have laid claim to the title of best player in the league, irrespective of position, at a rate anywhere near his. The ways in which Donald dominates are both deep and wide. He wins with technique: He boasts the most diversified portfolio of hand moves I have ever seen from a tackle, and his footwork is impeccable. His swim and rip moves are phenomenal. Being on the short side, his leverage is naturally sound, but he plays low anyway, which augments his power. Speaking of which, he wins with power too: He has heavy hands that he uses to pop blockers and get them off balance. He gets under their pads and can use his lower body strength to put them on skates. He wins with speed: He sports one of the best first steps of any tackle ever, ^[10]His only competition, really, are Page and Sam Adams. and he has the reactions of a dragonfly. He wins with brains: He has an innate sense of how the offense is trying to block him, and he can counter it with relative ease. Donald strings together moves in sequence so well that you’d think the play was a choreographed dance designed to make him look like a star. From 2014-2019, he leads all players in tackles for loss, and only Chandler Jones has more sacks. Donald’s pass rushing prowess is such that we have to compare him with edge rushers, because he is quite literally peerless as an interior defender. He is the best inside penetrator the league has ever seen, and he does it in an era when both regulatory and schematic changes have made that more difficult than ever.

43. Rob Gronkowski (2010-2018)
Tight End
New England Patriots

Gronk is a terrific blocker, in the mold of Dave Casper and Mark Bavaro before him. His ability to control the edge of the line makes one believe he could be a backup right tackle if he really wanted to. Many even believe he is the best blocking tight end ever (those people tend to be pretty young and haven’t even heard of Hoby Brenner, so we can forgive them for their hyperbole). I don’t think that is true, but he is certainly in the running for best blocker among tight ends who were also great receivers. However, blocking isn’t what will one day earn him in a gold jacket. He has been an utterly dominant receiver, even though he came into the league with back problems and has never been close 100% as a pro. Despite missing 26 regular season games in his first eight seasons, he ranks third among all players in receiving touchdowns through age 28. No tight end in history has more seasons with over 1000 yards or 10 touchdowns. ^[11]Through 2019, remember.

His peak lasted seven years, from 2011 to 2017. Over that time, he missed his share of games. But his per 16 game averages over that span are 80 catches for 1234 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 62 first downs. And he averaged 15.4 yards per reception. That average is higher than many speedy deep threat receivers of his era. And he is an animal after the catch, throwing defenders to the ground like Mackey or Bavaro. His ability to line up wide, in the slot, or in line and get open, hook and end, or block downfield gave the patriots incredible schematic versatility. Gronk has a measurable impact on his offense’s productivity and is the greatest postseason performer in the history of the position. He earned the World Award for his outlandish performance in 2011. I gave him the Gonzo Award in 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2017. Basically, if he could manage to play at least 14 games, he was the clear best tight end in the league. He may lack the longevity for many to consider him the greatest of all time, but he is almost certainly the best.

42. Lance Alworth (1962-1972)
Wide Receiver
San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys

Bambi was the most feared offensive weapon in the AFL. He had arguably the most dominant peak of any receiver in history, with five straight seasons of at least 91.8 receiving yards per game. His numbers didn’t even make sense in his era, and they appeared even more impressive because his peak was followed by the Dead Ball Era, which featured paltry passing and receiving numbers during an ebb in offensive production. (That many still refer to the seventies as the halcyon days of pro football is a testament to the power of nostalgia. And the Sabols.) Bambi led the AFL in catches, yards, and touchdowns three times apiece and maintained a receiving average of 18.9 yards over the course of his career. These accomplishments earned him seven consensus all pro selections in his first eight seasons. But those weren’t his only honors. He earned AP MVP votes in four seasons, which is rare for a wide receiver. The UPI named him their MVP in 1963, and he earned player of the year selections from the Washington DC Touchdown Club or Columbus Touchdown Club each year from 1967-1969. I gave him the World Award in 1963 and the Sweetness Award for offensive player of the year in 1965. Throw in four of his eponymous awards for best wide receiver, and he is among the most decorated players ever to play the position.

Alworth was the among fastest of his era, and he could blow by defenders in a heartbeat. But he wasn’t just a speed demon. He ran good routes and displayed rare economy of energy, rarely wasting a step to get open. He played with the grace of Baryshnikov, but lost in the narrative of all of his grace is that he also leapt like Polunin. Alworth was a greedy receiver who relished jumping over defensive backs to make contested catches. And despite his reputation as a pure speed burner, Alworth had the toughness and soft hands to be a possession receiver. Because of this, he was able to gain huge chunks of yardage and haul in a ton of passes. During his peak (1963-1969), his per 16 game average of 78 catches for 1522 yards and 13 touchdowns would make him a regular member of all pro teams in the modern game. People don’t discuss it much, and his nickname doesn’t exactly bolster the notion, but Alworth was a willing and able blocker who took pride in sticking his nose into the scrum and helping a back get a little closer to the end zone. He’d rank a little higher had he replicated his career against better competition, but he remains a Rushmore level receiver to me.

41. Jack Ham (1971-1982)
Linebacker
Pittsburgh Steelers

Affectionately called Dobre Shunka, or Good Ham, the Steelers legend is among the brightest players ever to grace the linebacker position. He diagnosed plays seemingly with ease and had the athletic capacity to follow up on the diagnoses. While he was undersized, he was quick and able to play faster because of his rare football smarts. This gave him terrific range against both the pass and run. When he got to a runner, he made form tackles and broke down in a way that made him hard to juke. That made him an asset in the open field, adept at winning one on one matchups with even the shiftiest backs. Linebackers in Bud Carson’s defense had significant coverage responsibilities, and Ham was often tasked with taking tight ends in man coverage. His ability to eliminate much bigger tight ends from the passing game was a vital component of the Steel Curtain dynasty (tight ends of the 1970s didn’t look or run like Gronk or Gonzalez, but it’s still impressive). Many believe he is the greatest coverage linebacker of all time, and I don’t believe that is at all an unreasonable opinion. His prowess in coverage looked like it took little effort, but it was actually the product of tedious study and preparation, and the confidence in that preparation to move quickly on what he knew was going to happen.

In addition to being sound against the run and in the top handful of cover backers ever, Ham was a habitual playmaker. When quarterbacks tested him in coverage, he often made them pay for the choice. He picked off a pass in every season of his career, finishing with 32 when he called it quits. In the playoffs, he stole passes at a higher rate. In 16 postseason games, Ham intercepted five passes. That includes three in two close games against the rival Raiders. If he couldn’t secure the pass, he was able to at least get a hand on it. Records aren’t as reliable from his era, but play by play and film study indicates he had over 90 passes defensed, separate from his interceptions. According to research by John Turney, Ham also took down opposing passers 25 times, despite not blitzing all that often. In effect, if you wanted to pass against the Steelers, Dobre Shunka was going to stop you one way or another. And if you ever put the ball on the ground, there was a good chance he was going to find it—he retired with 21 fumble recoveries. For all his work as an indispensable member of a defensive dynasty, Ham earned his namesake award each season from 1974-1977.

40. Jonathan Ogden (1996-2007)
Offensive Tackle
Baltimore Ravens

At 6’9″ and over 340 pounds, Ogden is among the most imposing figures in the game’s history. He towered over defenders but managed to avoid giving up leverage because of his commitment to maintaining his technique, even when he was exhausted late in the game. Ogden wasn’t like your huge high school friend who intimidated everyone with his size but was useless in a fight. No, Ogden could throw down. He possessed tremendous power to match his frame, and the heavy handed blocker landed blows like a prizefighter, consistently disorienting pass rushers and getting them off balance. His great length meant that defenders had difficulty getting close enough to him to maximize their power moves, and you could free about trying to long-arm him around the corner. Giants great Michael Strahan, known for his legendary bull rush, described playing the dominant Ogden as disheartening because he’d scratch and claw in order to gain any advantage he could, only to see Ogden laughing at his futility in the middle of the play.

Often, men of his size will have success against the power rushers but struggle against the smaller speed rushers who bend their way around the edge or bedevil tackles with inside counters. That crap didn’t work with Ogden. He had athletic ability that seemed almost unnatural for a man his size, with the balance and quickness of a much smaller man. His movement was fluid, and his feet were nimble, allowing him to match speed rushers with the same aplomb that he matched power rushers. And he managed to dominate all manner of defenders without holding or jumping offside. In fact, his pass pro was so good that he was typically second only to Walter Jones among pass blockers during his playing days.

With size and power like his, you’d think Ogden would be a stellar run blocker. And you’d be correct. He was a dominant drive blocker who could ragdoll Hall of Fame ends in a way that almost made you feel bad for them. On the ground or through the air, he could do it all. As the first-ever draft pick for the Ravens, Ogden helped lead the offense to consecutive 5000 yard seasons. He also paved the way for Jamal Lewis to break 2000 yards in a season, including a then-record 295 in a single game. For the majority of his career, he played before a series of untalented quarterbacks and old retreads (Boller was the only primary passer he ever protected who wasn’t on at least his second team). I gave him the Guardian Award for best offensive tackle four times, and I named him the World Award winner in 2003.

39. Bobby Bell (1963-1974)
Linebacker
Kansas City Chiefs

Bell is one of the greatest athletes ever to play in the NFL. His rare blend of strength, speed, agility, and ability allowed him to do whatever he wanted on the field. Bell was a star high school quarterback, a rare college interior lineman to become a Heisman finalist, and a versatile weapon in Hank Stram’s defense. Stram brought him in to play defensive end, which was a weak point for the Chiefs coming into the 1963 season. After a year of solid play, Bell became a strongside linebacker, where he remained thereafter. However, Stram remarked that the coaching staff considered moving him to safety or even cornerback. To further emphasize his belief in Bell’s versatility, Stram said the linebacker could have starred at any position without the team suffering for it. Even from one’s own coach, that’s high praise. As it was, Bell became the most well-rounded outside linebacker in history and, ultimately, the first pure OLB inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Bell could rush the passer, and had 40 sacks in his career, despite playing on the side of the line generally not reserved for pass rushing. The Chiefs didn’t blitz him as often as they perhaps should have, given his ability to get pressure, but on tape he looked like a proto-Khalil Mack when assigned pass rush responsibilities. His ability to set the edge against the run all but ruled out attacking his side of the line. He had incredible burst off the line when attacking or setting the edge. To that, he added the power to play defensive tackle, as well as the speed and fluidity to excel in coverage. As a strongside backer, he stuck with tight ends and was able to run with any of them (and I posit that he could run with any of today’s tight ends as well). Bell picked off 26 passes in his career, and he still maintains a linebacker record six interceptions returned for touchdowns. Once, as a member of the hands team, he returned an onside kick for a touchdown, running  straight through the heart of the coverage team. The man really could do it all. ^[12]I gave Bell the World and Godzilla awards in 1968. I also gave him the Dobre Shunka Award in 1965 and from 1967-1970. I considered moving him even higher on the list, based on what he put on tape.

38. Merlin Olsen (1962-1976)
Defensive Tackle
Los Angeles Rams

Merlin Olsen was a gentle giant off the field and a force of nature on it. He had a hulking frame with rare balance and agility. At the time, a 270 pound lineman was uncommon. One who could move like a little guy seemed downright impossible. Yet there was Olsen, doing the impossible. He had a powerful base and was incredibly stout against the run. He could extend his arms into a blocker and control them like a puppet while keeping his eyes in the backfield. He was a smart guy who was adept at identifying offensive plans and divining ways to defend them. Alternatively, he could use his nimble feet and good snap explosion to get quick penetration and leave blockers reeling. Regardless of the style he employed on a given down, he remained a sure tackler who didn’t just look for a knockout shot. Instead, he wanted to make sure the play ended as efficiently as possible. He was also an underrated pass rusher. His initial shock and pull move got him past blockers in a flash, and his speed in pursuit got him to the passer. Olsen retired with 92 sacks, despite having responsibilities that mitigated his numbers.

At the same time, Olsen was an unselfish player who was willing to sacrifice in the box score for the benefit of the team. He had a big appetite for gobbling up double teams to allow other members of the famed Fearsome Foursome to make plays (I’ve long believed he could have been an elite nose tackle in a 3-4 were he around twenty years later). His presence allowed Deacon to get away with playing out of control, and his prowess against the run gave defensive coaches the ability to use the Rams secondary to focus more on the pass. Whether leading the charge or securing the line, Olsen’s cardio was infinite. His nonstop assault from minute zero to minute sixty made life difficult on even the best guards. He made the Pro Bowl in his first 14 seasons in the league. The NFLPA named him the defensive lineman of the year in 1973, and he earned the Bert Bell Award for player of the year in 1974. I gave him the World Award in 1966 and the Mean Award in both 1966 and 1967. I have him lower than he typically appears because I value peak performance, and Olsen’s peak was brief. He wasn’t as much sensational as he was very good for a long time.

37. Gino Marchetti (1952-1966)
Defensive End
Baltimore Colts, Dallas Texans

Marchetti was the first superstar pass rusher to fit the archetype of a modern defensive end. He was so fast off the edge that blockers were rarely able to land a clean blow on him. He just shot out of his stance and seemed to have the quarterback in his grasp before the tackle planted his right foot. Marchetti wasn’t the most powerful guy, but he was a student of the game and eventually learned to use his speed to set up power moves. During a weird experiment in his second season, the coaching brass moved him to left offensive tackle. He wasn’t very good in the role, but he credited his time there with teaching him how to combat offensive linemen and blocking schemes in general. Marchetti became a technical marvel who employed a host of moves and counter moves designed to beat blockers and take down opposing quarterbacks. He was a slippery type of player, against whom linemen seemed to be unable to maintain their blocks. Beyond that, he had an effective club move that he would use after beating his man outside several times with his pure speed. Marchetti also had a devastating long arm move that saw him basically circle right around a tackle without much issue. But his best maneuver was a grab and pull, in which he would grab shoulder pads and control blockers in a way that verged on embarrassing.

Once he got past a blocker, he was a lethal closer with the quarterback in his sights. He averaged double digit sacks in the seasons for which we have close-to-complete data (from 1960 onward). Researcher John Turney estimates Marchetti had between 110 and 120 sacks in 161 career games, which is especially excellent considering the relative paucity of passing plays teams ran during his career. The Colts star was also so stout against the run that legendary coach Sid Gillman opined that running in the direction of Marchetti was a wasted play. His quickness allowed him to make stops in the backfield, and his ability to control linemen by the shoulders made him one of the best at setting the edge. I gave him the Deacon Award three times, and he was in the mix in many other seasons. I also named him the league’s most outstanding player and defensive player of the year once apiece.

36. Mel Hein (1931-1945)
Offensive Center (premodern)
New York Giants

With little evidence available to confirm his greatness, we must rely on the most trustworthy sources available. For me, it isn’t his teammates and coaches, nor is it members of the hometown newspapers. It’s opponents and historians who studied Hein’s game with a trained eye and (presumably) less bias. When talking with historian T.J. Troupe, who has extensively studied film of premodern players, Troupe commented that Bulldog Turner was one of the greats, but the Bulldog didn’t hold a candle to Hein. The Giant was simply better at every aspect of both offense and defense—a great un blocker, a fortress in pass protection, a jarring hitter, and great in coverage. Hein was the best center and best linebacker in the league, and the only thing that keeps him from being discussed with the same reverence as Hutson and Baugh is the fact that his position on offense doesn’t have number attached to it.

Some of the things that made him so great were speed, strength, explosiveness, smarts, and durability. Hein was able to chase down ball carriers the same way we’d describe Lewis or Butkus. But could also cover Hutson out wide. Obviously it’s not a perfect comparison, as specialization has made such a thing near impossible today (and has, simultaneously, caused us to apply modern understanding to premodern football and be utterly flabbergasted by things we should probably find merely impressive). He wasn’t particularly large, but good leverage and a solid base allowed him to stand his ground against bigger opponents, and he was a good rive blocker. Defensively, he was rarely run over on straight ahead rushing plays. Hein fired off the line and delivered a forearm shot, seeming to ignore the abuse he received prior to getting his hands up. He tackled hard and sure, uncoiling into ball carriers with zeal. He called the shots on the line, and he maintained excellent positioning to cut off his man from the ball. He snapped accurately, the same way, every time, like an assembly line. Hein flew toward the line on defense, seeming to make quick diagnoses and nearly always guess correctly. As the leader of the defense, he got his men in position to make plays. He played at a high level, for a long time, when that wasn’t common. A 13 time all pro, he was the best player on teams that featured in seven title games. Hein earned the official MVP award in 1938, which is astounding for a guy in the trenches. When the Hall of Fame opened in 1963, they enshrined 11 players from the first four decades of the NFL. Hein was an obvious choice as one of the inaugural members.

35. Mike Webster (1974-1990)
Offensive Center
Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs

Iron Mike is best known for his fifteen seasons in the Steel City, capturing four titles as part of the Steelers dynasty. He was a nasty run blocker with a powerful upper body that he used to bully opponents. His strong base and sound technique contributed to him becoming a gifted drive blocker. He was also a good position blocker and was skilled at picking off quicker linebackers downfield. Webster paved the way for a dominant ground attack from Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, leading a Steelers run game that had little trouble securing the lead late in games. Though it wasn’t his strong suit, Webster was also solid pass pro. His quickness, power, and attention to detail meant he could match up well with any type of rusher. He and his line mates kept big-armed Terry Bradshaw clean while he set up for his legendary deep throws. Bradshaw has said on many occasions that the team’s offense wouldn’t have functioned without his center. Perhaps on the small side for the position, Webster more than made up for it with incredible tenacity and toughness. Often, he would brave the cold Pittsburgh winter and play with bare arms to keep defenders from grabbing his jersey. Anything to get an edge on an opponent. I named him the Iron Award winner for best center each season from 1978-1981, and I gave him the World Award in 1979. Tragically, the heights he reached at his peak are matched by the depths to which he fell later in life, reminding us that the wages of the game are often more than just riches and fame.

34. Dwight Stephenson (1980-1987)
Offensive Center
Miami Dolphins

When the studious Brad Oremland ranked Stephenson and Webster in his series on the top 125 players in NFL history, he had the two back to back. I’m doing the same, but with the order reversed. The argument in favor of Webster’s quantity (of quality) is perfectly reasonable, but learned observers will often have philosophical differences. To me, Iron Mike was a great center at his peak and good one for a long time; Stephenson was a transcendent talent unlike any I have ever seen at the position. Were he merely the best at his peak, I’d probably have him lower. But, in this fool’s opinion, calling Stephenson the best understates what he did on the football field.

Stephenson’s career was abbreviated by injury, but at his peak, he was the most dominant player in the history of the position—and arguably had the biggest gap between him and the next best of any player, at any position, in modern history. One doesn’t become a legend on the offensive line without power and technical acumen, but what set Stephenson apart was his unbridled explosiveness. Opponents likened taking a block from him to getting hit with a bolt of electricity. The great Howie Long said the Raiders actually crafted a defensive line gameplan around neutralizing the Miami center, which he claimed was unprecedented in his career. We can lament the career that might have been, but right now we choose to celebrate the career that was.

Centers don’t usually stand out on film to non-coach types, but Stephenson was so evidently the best player on the field that he managed to impress even the untrained eye. He was a virtuoso technically, and he was a freakish athlete who could execute assignments no one else at the position could. In fact, he was so much better at his job that he often made it look easy to perform blocks coaches wouldn’t even consider asking other centers to attempt. A player out of time, centers couldn’t do what he did for decades. ^[13]With the exception of Dawson, who was the only one who could do it in the decade following Stephenson’s career. Vicious and relentless, Stephenson would explode into defenders and then assault them with his heavy hands while driving his legs, and his opponents would usually find themselves staring up at the clear blue Miami skies. ^[14]I gave Stephenson the Iron Award each season from 1983-1987, and I gave him the World in two seasons.

33. John Hannah (1973-1985)
Offensive Guard
New England Patriots

The Hog is often referred to as the greatest offensive lineman ever to live. If he’s not, he’s certainly on the shortlist. The great Dr. Z, who pioneered extensive film study in sports journalism, didn’t give preference to big names and often highlighted unheralded players over established ones; he named Hannah his first team all pro guard seven times. Hannah was strong, but his incredible combination of leverage and balance gave him nearly unparalleled functional power. His pass set was solid, and it was rare to see him give up easy pressure. However, it was the run game where he was a force of nature. Finding their greatest success running behind Hannah, the 1978 Patriots set an NFL record with 3165 rushing yards—a mark that stood until the 2019 Ravens finally topped it. They did this without a single rusher topping 768 yards. Had this happened recently, our granular modern stats would tell us where the team had the most success rushing and how likely those yards were, based on defensive alignment. I can only go by the tape I’ve watched and the research I’ve read, but it is pretty clear that the Patriots ran best to the left, particularly with Hannah as the lead blocker. And this wasn’t an Andy Reid offense; they were slamming into stacked boxes and still finding success. He is perhaps the top mauler ever. A fast guy who was great in the open field and could explode into defenders and knock them senseless. He had good hip flexibility on pulls and would get out in front quickly. When he was blocking downfield, it was open season on defensive backs.

Hannah was a tremendous athlete. In college, he reportedly ran a 4.85 when running out of shape at 305 pounds. Then he ran the same speed nearly a decade later, this time slimmed down to 265. He had a massive lower body gave him power that seemed to originate in the center of the earth, and he used that seismic power to move mountains for over a decade. The Hog combined that power with smooth feet and preternatural balance. His level of body control makes more sense when you account for the fact that he was an accomplished wrestler who was undefeated as a college freshman. ^[15]Hannah quit wrestling because it took time from football. He also demonstrated great spatial awareness when leading in the open field. If only measuring straight up drive blocking, he’s the best ever to do it. Hannah was so devastating that it was almost cartoonish to watch his opponents flying around the field. While he is normally viewed as the top guard—or even top lineman—ever, I have him a little lower because of his habit of going for the knockout in pass pro and just blocking air, putting his passers in precarious situations. Still, he won most of the time and deserves a spot in the top 50. ^[16]I named Hannah the winner of the World and Sweetness awards in 1978. I also gave him the Hog Award (named for him) six times from 1976-1983.

32. Alan Page (1967-1981)
Defensive Tackle
Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears

The honorable Alan Page is the greatest interior pass rusher in the first ninety years of professional football. He finished his career with 148.5 sacks, while playing most of his career in the era of 14-game schedules and low volume passing. For much of his career, Page was undersized, even for his era, and he continued to lose weight late into his career. He loved distance running and just continued to shed pounds over the course of his career, eventually weighing less than his linebackers. However, it didn’t matter if he was playing at or below the weight coaches wanted him to, because his snap quickness was unrivaled. In fact, he had the quickest jump off the line of any tackle until the 1990s—and he is still in the top three I’ve ever seen. He knifed into the backfield in the blink of an eye and brought destruction to passing games. He was a smart player (of course he was) who understood offensive schemes and how to combat them. He also had an innate ability to find the football and tackle whichever poor soul happened to be in possession of the football. Like Marchetti before him, page was a slippery pass rusher who seemed to slide right off blocks and into the face of the quarterback.

Page was the Chief of the Purple People Eaters, one of the greatest defensive units in history. The 1969 version of the team boasted a defensive SRS of 10.6, which is one of the best marks of all time. No team that has played in more recent years has topped that mark. ^[17]The 1920 Akron Pros have the best mark on record, with 13.8, but come on. The 1970 and 1971 versions of the Viking defense also rank inside the top 25 by that metric. That period represents the second best three year run of any defense in history, as measured by SRS. ^[18]The 1948-1950 Eagles had a combined SRS of +33.4. Minnesota’s was 29.7 in a tougher league. For reference, the top recent stretch is +23.7 from the 2012-2014 Seahawks, followed by +22.0 from … Continue reading Unfortunately, the team’s best defenses came when Tarkenton was in New York City, leaving the Purple Ones with the task of carrying Kapp and Cuozzo into the playoffs. While the Vikings had some pretty good players in the secondary, it was the line that made things go. And Page was the best of them. He is one of just two defensive players to earn the AP’s MVP award, and he was able to play at an all star level while earning his law degree from the University of Minnesota. ^[19]Page was also a phenomenal kick blocker, with 27 in his career. He led the league in blocked kicks in 1976 and 1978. In addition to earning the AP MVP Award in 1971, he earned DPOY honors from the … Continue reading

31. Walter Jones (1997-2009)
Offensive Tackle
Seattle Seahawks

Big Walt may be the best all-around lineman since Anthony Munoz, and he’s certainly the best tackle. On most lists I’ve seen, Ogden tends to be ranked highest among 21st century tackles, but I believe the tape is on the side of Jones. Along with Joe Thomas, Jones is the best pass blocking tackle since Munoz and has a claim to the esoteric Pass Protection Rushmore. He blocked on an island and didn’t need the double team help afforded to many tackles—even the great ones. Big Walt had great quickness to match the moves and counters of the best ends, and his lower body had power to anchor against anyone. He also had some of the finest footwork you’ll ever see from an offensive lineman. Consequently, he allowed a sack once in a blue moon, and he managed to do it while almost never committing penalties. During his tenure in Seattle, Jones surrendered just 23 sacks and committed a scant nine holding penalties on 5703 passing blocking snaps, helping Matt Hasselbeck become an all star thrice over.

Jones wasn’t just a finesse blocker, though he could play as smooth as anyone. He was a dominant force in the run game, with the quickness and agility to execute tough reach blocks or pull out in front and lead the way downfield. He could drive block with the best of them, and he had more than enough more than enough tenacity to finish blocks out in space. When paired with Hutch, the two composed a left side that could make anyone look like a stud. Jones cleared big holes for an aging Ricky Watters and helped turn Shaun Alexander into the second coming of Emmitt Smith. When Alexander was named a consensus MVP in 2005, I gave the award to a quarterback. But I named Jones the offensive player of the year and the league’s most outstanding player. I also named him the Guardian Award winner in 2001, 2004, and 2005. Mike Holmgren coached Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Brett Favre, but he called Jones the best player he ever coached.

30. Don Hutson (1935-1945)
End (premodern)
Green Bay Packers

The Alabama Antelope, Don Hutson, brought refined route-running concepts to the NFL and forever changed the way the game was played. Prior to his arrival, passing concepts were unsophisticated and easily defended. Hutson started playing chess while others were playing checkers, and, at least for a while, he really was playing a different position from anyone else in the game. Hutson’s career featured enough black ink to pen a novel: he led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards per game eight times, receiving yards and total touchdowns seven times, receiving touchdowns nine times, and scrimmage yards thrice. In the wake of the modern game’s obscene passing inflation, his numbers don’t impress the untrained observer. However, when he retired in 1945, his 488 catches dwarfed second-place Jim Benton‘s 190. His 7991 yards towered over Benton’s 3309. His 99 touchdowns eclipsed runner-up Johnny Blood McNally’s 37. In all three stats, the gap between Hutson and the next guy was enough to itself rank second in history. Because the NFL didn’t track official stats until 1932, the official yardage record prior to Hutson’s arrival paints an incomplete picture. Chicago Bears legend Luke Johnsos played three seasons prior to the stat era, so he officially retired after setting the receiving yardage record at 985 yards. Hutson surpassed that mark in his third season and didn’t relinquish the record to Billy Howton for 18 years. In his fifth season, Hutson broke McNally’s touchdown record and held onto it for an astonishing 50 seasons, until Steve Largent took the crown with the last scoring catch of his career.

Hutson was also a solid defensive back and a capable kicker. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1940 and in interception return yards in 1943, and he even (briefly) held the career record with 14 picks. As a placekicker, he converted 94.0% of his extra points and led the league in made PATs three times. In 1943, Hutson made all of his 36 PAT attempts and led all players in made field goals. I have ranked Hutson much lower than he tends to appear in lists from historically-minded writers. My reasons are twofold. First, because he was essentially playing a different position from other ends of his day, his massive lead in receiving categories is less impressive to me than if he had built a similar lead at an established position. Blocking was seen as a more valuable skill at the time, and Hutson wasn’t all that good at it, and he was often disinterested when he wasn’t getting the ball. Run defense was also important then, and he was pretty lackluster in that area. ^[20]People knock Moss and Deion for these things, but they don’t mention it with Hutson because they probably don’t even know about it. Players from that long ago have the benefit of only … Continue reading Second, the league was weak, and his competition was simply not very good (especially in terms of depth and skill of the median player). Hutson never faced a single African American opponent—just a menagerie of white cornerbacks.  I don’t want readers to read this as a slight against Hutson. I have him rated as the second best premodern player. I gave him seven Bambi Awards and three Sweetness Awards. I named him the best player in the league twice, with a World Award in 1941 and 1942. Those same seasons, I named him the Automatic Award winner, and he remains the only receiver I feel comfortable saying was a legitimate MVP when emphasizing the V. ^[21]And I always try to emphasize the V.

29. Rod Woodson (1987-2003)
Defensive Back
Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers

The statement “Woodson is among the most versatile cornerbacks in NFL history” is true for two men. The first on this list was Charles. Now, it’s Rod’s turn. He was solid in both man and zone coverage, and he could play outside or in the slot. He could cover the fast guys, quick guys, or the big possession guys with equal effectiveness. Woodson was also an excellent tackler and adept blitzer, finishing his career with over 1000 tackles and 13.5 sacks. Terrific in run support, he could force runners to help or make open field tackles himself with little trouble. His peak play at the position was from 1990-1994, after which injury slowed him a little. During that timeframe, Woodson made four all pro teams (two at right corner and two at left corner). I named him the Prime Time winner four times as well, and I gave him both the Godzilla and World awards in 1993. After a legendary run at cornerback, he spent the last five years of his career at safety, where his instincts and elite football mind compensated for his diminishing speed. At safety, he earned four Pro Bowl selections and two all pro nods and twice led the league in interceptions. He was aggressive and played unafraid, and he sometimes gambled in hopes of forcing a turnover, which allowed a few more completions than one may expect from an esteemed cornerback. However, his 71 career interceptions (third all time) indicate that he guessed correctly far more often than not. And once he had the ball in his hands, he was dangerous. He had track speed and used it to score an NFL record 12 touchdowns on interceptions (and his 1483 return yards are good for second on the career list). Woodson didn’t just return interceptions. He was a gifted return man on both kickoffs and punts as well. In fact, his first all pro selection was as a returner, when he picked up just under 1000 yards, scored a touchdown, and led the league in kick return average in 1989. ^[22]Now and then, you may see a stat crediting Woodson with the record for fumble recoveries by defensive player (32). It is technically true that he has that number of recoveries and was a defensive … Continue reading

28. Randy Moss (1998-2012)
Wide Receiver
Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans

They call him The Freak because he’s the most physically gifted receiver ever. He had blazing speed, lightning quickness, and spectacular leaping ability. He combined those traits with incredible body control and the ability to track the ball in the air like a centerfielder and snatch it with his vice-like hands. He was also an underrated route runner. According to Bill Belichick, Moss also owned one of the brightest football minds of any player he ever coached. Put it all together, and you get a nightmare who led the league in receiving touchdowns five times, including a record 23 in 2007. Leading the league in a category like that five times in the modern age of football seems nigh impossible, but Moss did it. ^[23]In his four highest touchdown seasons, Moss combined to score 72 touchdowns. That’s more than Irvin had in his entire career. Expand that to his top five seasons, and he’d rank inside the … Continue reading His mere presence elevated the production of his quarterbacks and necessitated extra defensive attention. As a rookie, he helped the Vikings break the record for points in a season. Nine years later, he helped the Patriots break the same record. A few have matched his production, but none has so effortlessly made defenders reconsider their line of work. The fact that he dictated coverage like very few have makes him stand out from someone with better overall numbers, like Harrison.

Moss has the best highlight reel of any receiver, but the reason he isn’t higher on the list is that football is more than highlights. At his best, he was nearly unstoppable; but his best didn’t occur nearly enough. Those (mostly younger fans) who think he is the best ever tend to emphasize what he could have done if he wanted to. I agree that he could have been even better if he wanted to. The problem is that he didn’t want to, and if he did, he didn’t show it. People can look at their TVs and see Moss’s size, speed, and leaping ability. We can’t look at Rice’s determination to be the best and his discipline to actually put in the work to make it happen. In some ways, I consider Rice’s dedication and willingness to sacrifice his personal time in order to maintain any edge he could as his talent. And, from that perspective, I could just as easily argue that he could have been even better if he were bigger or faster. He wasn’t. Just like Moss didn’t have the want to. ^[24]I also think there is something inside of many of us that looks at someone like Moss and just knows, straight away, that we could never do what he does physically. We then convince ourselves that we … Continue reading Doug Drinen once wrote a piece questioning if Moss really only played when he wanted to or if he used that as an excuse for poor performances. We can’t know for certain, and I’m not sure it matters. ^[25]I gave Moss the Bambi Award in 1998, 2003, and 2007. I gave him the Sweetness Award in his record breaking 2007 season and the World Award in his rookie year. Without looking it up, I don’t … Continue reading

27. Deacon Jones (1961-1974)
Defensive End
Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington

David “Deacon” Jones may be the most feared defender in the long history of professional football. While he didn’t invent it, he infamously perfected the head slap maneuver that rattled the heads of pass protectors. Frankly, it’s a little hard to watch knowing what we now know about head trauma. But at the time, it was the quickest route from point A to point B (point B being the quarterback flat on his back). And the Deacon got there often, collecting golden arms like trophies. Jones had little regard for passers and coined the term “sack” in reference to the idea of putting them in a bag and beating it with a baseball bat. Although he played his entire career before the stats that he named became official, he unofficially stuffed those quarterbacks in a sack 173.5 times in his career. That mark ranks third in history and includes a five year stretch (1964-1968) in which Jones notched 102.5 sacks in just 70 games. If that figure sounds outlandish, it’s because that figure is outlandish. In addition to all those sacks, he made a ton of plays in the backfield against the run and likely ranks second in history (behind Seau) in tackles for loss against runners or receivers. ^[26]He is likely just ahead of Smith and Lewis, around 120 total.

Jones wasn’t just a head slap and an intimidating personality. He had insane speed for a defensive lineman, reporting running the 40 in 4.6 seconds. While he played with power too, it was really that speed that was his calling card. When teams ran away from him, he could chase down most backs from behind. His closing speed after beating a tackle was unfair. Jones started off hot as a rookie, though he jumped offside more than you’d like, and he fell for traps and got hooked easily, which isn’t weird for rookies. After that, he regressed a bit until really putting everything together in 1964. Despite making eight Pro Bowls, the six years from 1964-1969 were when he really created his legend. After that, he became inconsistent, ranging from normal Pro Bowl level to just a guy. Most of that is due to injury slowing him down and Youngblood eventually making him expendable after 1971. Still, that peak was out of this world. I have Jones a little lower than many do because of the impact of working alongside Olsen, who made his life immeasurably easier. He also played in an era when the AFL made the NFL weaker, and offensive linemen were prohibited from extending their arms when blocking. ^[27]I named Jones the winner of the Deacon Award (named in his honor, obviously) in 1967 and 1968. I also gave him the Godzilla and World awards in both seasons.

26. Bruce Smith (1985-2003)
Defensive End
Buffalo Bills, Washington

Smith retired after an illustrious career that saw him post a record 13 seasons with double digit sacks on his way to becoming the NFL’s career sack leader. With the exception of Reggie White, no other player has come within 26 sacks of his gaudy total of 200. ^[28]Unless you count USFL stats. I do not, but I do consider them. He was able to set such a record by playing at a high level for a long time, and then continuing to excel late in his career in a new role and on a new team. His speed around the edge was remarkable and reached a level most would associate with a rushbacker, not the guy playing in front of a rushbacker. Once Smith scared his man with speed, he’d throw in counters against blockers focused on not being humiliated. He crafted one of the finest spin moves the game has ever seen, and he was careful not to overuse it. You see, he prided himself in his ability to maintain outside leverage and rarely resort to inside spin moves that would sacrifice the integrity of his team’s run defense. He was famously adept against opposing rushing attacks and posted well over one thousand tackles in his career. Smith could also get tackles off balance with his quickness and then counter with a clubbing blow to get the pesky blocker out of the way.

By late in year two, the opposition finally wised up and began sending more attention his way. Even late in his career, opponents would double him at a higher rate than almost any other defensive end in the league. This was true whether he was spending time as a 4-3 edge rusher or a 3-4 one gapper. In a 40 front, Smith was only a hair under White, but it was his prowess in the 30 front was the most remarkable aspect of his career. Few ends have ever matched his productivity as a pass rusher, and that fact becomes even more incredible when considering the responsibilities he had in a 3-4. Of course, on passing downs he would often sink inside and play something like an under tackle role, allowing the rushbackers to play nickel end, and he was terrific in that role as well. Heck, Smith was also successful lined up at nose or out wide. He made a Pro Bowl and all pro team in eleven seasons and likely would have made it a full dozen had he not been injured in 1991—the year following his defensive player of the year campaign. I named him the winner of both the Godzilla and World awards in 1990, and I gave him the Deacon Award four times between then and 1996.

25. Sammy Baugh (1937-1952)
Quarterback (premodern)
Washington

Entering the league in 1937, Slingin’ Sammy made an immediate impact, earning first team All NFL honors and guiding Washington to an upset victory over the mighty Chicago Bears in the championship game. Accounting for era, he is the most accurate passer of all time. When he completed 70.33% of his passes in 1945, his mark was 24.67 percentage points higher than the rest of the league and stood as a record for 37 years. He led the league in completion rate eight times. ^[29]Some of that can be explained by his tendency to throw short passes, but the film pretty clearly shows a passer with supreme control over the ball’s placement, as well as a cannon on the deep … Continue reading Baugh’s amazing accuracy enabled him to avoid interceptions far more successfully than his contemporaries. A cursory glance at his stats will show 187 touchdowns to 203 picks, but a cursory glance is seldom sufficient to tell the tale. In the context of his playing environment, Baugh was just as careful with the ball as Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. Adjusting for era, he threw about 107 fewer interceptions than expected, and his touchdown-interception differential jumps from -16 to +149. It wasn’t just Baugh’s preternatural accuracy that stands out in history. His usage rate as a passer revolutionized the game, changing the expectations we have of those manning the position. Packers legend Arnie Herber retired in 1940 as the NFL’s passing leader with 6749 yards. Baugh broke that record in his sixth season and ultimately pushed it to a then astronomical 21886 yards. He also finished his career with 187 touchdown passes, shattering Herber’s prior record of 66. Baugh held onto those records for 16 and 19 years, respectively.

In addition to his prodigious passing prowess, Baugh was also a celebrated defensive back and accomplished punter. He held the career interceptions record from 1943-1949, bolstered by a league-high 11 in 1943, and his 51.4 yard punting average in 1940 remains the single season record. Granted, he would often punt on third down and get the benefit of long rolls without the presence of a return man, but so did the other punters of his era. He had the best punting numbers among a cohort of players with artificially inflated punting numbers. I gave Baugh the Automatic Award for MVP in 1940, 1945, 1947, and 1948. I named him the most outstanding player in the league in 1945, and I called him the offensive player of the year in both 1945 and 1947. The Slinger Award for best quarterback is named in his honor. I gave it to him three times. I have historically placed Baugh in my top ten for his groundbreaking play at quarterback and his well-rounded play on defense and special teams (how many guys have had a game in which they threw four touchdowns, intercepted four passes, and got off an 81 yard punt?). The reason he is lower here than I have had him in the past and he appears in everyone else’s list is probably obvious to those who have been following the series. The era in which he played was weakened by war, a rival league, and segregation. Also, there were seasons in which Frank Filchock arguably outplayed him on offense. Still, Baugh is ranked higher than any other premodern player, and deservedly so. ^[30]Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 combined regular and postseason plays, Baugh ranks 13th in Total Adjusted Yards over Average (VAL) with 8484 and 23rd in TAYP+ (109.4).

24. Drew Brees (2001-present)
Quarterback
New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers

Brees may be the greatest player in football history who was never widely considered the best at his own position when he played. He played during the primes of Brady, Manning, and Rodgers and was almost always a shade below them in the public eye. After suffering a career-threatening injury, he got a fresh start in a city starved for a hero. He delivered in a big way, boasting some of the most impressive passing displays of recent vintage. Few passers in history have ever been asked to shoulder such a prolific load. ^[31]Brees has led all passers in attempts and touchdowns four times and yardage seven times. The undersized QB has carried the team on his back while posting outlandish volume numbers and the highest completion rate of all time. There have been twelve 5000 yard passing seasons in history. Brees owns five of them. ^[32]Following the 2016 season, he owned over half of such seasons (5 of 9). There have been eleven 70% seasons in history. Brees authored six of them, including the top three. Through 2019, he was one of just three quarterbacks with multiple seasons of 40+ touchdown passes. Recent research has shown us that accuracy is the most stable and predictive measurable aspect of quarterback play. I don’t mean completion rate. I mean real precision, which is best measured by completion percentage over expectation (CPOE). ^[33]CPOE adjusts for depth of target, area of the field (left, right, middle), and proximity of the closest defender to the receiver. By that metric, Brees is in a league of his own. He has been accurate to all levels of the field, including over the middle—an area some feared would be an issue due to his relative shortness. The data clearly show that he doesn’t just boost his numbers on short passes.

Despite playing well enough to win a few MVP awards, he never earned a single one. Even in some of his best years, he played the role of bridesmaid to quarterbacks who happened to also being playing out of their minds. In 2009, 2011, and 2018, he lost the award to Manning, Rodgers, and Mahomes, who also played MVP caliber football those seasons. ^[34]I named Brees the Automatic Award winner for MVP in 2009, and he also took the Bert Bell player of the year award that season. I gave him the Sweetness Award in both 2008 and 2011, both years in … Continue reading One of the reasons he rarely got the same credit as the others is that his defense was inept during his prime, making him have to be a hero nearly every game in order for the Saints to win. ^[35]From 2006-2016, the team’s ranks in points allowed: 13, 25, 26, 20, 7, 13, 31, 4, 28, 32, and 31. If the defense ranked as high as 20th in a season, Brees led the team to the playoffs. Even … Continue reading Brees rarely had an elite talent at wide out, but he had a nice selection of role player types who were good in their given roles. The prolific passer exploited their strengths to an absurd degree. His biggest advantage was Sean Payton, a head coach who designed and called great plays. However, when Payton was in time out for the 2012 season, Brees topped 5000 yards and 40 touchdowns. ^[36]It will be interesting to see how amazing Payton’s offense looks with someone else at the helm for a full season. Despite not winning all that much, Brees posted great postseason numbers. However, he played on a razor’s edge where any mistake from him would result in a loss. That magnified the perception of his errors in the playoffs in at least five losses (2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2019.) However, he is one of the few great quarterbacks whose numbers didn’t see a significant decline against top competition in January. ^[37]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Brees ranks 2nd in career VAL (14531) and 9th in TAYP+ (114.3).

23. Johnny Unitas (1956-1973)
Quarterback
Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers

The original Johnny Football was a quarterback who played with a linebacker’s mentality. He was tough as nails and relished contact, but there was more to it than that. Unitas had the confidence to make any throw into any coverage, and he also had the deft touch to place the ball exactly where he wanted it. While Layne pioneered the two minute drill, Unitas was the man who perfected it. He retired as the career leader in passing yards and touchdowns, demolishing the previous records. Unitas remains the archetype for the classic, dropback passer. This role has added to the mythology surrounding his career, and he has become, to many, what I call an untouchable player—someone held in such high regard that we simply are not permitted to suggest he wasn’t a demigod gracing us mere mortals with his divine presence. ^[38]Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, and Reggie White are examples of untouchables at other positions. It’s understandable and, I think, in many ways it was necessary to apotheosize players in order to build heroes and villains and increase the popularity of the league.

However, Unitas wasn’t just a tall tale from a bygone era. He had a high peak and stayed good for a long time. With three MVP awards to his name, he remained the only player to earn that distinction thrice until Favre played three decades later. His numbers were great. His yards per attempt, completion rate, and interception rate were nearly always much better than average. He had the league’s best YPA and Int% twice apiece, highest TD% twice, and top cmp% once. He led all passers in adjusted yards per attempt and passer rating three times each. He did this as a high volume passer who led the NFL in passes, yards, and touchdowns four times apiece. And he managed to stay efficient in an era when plays weren’t really called for optimal efficiency. Unitas didn’t care about his number—he wanted to gut opponents, if not cut off their heads entirely. He became sporadic trying to play through compounding injuries after 1968, but through 1967, he ranked second all time in completions, attempts, and yards, ^[39]Tittle, who had played in 51 more games, led by 166, 298, and 49, respectively. and first in touchdowns. That he accomplished this in his first dozen years is a testament to the workload thrust upon his right arm (and his brain). I have him ranked a little lower than most do, and that is because most of his career saw him surrounded by a great deal of talent, and he saw his backup win MVP honors when he went down with injury. Morrall was a good player, but he wasn’t exactly Young. I don’t discount his achievements for dominating a league made weaker by the AFL, because he proved capable of playing at an MVP level during the stronger years of the late fifties. I also want to point out that ranking inside the top 25 is not a slight and, in fact, shows how highly I think of his play. I named him the Automatic and Slinger winner from 1957-1959 and 1964. Not bad for a guy who was cut from Steelers roster in 1955 because coaches thought he wasn’t smart enough to play quarterback in the NFL. ^[40]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Unitas ranks 10th in career VAL (9000) and 30th in TAYP+ (108.3).

22. Joe Montana (1979-1994)
Quarterback
San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Cool was lanky and unassuming, often so laid back that he came off as aloof. In fact, one of the reasons he slipped in the draft is that some coaches were concerned that he didn’t even care about football. However, with the game on the line, Montana was an assassin. But what made this skinny guy without a traditionally strong arm so great? First, he was smart, and he was unperturbed by setbacks and didn’t get overinflated by triumphs. Whether things were going great or going to hell, he remained the same. He was also a student of the game and the perfect disciple for Walsh. ^[41]He knew the West Coast Offense well enough to teach it. When he went to Kansas City and was to be matched up with Mike McCarthy, one of the young coach’s friends remarked to him “What in … Continue reading Montana worked tirelessly to perfect his footwork and ensure it synched harmoniously with the patterns his receivers were running. To this day, few passers have matched those feet. He was also accurate, and not in the sense that he completed a high percentage of his passes (though he did have the highest completion rate in history at one point). I mean he was accurate in that he put the ball in the exact right place for his receivers to make a catch in stride and maximize their ability to gain yardage after the catch. Despite being painted as a dink and dunker by today’s fans, Montana was a talented deep passer. He lacked pure arm strength, but his timing and touch were impeccable. The deep post from Montana to Rice remains one of the most beautiful plays in the storied history of the NFL; it is the sunrise and sunset at once.

A forgotten aspect of his play is his athleticism. Prior to mounting injuries taking their toll, Montana was one of the more mobile quarterbacks in the game. Like Tarkenton before him, he had the ability to scramble to make things happen (unlike Tarkenton, Montana didn’t kill drives with long sacks). His ability to throw on the run was second to none, and it is forever memorialized in the countless showings of “The Catch” that grace screens yearly. Despite that, he didn’t have the arm or highlight reel ability of guys like Marino or Elway. But Montana’s highlight reel was inside his head: making the better choice, over and over and over again, leaving opponents waking up wondering how they got put on the canvas with jabs. He won two MVP awards, and I named him the Slinger and Automatic winner in 1989. He was coolly efficient and one of the best regular season QBs the game has ever seen, but the postseason is where he cemented his legacy. Montana’s teams went 4-0 in the Super Bowl, with the legend going 68% with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions, and two rushing scores for good measure. By championship leverage-weighted VAL, he boasts the most valuable playoff game of all time (54190 in 1984) and the fourth most valuable (49916 in 1989). Without weighing for leverage, those games rank seventh and eleventh. His 1989 is the top ranked full postseason by VAL (616 in just three games), and his 1984 and 1988 rank sixth and fourteenth, respectively. No one else’s name appears twice before his appears thrice. As you may have guessed, Montana also sits atop the career list of postseason value. ^[42]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Montana ranks 5th in career VAL (12244) and 4th in TAYP+ (116.7).

Montana is admittedly my favorite quarterback, and I find it hard to know if I am displaying bias when ranking or discussing him. He’d rank higher if he didn’t have the entanglement issues of playing for Walsh, having generally strong defenses that put little pressure on him to push things, and playing with a stud group of offensive teammates. I have ranked him this high because he showed early on that he could play well before the 49ers became a juggernaut, ^[43]Young actually had superior efficiency numbers, but he also had the luxury of stepping onto a team that was already a well-oiled machine. Montana, on the other hand, was there from the beginning, … Continue reading and he showed the same thing as a broken down old man on a new team with less talent around him. The NFC West wasn’t particularly strong when he played, but his performance in the postseason showed he clearly had what it took against great teams.

21. Dan Marino (1983-1999)
Quarterback
Miami Dolphins

Perhaps the greatest pure thrower ever to grace the sport, Marino boasted a release reminiscent of a whipcrack and the ability to make any throw a coach could dream up. He didn’t have the arm strength to throw a deep ball from his knees, but he had perhaps the greatest functional throwing power of any man to grace the position. Like watching Griffey swing a bat or Curry sink a three, when you saw Marino throw a football, you knew he was put on this earth to do that one thing. A greedy passer in the mold of Namath and Van Brocklin, Marino didn’t want to nickel and dime his way down the field; he wanted the whole damned dollar, and he’d steal it if he had to. And while his release was the quickest of them all, his mind was just as quick. He knew where to go with the ball, and he pulled the trigger fast. With that concert of mind and body, Marino is probably the best in history at avoiding sacks, once going 19 straight games without a sack (after losing the most dominant center in history). ^[44]Marino boasted the best sack rate in the league an astounding ten times. Avoidance of sacks meant he put an awful lot of balls in play, and he was a deep passer in a scheme that wasn’t exactly … Continue reading

His 1984 campaign is legendary for topping 5000 passing yards and shattering the touchdown record, and those feats are self-evidently fantastic. But the performance was also ruthlessly efficient: he led the league in yards per pass, touchdown rate, and sack rate; he was third in completion rate; and he had the sixth best interception rate. His 108.9 passer rating was the fifth best in history at the time, and his NY/A and ANY/A were both easily the best ever. ^[45]No one touched his ANY/A until Manning in 2004. Aside from that, only Cunningham in 1998 came within a half yard of the mark. That, to me, is more impressive than topping 5000 passing yards two years … Continue reading More esoterically, his TAY/P+ trailed only Luckman’s 1943, and his VAL broke the existing record by 46%. ^[46]Marino’s VAL was 2305, topping the mark of 1576 set by Bert Jones in 1976. He did that while leading the league in dropbacks. It wasn’t just 1984, though. In 1986, Marino tossed 44 touchdown passes, giving him the top two single season marks in history. It wasn’t until Warner in 1999 that anyone else even reached 40 in a season. ^[47]Through 2019, he remains one of just four passers to reach 40 more than once. When he retired, his career VAL was 23% higher than that of second place Montana. There is a view among some detractors that Marino had those two big seasons and then coasted on high volume and reputation for the remainder of his career. I am generally open to most sports opinions, but if you ever hear anyone spout this particular opinion, your BS detector should begin blaring. Without getting into the eyeball test argument, which is unfalsifiable and results in arguments over who sees clearly and who is myopic, let’s look at the most advanced stats available that cover the entirety of his career: DYAR and DVOA from Football Outsiders. Following is a list of Marino’s ranks in DYAR each season from 1983-1999: 7, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 6, 2, 4, 2, DNQ, 2, 11, 3, 1, 11, 22. ^[48]As a rookie, he started just 9 games and played in 11. In 1993, he played in just five games because of injury. He was on pace to rank third in DYAR that year. Of course, DYAR is partially a volume metric, so here are his ranks in DVOA over the same period: 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 5, 6, 4, DNQ, 4, 11, 1, 4, 13, 23. ^[49]In 1993, his DVOA would have ranked fourth had he qualified for FO’s minimum play threshold.

Marino never won a title, but he didn’t exactly play with title-worthy teams. Sure, he joined a squad that had just come off a Super Bowl loss, and he made a championship game with the vestiges of that squad, but the caliber of Miami’s rosters deteriorated after that. His running game was usually subpar, and his defenses consistently ranged from bad to very bad. From 1986-1991, Dolphins defenses ranked dead last in DVOA four times and second to last once. Even the team he led to the Super Bowl ranked 21st in the metric. ^[50]In 1990, they ranked 10th in defensive DVOA. It isn’t surprising that Marino had the best Int%+ outside of his rookie season that year. The team’s first finish inside the top ten came when they topped the NFL in 1998, but by that time Marino was 37 and on his last legs. Awful defenses and no running game to give him a break meant that the fate of the Dolphins always rested on his right arm. Whereas many legendary passers have had a bit of breathing room, Marino was always a few moments from suffocating. Hindsight analysts have tried to besmirch Marino’s legacy by giving an undue share of blame to the quarterback, but this notion is pure applesauce. The Dolphins would have drowned without him. ^[51]I gave Marino the Slinger Award from 1984-1986 and 1991. he won the Sweetness Award in 1984 and 1986. I named him the Automatic Award winner each season from 1984-1986. That includes an 8-8 finish in … Continue reading ^[52]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Marino ranks 4th in career VAL (12664) and 8th in TAYP+ (114.3).