Welcome to the antepenultimate section of the Grand List, in which I count down the top thousand players in pro football history (through 2019, when the countdown began). I have researched the game for decades, with thousands of hours of dedicated film study, obsessive attention to stats both common and obscure, and a frankly pathetic amount of literature consumed. So I would like to think my positions are well-grounded, having been based on thoughtful analysis and a great deal of attention to my own biases to try to account for my own blind spots. However, at the end of the day, I am still just one idiot on the internet making a list that I hope will engage people in friendly discussion about the game we love. All my time spent studying doesn’t make my opinion any more valid than the reader’s. Heck, I can think of a guy famed for his intellect who did plenty of studying at Harvard, and he’s a dunce.

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.

Onward we go.

The Grand List, continued

100. Randy Gradishar (1974-1983)
Linebacker
Denver Broncos

Those who adore Gradishar usually point to his tackle stats—he reportedly retired with the career record and averaged a cartoonish 226 tackles per 16 games. His traditional detractors scream that those stats are inflated. ^[1]They certainly are, though not nearly as much as the detractors would have you believe. By making Gradishar’s legacy about tackles, discussion about his career becomes a proxy war for the reliability of Denver’s home-town stat-keepers rather than a referendum on Gradishar himself. Since the only winning move is not to play, we will not discuss his tackle stats any further. Gradishar was one of the best linebackers in college history. He was drafted by a team with no history of success and played ten years without missing a game. He was universally hailed as the best player on a famous defense littered with stars, and when he retired his nine seasons as a starter included the seven best defenses in Denver history ^[2]And eight of the top ten. as measured by SRS. He made seven Pro Bowls, was named first-team all pro by a major publication in six different seasons, and was the 1978 AP Defensive Player of the Year. Famous for his instincts, as sure of a tackler as the league has ever seen, devastating in short yardage, but also among history’s most skilled at dropping back into coverage, Gradishar was an all-around star. He possessed incredible range before incredible range was a flashy thing for a linebacker to possess. ^[3]Joel Buchsbaum of Pro Football Weekly wrote “there are quite a few scouts who will tell you that former Broncos ILB Randy Gradishar was almost as good, even as good, as Jack Lambert.” And he did it on coverage assignments that no other linebacker had. He didn’t have a reputation for ferocious hits, but when Walter Payton was asked about the hardest hit of his NFL career, he responded with “Randy Gradishar, 1978.” ^[4]Gradishar earned the Enforcer Award for best middle/inside linebacker in 1977 and 1978, and he took the Godzilla Award for defensive player of the year in 1978.

99. Rayfield Wright (1967-1979)
Offensive Tackle
Dallas Cowboys

Having originally played tight end, Wright was a great athlete for the tackle position. He added plenty of weight during the transition, but he remained as smooth and nimble as ever. This athleticism gave him the ability to mirror even the fastest opponent with natural lateral mobility and fluid hips. His sound technique gave him great functional strength, and he’d anchor against the bull rush with the best of them. At 6’6″ he had to play low to avoid losing leverage. It’s difficult to maintain that focus and still play fast an hard, but he always seemed to have his pad level under control. And even a brief look at any Cowboys game from the seventies will reveal that Wright had no problem playing fast and keeping his intensity. He performed especially well in pass pro against Hall of Fame defensive ends, often putting on a clinic blocking solo against Eller and the feared Purple People Eaters. In fact, the only man I ever saw give him any real trouble was Youngblood. In addition to his finesse, Wright had incredible explosion out of his stance. He’d deliver a forearm shot that knocked defenders silly, then he’d run them right into the ground while they were reeling. Wright was a six time all pro, earned the honor from Dr. Z thrice, and took the Guardian Award for best offensive tackle in 1972.

98. Leo Nomellini (1950-1963)
Defensive Tackle
San Francisco 49ers

Because of the relative popularity of the two forms of entertainment, he is perhaps better-known for his days as a professional wrestler than for his careers as a Hall of Fame defender in the NFL, but Leo “The Lion” Nomellini, an Italian immigrant and the San Francisco 49ers’ first-ever draft choice, was a formidable force in the trenches—on either side of the line. He earned four first team all pro selections as the finest defensive tackle of his generation, while the other two came as an offensive tackle. Nomellini possessed uncanny natural strength that enabled him to exert his will on opponents through sheer physical domination. ^[5]Joe Perry once compared Nomellini’s strength to that of three bulls. He was quick and had good lateral agility for a man of his stature. Nomellini would penetrate the interior quickly against both the run and the pass. On sweeps, he frequently chased down faster backs with a combination of smart angles and hustle. He possessed a seemingly endless well of energy from which he drew late in games; while he overpowered opponents in the first quarter, he thoroughly manhandled them in the fourth. An old rookie who played his first football game in the Marines before playing four years in college prior to becoming a first round pick, Nomellini remained an effective player in the trenches until his retirement at 39. ^[6]I gave him the Mean Award for best defensive tackle in both 1953 and 1954. In 1953, I also named him the Godzilla Award winner.

97. Steve Van Buren (1944-1951)
Running Back
Philadelphia Eagles

Some have expressed distaste for the recent shift from the feature back to the running back by committee approach. However, for a significant portion of NFL history, committee backfields were the norm; the workhorse era didn’t begin until the 1980s. Van Buren entered a league that commonly saw a team’s rushing leader change from year to year, with a different member of the platoon leading the way each time. Supersonic Steve was the first great bellcow running back. Van Buren led the league in attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns four times apiece. He led in rushing yards per game five times, trailing leader Bill Dudley by 75 yards in 1946, despite playing in two fewer games. Gaining the vast majority of his production on the ground, Van Buren led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns twice apiece. We don’t have reliable yardage numbers prior to 1932, but we do have official records for touchdowns. Ernie Nevers held the rushing touchdowns record until Van Buren usurped him in 1947. He wore the touchdown crown for 15 years, until Jim Brown rewrote the record books. The Honduran superstar also held the career rushing yards record for nine years before losing the title to Joe Perry. However, it is noteworthy that Van Buren did it playing most of his career in the 10-game era, and his body was broken down by the time the league transitions to 13- and 12-game seasons. Perry, on the other hand, played 12 and 14 game seasons in the AAFC and NFL. Van Buren’s usage and output on a per-game basis were revolutionary.9 The legendary back wasn’t just a masterful rusher; he was also among the game’s finest return men. As a rookie, he led the league in both punt and kick return average. His career kick return average of 26.7 still ranks 13th in history, and his 13.9 yard punt return average would easily rank first if he met the 75 return minimum to qualify for career rankings. ^[7]I named the Supersonic Award for best running back after Van Buren. He won the award in 1945, 1947, and 1948.  I also gave him the World Award for most outstanding player in 1949.

96. Willie Brown (1963-1978)
Cornerback
Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos

Willie Brown went undrafted by the NFL/AFL and was a training camp cut by the Oilers before kicking off one of the greatest cornerback careers in NFL history. Undeterred, by those initial setbacks, Brown, a physical 6-1 200lbs. was quickly picked up by Denver. His 1965 Topps rookie card foreshadows his greatness: “Willie was one of Denver’s top rookies in 1963. His speed, aggressiveness, and mobility earned him a starting role for the Broncos. A real rock’em, sock’em kind of player, Willie is a coach’s dream. Great things are anticipated for this hard-hitting back this year”. While that statement rang true, it would be for the Raiders. Brown’s proficiency at bump and run coverage along with the NFL’s accommodating defensive rules were a perfect match. His physical style of play stuck with receivers long into retirement, “You’d escape Willie’s first bump and you thought you were free and – WHAM! – you’d get it again from somewhere you didn’t expect it,’’ noted Lance Alworth. Critically, he also had the speed and athleticism keep up in coverage and recover when beat. The second defining characteristic of Brown’s career was his longevity. In Hall of Fame coach George Allen’s 1973 scouting grades, Willie Brown, an 11-year veteran, was graded the 7th best CB in the NFL with a 1.9 (1 = excellent, 2 = good). By 1976, towards the twilight of his career he produced a 5+ out of 9 which mingles between ‘good’ and ‘very good’. Fantastic grades after he had already won the bulk of his All Pros and Pro Bowls. Willie capped off his career winning Super Bowl XI, intercepting Fran Tarkenton for a 75-yard pick 6. He snagged 61 regular and postseason interceptions by the time he retired at 38 years old. Among his various accolades is a membership on the All-Time AFL Team, 1970’s 1st Team All Decade, and the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team. ^[8]Many thanks to my pal Pierce Conboy for this fun writeup for Brown. You can see Pierce posting fun videos about NFL history on Twitter at @pgconb. Note from Bryan: I gave Brown the Prime Time Award … Continue reading

95. Mike Haynes (1976-1989)
Cornerback
New England Patriot, Los Angeles Raiders

Haynes was a standout punt returner and respected cover man in New England for the first seven years of his career, but it wasn’t until he went to a Raiders team that allowed him to flourish by playing his own way that he really cemented his legacy as one of the greats. Fast, graceful, and technically proficient, he was built to succeed in the post-Mel Blount Rule NFL against receivers who had more freedom than ever. In Los Angeles, Haynes was able to completely obscure receivers and force passer to test Lester Hayes, the playmaking ballhawk on the other side of the field. Their complementary strengths formed arguably the greatest cornerback tandem the league has ever seen. Haynes was tall and long, with great closing speed and leaping ability. But his most impressive trait was his fluidity. Few before or since have been able to so gracefully change direction in response to a route, never losing speed and making tight man coverage look effortless. He gambled, and was successful more than not, but he did give up a play now and then when trying to bait a passer. Nevertheless, he was consistently among the top players at the position each year, and he earned the Prime Time Award in both 1982 and 1985.

94. Antonio Brown (2010-present)
Wide Receiver
Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots

Nothing about Brown’s measurables suggest he should be a dominant wide receiver. His 40 time was pedestrian and looks even worse when accounting for his diminutive stature. He didn’t jump high or far. Even his shuttle and 3-cone times were middling. But what he lacked in natural talent, Brown more than made up for in hard work and dedication to improvement. Similar to Rice, he would outwork everyone else on the field and emptied his pores into making himself a great player. The average agility measurements stopped mattering once he worked himself into the best route runner in the league. That slow forty became an afterthought once he began making sharp cuts without losing speed, making faster defenders look silly. An efficient route runner with confounding changeup speed and no obvious tells, he has shown he can run the entire tree to perfection. Brown has incredible body control and great balance that have enabled him to pull in passes a lesser receiver would have dropped or not gotten a hand on at all. He rarely drops passes, despite a habit of making body catches. In the open field, he is always threat to score, either after the catch on punt returns. I gave him the Bambi Award for best wide receiver in 2013, 2014, and 2017, and he was in the running twice more. From 2013-2018, Brown averaged 119 receptions for 1590 yards and 12 touchdowns per 16 games. He led the league in yards twice, including a season in which he missed two games. He is the only receiver who dominated a prime Chris Harris Jr., and he would probably rank a little higher if he didn’t sabotage his teams. ^[9]Brown ranks 50th in career True Receiving Yards (TRY) with 12237. His top TRY seasons: 1948, 1847, 1712, 1691, 1506, 1330, 1154.

93. Julio Jones (2011-present)

Highly coveted coming out of college, Jones is a physically imposing receiver with elite speed and leaping ability. On the field, he is reminiscent of T.O. but without the baggage (or the touchdowns). He is powerful throughout his routes, and his strong hands allow him to snatch balls away from defenders with seeming ease. Despite his large size, he has great body control that he uses to make acrobatic catches look routine. From 2013-2018, he averaged 104.6 yards per game, and his 96.2 career average puts him in the lead by nearly ten yards. Pro Football Focus credits Jones with the highest career figure in yards per route run. He led the league in the category four times and was in the top five twice more. His efficiency picking up yardage is unrivaled by any other receiver in the last two decades. He has a fairly low touchdown count for a player of his caliber, but that is more because Ryan just hasn’t targeted him as much as he probably should in the red zone; instead, Jones has been a decoy near the goal line for most of his career. Turnover at the offensive coordinator position hasn’t helped the matter. Apart from his time with Shanahan, Jones has never been the featured receiver in an offense that consistently schemes open other receivers. This has left him the focus of defenses in a way many of his peers were not. I gave Jones the Sweetness Award for offensive player of the year in 2015 when he led the league in catches and yards and set the single season record for first down receptions (93). He earned the Bambi Award that year and the next. ^[10]Jones ranks 44th in career TRY (12722). His top TRY seasons: 1810, 1788, 1639, 1624, 1500, 1495, 1266, 1070.

92. Adrian Peterson (2007-present)
Running Back
Minnesota Vikings, Washington, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints

Peterson is as great a runner as there ever has been, with the speed to break off huge chunks of yardage and the power to demoralize would-be tacklers. Perhaps his most important characteristic as a runner is his balance through contact. Whether he is taking or initiating a collision, he consistently rolls off tackles to pick up more yards. He has produced eight double-digit rushing touchdown seasons in an era when that doesn’t happen much for stud running backs. Peterson has led the league in rushing four times, set the single game rushing record (296), and produced the second highest rushing output in a season. His 2097 yards in 2012 famously came after a catastrophic knee injury. In general NFL players are freak athletes; Peterson is one of those rare players whom other players look at and say “that guy’s a freak.” Peterson is a throwback to a bygone era, when a superhuman rusher could serve as an offense’s primary point of attack. If he seems low on this list, it is because he had the misfortune of playing in an era when his particular skill set was less valuable than ever, and the things at which he struggled were more valuable. He wasn’t a good receiver, and he couldn’t block well, and his inability to benefit the passing game in the modern era knocks him down a bit on the list. In fact, that he ranks this high, despite his one-dimensionality, is a testament to his ability to gain yardage against loaded boxes when normal running backs tend to wilt. ^[11]Until recently, I had him behind Van Buren. However, after much time thinking about the caliber of teammates with whom they played, as well as the level of competition they faced, I moved Peterson … Continue reading

91. Larry Fitzgerald (2004-present)
Wide Receiver
Arizona Cardinals

Fitzgerald boasts perhaps the greatest hands of any receiver in history. He has used those hands to great effect, often pulling in errant passes from inaccurate passers. His mastery of routes and strength to disengage defenders allow him to get open at will, and his positional awareness and nearly peerless catch radius mean he’s still a good option when blanketed. He is one of the best downfield blockers the position has ever seen, and much of that is a product of desire. With few exceptions, any receiver can be an effective blocker. The thing that separates the good from the great is effort. His sustained success is one of the hallmarks of his career. He continued to put up 1000 yard seasons into his thirties and ranks sixth in career touchdown catches. Only Rice has more receptions, yards, and first downs. ^[12]When the only guy ahead of you on a list is Rice, you’ve had a good career. Fitzgerald is a truly complete receiver who found the fountain of youth as a slot artist, using his blocking skills against bigger defenders and his quick cuts to get open underneath. He is among the great playoff performers ever at the position, averaging 104.7 yards per game and scoring 10 touchdowns in nine playoff contests. His legendary display during Arizona’s Wild Card Super Bowl run in 2008 is one of the great postseason performances by any player at any position. He went over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in all four games, ending his heartbreaking postseason with 30 catches for 546 yards, seven touchdowns, and 21 first downs. I gave him a Bambi Award for his efforts that season. In addition to his prodigious talent, Fitzgerald is a team focused player who memorizes team and league records in order to let coaches know when a teammate is closing in on a mark. He’s the perfect teammate, and I believe he’s one of the top hundred players in history. ^[13]Fitzgerald ranks third in career TRY (18820). His top TRY seasons: 2124, 1500, 1474, 1456, 1409, 1357, 1168, 1147, 1058, 1005, 986.

90. Danny Fortmann (1936-1943)
Offensive Guard (premodern)
Chicago Bears

Squat, with a low base, Fortmann was able to generate tremendous power on his drive blocks. Not content to rely solely on power, he was a vicious and nasty blocker who relished the opportunity to take the attack to the defense. When defenders lined up against him, they knew they were in for a long day contending with a whirlwind of teeth and elbows. Fortmann was quick off the ball and delivered a nasty forearm shot at the point of attack that immediately threw defenders of balance. From there, blocking them out of the play was easy as pie. On passes and plays in space, he proved to be light on his feet and nearly always able to stay between the defender and the man with the ball. In his eight years as a starter, he was an all pro each season, and he was the signal caller on Chicago lines whose ranks in rushing offense were: 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 2. Unofficially, he would have taken the Hog Award for best guard ever season from 1939-1943, as well as the World Award in 1940. Historian T.J. Troup called Fortmann one of the best there was at backing the line on defense. He was smart and had a sixth sense for where the ball was going. There isn’t an abundance of film available, but what I have seen backs up the claim that he was a diagnostic master, as he seemed to run to the right spot almost every time. He was also very good at disengaging from blocks and flowing to the ball. Equally adept at run and pass blitzes, he had the speed to get into the backfield quickly. Fortmann was a sideline to sideline type player who was a ball of energy, constantly hustling on every play. He was also solid in coverage against the premodern passing schemes of his era. If that weren’t enough, he put himself through med school while playing pro ball. The only thing keeping his rank from being higher is that he played in a segregated league that, by definition, depressed the level of competition.

89. Cal Hubbard (1927-1936)
Offensive Tackle (premodern)
Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates

A giant for his era, standing 6’2″ and weighing in over 250 pounds, Hubbard had every bit of the power advantage that you would assume. He was a devastating blocker who had his way with defensemen and excelled wherever he went. He had decent mobility and could block out in front of runners, but his bread and butter as a blocker was wiping out defenders at the line of scrimmage. On defense, his size and power were so great that, when combined with his good burst off the snap, he could singlehandedly collapse an entire side of the offensive line, freeing up teammates to make easy plays. He also had solid straight line speed to chase the ball all over the field. As a rookie, he helped the Giants win the league title while allowing 1.5 points per game. After another all pro season in New York, he forced a trade to Green Bay to get out of the city, because he felt more comfortable in smaller towns. Hubbard won three more titles in his first three seasons with the Packers, most notably starring on a defense that allowed just 1.7 points per game in 1929. In Green Bay, he began a legendary rivalry with a trash talking Trafton—a battle typically won by the man on defense. ^[14]Yes, they talked trash back then too. Don’t let those pining for a golden age that never existed tell you otherwise. He was probably the best player in football in 1932, though there isn’t much film evidence to tell a complete tale. In 1969, the Pro Football Hall of Fame named him the greatest tackle of all time. Much has changed since then, but to be honored as the very best for the first five decades of the league means something. As with Fortmann, his era itself is the primary thing keeping him from ranking higher on the list.

88. Ron Mix (1960-1971)
Offensive Tackle
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders

Mix picked up the nickname the Intellectual Assassin on account of his studious approach to the game and the fact that he pursued a degree in law during his playing career. Not that he didn’t have brawn to go with the brains. Mix maintained a training regimen that was fairly advanced for his era, and the result was a powerful upper body that stifled defenders. He maintained a unique pass set that saw him feign a run block before dropping into protection, which often befuddled pass rushers. Mix also had an unusual habit on rushes of cut blocking in the trenches before quickly springing up to obscure defensive backs at the next level. This technique required a level of quickness you wouldn’t expect from a man of his stature. The legend is that Mix only committed two holding penalties in his entire career; I don’t have enough information to verify that claim, but the fact remains that his technique and preparation were so good that he rarely needed to hold. In games I saw, I cannot remember seeing a holding penalty, so I am inclined to believe the legend. I named him the best player in the AFC as a rookie, and I gave him five Guardian Awards from 1960-1968. His league wasn’t quite up to par with the NFL, but his talent was evident. While the AFC lacked depth, it was home to some great defensive ends, and Mix handled them all.

87. Howie Long (1981-1993)
Defensive End
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Playing most of his prime as a 3-4 defensive end, Long joins Selmon on the position’s mountaintop. Explosive and stout, vicious and intelligent, excellent against the run and the pass, able to win from the inside or the outside, he had no holes in his game. His rip move was legendary. He would get under the blocker with his powerful right arm and explode up into them, leaving them off balance and, ultimately, blocking air. Long didn’t always receive the acclaim of more heralded pass rushing ends, but the comparison isn’t necessarily apt: rather than rushing from the edge, he generally played inside in passing situations, and he never sacrificed his responsibility against the run in order to chase sacks. Despite committing to his run duties, playing inside often, and absorbing consistent double teams, Long was able to accumulate 91.5 sacks. His pass rushing prowess was on full display in 1983, when he notched five sacks in a single game against the might Hogs of Washington. I named him the Deacon Award winner for best defensive end in the league in both 1983 and 1984, and he was close in 1985. I also gave him the Godzilla Award for defensive player of the year in the Raiders championship season.

86. Lee Roy Selmon (1976-1984)
Defensive End
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Selmon began his pro career as the first ever pick and lone bright spot for the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He ultimately became the cornerstone of the franchise as the team moved to respectability. Selmon is undoubtedly on Mount Rushmore of 3-4 ends and was arguably a top three player at the position in eight of his nine pro seasons. The NFLPA named him the NFC’s best defensive lineman four times. That’s half of his healthy seasons. I named him the winner of both the Deacon and Godzilla awards in 1979. A size-speed freak with exceptional athletic gifts (and intelligence to match), Selmon could play both the pass and the run with aplomb. ^[15]He was also a superb kick blocker who knocked down six kicks in his career. While many today remember him for his elite run stuffing acumen, Selmon finished his brief career with 79 sacks. That’s an average of nine per year, including a strike-shortened 1982 and a rookie year that saw him miss six games to injury. He did this despite playing in a disadvantageous situation for accruing gaudy sack numbers: for most of his tenure, he was a 3-4 end with two gap responsibility and a generally average linebacking corps behind him. This is after a rookie year that saw him play inside often in Tampa’s failed experiment with the 4-3 defense. Selmon had short career derailed by injuries, but he was as good as any end ever at his peak.

85. Brian Dawkins (1996-2011)
Safety
Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos

Among recent safeties, it seems everyone must be compared to Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. Like Polamalu, Dawkins created mayhem near the line of scrimmage—he ranks third among defensive backs in sacks since 1982 and second in forced fumbles since 1993, as far back as each statistic officially goes—though he wasn’t the instinctual freelancer. Like Reed, Dawkins was also excellent as a deep coverage safety, though he lacked the preternatural range. He had the strengths of both players without the one special attribute that landed them on so many highlight reels, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he wasn’t their equal. He anchored one of the most underrated defenses in recent memory—an Eagles team that won 59 games from 2000 to 2004, making four conference championship games with an average rank in points allowed of 3.4—and then hung around long enough to be named All Pro in Denver at age 36 on the strength of his play rather than his reputation. His all around ability as a playmaker can be seen in his rare stat line that includes 37 interceptions, 26 sacks, and 36 forced fumbles. Dawkins earned the Tunnell Vision Award for best safety in 1999, 2001, and 2002.

84. Rosey Brown (1953-1965)
Offensive Tackle
New York Giants

Roosevelt Brown was an athletic marvel, often noted for the sleek 29 inch waist on his 255 pound frame. He possessed uncanny functional power to move defensive linemen off their spots as a drive blocker. In an era when running the football still mattered, Brown was a devastating force who had the rare athleticism to pull around the edge and eliminate linebackers in space as a lead blocker on sweeps. His athleticism was so great that, at times, it seemed like he was sent from the future to dominate the poor souls of the fifties and sixties. Similar to the Steelers with Dawson decades later, the Giants were able to draw up and execute plays other teams didn’t even have the luxury of imagining. He was no slouch in pass protection either, as he was able to use his nimble feet and balance to help shut down pass rushers and keep beloved passers Charlie Conerly and Y.A. Tittle clean in the pocket. My impression from watching Giants footage from Brown’s playing days is that the stellar tackle never failed to display an uncanny ability to keep himself between the passer or ball carrier and the defender; the only offensive lineman of the era that could give Parker a run for his money as the best in the game. I gave him the Guardian Award for best offensive tackle every year from 1956-1959, culminating in a World Award in the last of those seasons.

83. Steve Largent (1976-1989)
Wide Receiver
Seattle Seahawks

Largent was an undersized receiver with a linebacker’s mentality. He was a vicious and dedicated blocker and a fearless receiver over the middle, famous for laying out to pull in wide passes. He ran routes with laser precision, and his toughness and hands are equally legendary and contributed to him being arguably the greatest possession receiver ever. Largent also happened to be a strong perimeter player capable of stretching the field deep. He used his well-rounded game to become the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns (he was the first to reach 100 scores through the air). Largent led the league in yards twice. One of those years was 1979, when he averaged 18.7 yards per catch and earned the Bambi Award. He averaged 1175 yards and nine touchdowns per 16 games from 1978-1987. He had eight 1000 yard seasons and was on pace for a ninth in 1987. Part of his rise up the ranks in history is explained by Largent maintaining his elite ability into the era of expanded schedules, but over the decade following that change, only Lofton was within 1700 yards of him. Every receiver above him on this list, save Megatron, played significant time with great passers. ^[16]Largent had Zorn, who earned first team all pro honors from Dr. Z in 1978, and Krieg. Johnson had a high volume passer. Warfield had the underrated Ryan and HOF Griese. Harrison had a guy who … Continue reading Largent was always the best player on his offense during his prime ^[17]Largent ranks 14th in career TRY (16117). His top TRY seasons: 1531, 1518, 1374, 1363, 1351, 1349, 1291, 1290, 1147, 1003.

82. Paul Warfield (1964-1977)
Wide Receiver
Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Memphis Southmen

Warfield is probably the greatest pure deep threat in history. He posted seven consecutive seasons with over 20 yards per catch, and his 20.1 career average is the fifth highest in history. His raw receiving stats may not impress the modern observer, but he played for notoriously run-heavy teams and garnered an outrageous share of his teams’ overall passing output. Few receivers have ever had the overall impact on opposing defenses that Warfield did in his heyday, and his Miami teammates credit him with providing the dynamic contrast to their power run game that enabled them to win two consecutive Super Bowls. He commanded respect from defenses and opened up the running game for the offenses on which he played; great postseason performer. ^[18]George Allen admitted to committing at least two defenders to Warfield, which made life easier for Csonka. He was a good blocker, which isn’t usually associated with the speedy guys. Not only fast, but also explosive, he could get open with craft in addition to athletic ability; while many speedsters seem to lack nuance in their route running, Warfield was a craftsman who was able to amplify his already lethal speed with the ability to confound cornerbacks before turning on the jets. On the occasions he had a defender near him downfield, he tracked the ball better than they did and came down with it anyway. Warfield retired second in career receiving touchdowns. Incredibly, he scored 85 touchdowns on 427 catches—a rate of 19.9%. Among receivers with at least as many touchdowns, only Hutson (20.3%) scored at a higher rate. He was the homerun hitter for teams that made five championship games, earning a Bambi Award with Cleveland in 1968 and the Bambi and Sweetness awards with Miami in 1971. ^[19]Warfield ranks 23rd in career TRY (14597). His top TRY seasons: 2009, 1736, 1466, 1407, 1258, 1229, 1199, 1124, 988.

81. Calvin Johnson (2007-2015)
Wide Receiver
Detroit Lions

During his too-short career, Megatron was a man among boys. He was huge, fast, and powerful, and he played with great effort and boasted a high football IQ. In a league full of athletes with great pride in their own abilities, his contemporaries were awestruck by his athleticism. He had the speed and route running ability to get free deep, and he had the size and leaping ability to make contested catches look easy. With strong hands and a tough mentality, Johnson was fearless catching passes in traffic over the middle; he’d bounce off a hit from a safety and just keep running. At his size, running crisp routes is an added challenge. The added height raises his center of gravity and makes it more difficult for him to change direction and maintain balance. But Johnson managed to do it. He was so strong that he could run right through press coverage, casually tossing cornerbacks aside like paper dolls. His power also contributed to his downfield blocking. Johnson required special coverages in the red zone that were so Johnson-centric that they bordered on parody. With his insane length and range, when he was covered he was still a good option. Sometimes players put up good numbers but don’t impress on film. When you turned on a Lions game, Johnson was clearly the best player on the field. Observers didn’t need numbers to see greatness before them, but let’s talk about some numbers. Statistically, he doesn’t really separate himself much from Brown and Jones among contemporary receivers. However, he faced coverages the others didn’t face, and he played with a worse passer. From 2011-2013, he averaged 1787 yards and 11 touchdowns per 16 games, and he did it as the weekly focus of defenses. In the middle of that span, he broke the single season record for receiving yards and tied the record for receiving first downs (92). ^[20]Tied with Marvin Harrison, 2002. That record has since fallen to Julio Jones, 2015. I gave him the Bambi Award in the first two of those seasons. Johnson didn’t make it to the playoffs often because he didn’t play on great teams; however, in his two postseason games, he hauled in 17 passes for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns. ^[21]Johnson’s 211 yards and a pair of scores in a 28-45 loss to the Saints represents his career in a nutshell. Had he played a little longer with an organization that gave him a chance to win, we might be talking about a Rushmore type receiver. He certainly had the talent. ^[22]Johnson ranks 52nd in career TRY with (11959). His top TRY seasons: 1934, 1651, 1534, 1509, 1216, 1186, 1185, 985.

80. Jim Otto (1960-1974)
Offensive Center
Oakland Raiders

Double-0 began his professional career at a meager 205 pounds and was overlooked by the NFL and most AFL teams. The Raiders, with their legacy of taking chances on players, obtained Otto’s draft rights and got a member of Center Rushmore for their risk. He added enough weight and power to his stellar technique and outrageous toughness to play in 210 straight games and earn a first team all pro selection in each of his first twelve seasons. As a young player, he was successful in the wide open attacks of the early AFL. As a grizzled veteran, he held his own against established NFL defenders in the grind-it-out Dead Ball Era. Otto had good speed and ability to track linebackers to make blocks in the run game. When facing teams with a shade tackle, he made use of his technique in order to overcome athletic disadvantages. He was smooth in pass protection and was able to mitigate interior penetration, allowing the deep Raiders passing attack to thrive. He earned the Iron Award for best center eight times between 1960 and 1968, was consensus all pro seven times, and made at least one major all pro team a dozen times.

79. Chuck Bednarik (1949-1962)
Linebacker, Offensive Center
Philadelphia Eagles

Concrete Charlie could have gone into the Hall of Fame as a linebacker or as a center, given his prowess at both positions. Ultimately, his play on defense stood out more than did his blocking. Bednarik was fast and powerful, and he possessed incredible endurance required of the NFL’s last 60 minute man in an era of specialization and free substitution. On offense, he was an especially talented run blocker who also held his own in pass protection. He never graded as the top center in the league, but he was often in the discussion. On defense, he quickly diagnosed plays and delivered brutal hits; his 1960 tackle of Frank Gifford nearly ended the back’s career and may be the most famous tackle in the history of the sport. He didn’t play the full 60 minutes for his entire career, but it is remarkable that he was able to do so near the end of his career, squaring off against fresh opponents on both sides of the ball. He earned the Enforcer Award for best inside linebacker in 1950. Then he took the Dobre Shunka Award for best outside linebacker each season from 1951-1954. In 1953, he was probably the best player in football. I’d put Bednarik higher on the list, but it is telling of the era in which he played that he could celebrate with a double lung dart and still manage to play 60 minutes of football. And when you account for the way specialization has changed the game, someone like Bednarik would have to choose between offense and defense today.

78. Mike Ditka (1961-1972)
Tight End
Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles

Iron Mike Ditka made his impact on the league right away, topping one thousand yards and scoring twelve times on his way to changing the tight end position forever. The position existed before he arrived on the scene, but he standardized it in a way that differentiated it from a typical end who happened to line up tight sometimes ^[23]Or from third-tackle types whose job was to block but whose presence invited more defenders into the box in a manner that may have offset the advantage their blocking provided.. He was a dangerous receiving threat, giving nightmares to the typically run-first linebackers of his era. However, Ditka maintained the requisite blocking skill incumbent upon the position. He was hardnosed and tough and didn’t just want to win games—he wanted to win every play. He took pride in his tenacity, treating each individual down as a fight to be won. With the ball in his hands, he was tough to bring down. he’d gnash his teeth, lower his shoulder, and try to give defenders a little something to remember him by. Ditka averaged 59 catches for 822 yards and six touchdowns per 16 games and earned a place on six all pro teams from 1961-1967. ^[24]I gave him the Gonzo Award for best tight end in 1961, 1962, and 1964. He won a title as the best offensive player on the 1963 Bears, and he won a Super Bowl as a role player on the 1971 Cowboys. After he walked away, he became the first tight end enshrined in the Hall of Fame. ^[25]Ditka’s career TRY of 8048 is impressive, given the era and usage of tight ends at the time. His best TRY seasons: 1655, 1156, 1137, 1048, 611, 546, 533.

77. John Mackey (1963-1972)
Tight End
Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers

Another player you had to see to truly appreciate, Mackey was a dynamic vertical threat whose brilliance was clear to teammates, opponents, and viewers. In fact, he was named the tight end on the NFL’s 50th anniversary team—while he was still playing! His stats look paltry from modern perspective, but few tight ends in history were as dangerous as Mackey. He was a true deep threat who had the speed to beat defenses over the top and the combination of balance and power to throw defenders to the ground like rag dolls. There has been no better tight end in history when it comes to picking up yards after the catch. His power through contact and determination to put the defender on his ass before going down made him a headache for would-be tacklers. ^[26]As head of the NFLPA, he fought for player rights with the same determination he fought being tackled. In the modern game, it’s common to see a wide receiver serve as a big play threat and a tight end act as a safety blanket for the quarterback. In the Colts offense, Raymond Berry was the possession receiver while Mackey took the top off defenses. In his first three seasons, Mackey averaged 20.1 yards per catch. He scored 31 of his 40 touchdowns from beyond 20 yards, 19 from beyond 40 yards, and 14 from beyond 50. ^[27]His most remarkable scoring season came in 1966, when he scored on receptions of 89, 83, 79, 64, 57, 51, 26, 18, and 17 yards. If that wasn’t enough, he was also a fierce and eager blocker, often matching up solo on defensive ends and leaving them in the dirt. When he had a linebacker in his sights, it was curtains for poor Sam. I named him the Gonzo winner in 1963 and 1966, and he was a close cut every other year of his prime. ^[28]Mackey’s career TRY of 7384 underrates his impact on defenses. His top TRY seasons: 1187, 1150, 1115, 978, 820, 699, 566, 549.

76. Eric Dickerson (1983-1993)
Running Back
Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons

In terms of pure rushing ability, Dickerson may have been the best there ever was. He was fast, powerful, and sleek, with an unorthodox upright running style. With his large frame and long gait, he was reminiscent of Secretariat in football pads. The bespectacled virtuoso led the NFL in yards in three of his first four seasons, and once again after being traded to Indianapolis. This includes his masterful sophomore campaign that saw him set the single season rushing record at 2105 yards. He put the ball on the ground too often, but it came from running hard and trying to carry his team. Dickerson gained 9915 yards on the ground in first six seasons (90 games); Jim Brown (9322) is the only other player with over 9000 yards through 90 games. He was quite simply one of the most dominant ground gainers in history. From rom 1983-1989, he led the league in rushing yards per game five times and gained a total of 11226 yards on the ground; runner up Gerald Riggs gained 7166 over that period. I gave Dickerson the Supersonic Award four times between 1983 and 1988 and Sweetness Award in his rookie season. He was not a great receiver or blocker, otherwise he would be higher on the list. But with pure rushing prowess like his, Dickerson deserves a spot in the top 100.

75. O.J. Simpson (1969-1979)
Running Back
Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers

The Juice carried the Bills on his back in the early 70s, leading the league in rushing four times. A killer back during his five-year peak, Simpson averaged 2021 yards and 12 touchdowns per 16 games and maintained an impressive 5.1 yard rushing average. This includes two of the greatest seasons in history. His 2003 yard season was legendary, but 1975 was perhaps even better. Playing a 14-game schedule in the depths of the dead ball era, he averaged 160.2 scrimmage yards per game and scored 23 touchdowns. Then a knee injury cut his time on top short in the middle of 1977, and that was about it. The Bills severed ties with him, and he spent two forgettable years in San Francisco. His reign as the top back in the league was short, but his peak was a high as anyone’s in history. Simpson had a slashing style and could break it long, but he was also a tough runner who could move the pile when he needed. He had big, soft hands and was a sound receiver, though the Bills didn’t target him all that often. I gave him the Supersonic and Sweetness awards in 1973, 1975, and 1976, with a World Award for his legendary 1973 season. Simpson’s biography has gained quite a few more chapters since retirement, but he carved out a legacy as one of the greatest backs ever to carry the ball. ^[29]I will accept no criticism for picking low-hanging fruit. It tastes just as sweet.

74. Roger Staubach (1969-1979)
Quarterback
Dallas Cowboys

Captain Comeback was the finest quarterback of his generation. Commitments to the US Navy postponed the start of his career till age 27, robbing him of five seasons in his physical prime (not that you’d ever hear him complain). However, it also meant that he came into the league as the rare rookie who had the immediate respect and adulation of his veteran teammates. The brevity of Staubach’s career means he didn’t post big volume numbers, but he did retire as the career passer rating king. He was a precision passer and superb athlete who commanded respect on and off the field. The Dodger posted great stats, especially from an efficiency standpoint, leading the league in passer rating and ANY/A four times apiece and retiring as the career leader in each. ^[30]With the available records we have. Graham and Van Brocklin may have topped that mark. Among quarterbacks with at least 1500 plays in the regular and postseason, Staubach ranks 16th in Total Adjusted Yards per Play above average (VAL) with 7941 and seventh in TAYP+ (114.3). But he stood out even more on tape; a tremendous athlete who could make all the throws and played with courage, he just always gave the impression that he would find a way to pull out a win. Absurdly, Staubach never made an all pro first team, nor did he win an MVP award (though he did earn a Bert bell player of the year award for 1971). My research has led me to believe he was worthy in 1978 and 1979, and even in 1971—a season in which he played just 10 regular season games but went undefeated as a starter and led his team to Super Bowl glory. ^[31]That means I gave him both the Slinger Award for best quarterback and the Automatic Award for MVP in all three seasons. My awards include postseason performance, so his relative lack of games in 1971 … Continue reading

73. Aaron Rodgers (2005-present)
Quarterback
Green Bay Packers

Filling in for a beloved franchise legend isn’t easy, but Rodgers proved up to the challenge. He may be the most fundamentally gifted player ever to hold the position. His ability to process defenses quickly and throw with uncanny accuracy to all levels of the field, from any angle you could ever want, is unparalleled over a career as long as his. He excels when plays break down and he has to escape the pocket, as he may be the best in history when it comes to throwing with precision while on the run. His play is at once beautiful and intricate, like watching Mozart amongst a crowd of Salieris. I gave him the Slinger Award in 2011 and 2014 (remember, 2020 never happened for the sake of this list), and I gave him the Automatic Award in both of those seasons, as well as 2016. He saw the best play of his career in his first two MVP seasons, but his performance in 2016 struck me as especially impressive for his ability to overcome a self sabotaging coaching staff and take a fairly pedestrian team further than it had any right to go. The only things keeping Rodgers from ranking even higher on this list are his penchant for hero ball and ignoring easy yards that quarterbacks higher on the list had no problem taking. ^[32]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Rodgers ranks ninth in VAL (10071) and sixth in TAYP+ (114.8).

72. Otto Graham (1946-1955)
Quarterback
Cleveland Browns

Automatic Otto played in his league’s championship game in each of his ten seasons, picking up seven victories along the way. Graham was an incredibly accurate passer and efficiently distributed the ball to a bevy of receivers in Paul Brown’s advanced passing offense. He retired with 23584 passing yards, which was the most by any professional quarterback, and 174 touchdowns, which trailed only Sammy Baugh‘s 187. He remains the all-time leader in yards per pass (9.0), and he held the QB rushing touchdowns record until Cam Newton broke it in 2016. ^[33]Of Graham’s 44 rushing scores, 29 came from one yard out, and 10 more came from the five or closer. Graham is lower here than he appears on most lists due to the overwhelming strength of his supporting cast, particularly relative to his opponents during his early years. His offensive line, receivers, backs, and scheme made it easier for him to produce, while his dominant defense made it easier for him to win. On film, he didn’t appear appreciably better than Luckman or Tittle. However, he still produced at a high level in both the regular season and the postseason, and the Browns performed much better with him than without him. At some point, production has to matter, and few ever produced like Graham. My regard for his play during his era is evident by the awards I gave him: I named him the Slinger winner in each season he played in the AAFC, the Automatic winner thrice (Albert snagged it in 1949), the Sweetness winner twice, and the World winner once. When he got to the NFL, he took the quarterback award three times, OPOY once, and MVP twice. ^[34]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Graham ranks sixth in VAL (11366) and third in TAYP+ (116.8).

71. Brett Favre (1991-2010)
Quarterback
Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons

When Favre took the field, it was must-see theater. As the cold robe of winter blanketed Green Bay, the gunslinger worked his magic. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was always exciting. Favre retired as the career leader in passing yards and touchdowns, and his 321 consecutive starts are 85 more than the next most at the position. ^[35]Through 2019, Rivers started 236 consecutive possible games. That he also holds the record for career interceptions and fumbles is illustrative of the highs and lows he hit during his two decades under center. It also speaks to the fact that he played at a high enough level, for a long enough time, that coaches were able to overlook the valleys because the mountains were just so damned beautiful. Favre was as tough as they come and played the game with irreverence and incandescent joy. I gave him my quarterback and MVP awards each season from 1995-1997, a period in which he dragged a fairly innocuous group of teammates to lofty rankings on offense. He was also an MVP contender in 2001 and 2009, and he would have been in the running in 2004 and 2007 were it not for all time great performances from others. Remembered most often for his cannon arm and mobility (as well as his reckless play), more often than not he was content to play on schedule in Holmgren’s version of the West Coast Offense. ^[36]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Favre ranks 19th in VAL (7240) and 43rd in TAYP+ (106.4).

70. Ted Hendricks (1969-1983)
Linebacker
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers

Cerebral and eccentric, the Mad Stork possessed spectacular intelligence, ^[37]Hendricks was a Rhodes Scholar finalist who sometimes seemed to treat football as a hobby. spatial awareness, and on-field recall. Legendary teammate Howie Long recalled Hendricks sniffing out a play and then telling the offense he knew it was coming because it was the same play they used three years prior. Kick-’em-in-the-Head-Ted didn’t have the build of a typical NFL linebacker. Standing 6’7″ and weighing around 220 pounds, he was lanky and had to pay careful attention to technique to avoid giving up leverage against blockers (and to save his knees). He used his height and instincts to block a record 25 kicks during his career, and he put his big play ability on display with his NFL record four safeties. Hendricks started out playing defensive end before moving to outside linebacker, rather quickly earning a Dobre Shunka Award for best player at the position. ^[38]In 1971, he had five picks, four sacks, and a touchdown for a good Colts defense. A move to Oakland saw him play outside in a 3-4, which, even then, was quite different from his previous role in a 4-3. In 1980, at the age of 33, he earned his second Dobre Shunka. That he was worthy of the award on two different teams, in two different schemes, nine years apart is a testament to his adaptability and longevity. ^[39]Hendricks notched 64 sacks and 26 picks in his career, and he may have defensed 100 passes.

69. Michael Strahan (1993-2007)
Defensive End
New York Giants

Strahan is the rare modern defensive end who boasts impressive sack totals while also playing the run at an elite level. It is no exaggeration to say he is the most well-rounded end of his era, and he is arguably a top five 4-3 end in history. Strahan was a relentless penetrator on the strong side of the line, taking down quarterbacks 141.5 times, which is good for 11th on the career list. That includes an official record of 22.5 in 2001. ^[40]Bubba Baker had 23 in 1978, but everyone knows sacks didn’t happen before 1982. While the bulk of contemporary pass rushers relied on the speed rush, he stood out as a sack artist who got the job done with raw power as a young player, before slimming down late in his career and adding speed to his repertoire. Whether playing with power or speed, Strahan was always hustling and may have made more second effort plays than any end in history. I named him the Deacon and Godzilla Award winner the year he broke the official sack record and led the league in tackles for loss and forced fumbles. That was a given. But I also named him the top defensive end in 1997 and 2003. In both seasons, he got after quarterbacks and was a holy terror against the run. Like every year from his first to his last, he treated every play as if it were his last. You can’t ask for more from a player.

68. Julius Peppers (2002-2018)
Defensive End
Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers

One of the greatest athletes ever to play the position (or any position, for that matter), Peppers immediately made his presence felt on the field. He used his long arms to keep blockers at bay, his power to disengage them with apparent ease, and his speed to chase down backs or passers. Criticized early on for inconsistency, much of that lends itself to the fact that Peppers almost never came off the field, which began to take its toll near the end of each season. Even at his low points, he went from otherworldly to merely good. His pass rushing prowess is well known: he currently ranks fifth all-time in sacks and is one of just three players with a decade’s worth of double digit sack seasons. ^[41]He has exactly ten. Bruce Smith had thirteen, and Reggie White had twelve in the NFL and at least one in the USFL. He did this in a much more difficult era to rack up sack totals than the men above him on the career list. In addition to rushing the passer, Peppers was adept against the rush and possessed a sixth sense for making splash plays: he defensed 86 passes, stole eleven interceptions (four pick sixes), forced 52 fumbles, recovered 19 fumbles (two recovery touchdowns). Tall and long with excellent leaping ability, he was great kick blocker and probably could have been a star tight end had he chosen that position instead. At his peak, he was probably the NFL’s premier athlete. Peppers had the acuity to switch to rushbacker 13 years into his career, at age 34, and actually make a Pro Bowl team. ^[42]I named Peppers the top defensive end in football in 2004.

67. Jimmy Johnson (1961-1976)
Cornerback
San Francisco 49ers

While Night Train was the original superstar cornerback, it was San Francisco’s Jimmy Johnson who was the first true shutdown corner, as we think of one today. Rather than beat receivers into submission, Johnson used his incredible speed and length, in concert with refined technique and field vision, to erase opposing receivers. All but the most brazen quarterbacks avoided his side of the field entirely. Perhaps most notable about Johnson is that he spent considerable time studying tape of opponents to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. This studious approach to the game was rare for the cornerback position during his time in the league. When combined with his athleticism and natural grace, the result was a cover man who floated like a feather while suffocating top wideouts. I named him the Prime Time Award winner each season from 1970-1972, and I gave him the World Award in 1969, when he eliminated top receiving threats but had only just begun receiving national attention. ^[43]I wanted to show some love to Barney by giving him the cornerback award in 1969, but Johnson looked like the best player in football at any position that year. If I were able to get my hands on more … Continue reading His 1971 campaign was particularly impressive because he played much of it with a cast on his broken wrist, and quarterbacks were still terrified of him. Dr. Z unapologetically touted Johnson as the greatest defensive back in history. I wouldn’t go quite that far, but I would say that the corner I saw on tape is one of the rare few who I believe could hang with modern receivers without having to rely on rough physical coverage. He was the smooth Haynes/Sanders/Revis type who could hang with anyone in any era.

66. Emlen Tunnell (1948-1961)
Safety
New York Giants, Green Bay Packers

Tunnell was the league’s first great pure safetyman, whose stellar play inspired generations of rangy defenders. He was a key cog in Steve Owens‘s feared Umbrella Defense and patrolled deep to disrupt the long distance passing attacks of the era. Tunnell possessed incredible range, which he used to intercept an astounding 79 passes in his career. This feat is made all the more impressive when accounting for the fact that, in 1944, a 20 year old Tunnell suffered severe burns on both hands when saving a fellow Coast Guard servicemember who had been set on fire following a torpedo strike. ^[44]Prior to that, he suffered a neck injury so serious that it disqualified him from service in both the Army and the Navy. After that, he saved a shipmate from drowning in frigid North Atlantic waters. … Continue reading In addition to his work in coverage, he was also a fierce tackler, capable of jarring ball-carriers. His innate ability to know just where to be on both passing and rushing plays exalted the New York defense and stymied the opposition. Tunnell was also among the best kick and punt returners in the league. His 1951 season was a masterpiece: in 12 games, he intercepted nine passes and scored touchdowns on three punt returns and one kick return. I gave him his namesake award and the Gray and White Award, and only Crazy Legs and Ford stood in his way of taking the most outstanding player award that year. Overall, he earned the Tunnell Vision Award four times from 1948-1952, and he was on the shortlist in several other seasons. Not only was his individual play spectacular, but he spent time teaching teammates to be better on the field and mentoring the to be better off the field. I’m just a fool, but one thing I know for sure: the world needs more Emlen Tunnells.

65. Jack Youngblood (1971-1984)
Defensive End
Los Angeles Rams

Youngblood was never a physical marvel, like many of the greats at the position. However, he was intelligent and crafty enough to compensate, and he was durable enough to play as hard at the end of games as he did at the beginning of games. His legendary toughness was on display in the 1979 playoffs when he played all three games, as well as the Pro Bowl, on a fractured left fibula. Youngblood played at a high level for a dozen years, picking up at least eight sacks every full season from 1973-84. He retired with 151.5 sacks, which ranked second in history at the time and remains good enough for sixth on the career list. ^[45]Those ranks are possibly third and seventh, respectively. We will learn more as we continue to uncover more information about Atkins’s sack totals. He was the best end in the league every year from 1974-1976, and he was in the top handful in several other seasons. He had superhuman explosion off the edge and would embarrass the tackles of his era when lined up wide. Once his quickness got them off balance, he’d toss them aside with his powerful arms. Youngblood was stout against the run and would squeeze the edge to give runners nowhere to go. In this way, he was able the make the play, even if he didn’t make the tackle. He ended his career playing in a 30 front and continued to excel as a rusher and run stuffer, despite having to use a completely different technique at an advanced age.

64. LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-2011)
Running Back
San Diego Chargers, New York Jets

Tomlinson made playing football look easy. He possessed a rare combination of speed and strength and was the greatest of the early-2000s feature back era. His devastating stiff arm is the stuff of legend, and his vision and pad level made him tough to stuff. He was a dangerous three down back with solid receiving skills as a check down option and capable pass protection. He didn’t run routes like Faulk, but he was a reliable option to take pressure off his quarterbacks. Incredibly, Tomlinson started his career with eight straight seasons over 1500 scrimmage yards, including three over 2100. It was his nose for the end zone, however, that was his calling card. It didn’t come from just wanting to score. It came from perfectly reading his blocks and only bouncing away from them when absolutely necessary. It came from a great first step and leverage that enabled him to run with power. He began his career with nine seasons of double digit touchdowns, including a record 31 in 2006. That record season saw him take home consensus MVP honors. ^[46]Personally, I would have gone with a quarterback. I named him the Sweetness Award winner that year, and I gave him his second Supersonic Award. ^[47]The first came in 2003, when he gained 2370 scrimmage yards and scored 17 touchdowns, as well as threw a 21 yard touchdown pass. The Chargers legend ranks seventh in career rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns, and he ran hard without putting the ball on the ground. ^[48]Tomlinson fumbled once every 126.6 touches. That ranks 11th among backs with 1500 or more touches. Only Curtis Martin boasted more touches with a lower fumble rate. Among backs with a better fumble … Continue reading If that weren’t enough, Tomlinson was a plus passer on trick plays, completing 8 of 12 passes for seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

63. Marshall Faulk (1994-2005)
Running Back
St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts

Faulk is very likely the greatest Swiss Army Knife type ever to play the position. He was an elusive runner who could make sharps cuts at full speed, but he also possessed underrated short yardage power. A smart blocker, he is among the best ever in pass protection among good runners. And, of course, he’s the best receiving back in history. With the ability to run a full route tree, Faulk had the skill to be an all pro receiver if he wanted to be. His prowess as a pass catcher has caused some to forget about his rushing contributions. Take note: there are eight seasons in history in which a player gained 80 rushing yards per game and 50 receiving yards per game. Faulk owns half of them, for two different teams, four years in a row. He went over 2000 yards from scrimmage four years in a row from 1998-2001. His lowest output over that time was 2147 yards in 14 games in 2001. He also led the league in touchdowns in both 2000 and 2001, despite playing in just 14 games each season. Prorated to 16 games, his output over that span was 2398 yards and 18 touchdowns per season; in the four years preceding that in Indianapolis, Faulk averaged 1547 yards and 11 touchdowns per 16 games. In the three seasons after his peak, he averaged 1511 yards and 10 touchdowns per 16 games. The biggest difference is that wear and tear caused him to miss far more games. His career highs in rushing average came from 1999-2001, as a member of the Greatest Show on Turf Rams. Faulk didn’t suddenly become a better runner. Instead, he joined a team that featured more dangerous receiving options on the outside and used 3- and 4-wide receiver sets that created space for him to run free. His own prowess as a receiver necessitated defenses putting a better coverage defender on the field, sometimes at the expense of run security. ^[49]Faulk was a consensus MVP in 2000. I went with a quarterback, of course, but I did give him both the Supersonic and Sweetness Awards in the surrounding years. In 2001, I named him the best player in … Continue reading

62. Randy White (1975-1988)
Defensive Tackle
Dallas Cowboys

The Manster was fairly small for a defensive tackle, but he was nonetheless incredibly athletic for his size. He began his career as a linebacker before transitioning to tackle, and he brought the requisite mobility of a linebacker to the interior line. White played with controlled fury, with every play resembling a bareknuckle brawl that usually left offensive linemen down for the count. He found his way into the backfield for 111 career sacks, which ranks third all time among defensive tackles. ^[50]Page had 148.5, and Randle had 137.5  He managed this despite facing more doubles than anyone at his position during his prime. White regularly ran down backs sideline to sideline, and occasionally even ran down receivers. Along with teammate Harvey Martin, White was named the MVP of Super Bowl XII, and he is still the only defensive tackle ever to claim the award. He was a nine time all pro and earned the Mean Award in 1978 and 1983. White could overpursue and get himself blocked out of a play now and then, which is a criticism levied against many of the aggressive defenders, but I think that is a small sacrifice for all the good that comes from playing fast and with intensity.

61. Randall McDaniel (1988-2001)
Offensive Guard
Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A successful high school sprinter, McDaniel possessed rare athleticism for an offensive lineman. It’s common to see a running back with his hand on the back of a pulling guard, pushing the big man to lead the way. Running behind McDaniel allowed ball carriers to play at full speed, because he was often just as fast as they were. Over the course of his celebrated career, he cleared a path for six different thousand yard rushers and proved to be skilled at keeping his quarterbacks off the ground. A big part of the Vikings 1998 scoring explosion, in which the team broke the record for points scored in a season, McDaniel allowed just 1.5 sacks while aiding in Randall Cunningham‘s renaissance. On top of his incredible talent, he also carried with him an unbridled love of the game that simply made him a joy to watch. He had powerful hands and a painful punch that befuddled defenders, and his quickness into his pass set made him a frustrating matchup for pass rushers. He held a bit more than you’d like, but that was a byproduct of his aggressive style in much the same way Favre threw picks and Dickerson fumbled. I clearly didn’t mind the holding, as I gave him the Hog Award each season from 1992-1994, as well as in 1998.

60. Dan Dierdorf (1971-1983)
Offensive Tackle
St. Louis Cardinals

Dierdorf began his career at left tackle before moving to the right side and cementing his legacy as the greatest right tackle in history not named Forrest Gregg. ^[51]Really, he began his career at left guard before kicking out to tackle. He also finished his career playing center. From a modern standpoint, the move from left to right may seem like a demotion. However, in his era, the best tackles tended to play on the right, facing the defense’s best pass rusher. Strong and tough, he bent defenders to his will in the run game and all but eliminated top edge rushers. In fact, he once went over two full seasons—from the middle of 1975 to the beginning of 1978—without giving up a sack. While today’s pass protectors play a passive role, giving ground grudgingly, Dierdorf took the attack to opponents quite violently. His ability to neutralize the rush gave valuable time to an aging Jim Hart in Don Coryell’s deep passing offense. I named him the top tackle in football in 1976 and 1978, but, really, you could pick any year out of his prime and have a strong argument in his favor.

59. Derrick Brooks (1995-2008)
Linebacker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In the official sack era, about 25 players have been named a first-team All-Pro at linebacker multiple times by the Associated Press (the count is complicated by tweeners who switched between DE and LB). Of those 25 players, 10 were middle or inside linebackers and 12 were full-time edge rushers. Another was Wilber Marshall, an outside linebacker for those ’80s Bears defenses where everyone was a part-time pass-rusher at a minimum. And then there’s Derrick Brooks, whose five all pro nods are the fifth-most in that sample despite Brooks playing on the outside and never tallying more than three sacks in a season. Brooks was famous for his coverage abilities at a position celebrated for tackling running backs and quarterbacks. Not that he couldn’t tackle—he averaged 122 tackles per season (93 solo). With seven defensive touchdowns in the regular season and another in the Super Bowl, Brooks added a playmaking element to his steady every down performance. No linebacker has more interception yards or touchdowns. He was the consensus best player on a defense with four potential Hall of Famers. He is one of the rare once-in-a-generation players who managed to be exceptional even among the cohort of the exceptional. ^[52]I gave Brooks the Dobre Shunka Award every year from 1999-2002. In 2002, I also gave him the Godzilla and World Awards.

58. Junior Seau (1990-2009)
Linebacker
San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins

Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, 22 out of 25 linebackers with multiple AP All-Pro berths either played inside or rushed the passer. Brooks was one notable exception. Junior Seau was the other, one of the league’s greatest run-stoppers whose career coincided with the last great heyday of the running game, (for now at least). Attacking the backfield with virtuoso mastery, he made an astounding 168 tackles for loss, stopping runs and screens with ease. ^[53]From what I can tell, his 168 stops in the backfield are far and away the most of any player in history. Since 1982, the next closest player trails him by 50. Deacon may be closer than that, but not … Continue reading Add on his 56.5 sacks, and he recorded 224.5 plays in the backfield. ^[54]I gave him four Dobre Shunka or Enforcer awards from 1992-1997 (he was a WLB but lined up stacked so that he often occupied the same part of the field typically reserved for a MLB. Because the other … Continue reading Seau was in many ways a contradiction. He played forever at a position not known for its longevity; his 20 seasons played leads all linebackers, and he’s one of two linebackers to log a snap after his 40th birthday, (joining Clay Matthews). He made twelve Pro Bowls and was named first-team all pro in eight different seasons despite playing mostly on mediocre teams and lacking highlight-reel appeal. He retired only to sign and play four more one-year contracts. A charismatic presence who played with joy only to fall prey to depression in retirement.

57. Marion Motley (1946-1955)
Running Back, Linebacker
Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

On a team steeped in championship glory, full of legends, Motley stood out on film as the best player on any field. He was simply bigger, stronger, and faster than everyone else. A crushing run blocker and a devastating pass protector who Weeb Ewbank once opined “takes the romance out of the blitz,” Motley is the most celebrated blocking back in the long history of professional football. People talk about Rushmore; when it comes to delivering a forearm to the face of a defender, Motley stood alone atop Everest. ^[55]On film, he stood out for his highlight reel blocks, but it warrants mention that he was not very consistent and had a tendency to let blockers slide off after the initial pop. Motley also … Continue reading At 6’1″ and over 230 pounds, Motley is rightly remembered as a bruiser. However, sometimes overlooked is his athleticism and ability to break big plays. He held the record for single game rushing average (17.1) for 52 years and still holds the career record (5.7). ^[56]He carried the ball 11 times for 188 yards in a blowout victory over the Steelers in 1950. He lost the record in 2002 when Michael Vick ran 10 times for 173 yards in an electrifying performance … Continue reading While his touchdown numbers weren’t that high, much of that can be explained by the fact that Graham usually called his own number at the goal line. ^[57]During Motley’s tenure in Cleveland, Graham scored 19 touchdowns from the 1-yard line and seven more from inside the 10. He was even better in the postseason, boasting 7.1 yards per carry over nine games. ^[58]In his nine seasons, he carried the ball 908 times. That isn’t the type of workload you’d expect from a player of his caliber, but much of this is because Paul Brown reportedly tried to … Continue reading While Motley didn’t catch many passes (85), he did post an impressive 13 yard average. He spent time at linebacker and played defensive line in goal line situations and was said to be a natural talent at both. It’s no wonder Dr. Z (who saw an awful lot of players) called Motley the greatest player he ever saw. ^[59]I gave Motley his namesake award from 1946-1949 and 1951-1953. I named him the World Award winner in 1948. In 1950, based on his running, I decided to give him the Supersonic and Sweetness awards.

56. Emmitt Smith (1990-2004)
Running Back
Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals

Smith wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or quickest back. His greatest strengths were ones that didn’t jump off the screen: balance, vision, pad level, and the ability to be like water. He always seemed to find yards and elevate his offensive lines, he fell forward far more often than not, and he rarely absorbed hits. This combination of skills, on concert with legendary mental toughness, afforded Smith the opportunity to become the all-time leader in rush yards and touchdowns, posting 14 seasons over 1000 yards from scrimmage along the way. He is also one of the game’s most prolific playoff performers, with 1928 yards and 21 touchdowns in the postseason. At the height of his powers (1991-1995) he averaged 2024 yards and 18 touchdowns per 16 games, leading the league in rushing yards four times and touchdowns thrice. That is an incredible peak that compares favorably against any running back in history. The difference is that, after his peak, he had six more seasons with over 1000 yards and averaged 1427 yards and 10 scores per 16 games. Smith even squeaked by the thousand yard mark at ages 33 and 35. ^[60]The age 35 performance came after a season in which he played only five games due to injury. He didn’t run receiver routes, but he had sure hands and was a reliable target on checkdowns and screens. People seem to be coming around the idea that pass protection is one of the most valuable skills a back can have. Smith is among the best ever in that area. ^[61]I gave Smith the Supersonic Award in 1992, 1993, and 1995.

55. Herb Adderley (1961-1972)
Cornerback
Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys

Adderley was a vital piece in the 1960s Packers defense that suffocated opposing passing attacks and led the way for the team to enjoy five title wins. He excelled primarily in man coverage and was especially effective at creating big plays off of turnovers. Playing behind a star-studded front seven and in front of safety net Willie Wood, Adderley was able to take chances, and he flipped heads more often than not. In his first eleven seasons, he recorded 48 interceptions, which he returned for an incredible 1046 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also returned five picks for 97 yards and a score in 15 playoff games. Perhaps the best athlete in the NFL during his playing days, Adderley was the rare corner who could lock down a receiver in tight coverage and come up to make a vicious hit against the run. While Night Train got the infamy, Adderley was also a fan of the clothesline tackle. Unlike the more aggressive corners of the day, he played off coverage and was able to react to receivers and break on the ball against the quickest route runners and run stride for stride with the best deep threats. He was also a smart player with a gift for knowing where the offense was going with the ball. Adderley was the best defender on the dynasty Packers, and some years he was the best player on the whole team. In 1971, well into his career and in his second year in Dallas, he picked off six passes and didn’t allow a touchdown in coverage. In addition to his exploits on defense, he was also a solid return man and skilled kick blocker. ^[62]I named Adderley the Prime Time winner in 1962, 1965, and 1966.

54. Marvin Harrison (1996-2008)
Wide Receiver
Indianapolis Colts

For the eight seasons of his prime, Harrison was a machine. From 1999-2006, he had at least 80 catches, 1113 yards, and 10 touchdowns every year. That includes 1400 yards in four consecutive seasons and an NFL record 143 receptions in 2002. The diminutive Harrison ran quick, precise routes that allowed him to gain separation on any route a coach could imagine. His ability to make sideline catches was near flawless, effectively widening the field for his offenses. He possessed uncommon savvy, and his chemistry with quarterback Peyton Manning is the stuff of legend. Harrison was a first down machine, but it is hard to say if that was his own doing or the fact that he played with the most first down friendly passer in history. He had good speed, great routes, ample stats, and tons of testimonials from defensive backs who called Harrison the toughest receiver to defend. Harrison is often compared with the two other big stars during his peak, Owens and Moss, but he was more consistent than both, and he didn’t cause issues that disrupted his teams. Sure, he may have killed a guy, but he was a saint in the locker room. I believe he would have succeeded anywhere, but I do knock him a small amount for playing his entire productive career with a quarterback who made everyone look better. ^[63]I gave Harrison the Bambi Award in both 2001 and 2002. He ranks 8th in career TRY (16910). His top TRY seasons: 1854, 1801, 1701, 1686, 1639, 1619, 1448, 1396, 1014, 949.

53. Terrell Owens (1996-2010)
Wide Receiver
San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Allen Wranglers

T.O. was an imposing figure, built like a weakside linebacker with sprinter speed. Learning from Rice how to work out at an NFL level, Owens worked himself from a third round pick from a small school into one of the most feared receivers of all time. He possessed the requisite skills to beat defenses deep, but he was best generating yardage after the catch. Owens was a monster with the ball in his hands, often opting to run through defenders rather than around them. Despite his (deserved) diva reputation, he was fearless and tough, with several memorable catches in traffic and a legendary Super Bowl performance on an injured leg. Had the Eagles pulled off a victory over the Patriots, Owens would have taken the Pete Rozelle Trophy. Maybe the most notable aspect of his career is the way he was able to laugh in the face of entanglement. He produced at a high level for a long time, for five different teams, with twelve different quarterbacks throwing him touchdown passes. He dropped a ton of passes, but he was only in position to drop those passes by beating cornerbacks off the line and getting open down the sideline. Throughout his routes, Owens manhandled defensive backs like Irvin and was able to break away with underrated straight line speed. He led the league in receiving touchdowns three times, with eight seasons in double digits, and 153 for his career. Only Rice and Moss have more. When he retired, T.O. ranked second in receiving yards, and he still ranks behind just Rice and Fitzgerald. He gets knocked for wearing out his welcome, but he helped elevate his teams’ passing games when he was there, even if he left chaos in his wake. ^[64]Notably, McNabb put up numbers on par with Manning in games Owens played. I gave him the Bambi Award in 2000 and 2004 when, despite his abbreviated season, his positive impact on the offense was demonstrably great. ^[65]Owens ranks 2nd in career TRY (18898). His top TRY seasons: 1734, 1675, 1647, 1558, 1512, 1446, 1435, 1318, 1249, 1179, 1053, 970.

52. Bronko Nagurski (1930-1937, 1943)
Running Back (premodern)
Chicago Bears

A larger than life, Paul Bunyan in pads type figure, it is often hard to separate fact from fiction, the apotheosis commonly found in sports journalism of yore versus the more critical (sometimes too critical) approach taken by modern media; digging through the mythology, we find a man who was the best running back of his generation and nearly always among the top players in the league. If I had access to more footage, I feel reasonably confident Nagurski would have three or four Motley Awards, a Sweetness Award, and two Automatic and World Awards. Even after a five year retirement, he returned to the Bears and boated the highest rushing average of his career (on a small number of carries). It’s no surprise. Physically, Bronko lived up to his nickname: a hulking figure who possessed the natural frame to have added enough muscle to play in the modern game. In fact, he is one of the very few players of his era who could feasibly succeed today with just a few years to get up to speed. With his quick burst off the ball, powerful upper body, and ferocious tackling, he’d be a natural edge rusher. ^[66]He could probably play fullback today, too, but I imagine he’d actually want to get on the field. As the most punishing blocker of his generation—a generation that revered solid blocking—his ability and willingness to spring others for big gains when he didn’t get the ball himself was invaluable. Nagurski was also an above average passer whose 7:9 touchdown to interception ratio is incredible in the context of the era. That era, however, is the primary reason the Bronko is outside the top 50 on this list. The NFL was a weak league that didn’t tend to attract the nation’s top athletes. Nagurski himself was able to make more money in professional wrestling. Talent was often concentrated in a few teams, and the Bears were one of those teams. ^[67]Chicago still led the league in points scored in 1935, when Bronko played just five games. And no matter how well the performed against other players, I cannot give full credit to anyone who played in a segregated league. ^[68]Also, according to historians who actually studied the tape and took time to describe what happened on the field rather than make gods out of mortals because the fledgling league needed heroes to … Continue reading

51. Steve Young (1984-1999)
Quarterback
San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Express

Young was a highly regarded prospect out of college and opted to join the upstart USFL instead of the established NFL. ^[69]Had he agreed to play in Cincinnati instead of the USFL, we could have seen a Super Bowl featuring Young versus Montana. What a treat that would have been. After the lesser league folded, he spent two lackluster years in Tampa Bay before Bill Walsh saw his promise and brought him to the 49ers. Young had to wait a long time to become the starter in San Francisco, but it was worth the wait. Accounting for era, he was the most efficient passer in history, leading the NFL in passer rating six times and retiring as the career leader in the stat. He had the best combination of passing and running prowess of anyone the league has ever seen. In addition to earning the completion rate crown five times and the touchdown crown four times, his 51 combined regular and postseason rushing touchdowns rank behind only Cam Newton. He excelled throwing accurately on the run, and his own threat to take off opened up passing lanes for him. If defenders stuck with coverage, Young could easily pick up a first down with his legs. Simply stated, he forced defenses to make impossible decisions. When he ran the naked boot on the goal line, it was one of the scariest plays in football. I named him the league’s top quarterback and MVP each season from 1992-1994 (arguably the best three-year run any quarterback has ever had), and I gave him the Sweetness and World awards in 1992. The only things keeping him this low on the list are the brevity of his prime and the difficulty of disentangling his performance from his stacked teams. ^[70]Among qualifying quarterbacks, Young ranks seventh in VAL (10404) and first in TAYP+ (119.6).