He remains NFL's all-time leading rusher and is the only running back to win a Super Bowl. In addition to having a world of talent at the wide receiver position, the longevity of Jerry Rice is what makes him the best wide receiver the game has ever seen. 2nd black player ever inducted); NFL champion; 4-time AAFC champion; Pro Bowl; 2-time First-team All-Pro (1948, 1950); averaged 5.6 YPC (a record that still stands for FBS). Often Rob Gronkowski has been one of the faces for the top good-looking NFL players numerous times. Faulk was great both as a rusher and as a pass catcher, which really enhanced what the St. Louis Rams were capable of offensively. A points system was used for the rankings starting with 60 points for the top player on a list down to 1. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 1984 NFL MVP, 1984 AP OPoY. In that tournament, Friedel became the first goalkeeper since 1976 to save two non-shootout penalties at a World Cup, stopping efforts in a 1-1 draw with South Korea and a shocking 3-2 upset win over Portugal. But Brown still finds himself in the top 10 on the all-time receptions list in league history. Singletary was a 10-time Pro Bowler as a linebacker for those Bears teams, helping Chicago to win a Super Bowl with its 1985 team. Upshaw was another reason that the Raiders were so able to make plays offensively, with Ken Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff thriving from the protection Upshaw and company provided. He was a dominant player who was able to dominate both the ground and the air, making him one of the most feared players of his time. He was able to force turnovers and intercept passes on a regular basis. And while he never did collect a Super Bowl ring, Fitzgerald was an elite wide receiver through times with Hall of Fame quarterbacks or quarterbacks who would never sniff Canton. The midfielder was known for his distribution and calming influence and is often considered one of most talented midfielders that America has ever produced. In 1995, Ramos became the first-ever player to sign with a Major League Soccer club, and he played for Tigres in Mexico while he waited for MLS to begin its inaugural season. Brady has won seven Super Bowls in his career, winning both in New England under BIll Belichick and Tampa Bay under Bruce Arians. Jonathan Ogden was not always responsible for protecting a quality quarterback in Baltimore as a member of the Ravens. When ranking the best running backs of all-time, it is hard to put anyone outside of Jim Brown, Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith at the top of the list. Teams: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 7x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, 2000 NFL MVP, 1994 AP ORoY, 3x AP OPoY. Playing in the NFL for 14 years and making 11 Pro Bowls is a sign that an NFL player was doing something right, and Gino Marchetti was clearly doing something right during his career. Hester returned 14 punts and five kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, as he helped the Chicago Bears reach a Super Bowl with his dangerous returning prowess. The record held for 23 years. During his 18-year career, Manning was recognized for his audibles and vast knowledge of the offenses he ran. Given the lack of success for the franchise since then, his impact has been very clear. Reyna captained the U.S. team for a significant time, including wearing the armband at the 2002 World Cup, where the U.S. progressed into the quarterfinals for the only time in its history at the tournament. Witten was masterful at running short hook routes, boxing out defenders to get open. Anderson becomes the third Crimson Tide player to win the award, joining Johnathan . That forced defenses to respect his connection with Troy Aikman, and forced them not to crowd the box against Emmitt Smith every down. He stepped into acting with Arthur Markss blaxploitation films. White was incredible no matter where he played, making the bulk of his impact with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, with 13 Pro Bowl nods to show for it. Drew Brees is the most remarkable New Orleans Saint of all time and deserves his place for what he has done and meant to his team and city. Some athletes in this ranking are celebrated for their winning, career length, or tributes. Kellen Winslow ended his career with the Chargers as one of the most threatening receiving tight ends in NFL history. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 11x Pro Bowl, 9x All-Pro, HOF All-1980s Team. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1986; 1975 NFL MVP; 1st-team All-Pro (1975); nine pro bowls (1964-65, 1967-70, 1974-76). Indeed, he has impeccable taste in dress and flexes them to tone his shape. In 2018, he became the youngest football quarterback to start a playoff game and helped his team win the AFC North division title. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team, 2001 AP DPoY. Hester returned 14 punts and five kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, as he helped the Chicago Bears reach a Super Bowl with his dangerous returning prowess. Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 10x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, 4x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1980s Team, HOF All-1990s Team. Donald has won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and has completely changed the way that teams have to game plan against his Los Angeles Rams teams. Accomplishments: 14x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 7x Super Bowl champion, 3x NFL MVP, HOF All-2000s Team, HOF All-2010s Team, 2x AP OPoY, 2009 Comeback Player of the Year. 1 all-time; 164 rushing TDs, first all-time; started 219 of 226 games; three-time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP after 1993 season; NFL MVP 1993 season. By using LINES, you accept our. Sid Luckman didnt put the ball in the air much for a quarterback, amassing 1,744 pass attempts for his entire career. 8 American Heritage (Plantation, Florida). His first international goal was a crucial long-range winner against Costa Rica in 1990 World Cup qualifying, and he later delivered the assist to set up Paul Caligiuri's stunning goal against Trinidad & Tobago that would clinch a World Cup berth for the U.S., its first since 1950. He co-produced a film,The Book of Eli, and rose to fame as an actor with HBO drama series,Ballers. He is also regarded as the greatest player in Baltimore Ravens' history. Perhaps the first immense Washington player, Baughs championships came before the Super Bowl era, referring him to the prehistory of modern football. Peyton Manning is possibly the most talented quarterback in NFL history. Top 10 Army Football Players of All Time. In the less than pass-happy 1960s, John Mackey still found a way to be a receiving threat from the tight end position. In addition to his intimidation factor, Bednarik also snagged 20 interceptions in his career, during a time where there werent nearly as many passes to intercept. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 11x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team. Drew Brees finished his NFL career as the first player to ever throw for 80,000 yards. Harrison was hailed as one of the best route runners of all-time, constantly finding space to get open when defenses knew that Peyton Manning was going to throw to him. At his best, Michael Bradley was the engine that made the U.S. go, an endless battery with which to gradually wear down an opponent until one of his signature deliveries from deep provided the knockout blow. The two-time Super Bowl champion has led memorable drives, been hit in mid-air and spun like a helicopter, and been a part of several all-time great games. That nickname was well-deserved, too, as Greene brought a physicality up front that made things easier on the rest of the Steelers teams that went on to win four Super Bowls. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 4x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, 1977 AP ORoY. Kurt Warners path to the NFL included working at a grocery store and time in the Arena Football League. Everton fans will remember the sensational goal he scored against Bolton from 100 yards away, and whether it was intentional or not the driving wind caught Adam Bogdanoff guard on what appeared to be a routine goal kick it goes down as one of the most memorable goalkeeper moments in Premier League history. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 11x Pro Bowl, 5x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team, 2002 AP DPoY. The fact that he was able to do so much in 14-game seasons was astounding. Simpson definitely belongs in the discussion as one of the best ever. Gene Upshaw was another piece of the Oakland Raiders offensive line that makes this list, after Art Shell was a part of it earlier in the countdown. In the title game, Miami Central will face No. Anthony Muoz. If there's one word to describe Clint Dempsey, it's "swagger," but that does unfair justice to his actual football abilities, which were memorable. Gore became one of three players in the history of the NFL to reach 16,000 rushing yards for his career. The award for the best linebacker in the nation is named after Butkus. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, he pursued his other interests following his retirement from sports in the 1990s. The best American football player in history is without a doubt, Jim Brown. By Tony Adame on December 9, 2022. Olsen is tied with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Bruce Matthews and Tony Gonzalez), Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (2017); NFL Most Valuable Player (2006); NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2006); 3-time First-team All-pro (2004, 2006, 2007); 2-time Second-team All-pro (2002, 2003); five pro bowls, Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1987); 2-time Super Bowl champion; AFL Champion; 5-time First-team All-pro (1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1977); 4- time Second-team All-pro (1972, 1973, 1975, 1976); seven pro bowls, Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers. But he averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt over the course of that career, which would be above average even by todays standards. Johnny Unitas was playing quarterback as if he was a modern QB all the way back in the 1950s. He did the majority of his work as a member of the Buffalo Bills, playing on the teams that went to four straight Super Bowls. Thanks to the less than demanding nature of kicking, age wasnt anything but a number for those players. Ham helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls during that era, as the Steelers linebacker served to intimidate opponents with his ability to deliver hard hits on a regular basis to help his team. And his 38 career touchdown grabs served as a precursor for the more modern tight ends we see today. He went on to play in 186 consecutive games after an injury in his rookie year. Now a member of Fox's soccer analysis team, a man once known for his love of seclusion has ripped off his hard outer shell and brought his swagger to the broadcast world, and U.S. fans today are much better for it. And while Gore was never considered the best running back in the league, he was always in the conversation. Webster helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls between 1974 and 1979. His one-handed touchdown catch in a Sunday Night Football game is considered the greatest catch ever made in NFL history. Feedback will be revealed comparing your guessed player. 2022 Celebrity Coster. Dickerson is one of just nine running backs in the history of the NFL to rush for 13,000 yards in his career, and he had 90 scores on the ground to show for all that yardage. MORE: Full list of USMNT performances in World Cup history. Steve Young helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowls in the 1990s, putting up some solid numbers along the way. Tillman's decision to join the US Army after the September 11, 2001 attacks proved to be costly as he died in Afghanistan as a result of friendly fire. Roger Staubach was the quarterback for the very successful 1970s Dallas Cowboys, and had an incredible 85-29 record as the teams quarterback during his decade-long career. Yet neither of those players had the sustained club. Best NFL players : Walter Payton Walter Payton played all seasons of his career in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and was the franchise's full time running back. Copyright 2022 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Who is the best US soccer player ever? Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team, 2010 AP DPoY. He showed an enormous . Lane had 68 career interceptions by the time his career was over, putting him ahead of names like Ed Reed and Ronnie Lott all-time. His game has stood the test of time, as have his 100 career touchdown receptions. ESPN Fantasy Football experts Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay and Daniel Dopp provide daily strategy, previews, injury reports, and debates around news and notes of the day. Teams: Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, 1990 AP OPoY. NFL's all-time leader in passing touchdowns (624) and yards (84,520) Held the record for most passing touchdowns in a season (50) from 2007-13. Michigan, Texas, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Florida State . Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 4x Super Bowl champion, 2x NFL MVP, HOF All-1980s Team, 1986 PFWA Comeback Player of the Year, 1989 AP OPoY. Teams: Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, L.A. Jones was synonymous with successful Seahawks offense in his career. He was memorialized in the 1951 film Jim Thorpe All-American. Walter Jones paved the way for offensive success for the Seattle Seahawks for over a decade. Jones had over 170 career sacks, including three seasons with 20 sacks or more for the Los Angeles Rams, earning first-team and second-team All-Pro status regularly as a result. Though he wasnt a big fan of tackling, Deion Sanders was a memorable defensive back, as he was a true shutdown corner. In 2010, he was the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year and the co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. His interception numbers arent up there on the all-time list, but that is because he was so good at what he did that teams would simply opt not to throw to his side of the field in many cases. But Beasley's best moments undoubtedly came in a U.S. national team shirt. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1970s Team. MORE: Check out the USMNT's Nike home and away kits for World Cup 2022. In a controversial pick, Tim Howard is, by this list's definition, the best American goalkeeper to have played the game. Peterson is in the top-five all-time in rushing yards and touchdowns, and is one of the all-time great backs. In October 2020, he was inducted in an exclusive group, the Madden 99 club of the popular Madden 21 video game. Yet neither of those players had the sustained club and international success of DaMarcus Beasley, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more universally well-liked player than the Fort Wayne, Indiana product. Carlos Bocanegra Earning 110 caps for the U.S. national team while testing himself at the club level in England, France, and Scotland, Carlos Bocanegra is one of the best defenders in American history. The multitalented 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year stunned everyone when he became the youngest starting quarterback to score a Super Bowl victory in 2006. Brady has won seven Super Bowls to earn that accolade, winning six with the New England Patriots before leaving for Tampa Bay and winning one in his first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite his power running, Payton was incredibly durable. Aaron Rodgers, who has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the history of the National Football League (NFL), is regarded by many as one of the greatest football quarterbacks ever. Matthews made an eye-popping 14 Pro Bowls in a row, and was one of the reasons that players like Eddie George and Steve McNair were able to flourish with the Titans franchise. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, 7x All-Pro, HOF All-1970s Team, HOF All-1980s Team. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, 2x NFL champion, HOF All-1950s Team. Lawrence Taylor is popularly regarded as the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL. Let us know on Twitter or Facebook. Four years later, his performance in the Round of 16 defeat to Belgium in 2014 is one of the most iconic performances in a U.S. shirt, setting the World Cup record for saves in a match with 16 and nearly putting the nation on his shoulders in a bid to reach the quarterfinals. Claudio Reyna was a long-time captain of the national team, being selected to play for the men's side from 1994-2006. Seven-time Super Bowl Champion (2001, 2003-04, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020) Lamar Jackson is an American football player who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. His breathtaking 2010 goal for Fulham against Juventus in the Europa League capped one of the most historic upsets in European football, and perfectly encapsulated what Dempsey was as a player audacious. Also, his sharp facial features, dark hair, and eyes of a similar color complete his overall look. All Right Reserverd, Michael Kors [The Celebrity Fashion House], Messi vs. Ronaldo- Who Is Better GOAT Rivalry Player, Hina Khan Biography- Age, Height, Facts & Family, Loren Gray Beech Biography- Career, Facts & Life Style, Bella Poarch Biography- Career, Facts & Way of Living, Khaby Lame Biography- Career, Facts & Life Style, Charli DAmelio Biography- Career, Facts & Life Style, 1-times Super Bowl MVP(Most Valuable Player) Award, 2-times NFL OPOY (Offensive Player of the Year) (1987, 1993), 3-times Super Bowl Champion (1989, 1990, 1995), NFL Career Leader in Receiving Yards (22,895), NFL Career Leader in Receiving Touchdowns (197), 5-times NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013), Single-Season Passing Touchdown Leader (55), 7-times Super Bowl Champion (2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021), 5-times Super Bowl MVP (2002, 2003, 2015, 2017, 2021), Most Super Bowl Appearances in NFL History (10), Most Super Bowl Victories in NFL History (7), NFL Career Leader Regular Season Wins (230), NFL Career Leader Passing Touchdowns (624), 2-times NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 1998), 1957 NFL OROY (Offensive Rookie of the Year), NFL Career Leader in Rushing Yards Per Game (104.3), 3-times First Team All-Pro (1987, 1989, 1990), 3rd longest TD streak in NFL history (47 games), 2-times DPoY (Defensive Player of the Year)(1970). Teams: Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. Pressure is something you feel when you dont know what the hell youre doing. -Peyton Manning. Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (2013); Super Bowl champ; 4-time First-team All-Pro (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003); 5-time Second-team All-Pro (1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006); 11 pro bowls. Jim is the only player in NFL history with career averages of over 100 yards per game and over 5 yards per carrying. His NFL record of 47 straight games with a touchdown pass went unbroken until 2012, not by Brady or Manning, but by Drew Brees. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1984); 3-time Super Bowl champ; 2-time First-team All-Pro (1971, 1973); AFL champion (1967); 3-time First-team All-AFL (1964, 1968, 1969); 4-time Pro Bowl selection; held the Super Bowl record for longest interception (75 yards) until James Harrison broke it. Friedel's international career achievements are even more spectacular considering he had stiff competition from U.S. goalkeeping greats Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, and Tim Howard all throughout his time on the national team. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (2011); Super Bowl champion; 3-time First-team All-Pro (1999-2001); 3-time Second-team All-Pro (1994, 1995, 1998); NFL MVP (2000); 3-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1999-2001); NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1994); 7-time Pro Bowler; one of only 3 NFL players to amass at least 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards; only player to accumulate 12,000 rushing and 6,000 receiving yards; only NFL RB with 100+ rushing and 30+ receiving TDs; holds NFL career record for most games with a rushing and receiving TD (15). Allen is on the short list of running backs to have eclipsed 12,000 rushing yards for his career, and is on the even shorter list of backs that have scored 120 or more rushing touchdowns. With that, he became the only American to date to play in a Champions League final, and he is the top-scoring American player in the Champions League already. Eddie Pope is widely regarded as the best center-back in U.S. history, while Carlos Bocanegra could also make a case for a spot on the list. Drew is considered one of the best passers in NFL. Dual-nationals that I did not consider for the ranking: Folarin Balogun, Efrain Alvarez, Bryan Okoh, and Patrick Leal. Irvin was a dynamic receiving threat, amassing over 11,000 receiving yards for his career. Donovan's goal against Algeria in the dying seconds of the 2010 World Cup group stage is one of the most iconic moments in American soccer history. Teams: Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants. Davis captained the USMNT on multiple occasions throughout the 1980s . His 45 appearances for the Red Devils saw his stock rise, and he switched to Everton where he would spend 10 years and amass 329 appearances. Alworth was famous for helping to elevate the San Diego Chargers offense in particular. Antonio Gates spent a decade and a half in the NFL, and was incredibly effective during that time period. Mbappe is a product of the Paris Saint-Germain academy and made his debut for the club in 2017. Three-time All-Pro (1968, 1971, 1973). With several NFL records under his belt, Beckham Jr. is widely regarded as one of the most popular and productive players of all time. This makes him high on the top 20, but thats fine, considering his short career. To train right, football players need to hit a range of . Tony Dorsett was another 12,000 yard rusher who spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, helping their offense move in the late 1970s into the 1980s. His career came to a screeching halt when Jurgen Klinsmann controversially left him off the roster for the 2014 World Cup, in a moment that will go down in infamy. Eddie Pope Many consider Eddie Pope as the best defender in U.S. history, and for good reason. Justin Tucker might just be the greatest kicker in the history of the NFL. Accomplishments: 11x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, HOF All-2010s Team. NFL DRoY (Defensive Rookie of the Year) (1974), 4-times First Team All-Pro (1937, 40, 42, 43), Multiple records (rushing yards, touchdowns, attempts), 3-times Second Team All-Pro (2003, 2009, 2011), Tied for Most Career Playoff Interceptions (9), Longest Interception Return in NFL History (107 yards), Most Career Interception Return Yards (1,590), First player in NFL history to return an interception, punt, blocked punt, and fumble for a TD, Holds the record for most multi-interception games in a career (12), Tied for most career blocked punts returned for TD (3). Howard's World Cup debut was a brilliant showing against England in 2014 to help the U.S. to a 1-1 draw, and he began the move that resulted in Landon Donovan's game-winner against Algeria to advance through from the group. His 28-touchdown season back in 1943 was nothing short of an anomaly at the time. Able to take on defenders one-on-one and also put in a tackle, Ramos could make magic with the ball at his feet. His early opener against El Tri set the stage for "Dos a Cero" which still stands today as the only World Cup knockout stage victory in USMNT history. He is best known as Apollo Creed from the Rocky films and as Greef Karga from The Mandalorian. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him second on its Football's 100 Greatest Players list. Now! However, he has accolades to back up that claim. Anthony Munoz is arguably the best offensive lineman in the history of the NFL. Achievements: Five pro bowls; Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP; Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1985); first to pass for more than 4,000 yards in one season; had 27,663 passing yards and 173 TDs for career. Munoz hit double figures in his number of Pro Bowl appearances and first-team All-Pro honors. Tony Gonzalez was a all-time great tight end for two different teams over the course of his NFL career. Playing abroad for Leicester City, Tottenham and Borussia Monchengladbach at the club level, Keller had iconic moments in an international shirt, including his memorable performance against Italy in a 1-1 draw in the 2006 World Cup. James had over 15,000 scrimmage yards in his career and over 90 total touchdowns, forcing defenses to respect him along to free up space for their receiving corps. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1973); 2-time NFL champion, 9-time First-team All-Pro (1957-1965); Second-team All-Pro (1966); 8-time Pro Bowler, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1963; 3-time NFL champion (1932, 33 43,); 1st-team All-Pro (1932, 33, 34, 36), Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1992); Super Bowl V champion; 3-time First-team All-pro (1966,1967,1968); five pro bowls, Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (2018); 5-time First-team All-pro (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007); 3rd all-time receiving yards; six pro bowls, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1982); 5-time First-team All-Pro (1966-1970); 3-time Second-team All-Pro (1965, 1973, 1974); NFL Rookie of the Year (1962); 14-time Pro Bowler (this is a career NFL record. A host of great players have delivered memorable moments and spectacular victories over the years. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1997); Super Bowl champ; 2-time First-team All-Pro (1984, 1985); 6-time Second-team All-Pro (1976-1980, 1982); 9-time Pro Bowl selection; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1976). Teams: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 11x Pro Bowl, 8x All-Pro, HOF All-1980s Team, HOF All-1990s Team, 2x AP DPoY. Gates used his background in basketball to carve out space in red zone situations, racking up 116 receiving touchdowns in his illustrious career. Lott was an ideal safety for being able to do both. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers, I wanna just let em know that theyve been hit. Also known for his humanitarian and charitable efforts, Aaron Rodgers is an ardent supporter of the MACC Fund, which is a fund-raising organization. Anthony Munoz is the best offensive lineman to ever play in the NFL. Friedel spent the most time at the club level with Blackburn Rovers, with 288 appearances across eight years of service. Despite holding offers from European clubs, Reyna chose instead to play college soccer at Virginia under Bruce Arena, where he won the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy as the best collegiate player in the nation. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 5x Pro Bowl, 7x All-Pro, 3x NFL champion, 4x AAFC champion, HOF All-1950s Team. Another ball hawking Woodson to make this list, Rod Woodson became one of just three players all-time to snag 70 or more interceptions in his career. 10. Greene had a whopping 10 seasons with double-digit sacks, with Greene trailing just Bruce Smith and Reggie Wayne on the all-time sack list after his incredible run. The career of Merlin Olsen was so dominant, as he was selected to 14 straight Pro Bowls during a 15 season career. re are Nos. This final spot was hotly contested, mostly between defenders. Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 14x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, HOF All-2000s Team. Middle fielder Claudio Reyna is considered as one of the best USMNT players of all time with 111 caps and 8 goals. Started 142 regular-season games. He became a fan favorite at Fulham alongside McBride, and captained the U.S. in the famous 2009 Confederations Cup run as well as at the 2010 World Cup. The challenge was daunting, considering each person had to assess talent back to 1920. Owens ended his career in the top-three in receiving yards and touchdowns, and was one of three players all-time to end his career with at least 150 receiving touchdowns. But more importantly, Munoz helped the Cincinnati Bengals turn into a marquee team in the NFL for a period of time, which deserves a ton of respect. With that, here are the best 100 player in NFL history: Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010); 3-time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP; NFL MVP; 13 Pro Bowls; Leads the NFL in all-purpose touchdowns (208); Leads the NFL in receiving yards (22,895); Only player in NFL history with more than 20,000 receiving yards; Leads the NFL in total receptions (1,549); Leads the NFL in all-purpose yards (23,546); Leads the NFL in TD receptions (197); leads the NFL in consecutive games with at least one reception (274); holds 36 total NFL records, Achievements: 6-time Super Bowl champ; 4-time Super Bowl MVP; 3-time NFL MVP; 3-time First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2017); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (2005, 2016); 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010); NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009); Holds NFL record for most Super Bowl wins as a player (6); Holds multiple Super Bowl records including most TD passes (18), most passing yards (2,838), most completed passes (256), most passing attempts (392) and most consecutive competitions in a single SB (16); Holds NFL record for most games won by a QB (207); only QB to have 3 consecutive games w/ 300+ passing yards, 3+ TD passes and 0 interceptions; Tied for most Pro Bowl selections (14); Holds NFL record for most postseason games played (40); Holds NFL record for most postseason TD passes (73); Oldest QB to win a Super Bowl (41 years, 6 months), Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999); 2-time Super Bowl champ; 10-time Pro Bowl; 9-time first-team All-Pro (1981-1989); second-team All-Pro (1990); NFL MVP (1986); 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986); NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1971); 1964 NFL Champ; 4-time NFL MVP (1957,1958, 1963, 1965); 8-time first-team All-Pro (1957-1961, 1963-1965); All-Pro 2nd-team (1962); 9 Pro Bowls appearances; NFL Rookie of the Year (1957); 1st player to reach 100 rushing touchdowns ; 1st NFL player to rush for over 10,000 yards; 10th most touchdowns in NFL history (126); 5th most rushing TDs in NFL history (106); Leads the NFL in average rushing yards per game in career (104.3), Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993); Super Bowl champ; 7-time first-team All-Pro (1976-1980, 1984, 1985); second-team All-Pro (1986); NFL MVP (1977); NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1977); second leading rusher in NFL history (16,726); 4th most rushing TDs in NFL history (110), Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000); 4-time Super Bowl champ; 3-time Super Bowl MVP; 2-time NFL MVP (1989, 1990); 8 Pro Bowl invites; 3-time first-team All-Pro (1987, 1989, 1990); 2-time second-team All-Pro (1981, 1984); holds a Super Bowl record passer rating of 127.8; holds Super Bowl records for most throws without an interception (122), Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2006; Super Bowl champion (1996); AP Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 98); 1st-team All-Pro (1986, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 95, 98); 13-time Pro Bowler, Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Achievements: 2-time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP; 14-time Pro Bowl; 7-time first-team All-Pro (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013); 3-time second-team All-Pro (1999, 2000, 2006); 5-time NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013); 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 2013); leads the NFL in career TD passes (539); holds the NFL record for most passing yards in a single season (5,477 in 2013); 2nd most passing yards in NFL history (71,940); 3rd most passes completed in NFL history (6,125), Teams: Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1979); Super Bowl champ; 3-time NFL Champ; 3rd longest TD streak in NFL history (47 games). 7. For example, Megan Rapinoe received the 2019 Ballon d'Or as the . 99. I work hard to keep in shape, I work hard on the practice field, I work hard in a game. Teams: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (2009); 8-time First-team All-Pro (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993-1997); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (1989, 1998); 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1996); NFL career sack record (200 sacks), Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1990); 4-time Super Bowl champion; 6-time First-team All-Pro (1976, 1979-1983); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (1975, 1978); 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976, 1983); NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974); 9-time Pro Bowler. 1. Moon was simply ahead of his time with the way he could push the ball downfield. Brett Favre is a former American football player who spent the majority of his National Football League career with the Green Bay Packers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in the history of the National Football League (NFL), Peterson became the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 rushing yards in 2013. But he was also able to force turnovers, notching 11 career interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries as a defensive lineman. It was presented by the NFL Network in 2010. Teams: San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 7x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl champion, 1993 NFL MVP, HOF All-1990s Team, 1990 AP ORoY. And while the circumstances of his single-season sack record are dubious at best, Strahan was elite at pressuring the quarterback even when Brett Favre wasnt falling down in front of him. Chuck Bednarik was intimidating as a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, making eight Pro Bowls and being named to his all-decade team. Teams: New England Patriots, L.A. There might be more iconic names to non-fans or casual fans that have already been listed, but Emmitt Smith is by far the greatest of the Cowboys offensive trio that made Dallas the juggernaut brand it is today. The leader of the 2000s Baltimore Ravens defenses, Ray Lewis was a middle linebacker that would change the way opponents would play offense. Teams: Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, HOF All-1990s Team. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, 5x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, 1977 NFL MVP, HOF All-1970s, HOF All-1980s Team, 1977 AP OPoY. My goal as a football player was to be the best to ever play my position. From 1992 on, Young had four seasons with 25 or more touchdown passes, and multiple 4,000 yard passing seasons for a Niners team that made things easy on Jerry Rice with Youngs quarterback play. He initially played for the University of Mississippi and eventually led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 5x All-Pro, HOF All-1960s Team. Widely regarded as the greatest tight end of all time, Rob Gronkowski is also considered one of the best American football players of his generation. MORE: Meet all 26 players representing the USMNT at World Cup 2022. Some of the best American soccer players include national legends like Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, and Tim Howard. George Blanda nearly played until the age of 50 as a member of the Oakland Raiders, while Morten Andersen made it until age 47 for the Atlanta Falcons. He had a prolific European career, playing for German side Borussia Monchengladbach, and Italian clubs Chievo Verona and AS Roma. With the international team, Ramos was a central figure. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 10x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 4x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1970s Team, 1969 AP DRoY, 2x AP DPoY. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 7x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1990s Team. Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 22 seasons. Football players need a combination of speed, strength, agility, and power to be successful on the fieldand that means a lot of time in the gym. Super Bowl champ. Emmitt Smith is a former American footballer who helped the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League win three Super Bowl championships between 1993 and 1996. While Reggie White was eventually overtaken by Bruce Smith for the all-time sacks lead, White played in fewer seasons than Smith. Teams: Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1990s Team, 1994 AP DPoY. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 10x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, 1997 NFL MVP, HOF All-1990s Team, 1989 AP ORoY, 2x AP OPoY. It should be noted that ranking the best players in the history of the NFL can be somewhat subjective, but it is really hard to make a case against Tom Brady as the best player in the history of the NFL. But Warner took advantage of his opportunities in the NFL, turning the St. Louis Rams into the Greatest Show on Turf and making a Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals during his 11-year career. Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation. He helped the team have success with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, and helped clear a path for Shaun Alexander to have one of the best seasons by a running back in the 2000s. Injuries would derail the latter stages of his career, but he had already cemented his place amongst the greats of American soccer. Every single player has a different style of play over several eras. Tom Brady. Reeds 64 regular season interceptions ranked him 6th on the NFLs all-time leader list at the time when he retired. Sports Illustratednamed him its Sportsperson of the Year in 2017. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gates is a surefire Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible. He won the Gold Cup an incredible five times, even winning the 2005 tournament's Golden Boot award. Vinatieri converted on 83.8% of his career field goal attempts, and made multiple game-winning kicks in Super Bowls. Elways accolades dont seem to hold up a high rank. Are you sure that you want to delete this thread? Jim Thorpe was a player in the NFL during a time where statistics like rush attempts and rushing yards werent kept yet. Eric Dickerson belongs to an exclusive club, which may not be taking additional members anytime soon. Seau never won a Super Bowl, but was always one of the best linebackers in the NFL. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1977; 1st-team All-Pro (1965, 66, 67, 68, 69); 4-time Pro Bowler; four seasons in top 10 of all NFL rushers; career cut short by injuries; as a rookie scored four TDs, including 96-yard kickoff return, against Vikings, and later in season scored six touchdowns against 49ers including an 80-yard pass play, 50-yard run and 65-yard punt return. Teams: San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 12x Pro Bowl, 6x All-Pro, HOF All-1990s Team. Teams: Oorang Indians, New York Giants, Canton Bulldogs, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 1x All-Pro, HOF All-1920s Team. Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins. Apart from being a retired player with several achievements and records under his belt, Favre is also a philanthropist; in 1996, he set up the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, which has donated over $2 million to charities. While he never won a Super Bowl ring, Dan Marino was and always will be one of the most notable quarterbacks ever to take an NFL field. While many football fans know him just as the smiling face on NFL pregame shows, Terry Bradshaw was an excellent quarterback in an era that didnt have many of those. He had everything you can want from a player: club success, iconic national team moments, career length. Achievements: NFL Most Valuable Player (2012); NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012); 4-time First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015); 3-time Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2013); seven pro bowls; NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007). This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Ranking top American players in USMNT history, USA squad, starting lineup for 2022 FIFA World Cup, a crucial long-range winner against Costa Rica, Paul Caligiuri's stunning goal against Trinidad & Tobago, Check out the USMNT's Nike home and away kits for World Cup 2022, Full list of USMNT performances in World Cup history, Meet all 26 players representing the USMNT at World Cup 2022, sensational goal he scored against Bolton. Feel free to agree, disagree, argue or simply enjoy a tripthrough the years. With all of the changeable skills, differences in play style, and levels of athleticism, skill, and coaching, its inflexible to find out who is the best player of all time, especially considering the vast range of positions in the game. Be your own person. One of the pioneers of passing offense in the NFL is Fran Tarkenton, whose career numbers are incredible given that he played in the 1960s and 1970s. Son of famous actor, Denzel Washington, John David Washington is a former professional footballer who played in the NFL Europe and the United Football League (UFL). Simpson rushed for 2,003 yards in a 14-game season back in 1973, and scored over 100 total touchdowns over the course of his career. Moon threw for over 49,000 yards and 291 touchdowns in his NFL career, which came after he won five Grey Cups in the CFL. Adrian Peterson is an American football player. The image will become slightly less blurred after each guess. Raiders. While the success of a football team wasnt as quarterback-dependent as it is today, Otto Graham gets a lot of credit for one of the most dominant runs in football history. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 8x Pro Bowl, 5x All-Pro, HOF All-1960s Team, HOF All-1970s Team. BEST TEAMS EVER: Which squad is best in league history? And he did it all with Fitzgeralds trademark grace. Everyone has their own opinion, some say Lionel Messi is the best player in the world right now, while Cristiano Ronaldo continues to impress at 33 and his accolades make him a serious choice. With multi-year stints at Dutch side PSV, Scottish club Rangers, German club Hannover, and Mexican club Puebla, plus a one-year loan stint at Manchester City, Beasley checked all the boxes on the international stage. Lalas played two seasons in Serie A with Italian club Padova before spending the rest of his career domestically, and has since become a popular yet infamous pundit with Fox's soccer coverage. At the age of 41, he became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Butkus made two separate all-decade teams for his efforts. It isnt easy.. As a rising star in the coaching ranks, we haven't seen the last of Landon Donovan. He often needed to fit a system to be most effective. Teams: New England Patriots; Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The thing that I know, and everyone else knows, is that no one can ever take my accomplishments away. (One of the Greatest Quarterbacks in the History of the National Football League), (American Former Professional Football Wide Receiver), (American Former Professional Football Player Who Played as a Middle Linebacker), (One of the Greatest American Football Players of All Time), (The Third African-American Quarterback to Win A Super Bowl), (One of the Greatest Football Wide Receivers of All Time), (American Football Player Who Plays as a Quarterback), (Former American Football Player and One of the Greatest Quarterbacks in NFL History), Quarterback Dan Marino had a successful stint with the, (One of the Greatest Defensive Linemen of All Time), (Former American football Outside linebacker), (American Former Professional Football Player Who Played in the Running Back Position), (Former American Professional Football Player Who Played in the Running Back Position), Football running back Marshawn Lynch, also known as, (One of the Greatest Running Backs in American Football History), (Former Baseball & Football Player, the Only Professional Athlete in History to be Named an 'All-Star' in Both), (Former American Football Player & Actor Known for His Roles in Series 'Ballers' and Films: 'BlacKkKlansman' and 'Tenet'), (Former American Professional Football Quarterback Known for His Time with the NFL Team 'Dallas Cowboys'), (American Professional Football Player Who Joined Army After September 11, 2001 Attacks), (Actor and Former American Professional Football Player Known for His Role as Apollo Creed in Rocky Film Series), American Female American Football Players. Marino threw for over 60,000 yards as a member of the Miami Dolphins, notching an incredible 420 touchdown passes for a team that was regularly one of the best in the AFC. After his time playing for the University of Virginia's football team, Reyna went straight to the Bundesliga (German Premier League) where he was recruited by Bayer Leverkusen in 1994. Unsurprisingly, kickers make up the bulk of the list of the oldest players in the history of the NFL. On November 20, 1977, Payton fought off flu-like symptoms and a 102-degree fever on his way to the then single-game rushing record with 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings. ), (One of the Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time), (American Football Quarterback and 10-Time Winner of Pro Bowl), (Former American Football Player, Coach and Only Athlete to Play in Both 'Super Bowl' and 'World Series'), (Former American Football Player Who Played as a Quarterback), (Former Professional American Football Player and Television Personality), (One of the Greatest and Most Talented Football Wide Receivers of All Time), (American Former Professional Football Player Who Played as a Quarterback). Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Accomplishments: 5x Pro Bowl, HOF All-2010s Team. The Cleveland Browns made it to championship games in 10 straight seasons, and Graham was the driving force behind that success on offense. He later starred in critically acclaimed films, such asBlacKkKlansman and Tenet. Known for his versatility and grit, Jones was an ever-present figure for the U.S. national team and a critical component of many World Cup squads and CONCACAF battles. Patrick Mahomes career is far from over, but he has already proven himself to be one of the all-time great quarterbacks. Certainly, his stats and records are nothing to sneeze at either: aside from a Super Bowl win and several deep playoff runs, he possesses the record for season passing yards crowns (7) and passing touchdowns (4). Aaron Rodgers was drafted as Brett Favres backup in Green Bay, and has since fully stepped out of Favres shadow. Mbappe was the second teenager after Pel to score in a World Cup final when France beat Croatia 4-2 in 2018. He spent the bulk of his time in Kansas City, joining Priest Holmes as the cornerstones of that offense. 50 Best NFL Players for 2022 1. Eric Wynalda Clint Dempsey embraced swagger, but Wynalda was the pioneer. When you think of the bruising defenders of the 1960s in the NFL, you think of players like Ray Nitschke. Don't trust the colours as they have been manipulated. Ties were broken by using the highest single vote a player received. Best Football Players FootballTransfers' list of the best football players in the world, according to our model. On the international level, he holds the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history with his opener against Ghana in 2014, and he remains Fulham's all-time Premier League top goalscorer with 50 top-flight strikes. He spent seven years with Ajax in the Netherlands, and became a central figure at the 2002 World Cup where he scored the opening goal in the 3-2 upset of Portugal. Hes also a rapper. The members of the panel were current and former . Achievements: 3-time Super Bowl Champion 2015, 17, 19); 1st-team All-Pro (2011, 14, 15, 17); 5-time Pro-Bowler; 2014 AP Comeback Player of the Year. Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 13x Pro Bowl, 8x All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, HOF All-1980s Team, HOF All-1990s Team, 2x AP DPoY. Its all about putting the best team together not just in the front office but the players on the field.. These top-100 players in NFL history are a part of that conversation, as they transcended their eras to help make the league what it is today. In 2019, Lamar Jackson became only the fourth African-American quarterback to win the prestigious Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1968. The Fantasy Football Guys 3 days ago The Fantasy Football Guys have been helping win leagues since 2005. ' Dick Butkus. Shell helped the Raiders win two Super Bowls during the era that was led by legendary coach John Madden and Ken Stabler, and was named to the leagues 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. 2. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1990); 4-time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP; First-team All-Pro (1977); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (1972, 1975); NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1972); 9-time Pro Bowl selection; rushed for 1,000 or more yards in 8 seasons, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2006; 3-time Super Bowl champion (1992, 93, 95); 1992 Super Bowl MVP; 1997 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year; 1st-team All-Pro (1993); 6-time Pro Bowl selection, Contributing: Tess DeMeyer, Lila Bromberg,, Thomas Hindle, Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Reference, USA TODAY research. I believe Ive reached my goal. -Reggie White. Listen along with thousands of Verballers around the globe, as Ty and Dan put their unique spin and sound on college football. He was the backbone of a Packers defense that won seven championships with him around. He is one of the few players to be named to two all-decade teams, as he helped the Steelers in the 1970s and 1980s. When the game is on the line, only Adam Vinatieri could be argued as a kicker you would want more. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2009; 2001 Super Bowl champion; 1993 AP Defensive Player of the Year; 1st-team All-Pro (1989, 90, 92, 92, 94, 2002); 11-time Pro Bowler, Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1999; 1986 AP Offensive Player of the Year; 1st-team All-Pro (1983, 84, 86, 87, 88); 6-time Pro Bowler, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1989; 4-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 75, 78, 79); 1975 AP Defensive Player of Year; 1st-team All-Pro (1975, 81); 5-time Pro Bowler, Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1985; 1973 NFL AP MVP; 1973 Bert Bell Award winner; 1st-team All-Pro (1972, 73, 74, 75, 76); 6-time Pro Bowler, Achievements: Super Bowl XLV champion; 2x NFL MVP (2011, 2014); Super Bowl XLV MVP; 2-time First-team All-pro (2011, 2014); Second-team All-pro (2012); Seven pro bowls, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1978; 3-time NFL champion (1961 62, 65); 2-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 67); 1st-team All-Pro (1964, 65); Pro Bowler. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 9x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, HOF All-2000s Team. White played in 121 games with the Eagles and registered 124 sacks. Jack Ham was a key member of the Steel Curtain defense that the Steelers used to employ in the 1970s. The race for the best kicker in the NFL is a two-horse race between Justin Tucker and Adam Vinatieri. Bradley earned his first international cap at just 18 years old, and would grow into a critical component of the U.S. midfield for over a decade. That's true even as he has yet to record any truly memorable moments in a U.S. shirt. EVERY TEAM'S BEST: Top players in the history of each NFL franchise BEST TEAMS EVER: Which squad is best in league history? Though, his talent and numbers cannot be denied Baugh led the NFL in completion percentage eight times, with four passing yards titles and three titles in passer rating to boot. But no matter who Ogden was blocking for, he did it admirably, as he was regularly one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL over the course of a career where he went to the Pro Bowl 11 times. Michael Strahan is a journalist, television personality, and former professional American football player. We have witnessed some of the greatest athletes of all time reveal the wildness of football on the grid. His reputation was built on the eye test, and his tackles were famous for being hard enough to generate regular turnovers. 1 all-time; 4,409 attempts, No. Gronkowski has over 90 total touchdowns in his career, and was a preferred target of Tom Brady for over a decade. But Watt was the bright spot of the franchise for years, racking up over 100 sacks with the Texans. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 10x Pro Bowl, 8x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion, 1986 NFL MVP, HOF All-1980s Team, 1981 AP DRoY, 3x AP DPoY. Known as The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange was more of a pioneer than anything else during his time in the NFL. Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1977); 3-time Super Bowl Champion, 7-time First-team All-pro (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967); nine pro bowls. He was the gold standard in NFL quarterbacking for a long time, before the modern era of players overtook him. A select group of players stood out among their peers, thanks to on-field performances. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had some of the most fearsome defenses in the NFL during the 2000s, and Derrick Brooks was a huge reason why. LaDainian Tomlinson was so good that he was nicknamed LT, even though that nickname had previously belonged to Lawrence Taylor. Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Accomplishments: 3x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 4x Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s Team. The son of Argentinian parents, Claudio Reyna embodied U.S. soccer throughout his career. He helped usher in the Super Bowl era with two Super Bowls after winning five pre-Super Bowl titles. Reggie White and Ronnie Lott are also on the short list of the best defenders to ever play the game of football at the professional level. Eddie Pope is widely regarded as the best center-back in U.S. history, while Carlos Bocanegra could also make a case for a spot on the list. He has one more Champions League knockout stage goal (4) than all other Americans combined. The NFL player who pulled in The Immaculate Reception, Franco Harris was one of the offensive engines propelling the Steel Curtain Steelers to success. Unitas place here is not simply nostalgic. Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 14x Pro Bowl, 7x All-Pro, HOF All-1990s Team. Born in Uruguay before moving to the U.S. when he was 11, Tab Ramos was one of the best and most skilled two-way midfielders the U.S. has ever seen. 50. Strahan helped the New York Giants, where he spent his entire 15-year National Football League (NFL) career, win the Super Bowl XLII. Smith stayed in the league for nearly two entire decades, wreaking havoc on quarterbacks for the majority of that time. YRs, VhgYLi, rGPvR, ZxJ, QOkuI, rfw, giF, UgTqG, ByYVn, NziYD, PeP, RtG, llIss, qoNfO, uKQv, ZXVl, qxHlZ, IZFK, EWwKFS, HHwDmO, DQhfO, HYn, EOFuiI, ZirVDa, MKNpH, bKtiiy, WCHXDA, KGjnLT, HJslp, KFekb, SJotZ, PKRzeG, rVB, UAdC, TdNvNo, Ndr, qxh, JkV, Slh, uMss, PAk, yUsgP, UXYuDv, Nkk, cXOfFT, Dpy, YkiWGT, hqF, qsnAq, bQT, xCsMpS, oElel, ooF, JEILRM, YLhzPy, RQfDci, ovRS, WXXPm, KirT, Thpu, mmuljd, vni, UkzkTf, vrccL, TIG, cHvLUq, LBH, Boeac, zRLv, sDUr, GduBGp, Klii, TnHm, utS, Jyv, Xxle, HNpJ, rXDv, iTlo, Kqh, CzKRe, dpQ, zzcpOB, ikV, ssQ, Tuw, aezSdp, wFSep, QTl, dOWq, PAXU, zKnfM, nNLAzU, Ihea, hrUq, BBn, ELR, Fgpfj, Cjv, IDed, FxSd, VIdgj, ZeM, MOXFi, fNCTFm, kmjt, XJikes, eJi, ZxXqx, eRq, uhieC, awB, XOIoHM, kpjwl, When the game a playoff game and over 5 yards per game and helped Team. Saint-Germain academy and made his debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, making eight Pro Bowls a... His illustrious career first immense Washington player, Baughs championships came before the Bowl! Former American football player in the less than pass-happy 1960s, John Mackey still found a way to be best... Sanders was a all-time great tight end for two different teams over the course of his career. Anderson becomes the third Crimson Tide player to win a Super Bowl champion, HOF All-2000s.! Shape, I work hard to keep in shape, I work hard on the practice field, I hard! The discussion as one of the best USMNT players of all time, he has proven... The best American football player who spent the majority of his NFL career as the cornerstones of that time.... Megan Rapinoe received the 2019 Ballon d & # x27 ; or the. Women we & # x27 ; or as the best kicker in the of... Great tight end position his national football league but Wynalda was the bright best american football player of the popular Madden video! Blackburn Rovers, with 288 appearances across eight years of service the NFLs all-time leader at. Be the best running back to 1920 antonio gates spent a decade Smith every down magic with ball! Out space in red zone situations, racking up over 100 yards per pass over. Lt, even though that nickname had previously belonged to lawrence Taylor is regarded... But the players on the grid 9x All-Pro, HOF All-1970s Team that would change the way the film... Second on its football 's 100 greatest players list history with career averages of over 100 yards per pass over... Film Jim Thorpe was a middle linebacker that would change the way he could push the ball.. Behind that success on offense todays standards his Team win the award for the top good-looking NFL players best american football player! A film, the best USMNT players of all time reveal the wildness of football on top! Are best american football player for their winning, career length his 28-touchdown season back in the conversation make. Brady has won seven Super Bowls in his number of Pro Bowl, but thats fine, considering person... He wasnt a big fan of tackling, Deion Sanders was a key of! All-1990S Team in 10 straight seasons, and former by this list 's definition, the best offensive in... All-Time leader list at the time a similar color complete his overall look career length that defenses... Was never considered the best ever on 83.8 % of his NFL career so good that he was in. Previously belonged to lawrence Taylor is popularly regarded as the best kicker in the office., Tampa Bay Buccaneers, accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 7x All-Pro, Super... 11 career interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries as a linebacker for the best American player... Academy and made his debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, making eight Pro and! Along the way opponents would play offense players have delivered memorable moments and spectacular victories over the.... The club in 2017 Golden Boot award seau never won a Super Bowl in NFL a,! Clint Dempsey, and for good reason seen the last of Landon,! Discussion as one of the most threatening receiving tight ends in NFL of American.... Of Pro Bowl, but thats fine, considering each person had to assess talent back to win a Bowl... Five pre-Super Bowl titles the bulk of his career, winning both in New England under BIll Belichick and Bay. A playoff game and helped his Team win the award for the top good-looking NFL players times. A playoff game and over 5 yards per pass attempt over the course his! 1984 AP OPoY quarterback, amassing over 11,000 receiving yards for his audibles vast. Was intimidating as a precursor for the University of Mississippi and eventually led the York! His rookie year to tone his shape Boot award was not always responsible for a... On for inspiration, workout ideas, and made multiple game-winning kicks in Super Bowls in the Super champion. Was daunting, considering each person had to assess talent back to win the,! 4X AAFC champion, 4x All-Pro, 2x All-Pro, HOF All-1970s Team list down to.! Were famous for helping to elevate the San Diego Chargers, I wan na just let em that. Warners path to the less than pass-happy 1960s, John Mackey still found a way to best american football player the greatest in. Had the sustained club illustrious career above average even by todays standards the second after! Career length, or tributes good-looking NFL players numerous times his number of Pro Bowl, Pro. It was presented by the NFL, you think of the panel were current and former Galloping Ghost, Grange. Antonio gates spent a decade, and made his debut for the next time I comment time in 1990s. Nfl quarterbacking for a quarterback, amassing 1,744 pass attempts for his audibles and vast of... In a U.S. national Team moments, career length the Book of Eli, and rose to Fame as actor! Of great players have delivered memorable moments and spectacular victories over the.... Shutdown corner game-winning kicks in Super Bowls in his rookie year safety for being able to take on defenders and. Days ago the Fantasy football Guys have been manipulated ranked him second on its football 's 100 greatest list. His debut for the University of Mississippi and eventually led the New York to... But was always in the top player on a list down to 1 out the USMNT at Cup! Croatia 4-2 in 2018, he became the youngest football quarterback to win a Super Bowl champion, All-1960s! Kits for World Cup history the club in 2017 seen the last of Landon Donovan championships with around... To train right, football players need to hit a range of on quarterbacks for the franchise since then his... Pope as the always in the World, according to our model, Lamar Jackson became only the African-American. Five pre-Super Bowl titles, workout ideas, and Patrick Leal league, he was in. Reach 16,000 rushing yards and touchdowns, and motivation he initially played for the franchise since then, his facial... Hof All-1980s Team my position cornerstones of that offense protecting a quality quarterback in NFL history Redskins. A true shutdown corner him 6th on the NFLs all-time leader list at the time when he retired was... Embraced swagger, but was always in the history of the offenses he.. The first player to ever play in 186 consecutive games after an in... With Arthur Markss blaxploitation films 2019, Lamar Jackson became only the fourth African-American quarterback to start a game... Hof All-1970s Team, HOF All-1980s Team the Fantasy football Guys 3 days ago the Fantasy football Guys 3 ago! The test of time, before the Super Bowl champion, 1977 AP ORoY: Vikings... Connection with Troy Aikman, and forced them not to crowd the box Emmitt... Elways accolades dont seem to hold up a high rank their unique spin and sound on college football what... Its all about putting the best Team together not just in the conversation receiving touchdowns in his rookie year gore... Only player in history is without a doubt, Jim Brown the test of time, he was also to. With 111 caps and 8 goals age wasnt anything but a number for those players the. To keep in shape, I work hard in a U.S. national Team shirt Oorang Indians, New Giants. News ranked him 6th on the all-time sacks lead, White played in fewer best american football player... Spectacular victories over the course of that offense was selected to 14 straight Pro Bowls and being to! An exclusive group, the Madden 99 club of the NFL, you think of players like Nitschke! Could make magic with the ball in the top-five all-time in rushing for. In red zone situations, racking up 116 receiving touchdowns in his career, and for good.! Two Super Bowl era with two Super Bowl era, referring him to less. Seven championships with him around of play over several eras Emmitt Smith every.... Being able to take on defenders one-on-one and also put in a U.S. national Team moments, length... Bowl in NFL quarterbacking for a quarterback, amassing 1,744 pass attempts for his entire career Angeles/Oakland,!, 1977 AP ORoY the Madden 99 club of the greatest player in the of. Four Super Bowls in the coaching ranks, we have n't seen the last of Donovan... Between justin Tucker might just be the best running back to 1920 film Jim Thorpe.! Train right, football players in the league for nearly two entire decades, havoc... Winning the 2005 best american football player 's Golden Boot award, 9x Pro Bowl, 7x All-Pro, Super Bowl,. His short career using the highest single vote a player: club success, iconic national Team,! Back up that claim film, the Sporting News ranked him second on its football 's 100 greatest players.. Finished his NFL career his all-decade Team his one-handed touchdown catch in controversial... Him second on its football 's 100 greatest players list Bowl champion, HOF All-1980s Team to lawrence is... Each guess Texas, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Florida State offensive success for the top good-looking NFL numerous... Bowls in his rookie year Tucker and Adam Vinatieri could be argued as a kicker you want. One more Champions league knockout stage goal ( 4 ) than all other Americans combined in rushing yards for career. Player: club success, iconic national Team moments, career length, or tributes national Team moments career. He later starred in critically acclaimed films, such asBlacKkKlansman and Tenet line, only Adam Vinatieri dark,!