1. Sammy Baugh

1937-1952

In16 years Baugh led the league in passer rating 4 times, pass yards/game 6 times, passes completed 5 times and pass completion % 9 times. He also was a top defensive back (31 interceptions). He was a punter for 8 years, leading the NFL in yards per punt 5 times. His 51.4 yards/punt (1940) is still a record.  He is on the 1940's all-time team. 

2. Don Hutson

1935-1945

In 11 years Hutson amassed almost 500 receptions and 8,000 yards. His 105 TD's in 116 games is unthinkable. He led the league in receptions 8 times & receiving TD's 9 times including 17 in 1942 (still 5th all-time today. The 8-time Pro Bowler finished 1st in receiving YPG 8 years and was 2nd his other 3. He was an All-Pro 4 times. 

3. Jerry Rice

1985-2004

Rice holds the NFL record for receptions (1,549, touchdowns (208) and all-purpose yards (23,546). He had great hands, ran a variety of great routes and capitalized on his speed. He is the most fluid receiver we've ever seen. He became a very good blocker. He was voted to the Hall-of Fame all-time teams for both the 1980's and 1990's. 

4. Jim Brown

1957-1965

Brown racked up the 9th most yards rushing in league history, leading the NFL in rushing in 8 years of his 9 years. He holds the all-time record with 104.3 yards per game and scored 126 touchdowns in 118 games. He played through injury never missing a game despite his rugged running style. He led the Browns to 3 Championship games.  

5. Lawrence Taylor

1983-1994

LT, a pass rushing machine, made 10 Pro Bowls & was All-Pro 8 times. His resilience and speed led to the 10th most sacks all-time. He simply took over games. He ran down RB's from behind often. He caused teams to entirely change offensive game plans. He is the only defensive player since 1971 to be named NFL MVP.  He has 2 two Super Bowl rings.

6. Johnny Unitas

1956-1973

The 3-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowler led the Colts comeback in the 1958 NFL title game. His lifelime record is 118-64. He is the only player to lead the league in TD passes 4 straight years. In 1959 he threw  32 TD passes (20 was common. The 10-time Pro Bowler and 5-time All- Pro led the league or was runner up in game-winning and comeback drives 9+ times.

7. Dick Butkus

1965-1973

Butkus is the best tackler of all-time. He was the most ferocious hitter of his day and one of the top 5 of all-time, in the class of Ronnie Lott, Jack Tatum and Ray Lewis. He is on the 1980's/1990's decades Hall of Fame teams and did it all on one of the worst teams of his era.

8. Walter Payton

1975-1987

His resilient running style electrified the NFL. He ran for 16,726 yards. He was a great blocker and a proficient passer on option plays. Payton led the 17-1 Bears to a Super Bowl win in 1985. He is rated our best all-around running back in NFL history. He was rarely injured and at the top of his game for all of his 13 seasons and 9 Pro Bowls.

9. Anthony Munoz

1980-1992

Munoz dominated the Offensive Tackle position like few others in NFL history. It is difficult to place under-appreciated offensive lineman on a list of this nature but we recognize the overpowering nature of Munoz' game. Munoz was a class act and a team leader. He led the Bengals to 2 Super Bowl appearances and made 11 Pro Bowls.

10. Barry Sanders

1989-1998

Sanders was the best pure runner of all-time by being #1 in elusiveness which he needed it playing behind poor offensive lines.  He would have broken Walter Payton's rushing record (total yeards rushing) had he not retired at the peak of his career. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry which is second to Jim Brown all-time. He's on the 1990's Hall of Fame team.

11. Otto Graham

1946-1955

Graham was a 9-time league MVP and led his Browns to 10 straight championship games in his 10-year career, winning 7. He was also in the top 3 quarterbacks in passing completion percentage in all 10  years. He compiled a record of  114-20 (81.4%) and 9-3 in the playoffs. His record of 8.98 yards/attempt stands today. He is on the 1950's Hall of Fame team.

12. Joe Montana

1979-1994

Montana was the most consistent quarterback of his era leading a 1-15 team to the playoffs in his second year. Known as a come-back king, he won 4 Super Bowls and was the game MVP three times. He ranked #1 in completion percentage 5 times. He was named to the Pro Bowl 8 times and voted to the 1980's Hall of Fame team.

13. Reggie White

1985-2000

White is 2nd all-time in sacks (198) but was also stellar against the run. The 8-time All-Pro was 2-time defensive player of the year and is on the 1980's and 90's Hall of Fame Teams as well as the NFL 75th Anniversary Team. White went to 13 straight Pro Bowls in 15 seasons.

14. Tom Brady

2000-present

The 3-time NFL MVP is a 14-time Pro Bowler and 4-time All-Pro. Brady has played in 9 Super Bowls, winning 6 of them and game MVP in 4 of them. Brady has an astounding 219-64 record through 2020 and is 30-11 in the playoffs. He has a lifetime 97.1 passer rating in the regular season and 89.0 in the playoffs. He is on the 2000's Hall of Fame Team.

15. Ronnie Lott

1981-1994

The 10-time pro Bowler & 6-time All Pro was the most instinctive and hardest hitting Safety of all-time. He registered 63 interceptions (7th all-time). He was named to the 1980's and 1990's Hall of Fame teams. He led the 49ers defense in their 4 Super Bowl victories in the 1980's. He once had a finger amputated so he wouldn't have to miss the next game.

16. Joe Greene

1969-1981

The Defensive Rookie of the Year & 2-time NFL Defensive MVP played on the Steelers first four Super Bowl teams and was the quite cornerstone of one of the best defenses of all-time that featured eight Hall of Fame players. He was a gentle giant but a fierce competitor and made the Pro Bowl in 10 of his 13 seasons and made the 1970's Hall of Fame team.

17. Randy Moss

1998-2012

Moss stormed into the league as a rookie with a record 17 TD's (still a record). He registered the most TD's all-time for a receiver in a single season (23), is second in total touchdown receptions (156) and fourth in total TD's (157). He had 15.6 Yards Per Catch and is on the 2000's decade Hall of Fame team.

18. Peyton Manning

1998-2015

Manning is #1 all-time in passing yards and touchdowns.  The Super Bowl MVP and 2-time champ is a 5-time league MVP. Manning threw a record 55 TD passes in 2013 blowing past Tom Brady's previous record of 50 by five. He also tied a league record by throwing 5 TD passes in one game. He is on the 2000's Hall of Fame Team.

19. Ray Lewis

1996-2012

Lewis was a completely dominant player at middle linebacker who was like Dick Butkus with speed. This tackle machine averaged 7 tackles per game and led arguably the best defense of all-time in 2000 on his way to 2000 Super Bowl MVP, his first of two Super Bowl wins. He is on the 2000's Hall of Fame team.​

20. Dan Marino

1983-1999

The 9-time Pro Bowler threw an NFL record 48 TD passes in his rookie season. He amassed 61,000+ yards passing (5th) and 420 TD's (5th) in his career.  He had perhaps the strongest arm and quickest release in NFL history with perhaps the most accuracy. His 51 comeback drives is #1 all-time.

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21. Gale Sayers

1965-1971

Sayers ran for an unheard of 5.0 yards per carry. He made 4 Pro-Bowls and was 5-time All-Pro in his brief 5-year career which was shortened by a knee injury in year six. He is on the 1960's Hall of Fame team. Perhaps best known for his all-around running and receiving skills, he scored six TD's in one game - four rushing, one receiving and one by punt return.

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22.Alan Page

1967-1981

Page was a terror at defensive tackle for the "Purple People Eater" defense of the 70's. His 1970 defense is our proprietary research #2 ranked defense of all-time for one year. He is on the 1970's Hall of Fame team. He is also only one of two defensive players to be awarded NFL MVP since 1971.

23. John Hannah

1973-1985

Hannah was the best Offensive Guard of his generation if not ever. He blocked equally well on rushing and passing plays and became the first guard to excel at pulling on rushing plays, a top expertise he mastered. He is on the 1970's and 1980's Hall of Fame teams. He is on the NFL 75th Anniversary Team, an honorable feat. 

24. Deacon Jones

1961-1974

Deacon Jones was the first sideline to sideline defensive lineman due to his speed. He was a sack master so prolific Pro Football Weekly estimates if sacks were counted during his career he would have had 173 1/2 (good for 3rd all-time). He invented the head slap and the phrase "sack". He was twice defensive player of the year and is on the NFL 75th Anniversary Team.

25. Bob Lilly

1961-1974

Despite being moved to defensive tackle in his third year, Lilly thrived in Tom Landry's "Doomsday Defense" leading them to a victory in Super Bowl VI where his 29-yard sack of Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese is still a record. He is on the NFL 1960's and 70's teams and the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team.