Greatest Athletes of the 1970s
The greatest sports people who defined the 1970s — across football, boxing, athletics, tennis, basketball and more.
1970s by Sport
The leading athletes across every discipline in the 1970s.
Athletes of the 1970s
Browse all 524 athletes who defined sport in the 1970s.
American
Alan Page
Defensive Tackle
American football defensive tackle who became the first defensive player to win NFL MVP in 1971 and …
American
Anthony Muñoz
Offensive Tackle
American offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL, widely considered one of the greatest of…
American
Art Monk
Wide Receiver
American wide receiver who played 16 NFL seasons, primarily with Washington Redskins, winning three …
American
Bruce Matthews
Offensive Lineman
American football offensive lineman who played 19 NFL seasons, inducted into Hall of Fame in 2007 wi…
American
Bruce Smith
Defensive End
The all-time sack leader — Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks is the NFL record, achieved across 19 seas…
American
Dan Fouts
Quarterback
American NFL quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers (1973-1987), known for his prolific p…
American
Dan Marino
Quarterback
American quarterback who played 17 seasons for Miami Dolphins, set numerous NFL passing records and …
American
Dick Butkus
Linebacker
American football linebacker widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history,…
American
Earl Campbell
Running Back
American football running back who dominated the NFL in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning thre…
American
Eric Dickerson
Running Back
American football running back who holds the NFL single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards set i…
American
Franco Harris
Running Back
The Immaculate Reception — the most famous play in NFL history, and four Super Bowl rings as the wor…
American
Gale Sayers
Running Back
American football running back who played for Chicago Bears, known for his explosive speed and agili…
American
Gene Upshaw
Guard / Tackle
American football guard who played 15 seasons with Oakland Raiders, Hall of Fame inductee and longti…
American
Jack Ham
Linebacker
American football linebacker who anchored the Pittsburgh Steelers' legendary Steel Curtain defense d…
American
Jack Lambert
Linebacker
American football linebacker who played his entire NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning …
American
Jim Kelly
Quarterback
American quarterback who led Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances and was induct…
American
Joe Montana
Quarterback
American football quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and is wi…
American
Joe Namath
Quarterback
American football quarterback who guaranteed and delivered victory in Super Bowl III, leading the Ne…
American
John Elway
Quarterback
American football quarterback who led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl victories and was inducte…
American
John Hannah
Guard
American football guard who played his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots, widely consi…
American
Lawrence Taylor
Linebacker
American football linebacker widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history, revolu…
American
Lynn Swann
Wide Receiver
American former NFL wide receiver who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-1982, winning fou…
American
Mean Joe Greene
Defensive Tackle
American football defensive tackle who anchored Pittsburgh Steelers' dominant defense during 1970s, …
American
Mel Blount
Cornerback
American football Hall of Fame cornerback who dominated the 1970s with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winn…
American
Mike Ditka
Tight End / Head Coach
The greatest tight end of his era and the only man to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head c…
American
Mike Haynes
Cornerback
American NFL cornerback who played 14 seasons, earning 9 Pro Bowl selections and induction into the …
American
Mike Singletary
Linebacker
American football linebacker who played 12 seasons with Chicago Bears, earning 10 Pro Bowl selection…
American
Mike Webster
Center
American football center who played 17 NFL seasons, primarily with Pittsburgh Steelers, winning four…
American
O.J. Simpson
Running Back
American former NFL running back who won the 1968 Heisman Trophy and became the first player to rush…
American
Ozzie Newsome
Tight End
Hall of Fame Cleveland Browns tight end who defined graceful receiving at the position and later bec…
American
Patricia Palinkas
Holder
American football player who became the first woman to play in a professional American football game…
American
Randy White
Defensive Tackle
American football defensive tackle who played 14 seasons with Dallas Cowboys, Pro Football Hall of F…
American
Ray Nitschke
Linebacker
American football linebacker who played 15 seasons for Green Bay Packers, winning 5 NFL Championship…
American
Reggie White
Defensive End
American defensive end who dominated the NFL for 15 seasons, recording 198 career sacks and earning …
American
Ronnie Lott
Safety
American football safety and cornerback who won four Super Bowls with San Francisco 49ers and is con…
American
Sam Mills
Linebacker
American linebacker who overcame size limitations to become a dominant NFL defender, earning Pro Bow…
American
Steve McMichael
Defensive Tackle
American defensive tackle who played 15 NFL seasons, primarily with Chicago Bears, winning Super Bow…
American
Steve Young
Quarterback
The most accurate passer in NFL history — Steve Young's perfect 112.8 passer rating in 1994 led the …
American
Ted Hendricks
Linebacker
American NFL linebacker known as 'The Mad Stork' who won four Super Bowls and was inducted into the …
American
Terry Bradshaw
Quarterback
American NFL quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, …
American
Walter Payton
Running Back
American football running back who played 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, holding the NFL rushing…
American
Carl Lewis
Sprinter / Long Jumper
Nine-time Olympic gold medallist and winner of four consecutive long jump titles at the Games — wide…
British
Daley Thompson
Decathlete
British decathlete who dominated the event in the 1980s, winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals…
American
Ed Moses
Sprinter (400m H)
American 400m hurdles legend who went 122 races without a defeat across ten years between 1977 and 1…
British
Fatima Whitbread
Javelin Thrower
British javelin thrower who held the world record at 77.44m and won Olympic silver and bronze medals…
American
Florence Griffith-Joyner
Sprinter
Flo-Jo — the fastest woman in history whose world records of 10.49s (100m) and 21.34s (200m) have st…
British
Linford Christie
Sprinter 100m
British-Jamaican sprinter who became the first Briton to break 10 seconds in the 100m and won Olympi…
American
Mary Slaney
Middle Distance Runner
American middle-distance runner who dominated the 1980s, setting multiple world records and winning …
Showing top 48 of 524 athletes from this era.