Aaron DonaldAaron RodgersAdrian PetersonAidan HutchinsonAlan PageAlvin KamaraAmon-Ra St. BrownAnthony MuñozAntonio BrownAntonio GatesArt MonkBarry SandersBecca LongoBen RoethlisbergerBijan RobinsonBo JacksonBrandon AiyukBreece HallBrett FavreBrock PurdyBruce MatthewsBruce SmithC.J. StroudCalvin JohnsonCalvin RidleyCameron JordanCeeDee LambChamp BaileyChris OlaveChristian McCaffrey
Rankings & Lists

50 Greatest NFL Players of All Time

The 50 greatest American football players in history.

50Athletes Ranked
🏈American Football

The 50 greatest American football players in history.

1
TB

American·American Football

Tom Brady

American NFL quarterback widely considered the greatest of all time, seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP with legendary lo

7× Super Bowl · 649 TDs

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2
JR

American·American Football

Jerry Rice

American football wide receiver widely regarded as the greatest of all time, holding numerous NFL records including most career receiving ya

208 TDs · 13× Pro Bowl

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3
JB

American·American Football

Jim Brown

American football running back widely considered the greatest of all time, played nine seasons with Cleveland Browns, rushed for 12,312 yard

106 TDs

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4
LT

American·American Football

Lawrence Taylor

American football linebacker widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history, revolutionized the position with the New York

2× Super Bowl · 10× Pro Bowl

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5
PM

American·American Football

Peyton Manning

American quarterback who holds multiple NFL passing records and won two Super Bowls with Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos during legend

2× Super Bowl · 539 TDs

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6
JM

American·American Football

Joe Montana

American football quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and is widely considered one of the greatest QBs

273 TDs · 40551 passing yards

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7
WP

American·American Football

Walter Payton

American football running back who played 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, holding the NFL rushing record for nearly two decades until 200

1× Super Bowl · 125 TDs

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8
RW

American·American Football

Reggie White

American defensive end who dominated the NFL for 15 seasons, recording 198 career sacks and earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of

1× Super Bowl

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9
JU

American·American Football

Johnny Unitas

American quarterback who revolutionized the passing game and led the Baltimore Colts to multiple championships in the 1950s and 1960s.

290 TDs · 40239 passing yards

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10
BS

American·American Football

Barry Sanders

American football running back widely regarded as one of the greatest NFL players of all time, known for his elusive running style and prema

109 TDs

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11
ES

American·American Football

Emmitt Smith

American football running back who became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards and won three Super Bowl championships with Da

3× Super Bowl · 175 TDs

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12
AR

American·American Football

Aaron Rodgers

American football quarterback renowned for precision passing, mobility, and four NFL MVP awards including back-to-back wins in 2020-2021.

1× Super Bowl · 475 TDs

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13
RM

American·American Football

Randy Moss

American former NFL wide receiver widely considered one of the greatest of all time, known for his exceptional speed and catching ability ov

156 TDs

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14
PM

American·American Football

Patrick Mahomes

American quarterback who became the youngest QB to win Super Bowl and regular season MVP, leading Kansas City Chiefs to multiple championshi

4× Super Bowl · 220 TDs

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15
BF

American·American Football

Brett Favre

American NFL quarterback who played 20 seasons, famous for his consecutive starts record and gunslinger style, leading Green Bay to Super Bo

1× Super Bowl · 508 TDs

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16
DB

American·American Football

Dick Butkus

American football linebacker widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, known for his fierce tackling and game-

8× Pro Bowl

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17
DS

American·American Football

Deion Sanders

American cornerback and return specialist who played in NFL (1989-2005). Two-time Super Bowl champion and only athlete to play in both Super

2× Super Bowl · 22 TDs

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18
AM

American·American Football

Anthony Muñoz

American offensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL, widely considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in football history.

11× Pro Bowl

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19
RL

American·American Football

Ronnie Lott

American football safety and cornerback who won four Super Bowls with San Francisco 49ers and is considered one of the greatest defensive ba

Super Bowl Champion 4x (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)

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20
JE

American·American Football

John Elway

American football quarterback who led the Denver Broncos to two Super Bowl victories and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in

300 TDs · 51475 passing yards

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21
SY

American·American Football

Steve Young

The most accurate passer in NFL history — Steve Young's perfect 112.8 passer rating in 1994 led the San Francisco 49ers to a dominant Super

232 TDs

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22
DM

American·American Football

Dan Marino

American quarterback who played 17 seasons for Miami Dolphins, set numerous NFL passing records and revolutionized the quarterback position

420 TDs · 61361 passing yards

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23
MB

American·American Football

Mel Blount

American football Hall of Fame cornerback who dominated the 1970s with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning four Super Bowls and revolutionizing

Super Bowl 4x

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24
MJ

American·American Football

Mean Joe Greene

American football defensive tackle who anchored Pittsburgh Steelers' dominant defense during 1970s, winning four Super Bowls and revolutioni

10× Pro Bowl

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25
JL

American·American Football

Jack Lambert

American football linebacker who played his entire NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning four Super Bowls and earning nine Pro Bo

Super Bowl 4x

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26
MS

American·American Football

Mike Singletary

American football linebacker who played 12 seasons with Chicago Bears, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and leading defense to Super Bowl XX c

Super Bowl XX

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27
BS

American·American Football

Bruce Smith

The all-time sack leader — Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks is the NFL record, achieved across 19 seasons with the Bills and Redskins.

4x Super Bowl appearance

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28
AP

American·American Football

Alan Page

American football defensive tackle who became the first defensive player to win NFL MVP in 1971 and later served as Minnesota Supreme Court

9× Pro Bowl

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29
ED

American·American Football

Eric Dickerson

American football running back who holds the NFL single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards set in 1984 and was inducted into the Hall of

NFL Offensive Rookie of Year 1983

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30
OS

American·American Football

O.J. Simpson

American former NFL running back who won the 1968 Heisman Trophy and became the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single NFL se

NFL MVP 1973

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31
EC

American·American Football

Earl Campbell

American football running back who dominated the NFL in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning three consecutive MVP awards and Rookie of t

NFL MVP 3x (1978,1979,1980)

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32
ML

American·American Football

Marshawn Lynch

American NFL running back known for his powerful rushing style and 'Beast Mode' persona, winning Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks

Super Bowl XLVIII

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33
LT

American·American Football

LaDainian Tomlinson

American running back who holds the NFL single-season touchdown record with 28 rushing TDs and 31 total TDs in 2006, earning league MVP hono

162 TDs

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34
DB

American·American Football

Drew Brees

American quarterback who holds multiple NFL passing records and led the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl championship in 2010.

1× Super Bowl · 571 TDs

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35
BR

American·American Football

Ben Roethlisberger

American NFL quarterback who won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh Steelers, known for his physical playing style and clutch playoff performan

2× Super Bowl · 418 TDs

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36
JH

American·American Football

John Hannah

American football guard who played his entire NFL career with the New England Patriots, widely considered one of the greatest offensive line

5× Super Bowl · 10× Pro Bowl

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37
EM

American·American Football

Eli Manning

American NFL quarterback who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories, defeating the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII with

2× Super Bowl · 366 TDs

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38
JH

American·American Football

Jack Ham

American football linebacker who anchored the Pittsburgh Steelers' legendary Steel Curtain defense during their 1970s dynasty, winning four

4× Super Bowl · 8× Pro Bowl

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39
RG

American·American Football

Rob Gronkowski

The greatest tight end in NFL history — four-time Super Bowl champion and the most dominant blocker-receiver at the position.

4× Super Bowl · 92 TDs

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40
DB

American·American Football

Derrick Brooks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Fame linebacker whose speed, instincts and pass-coverage made him one of the most complete and dominant linebac

3× Super Bowl · 8× Pro Bowl

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41
GU

American·American Football

Gene Upshaw

American football guard who played 15 seasons with Oakland Raiders, Hall of Fame inductee and longtime NFL Players Association Executive Dir

3× Super Bowl · 8× Pro Bowl

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42
JO

American·American Football

Jonathan Ogden

American NFL offensive tackle who played his entire 12-year career with Baltimore Ravens, 11-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Fame inductee in 20

2× Super Bowl · 11× Pro Bowl

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43
TK

American·American Football

Travis Kelce

American tight end who revolutionized the position with record-breaking receiving numbers and three Super Bowl championships with Kansas Cit

4× Super Bowl · 80 TDs

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44
JW

American·American Football

Jason Witten

American football tight end who played 17 NFL seasons, primarily with Dallas Cowboys, earning 11 Pro Bowl selections and Hall of Fame induct

111 TDs · 11× Pro Bowl

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45
DP

American·American Football

Dak Prescott

American NFL quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys to multiple playoff appearances and earned Pro Bowl selections with his dual-threat play

240 TDs · 35000 passing yards

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46
CN

American·American Football

Chuck Noll

American football coach who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, the only coach to achieve this milestone.

4× Super Bowl

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47
LA

American·American Football

Larry Allen

American NFL offensive lineman considered one of the greatest guards in football history, known for exceptional strength and 14-season caree

2× Super Bowl · 8× Pro Bowl

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48
TW

American·American Football

Trent Williams

American football offensive tackle considered one of the premier left tackles in NFL history, known for his exceptional athleticism and long

2× Super Bowl · 10× Pro Bowl

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49
JN

American·American Football

Joe Namath

American football quarterback who guaranteed and delivered victory in Super Bowl III, leading the New York Jets to one of sports' greatest u

1× Super Bowl · 173 TDs

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50
BM

American·American Football

Bruce Matthews

American football offensive lineman who played 19 NFL seasons, inducted into Hall of Fame in 2007 with record 14 Pro Bowl selections.

14× Pro Bowl

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