There are a lot of great NFL players out there, but who are the best of the best? Here are our picks for the top 10 NFL players of all time:
1. Jerry Rice
Arguably the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice was a force to be reckoned with on the field.
He holds numerous league records, including most career receiving yards (22,895) and most career touchdowns (197).
Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver.
He played his entire 20-year career with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL), and is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.
He is currently second on the NFL’s all-time receiving yardage list behind only Randy Moss, and first in touchdown receptions with 197.
He was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, and named to 10 First-team All-Pro teams during his 20 NFL seasons.
Rice won three Super Bowl rings playing for the San Francisco 49ers and was a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team as voted on by fans.
In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him first on its list of 100 Greatest Football Players, and in 2010, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
During his career, Rice caught 1,281 passes for 22,895 yards, and 197 touchdowns, with a 20.3-yard per catch average.
He also ran 36 times for 283 yards and five scores.
He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in catches and receiving yards, and as of 2018, ranks second to Jerry Rice in receiving touchdowns with 197.
As of 2019, he holds Super Bowl records for most catches (23), most receiving yards (336), and most receiving touchdowns (5). Many experts consider Rice to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.
In 2013, he was selected by NFL Films as the greatest player of all time. Rice has also been credited with changing the way wide receivers play, as well as the way quarterbacks and offensive coordinators game-plan against them.
He is widely considered to be one of the best players in NFL history.
In 2012, Jerry Rice was inducted into the Hall of Fame after 20 seasons in the NFL.
He played for the San Francisco 49ers his entire career, winning 3 Super Bowls with the team.
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, and holds several records including most catches, most receiving yards, and most touchdown receptions.
After his retirement, he worked as a commentator and analyst for various networks including CBS, NBC, and ESPN.
He currently works as a host for the SiriusXM NFL Radio show “Jerry Rice and Navorro Bowman.”
He is also a member of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. In 2019, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who played for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
He spent his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers, winning three Super Bowls with the team.
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history and holds several records including most catches, most receiving yards, and most touchdown receptions.
After his retirement from playing, he worked as a commentator and analyst for various networks including CBS, NBC, and ESPN.
He currently works as a host for the SiriusXM NFL Radio show “Jerry Rice and Navorro Bowman.” In 2019, he was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
2. Jim Brown
Jim Brown is widely considered one of the greatest running backs of all time. He was a dominant player during his nine seasons in the NFL, leading the league in rushing eight times. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 12,312 yards.
Jim Brown is a retired American football player and actor.
He was a running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1965.
Considered to be one of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times, and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964.
He led the league in rushing yards in eight out of his nine seasons, and by the time he retired, had shattered most major rushing records.
In 2002, he was named by The Sporting News as the greatest professional football player ever.
After his career in football ended, Brown became an actor.
He made several appearances throughout the years, but his most notable role was in the 1966 film The Dirty Dozen.
He has been inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Brown is considered one of the greatest running backs of all time.
3. Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas is one of the most iconic quarterbacks in NFL history. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and led the Baltimore Colts to victory in Super Bowl V. He was also the first player in NFL history to throw for 40,000 career yards
Johnny Unitas was an American football player who is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
He played his entire professional career with the Baltimore Colts, helping lead them to three NFL championships.
Unitas was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1957 and 1959, and he won the Super Bowl MVP award in 1970.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Johnny Unitas is remembered as one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks.
He played his entire professional career with the Baltimore Colts and helped lead them to three NFL championships.
Unitas was named NFL MVP in 1957 and 1959, winning the Super Bowl MVP award in 1970.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Unitas remains an icon in the city of Baltimore and is considered one of the game’s all-time greats.
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4. Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor is widely considered the greatest defensive player in NFL history. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead the New York Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXV.
Lawrence Taylor is a former American football player who was a linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).
He is considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, and has been ranked as the greatest defensive player of all time by many observers.
Taylor was drafted by the Giants in 1981 and played his entire professional career with them.
He won two Super Bowl titles with the team, including a victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV in 1991, when he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).
He also earned ten Pro Bowl selections during his thirteen-year career.
In 1994, Taylor was convicted of sexual assault and served four months in prison.
After his release, he continued to play for the Giants and retired after the 1997 season.
Taylor has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
His number 56 is retired by both the Giants and his alma mater, the University of North Carolina. Taylor is a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
5. Reggie White
Reggie White is another defensive legend and is considered one of the best defensive linemen of all time. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler and helped lead the Green Bay Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
Reggie White is one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history.
He played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers.
He was a first-team All-Pro eight times and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.
He won Super Bowls with the Packers in 1996 and 1997.
White died in 2004 at the age of 43.
6. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
He holds numerous NFL records, including most career passing yards (71,940) and most career touchdown passes (539).
He was a 14-time Pro Bowler and led the Denver Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50.
Peyton Manning is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons.
After attending the University of Tennessee, he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Manning spent 14 seasons with the Colts, where he became one of the most prolific quarterbacks of all time.
He led his team to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one, and was named Super Bowl MVP during that game.
During his final four seasons with the Colts, he suffered multiple neck injuries that resulted in him missing an entire season.
Following his release from the Colts, Manning signed with the Denver Broncos.
In four seasons with Denver, he won two more Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP each time.
Manning retired from professional football after the 2015 season.
Peyton Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, and set numerous NFL records during his career.
He holds the record for most career passing yards (71,940) and touchdown passes (539).
He also won five Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Awards, the most of any player in history.
Manning was also named Super Bowl MVP a record four times.
He is the older brother of former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
7. Walter Payton
Walter Payton is another legendary running back and is considered one of the best of all time.
He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and led the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX.
He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 16,726 yards.
Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons.
Payton was known around the NFL as “Sweetness”.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selectee, Payton is remembered as one of the most decorated players in NFL history.
He holds numerous league records, including single-season rushing yards (2,105 in 1977), career rushing yards (16,726), touchdowns (125), and all-purpose yards (21,803).
He was also a prolific receiver out of the backfield and retired with 492 receptions for 4,538 yards.
His 10.4 yard per reception average is still an NFL record for running backs.
He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, his first year of eligibility.
Payton died on November 1, 1999, aged 45, from bile duct cancer.
His legacy includes the Walter Payton Award, annual awards given to the outstanding player at each of the collegiate and professional levels of American football.
He was one-time president of the National Football League Players Association.
8. Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders was one of the most electrifying players in NFL history. He was a two-time Super Bowl champion and is the only player in NFL history to have played in a Super Bowl and a World Series.
Deion Sanders is a former American football and baseball player who now works as an analyst for CBS Sports.
He was born in Fort Myers, Florida and played both sports at Florida State University.
In 1989, he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the NFL Draft, and he also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
In baseball, Sanders played for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Cincinnati Reds.
He is one of only two athletes to have played in both a World Series and a Super Bowl (the other being Bo Jackson).
Sanders has been married twice and has five children.
He currently resides in Prosper, Texas.
9. Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus is considered one of the best linebackers of all time. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and helped lead the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX.
Dick Butkus was one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.
He was a two-time All-American at the University of Illinois, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft.
Butkus was an instant success in the NFL, being named the AP Rookie of the Year.
He went on to be named to eight Pro Bowls, and was named first-team All-Pro six times.
He is considered one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
Dick Butkus was known for his intense competitiveness and physicality on the field.
He was a fearsome tackler, and often delivered bone-crushing hits.
He was also an excellent pass rusher, and had a knack for getting to the quarterback.
Butkus was a true leader on defense, and was often credited with being the heart and soul of the Bears defense.
He helped lead the Bears to two Super Bowl appearances, and is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.
10. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is another running back legend and is widely considered one of the best of all time.
He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and led the Detroit Lions to the playoffs six times.
He retired as the NFL’s second all-time leading rusher with 15,269 yards.
Barry Sanders is a former professional American football player who was a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons.
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, and he was ranked by NFL Network’s “The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players” as the third-best player overall in 1999.
Sanders played college football for Oklahoma State University, and was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1988.
He was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft, and went on to play his entire professional career with Detroit.
During his time with the Lions, Sanders became one of the most decorated players in NFL history, breaking numerous league records and earning ten Pro Bowl selections.
In his ten NFL seasons, Sanders rushed for over 15,000 yards, making him the third player in history to reach that milestone, and he did so in fewer games than any other player.
He also had over 1,500 rushing yards in eight different seasons, more than any other player in NFL history. His record of six 200-yard rushing games in a season was tied with O.J. Simpson for most ever, and his career average of 5.0 yards per carry is still the best of any running back with at least 1,000 carries.
Despite his individual success, Sanders’ teams struggled throughout his career.
In his ten seasons with the Lions, they only reached the playoffs twice (1991 and 1993), and Sanders himself never ran for a touchdown in the postseason.
After retiring from the NFL following the 1998 season, Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
He is also considered one of the greatest Detroit Lions players of all time.
These are our picks for the top 10 NFL players of all time. These players have left their mark on the game and will be remembered as some of the greatest to ever play the game. Thanks for reading!