Top 10 American Football Players of all-time
Katherine
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2024-06-20 02:57:29
The most popular and frequently followed sport in the world is football. "Who is the greatest NFL player of all time?" We'll talk about the top 10 American football players of all time in this article today. Furthermore, these players are well-known not only among football fans but also among worldwide sporting followers.
The National Football League has produced some of the best NFL players, multiple famous teams, and popular managers since it was founded in 1920. Even if we are familiar with some of the greatest NFL players, there are still many all-time greats from the past.
The rankings of the greatest NFL players ever can be affected by several things. Super Bowl wins are among the highest levels of success but can also be seen as a collective effort. The game's legends may be fully understood when combined with information on skill levels, measures, and comparisons to previous years.
Now, let's examine the Top 10 American Football Players of all time:
Top 10 American Football Players of all-time
1. Tom Brady
The New England Patriots chose Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and he went on to become the best player in NFL history.
His seven Super Bowl victories are the most of any player in NFL history, and he has started more Super Bowls than any other quarterback (10 total). Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020, and in 2021, at the age of 43, he became the oldest quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in his new team's first season.
Brady has a strong case that his career can be divided into two different times, each of which deserves entry into the Hall of Fame.
Position: Quarterback
Born: Aug. 3, 1977 (San Mateo, California)
Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present), New England Patriots (2000–19)
Achievements and Contributions: He controls many Super Bowl records and is the best NFL player and winner in history.
Career highlights:
- Seven Super Bowl titles (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
- Five MVPs (2003, 2004, 204, 2016, 2021)
- Three MVPs (2007, 2010, 2017)
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)
- Two NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010)
- Six NFL All-Pro teams (2005, 2007, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2021)
- Fifteen Pro Bowl teams (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009-18, 2021)
- NFL 100th Anniversary teams, AP Male Athlete of the Year (2007)
- Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2005) are among the career highlights
2. Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice, the all-time greatest wide receiver in NFL history, received interest from Mississippi Valley State, an HBCU, and went on to win three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers before moving across the bay to the Oakland Raiders in the latter stages of his career to win an AFC championship.
In addition to leading the NFL in receiving six times and touchdowns six times, Rice still retains the NFL career records for gathers, receiving yards, yards from scrimmage, and touchdown receptions.
Position: Wide Receiver
Born: Oct. 13, 1962 (Starkville, Mississippi)
Teams: Oakland Raiders (2001–04), Seattle Seahawks (2004), and San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000)
Achievements and Contributions: He holds various NFL records, is a three-time Super Bowl champion, and has collected 22,895 receiving yards in his career.
Career highlights:
- Three-time Super Bowl champion (1988, 1989, 1994)
- Two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)
- The 1988 Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (1987)
- Among other achievements 13-time Pro Bowl (1986–97, 1998, 2002)
- 11–time NFL All-Pro (1986–90, 1992–96, 2002)
- NFL 75th Anniversary Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, and NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
3. Jim Brown
During his career, Jim Brown remains the only player in NFL history to average more than 100 rushing yards a game. Brown won three NFL MVP awards and led the NFL in rushing eight times in nine seasons.
Owner Art Modell threatened to fine Brown if he continued filming "The Dirty Dozen," a war film, during the opening of the Cleveland Browns' training camp in 1966. Brown responded by leaving football.
Position: Running Back
Born: Feb. 17, 1936 (St. Simons, Georgia)
Teams: Cleveland Browns (1957-65)
Achievements and Contributions: He dominated during his nine seasons, eight times leading the NFL in rushing and leading the Browns to a league trophy.
Career highlights:
- NFL All-Pro Team (1957–65)
- NFL Rookie of the Year (1957)
- NFL champion (1964), three-time NFL MVP (1957, 1958, 1965)
- NFL All-Pro Team (1957–65), NFL 100th Anniversary Team
- NFL 50th Anniversary Team, NFL 75th Anniversary Team
- Two-time NCAA All-American (1955, 1956)
4. Walter Payton
"Sweetness" Walter Payton was possibly the best running back the NFL has ever had. In ten of his thirteen seasons with the Chicago Bears, he scored at least 1,200 yards of runs. In 1977, he was named NFL Most Valuable Player, and in 1985, he was part of the team that many believe to be the best in NFL history, winning a Super Bowl. With 4.538 receiving yards, he was also an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield. He was selected eight times as an NFL All-Pro.
Position: Running Back
Born: July 25, 1954 (Columbia, Mississippi)
Teams: Chicago Bears (1975-87)
Achievements and Contributions: He may be the best running back since the merger in 1970 when he helped the Bears reach the Super Bowl.
Career highlights:
- The player was a nine-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time NFL All-Pro (1976–80, 1984–86)
- A Super Bowl champion (1985)
- An NFL Most Valuable Player (1977)
- An NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1977)
- A member of the NFL's 1970s, 1980s, and 100th-anniversary teams
5. Peyton Manning
The Indianapolis Colts were a dead-end team before Peyton Manning, a Tennessee native and the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, took over and changed it into a billion-dollar Super Bowl-winning team.
In the end, Manning would win two Super Bowl victories, the second with the Denver Broncos, and five NFL Most Valuable Player awards. Few NFL players can match Manning's fame and status as the people's champion. He is the most regarded and well-known football player in history.
Position: Quarterback
Born: March 24, 1976 (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011), Denver Broncos (2012-15)
Achievements and Contributions: Five league MVPs, two Super Bowl wins with separate teams, and an NFL ambassador position.
Career highlights:
- Two-time champion of the Super Bowl (2007, 2016)
- Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (2007)
- Five-time NFL Most Valuable Player (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
- Ten-time (1999, 2000, 2003–06, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013) NFL All-Pro
- Fourteen–time (1999, 2000, 2002–10, 2012–14) Pro Bowl player
6. Lawrence Taylor
In addition to being the best defensive player of all time, Lawrence Taylor is the most outstanding linebacker of all time. The Giants won two Super Bowls under the direction of the No. 2 overall pick 1981 out of North Carolina. He also won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and was the final defensive player to win NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986.
Position: Linebacker
Born: Feb. 4, 1959 (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Teams: New York Giants (1981-93)
Achievements and Contributions: He won the league MVP award, carried the Giants to the Super Bowl, and revolutionized the game with his self-serving pass rush.
Career highlights:
- Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)
- NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999)
- Two-time Super Bowl Champion (1986, 1990)
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1986)
- Ten-time Pro Bowl (1981-90)
- Ten-time All-Pro (1981-90)
7. Reggie White
The chance to play professional ball in strictly white to sign when the Memphis Showboats selected him in the 1984 USFL Territorial Draft following his college football career. During his two seasons with Memphis, he started 36 games. He recorded 23.5 sacks for loss, one safety, and one forced fumble that was recovered for a touchdown while playing with the Showboats.
Position:Defensive end Defensive tackle
Born:December 19, 1961(Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Teams: Memphis Showboats (1984–1985)
Achievements and Contributions: A Hall of Fame career afterward, the "Minister of Defense" was a Super Bowl winner with the Packers.
Career highlights:
- Second place all-time among NFL career sack leaders with 198 is held by the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Super Bowl XXXI champion
- 13-time Pro Bowler, and 13-time All-Pro selection
8. Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders, who, like Jim Brown, shocked the sports world by leaving in his prime, is always regarded as the best running back of all time. He is the only player on our list to have finished his career without winning a championship.
Position: Running Back
Born: July 16, 1968 (Wichita, Kansas)
Teams:Detroit Lions (1989-98)
Achievements and Contributions: Unique running method, four rushing titles, and 15,259 career rushing yards all through a great career.
Career highlights:
- NFL All-Pro (1989-98), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1989)
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1997)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (1989)
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team are just a few of the awards and medals the team has received.
9. Dick Butkus
Butkus played center and linebacker for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 1962 to 1964 after deciding to attend the University of Illinois. At the time, married players were not allowed to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which was his original goal.
Position: Middle linebacker
Born: December 9, 1942 (Chicago, Illinois)
Teams: Chicago Bears (1965-73)
Achievements and Contributions: He was a famous linebacker for the Chicago Bears, known for his robust pass coverage and hitting ability.
Career highlights:
- From 1965 until 1973, he played with the National Football League (NFL) Chicago Bears. In nine seasons, he received eight Pro Bowl requests
- Five first-team All-Pro selections
- Two votes as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year from his peers.
10. Joe Montana
Joe Montana held the unchallenged title of the NFL's all-time greatest quarterback for years. However, Tom Brady managed to unseat Montana at some point in the 2010s.
Position: Quarterback
Born: June 11, 1956 (New Eagle, Pennsylvania)
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1993–94), San Francisco 49ers (1979–92)
Achievements and Contributions: First, the 49ers won four Super Bowls under the direction of three-time MVP Vince Gilletti, including a memorable game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII.
Career highlights:
- Winner of four Super Bowls (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990)
- MVP of the Super Bowl three times (1982, 1985, 1990)
- NFL Most Valuable Player twice (1989 and 1990)
- Pro Bowler for eight years (1981, 1983–1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000)
- Six-time NFL All-Pro (1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990)
Where to Watch the World’s Best NFL Players?
Offering more than 100 live TV channels and local sports networks, Fubo is the top site for viewing live TV focused on sports. The service has a DVR, on-demand material, and a sports programming focus. The only live TV streaming service that offers every sports channel ranked by Nielsen is Fubo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the NFL player with the lowest salary?
The lowest-ranked rookies in the NFL will always be paid the least.
Q. Do NFL players get paid weekly?
Yes, players are typically paid during the regular season at the start of each week.
Q. Who is the highest-paid NFL QB right now?
At $55 million per year, Joe Burrows is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL.
Note: We hope you have found all the legends that you were looking for. Moreover, since fresh talent is always coming in, this list may soon add some new members. Let us know what you think in the comments area.
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