The NFL has been around since 1920. Over the years, we have witnessed some of the greatest athletes, let’s have a look on top10 nfl players.
Top 10 nfl players of all-time, Here’s the list.
There have been different styles of play that crossed over several different eras.
Today, the passing game dominates the NFL, but in the past, it was very much a defensive and run-first offense that led to championships.
We’ve seen gunslingers and accurate passers, shifty and powerful rushers, towering receivers and shifty small slot receivers, and more.
With all of these varying skills, differences in play style, and levels of athleticism, skill, and coaching, it’s hard to determine who the best player of all time is, especially considering the vast array of positions in the game.
Arguments can be made for players like Tom Brady, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, and Jerry Rice, and all could be considered the best for different reasons.
This article will cover my top 10 players who I believe are the greatest to ever play.
1. Tom Brady (Tom Terrific)
Forget football, Tom Brady is the greatest story in the history of sports. He started as an embarrassing display of athleticism at the combine.
A chubby, pale, pathetic-looking quarterback out of Michigan would go on to be selected in the sixth round, 199th overall by the New England Patriots.
Accolades
- 15x Pro Bowler
- 3x First-Team All-Pro
- 2x NFL OPOY (2007, 2010)
- 2009 NFL Comeback POY
- 3x NFL MVP (2007, 2010, 2017)
- 7x Super Bowl Champion (2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
- 5x Super Bowl MVP (2002, 2003, 2015, 2017, 2021)
- Pro Football HOF All-2000’s Team
- Pro Football HOF All-2010’s Team
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
- Most Super Bowl Appearances in NFL History (10)
- Most Super Bowl Victories in NFL History (7)
- NFL Career Leader Regular Season Wins (230)
Brady has seemingly done it all in his career. Aside from winning more than any player in NFL history, he also has held the record for the most passing touchdowns in a season at one point, led the largest comeback in NFL history.
2. Jim Brown
In my opinion, Jim Brown is the greatest running back of all time. While many believe Barry Sanders is better and didn’t surpass Brown because he left the game early, they also forget that Brown left the game even earlier and at an even higher height to his career.
Accolades
- 1957 NFL OROY
- 9x Pro Bowler
- 8x First-Team All-Pro
- 3x NFL MVP (1957, 1958, 1965)
- NFL Champion (1964)
- Pro Football HOF All-1960’s Team
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
- #30 NFL Career Rushing Attempts (2,359)
- #11 NFL Career Rushing Yards (12,312)
- #6 NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns (106)
Jim Brown retired from football at the age of 29 after playing for 9 seasons. After a dispute with owner Art Modell, Brown decided to leave football and pursue a career in movies instead.
When he retired he owned every single major rushing title and still owns many to this day over 50 years later.
3. Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is the single greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and it isn’t even close. Rice holds every single major receiving record in NFL history, and the next person up isn’t even close.
Accolades
- 13x Pro Bowler
- 10x First-Team All-Pro
- 2x NFL OPOY (1987, 1993)
- 3x Super Bowl Champion (1989, 1990, 1995)
- Pro Football HOF All-1980’s Team
- Pro Football HOF All-1990’s Team
- Hall of Fame (2010)
- Nfl 100 All-Time Team
- NFL Career Leader in Receptions (1,549)
Rice leads the number two receiver in receiving categories by over 5,000 yards, over 100 receptions, and over 40 receiving touchdowns.
And while some may argue that his records come because of his longevity in the league, being 20 seasons, it’s because he was a dominant player at the positive well into his old age. In fact, Rice had over 1,200 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns at the age of 40.
4. Barry Sanders
Many argue whether or not Barry Sanders is the greatest running back to ever carry a football.
At the age of 30, Sanders retired early from football after coming off a nearly 1,500 rushing yard season.
Accolades
- 1989 NFL ROTY
- 10x Pro Bowler
- 6x First-Team All-Pro
- 2x NFL OPOY (1994, 1997)
- 1997 NFL MVP
- Pro Football HOF All-1990’s Team
- Hall of Fame (2004)
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
The move shocked the sporting world because Sanders was less than 1,500 yards from the all-time rushing yardage record.
He retired as the only player to rush for 1,000 yards consecutively in each of their first 10 seasons. Sanders is also the only player to ever rush for at least 1,500 yards in 4 consecutive seasons.
5. Lawrence Taylor (L.T.)
Lawrence Taylor singlehandedly changed multiple positions and offensive schemes forever.
In the 1970s, the average NFL lineman was barely larger than Taylor was himself, coming in at an average 6’3″ 255lbs.
The league began to mount its offense towards a quarterback-driven system, with pass-catching running backs and less rushing overall.
Accolades
- 1981 NFL DROY
- 10x Pro Bowler
- 8x First-Team All-Pro
- 3x NFL DPOY (1981, 1982, 1986)
- 1986 NFL MVP
- Pro Football HOF All-1980’s Team
- Hall of Fame (1999)
Taylor came into the league during this transformation and completely took it by storm. His combination of size and speed decimated offensive schemes.
Teams traditionally would allow for runningbacks to block outside linebackers, but Taylor soon showed everyone that he could overpower any back they put in his way.
6. Peyton Manning (The Sheriff)
Peyton Manning is arguably the single smartest player in NFL history. During his 18-year career, Manning was known for his audibles and vast knowledge of the offenses that he ran.
Many players made careers and multi-million dollar contract extensions off the arm of Manning.
Accolades
- 14x Pro Bowler
- 7x First-Team All-Pro
- 2x OPOY (2004, 2013)
- 5x NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
- 2x Super Bowl Champion (2006, 2016)
- 2006 Super Bowl MVP
- 2005 Walter Payton Man of the Year
- Pro Football HOF All-2000’s Team
- Hall of Fame (2021)
He was easily the most important player on every team he played for, proven by his five Most Valuable Player awards, the most ever in NFL history.
He only posted a losing record twice in his career, once as a rookie and again in 2001 when he led the #2 ranked offense in both yards and scoring but had the worst defense in the NFL.
7. Aaron Donald
Now I know what you’re thinking already, how could Aaron Donald already be a top-ten player of all time when he’s still in the league and hasn’t even played for ten years yet.
The answer is simple, he’s just that good. Donald is already a lock for a first-ballot Hall of Fame nomination and he’s only played in the league for seven years.
Accolades
- 2014 NFL DROY
- 7x Pro Bowler
- 6x First-Team All-Pro
- 1x Super Bowl Champion (2022)
- 3x DPOY (207, 2018, 2020)
- Pro Football HOF All-2010’s Team
- #9 NFL Career Tackles for Loss (150)
- #40 NFL Career Sacks (98)
Since he was drafted in 2014 he hasn’t missed a Pro Bowl and has been an All-Pro selection every year except his rookie season when he was the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
8. Walter Payton (Sweetness)
Walter Payton was selected fourth overall in the 1975 NFL Draft and spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears from 1975–1987.
There are two stories as to how Walter Payton became known as “Sweetness,” one being the sweet way he ran the ball, and the other being his higher-pitched voice and sweet demeanor.
Accolades
- 9x Pro Bowler
- 5x First-Team All-Pro
- 1977 NFL OPOY
- 1977 NFL MVP
- 1977 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
- Pro Football HOF All-1970’s Team
- Pro Football HOF All-1980’s Team
- Hall of Fame (1993)
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
Regardless of why he was named “Sweetness,” he was anything but. Payton was not just an elusive runner like his nickname may suggest, but an extremely powerful runner.
The great Jim Brown used to say Payton was a “warrior” and never ran out of bounds to avoid a hit. Despite his power running, Payton was incredibly durable.
9. Reggie White (The Minister of Defense)
He was a prime member of both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, amassing incredible stats throughout his career.
White played in 121 games with the Eagles and registered 124 sacks over that time. When he went to Green Bay he added an additional 68.5 sacks in his 6 years with the team.
White was one of the most dominant linemen to ever play football. In his 15 year career, he produced double-digit sack seasons 13 times, leading the league twice.
Accolades
- 13x Pro Bowl selection
- 8x First-Team All-Pro selection
- 2x NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 1998)
- #2 All-Time Career Sack Leader (198)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1980’s Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1990’s Team
- 1st Ballot NFL Hall of Famer (2006)
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient and helped win Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots by recording 3 sacks in the game, which was a Super Bowl record held only by him at the time and has since been tied by 3 other players.
10. Dick Butkus (The Monster of the Midway)
Dick Butkus played middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1965–1973. During his time in the NFL, Butkus was one of the most ferocious and hard-hitting defensive players in the league!
Accolades
- 8x Pro Bowl selection
- 5x All-Pro selection
- 1970 Defensive Player of the Year
- Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1960’s Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame All-1970’s Team
- 1st Ballot NFL Hall of Famer (1979)
- NFL 100 All-Time Team
He earned the nickname “The Monster of the Midway” and struck fear into his opponents. It’s said that he would growl and snarl at opposing players to intimidate them, all while cursing them out and telling them he was going to destroy them. But Butkus was more than just an intimidator.
He was quick to the ball and had the finesse and awareness to be one of the greatest turnover machines on defense that the league has ever seen. In only 9 years of play, Butkus forced 49 turnovers, 22 interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries.
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