It’s one of the oldest barstool debates known to sports fans: who’s the greatest player of all time? With all the different players and styles of play throughout NFL history, how exactly are you supposed to measure that? Do you give it to the guy with the best stats? The guy with the most wins? Or the guy with the most Super Bowl rings? Is it Jim Brown or Barry Sanders? What about Jerry Rice or Joe Montana? How about Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
With so many all-time greats to choose from, making this list wasn’t easy. While most fans would assume this list would be dominated by quarterbacks, you might be surprised to see who made the cut. Without further delay, here is our ranking of the 30 Greatest Players in NFL History.
Honorable Mention: Gale Sayers, Bears, 1965-71
After being drafted by the Bears in 1965, Sayers immediately took the NFL by storm. In his rookie season (14 games) Sayers scored 22 touchdowns and totaled 2,272 all-purpose yards (NFL records at the time). In perhaps the most memorable of his career, Sayers scored six touchdowns in a single game against the 49ers.
Unfortunately, multiple knee injuries limited Sayers to just 68 career games. If not for the injuries, NFL experts believe Sayers would have easily finished as one of the top players in NFL history — regardless of position.
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Daniel Sroufe says
Junior Seau #1. Only real football fans know!
Daniel Sroufe says
Junior Seau!!!! Come on!
Dave Edwards says
Mercury Morris! Just kidding.
John LePore says
I think Deion Sanders has to be the greatest corner of all time. True he wasn’t the greatest tackler but for pure talent covering a receiver (deflected passes and interceptions) there was no one better.
Steve says
How can you put Brady ahead of Taylor when the guy that coached both of them says, Taylor is the greatest player he has ever coached or scene??? That’s coming from the greatest coach of all-time.
Ken Simon says
If you have Johnny U, where is Ray Berry?
james rapp says
Barry Sanders and Bo Jackson were better than the rest of these players by a country mile.
Joseph Langenberg says
Everyone has an opinion but I disagree with many of your selections! Montana or Brady is either 1 and/or 2.
Dennis Daniel Conley says
Brady is #1, Montana 2.
John J McClellan says
How does Bart Star NOT make it one this list???????
Brian Montgomery says
In the end it’s all opinion, and opinions are like a-holes….everyone has one and some stink more than others. #walterpayton #diehard #greatestrunningbackofalltime
LAWRENCE PARKER SR says
Walter Payton and Jim Brown.
Jt Parker says
Their list is no more valid than mine would be. How can you tell if Deacon Jones is better than Joe Montana? Jim Brown was good but who knows if he would be any better than others today.
Higgs Boson says
Jim Brown would be just another good player in today’s game. QB is generally the hardest and most valuable position on the field (with few exceptions) so the best QB of all time is most likely the GOAT.
Jon Klinkel says
Brady should be Number 1 on the list, followed by Lawrence Taylor, Brett Favre, Jim Brown and then the rest. Since you dropped Graham way down because of when he played, you have to also drop Jim Brown down. His size today wouldn’t give him the same edge. Something to think about. Otherwise, put Graham at #1 and Brady at #2 and Brown at #3, Taylor at #4 and Favre at #5.
Fred Williams says
Not a bad list. I would have Manning and Elway higher than Brady, who is a tad overrated and is partially a product of great coaching and a consistently weak AFC East. The outcome of every one of Brady’s superbowls won and lost would be reversed by a single play. He could be 0-7 as easily as 7-0.
Palinurus says
“The outcome of every one of Brady’s superbowls won and lost would be reversed by a single play. He could be 0-7 as easily as 7-0”
And yet he has consistently won. One might say Brady is just lucky. But, as the cliche’ goes “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” A coach prepares but a player performs. All champions need both. It’s the performance that makes all of the difference in the world.
Mike says
I NOTICED not too many receivers. Ozzie Newsome, Chris Carter. All time greats Lou the toe gross. Played guard, kicker, and I think he even quaterbacked a time or two. High scores for browns in multiple years . Defiantly all time player list material.
ROCKY says
I agree with Jon Klinkel–Otto Graham and Jim Brown are the only two I would rate near Brady. Certainly I would not rate these two, Manning and Elway. over Brady. I rate Montana over those two.
Dennis Daniel Conley says
Agreed.