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The Athletic NFL Staff Mar 31, 2020 471
A player’s uniform number is more than just a number.
The most important players can have their numbers retired, making them off-limits to future generations. No one will ever again wear No. 7 for the Denver Broncos, No. 32 for the Cleveland Browns, No. 34 for the Chicago Bears and a range of other numbers deemed sacred throughout the NFL. Fans with even cursory knowledge of league history need not ask why.
When a prominent player joins a new team and his preferred number is already taken, thousands of dollars can change hands before the newcomer gets to wear his preferred digit.
This week, The Athletic is celebrating the greatest players to wear each jersey number across multiple sports. To streamline the process and make it more relevant to recent generations, our group of national NFL writers limited the time period to the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966. A few players whose careers straddled that cutoff made or missed the cut based on what we felt made the most sense. Thousands of dollars did not change hands as these numbers were assigned, but our group did debate some of the selections rather strongly. We welcome you to do the same.
00: Jim Otto
The Oakland Raiders’ only starting center from 1960 through 1974 heads a short list of players to wear No. 00 over the years. Otto was named to 12 Pro Bowls and 10 All-Pro teams on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. — Mike Sando
Honorable Mentions
Ken Burrough
1: Warren Moon
Moon spent six seasons in the Canadian Football League and still earned Hall of Fame honors for his work in the NFL. Eight consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 1988 to 1995 paved the way. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Cam Newton, Gary Anderson, Jason Elam
2: Matt Ryan
The 2016 MVP led winning teams in each of his first five seasons. He’s had two winning seasons out of seven since then, but did reach the Super Bowl. Other quarterbacks to wear No. 2 include Aaron Brooks, Tim Couch, Chris Simms and, for a few years, Doug Flutie. — MS
Honorable Mentions
David Akers, Steve Christie, Mason Crosby
3: Russell Wilson
Wilson is not the first Seahawks quarterback to wear No. 3 — Rick Mirer wore it from 1993 to 1996 — but there’s a great chance he will become the last. Wilson has six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl victory in nine seasons with no indication he’s slowing. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Jan Stenerud, Daryle Lamonica, Carson Palmer
4: Brett Favre
Not much competition for Favre, even if Adam Vinatieri winds up in the Hall of Fame. Favre retired as the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. A three-time MVP, he still holds the record for most consecutive starts. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Vinatieri, Jason Hanson
5: Morten Andersen
Andersen and Jan Stenerud are the only full-time placekickers in the Hall of Fame. He retired following the 2008 season as the all-time leader in points, field goals made and games played. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Donovan McNabb
6: Johnny Hekker
Hekker’s four first-team Associated Press All-Pro selections are a record for a punter in his first eight seasons, one more than the totals for Ray Guy, Sean Landeta and Shane Lechler, according to Pro Football Reference. No. 6 has not been the choice for elite players in general, however, as Jay Cutler heads the all-time list in Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value metric. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Thomas Morstead
7: John Elway
The incredible talent, dramatic comebacks and late-career Super Bowl titles keep Elway atop a strong list featuring multiple league MVPs (Joe Theismann, Bert Jones), contenders who wore No. 7 for portions of their careers (Andersen, Randall Cunningham) and Michael Vick. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Vick, Theismann, Ben Roethlisberger
8: Steve Young
Young and Troy Aikman battled pretty evenly during the 1990s as starting quarterbacks for two of the best teams in the NFC. Young put up the more efficient passing numbers. Aikman led better overall teams early in the decade. You pick one, we’ll take the other. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Aikman, Guy
9: Drew Brees
Brees reigns as the all-time passing leader in completions, yards and touchdowns. He is widely cited as the greatest signing in the history of free agency. There’s no shortage of Pro Bowl quarterbacks to have worn the number, however. Sonny Jurgensen, Steve McNair, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Tommy Kramer, Carson Palmer and Jim McMahon all did. — MS
Honorable Mentions
McNair, Jurgensen, Romo
10: Fran Tarkenton
Tarkenton’s credentials endure even if we eliminate his first five seasons, which predate the Super Bowl era. From 1966 until his retirement, Tarkenton was the runaway passing leader in yards, completions, attempts and touchdowns. He retired as the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes and was a dual threat, having run for 32 touchdowns. Nineteen seasons passed before Favre overtook Tarkenton as the all-time leader in passing yards. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Eli Manning, Trent Green, DeAndre Hopkins
11: Larry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice in receptions and receiving yardage while ranking sixth in touchdown receptions. He has missed only seven games in 16 seasons and has accrued impressive credentials in nine postseason games as well: 57 receptions for 942 yards (a 16.5-yard average) and 10 touchdowns. His postseason run to the Arizona Cardinals’ lone Super Bowl appearance was epic. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Julio Jones, Phil Simms, Drew Bledsoe
12: Tom Brady
Super Bowl champions and league MVPs proliferate at No. 12. Some of them surely would have enjoyed greater success under rules that have benefited quarterbacks over the second half of Brady’s career, but with six Super Bowl victories and 20 mostly excellent seasons, Brady is the clear choice. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Aaron Rodgers, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Roger Staubach
13: Dan Marino
Marino supplanted Johnny Unitas as the standard by which pure passers are measured. His 1984 season was so unlike anything the league had seen — 5,084 yards, 48 touchdowns — that not even Marino himself could replicate those numbers in future seasons. Marino spent 12 years as the all-time passing yardage leader. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Kurt Warner, Don Maynard, Jake Scott
14: Dan Fouts
Two things happened in 1978 that Fouts would parlay into NFL immortality. The league changed rules to facilitate passing, and the Chargers hired Don Coryell as head coach. Fouts was one of 13 quarterbacks to make at least 50 starts from 1979 to 1982. He outpaced each of the other 12 by at least 4,764 yards and 15 touchdowns while ranking No. 1 with 8 yards per attempt. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Ken Anderson
15: Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes’ brilliance over a couple of seasons makes him the choice in the Super Bowl era, which excludes the bulk of Bart Starr’s Hall of Fame career. To show how much the game has changed, Mahomes is already halfway to Starr’s career total for touchdown passes, even though Starr made 157 starts over 16 seasons and Mahomes is just starting out. Starr held the record for the highest postseason passer rating (104.8) among players with at least 150 attempts in the playoffs — until Mahomes surpassed him recently. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Starr, Earl Morrall, Brandon Marshall
16: Joe Montana
Limiting this project to the Super Bowl era made it tougher for greats such as Len Dawson and George Blanda, but Montana was going to be the choice at No. 16 regardless. The four-time Super Bowl champ and two-time league MVP has five fourth-quarter comeback victories in the postseason, second to Brady since 1960, according to Pro Football Reference. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Len Dawson, Jim Plunkett, Rich Gannon
17: Harold Carmichael
Carmichael’s recent enshrinement in the Hall of Fame gives him the edge over Philip Rivers, whose final chapter remains unwritten. The 1970s All-Decade wide receiver was unique for his 6-foot-8 frame and was a force through the Eagles’ 1980 Super Bowl season and beyond. No one had more receptions, receiving yards or touchdown receptions than Carmichael from 1973 through 1981. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Rivers, Dave Krieg
18: Peyton Manning
Fourteen Pro Bowls, seven first-team All-Pro selections, five MVP awards, a 70 percent win rate and two Super Bowl rings made Manning the only choice. His 2004 and 2013 seasons will go down among the very best for a quarterback. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Charlie Joiner, Emmitt Thomas, Gene Washington, A.J. Green, Roman Gabriel
19: Lance Alworth
It’s strange not choosing Johnny Unitas, but since we’re considering the Super Bowl era only, let’s acknowledge that Alworth was at his absolute best during the late 1960s, leading the league in receiving yards multiple times. Unitas’ dominant seasons were behind him by then, as injuries robbed him of his consistency and finishing ability. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Unitas, Keyshawn Johnson, Bernie Kosar
20: Barry Sanders
Ten seasons played, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, six first-team All-Pro selections, one MVP award and no one whose running style could compare. There have been many superior all-around backs, for sure, but Sanders was in his own category as a pure runner. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, Mel Renfro, Ronde Barber, Lem Barney, Louis Wright, Deron Cherry
21: Deion Sanders
Sanders, the elite cover corner of his generation, picked off 53 passes and contributed 22 total touchdowns. That included nine on interception returns, one on a fumble return, six as a punt returner, three as a kickoff returner and three as a wide receiver. — MS
Honorable Mentions
LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Allen, Tiki Barber, Cliff Branch, James Brooks, Frank Gore, Patrick Peterson
22: Emmitt Smith
Smith has more carries for more yards and more touchdowns than anyone, elevating him above the other contenders. You won’t find Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes in the honorable mentions because he wore No. 40 for his first seven seasons before switching No. 22 upon joining the Raiders in 1983. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Paul Krause, Roger Wehrli, Bob Hayes, Harrison Smith, Dwight Hicks, Matt Forte
23: Devin Hester
Hester might be the greatest return specialist. His 14 touchdowns on punt returns rank first, four more than runner-up Eric Metcalf. He ranks tied for fifth with five touchdowns on kickoff returns, which became harder to produce as touchbacks proliferated over the second half of Hester’s career. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Troy Vincent, Blaine Bishop, Patrick Surtain
24: Champ Bailey
Bailey is tough to beat with his 12 Pro Bowls, shutdown corner ability, longevity and all-around game, but there are other current and future Pro Football Hall of Famers in the mix. Two of them, Willie Wood and Willie Brown, played significant portions of their careers before the Super Bowl era. Bailey was so good for so long that he’s an excellent choice. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Brown, Wood, Darrelle Revis, Ty Law, Charles Woodson, Everson Walls, Marshawn Lynch
25: Richard Sherman
One of few active players on this list, Sherman’s credentials include three first-team All-Pro selections (and two second-team nods, including in 2019), five Pro Bowls and his role as a founding member of the Legion of Boom in Seattle, one of the best defensive secondaries of all time. The second act of Sherman’s career has taken him to the 49ers, who he helped win the NFC Championship Game last season. — Lindsay Jones
Honorable Mentions
Fred Biletnikoff, LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush, Dorsey Levens, Chris Harris Jr.
26: Rod Woodson
Woodson, a Hall of Fame defensive back who played 17 seasons for the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens and Raiders, is an easy choice. Woodson was a member of the NFL’s All-1990s team and is third all-time with 71 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Herb Adderley, Le’Veon Bell, Deuce McAllister, Antoine Winfield
27: Steve Atwater
It’s a toss-up between two Hall of Fame safeties, but Atwater, who will be enshrined in Canton this summer, gets the nod over Ken Houston because Houston, who made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls, wore No. 29 for the first six years of his career. Atwater, one of the most intimidating players of his generation, made eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the Broncos before finishing his career with the Jets. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Houston, Eddie George, Gary Garrison, Malcolm Jenkins
28: Marshall Faulk
One of the most dynamic and versatile running backs, Faulk is the only player with more than 12,000 rushing yards and more than 6,000 receiving yards during his 12-year career with the Colts and Rams, with whom he was a key member of the Greatest Show on Turf. Faulk was the MVP in 2000, part of an incredible three-season stretch with the Rams when he racked up more than 4,100 rushing yards, more than 2,600 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Darrell Green, Adrian Peterson, Warrick Dunn, Fred Taylor
29: Eric Dickerson
Dickerson still holds the single-season rushing record with 2,105 rushing yards in 1984, his second season with the Los Angeles Rams. He led the NFL in rushing four times and is ninth on the all-time rushing list with 13,259 yards. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Harold Jackson, Albert Lewis, Earl Thomas, Sam Madison
30: Terrell Davis
Davis’ career was cut short by injuries, but at his prime, he powered the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles. He was the MVP in 1998 after rushing for 2,008 yards (and averaging 5.1 yards per carry) and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXII. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Mike Brown, Ahman Green, Todd Gurley
31: Donnie Shell
Shell, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class that will be enshrined later this year, won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shell was named a first-team All-Pro at safety three times (1979, 1980 and 1982) and retired with 51 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Kam Chancellor, Priest Holmes, Aaron Glenn
32: OJ Simpson
This was one of the most difficult decisions (and it likely would have gone to Jim Brown, had pre-Super Bowl era players been included). Simpson gets the nod over fellow Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Franco Harris and Edgerrin James because of his domination during his prime in Buffalo. He was the MVP in 1973 after rushing for 2,003 yards and was a first-team All-Pro for five consecutive seasons from 1972 through 1976. Of all the jerseys on this list, though, Simpson’s is the most disgraced. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Allen, James, Harris, Ricky Watters
33: Tony Dorsett
Dorsett is an easy pick at No. 33. The Hall of Fame running back was a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champ with the Cowboys, and his 99-yard touchdown run (in 1983 against the Vikings) is a record that will never be broken. Dorsett surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in eight of his nine first seasons; the streak was only broken because of the strike-shortened season in 1982. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Roger Craig, Charles Tillman
34: Walter Payton
How to describe the greatness of Payton in one paragraph? “Sweetness” was arguably the best running back: A seven-time All-Pro, a member of two All-Decade teams (1970s and 1980s) and a Super Bowl champion (XX with the Bears), the NFL named its annual Man of the Year award after Payton. Payton was an easy choice at No. 34, but this is one of the most accomplished group of honorable mentions, including three fellow Hall of Famers. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Thurman Thomas, Earl Campbell, Herschel Walker, Cornell Green
35: Aeneas Williams
The Hall of Fame defensive back, who played cornerback and safety during his 12-year career with the Cardinals and Rams, was a member of the All-1990s team. He finished his career with 55 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Neal Anderson
36: Jerome Bettis
“The Bus” is eighth on the all-time rushing list with 13,664 yards. A six-time Pro Bowler, Bettis ended his Hall of Fame career in epic fashion, winning a Super Bowl in his final game with the Steelers in his hometown of Detroit. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
LeRoy Butler, Lawyer Milloy, Billy Thompson
37: Jimmy Johnson
Johnson played 16 seasons for the 49ers and was a first-team All-Pro at cornerback from 1969 to 1972. The 49ers retired No. 37 in honor of Johnson in 1977. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Shaun Alexander, Rodney Harrison, Lester Hayes, Carnell Lake
38: George Rogers
The Saints drafted Rogers with the No. 1 pick in 1981 and Rogers’ rookie season was exceptional. He led the NFL in rushing with 1,674 yards. (The player picked at No. 2 will come up later in this list.) Rogers made three Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Tramon Williams, Mike Anderson
39: Larry Csonka
The lone fullback to make this list, Csonka’s No. 39 is retired by the Miami Dolphins. He was the MVP of Super Bowl VIII, when he rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Csonka’s career eventually took him to the World Football League, to the New York Giants and eventually back to the Dolphins, and he retired with 64 touchdowns. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Steven Jackson, Carl Lee, Brandon Carr
40: Gale Sayers
The dynamic Sayers is the pick even though the first season of his injury-shortened career fell outside the Super Bowl era. Mike Haynes could have been the choice if he had not switched to No. 22 halfway through his Hall of Fame career. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Haynes, Mike Alstott
41: Eugene Robinson
Robinson amassed 57 interceptions in his 16-year career with four teams (42 of his interceptions were during his 11 years with the Seahawks). Robinson won a Super Bowl title with the Packers in 1997. The longevity of his career and his consistent production gives Robinson the edge over Lorenzo Neal, a longtime fullback and key piece of the Chargers’ mid-2000s rushing attack. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Neal, Antoine Bethea, Phil Villapiano
42: Ronnie Lott
It’s hard to find a more decorated player than Lott: Four Super Bowl rings (all with the 49ers in the 1980s) and eight first-team All-Pro honors during his 14-year career. Lott twice led the NFL in interceptions and is tied for eighth all time with 64. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Paul Warfield, Charley Taylor
43: Troy Polamalu
Polamalu will become the second No. 43 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (joining Cliff Harris) when he is enshrined later this year after being elected in his first year of eligibility. That was an easy call for Hall of Fame voters, as it was picking him as the best to wear No. 43. Polamalu is one of the greatest safeties ever and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. (If we were making a list of best hair, Polamalu would probably also make the cut.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Cliff Harris, Darren Sproles
44: John Riggins
No. 44 is stacked, and this was a tough call. Riggins is the pick because unlike other Hall of Famers to wear the number, he played his entire career in the Super Bowl era (Leroy Kelly and Dick LeBeau did not) and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII with the Redskins. (His post-football career in Hollywood is just a bonus.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Kelly, LeBeau, Floyd Little
45: Kenny Easley
Easley, the No. 4 pick in the 1981 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, was an easy pick at No. 45. The strong safety was a member of the All-1980s team. The Seahawks retired No. 45 in his honor. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Gary Fencik
46: Tim McDonald
McDonald was a six-time Pro Bowl safety during his 13-year career with the Cardinals and 49ers. He won a Super Bowl with the 49ers in 1994, a season in which he was one of three 49ers defensive backs who made the Pro Bowl (along with cornerback Deion Sanders and free safety Merton Hanks.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Herm Edwards
47: Mel Blount
There were two clear favorites at No. 47: Blount and Bucs/Broncos safety John Lynch. We gave the honor to Blount because of his key role during the Steelers’ four Super Bowl championship seasons. Blount was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and was part of the All-1980s team as well as the 100th Anniversary team. His legacy might be that he inspired a rule change to limit how physical cornerbacks could be with receivers. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Lynch, Joey Browner
48: Stephen Davis
There’s not a Hall of Famer to be found at No. 48, so we’re going with Davis, who made three Pro Bowls in his 11-year career as a running back for the Redskins, Panthers and Rams. He rushed for at least 1,300 yards in four of five seasons from 1999 to 2003 and had a career-high 17 touchdowns in 1999. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Ken Ellis
49: Dennis Smith
Smith was a six-time Pro Bowler in his 14-year career as a safety, all with the Denver Broncos, and he remains their all-time leader in tackles. For six of those seasons, he teamed with Atwater to form one of the best safety duos in history. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Tony Richardson
50: Mike Singletary
At 5-foot-11, he was considered too short to play middle linebacker by many, but Singletary played plenty big. The Hall of Famer was the centerpiece for arguably the greatest defense of all time, the 1985 Bears. — Dan Pompei
Honorable Mentions
Justin Houston
51: Dick Butkus
No defensive player was more feared. Butkus played on bad teams but was arguably the most physical tackler ever. He did everything well, even playing in coverage. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Sam Mills, Jim Ringo
52: Ray Lewis
Considered the best sideline-to-sideline middle linebacker ever, Lewis was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time defensive MVP and 13-time Pro Bowler. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Mike Webster, Patrick Willis
53: Harry Carson
An outstanding run defender, Carson often was overshadowed by fellow Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Bill Belichick once said he considered him the best all-around linebacker he coached. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Randy Gradishar, Mick Tinglehoff
54: Brian Urlacher
He played middle linebacker like no one before or since, winning defensive rookie of the year and Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder ran like a safety and had instincts like a shark. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Chuck Howley, Randy White
55: Junior Seau
No linebacker ever shot a gap like Seau. The 12-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer was disruptive to opponents and unifying to his defenses. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Derrick Brooks, Chris Hanburger, Willie McGinest
56: Lawrence Taylor
Considered the greatest edge rusher of all time, Taylor was relentless, fast and ruthless. He was voted Defensive Player of the Year three times. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Chris Doleman, Andre Tippett
57: Rickey Jackson
He was the best player on what may have been the best four-man linebacker unit ever. Jackson had 10 or more sacks six times. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Tom Jackson, Dwight Stephenson
58: Jack Lambert
The anchor of the Steel Curtain helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls. He was missing his front teeth, but he hardly ever missed a tackle. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Derrick Thomas, Von Miller
59: Jack Ham
Ham had tremendous short-area quickness, and he used it to bring down ball carriers all over the field for one of the greatest defenses ever. He combined diagnostic ability with fierce hits. — DP
Honorable Mentions
London Fletcher, Luke Kuechly
60: Tommy Nobis
In his prime, Nobis was considered by some to be the equal of Butkus. He played on a lot of bad teams, but was a five-time Pro Bowler. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Dennis Harrah
61: Curley Culp
The Hall of Famer did the dirty work for the Chiefs’ great defenses early in the Super Bowl era. Culp routinely dominated against centers who were considered great. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Nate Newton
62: Jim Langer
A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Langer played on one of the best offensive lines and on one of the best teams. In 1975, he was voted the Dolphins’ MVP on a team full of stars. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jeff Christy
63: Gene Upshaw
He played on three Super Bowl teams, made six Pro Bowls and appeared in 24 playoff games. Upshaw was consistently dominant, even against other greats. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Dermontti Dawson, Jay Hilgenberg, Willie Lanier, Mike Munchak, Lee Roy Selmon
64: Randall McDaniel
He combined athleticism and power like few interior linemen. McDaniel played in 12 straight Pro Bowls. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Joe DeLamielleure, Jerry Kramer, Dave Wilcox
65: Gary Zimmerman
He was voted to the All-1980s and All-1990s teams as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Zimmerman helped Elway win his first Super Bowl. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Elvin Bethea, Dave Butz, Tom Mack
66: Ray Nitschke
He was the man in the middle of a defense that won two Super Bowls and three other NFL championships. Nitschke’s face was a symbol of the great Lombardi-era Packers. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Alan Faneca, Gene Hickerson, Larry Little, Billy Shaw
67: Bob Kuechenberg
He has come as close to anyone to being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame without actually being inducted. Kuechenberg, a mainstay on the great Dolphins of the 1970s, is an eight-time hall of fame finalist. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Kent Hull, Ed White
68: Will Shields
He played in a dozen straight Pro Bowls and never missed a game in 14 seasons. Shields was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — DP
Honorable Mentions
L.C. Greenwood, Russ Grimm, Rubin Carter, Kevin Mawae
69: Jared Allen
He finished his career with 136 sacks and tied records for most times leading the league in sacks (twice), most safeties (four) and most consecutive games with a sack (11). — DP
Honorable Mentions
David Bakhtiari, Tim Krumrie, Mark Schlereth
70: Rayfield Wright
“The Big Cat” played on five Super Bowl teams and six straight Pro Bowl teams. With unusually quick feet for a big man, Wright was an outstanding pass protector for Roger Staubach. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jim Marshall
71: Walter Jones
In 13 seasons, he gave up only 23 sacks and was called for holding only nine times. Jones was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Tony Boselli, Fred Dean, Jason Peters
72: Dan Dierdorf
The NFLPA voted him offensive lineman of the year three times. He also was a first-team All-Pro five times despite playing on mostly bad teams. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Joe Nash
73: John Hannah
Considered by some to be the greatest guard, Hannah was a member of the All-1970s team and the All-1980s team. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him the second-best offensive lineman in history after Anthony Munoz. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Larry Allen, Jahri Evans, Joe Klecko, Joe Thomas, Ron Yary
74: Bruce Matthews
He was the most versatile great offensive lineman, starting at least 17 games at every position on the offensive line. Matthews played in 14 Pro Bowls. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jim Covert, Henry Jordan, Bob Lilly, Ron Mix, Merlin Olsen
75: Joe Greene
The first pick in 1969, Greene played 13 seasons with the Steelers and was a 10-time Pro Bowler. He was a foundational defensive piece that helped Pittsburgh go on a historic run with four Super Bowl titles in six seasons. — Sheil Kapadia
Honorable Mentions
Jonathan Ogden, Howie Long, Lomas Brown
76: Steve Hutchinson
He was one of the top guards during his 11-year career with the Seahawks and Vikings, earning seven Pro Bowl nods. Hutchinson did not miss a single start during a seven-year span from 2003 to 2009. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Orlando Pace, Steve Wisniewski
77: Willie Roaf
Roaf started 131 games in nine years with the Saints before getting traded to the Chiefs. He had four more Pro Bowl seasons in Kansas City and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.— SK
Honorable Mentions
Karl Mecklenburg, Tyron Smith
78: Anthony Munoz
Arguably the greatest offensive lineman, Munoz spent his entire 13-year career with the Bengals and was a nine-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Bruce Smith, Art Shell
79: Ray Childress
The durable defensive lineman started 160 games for the Oilers and finished his career with 76.5 sacks. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Harvey Martin, Coy Bacon, Jacob Green
80: Jerry Rice
Where to begin? Arguably the greatest player of all time, Rice holds records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time first-team All-Pro. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Steve Largent, James Lofton, Kellen Winslow, Cris Carter
81: Terrell Owens
There was never a dull moment with Owens. He is third all time in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. Owens played his first eight seasons for the 49ers before moving on to Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo and Cincinnati. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Carl Eller, Tim Brown, Art Monk, Jackie Smith, Calvin Johnson, Torry Holt
82: John Stallworth
He had 537 receptions during his 14-year career with the Steelers. Stallworth had a 73-yard go-ahead touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ win over the Rams in Super Bowl XIV. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Jason Witten, Jimmy Smith, Ozzie Newsome
83: Ted Hendricks
During his time with the Baltimore Colts, Packers and Raiders, Hendricks played in 215 consecutive games. The 6-foot-7 linebacker was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Andre Reed
84: Randy Moss
One of the most electrifying wide receivers, Moss is fourth all time in receiving yards and second to only Rice in touchdown receptions. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Antonio Brown, Shannon Sharpe, Sterling Sharpe
85: Jack Youngblood
Known for his toughness, Youngblood missed just one game in his 14-year career with the Rams. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Nick Buoniconti
86: Buck Buchanan
The durable defensive tackle missed just one game in 13 seasons with the Chiefs. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Hines Ward, Antonio Freeman
87: Rob Gronkowski
One of the most dominant, well-rounded tight ends, Gronkowski was one of Brady’s go-to targets when the Patriots reached the Super Bowl four times, winning it twice. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Reggie Wayne, Willie Davis
88: Alan Page
Page was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection with the Vikings and twice won Defensive Player of the Year. The durable defensive tackle appeared in 238 consecutive games (playoffs included) and played in four Super Bowls. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Marvin Harrison, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Irvin, Lynn Swann
89: Steve Smith
One of the most competitive wide receivers of all time, Smith caught 1,031 passes for 14,731 yards during his career with the Panthers and the Ravens. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Wes Chandler, Fred Dryer, Otis Taylor, Mike Ditka
90: Julius Peppers
He lived up to the hype as the No. 2 pick in 2002. Peppers finished his career with 159.5 sacks — fourth all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Neil Smith, Ndamukong Suh, Jevon Kearse
91: Kevin Greene
One of the best pass rushers of all time, Greene finished third all time with 160 sacks during his 15-year career. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Leslie O’Neal, Fletcher Cox, Cameron Wake, Tamba Hali
92: Reggie White
He’s in the conversation as the best defensive player. White spent his first eight seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Packers and winning a Super Bowl. His 198 sacks are second all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Michael Strahan, James Harrison, Haloti Ngata, Ted Washington
93: John Randle
He went from undrafted free agent to Hall of Famer, amassing 137.5 sacks during his 14-year career — tied for 10th all time. Randle was the face of the Vikings’ defense in the ‘90s before finishing his career in Seattle. He was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Dwight Freeney, Kevin Carter, Kevin Williams
94: DeMarcus Ware
One of the greatest pass rushers of the last 20 years, Ware finished his career with 138.5 sacks — ninth all time. The nine-time Pro Bowler gave opposing offensive tackles fits for nine years with the Cowboys and three more with the Broncos. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Charles Haley
95: Richard Dent
His two-year run with the Bears from 1984 to 1985 may never be matched. Dent had 34.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles during the regular season and then was named MVP of Super Bowl XX. His 137.5 career sacks are tied for 10th all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Greg Lloyd, Kyle Williams
96: Cortez Kennedy
The 58 career sacks don’t do Kennedy justice. He was a Seahawks legend, starting 153 games in 11 years and earning eight Pro Bowl nods. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Clyde Simmons
97: Geno Atkins
Atkins is probably one of the more underrated players of the last 10 years. The hard-to-block defensive tackle has 75.5 career sacks and has made eight Pro Bowls. — SK
Honorable Mentions
La’Roi Glover, Bryant Young, Cornelius Bennett
98: Robert Mathis
He was a pass-rushing force during his 14-year career with the Colts. Mathis’ 123 career sacks rank 19th all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Casey Hampton, Jessie Armstead
99: Aaron Donald
He’s been the best defensive player over the last six years. Donald has been the Defensive Player of the Year three times and has 72 career sacks to go along with 117 tackles for loss. He’ll be just 29 years old at the start of the season. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor, J.J. Watt, Dan Hampton
A player’s uniform number is more than just a number.
The most important players can have their numbers retired, making them off-limits to future generations. No one will ever again wear No. 7 for the Denver Broncos, No. 32 for the Cleveland Browns, No. 34 for the Chicago Bears and a range of other numbers deemed sacred throughout the NFL. Fans with even cursory knowledge of league history need not ask why.
When a prominent player joins a new team and his preferred number is already taken, thousands of dollars can change hands before the newcomer gets to wear his preferred digit.
This week, The Athletic is celebrating the greatest players to wear each jersey number across multiple sports. To streamline the process and make it more relevant to recent generations, our group of national NFL writers limited the time period to the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966. A few players whose careers straddled that cutoff made or missed the cut based on what we felt made the most sense. Thousands of dollars did not change hands as these numbers were assigned, but our group did debate some of the selections rather strongly. We welcome you to do the same.
00: Jim Otto
The Oakland Raiders’ only starting center from 1960 through 1974 heads a short list of players to wear No. 00 over the years. Otto was named to 12 Pro Bowls and 10 All-Pro teams on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. — Mike Sando
Honorable Mentions
Ken Burrough
1: Warren Moon
Moon spent six seasons in the Canadian Football League and still earned Hall of Fame honors for his work in the NFL. Eight consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 1988 to 1995 paved the way. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Cam Newton, Gary Anderson, Jason Elam
2: Matt Ryan
The 2016 MVP led winning teams in each of his first five seasons. He’s had two winning seasons out of seven since then, but did reach the Super Bowl. Other quarterbacks to wear No. 2 include Aaron Brooks, Tim Couch, Chris Simms and, for a few years, Doug Flutie. — MS
Honorable Mentions
David Akers, Steve Christie, Mason Crosby
3: Russell Wilson
Wilson is not the first Seahawks quarterback to wear No. 3 — Rick Mirer wore it from 1993 to 1996 — but there’s a great chance he will become the last. Wilson has six Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl victory in nine seasons with no indication he’s slowing. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Jan Stenerud, Daryle Lamonica, Carson Palmer
4: Brett Favre
Not much competition for Favre, even if Adam Vinatieri winds up in the Hall of Fame. Favre retired as the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. A three-time MVP, he still holds the record for most consecutive starts. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Vinatieri, Jason Hanson
5: Morten Andersen
Andersen and Jan Stenerud are the only full-time placekickers in the Hall of Fame. He retired following the 2008 season as the all-time leader in points, field goals made and games played. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Donovan McNabb
6: Johnny Hekker
Hekker’s four first-team Associated Press All-Pro selections are a record for a punter in his first eight seasons, one more than the totals for Ray Guy, Sean Landeta and Shane Lechler, according to Pro Football Reference. No. 6 has not been the choice for elite players in general, however, as Jay Cutler heads the all-time list in Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value metric. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Thomas Morstead
7: John Elway
The incredible talent, dramatic comebacks and late-career Super Bowl titles keep Elway atop a strong list featuring multiple league MVPs (Joe Theismann, Bert Jones), contenders who wore No. 7 for portions of their careers (Andersen, Randall Cunningham) and Michael Vick. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Vick, Theismann, Ben Roethlisberger
8: Steve Young
Young and Troy Aikman battled pretty evenly during the 1990s as starting quarterbacks for two of the best teams in the NFC. Young put up the more efficient passing numbers. Aikman led better overall teams early in the decade. You pick one, we’ll take the other. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Aikman, Guy
9: Drew Brees
Brees reigns as the all-time passing leader in completions, yards and touchdowns. He is widely cited as the greatest signing in the history of free agency. There’s no shortage of Pro Bowl quarterbacks to have worn the number, however. Sonny Jurgensen, Steve McNair, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Tommy Kramer, Carson Palmer and Jim McMahon all did. — MS
Honorable Mentions
McNair, Jurgensen, Romo
10: Fran Tarkenton
Tarkenton’s credentials endure even if we eliminate his first five seasons, which predate the Super Bowl era. From 1966 until his retirement, Tarkenton was the runaway passing leader in yards, completions, attempts and touchdowns. He retired as the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes and was a dual threat, having run for 32 touchdowns. Nineteen seasons passed before Favre overtook Tarkenton as the all-time leader in passing yards. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Eli Manning, Trent Green, DeAndre Hopkins
11: Larry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice in receptions and receiving yardage while ranking sixth in touchdown receptions. He has missed only seven games in 16 seasons and has accrued impressive credentials in nine postseason games as well: 57 receptions for 942 yards (a 16.5-yard average) and 10 touchdowns. His postseason run to the Arizona Cardinals’ lone Super Bowl appearance was epic. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Julio Jones, Phil Simms, Drew Bledsoe
12: Tom Brady
Super Bowl champions and league MVPs proliferate at No. 12. Some of them surely would have enjoyed greater success under rules that have benefited quarterbacks over the second half of Brady’s career, but with six Super Bowl victories and 20 mostly excellent seasons, Brady is the clear choice. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Aaron Rodgers, Terry Bradshaw, Bob Griese, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Roger Staubach
13: Dan Marino
Marino supplanted Johnny Unitas as the standard by which pure passers are measured. His 1984 season was so unlike anything the league had seen — 5,084 yards, 48 touchdowns — that not even Marino himself could replicate those numbers in future seasons. Marino spent 12 years as the all-time passing yardage leader. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Kurt Warner, Don Maynard, Jake Scott
14: Dan Fouts
Two things happened in 1978 that Fouts would parlay into NFL immortality. The league changed rules to facilitate passing, and the Chargers hired Don Coryell as head coach. Fouts was one of 13 quarterbacks to make at least 50 starts from 1979 to 1982. He outpaced each of the other 12 by at least 4,764 yards and 15 touchdowns while ranking No. 1 with 8 yards per attempt. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Ken Anderson
15: Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes’ brilliance over a couple of seasons makes him the choice in the Super Bowl era, which excludes the bulk of Bart Starr’s Hall of Fame career. To show how much the game has changed, Mahomes is already halfway to Starr’s career total for touchdown passes, even though Starr made 157 starts over 16 seasons and Mahomes is just starting out. Starr held the record for the highest postseason passer rating (104.8) among players with at least 150 attempts in the playoffs — until Mahomes surpassed him recently. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Starr, Earl Morrall, Brandon Marshall
16: Joe Montana
Limiting this project to the Super Bowl era made it tougher for greats such as Len Dawson and George Blanda, but Montana was going to be the choice at No. 16 regardless. The four-time Super Bowl champ and two-time league MVP has five fourth-quarter comeback victories in the postseason, second to Brady since 1960, according to Pro Football Reference. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Len Dawson, Jim Plunkett, Rich Gannon
17: Harold Carmichael
Carmichael’s recent enshrinement in the Hall of Fame gives him the edge over Philip Rivers, whose final chapter remains unwritten. The 1970s All-Decade wide receiver was unique for his 6-foot-8 frame and was a force through the Eagles’ 1980 Super Bowl season and beyond. No one had more receptions, receiving yards or touchdown receptions than Carmichael from 1973 through 1981. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Rivers, Dave Krieg
18: Peyton Manning
Fourteen Pro Bowls, seven first-team All-Pro selections, five MVP awards, a 70 percent win rate and two Super Bowl rings made Manning the only choice. His 2004 and 2013 seasons will go down among the very best for a quarterback. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Charlie Joiner, Emmitt Thomas, Gene Washington, A.J. Green, Roman Gabriel
19: Lance Alworth
It’s strange not choosing Johnny Unitas, but since we’re considering the Super Bowl era only, let’s acknowledge that Alworth was at his absolute best during the late 1960s, leading the league in receiving yards multiple times. Unitas’ dominant seasons were behind him by then, as injuries robbed him of his consistency and finishing ability. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Unitas, Keyshawn Johnson, Bernie Kosar
20: Barry Sanders
Ten seasons played, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, six first-team All-Pro selections, one MVP award and no one whose running style could compare. There have been many superior all-around backs, for sure, but Sanders was in his own category as a pure runner. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed, Mel Renfro, Ronde Barber, Lem Barney, Louis Wright, Deron Cherry
21: Deion Sanders
Sanders, the elite cover corner of his generation, picked off 53 passes and contributed 22 total touchdowns. That included nine on interception returns, one on a fumble return, six as a punt returner, three as a kickoff returner and three as a wide receiver. — MS
Honorable Mentions
LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Allen, Tiki Barber, Cliff Branch, James Brooks, Frank Gore, Patrick Peterson
22: Emmitt Smith
Smith has more carries for more yards and more touchdowns than anyone, elevating him above the other contenders. You won’t find Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes in the honorable mentions because he wore No. 40 for his first seven seasons before switching No. 22 upon joining the Raiders in 1983. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Paul Krause, Roger Wehrli, Bob Hayes, Harrison Smith, Dwight Hicks, Matt Forte
23: Devin Hester
Hester might be the greatest return specialist. His 14 touchdowns on punt returns rank first, four more than runner-up Eric Metcalf. He ranks tied for fifth with five touchdowns on kickoff returns, which became harder to produce as touchbacks proliferated over the second half of Hester’s career. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Troy Vincent, Blaine Bishop, Patrick Surtain
24: Champ Bailey
Bailey is tough to beat with his 12 Pro Bowls, shutdown corner ability, longevity and all-around game, but there are other current and future Pro Football Hall of Famers in the mix. Two of them, Willie Wood and Willie Brown, played significant portions of their careers before the Super Bowl era. Bailey was so good for so long that he’s an excellent choice. — MS
Honorable Mentions
Brown, Wood, Darrelle Revis, Ty Law, Charles Woodson, Everson Walls, Marshawn Lynch
25: Richard Sherman
One of few active players on this list, Sherman’s credentials include three first-team All-Pro selections (and two second-team nods, including in 2019), five Pro Bowls and his role as a founding member of the Legion of Boom in Seattle, one of the best defensive secondaries of all time. The second act of Sherman’s career has taken him to the 49ers, who he helped win the NFC Championship Game last season. — Lindsay Jones
Honorable Mentions
Fred Biletnikoff, LeSean McCoy, Reggie Bush, Dorsey Levens, Chris Harris Jr.
26: Rod Woodson
Woodson, a Hall of Fame defensive back who played 17 seasons for the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens and Raiders, is an easy choice. Woodson was a member of the NFL’s All-1990s team and is third all-time with 71 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Herb Adderley, Le’Veon Bell, Deuce McAllister, Antoine Winfield
27: Steve Atwater
It’s a toss-up between two Hall of Fame safeties, but Atwater, who will be enshrined in Canton this summer, gets the nod over Ken Houston because Houston, who made 12 consecutive Pro Bowls, wore No. 29 for the first six years of his career. Atwater, one of the most intimidating players of his generation, made eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls with the Broncos before finishing his career with the Jets. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Houston, Eddie George, Gary Garrison, Malcolm Jenkins
28: Marshall Faulk
One of the most dynamic and versatile running backs, Faulk is the only player with more than 12,000 rushing yards and more than 6,000 receiving yards during his 12-year career with the Colts and Rams, with whom he was a key member of the Greatest Show on Turf. Faulk was the MVP in 2000, part of an incredible three-season stretch with the Rams when he racked up more than 4,100 rushing yards, more than 2,600 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Darrell Green, Adrian Peterson, Warrick Dunn, Fred Taylor
29: Eric Dickerson
Dickerson still holds the single-season rushing record with 2,105 rushing yards in 1984, his second season with the Los Angeles Rams. He led the NFL in rushing four times and is ninth on the all-time rushing list with 13,259 yards. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Harold Jackson, Albert Lewis, Earl Thomas, Sam Madison
30: Terrell Davis
Davis’ career was cut short by injuries, but at his prime, he powered the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles. He was the MVP in 1998 after rushing for 2,008 yards (and averaging 5.1 yards per carry) and was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXII. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Mike Brown, Ahman Green, Todd Gurley
31: Donnie Shell
Shell, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Centennial Class that will be enshrined later this year, won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shell was named a first-team All-Pro at safety three times (1979, 1980 and 1982) and retired with 51 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Kam Chancellor, Priest Holmes, Aaron Glenn
32: OJ Simpson
This was one of the most difficult decisions (and it likely would have gone to Jim Brown, had pre-Super Bowl era players been included). Simpson gets the nod over fellow Hall of Famers Marcus Allen, Franco Harris and Edgerrin James because of his domination during his prime in Buffalo. He was the MVP in 1973 after rushing for 2,003 yards and was a first-team All-Pro for five consecutive seasons from 1972 through 1976. Of all the jerseys on this list, though, Simpson’s is the most disgraced. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Allen, James, Harris, Ricky Watters
33: Tony Dorsett
Dorsett is an easy pick at No. 33. The Hall of Fame running back was a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champ with the Cowboys, and his 99-yard touchdown run (in 1983 against the Vikings) is a record that will never be broken. Dorsett surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in eight of his nine first seasons; the streak was only broken because of the strike-shortened season in 1982. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Roger Craig, Charles Tillman
34: Walter Payton
How to describe the greatness of Payton in one paragraph? “Sweetness” was arguably the best running back: A seven-time All-Pro, a member of two All-Decade teams (1970s and 1980s) and a Super Bowl champion (XX with the Bears), the NFL named its annual Man of the Year award after Payton. Payton was an easy choice at No. 34, but this is one of the most accomplished group of honorable mentions, including three fellow Hall of Famers. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Thurman Thomas, Earl Campbell, Herschel Walker, Cornell Green
35: Aeneas Williams
The Hall of Fame defensive back, who played cornerback and safety during his 12-year career with the Cardinals and Rams, was a member of the All-1990s team. He finished his career with 55 interceptions. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Neal Anderson
36: Jerome Bettis
“The Bus” is eighth on the all-time rushing list with 13,664 yards. A six-time Pro Bowler, Bettis ended his Hall of Fame career in epic fashion, winning a Super Bowl in his final game with the Steelers in his hometown of Detroit. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
LeRoy Butler, Lawyer Milloy, Billy Thompson
37: Jimmy Johnson
Johnson played 16 seasons for the 49ers and was a first-team All-Pro at cornerback from 1969 to 1972. The 49ers retired No. 37 in honor of Johnson in 1977. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Shaun Alexander, Rodney Harrison, Lester Hayes, Carnell Lake
38: George Rogers
The Saints drafted Rogers with the No. 1 pick in 1981 and Rogers’ rookie season was exceptional. He led the NFL in rushing with 1,674 yards. (The player picked at No. 2 will come up later in this list.) Rogers made three Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Tramon Williams, Mike Anderson
39: Larry Csonka
The lone fullback to make this list, Csonka’s No. 39 is retired by the Miami Dolphins. He was the MVP of Super Bowl VIII, when he rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Csonka’s career eventually took him to the World Football League, to the New York Giants and eventually back to the Dolphins, and he retired with 64 touchdowns. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Steven Jackson, Carl Lee, Brandon Carr
40: Gale Sayers
The dynamic Sayers is the pick even though the first season of his injury-shortened career fell outside the Super Bowl era. Mike Haynes could have been the choice if he had not switched to No. 22 halfway through his Hall of Fame career. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Haynes, Mike Alstott
41: Eugene Robinson
Robinson amassed 57 interceptions in his 16-year career with four teams (42 of his interceptions were during his 11 years with the Seahawks). Robinson won a Super Bowl title with the Packers in 1997. The longevity of his career and his consistent production gives Robinson the edge over Lorenzo Neal, a longtime fullback and key piece of the Chargers’ mid-2000s rushing attack. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Neal, Antoine Bethea, Phil Villapiano
42: Ronnie Lott
It’s hard to find a more decorated player than Lott: Four Super Bowl rings (all with the 49ers in the 1980s) and eight first-team All-Pro honors during his 14-year career. Lott twice led the NFL in interceptions and is tied for eighth all time with 64. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Paul Warfield, Charley Taylor
43: Troy Polamalu
Polamalu will become the second No. 43 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (joining Cliff Harris) when he is enshrined later this year after being elected in his first year of eligibility. That was an easy call for Hall of Fame voters, as it was picking him as the best to wear No. 43. Polamalu is one of the greatest safeties ever and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. (If we were making a list of best hair, Polamalu would probably also make the cut.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Cliff Harris, Darren Sproles
44: John Riggins
No. 44 is stacked, and this was a tough call. Riggins is the pick because unlike other Hall of Famers to wear the number, he played his entire career in the Super Bowl era (Leroy Kelly and Dick LeBeau did not) and he was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII with the Redskins. (His post-football career in Hollywood is just a bonus.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Kelly, LeBeau, Floyd Little
45: Kenny Easley
Easley, the No. 4 pick in the 1981 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, was an easy pick at No. 45. The strong safety was a member of the All-1980s team. The Seahawks retired No. 45 in his honor. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Gary Fencik
46: Tim McDonald
McDonald was a six-time Pro Bowl safety during his 13-year career with the Cardinals and 49ers. He won a Super Bowl with the 49ers in 1994, a season in which he was one of three 49ers defensive backs who made the Pro Bowl (along with cornerback Deion Sanders and free safety Merton Hanks.) — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Herm Edwards
47: Mel Blount
There were two clear favorites at No. 47: Blount and Bucs/Broncos safety John Lynch. We gave the honor to Blount because of his key role during the Steelers’ four Super Bowl championship seasons. Blount was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 and was part of the All-1980s team as well as the 100th Anniversary team. His legacy might be that he inspired a rule change to limit how physical cornerbacks could be with receivers. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Lynch, Joey Browner
48: Stephen Davis
There’s not a Hall of Famer to be found at No. 48, so we’re going with Davis, who made three Pro Bowls in his 11-year career as a running back for the Redskins, Panthers and Rams. He rushed for at least 1,300 yards in four of five seasons from 1999 to 2003 and had a career-high 17 touchdowns in 1999. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Ken Ellis
49: Dennis Smith
Smith was a six-time Pro Bowler in his 14-year career as a safety, all with the Denver Broncos, and he remains their all-time leader in tackles. For six of those seasons, he teamed with Atwater to form one of the best safety duos in history. — LJ
Honorable Mentions
Tony Richardson
50: Mike Singletary
At 5-foot-11, he was considered too short to play middle linebacker by many, but Singletary played plenty big. The Hall of Famer was the centerpiece for arguably the greatest defense of all time, the 1985 Bears. — Dan Pompei
Honorable Mentions
Justin Houston
51: Dick Butkus
No defensive player was more feared. Butkus played on bad teams but was arguably the most physical tackler ever. He did everything well, even playing in coverage. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Sam Mills, Jim Ringo
52: Ray Lewis
Considered the best sideline-to-sideline middle linebacker ever, Lewis was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time defensive MVP and 13-time Pro Bowler. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Mike Webster, Patrick Willis
53: Harry Carson
An outstanding run defender, Carson often was overshadowed by fellow Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Bill Belichick once said he considered him the best all-around linebacker he coached. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Randy Gradishar, Mick Tinglehoff
54: Brian Urlacher
He played middle linebacker like no one before or since, winning defensive rookie of the year and Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder ran like a safety and had instincts like a shark. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Chuck Howley, Randy White
55: Junior Seau
No linebacker ever shot a gap like Seau. The 12-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer was disruptive to opponents and unifying to his defenses. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Derrick Brooks, Chris Hanburger, Willie McGinest
56: Lawrence Taylor
Considered the greatest edge rusher of all time, Taylor was relentless, fast and ruthless. He was voted Defensive Player of the Year three times. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Chris Doleman, Andre Tippett
57: Rickey Jackson
He was the best player on what may have been the best four-man linebacker unit ever. Jackson had 10 or more sacks six times. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Tom Jackson, Dwight Stephenson
58: Jack Lambert
The anchor of the Steel Curtain helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls. He was missing his front teeth, but he hardly ever missed a tackle. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Derrick Thomas, Von Miller
59: Jack Ham
Ham had tremendous short-area quickness, and he used it to bring down ball carriers all over the field for one of the greatest defenses ever. He combined diagnostic ability with fierce hits. — DP
Honorable Mentions
London Fletcher, Luke Kuechly
60: Tommy Nobis
In his prime, Nobis was considered by some to be the equal of Butkus. He played on a lot of bad teams, but was a five-time Pro Bowler. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Dennis Harrah
61: Curley Culp
The Hall of Famer did the dirty work for the Chiefs’ great defenses early in the Super Bowl era. Culp routinely dominated against centers who were considered great. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Nate Newton
62: Jim Langer
A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Langer played on one of the best offensive lines and on one of the best teams. In 1975, he was voted the Dolphins’ MVP on a team full of stars. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jeff Christy
63: Gene Upshaw
He played on three Super Bowl teams, made six Pro Bowls and appeared in 24 playoff games. Upshaw was consistently dominant, even against other greats. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Dermontti Dawson, Jay Hilgenberg, Willie Lanier, Mike Munchak, Lee Roy Selmon
64: Randall McDaniel
He combined athleticism and power like few interior linemen. McDaniel played in 12 straight Pro Bowls. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Joe DeLamielleure, Jerry Kramer, Dave Wilcox
65: Gary Zimmerman
He was voted to the All-1980s and All-1990s teams as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Zimmerman helped Elway win his first Super Bowl. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Elvin Bethea, Dave Butz, Tom Mack
66: Ray Nitschke
He was the man in the middle of a defense that won two Super Bowls and three other NFL championships. Nitschke’s face was a symbol of the great Lombardi-era Packers. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Alan Faneca, Gene Hickerson, Larry Little, Billy Shaw
67: Bob Kuechenberg
He has come as close to anyone to being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame without actually being inducted. Kuechenberg, a mainstay on the great Dolphins of the 1970s, is an eight-time hall of fame finalist. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Kent Hull, Ed White
68: Will Shields
He played in a dozen straight Pro Bowls and never missed a game in 14 seasons. Shields was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — DP
Honorable Mentions
L.C. Greenwood, Russ Grimm, Rubin Carter, Kevin Mawae
69: Jared Allen
He finished his career with 136 sacks and tied records for most times leading the league in sacks (twice), most safeties (four) and most consecutive games with a sack (11). — DP
Honorable Mentions
David Bakhtiari, Tim Krumrie, Mark Schlereth
70: Rayfield Wright
“The Big Cat” played on five Super Bowl teams and six straight Pro Bowl teams. With unusually quick feet for a big man, Wright was an outstanding pass protector for Roger Staubach. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jim Marshall
71: Walter Jones
In 13 seasons, he gave up only 23 sacks and was called for holding only nine times. Jones was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Tony Boselli, Fred Dean, Jason Peters
72: Dan Dierdorf
The NFLPA voted him offensive lineman of the year three times. He also was a first-team All-Pro five times despite playing on mostly bad teams. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Joe Nash
73: John Hannah
Considered by some to be the greatest guard, Hannah was a member of the All-1970s team and the All-1980s team. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him the second-best offensive lineman in history after Anthony Munoz. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Larry Allen, Jahri Evans, Joe Klecko, Joe Thomas, Ron Yary
74: Bruce Matthews
He was the most versatile great offensive lineman, starting at least 17 games at every position on the offensive line. Matthews played in 14 Pro Bowls. — DP
Honorable Mentions
Jim Covert, Henry Jordan, Bob Lilly, Ron Mix, Merlin Olsen
75: Joe Greene
The first pick in 1969, Greene played 13 seasons with the Steelers and was a 10-time Pro Bowler. He was a foundational defensive piece that helped Pittsburgh go on a historic run with four Super Bowl titles in six seasons. — Sheil Kapadia
Honorable Mentions
Jonathan Ogden, Howie Long, Lomas Brown
76: Steve Hutchinson
He was one of the top guards during his 11-year career with the Seahawks and Vikings, earning seven Pro Bowl nods. Hutchinson did not miss a single start during a seven-year span from 2003 to 2009. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Orlando Pace, Steve Wisniewski
77: Willie Roaf
Roaf started 131 games in nine years with the Saints before getting traded to the Chiefs. He had four more Pro Bowl seasons in Kansas City and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.— SK
Honorable Mentions
Karl Mecklenburg, Tyron Smith
78: Anthony Munoz
Arguably the greatest offensive lineman, Munoz spent his entire 13-year career with the Bengals and was a nine-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Bruce Smith, Art Shell
79: Ray Childress
The durable defensive lineman started 160 games for the Oilers and finished his career with 76.5 sacks. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Harvey Martin, Coy Bacon, Jacob Green
80: Jerry Rice
Where to begin? Arguably the greatest player of all time, Rice holds records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time first-team All-Pro. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Steve Largent, James Lofton, Kellen Winslow, Cris Carter
81: Terrell Owens
There was never a dull moment with Owens. He is third all time in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. Owens played his first eight seasons for the 49ers before moving on to Philadelphia, Dallas, Buffalo and Cincinnati. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Carl Eller, Tim Brown, Art Monk, Jackie Smith, Calvin Johnson, Torry Holt
82: John Stallworth
He had 537 receptions during his 14-year career with the Steelers. Stallworth had a 73-yard go-ahead touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ win over the Rams in Super Bowl XIV. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Jason Witten, Jimmy Smith, Ozzie Newsome
83: Ted Hendricks
During his time with the Baltimore Colts, Packers and Raiders, Hendricks played in 215 consecutive games. The 6-foot-7 linebacker was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Andre Reed
84: Randy Moss
One of the most electrifying wide receivers, Moss is fourth all time in receiving yards and second to only Rice in touchdown receptions. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Antonio Brown, Shannon Sharpe, Sterling Sharpe
85: Jack Youngblood
Known for his toughness, Youngblood missed just one game in his 14-year career with the Rams. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro selection and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Nick Buoniconti
86: Buck Buchanan
The durable defensive tackle missed just one game in 13 seasons with the Chiefs. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Hines Ward, Antonio Freeman
87: Rob Gronkowski
One of the most dominant, well-rounded tight ends, Gronkowski was one of Brady’s go-to targets when the Patriots reached the Super Bowl four times, winning it twice. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Reggie Wayne, Willie Davis
88: Alan Page
Page was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection with the Vikings and twice won Defensive Player of the Year. The durable defensive tackle appeared in 238 consecutive games (playoffs included) and played in four Super Bowls. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Marvin Harrison, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Irvin, Lynn Swann
89: Steve Smith
One of the most competitive wide receivers of all time, Smith caught 1,031 passes for 14,731 yards during his career with the Panthers and the Ravens. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Wes Chandler, Fred Dryer, Otis Taylor, Mike Ditka
90: Julius Peppers
He lived up to the hype as the No. 2 pick in 2002. Peppers finished his career with 159.5 sacks — fourth all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Neil Smith, Ndamukong Suh, Jevon Kearse
91: Kevin Greene
One of the best pass rushers of all time, Greene finished third all time with 160 sacks during his 15-year career. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Leslie O’Neal, Fletcher Cox, Cameron Wake, Tamba Hali
92: Reggie White
He’s in the conversation as the best defensive player. White spent his first eight seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Packers and winning a Super Bowl. His 198 sacks are second all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Michael Strahan, James Harrison, Haloti Ngata, Ted Washington
93: John Randle
He went from undrafted free agent to Hall of Famer, amassing 137.5 sacks during his 14-year career — tied for 10th all time. Randle was the face of the Vikings’ defense in the ‘90s before finishing his career in Seattle. He was a six-time first-team All-Pro selection. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Dwight Freeney, Kevin Carter, Kevin Williams
94: DeMarcus Ware
One of the greatest pass rushers of the last 20 years, Ware finished his career with 138.5 sacks — ninth all time. The nine-time Pro Bowler gave opposing offensive tackles fits for nine years with the Cowboys and three more with the Broncos. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Charles Haley
95: Richard Dent
His two-year run with the Bears from 1984 to 1985 may never be matched. Dent had 34.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles during the regular season and then was named MVP of Super Bowl XX. His 137.5 career sacks are tied for 10th all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Greg Lloyd, Kyle Williams
96: Cortez Kennedy
The 58 career sacks don’t do Kennedy justice. He was a Seahawks legend, starting 153 games in 11 years and earning eight Pro Bowl nods. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Clyde Simmons
97: Geno Atkins
Atkins is probably one of the more underrated players of the last 10 years. The hard-to-block defensive tackle has 75.5 career sacks and has made eight Pro Bowls. — SK
Honorable Mentions
La’Roi Glover, Bryant Young, Cornelius Bennett
98: Robert Mathis
He was a pass-rushing force during his 14-year career with the Colts. Mathis’ 123 career sacks rank 19th all time. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Casey Hampton, Jessie Armstead
99: Aaron Donald
He’s been the best defensive player over the last six years. Donald has been the Defensive Player of the Year three times and has 72 career sacks to go along with 117 tackles for loss. He’ll be just 29 years old at the start of the season. — SK
Honorable Mentions
Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor, J.J. Watt, Dan Hampton
