Greatest Special Teams Players in NFL History

The standouts carved out starring roles on some of the NFL’s greatest teams.

There’s something about a great special teams player that speaks to why we love football in the first place.

The selfless act of running down the field and covering kicks and punts. That’s all about being a team player.

The thrill of watching someone return a kick or a punt for a touchdown. That’s just electric.

The heart-stopping moments when a kicker lines up to hit a game-winning field goal. That’s pressure most of us can’t even comprehend.

The main quality that seems to define a great special teams player in the NFL is the lack of fear — of failure, of injury, of being the one who gets called upon to make the biggest play on the biggest stage.

These are the greatest special teams players in NFL history.

30. Mosi Tatupu

Mosi Tatupu, center, was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1978 and stayed with the team until 1990. Mike Kullen / AP Photo

Position: Running back/special teams

College: University of Southern California

Career: 14 seasons (1978-91)

Teams: New England Patriots (1978-90), Los Angeles Rams (1991)

Stats: Pro Bowl (1986). All-Pro (1986). Patriots 50th Anniversary Team (2009).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Mosi Tatupu started just 22 games in 14 seasons and carved out a career as a special teams ace.

He had his best season in 1985, helping lead the Patriots to the AFC championship with 35 special teams tackles and five forced fumbles, including two in the playoffs.

His son, Lofu Tatupu, was an All-American linebacker for USC and played six seasons for the Seahawks.

Mosi Tatupu died of a heart attack in 2010 at 54 years old.

29. Nolan Cromwell

Nolan Cromwell, holding the ball for Rams kicker Frank Corral, was great athlete. AP Photo

Position: Defensive back/holder

College: University of Kansas

Career: 11 seasons, all with Los Angeles Rams (1977-87)

Stats: Four-time All-Pro (1980-83). Four-time Pro Bowler (1980-83). UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1980).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Nolan Cromwell was an elite defensive back named to the NFL’s All-1980s team as a safety, and he also could change games by holding the ball on extra points and field goals.

Because Cromwell was a running college quarterback at Kansas and an elite, All-Big 8 sprinter, teams couldn’t rush like they wanted to because of his athleticism — since he could run or throw the ball on a fake.

Cromwell was the special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers when they won the Super Bowl in 1996 and return specialist Desmond Howard was named Super Bowl MVP.

28. Jack Christiansen

Detroit Lions defensive back Jack Christiansen in his college days at Colorado State University. NFL Photo / AP Phot

Position: Defensive back/return specialist

College: Colorado State University

Career: 8 seasons, all with Detroit Lions (1951-58)

Stats: Six-time All-Pro (1952-57). Five-time Pro Bowler (1953-57). 46 career interceptions.

NFL titles: 3 (1952, 1953, 1957)

Bottom line: Jack Christiansen, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970, led the NFL in punt returns three times and had two games with two punt returns for touchdowns as a rookie in 1951.

He was the first player with multiple punt return touchdowns in a single game, and his eight career punt return touchdowns were an NFL record until 1989.

Christiansen was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1962 to 1967 and at Stanford University from 1972 to 1976. He died of cancer in 1986.

27. Brendon Ayanbadejo

Chicago Bears special team player Brendon Ayanbadejo, front, recovers the ball after Buffalo Bills punter Brian Moorman fumbled the snap during a 2006 game. Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Position: Linebacker/special teams

College: UCLA

Career: 10 seasons (2003-12)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (2003-04), Chicago Bears (2005-07), Baltimore Ravens (2008-12)

Stats: CFL All-Star (2002). Two-time PFWA All-Pro (2006, 2008). Three-time Pro Bowler (2006-08).

Super Bowl titles: 1 (2012)

Bottom line: Brendon Ayanbadejo’s perseverance paid off. After spending four seasons bouncing between the CFL, NFL Europe and NFL practice squads, he caught on with the Dolphins in 2003 and became one of the NFL’s elite special teams players.

In 10 NFL seasons, Ayanbadejo led his team in special teams tackles seven times. He could turn around games on special teams because he drew double teams, freeing up other players to make tackles.

Ayanbadejo finished with 198 career special teams tackles.

26. Albert Lewis

Albert Lewis, left, played 225 career games in the NFL. Donna Carson / AP Photo

Position: Cornerback/special teams

College: Grambling State University

Career: 16 seasons (1983-98)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1983-93), Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1994-98)

Stats: Four-time NFL All-Pro (1986, 1988-90). Four-time Pro Bowler (1987-90). 832 career tackles.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Albert Lewis, a member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame, changed games throughout his career because of his ability to block punts, using his lanky, 6-foot-2 frame and 4.38-second speed in the 40-yard dash to get to the ball.

As a rookie in 1983, Lewis led the Chiefs with 27 special teams tackles, then blocked four punts in 1986, then blocked four punts again in 1990.

He finished his career with 11 blocked punts and one blocked field goal.

25. Michael Bates

Michael Bates had 9,348 all-purpose yards in his career. Rick Havner / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/return specialist

College: University of Arizona

Career: 11 seasons (1993-2003)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks (1993-95), Cleveland Browns (1995), Carolina Panthers (1995, 1996-2000, 2002-03), Washington Redskins (2001), New York Jets (2003), Dallas Cowboys (2003)

Stats: Five-time All-Pro (1996-2000). Five-time Pro Bowler (1996-2000). NFL Alumni Kick Returner of the Year (1996).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Michael Bates, who won a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at the 1992 Summer Olympics, could change games with his speed, but it wasn’t just in the return game.

He set the Seahawks’ franchise record with 22 tackles as a rookie in 1993 and led the NFL in kickoff returns in 1996 and 1997.

Bates, who had three different stints with the Panthers, is second on the NFL’s career list with five kickoff returns for touchdowns.

24. Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles has scored 64 touchdowns in his career. Chris Park / AP Photo

Position: Running back/return specialist

College: Kansas State University

Career: 14 seasons (2005-18)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (2005-10), New Orleans Saints (2011-13), Philadelphia Eagles (2014-18)

Stats: Three-time Pro Bowler (2014-16). NFL record 2,696 all-purpose yards in 2011. Sixth in NFL history with over 19,000 career all-purpose yards.

Super Bowl titles: 1 (2017)

Bottom line: Darren Sproles holds the Chargers career record for kick return yards and is tied for the Eagles career record with four punt return touchdowns.

In a 2007 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Sproles made NFL history by scoring the first two touchdowns of his career on a punt return and a kick return in a 23-21 win.

The 5-foot-6 dynamo is seventh on the NFL career list with 11,727 yards for kick (8,352) and punt (2,875) returns.

23. Matthew Slater

Matthew Slater has played his entire career with the Patriots. Michael Dwyer / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/special teams

College: UCLA

Career: 10 seasons, all with New England Patriots (2008-present)

Stats: Five-time All-Pro (2011-12, 2014, 2016-17). Seven-time Pro Bowler (2011-17). 23 career playoff games.

Super Bowl titles: 3 (2014, 2017, 2018)

Bottom line: The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jackie Slater has carved out his own unique career in the NFL.

Matthew Slater’s seven consecutive Pro Bowls are tied with Steve Tasker for the record for a special teams player. He’s also been an eight-time special teams captain for the Patriots, including on three Super Bowl champions and has 145 career tackles.

Combined, Jackie and Matthew Slater’s father-son Pro Bowl total (13) trails only Archie and Peyton Manning (16).

22. Lou Groza

Lou Groza was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. AP Photo

Position: Offensive line/kicker

College: Ohio State University

Career: 21 seasons, all with Cleveland Browns (1946-59, 1961-67)

Stats: NFL Most Valuable Player (1954). Six-time All-Pro (1952-55, 1956, 1957). Nine-time Pro Bowler (1950-55, 1957-1959).

NFL titles: 4 (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)

Bottom line: Lou Groza fought for four years in the Pacific Theatre of World War II before he came home to play for the Browns in 1946.

He led the Browns to an NFL title in their first season in the league in 1950, kicking the game-winning field goal while dominating on the offensive line.

He retired as the NFL’s career kicking and points leader with 1,608, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974 and died in 2000 of a heart attack.

21. Dante Hall

Dante Hall has returned six kickoffs for touchdowns in his career. Ed Zurga / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/return specialist

College: Texas A&M University

Career: 9 seasons (2000-08)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2000-06), St. Louis Rams (2007-08)

Stats: Two-time All-Pro (2002-03). Two-time Pro Bowler (2002-03). NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Dante Hall, aptly nicknamed “X-Factor” and “The Human Joystick,” set an NFL record by returning a kickoff or a punt for a touchdown in four consecutive games in 2003.

That season included a stretch where he scored seven touchdowns on returns over 10 games. In 2004, he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a playoff game against the Colts.

He finished his career among the NFL’s career leaders with 12 touchdowns on returns.

20. Hank Bauer

Hank Bauer played in 86 NFL games. Amazon

Position: Running back/special teams

College: California Lutheran University

Career: 6 seasons, all with San Diego Chargers (1977-82)

Stats: NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (1981). Chargers 40th Anniversary Team (2000) and 50th Anniversary Team (2010). 20 career touchdowns.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Hank Bauer expanded the NFL’s view of what a special teams player could do. In 1981, he put together one of the greatest single seasons for a special teams player when he set the NFL record with 52 special teams tackles in 1981, including 38 unassisted.

As a short-yardage running back, he scored eight touchdowns and picked up nine first downs on just 22 carries in 1979.

He was forced to retire in 1982 after it was discovered he’d played six games with a broken neck.

19. Eric Metcalf

Eric Metcalf made three Pro Bowls during his 13-year NFL career. Mark Duncan / AP Photo

Position: Running back/return specialist

College: University of Texas

Career: 13 seasons (1989-99, 2001-02)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (1989-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995-96), San Diego Chargers (1997), Arizona Cardinals (1998), Carolina Panthers (1999), Washington Redskins (2001), Green Bay Packers (2002)

Stats: Three-time All-Pro (1993, 1994, 1997). Thre-time Pro Bowler (1993, 1994, 1997). 17,230 career all-purpose yards.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Eric Metcalf led the NFL in kickoff returns in his second season and led the league in punt return touchdowns four different times.

Metcalf finished his career in the top 10 in NFL history in all-purpose yards and is still third in career return touchdowns with 12, just behind Brian Mitchell and Devin Hester.

The Chargers traded Metcalf, plus a first-round pick and a second-round pick, to the Cardinals so they could move up one spot in the 1998 NFL draft and take Ryan Leaf. Bad move.

18. Sean Landeta

Sean Landeta made 1,401 punts in his career. AP Photo

Position: Punter

College: Towson University

Career: 22 seasons (1985-2006)

Teams: New York Giants (1985-93, 2006), Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993-96, 2003-04), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997), Green Bay Packers (1998), Philadelphia Eagles (1999-2002)

Stats: Three-time All-Pro (1986, 1989-90). Two-time Pro Bowler (1986, 1990). NFL All-1980s and All-1990s Team.

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1986, 1990)

Bottom line: Sean Landeta played for an astounding 22 seasons in the NFL. And that came after playing three seasons in the USFL, where he won two championships with the Baltimore/Philadelphia Stars.

Landeta won another two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants and became the first punter in NFL history to earn $1 million per year.

He announced his official retirement on March 6, 2008 — 25 years to the day after his USFL debut.

17. Mel Gray

Mel Gray had 13,279 all-purpose yards in his career. Greg Gibson / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/running back/return specialist

Career: 12 seasons (1986-97)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-88), Detroit Lions (1989-94), Houston/Tennessee Oilers (1995-97), Philadelphia Eagles (1997)

Stats: Seven-time All-Pro (1986, 1987, 1990-94). Three-time Pro Bowler (1990-92, 1994). NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Mel Gray, who played high school football in Virginia with fellow future NFL stars Lawrence Taylor and Ron Springs, is one of the league’s greatest returners of all time.

He played his first two pro seasons in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express before making it to the NFL, and is best known for his time with the Detroit Lions, where he made four Pro Bowls in six seasons and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in 1994.

He averaged 24.3 yards per kick return and 10.9 yards per punt return and finished his career with 13,279 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns on returns.

16. Josh Cribbs

Josh Cribbs had 15,453 all-purpose yards in his career. Tony Dejak / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/return specialist

College: Kent State University

Career: 10 seasons (2005-14)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (2005-12), New York Jets (2013), Indianapolis Colts (2014)

Stats: Two-time All-Pro (2007, 2009). Three-time Pro Bowler (2007, 2009, 2012). NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2009).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Josh Cribbs played high school football with NFL All-Pro tight end Vernon Davis, went undrafted after playing quarterback in college at Kent State, then turned the NFL on its head with his ability to change a game on special teams.

He finished his career tied with Leon Washington for the NFL career record with eight kickoff return touchdowns, but his ability as an overall special teams player is overlooked.

He routinely led the Browns in special teams tackles and finished his career 15,4534 all-purpose yards.

15. Steve DeOssie

Steve DeOssie with the Dallas Cowboys in 1984. AP Photo

Position: Long snapper/linebacker

College: Boston College

Career: 12 seasons (1984-95)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1984-88), New York Giants (1989-93), New York Jets (1993), New England Patriots (1994-95).

Stats: 175 career games. 194 career tackles. Boston College Athletics Hall of Fame (1997)

Super Bowl titles: 1 (1990)

Bottom line: Steve DeOssie changed games because of his unique ability to snap the ball, block and cover kicks, which gave teams he played on a distinct advantage on punts because they could spread out their formations.

All four Pro Bowl long snappers in 2018 combined for eight tackles — DeOssie had 22 tackles for the Cowboys in 1988.

His son, Zak, has been the Giants’ long snapper since 2007 and won two Super Bowls, making the DeOssies the only father-son combo to win Super Bowls for the same team.

14. Shane Lechler

Shane Lechler had 1,444 punts in his career. Jeff Chiu / AP Photo

Position: Punter

College: Texas A&M University

Career: 18 seasons (2000-17)

Teams: Oakland Raiders (2000-12), Houston Texans (2013-17)

Stats: Nine-time All-Pro (2000-01, 2003-04, 2007-2011). Seven-time Pro Bowler (2001, 2004, 2007-11). NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Shane Lechler, who retired in 2018, led the NFL in punting five times and averaged a career-best 51.1 yards per punt in 2009.

He has the NFL record at 47.6 yards per punt for his career and is second all-time with 1,444 career punts. Lechler also broke new ground for punters in salary, signing a record four-year, $12 million contract with the Raiders in 2009.

Lechler is fifth on the NFL’s career list with 254 consecutive games played.

13. Jan Stenerud

Jan Stenerud made 373 field goals in his 19-year NFL career. Chuck Luzier / AP Photo

Position: Kicker

College: Montana State University

Career: 19 seasons (1967-85)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1967-79), Green Bay Packers (1980-83), Minnesota Vikings (1984-85)

Stats: Eight-time All-AFL/NFL All-Pro (1967-71, 1974-76, 1984). Six-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowler (1968-1971, 1975, 1984). NFL 75th Anniversary Team (1994).

Super Bowl titles: 1 (1969)

Bottom line: Jan Stenerud came to America from Norway on a ski jumping scholarship at Montana State before he walked on the football team and became one of the AFL and NFL’s first soccer-style kickers.

Stenerud kicked three field goals for the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, a 16-7 upset win over the Minnesota Vikings, and is still among the NFL’s career leaders in field goals made (379) and points (1,699).

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and is one of just five kicking specialists in Canton, along with George Blanda, Lou Groza, Ray Guy and Morten Andersen.

12. Ted Hendricks

Ted Hendricks played 215 games in his NFL career. AP Photo

Position: Linebacker/special teams

College: University of Miami

Career: 15 seasons (1969-83)

Teams: Baltimore Colts (1969-73), Green Bay Packers (1974), Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1975-83)

Stats: Six-time All-Pro (1971-1972, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1982). Eight-time Pro Bowler (1971-74, 1980-83). NFL 75th Anniversary Team (1994).

Super Bowl titles: 4 (1970, 1976, 1980, 1983)

Bottom line: Ted Hendricks, 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, made the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his exploits at outside linebacker, but also had a devastating impact on special teams.

He blocked an NFL record 25 kicks over his career, including seven in 1974 with the Green Bay Packers.

The first Guatemalan-born player to make the Hall of Fame, Hendricks won four Super Bowls and was an All-Pro for all three teams he played on.

11. Larry Izzo

Larry Izzo was a popular player during his NFL career. Stephan Savoia / AP Photo

Position: Linebacker/special teams

College: Rice University

Career: 14 seasons (1996-2009)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1996-2000), New England Patriots (2001-08), New York Jets (2009)

Stats: All-Pro (2004). Three-time Pro Bowler (2000, 2002, 2004). New England Patriots All-2000s Team (2010).

Super Bowl titles: 3 (2001, 2003, 2004)

Bottom line: Larry Izzo grabbed headlines during training camp in 1996 as an undrafted rookie with the Dolphins, when head coach Jimmie Johnson said Izzo was one of two players, along with quarterback Dan Marino, who was guaranteed to make the team. And that was because of his play on special teams.

The NFL doesn’t track career numbers for special teams tackles (which is baffling), but Izzo’s 298 career special teams stops are thought to be the all-time mark.

10. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders scored 22 touchdowns in his career. LM Otero / AP Photo

Position: Defensive back/return specialist

Career: 14 seasons (1989-2000, 2004-05)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1989-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Dallas Cowboys (1995-99), Washington Redskins (2000), Baltimore Ravens (2004-05)

Stats: Eight-time All-Pro (1991-1994, 1996-1999). Eight-time Pro Bowler (1991-94, 1996-99). NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1994).

Super Bowl titles: 2 (1994, 1995

Bottom line: One of the fastest players in NFL history, Deion Sanders is ninth on the NFL’s career list with six punt returns for touchdowns to go with three kickoff return touchdowns even though he sits outside the top 30 in career attempts.

He finished his career with 7.838 career all-purpose yards and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2011.

In the middle of all of this, he also played nine seasons of Major League Baseball.

9. Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson scored 2,434 points in his NFL career. Ann Heisenfelt / AP Photo

Position: Kicker

College: Syracuse University

Career: 23 seasons (1982-2004)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1982-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-96), San Francisco 49ers (1997), Minnesota Vikings (1998-2002), Tennessee Titans (2003-04)

Stats: Three-time All-Pro (1983, 1985, 1998). Four-time Pro Bowler (1983, 1985, 1993, 1998). NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Gary Anderson, the first South African-born player in NFL history, played soccer his first two seasons at Syracuse before changing sports.

He set an NFL record by converting every field goal (35 ) and PAT attempt (59) in 1998, but is perhaps best known for missing a crucial field goal that cost the Vikings the NFC championship game.

He is second in NFL history in games played (353), third in points (2,434) and third in field goals made (538)

8. Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers scored 56 touchdowns in 68 career NFL games. AP Photo

Position: Halfback/return specialist

College: University of Kansas

Career: 7 seasons, all with Chicago Bears (1965-71)

Stats: Five-time All-Pro (1965-69). Four-time Pro Bowler (1965-67, 1969). NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1969).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Gale Sayers, nicknamed “The Kansas Comet,” played just seven seasons in the NFL and was still elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He holds the record with a 30.6 yard average on kickoff returns to go with six kickoff returns for touchdowns. He also led the NFL in rushing twice before multiple knee injuries cut his career short.

Sayers also became famous for his friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo, which was depicted in the 1971 film “Brian’s Song” and its remake in 2001.

7. Bill Bates

Bill Bates, center, is one of the most popular players in Dallas Cowboys history. G. Paul Burnett / AP Photo

Position: Safety/special teams

College: University of Tennessee

Career: 15 seasons, all with Dallas Cowboys (1983-97)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1983-1997)

Stats: All-Pro (1984). Pro Bowler (1984). NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (1983).

Super Bowl titles: 3 (1992, 1994, 1995)

Bottom line: Bill Bates was the godfather of special teams stars. Because of him, the NFL created a spot in the Pro Bowl for a special teams player, specifically for Bates in 1984.

Bates racked up 216 career special teams tackles and also was a full-time starter for three seasons at safety, and returned punts in 1985. He also had 14 career interceptions and seven fumble recoveries.

One of the most beloved Cowboys of all time, he spent his entire career in Dallas and is tied with Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Mark Tuinei for most seasons in a Cowboys uniform with 15.

6. Ray Guy

Ray Guy was the first pure punter elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Richard Drew / AP Photo

Position: Punter

College: University of Southern Mississippi

Career: 14 seasons (1973-86)

Teams: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1973-86)

Stats: Eight-time All-Pro (1973-80). Seven-time Pro Bowler (1973-78, 1980). NFL 75th Anniversary Team (1994).

Super Bowl titles: 3 (1976, 1980, 1983)

Bottom line: The first pure punter drafted in the first round and the first pure punter elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ray Guy is widely regarded as the greatest punter of all time.

Guy led the NFL in punting three times and played perhaps his greatest game in a Super Bowl XVIII win over the Washington Redskins, averaging 42.7 yards on seven punts and placing five punts inside the Redskins’ 20-yard line.

His longest punt was 77 yards, and he finished his career with a 42.4 yards per punt average.

5. Brian Mitchell

Brian Mitchell had a combined 13 touchdowns on kick and punt returns during his NFL career. Roberto Borea / AP Photo

Position: Running back/return specialist

College: University of Louisiana-Lafayette

Career: 14 seasons (1990-2003)

Teams: Washington Redskins (1990-99), Philadelphia Eagles (2000-02), New York Giants (2003)

Stats: Three-time All-Pro (1991, 1994, 1995). Pro Bowler (1995). Washington Redskins 70th Anniversary Team (2002).

Super Bowl titles: 1 (1991)

Bottom line: Brian Mitchell, who played quarterback in college, is one of the NFL’s all-time great return specialists and is second in NFL history in all-purpose yardage (23,330) and second in return touchdowns (13). He also has the NFL record for kick returns (607) and kick return yardage (14,014).

His value went way beyond returning the ball. He was an elite personal protector and kept teams honest with his ability to throw or run off a fake. He also led the Redskins with 26 special teams tackles as a rookie.

4. Morten Andersen

Morten Andersen was one of the best kickers in NFL history and played until he was 48. AP Photo

Position: Kicker

College: Michigan State University

Career: 25 seasons (1982-2007)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1982-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995-2000, 2006-07), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-03), Minnesota Vikings (2004)

Stats: Six-time All-Pro (1985-1988, 1992, 1995). Seven-time Pro Bowler (1985-88, 1990, 1992, 1995). NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Morten Andersen is the NFL all-time leader in games played with 382, and became just the second kicker inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

At the end of his career, the Danish-born kicker held an astonishing 19 NFL records, and has scored the most points in Pro Bowl history.

Andersen always said his goal was to play in the NFL until he turned 50, but retired at 48 years old.

3. Steve Tasker

Steve Tasker knew how to make plays. Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/special teams

College: Northwestern University

Career: 13 seasons (1985-97)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1985-86), Buffalo Bills (1987-97)

Stats: Five-time All-Pro (1991-95). Seven-time Pro Bowler (1987, 1990-95). 169 G, 9 TDs.

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: The only special teams-specific player elected MVP of the Pro Bowl, Steve Tasker somehow made it to the NFL out of tiny Leoti, Kansas (population: 1,534).

He was the star special teams player on four AFC championship teams for the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s and made seven Pro Bowls.

Tasker could do it all. He covered kicks and punts, returned kicks and punts and was even a holder on kicks.

2. Devin Hester

Devin Hester, center, ran back five kickoffs for touchdowns in his career. Paul Sancya / AP Photo

Position: Wide receiver/return specialist

College: University of Miami

Career: 11 seasons (2006-16)

Teams: Chicago Bears (2006-13), Atlanta Falcons (2014-15), Baltimore Ravens (2016), Seattle Seahawks (2016)

Stats: Four-time All-Pro (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011). Four-time Pro Bowl er(2006-07, 2010, 2014). Three-time NFL Special Teams Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2010).

Super Bowl titles: None

Bottom line: Devin Hester holds the NFL record with 19 touchdowns on returns — 14 on punts and five on kickoffs. Six of those return touchdowns came in the first 13 games of his career.

He scored another return touchdown when he took the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI back for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

Hester led the NFL in punt returns in 2010 and 2011, and his 11.7 average per return is eighth all-time.

1. Adam Vinatieri

Adam Vinatieri has come a long way from being an undrafted kicker out of South Dakota State. Ross D. Franklin / AP Photo

Position: Kicker

College: South Dakota State University

Career: 23 seasons (1996-present)

Teams: New England Patriots (1996-2005), Indianapolis Colts (2006-present)

Stats: Three-time All-Pro (2002, 2004, 2014). Three-time Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2014). NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

Super Bowl titles: 4 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006)

Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri went undrafted in 1995 out of South Dakota State and played one season in NFL Europe before joining the Patriots.

He’s earned a reputation as thriving under pressure and holds NFL records for points (2,600), postseason points (238) and field goals made (582). He also leads all kickers with four Super Bowl wins, kicking game-winners in two of them.

Vinatieri should be a lock as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, if and when he ever decides to retire.