Best Player for Every Number in NFL History

Over 20,000 NFL players have worn a uniform number since the league started in 1920. These are the best of the best from 00 to 99.

Greatest NFL Players by Uniform Number

We can get attached to an NFL player and his number. Bonds form with players and those digits on the front and back of a jersey.

Since 1920, over 20,000 football players have worn an NFL uniform number. The greatest players have worn the NFL’s most iconic numbers. Close your eyes and think of a number, then associate it with a player in NFL history, and there's a good chance everyone would pick the same player.

If not, that's what makes sports great. It's fun to debate. For now, this is the best player for every number in NFL history.

Note: All stats are through the 2019 NFL season.

00 — Jim Otto

Position: Center

Career: 15 seasons (1960-74)

Teams: Oakland Raiders

Stats: 210 games played, 140 starts

Accolades: 12 Pro Bowl appearances, 10-time All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1980)

Bottom line: Jim Otto was the center for seven division champions and started 13 playoff games as the anchor of Oakland’s offensive line.

Honorable mention: Ken Burrough

1 — Warren Moon

Position: Quarterback

Career: 17 seasons (1984-2000)

Teams: Houston Oilers (1984-93), Minnesota Vikings (1994-96), Seattle Seahawks (1997-98), Kansas City Chiefs (1999-2000)

Stats: 208 games, 102-101 record, 49,325 yards, 59.8 completion percentage, 291 TDs

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 1990 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2006)

Bottom line: The original run-and-shoot quarterback, Warren Moon was ahead of his time by throwing for 4,000-plus yards four times in his career in an era when balance was deemed unnecessary.

Honorable mention: Cam Newton

2 — Matt Ryan

Position: Quarterback

Career: 12 seasons (2008-present)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons

Stats: 189 games, 109-80 record, 51,186 yards, 321 TDs, 65.4 completion percentage

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 2016 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year

Bottom line: Matt Ryan has been maligned of late, but it’s easy to forget he has been one of the NFL’s most efficient passers throughout his career and was the league MVP in 2016, the year he led the Falcons to the Super Bowl.

Honorable mentions: David Akers, Aaron Brooks

3 — Russell Wilson

Position: Quarterback

Career: 8 seasons (2012-present)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks

Stats: 128 games, 86-41-1 record, 29,734 yards, 227 TDs, 64.5 completion percentage

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, Super Bowl champion (2014)

Bottom line: For No. 3, it’s Russell Wilson and a slew of kickers, which is why the quarterback gets the nod.

Wilson is one of the most feared QBs to play against — a true run-pass threat who gets better as the years go on.

Honorable mentions: Stephen Gostowski, Jan Stenerud, John Carney

4 — Brett Favre

Position: Quarterback

Career: 20 seasons (1991-2010)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1991), Green Bay Packers (1992-07), New York Jets (2008), Minnesota Vikings (2009-10)

Stats: 302 games, 186-112 record, 71,838 yards, 508 TDs, 62.0 completion percentage

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion (1996), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2016)

Bottom line: Brett Favre is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time and is undoubtedly the greatest player to don the No. 4.

Honorable mentions: Jim Harbaugh, Adam Vinatieri, Jason Hanson

5 — Paul Hornung

Position: Running back

Career: 9 seasons (1957-66)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: 104 games, 3,711 rushing yards, 1,480 receiving yards, 62 TDs

Accolades: 2 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time All-Pro, 1961 NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion (1966), NFL champion (1960, 1961, 1962), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1986)

Bottom line: Paul Hornung was arguably the Packers' most explosive playmaker in their golden age, a running back who could run the ball and catch passes.

Honorable mentions: Joe Flacco, Kerry Collins, Donovan McNabb

6 — Jay Cutler

Position: Quarterback

Career: 12 seasons (2006-17)

Teams: Denver Broncos (2006-08), Chicago Bears (2009-16), Miami Dolphins (2017)

Stats: 153 games, 74-79 record, 35,133 yards, 227 TDs, 62.0 completion percentage

Accolades: 1 Pro Bowl appearance, 28 game-winning drives

Bottom line: Jay Cutler was one of the most controversial quarterbacks in NFL history, thanks to his carefree demeanor.

But he led the Bears to the NFC North title in 2010, and who knows how far they would’ve gone if not for his knee injury in the NFC championship game?

Honorable mentions: Thomas Morestead, Bubby Brister, Joe Nedney

7. John Elway

Position: Quarterback

Career: 16 seasons (1983-98)

Teams: Denver Broncos

Stats: 234 games, 148-82-1 record, 51,475 yards, 300 TDs, 56.9 completion percentage

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 1987 NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion (1998, 1999), Super Bowl MVP (1999), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004)

Bottom line: A true gunslinging quarterback, John Elway was one of the finest competitors to ever play and had the great fortune to go out on top with consecutive Super Bowl wins to close his career.

Honorable mentions: Bob Waterfield

8 — Steve Young

Position: Quarterback

Career: 15 seasons (1985-99)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-86), San Francisco 49ers (1987-99)

Stats: 169 games, 94-49 record, 33,124 yards, 232 TDs, 64.3 completion percentage

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time NFL MVP (1992, 1994), 3-time Super Bowl champion (1989, 1990, 1995), Super Bowl MVP (1995), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2005)

Bottom line: Steve Young moved out of Joe Montana’s shadow and became one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. This was a tossup between Young and Troy Aikman.

Honorable mentions: Troy Aikman, Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck

9 — Drew Brees

Position: Quarterback

Career: 19 seasons (2001-present)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (2001-05), New Orleans Saints (2006-present)

Stats: 275 games, 163-111 record, 77,416 yards, 547 TDs, 67.6 completion percentage

Accolades: 13 Pro Bowl appearances, 2006 All-Pro, 2008 Offensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl champion (2010), Super Bowl MVP (2010)

Bottom line: Drew Brees has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in NFL history, and although he was sidelined by a thumb injury in 2019, has shown no signs of slowing down.

Honorable mentions: Sonny Jurgensen, Steve McNair, Matthew Stafford

10 — Fran Tarkenton

Position: Quarterback

Career: 18 seasons (1961-78)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1961-66, 1972-78), New York Giants (1967-71)

Stats: 246 games, 124-109-6 record, 47,003 yards, 342 TDs, 57.0 completion percentage.

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 1975 NFL MVP, 1975 Offensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1986)

Bottom line: Fran Tarkenton is less heralded than many quarterbacks of his day, but he led the Vikings to the Super Bowl three times.

Even though he lost all three championship games, he still was great.

Honorable mentions: Eli Manning, Trent Green

11 — Larry Fitzgerald

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 16 seasons (2004-present)

Teams: Arizona Cardinals

Stats: 250 games, 1,378 catches, 17,083 yards, 120 touchdowns

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro (2008), 2-time NFL single-season catch leader

Bottom line: Larry Fitzgerald is among the greatest receivers in NFL history, the type of possession receiver that comes just once in a generation.

He continues to play at a high level into his late 30s, and could challenge Jerry Rice’s NFL record for catches if he remains healthy and committed to playing.

Honorable mentions: Phil Simms, Drew Bledsoe, Julio Jones

12 — Tom Brady

Position: Quarterback

Career: 19 seasons (2000-present)

Teams: New England Patriots

Stats: 285 games, 219-64 record, 74,571 yards, 541 TDs, 63.8 completion percentage

Accolades: 14 Pro Bowl appearances, 6 Super Bowl wins in 8 appearances, 3 NFL MVPs

Bottom line: Some call him the greatest of all time, which is up for debate. But it’s safe to say he’s the best to ever wear No. 12, which is no small feat.

Honorable mentions: Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, Roger Staubach

13 — Dan Marino

Position: Quarterback

Career: 17 seasons (1983-99)

Teams: Miami Dolphins

Stats: 242 games, 147-93 record, 61,361 yards, 420 TDs, 59.4 completion percentage

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 1984 NFL MVP, 1 Super Bowl appearance, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2005)

Bottom line: Dan Marino was the greatest passer of all time before the current era of robust quarterback stats, which made this an easy decision.

Honorable mentions: Odell Beckham Jr., Don Maynard, Kurt Warner.

14 — Dan Fouts

Position: Quarterback

Career: 15 seasons (1973-87)

Teams: San Diego Chargers

Stats: 181 games, 86-84-1 record, 43,040 yards, 254 TDs, 58.8 completion percentage

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 1982 NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1993)

Bottom line: Dan Fouts might be better known today as a broadcaster, but he helped usher in the prolific passing era we’re in now while playing under Don "Air" Coryell with the Chargers.

Honorable mentions: Ken Anderson, Steve Grogan

15 — Bart Starr

Position: Quarterback

Career: 17 seasons (1956-71)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: 196 games, 94-57-6 record, 24,718 yards, 152 TDs, 57.4 completion percentage

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro (1966), 1966 NFL MVP, 5-time NFL champion, 2-time Super Bowl MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1977)

Bottom line: One of the winningest quarterbacks in NFL history, Bart Starr doesn't have eye-popping numbers, but his five NFL championships have only been surpassed by Tom Brady.

Honorable mentions: Brandon Marshall, Neil Lomax

16 — Joe Montana

Position: Quarterback

Career: 15 seasons (1979-94)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1979-92), Kansas City Chiefs (1993-94)

Stats: 192 games, 117-47 record, 40,551 yards, 273 TDs, 63.2 completion percentage

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL MVP, 4-time Super Bowl champion, 3-time Super Bowl MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2000)

Bottom line: Joe Montana was the OG GOAT as the kids might say.

A precision passer who executed the West Coast offense to perfection, Montana won a slew of accolades and perhaps more impressively staved off Steve Young as 49ers starter for years.

Honorable mentions: George Blanda, Len Dawson, Frank Gifford.

17 — Philip Rivers

Position: Quarterback

Career: 16 seasons (2004-present)

Teams: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Stats: 220 games, 121-95 record, 56.971 yards, 386 TDs, 64.6 completion percentage

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 2013 NFL Comeback Player of the Year

Bottom line: Philip Rivers may be the only quarterback without a Super Bowl from the draft class of 2004. But he’s also the last quarterback standing as of 2019.

Honorable mentions: Harold Carmichael, Jim Hart, Dave Krieg

18 — Peyton Manning

Position: Quarterback

Career: 17 seasons (1998-2015)

Teams: Indianapolis Colts (1998-2010), Denver Broncos (2012-15)

Stats: 266 games, 186-79 record, 71,940 yards, 539 TDs, 65.3 completion percentage

Accolades: 14 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 5-time NFL MVP, 2-time Super Bowl champion, 2006 Super Bowl MVP

Bottom line: This one seems easy, particularly given we’re closing in on Peyton Manning’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

Honorable mentions: Charlie Joiner, Emmitt Thomas

19 — Johnny Unitas

Position: Quarterback

Career: 18 seasons (1956-73)

Teams: Baltimore Colts (1956-72), San Diego Chargers (1973)

Stats: 211 games, 118-63-4 record, 40,239 yards, 290 TDs, 54.6 completion percentage

Accolades: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 5-time NFL MVP, 3-time NFL champion

Bottom line: "The Simpsons" once joked Johnny Unitas had a haircut you could "set your watch to," but he was one of the most consistent quarterbacks in NFL history, too.

Honorable mentions: Lance Alworth, Keyshawn Johnson.,

20 — Barry Sanders

Position: Running back

Career: 10 seasons (1989-98)

Teams: Detroit Lions

Stats: 153 games, 15,269 rush yards, 2,921 receiving yards, 109 career TDs

Accolades: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 1997 NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004)

Bottom line: Anyone who watched Barry Sanders remembers his elusiveness, but his speed was underrated, too.

His premature retirement kept more people from marveling at Sanders' game.

Honorable mentions: Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed.

21 — Deion Sanders

Position: Cornerback

Career: 14 seasons (1989-05)

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

Stats: 188 games, 53 interceptions, 513 tackles, 25 forced fumbles

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 1994 Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2011)

Bottom line: LaDainian Tomlinson may have been the best back of his generation, but Sanders was "Prime Time," one of the best shutdown corners in NFL history and an electrifying kick and punt returner.

Honorable mentions: LaDainian Tomlinson

22 — Emmitt Smith

Position: Running back

Career: 15 seasons (1990-05)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1990-02), Arizona Cardinals (2003-04)

Stats: 226 games, 18,355 rush yards, 3,224 receiving yards, 175 TDs

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 1993 NFL MVP, 3-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010)

Bottom line: Emmitt Smith is not only one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He is perhaps the best football player ever.

Honorable mentions: Bob Hayes, Bobby Layne

23 — Troy Vincent

Position: Cornerback

Career: 15 seasons (1992-2006)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1992-95), Philadelphia Eagles (1996-02), Buffalo Bills (2004-06), Washington Redskins (2006)

Stats: 207 games, 47 interceptions, 890 tackles

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2002 First Team All-Pro, 1992 All-Rookie Team

Bottom line: Devin Hester’s return ability was similar to Deion Sanders’, but Vincent was a lockdown corner who probably didn’t get enough appreciation for his longevity.

Honorable mentions: Arian Foster, Devin Hester

24 — Ty Law

Position: Cornerback

Career: 15 seasons (1995-09)

Teams: New England Patriots (1995-04), New York Jets (2005, 2008), Kansas City Chiefs (2006-07), Denver Broncos (2009)

Stats: 203 games, 53 interceptions, 838 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 3-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2019)

Bottom line: Ty Law was one of the most integral parts of three Super Bowl championship teams, and his pick-six in Super Bowl XXVI changed the game’s tide and helped spawn a dynasty.

Honorable mentions: Champ Bailey, Willie Wood

25 — Fred Biletnikoff

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 14 seasons (1965-78)

Teams: Oakland Raiders

Stats: 190 games, 589 catches, 8,974 yards, 76 touchdowns

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1988)

Bottom line: Richard Sherman and LeSean McCoy will both probably be Hall of Famers, too, but Fred Biletnikoff was one of the best receivers in NFL history.

Honorable mentions: LeSean McCoy, Richard Sherman

26 — Rod Woodson

Position: Defensive back

Career: 17 seasons (1987-03)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-96), San Francisco 49ers (1997), Baltimore Ravens (1998-01), Oakland Raiders (2002-03)

Stats: 238 games, 71 interceptions, 1,157 tackles, 20 forced fumbles

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 1993 Defensive Player of Year, Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

Bottom line: Rod Woodson helped usher in an era of prominence in Pittsburgh and was one of the hardest-hitting players on a defense full of them.

Honorable mentions: Herb Adderley, Raymond Clayborn, Clinton Portis

27 — Steve Atwater

Position: Safety

Career: 11 seasons (1989-99)

Teams: Denver Broncos (1989-98), New York Jets (1999)

Stats: 167 games, 24 interceptions, 1,180 tackles

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion

Bottom line: Steve Atwater was a feared player in the Broncos’ defensive secondary, who could both defend the run and keep receivers from running routes over the middle.

Honorable mentions: Terrell Buckley, Eddie George

28 — Darrell Green

Position: Cornerback

Career: 20 seasons (1983-02)

Teams: Washington Redskins

Stats: 295 games, 54 interceptions, 1,201 tackles, 5 forced fumbles

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2008)

Bottom line: Darrell Green may have come from unheralded Texas A&M-Kingsville, but he proved he could play.

Green’s speed was his skill, but he also had a tenacious ability to shut down big-time receivers.

Honorable mentions: Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin.

29 — Eric Dickerson

Position: Running back

Career: 11 seasons (1983-93)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1983-87), Indianapolis Colts (1988-91), Oakland Raiders (1992), Atlanta Falcons (1993)

Stats: 146 games, 13,259 rush yards, 2,137 receiving yards, 96 TDs

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1999)

Bottom line: Eric Dickerson still holds the record for the most yards in a season in NFL history, 2,105 in 1984, but the Rams' running back was outgunned for both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year by Dan Marino.

Dickerson’s number is retired by the Rams, and his name also lives forever in the Colts' ring of honor.

Honorable mentions: Harold Jackson, Albert Lewis, Sam Madison

30 — Terrell Davis

Position: Running back

Career: 7 seasons (1995-01)

Teams: Denver Broncos

Stats: 78 games, 7,607 rush yards, 1,280 receiving yards, 65 TDs

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1998 NFL MVP, 2-time Super Bowl champion, 1997 Super Bowl MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2017)

Bottom line: Terrell Davis' career was like a comet flashing through the sky, but he and his post-touchdown Mile High Salute are certainly embedded in the minds of football fans of a certain age.

Honorable mentions: Ahman Green

31 — Priest Holmes

Position: Running back

Career: 10 seasons (1997-07)

Teams: Baltimore Ravens (1997-2000), Kansas City Chiefs (2001-07)

Stats: 113 games, 8,172 rush yards, 2,962 receiving yards, 94 TDs

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 2002 NFL Offensive Player of the Year

Bottom line: Like Terrell Davis, Priest Holmes had a meaningful peak that was way too short.

He had three straight 1,400-plus rushing yards seasons, including 2003 where he had an eye-popping 27 rushing touchdowns.

Honorable mentions: Kam Chancellor, Antonio Cromartie, Jamal Lewis

32 — Jim Brown

Position: Running back

Career: 9 seasons (1957-65)

Teams: Cleveland Browns

Stats: 118 games, 12,312 rush yards, 2,499 receiving yards, 126 TDs

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 8-time NFL First Team All-Pro, 3-time NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1971)

Bottom line: Perhaps the greatest running back who has ever lived, Jim Brown was tenacious and fearless on the field.

He made the Pro Bowl each season he played, and only a dispute with Browns management kept him from playing longer.

Honorable mentions: O.J. Simpson, Marcus Allen

33 — Tony Dorsett

Position: Running back

Career: 12 seasons (1977-88)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1977-87), Denver Broncos (1988)

Stats: 173 games, 12,739 rush yards, 3,554 receiving yards, 90 TDs

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 1981 First Team All-Pro, 1977 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 1978 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1994)

Bottom line: Tony Dorsett was the linchpin back of Dallas’ offense. And he could break a long run from anywhere, as his famous 99-yarder against the Minnesota Vikings in 1983 proved.

Honorable mentions: Roger Craig, Charles Tillman

34 — Walter Payton

Position: Running back

Career: 13 seasons (1975-87)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 190 games, 16,726 rush yards, 4,538 receiving yards, 125 TDs

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 1977 NFL MVP, 1985 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1993)

Bottom line: Walter Payton is revered in NFL circles, and the league has since named its "Man of the Year" award after him.

"Sweetness" was the rare combination of speed, agility and power in a back.

Honorable mentions: Thurman Thomas, Ray Buchanan, Herschel Walker

35 — Aeneas Williams

Position: Cornerback

Career: 14 seasons (1991-04)

Teams: Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1991-00), St. Louis Rams (2001-04)

Stats: 211 games, 55 interceptions, 789 tackles, 12 touchdowns

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 2001 Super Bowl participant, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2014)

Bottom line: Aeneas Williams was a true shutdown corner and the one bright spot of a decade of dismal Cardinals teams but left Arizona.

But good thing for him, he left for the Rams and played in the 2001 Super Bowl before retiring in 2004.

Honorable mentions: Neal Anderson, Calvin Hill

36 — Jerome Bettis

Position: Running back

Career: 13 seasons (1993-05)

Teams: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993-95), Pittsburgh Steelers (1996-05)

Stats: 192 games, 13,662 yards, 1,449 receiving yards, 94 TDs

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 2005 Super Bowl champion, 1993 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Bottom line: "The Bus" was one tough customer, and many forget he had a pair of 1,000-yard seasons with the Rams before becoming one of the best players in Steelers history.

Honorable mentions: LeRoy Butler, Lawyer Milloy, Brian Westbrook

37 — Rodney Harrison

Position: Safety

Career: 15 seasons (1994-08)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (1994-02), New England Patriots (2003-08)

Stats: 186 games, 34 interceptions, 1,197 tackles

Accolades: 2 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion

Bottom line: Rodney Harrison was one of the hardest hitters in league history, whose presence would keep receivers from going over the middle.

After nearly a decade in San Diego, Harrison finally got a pair of championship rings while playing for the Patriots.

Honorable mentions: Pat Fischer, Jimmy Johnson, Shaun Alexander

38 — Arnie Herber

Position: Quarterback

Career: 13 seasons (1930-45)

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1930-40), New York Giants (1944-45)

Stats: 129 games, 8,041 pass yards, 81 pass TDs, 116 rush yards

Accolades: 1939 Pro Bowl appearance, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1966)

Bottom line: The Packers generally ran the single-wing offense, with Arnie Herber playing the "quarterback" role, but he and wide receiver Don Hutson transformed the game by developing a downfield passing rapport.

Honorable mentions: Eugene Daniel

39 — Larry Csonka

Position: Running back

Career: 11 seasons (1968-79)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1968-74, 1979), New York Giants (1975-78)

Stats: 146 games, 8,081 rush yards, 820 receiving yards, 68 TDs

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1987)

Bottom line: Larry Csonka was the featured back during the greatest era of Dolphins football, posting three straight 1,000-yard seasons, including his 1,117-yard season in 1972 when Miami went undefeated.

Honorable mentions: Ray Crockett, Steven Jackson, Carl Lee

40 — Gale Sayers

Position: Running back

Career: 7 seasons (1965-71)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 68 games, 4,956 rush yards, 1,307 receiving yards, 48 TDs

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1977)

Bottom line: Like Brown and Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers' career was cut short by early retirement. In his heyday he was an incredible back, who had remarkable breakaway ability.

His six touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers in 1965 still holds as an NFL record, and he was a rookie when he set that mark.

Honorable mentions: Bobby Boyd, James Hasty

41 — Eugene Robinson

Position: Safety

Career: 15 seasons (1985-2000)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks (1985-95), Green Bay Packers (1996-97), Atlanta Falcons (1998-99), Carolina Panthers (2000)

Stats: 250 games, 57 interceptions, 1,413 tackles

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 1996 Super Bowl champion, 3-time Super Bowl participant

Bottom line: Eugene Robinson regrettably is remembered for being arrested the night before the Super Bowl XXXIII.

But his career shouldn’t be defined by one indiscretion, since he was an exceptional playmaking defensive back who was on three straight Super Bowl participants.

Honorable mentions: Antoine Bethea, Tom Matte, Terence Newman

42 — Ronnie Lott

Position: Safety

Career: 14 seasons (1981-94)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1981-90), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-92), New York Jets (1993-94)

Stats: 192 games, 63 interceptions, 1,146 tackles

Accolades: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2000)

Bottom line: Perhaps the hardest-hitting player in NFL history, Ronnie Lott was the defensive leader for the "Team of the '80s" in San Francisco.

Honorable mentions: Johnny Robinson, Darren Sharper, Paul Warfield

43 — Troy Polamalu

Position: Safety

Career: 12 seasons (2003-14)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 158 games, 32 interceptions, 778 tackles

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion

Bottom line: Troy Polamalu may be remembered for his flowing hair, but he played the game with reckless abandon, which made him a fan favorite in Pittsburgh.

Honorable mentions: Larry Brown, Cliff Harris,

44 — John Riggins

Position: Running back

Career: 14 seasons (1971-85)

Teams: New York Jets (1971-75), Washington Redskins (1976-85)

Stats: 175 games, 11,352 rush yards, 2,090 receiving yards, 116 TDs

Accolades: Pro Bowl appearance, 1983 First-Team All-Pro, 1982 Super Bowl champion, 1982 Super Bowl MVP

Bottom line: John Riggins had the good fortune of running behind arguably the best offensive line in NFL history, but he was the offensive focal point for Washington’s consecutive Super Bowl appearances in 1982 and 1983.

Honorable mentions: Dick LeBeau, Donny Anderson

45 — Emlen Tunnell

Position: Defensive back

Career: 14 seasons (1948-61)

Teams: New York Giants (1948-58), Green Bay Packers (1959-61)

Stats: 167 games, 79 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1967)

Bottom line: Emlen Tunnell was a ball-hawking defensive back, who was the first African-American inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Honorable mentions: Gary Fencik, Homer Jones

46 — Tim McDonald

Position: Safety

Career: 13 seasons (1987-99)

Teams: St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1987-92), San Francisco 49ers (1993-99)

Stats: 191 games, 40 interceptions, 1,138 tackles

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 1994 Super Bowl champion

Bottom line: Another hard-hitting safety, Tim McDonald had the unfortunate task of replacing Ronnie Lott in San Francisco.

McDonald did so with aplomb, reaching the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons and helping the 49ers to a Super Bowl championship in 1994.

Honorable mentions: Herm Edwards

47 — John Lynch

Position: Safety

Career: 15 seasons (1993-2007)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-03), Denver Broncos (2004-07)

Stats: 224 games, 26 interceptions, 1,054 tackles

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion

Bottom line: John Lynch was one of the most feared safeties in NFL history and helped spearhead a renaissance in Tampa Bay.

He then went to Denver, where he made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons as a member of the Broncos.

Honorable mentions: Mel Blount, Joey Browner

48 — Les Richter

Position: Defensive lineman/linebacker

Career: 9 seasons (1954-62)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams

Stats: 112 games, 16 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 1956 First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2011)

Bottom line: Les Richter was one of the most rugged defensive players of his day, who reached the Pro Bowl in eight straight seasons.

Honorable mentions: Stephen Davis, Lionel Washington

49 — Bobby Mitchell

Position: Running back/Wide receiver

Career: 11 seasons (1958-68)

Teams: Cleveland Browns (1958-61), Washington Redskins (1962-68)

Stats: 148 games, 2,735 rush yards, 7,954 receiving yards, 83 TDs

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 1962 First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1983)

Bottom line: Bobby Mitchell is honored in the Rings of Fame in both Washington and Cleveland, which is no small accomplishment.

Honorable mentions: Dwayne Woodruff

50 — Mike Singletary

Position: Linebacker

Career: 12 seasons (1981-92)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 179 games, 19 sacks, 1,488 tackles

Accolades: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 1985 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1998)

Bottom line: Mike Singletary was terrifying in the Bears defense, the leader of the now-famous 46 that many believe was the greatest in NFL history.

Honorable mentions: A.J. Hawk, Justin Houston, Rob Ninkovich

51 — Dick Butkus

Position: Linebacker

Career: 9 seasons (1965-73)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 119 games, 22 interceptions, 1,020 tackles, 27 fumbles recovered

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1979)

Bottom line: If Mike Singletary was feared, Dick Butkus drove horror into his opponents' hearts. He was as daunting a figure as there ever was in NFL history.

Honorable mentions: Randy Cross, James Farrior, Sam Mills

52 — Ray Lewis

Position: Linebacker

Career: 17 seasons (1996-2012)

Teams: Baltimore Ravens

Stats: 228 games, 31 interceptions, 2,055 tackles,

Accolades: 13 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Bottom line: Like Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus, Ray Lewis was a monster, who could go sideline to sideline to make tackles but also had a knack for making plays when it mattered most.

Honorable mentions: Dexter Coakley, Thomas “Pepper” Johnson, Patrick Willis

53 — Harry Carson

Position: Linebacker

Career: 13 seasons (1976-88)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 173 games, 11 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 1986 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2006)

Bottom line: Harry Carson maybe gets forgotten as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, since he was overshadowed by Lawrence Taylor. But make no mistake, Carson was great.

Honorable mentions: Jeff Bostic, Keith Bullock, Bill Romanowski

54 — Brian Urlacher

Position: Linebacker

Career: 13 seasons (2000-13)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Stats: 182 games, 22 interceptions, 1,354 tackles

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, 1 Super Bowl appearance, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Bottom line: Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis were always debated as the best-middle-linebacker in football during their overlapping careers. That says it all for Urlacher.

Honorable mentions: Tedy Bruschi, Chuck Howley, Chris Spielman

55 — Junior Seau

Position: Linebacker

Career: 17 seasons (1990-2009)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (2003-05), New England Patriots (2006-09)

Stats: 268 games, 18 interceptions, 1,846 tackles

Accolades: 12 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl participant, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Bottom line: Junior Seau gave his life to football — since his death was fueled by CTE. But what a career he had.

Honorable mentions: Derrick Brooks, Willie McGinest, Joey Porter

56 — Lawrence Taylor

Position: Outside linebacker

Career: 13 seasons (1981-93)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 184 games, 9 interceptions, 132½ sacks,

Accolades: 10 Pro Bowl appearances, 8-time First Team All-Pro, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, 2-time Super Bowl champion, 1986 NFL MVP, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1999)

Bottom line: Lawrence Taylor is one of only two defensive players to win NFL MVP, and had the ability to take over games with his edge rushing. He essentially invented the edge-rusher position.

Honorable mentions: Chris Doleman, Derrick Johnson, Hardy Nickerson

57 — Dwight Stephenson

Position: Center

Career: 8 seasons (1980-87)

Teams: Miami Dolphins

Stats: 114 games, 87 starts

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1998)

Bottom line: Dan Marino gets most of the headlines, but Dwight Stephenson was the leader of the offensive line that kept him upright.

Honorable mentions: Rickey Jackson, Tom Jackson, Mo Lewis

58 — Derrick Thomas

Position: Outside linebacker

Career: 11 seasons (1989-99)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs

Stats: 169 games, 642 tackles, 126½ sacks

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

Bottom line: If Lawrence Taylor founded the edge-rusher position, Derrick Thomas normalized it.

He was one of the fiercest competitors in NFL history, and the world lost him too soon.

Honorable mentions: Carl Banks, Thomas Davis, Jack Lambert

59 — Jack Ham

Position: Linebacker

Career: 12 seasons (1971-82)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 162 games, 32 interceptions

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1988)

Bottom line: Jack Ham and Jack Lambert were the stalwarts at linebacker for the "Steel Curtain" defense, which delivered four championships to Pittsburgh in the 1970s.

Honorable mentions: Donnie Edwards, London Fletcher, Seth Joyner

60 — Chuck Bednarik

Position: Linebacker/center

Career: 14 seasons (1949-62)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles

Stats: 169 games, 20 interceptions, 21 fumble recoveries

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1967)

Bottom line: The last "60-Minute Man," as Chuck Bednarik has become known for his ability to play both ways, was as tough a defensive player as there was.

Honorable mentions: Dan Alexander, Max Unger

61 — Bill George

Position: Defensive lineman/linebacker

Career: 15 seasons (1952-66)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (1966)

Stats: 173 games, 18 interceptions

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 8-time First Team All-Pro, 1963 NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1974)

Bottom line: Bears fans of a certain age have been spoiled by defensive greatness — particularly at linebacker. They first got to watch Bill George dominate, then Dick Butkus, then Mike Singletary and finally Brian Urlacher.

Honorable mentions: Jesse Sapolu

62 — Jim Langer

Position: Center

Career: 12 seasons (1970-81)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1970-79), Minnesota Vikings (1980-81)

Stats: 151 games, 110 starts

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1987)

Bottom line: Jim Langer and Dwight Stephenson are considered two of the best centers who ever lived, and Dolphins fans should appreciate that they both helped Miami during successful runs.

Honorable mentions: Chris Gray, Todd McClure, Guy McIntyre

63 — Gene Upshaw

Position: Offensive guard

Career: 15 seasons (1967-81)

Teams: Oakland Raiders

Stats: 217 games, 207 starts

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1987)

Bottom line: Gene Upshaw was tough as the NFLPA’s executive director but even more hard-nosed as a lineman during his day.

Honorable mentions: Jay Hilgenberg, Willie Lanier, Mike Munchak

64 — Jerry Kramer

Position: Offensive guard

Career: 11 seasons (1958-68)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: 130 games, 119 starts

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 5-time NFL champion, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Bottom line: Jerry Kramer was one of the NFL’s best characters, but he sure could play too and is remembered for his key block on Bart Starr’s game-winning touchdown in the "Ice Bowl," that lifted Green Bay to Super Bowl II.

Honorable mentions: Jim Burt, Jeff Hartings, Randall McDaniel

65 — Gary Zimmerman

Position: Offensive tackle

Career: 12 seasons (1986-97)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1986-92), Denver Broncos (1993-97)

Stats: 184 games, 184 starts

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 1997 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2008)

Bottom line: Gary Zimmerman made his name in Denver, opening holes for Terrell Davis and protecting John Elway for the first championship team in Broncos history.

Honorable mentions: Dave Butz, Max Montoya

66 — Ray Nitschke

Position: Linebacker

Career: 15 seasons (1958-72)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Stats: 190 games, 25 interceptions

Accolades: 1964 Pro Bowl appearance, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 5-time NFL champion, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1978)

Bottom line: One of the fiercest players in NFL history, Ray Nitschke was the leader of the defense on five NFL championship teams.

Honorable mentions: David Diehl, Alan Faneca, Joe Jacoby

67 — Kent Hull

Position: Center

Career: 11 seasons (1986-96)

Teams: Buffalo Bills

Stats: 170 games, 169 starts

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time Super Bowl participant

Bottom line: Kent Hull was the anchor of an offensive line that reached the Super Bowl four straight years. That doesn’t happen by accident.

Honorable mentions: Billy Ard, Bob Kuechenberg, Kimo von Oelhoffen

68 — Kevin Mawae

Position: Center

Career: 16 seasons (1994-2009)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks (1994-97), Kevin Mawae (1998-2005), Tennessee Titans (2006-09)

Stats: 241 games, 238 starts

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2019)

Bottom line: Kevin Mawae was the consummate lead-by-example player who doesn’t get the requisite credit for being one of the best centers in NFL history.

Honorable mentions: L.C. Greenwood, Will Shields

69 — John Runyan

Position: Offensive tackle

Career: 14 seasons (1996-2009)

Teams: Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-99), Philadelphia Eagles (2000-08), San Diego Chargers (2009)

Stats: 207 games, 192 starts

Accolades: 2002 Pro Bowl appearance, 2-time Super Bowl participant

Bottom line: Many forget that Jon Runyan nearly won a ring in Tennessee before protecting Donovan McNabb’s blind spot to four straight NFC championship games and Super Bowl XXXIX.

Honorable mentions: David Bakhtiarii, Mark Schlereth

70 — Sam Huff

Position: Linebacker

Career: 13 seasons (1956-69)

Teams: New York Giants (1956-63), Washington Redskins (1964-69)

Stats: 168 games, 30 interceptions

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 1956 NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1982)

Bottom line: Sam Huff is revered by two NFC East organizations. How many players could accurately state that claim?

Honorable mentions: Jim Marshall, John Fina

71 — Walter Jones

Position: Offensive tackle

Career: 12 seasons (1997-2008)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks

Stats: 180 games, 180 starts

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2005 Super Bowl participant, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2014)

Bottom line: Walter Jones never missed a game, a nearly unheard-of fact, and protected Matt Hasselbeck’s blind side when the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl in 2005.

Honorable mentions: Willie Anderson, Tony Boselli, Alex Karras

72— Dan Dierdorf

Position: Offensive lineman

Career: 13 seasons (1971-83)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals

Stats: 160 games, 150 starts

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1996)

Bottom line: More commonly known these days as an analyst, Dan Dierdorf was one of the best lineman — who could and did play all three positions throughout his Hall of Fame career.

Honorable mentions: Chidi Ahanotu, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Matt Light

73 — John Hannah

Position: Offensive guard

Career: 13 seasons (1973-85)

Teams: New England Patriots

Stats: 183 games, 183 starts

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 1985 Super Bowl participant, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1991)

Bottom line: John Hannah is still considered one of the greatest players in Patriots history, even given their unprecedented run of success in the past 20 years.

He was the lone bright spot on a lot of bad teams, but reached the Super Bowl in his last season, despite losing 46-10 to the Bears.

Honorable mentions: Larry Allen, Jahri Evans, Joe Klecko

74 — Bruce Matthews

Position: Offensive lineman

Career: 19 seasons (1983-2001)

Teams: Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans

Stats: 296 games, 293 starts

Accolades: 14 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 1999 Super Bowl participant Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007)

Bottom line: Bruce Matthews is part of pro football’s first family, making 293 starts at one of the most thankless positions in professional sports. He earned his spot on the list.

Honorable mentions: Aaron Kampman, Bob Lilly, Nick Mangold

75 — Howie Long

Position: Defensive end

Career: 13 seasons (1981-93)

Teams: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Stats: 179 games, 84 sacks, 10 fumble recoveries

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 1983 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2000)

Bottom line: Howie Long vs. Deacon Jones is probably the toughest debate we had on this list.

In the end, it goes to Long simply because the era he played in was more taxing.

Honorable mentions: Deacon Jones, Howard Ballard, Lomas Brown

76 — Orlando Pace

Position: Offensive tackle

Career: 13 seasons (1997-2009)

Teams: St. Louis Rams (1997-2008), Chicago Bears (2009)

Stats: 169 games, 165 starts

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, 1999 Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2016)

Bottom line: The Rams selected Orlando Pace with the first pick of the 1997 NFL draft, and it’s safe to say they got their money’s worth, since he played left tackle in St. Louis for more than a decade.

Honorable mentions: Flozell Adams, John Elliott, Steve Hutchinson

77 — Willie Roaf

Position: Offensive tackle

Career: 13 seasons (1993-2005)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1993-2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-05)

Stats: 189 games, 189 starts

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2012)

Bottom line: Willie Roaf was the model of consistency. But he played before left tackles were widely acknowledged — and before the Saints achieved national relevance.

Honorable mentions: Lyle Alzado, Jim Jeffcoat, Karl Mecklenberg

78 — Bruce Smith

Position: Defensive End

Career: 19 seasons (1985-2004)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1985-99), Washington Redskins (2000-03)

Stats: 279 games, 200 sacks, 1,224 tackles

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 8-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

Bottom line: Bruce Smith was one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, as his NFL record sack total indicates.

The fact he helped the Bills reach the Super Bowl four straight years, and played nearly 20 years at a physically taxing position, is near incomprehensible.

Honorable mentions: Bruce Armstrong, Bobby Bell, Tarik Glenn

79 — Rosey Brown

Position: Offensive Tackle

Career: 13 seasons (1953-65)

Teams: New York Giants

Stats: 162 games, 159 starts

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, 1956 NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1975)

Bottom line: Rosey Brown was a linchpin offensive lineman on a slew of great Giants teams, who fell off a cliff in part because they couldn’t replace him.

Honorable mentions: Harris Barton, Ruben Brown, Bob Golic

80 — Jerry Rice

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 20 seasons (1985-04)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1985-00), Oakland Raiders (2001-04), Seattle Seahawks (2004)

Stats: 303 games,1,549 catches, 22,895 receiving yards, 207 TDs

Accolades: 13 Pro Bowl appearances, 10-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time. NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 3-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010)

Bottom line: Jerry Rice is the greatest football player who ever lived. So needless to say, he’s the best player to wear No. 80.

Honorable mentions: Steve Largent, Cris Carter, Kellen Winslow

81 — Terrell Owens

Career: 15 seasons (1996-2010)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1996-03), Philadelphia Eagles (2004-05), Dallas Cowboys (2006-08), Buffalo Bills (2009), Cincinnati Bengals (2010)

Stats: 219 games, 1,078 catches, 15,934 receiving yards, 156 TDs

Accolades: 6 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 2004 Super Bowl appearance, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Bottom line: Art Monk may have had the better career, but Terrell Owens’ 14-catch, 122-yard performance in Super Bowl XXXIX, just seven weeks removed from a broken leg, could’ve earned him MVP honors even in a loss.

It also cut through all his antics and proved he was a gamer.

Honorable mentions: Tim Brown, Art Monk, Andy Robustelli, Jackie Smith

82 — Ozzie Newsome

Position: Tight end

Career: 13 seasons (1978-90)

Teams: Cleveland Browns

Stats: 198 games, 662 catches, 7,980 yards, 47 TDs

Accolades: 3 Pro Bowl appearances, 1984 First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1999)

Bottom line: Ozzie Newsome was one of the most consistent offensive players in Browns history. His career fell short of the Super Bowl despite being considered one of the best tight ends ever.

Honorable mentions: Raymond Berry, John Stallworth, Jimmy Smith

83 — Andre Reed

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 16 seasons (1985-00)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1985-99), Washington Redskins (2000)

Stats: 234 games, 951 catches, 13,198 yards, 88 TDs

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 4 Super Bowl appearances, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2014)

Bottom line: Andre Reed was Jim Kelly’s top option in Buffalo for more than a decade and helped the Bills reach the Super Bowl in four straight years.

Honorable mentions: Willie Gault, Ted Hendricks, Anthony Miller

84. Shannon Sharpe

Position: Tight end

Career: 14 seasons (1990-03)

Teams: Denver Broncos (1990-99, 2002-03), Baltimore Ravens (2000-01)

Stats: 204 games, 815 catches, 10,060 yards, 62 TDs

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 3-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2011)

Bottom line: Shannon Sharpe trumps Randy Moss only because Moss changed his number.

But make no mistake, Sharpe was perhaps the greatest tight end of all time, who revolutionized the position — he essentially was a receiver in tight end’s clothing.

Honorable mentions: Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, Herman Moore

85 — Nick Buoniconti

Position: Linebacker

Career: 14 seasons (1962-76)

Teams: Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (1969-76)

Stats: 183 games, 32 interceptions

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2001)

Bottom line: Nick Buoniconti was perhaps the most famous member of the "No Name Defense," in Miami.

His addition to the team, along with coach Don Shula, spearheaded an unprecedented era of Dolphins dominance, where they reached the Super Bowl three straight years and won twice.

Honorable mentions: Mark Duper, Antonio Gates, Chad Johnson

86 — Hines Ward

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 14 seasons (1998-2011)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Stats: 217 games, 1,000 catches, 12,083 receiving yards, 86 TDs

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time Super Bowl champions, 2005 Super Bowl MVP

Bottom line: Hines Ward was the consummate team player who became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, thanks largely to his 123-yard performance in Super Bowl XL that earned him MVP honors in the Steelers’ fifth championship.

Honorable mentions: Buck Buchanan, Zach Ertz, Antonio Freeman

87 — Dave Casper

Position: Tight end

Career: 11 seasons (1974-84)

Teams: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1974-80, 1984), Houston Oilers (1980-83), Minnesota Vikings (1983)

Stats: 147 games, 378 catches, 5,216 receiving yards, 52 TDs

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 4-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2002)

Bottom line: "The Ghost" could catch and block and was named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade team. He was one of Ken Stabler’s favorite targets, helping the Raiders to a pair of championships.

Honorable mentions: Rob Gronkowski, Laveranues Coles, Joe Horn

88 — Michael Irvin

Position: Wide receiver

Career: 12 seasons (1988-99)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys

Stats: 159 games, 750 catches, 11,904 yards, 65 TDs

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 1991 First Team All-Pro, 3-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007)

Bottom line: Michael Irvin was simply known as "The Playmaker," for good reason. He was the lead receiving option for Troy Aikman and three Super Bowl-champion teams.

Honorable mentions: Lynn Swann, Marvin Harrison, Tony Gonzalez

89 — Gino Marchetti

Position: Defensive end

Career: 15 seasons (1952-66)

Teams: Dallas Texans (1952), Baltimore Colts (1953-66)

Stats: 151 games

Accolades: 11 Pro Bowl appearances, 7-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1972)

Bottom line: Gino Marchetti is revered as defensive royalty, whose stats are unavailable largely because he played in a more primitive time.

He is still one of the most feared players in NFL history.

Honorable mentions: Mike Ditka, John Mackey

90 — Julius Peppers

Position: Defensive end

Career: 17 seasons (2002-18)

Teams: Carolina Panthers (2002-09, 2017-18), Chicago Bears (2010-13), Green Bay Packers (2014-16)

Stats: 266 games, 159½ sacks, 724 tackles, 63 forced turnovers

Accolades: 9 Pro Bowl appearances, 3-time First Team All-Pro, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2002), 1 Super Bowl appearance

Bottom line: Julius Peppers was a two-sport college athlete at North Carolina and was one of the most athletic players to reach the NFL.

He also was one of the most long-standing defensive players in NFL history, who still had 11 sacks in his age-37 season in Carolina.

Honorable mentions: Darnell Dockett, Neil Smith, Ndamukong Suh

91 — Kevin Greene

Position: Outside linebacker

Career: 15 seasons (1985-99)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1985-92), Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-95), Carolina Panthers (1996, 1998-99), San Francisco 49ers (1997)

Stats: 228 games, 160 sacks, 733 tackles, 28 forced turnovers

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2016)

Bottom line: Kevin Greene was a force as an edge rusher, who had 10 double-digit sack seasons and led the NFL in the stat twice.

He did his best work as the bookend with Greg Lloyd in Pittsburgh, making the Pro Bowl in two of his three seasons there and helping the Steelers reach the Super Bowl in 1995.

Honorable mentions: Leslie O’Neal, Aaron Smith, Justin Tuck

92 — Reggie White

Career: 15 seasons (1985-2000)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1985-92), Green Bay Packers (1993-98), Carolina Panthers (2000)

Stats: 232 games, 198 sacks, 1,111 tackles, 36 forced turnovers

Accolades: 13 Pro Bowl appearances, 8-time First Team All-Pro, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2006)

Bottom line: Reggie White was the best pass rusher in NFL history. He ranks second in league history in sacks, then added 13 in 19 playoff games.

His three sacks of Drew Bledsoe set a Super Bowl record and was a huge part of his only championship game win.

Honorable mentions: Michael Strahan, James Harrison, Haloti Ngata

93 — John Randle

Position: Defensive end

Career: 14 seasons (1990-2003)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings (1990-2000), Seattle Seahawks (2001-03)

Stats: 219 games, 137½ sacks, 555 tackles, 30 forced turnovers

Accolades: 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 6-time First Team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010) championships (Super Bowls, NFL)

Bottom line: Randle was arguably the most feared defensive player of his day, largely thanks to his robust gameday face-paint. He was the consummate game-wrecker with an arsenal of moves to get to the quarterback.

Honorable mentions: Kevin Carter, Calais Campbell, Dwight Freeney

94 — Charles Haley

Position: Defensive end

Career: 13 seasons (1986-99)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers (1986-91, 1998-99), Dallas Cowboys (1992-96)

Stats: 169 games, 100½ sacks, 498 tackles, 28 forced turnovers

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 2-time First Team All-Pro (1990, 1994), 5-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Bottom line: The consummate winner, Charles Haley had the great fortune to play for two dynastic teams.

But he also contributed to those squads, posting 11 postseason sacks, including two in the 49ers' 20-16 win in Super Bowl XXIII.

Honorable mentions: DeMarcus Ware, Chad Brown, Dana Stubblefield

95 — Richard Dent

Position: Defensive end

Career: 15 seasons (1983-97)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1983-93, 1995), San Francisco 49ers (1994), Indianapolis Colts (1995), Philadelphia Eagles (1997)

Stats: 203 games, 137½ sacks, 677 tackles, 45 forced turnovers

Accolades: 4 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro (1985), 2-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP (1986)

Bottom line: Richard Dent was one of the most fearsome competitors on arguably the greatest defense in NFL history, and he saved his best for the playoffs.

Dent had 10 1/2 postseason sacks, including six in the Bears' championship run.

Honorable mentions: William Fuller, Greg Lloyd, Kyle Williams

96 — Cortez Kennedy

Position: Defensive tackle

Career: 11 seasons (1990-2000)

Teams: Seattle Seahawks

Stats: 167 games, 58 sacks, 668 tackles, 14 forced turnovers

Accolades: 8 Pro Bowl appearances, NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992), Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2012)

Bottom line: The anchor of the Seattle Seahawks' defensive line during the 1990s only made one playoff appearance, but he still could influence a game with his ability to stuff the run and rush the passer.

He proved this best in 1992, when he finished with 92 tackles, 14 sacks and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Honorable mentions: Clyde Simmons, Adalius Thomas, Muhammad Wilkerson

97 — Cornelius Bennett

Position: Linebacker

Career: 14 seasons (1987-2000)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-95), Atlanta Falcons (1996-98), Indianapolis Colts (1999-00)

Stats: 206 games, 71½ sacks, 1,190 tackles, 38 forced turnovers

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro (1988), 4 Super Bowl appearances

Bottom line: The Bills' defense largely gets forgotten from their early-1990s Super Bowl runs, and Cornelius Bennett was as essential a player as Buffalo had.

He also happened to change his number from 55 to 97 in time for the Bills four straight trips to the championship game.

Honorable mentions: Geno Atkins, La’Roi Glover, Simeon Rice

98. Jessie Armstead

Position: Linebacker

Career: 11 seasons (1993-03)

Teams: New York Giants (1993-01), Washington Redskins. (2002-03)

Stats: 176 games, 40 sacks, 967 tackles, 25 forced turnovers

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, First Team All-Pro (1997), NFL All-Rookie Team (1993), 1 Super Bowl appearance

Bottom line: Jessie Armstead largely was overshadowed by Michael Strahan but was perhaps a more important piece of the Giants' defense that won the NFC East twice and reached the Super Bowl in 2000.

Honorable mentions: Tony Siragusa, Casey Hampton, Greg Ellis

99 — J.J. Watt

Position: Defensive end

Career: 9 seasons (2012-present)

Teams: Houston Texans

Stats: 112 games, 96 sacks, 479 tackles, 24 forced turnovers

Accolades: 5 Pro Bowl appearances, 5-time First Team All-Pro, 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Bottom line: Aaron Donald is hot on Watt’s heels, but the longtime Texans defensive lineman and game wrecker retains this honor for now.

Watt has two 20-plus sack seasons in his career, something no other NFL player had done before.

Honorable mentions: Warren Sapp, Aaron Donald, Jason Taylor