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Know the names · Athlore editors

The greatest NFL players ever.

A cross-era starting point built around positional dominance, championship consequence and the players who changed what football asked of everyone else.

How this list works. These 100 players are ordered editorially, not by an algorithm. NFL 100’s blue-ribbon selections provide the historical baseline, expanded with later careers and cross-era positional context. Use the position filters without losing each player’s place in the overall ranking.

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Showing 100 of 100

  1. 1Tom BradyQBThe championship standardOpen player profile →
  2. 2Jerry RiceWRThe complete receiverOpen player profile →
  3. 3Jim BrownRBThe original forceOpen player profile →
  4. 4Lawrence TaylorLBThe offense changed for himOpen player profile →
  5. 5Joe MontanaQBCalm at the finishOpen player profile →
  6. 6Walter PaytonRBComplete backfield craftOpen player profile →
  7. 7Reggie WhiteDEThe Minister of DefenseOpen player profile →
  8. 8Peyton ManningQBThe field generalOpen player profile →
  9. 9Barry SandersRBImpossible in spaceOpen player profile →
  10. 10Randy MossWRThe field tilts deepOpen player profile →
  11. 11Deion SandersCBPrime TimeOpen player profile →
  12. 12Johnny UnitasQBThe modern quarterback beginsOpen player profile →
  13. 13Aaron DonaldDTInterior disruption perfectedOpen player profile →
  14. 14Patrick MahomesQBEvery platform is a throwing platformOpen player profile →
  15. 15Aaron RodgersQBEfficiency without surrendering inventionOpen player profile →
  16. 16Ray LewisLBThe center of the defenseOpen player profile →
  17. 17Anthony MunozOTThe left-tackle standardOpen player profile →
  18. 18Joe GreeneDTThe heart of the Steel CurtainOpen player profile →
  19. 19Emmitt SmithRBDurability, vision and the rushing recordOpen player profile →
  20. 20Alan PageDTAn MVP from the defensive interiorOpen player profile →
  21. 21Ronnie LottSRange with a hitter's authorityOpen player profile →
  22. 22Dick ButkusLBThe archetype of intimidationOpen player profile →
  23. 23Don HutsonWRThe route tree before the route treeOpen player profile →
  24. 24Otto GrahamQBA championship game every seasonOpen player profile →
  25. 25Ed ReedSThe quarterback's worst thoughtOpen player profile →
  26. 26Brett FavreQBFearless improvisationOpen player profile →
  27. 27Dan MarinoQBThe passing future arrived earlyOpen player profile →
  28. 28Bruce SmithDEThe all-time sack standardOpen player profile →
  29. 29John ElwayQBArm strength, movement and the late finishOpen player profile →
  30. 30Steve YoungQBEfficiency with open-field speedOpen player profile →
  31. 31Travis KelceTEFinding space when everyone knowsOpen player profile →
  32. 32Rob GronkowskiTEA mismatch who also blockedOpen player profile →
  33. 33Marshall FaulkRBThe offense ran through the backOpen player profile →
  34. 34LaDainian TomlinsonRBTouchdown production in every formOpen player profile →
  35. 35Gale SayersRBOpen-field grace at full speedOpen player profile →
  36. 36Deacon JonesDEThe pass rush gets its nameOpen player profile →
  37. 37Aeneas WilliamsCBTechnique that traveled across erasOpen player profile →
  38. 38Rod WoodsonCBCorner range, safety instinctsOpen player profile →
  39. 39Andre TippettLBPressure from the second levelOpen player profile →
  40. 40Champ BaileyCBThe silent side of the fieldOpen player profile →
  41. 41Jonathan OgdenOTPrototype size with rare feetOpen player profile →
  42. 42Walter JonesOTPass protection without panicOpen player profile →
  43. 43Howie LongDEPower across the defensive frontOpen player profile →
  44. 44John HannahOGThe guard every guard is measured againstOpen player profile →
  45. 45Richard DentDEThe finishing edge of an historic defenseOpen player profile →
  46. 46John RandleDTUndrafted energy from the interiorOpen player profile →
  47. 47Warren SappDTThe three-technique as a starOpen player profile →
  48. 48Merlin OlsenDTFourteen seasons of elite interior playOpen player profile →
  49. 49Joe ThomasOTA decade of blind-side certaintyOpen player profile →
  50. 50J.J. WattDEA one-man defensive eventOpen player profile →
  51. 51Derrick ThomasLBThe edge could disappear in one stepOpen player profile →
  52. 52Junior SeauLBSideline range and emotional forceOpen player profile →
  53. 53Kevin GreeneLBRelentless pressure across five teamsOpen player profile →
  54. 54Mike SingletaryLBVision and command in the 46Open player profile →
  55. 55Chuck BednarikLBFootball's last full-time two-way iconOpen player profile →
  56. 56Derrick BrooksLBSpeed, coverage and championship controlOpen player profile →
  57. 57Brian UrlacherLBA safety's range in a linebacker's frameOpen player profile →
  58. 58Luke KuechlyLBRecognition before the snapOpen player profile →
  59. 59Darrell GreenCBTwo decades of recovery speedOpen player profile →
  60. 60Charles WoodsonCBEvery alignment, every assignmentOpen player profile →
  61. 61Willie LanierLBModern middle-linebacker rangeOpen player profile →
  62. 62Brian DawkinsSThe emotional geometry of a defenseOpen player profile →
  63. 63Troy PolamaluSInstinct turned into alignmentOpen player profile →
  64. 64Emlen TunnellSThe original ball-hawking safetyOpen player profile →
  65. 65Adrian PetersonRBViolence and acceleration togetherOpen player profile →
  66. 66Eric DickersonRBUpright speed and the season recordOpen player profile →
  67. 67Earl CampbellRBPower that exhausted whole defensesOpen player profile →
  68. 68O.J. SimpsonRBThe first 2,000-yard seasonOpen player profile →
  69. 69Marcus AllenRBPatience, versatility and postseason visionOpen player profile →
  70. 70Franco HarrisRBA dynasty's dependable engineOpen player profile →
  71. 71Tony DorsettRBAcceleration through the smallest creaseOpen player profile →
  72. 72Steve Van BurenRBThe first great championship runnerOpen player profile →
  73. 73Marion MotleyFBPower football's integration pioneerOpen player profile →
  74. 74Terrell OwensWRProduction with imposing physicalityOpen player profile →
  75. 75Larry FitzgeraldWRHands, longevity and a postseason peakOpen player profile →
  76. 76Marvin HarrisonWRPrecision paired with PeytonOpen player profile →
  77. 77Steve LargentWRDetail over spectacleOpen player profile →
  78. 78Calvin JohnsonWRMegatron changes the catch radiusOpen player profile →
  79. 79Lance AlworthWRThe vertical game in motionOpen player profile →
  80. 80Raymond BerryWRRoute study becomes an artOpen player profile →
  81. 81Cris CarterWRBoundary control and extraordinary handsOpen player profile →
  82. 82Antonio GatesTEBasketball movement in the red zoneOpen player profile →
  83. 83Tony GonzalezTEThe position's longevity benchmarkOpen player profile →
  84. 84Kellen WinslowTEThe tight end becomes a featured receiverOpen player profile →
  85. 85Tony BoselliOTA brief, overwhelming left-tackle peakOpen player profile →
  86. 86Drew BreesQBPlacement, rhythm and a city's rebirthOpen player profile →
  87. 87Roger StaubachQBCaptain ComebackOpen player profile →
  88. 88Terry BradshawQBThe deep arm behind four titlesOpen player profile →
  89. 89Bart StarrQBPrecision at the center of Lombardi's runOpen player profile →
  90. 90Sid LuckmanQBThe T-formation unlocks the passOpen player profile →
  91. 91Sammy BaughQBA genuine three-way football starOpen player profile →
  92. 92Fran TarkentonQBScrambling before it had a blueprintOpen player profile →
  93. 93Warren MoonQBThe downfield passer who broke the door openOpen player profile →
  94. 94Michael StrahanDEPower, technique and the sack recordOpen player profile →
  95. 95Lou GrozaKThe specialist who was also a tackleOpen player profile →
  96. 96Devin HesterKRThe return game as appointment viewingOpen player profile →
  97. 97Jason TaylorDELength, speed and strip-sack productionOpen player profile →
  98. 98Terrell DavisRBA short peak built for JanuaryOpen player profile →
  99. 99Kurt WarnerQBThe improbable engine of two offensesOpen player profile →
  100. 100Gene UpshawOGThe interior anchor of Raider footballOpen player profile →