Who is the best player in NFL history? The National Football LLeague has been around since 1920, providing decades of historic teams, legendary coaches and some of the best NFL players of all time. While we’ve seen some of the best players in NFL history during our lifetime, there are plenty of all-time greats from the past.
A variety of factors can help determine rankings for the best NFL players ever. Super Bowls are one of the ultimate measures of success, but those can also be viewed as a team accomplishment. When you combine it with stats, talent level and comparisons to different eras, then you get a true sense of the game’s legends.
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Let’s dive into our list of the best NFL players of all time.
25. Aaron Donald, defensive tackle, Los Angeles Rams
Standing at 6-foot-1, expectations weren’t especially high for Aaron Donald even as the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He simply has gone on to become one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history. After earning Defensive Rookie of the Year for a nine-sack season in 2014, Donald ripped off a seven-year run with 89 sacks (12.7 per season) in which he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, finished second in 2015, third in 2021, fourth in 2016 and fifth in 2019. Quite frankly, he was dominant enough in all those years to win the award. He’s also a 10-time Pro Bowl player with eight first-team All-Pro selections and he’s one of two defensive tackle with 100 career sacks. Following his retirement, Donald joined Barry Sanders as the only players in NFL history to play at least 10 seasons and be named to the Pro Bowl each year.
Aaron Donald career stats: 260 QB hits, 176 tackles for loss, 111 sacks
24. Don Hutson, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
Don Hutson was ahead of his time by decades. In fact, he wasn’t even called a wide receiver and instead was referred to as an “end” in the 1930s-40s. With the Green Bay Packers, Hutson won three NFL championships, earned two NFL MVPs and led the league in receiving touchdowns nine times, receiving yards eight times and receptions seven times. Oh, he was also the co-interception leader in 1940. Our favorite stat, however, is Hutson becoming the first wide receiver with a 1,000-yard season (1,211) in 1942.
Don Hutson career stats: 488 receptions, 7,991 receiving yards, 99 receiving touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, 172 extra points made, 30 interceptions, 1 pick-six, 1 passing touchdown
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23. John Elway, quarterback, Denver Broncos
John Elway had the storybook ending to his playing career that some of the best NFL players ever only dreamed of. From 1983-’98, the nine-time Pro Bowl selection had the numbers to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame but he wanted that ring. He put a perfect bow on his Denver Broncos career with back-to-back Super Bowls, even winning Super Bowl XXXIII MVP. It’s safe to say the Elway family made the right call forcing a trade away from the Baltimore Colts during the 1983 NFL Draft.
John Elway career stats: 51,475 passing yards, 79.9 QB rating, 300 passing touchdowns, 226 interceptions, 56.9% completion rate, 7.1 yards per attempt 4.1% TD rate, 3.1% INT rate
22. Alan Page, defensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings
Alan Page is synonymous with the Minnesota Vikings. Taken with the 15th overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-4 defensive tackle called Minnesota his home for over a decade and returned after his retirement. A member of the “Purple People Eaters”, Page had eight seasons with double-digit sacks, recorded an astounding 7 fumble recoveries in 1970 and won both NFL MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in 1971. Page was an eight-time All-Pro selection and a nine-time Pro Bowl pick and he still is tied for the NFL record for most safeties forced (two) in a season.
Alan Page career stats: 148.5 sacks, 23 fumble recoveries, 3 safeties, 2 interceptions, 3 touchdowns
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21. Emmitt Smith, running back, Dallas Cowboys
No one will likely ever top Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith on the all-time NFL rushing yards list. He leads Walter Payton by nearly 2,000 yards and Derrick Henry (9,502 yards) will likely be long retired before he even nears 14,000. With the Dallas Cowboys, Smith recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He was the workhorse in Dallas, receiving 400-plus touches in four different seasons and had 10 different years with at least 300 touches. Smith was also an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time Super Bowl champion, but his sustained greatness stands out.
Emmitt Smith career stats: 18,355 rushing yards, 164 rushing touchdowns, 81.2 rushing yards per game, 4.2 yards per carry, 3,224 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 passing touchdown
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20. Dan Marino, quarterback, Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino is truly one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history. It’s a fair knock to highlight the absence of the Super Bowl, but his efficiency and dominance in his era produced stats that looked like they belonged in a 17-game season today. Marino had two seasons with 40-plus passing touchdowns in the mid-1980s. For context, the second-place passer in 1984 had 16 fewer touchdowns than Marino and there was a 19-touchdown gap between the Miami Dolphins quarterback and second place in 1986. If Marino played in this version of the NFL, his Hall of Fame numbers would’ve been even more remarkable.
Dan Marino career stats: 61,361 passing yards, 86.4 QB rating, 420 passing touchdowns, 252 interceptions, 59.4% completion rate, 7.3 yards per attempt, 5% TD rate, 3% INT rate
19. Johnny Unitas, quarterback, Baltimore Colts
A cursory look at Johnny Unitas stats might not suggest he’s one of the best NFL players ever, but the context of the era he played in is critical. In the 1950s-60s, Unitas completely rewrote the quarterback position. He revolutionized the passing game, laying the groundwork for the next 50-plus years of quarterbacks. Unitas was also Mr. Clutch, leading the Baltimore Colts to three NFL crowns (1958-’59, ’68) and then a Super Bowl V title in 1971. Winning championships across multiple decades, with All-Pro selections in two separate decades. That’s something only the all-time greats have done.
Johnny Unitas career stats: 40,239 passing yards, 78.2 QB rating, 290 passing touchdowns, 253 interceptions, 54.6% completion rate, 7.8 yards per attempt, 1777 rushing yards, 13 TDs
18. Deacon Jones, defensive lineman, Los Angeles Rams
Deacon Jones was one of the most feared players in NFL history, but more than that he impacted the game decades after him. The term “sack” became a common stat today because Jones was so overpowering with the Los Angeles Rams that a term for what he was doing needed to be created. A two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time leader in sacks, Jones had three seasons with 20-plus sacks and a fourth with 19. Each of those seasons happened with just 14 games played.
Deacon Jones career stats: 173.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 safeties
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17. Randy Moss, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots
Some like to try and compare Tyreek Hill to Randy Moss. The truth is, there’s no comparison. Moss, at 6-foot-4, offered both unmatched speed in his prime and the ability to make some unbelievable catches. From 1998-2003, Moss averaged 1,395.8 receiving yards per season and scored 77 touchdowns in 96 games. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times and still holds the title of one of the most uncoverable players in NFL history.
Randy Moss career stats: 982 receptions, 15,292 receiving yards, 156 touchdowns, 15.6 yards per reception, 1 return touchdown, 2 passing touchdowns
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16. Ray Lewis, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
Beloved in Baltimore, Ray Lewis is one of the best defensive players in NFL history. Taken with the 26th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft, Lewis earned second-team All-Pro honors by his second season. The 6-foot-1 linebacker earned 12 Pro Bowl selections, won Defensive Player of the Year twice and won Super Bowl XXXV MVP. He also brought an intensity and leadership style to Baltimore that no one has ever come close to replicating.
Ray Lewis career stats: 1,568 solo tackles, 99 tackles for loss, 96 pass deflections, 41.5 sacks, 40 QB hits, 31 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles, 3 defensive touchdowns
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15. Deion Sanders, cornerback, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers
There are so many great Deion Sanders stories to return from that capture his all-time greatness as an athlete. Obviously, there was October 11, 1992, when he played a game for both the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta Braves (MLB). He also once had a pick-six and punt return touchdown in the same game. Sanders, a two-time Super Bowl champion and eight-time All-Pro selection is simply one of the best athletes and best players to ever take the field.
Deion Sanders career stats: 53 interceptions, 25 pass deflections, 10 defensive TDs, 10 forced fumbles, 2,199 punt return yards, 6 TDs, 3,523 kickoff return yards, 3 TDs, 770 scrimmage yards, 3 TDs
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14. Anthony Munoz, left tackle, Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony Munoz is the best left tackle in NFL history. Taken with the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, Williams needed just one year to settle in. Following his rookie season, he earned 11 consecutive All-Pro selections including nine first-team All-Pro nods. The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle accomplished all of this at a much lighter weight than modern offensive linemen. If you’re building an all-time NFL team, Munoz is protecting your quarterback’s blindside.
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13. Ronnie Lott, safety, San Francisco 49ers
Numbers can often help define the best NFL players ever, but there’s an even better story that captures the toughness and greatness of Ronnie Lott. After suffering a broken pinkie finger, the 6-foot safety opted to have it amputated to speed up his return to the football field. Lott is a four-time Super Bowl champion with eight first-team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl nods and is a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-TIme Team.
Ronnie Lott career stats: 63 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries, 16 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks, 5 defensive touchdowns
12. Joe Greene, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t a dynasty in the 1970s without Joe Greene, fittingly known just as well as “Mean Joe” to his peers and those who came after him. NFL rules were literally changed because Greene was so overpowering at one point for offensive linemen that his alignment had to be changed. He spent his entire playing career in Pittsburgh, winning four Super Bowls, earning NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice and being named to the Pro Bowl 10 times.
Joe Greene career stats: 77.5 sacks, 16 fumble recoveries, 1 interception
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11. Dick Butkus, linebacker, Chicago Bears
Dick Butkus, “The Enforced” of the Chicago Bears defense and an NFL legend, played the position like no one could today. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time All-Pro selection (first-team All-Pro five times), Butkus is most well-known for putting literal fear in the minds of opponents who came near him. What is more underappreciated about Butkus is that he also excelled in pass coverage, showing instincts and range that allowed him to record 22 career interceptions in a run-heavy league. Butkus is one of the best linebackers in NFL history.
Dick Butkus stats: 27 fumble recoveries, 22 interceptions, 11 sacks
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10. Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs
It might seem blasphemous to place Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes this high among the best NFL players of all time. However, he’s already won three Super Bowls to pass Dan Marino, John Elway, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning. He’s also proven to be a better quarterback than the likes of Otto Graham and Johnny Unitas. Before even turning 30 years old, Mahomes is on pace to achieve more than Manning and he needs just one more Super Bowl to tie Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. That’s why he’s 10th on our list right now.
Patrick Mahomes career stats: 28,424 passing yards, 103.5 QB rating, 219-63 TD-INT, 66.5% completion rate, 7.9 yards per attempt, 6.1% TD rate, 1.8% INT rate
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9. Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning is the greatest regular-season quarterback in NFL history. The first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Manning has six seasons with a 100-plus QB rating and he’s a five-time NFL MVP with 14 Pro Bowl selections. We also have to recognize the incredible 2012 season, when Manning returned from a neck injury that seemed career-ending to lead the NFL in passing yards (5,477), touchdowns (55), completions and QBR. While the second Super Bowl ring was largely a result of the Denver Broncos’ defense, Manning’s career resume still makes him one of the best quarterbacks ever.
Peyton Manning career stats: 71,940 passing yards, 96.5 QB rating, 539 passing touchdowns, 251 interceptions, 65.3% completion rate, 7.7 yards per attempt, 5.7% TD rate, 2.7% INT rate
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8. Barry Sanders, running back, Detroit Lions
Barry Sanders didn’t spend nearly as much time on the field as everyone wanted. Considering the team the Detroit Lions put around him, there’s no blaming him for retiring early. In 10 seasons, Sanders posted 1,100-plus rushing yards every year and he earned the NFL rushing title four times with seven seasons recording double-digit total touchdowns. A 10-time All-Pro selection Isix first-team) with a 1997 NFL MVP and two NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, Sanders only trails Jim Brown on the all-time rushing yards per game list and he’s one of only five Hall of Fame running backs to average 5 yards per carry across an entire career.
Barry Sanders career stats: 15,269 rushing yards, 99 rushing touchdowns, 5 yards per carry, 99.8 rushing yards per game, 2,921 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns
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7. Joe Montana, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
The greatest quarterback in San Francisco 49ers history, Joe Montana delivered four Super Bowl rings and took home three Super Bowl MVP awards. He’s also a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-TIme team thanks to a storied career that includes eight Pro Bowl selections, two regular-season NFL MVP honors and five All-Pro spots. Montana also led the NFL in completion rate five times, twice had the highest passer rating and had a league-high in passing touchdowns twice. Plus, Joe Cool was as calm as it gets in the biggest moments.
Joe Montana career stats: 40,551 passing yards, 92.3 QB rating, 273 passing touchdowns, 139 interceptions, 63.2% completion rate, 7.5 yards per attempt, 5.1% TD rate, 2.6% INT rate
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6. Walter Payton, running back, Chicago Bears
Walter Payton was nicknamed “Sweetness” for a reason. Opponents knew he was the only viable threat on the Chicago Bears offense and they stacked the box in an attempt to stop him. It didn’t matter. From 1976-’86, Payton averaged 1,410.4 rushing yards per season with a 4.4 yards per carry average and 113 total touchdowns scored in 165 games. An NFL MVP in 1977, the same year he won NFL Man of the Year, Payton was also remarkable in that he was just as impactful off the field as he was on it.
Walter Payton stats: 16,726 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 76 rushing touchdowns, 88 rushing yards per game, 4,538 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns
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5. Reggie White, defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers
What’s remarkable about Reggie White is that his numbers would’ve been even better had he not spent two years (23.5 sacks) in the USFL. Upon transitioning to the NFL, the 6-foot-5 defensive end dominated offensive linemen with a signature hump move that was practically unstoppable. Even in an era that wasn’t pass-happy, White set the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks (nine) and he had three years with 15-plus sacks. A 13-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl champion, White is one of the all-time greats.
Reggie White stats: 198 sacks, 20 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, 2 touchdowns
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4. Jim Brown, running back, Cleveland Browns
Jim Brown is the best running back in NFL history. Entering the league as the sixth overall pick by the Cleveland Browns, Brown immediately won NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL MVP in his first season. The 6-foot-2 running back led the NFL in rushing yards eight times, rushing touchdowns five times and was a first-team All-Pro in eight of his nine seasons played. We will never see a running back dominate the way Brown did for as long as he did.
Jim Brown career stats: 12,312 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 106 rushing touchdowns, 104.3 rushing yards per game, 2,499 receiving yards, 20 receiving touchdowns
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3. Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, New York Giants
Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player in NFL history. A two-time Super Bowl champion who won both NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1981, Taylor literally changed football. He is almost entirely responsible for defenses changing their schemes and use of outside linebackers, all while forcing offenses to dramatically alter their schemes and start placing a premium on offensive tackles. Stats aren’t the reason Taylor is one of the best players in NFL history, on-field dominance and a long-term effect caused by his presence do that for him.
Lawrence Taylor career stats: 142 sacks, 11 fumble recoveries, 9 interceptions, 2 defensive TDs
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2. Jerry Rice, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
Jerry Rice is the best wide receiver in NFL history and there isn’t a close second. Even if you want to go beyond his three Super Bowl rings and 10 first-team All-Pro selections, Rice led the NFL in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns six different times. He also made both the NFL’s 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Teams. Plus, the San Francisco 49ers legend has 5,000 receiving yards more than Larry Fitzgerald (second-most in NFL history) and nearly 7,000 more than Terrell Owens.
Jerry Rice career stats: 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, 197 receiving touchdowns, 14.8 yards per reception, 10 rushing touchdowns, 1 passing touchdown
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1. Tom Brady, quarterback, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady is the best NFL player ever. Playing the most important position in sports, Brady won more Super Bowls than Michael Jordan did NBA championships. He provided a Lombardi Trophy and MVP-caliber player for two different franchises, led the greatest dynasty in NFL history and arguably had three Hall-of-Fame stretches during his legendary career. With a resume like that, you have to be considered the best NFL player ever.
Tom Brady career stats: 89,214 passing yards, 97.2 QB rating, 649 passing touchdowns, 212 interceptions, 64.3% completion rate, 7.4 yards per attempt, 5.4% TD rate, 1.8% INT rate
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