fbpx

Best NFL players of all time: Ranking the top 25 best players in NFL history

Best NFL players of all time
Credit: USA TODAY Sports

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.

Related: Best baseball players of all time

Let’s dive into our list of the best NFL players of all time.

25. Aaron Donald, defensive tackle, Los Angeles Rams

Best NFL players of all time, Aaron Donald
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

24. Don Hutson, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers

Best NFL players of all time, Don Hutson
Credit: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Imagn Content Services, LLC

23. John Elway, quarterback, Denver Broncos

Best NFL players of all time, John Elway
Credit: JIM GEHRZ/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

22. Alan Page, defensive tackle, Minnesota Vikings

Best NFL players ever, Alan Page
Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

21. Emmitt Smith, running back, Dallas Cowboys

Best NFL players of all time, Emmitt Smith
Credit: H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

20. Dan Marino, quarterback, Miami Dolphins

Best NFL players of all time, Dan Marino
Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

19. Johnny Unitas, quarterback, Baltimore Colts

Best NFL players of all time, Johnny Unitas
Credit: Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

18. Deacon Jones, defensive lineman, Los Angeles Rams

Best NFL players of all time, Deacon Jones
Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports

17. Randy Moss, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots

Best NFL players of all time, Randy Moss
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

16. Ray Lewis, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Best NFL players of all time, Ray Lewis
Credit: George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

15. Deion Sanders, cornerback, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers

Best NFL players of all time, Deion Sanders
Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

14. Anthony Munoz, left tackle, Cincinnati Bengals

Best NFL players ever, Anthony Munoz
Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

13. Ronnie Lott, safety, San Francisco 49ers

Best NFL players of all time, Ronnie Lott
Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

12. Joe Greene, defensive tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers

Best NFL players of all time, Joe Greene
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

11. Dick Butkus, linebacker, Chicago Bears

Best NFL players of all time, Dick Butkus
Credit: Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports

10. Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

Best NFL players of all time, Patrick Mahomes
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

9. Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos

Best NFL players of all time, Peyton Manning
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

8. Barry Sanders, running back, Detroit Lions

Best NFL players of all time, Barry Sanders
Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

7. Joe Montana, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

Best NFL players of all time, Joe Montana
Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

6. Walter Payton, running back, Chicago Bears

Best NFL players of all time, Walter Payton
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

5. Reggie White, defensive end, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers

Best NFL players of all time, Reggie White
Credit: Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

4. Jim Brown, running back, Cleveland Browns

Best NFL players of all time, Jim Brown
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

3. Lawrence Taylor, linebacker, New York Giants

Best NFL players of all time, Lawrence Taylor
Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jerry Rice, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers

Best NFL players of all time, Jerry Rice
Credit: ROBERT HANASHIRO / USA TODAY NETWORK

1. Tom Brady, quarterback, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Best NFL players of all time, Tom Brady
Credit: Kris Craig / USA TODAY NETWORK
Mentioned in this article:

More About: