Top 50 NFL Players of All-Time

With over 100 years of NFL football in the books, choosing an all-time list of great players isn’t easy. Our task is to balance talent with intangibles to rate these superstars in terms of their success on the field. Those who retired early or never got a chance to play for a contender receive a slight ding, but the true greats are still on the list.

Note defensive stats were not really kept until the last few decades, so you see some players that likely generated a lot of sacks or tackles, but were not recorded. Someone needs to get on the film and get going. Top 50, here we go.

1. Tom Brady

Cementing his legacy with a seventh Super Bowl ring after leaving the Patriots for the Buccaneers, Brady is considered one of the greatest winners in professional sports. The former sixth-round pick owns NFL records for career passing yards (89,214), touchdowns (649), and wins (286).

2. Jerry Rice

Rice has been the most consistent receiver of all time with 13 Pro Bowl selections over 20 years. His greatest years came while winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers and he finished with the most receiving yards (22,895) and receptions (1,549) while setting a record with a catch in 274 straight games.

3. Walter Payton

Starting every game from 1976 to 1987 for the Bears with several seasons of 300-plus rush attempts, Payton produced consistently during the most violent era of NFL football, eventually winning a Super Bowl in 1985 to build his legacy along with his impressive history of philanthropy.

4. Jim Brown

The greatest of his era, Brown also starred in lacrosse and track before taking those athletic skills to the NFL in the 1950s. While the competition may have been lesser, Brown rushed for 5.2 yards per carry and would’ve broken 2,000 yards in six of his nine seasons if given 16 regular season games.

5. Barry Sanders

In 1997, Sanders became one of the first running backs to break 2,000 yards in a season. He led the league in rushing four times despite playing for a below-average Lions squad, made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his seasons, and retired early.

6. Lawrence Taylor

The only defensive player to win MVP in the modern era, Taylor carried the Giants to a Super Bowl in 1986. He topped 100 career sacks and changed the game with his edge rushing ability.

7. Joe Montana

Montana won four Super Bowls without tossing an interception in any of them, and unlike Brady, he never lost in those big games. “Joe Cool” topped 40,000 career passing yards and posted a 117-47 record before passing the torch to Steve Young.

8. Peyton Manning

A football computer with insane processing power, Manning made 14 Pro Bowls over 18 seasons and retired with the most passing yards (71,940), touchdowns (539), and game-winning drives (54) before Brady surpassed him. Manning won Super Bowls with the Broncos and Colts.

9. Randy Moss

Moss might have been the most talented receiver to ever suit up, although a lack of maturity cost him at times. When he teamed up with Tom Brady in New England, he easily set a single-season record with 23 touchdowns, but came up short of an undefeated season in the Super Bowl.

10. Reggie White

Perhaps the most stunning stat for White is a career-high 21 sacks in just 12 games during the strike-shortened 1987 season. The elite pass rusher burst onto the scene with 70 sacks over his first 57 games and put together a five-year streak with at least 15 sacks.

11. Deion Sanders

Arguably the greatest cover cornerback of all time, Sanders could run routes for opposing receivers and eventually he got some reps on offense as a receiver. The two-time Super Bowl champ logged 53 interceptions and 22 touchdowns over 14 seasons, and was the only Super Bowl winner to also participate in baseball’s World Series.

12. Ray Lewis

A two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Lewis was the anchor of a dominant Ravens defense for over a decade. Baltimore’s defense in a 2000-01 championship season was among the best in NFL history.

13. Patrick Mahomes

His story is still very much being written, and Mahomes could be on a trajectory to challenge Brady for the most Super Bowl wins and appearances. The Chiefs quarterback has been to the AFC title game in all seven of his full seasons and is already a two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP.

14. Aaron Donald

Perhaps the greatest defensive tackle ever, Donald won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and set the record for interior linemen with 20.5 sacks in 2018. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl before retiring and carried the defense in a 10-3 loss to the Patriots in another Super Bowl.

15. Emmitt Smith

Smith had unbelievable longevity at a position that usually leads to shorter careers, finishing with the most rushing yards (18,355) and touchdowns (164) along with 11 straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He’s the only player to win regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season (1993).

16. John Elway

Not the most flashiest when it comes to stats, Elway was simply a gritty winner with iconic playoff comebacks under his belt along with a pair of Super Bowl wins. He rode off into the sunset with a record 47 fourth-quarter comebacks.

17. Ronnie Lott

A six-time All-Pro with over 60 interceptions and 1,000 tackles, Lott possessed a rare combination of speed and physicality at defensive back. His role helped the 49ers win four Super Bowls.

18. Joe Greene

Greene was a versatile defender and served as the heart of Pittburgh’s “Steeler Curtain” in the 1970s, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards and four Super Bowls.

19. Dan Marino

Marino put up over 60,000 yards in his career with 420 touchdowns, pioneering the modern era of spread offenses with his uncanny arm talent. While his teams came up short in the playoffs on a few occasions, he might’ve been the single most talented passer in history.

20. Dick Butkus

Butkus was one of the most feared linebackers during an era when defenses could really punish the opposition. He was All-Pro five times and had over 20 interceptions and fumble recoveries. Not a lot of defensive stats were kept during his time, but he was one of the best at the position.

21. Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith played 19 seasons, and was extremely durable. He finished with 200 sacks on the dot, and had over 1,000 tackles. Smith was an 11-time Pro Bowler, and won Defensive Player of the Year twice. Smith went into the Hall of Fame back in 2009.

22. Earl Campbell

Injuries cost Campbell a full career that could’ve compared to some of the greatest tailbacks in history. When healthy, he was a menace with 45 total rushing touchdowns and over 1,400 yards in each of his first three seasons.

23. LaDainian Tomlinson

Tomlin’s 2006 season was among the best in modern history with 31 total touchdowns and over 2,000 yards. He also set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 yards in 1999 and finished with the fifth-most rushing yards (13,684) in NFL history.

24. Ed Reed

With Lewis anchoring the middle of the field, Reed was able to patrol the back line for the Ravens and record 61 interceptions with the most return yards (1,590) ever on those picks. He’s the only player with interception returns of 106 and 107 yards and was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year.

25. Eric Dickerson

Dickerson ended up with 90 total rushing touchdowns, and over 13,000 rushing yards, earning five All-Pro selections. His single-season mark of 2,105 rushing yards still holds today after Saquon Barkley nearly broke it in the 2024-25 season.

26. Steve Young

Taking the torch from Montana, Young won 94 games and led the Niners to three Super Bowl wins. Tough as nails, the BYU product also rushed for over 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns.

27. Deacon Jones

Jones was an absolute monster off the edge and his impact wasn’t quite recorded by the statisticians of his age. He made eight Pro Bowls, and was named All-Pro five times. Jones went into the Hall of Fame back in 1980 after dominating for 191 games.

28. Marshall Faulk

After starring for the Colts for five seasons, Faulk became the centerpiece of “The Greatest Show on Turf” with the Rams, winning a Super Bowl in 2000. He finished with over 18,000 scrimmage yards, 100 rushing touchdowns, and 36 receiving scores.

29. Junior Seau

The San Diego legend was one of the best linebackers in history with over 1,500 tackles, six All-Pro selections, and 12 Pro Bowls. Seau tragically took his own life in 2012.

30. Anthony Munoz

Munoz is recognized as one of the best offensive linemen ever. He was named All-Pro nine times, and went to 11 Pro Bowls while holding down the left tackle spot for the Cincinnati Bengals.

31. Rod Woodson

Woodson’s career spanned multiple eras with a 1993 Defensive Player of the Year award and 1,050 tackles, 71 interceptions, and had 13 defensive touchdowns over 17 seasons. He was All-Pro in five of six seasons with the Steelers from 1989-1994 and again in 2002 with the Raiders.

32. Aaron Rodgers

While he’s lost a few miles per hour on his fastball, Aaron Rodgers is still producing for the Steelers in 2025. The four-time MVP was arguably more talented than his contemporaries and got his Super Bowl win in 2010.

33. Terrell Owens

The mercurial receiver made a major impact at every stop in his career, leading the league in receiving touchdowns thrice with 153 total touchdowns over 15 years. He was a five-time All-Pro and finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2004 with the Eagles.

34. Drew Brees

Overlooked by scouts due to his size, Brees revolutionized the quarterback position with his quick release. He topped 70,000 passing yards and owns four of the top five season in completion percentage.

35. Adrian Peterson

At his peak, Peterson was one of the most dangerous running backs to ever suit up, and he was the last non-quarterback to win MVP in 2012. He returned from a late-career ACL tear to rush for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns, finishing with 120 rushing scores over 15 years.

36. Charles Woodson

Woodson is one of the best cornerbacks to play the game. He had 65 interceptions, and 11 touchdowns. He was Rookie of the Year in 1998, All-Pro in each of his first three seasons, and second-team All-Pro in his final year with the Raiders.

37. Brett Favre

The old gunslinger threw for over 70,000 passing yards and 500 touchdowns, along with the most interceptions (336) in history over a 16-year career. That is over 50 more interceptions than the next quarterback on the list, George Blanda.

38. Jack Lambert

The 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year was a hard-hitting linebacker that struck fear into Pittsburgh’s opponents. Lambert’s tactics might not have worked under the current NFL rules.

39. Tony Gonzalez

Gonzalez finished with the most receptions (1,325), yards (15,127) and most consecutive seasons with 50-plus receptions (16) among tight ends, marks that still stand today.

40. Alan Page

Page was a physical defensive tackle out of Notre Dame, who won Defensive Player of the Year in 1971, and also took home an NFL Championship. The leader of Minnesota’s “Purple People Eaters” was a rare MVP from the defensive side of the ball and was named All-Pro six times.

41. Calvin Johnson

Another Lions superstar to retire early, Johnson posted 83 receiving touchdowns and over 10,000 receiving yards. His single-season receiving yards record (1,964) from 2012 stands today.

42. Johnny Unitas

It’s hard to compare Unitas with modern day quarterbacks, but posting 290 touchdowns and 40,000+ passing yards is impressive in any era. Unitas won three NFL championships and one Super Bowl.

43. Rob Gronkowski

Gronk battled multiple injuries to serve as Tom Brady’s most consistent target during the height of the Patriots dynasty. The duo accounted for a record 16 postseason touchdown connections.

44. Larry Fitzgerald

The steady veteran finished second all-time in receiving yards (17,492) with over 100 touchdowns. Fitzgerald had some of the strongest hands in history with an ability to high-point deep passes.

45. Brian Urlacher

Urlacher finished with over 1,000 tackles and 40 sacks in his career. He was Rookie of the Year in 2000, Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, and made the Super Bowl in 2006.

46. Fran Tarkenton

Tarkenton deserves the nod for changing the NFL with his dual-threat ability. The former Vikings great passed for 45,000 yards and 342 touchdowns, often extending plays with his legs to set up deep throws.

47. J.J. Watt

Watt and his younger brother, T.J., could both go down among the greatest edge rushers ever. The elder Watt was All-Pro in four straight seasons from 2012-2015, winning Defensive Player of the Year in the last two years of that streak.

48. Troy Polamalu

Polamau was a game-changing safety with an ability to fly around the field and affect plays at all levels. The four-time All-Prop and eight-time Pro Bowler won two Super Bowls.

49. Derrick Brooks

The 2002 Defensive Player of the Year produced 25 interceptions and six touchdowns as one of the top outside linebackers to ever suit up.

50. Mike Singletary

Singletary won Defensive Player of the Year twice and was part of an all-time 1985 Bears team. He made ten Pro Bowl appearances and was named All-Pro seven times over a 12-year career.

FAQ

What NFL Player Has The Most Super Bowl Wins?

With six Super Bowl rings, Tom Brady has the most Super Bowls of all-time. He won all six of them with the New England Patriots, as they won in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018. The Patriots dynasty has lasted two decades.

Who Is The Best Defensive Football Player Of All-Time?

Lawrence Taylor will go down as one of the best football players of all-time, and on the defensive side he is the best. Taylor has over 1,000 tackles and over 130 sacks in his career with also an MVP award.

Who Is The Best Offensive Football Player Of All-Time?

Jerry Rice goes down as the best player of all-time making him the greatest offensive player as well. He has the most touchdowns, receptions, and yards of any wide receiver in NFL history and did it from start to finish.

Who Is The Best Quarterback Of All-Time?

Being a six-time Super Bowl champion is going to take some skill, but Tom Brady has stats to back him up as the best ever as well. He has over 500 touchdowns and over 70,000 passing yards in his career.

Who Is The Best Running Back Of All-Time?

Barry Sanders retired a bit early but was on pace to put up some numbers that would hardly be touched. He ended up with over 100 touchdowns and 15,000+ yards. Sanders averaged five yards per carry as well.

Who Is The Best Tight End Ever?

Tony Gonzalez played with the Atlanta Hawks and the Kansas City Chiefs as he produced a hall of fame career. Gonzalez finished in the triple digits for touchdowns and had over 15,000 receiving yards.

How Do You Rank Football Players?

Ranking anything is going to be a bit subjective, but taking into account awards, stats, playoffs, championships, and other various aspects go into ranking these players. Eras are also factored in as play style has changed over the years.