USA TODAY International Edition
Rice named greatest player in NFL history
Even in retirement, Jerry Rice gravitates toward historic moments in the NFL.
As the league celebrates its 100th season, the Pro Football Hall of Famer is again being feted as one of football’s all- time greats. But rather than merely soak in the adulation, the 49ers wide receiver is taking an active part in contextualizing some of the NFL’s seminal moments.
In addition to co- authoring a book, “America’s Game: The NFL at 100,” Rice again trained his focus on the league’s intersection of past and present by being on hand in Glendale, Arizona, this season when Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald passed Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for second on the career receptions list.
The only one left for Fitzgerald to pass is Rice, who retired after the 2004 season with a seemingly untouchable 1,549 catches. Fitzgerald, 36, is 210 receptions behind.
Rice’s receptions record is just one of a litany of all- time bests from a 20- year career. He is also No. 1 for TDs ( 208) and receiving yards ( 22,895). Now, Rice has another No. 1 to his credit. To recognize the NFL’s 100th season, USA TODAY has ranked the 100 greatest players. It begins with Rice at No. 1, as determined by 19 current or former reporters from the USA TODAY Sports Network.
Rice, however, said “without a doubt” his choice for the No. 1 player in league history would be former Browns running back Jim Brown. The USA TODAY list has Brown fourth.
“It’s everything he brought to the game,” Rice said of Brown, who earned eight all- pro nods in nine seasons. “He didn’t play as long ( as other running backs), but he had the speed and physicality, and it’s just the way he played the game.”
In conjunction with the NFL’s 100th season celebration, 19 current and former reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network were asked to compile a list ranking the 100 greatest players in pro football history.
The challenge was daunting, considering each person had to assess talent back to 1920. While there were no strict parameters, the process for making decisions focused on the field of play and considered elements such as induction to the Hall of Fame, statistics, awards, reputation and the eye test. Each voter was asked to rank 60 players. Those votes produced a list of 170 names. A points system was used for the rankings starting with 60 for the top player on a list down to 1. Ties were broken by the highest single vote a player received.
Our panel: Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY; Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press; Christine Brennan, USA TODAY; Mark Curnutte, The Cincinnati Enquirer; Nate Davis, USA TODAY; Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press- Gazette; Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star; Gentry Estes, The Tennessean; Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire; Martin Frank, Wilmington ( Del.) News Journal; Mike Jones, USA TODAY; Michael Middlehurst- Schwartz, USA TODAY; Joe Rexrode, formerly Tennessean; Steven Ruiz, For The Win; Kent Somers, Arizona Republic; Rachel Shuster, former USA TODAY; Art Stapleton, Bergen ( N. J.) Record; Andy Vasquez, Bergen ( N. J.) Record; Larry Weisman, former USA TODAY.
With that, here is our list of the greatest NFL players of all time: 1: Jerry Rice
Position: WR. Years: 1985- 2004
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 2010); 3- time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP; NFL MVP; 13 Pro Bowls; leads NFL in allpurpose TDs ( 208), receiving yards ( 22,895); only player with more than 20,000 receiving yards; leads NFL in total receptions ( 1,549), all- purpose yards ( 23,546), TD receptions ( 197), consecutive games with at least one reception ( 274); holds 36 NFL records 2: Tom Brady
Position: QB. Years: 2000- present Team: New England Patriots
Achievements: 6- time Super Bowl champ; 4- time Super Bowl MVP; 3- time NFL MVP; 3- time first- team all- pro ( 2007, 2010, 2017); 2- time secondteam all- pro ( 2005, 2016); 2- time NFL Offensive Player of the Year ( 2007, 2010); NFL Comeback Player of the Year ( 2009); holds NFL record for uper Bowl wins as a player ( 6); holds multiple Super Bowl records including TD passes ( 18), passing yards ( 2,838), completed passes ( 256), passing attempts ( 392) and consecutive competitions in a single SB ( 16); holds NFL record for games won by a QB ( 207); only QB to have 3 consecutive games w/ 300+ passing yards, 3+ TD passes and 0 interceptions; tied for most Pro Bowl selections ( 14); holds NFL record for postseason games played ( 40); holds NFL record for postseason TD passes ( 73); oldest QB to win a Super Bowl ( 41 years, 6 months) 3: Lawrence Taylor
Position: LB. Years: 1981- 1993
Team: New York Giants
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 1999); 2- time Super Bowl champ; 10- time Pro Bowl; 9- time first- team all- pro ( 1981- 1989); secondteam all- pro ( 1990); NFL MVP ( 1986); 3- time NFL Defensive Player of the Year ( 1981, 1982, 1986); NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year ( 1981)
4: Jim Brown
Position: RB. Years: 1957- 1965 Team: Cleveland Browns
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 1971); 1964 NFL champ; 4- time NFL MVP ( 1957,1958, 1963, 1965); 8- time first- team all- pro ( 1957- 1961, 1963- 1965); second- team all- pro ( 1962); 9 Pro Bowl appearances; NFL Rookie of the Year ( 1957); first player to reach 100 rushing touchdowns; first NFL player to rush for over 10,000 yards; 10th- most touchdowns in NFL history ( 126); 5th- most rushing TDs in NFL history ( 106); leads NFL in average rushing yards per game in career ( 104.3) 5: Walter Payton
Position: RB. Years: 1975- 1987 Team: Chicago Bears
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 1993); Super Bowl champ; 7- time first- team all- pro ( 19761980, 1984, 1985); second- team all- pro ( 1986); NFL MVP ( 1977); NFL Offensive Player of the Year ( 1977); second- leading rusher in NFL history ( 16,726); 4thmost rushing TDs in NFL history ( 110) 6: Joe Montana
Position: QB. Years: 1979- 1994
Teams: S. F. 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 2000); 4- time Super Bowl champ; 3- time Super Bowl MVP; 2- time NFL MVP ( 1989, 1990); 8 Pro Bowl invites; 3- time first- team all- pro ( 1987, 1989, 1990); 2- time second- team all- pro ( 1981, 1984); holds a Super Bowl record passer rating of 127.8; holds Super Bowl records for most throws without an interception ( 122) 7: Reggie White
Position: DE. Years: 1985- 2000 Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers
Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2006; Super Bowl champion ( 1996); AP Defensive Player of Year ( 1987, ‘ 98); 1st- team all- pro ( 1986, ’ 87, ’ 88, ’ 89, ’ 90, ’ 91, ’ 95, ’ 98); 13- time Pro Bowler 8: Peyton Manning
Position: QB. Years: 1998- 2015 Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
Achievements: 2- time Super Bowl champ; Super Bowl MVP; 14- time Pro Bowl; 7- time first- team all- pro ( 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013); 3- time second- team all- pro ( 1999, 2000, 2006); 5- time NFL MVP ( 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013); 2- time NFL Offensive Player of Year ( 2004, 2013); leads NFL in career TD passes ( 539); holds NFL record for most passing yards in a single season ( 5,477 in 2013); 2nd- most passing yards in NFL history ( 71,940); 3rd- most passes completed in NFL history ( 6,125) 9: Johnny Unitas
Position: QB. Years: 1956- 1971 Teams: Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 1979); Super Bowl champ; 3- time NFL Champ; 3rd- longest TD streak in NFL history ( 47 games) 10: Barry Sanders
Position: RB. Years: 1989- 98 Team: Detroit Lions
Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame ( 2004); 15,269 rushing yards, 3rd all time; 10 Pro Bowls; 6- time all- pro; first player to rush for 1,000 yards in his first 10 seasons.
11: Joe Greene
Position: DT. Years: 1969- 1981 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
12: Dick Butkus
Position: LB. Years: 1965- 1973 Team: Chicago Bears
13: Ronnie Lott
Position: DB. Years: 1981- 94
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets
14: Anthony Munoz
Position: LT. Years: 1980- 92 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
15: Deacon Jones
Position: DE. Years: 1961- 1974 Teams: Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins
16: Deion Sanders
Position: DB. Years: 1989- 2000, 200405
Teams: Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens
17: Otto Graham
Position: QB. Years: 1946- 55 Team: Cleveland Browns
18: John Elway
Position: QB. Years: 1983- 98 Team: Denver Broncos
19: Emmitt Smith
Position: RB. Years: 1990- 2004 Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals
20: Dan Marino
Position: QB. Years: 1983- 99 Team: Miami Dolphins
21: Gale Sayers
Position: RB. Years: 1965- 71 Team: Chicago Bears 22: Sammy Baugh
Position: QB. Years: 1937- 52 Team: Washington Redskins
23: Ray Lewis
Position: LB. Years: 1996- 2012 Team: Baltimore Ravens
24: Randy Moss
Position: WR. Years: 1998- 2012 Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers
25: Don Hutson
Position: E. Years: 1935- 45 Team: Green Bay Packers
No. 26 Brett Favre
Position: QB. Years: 1991- 2010 Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings
27: Alan Page
Position: DT. Years: 1967- 81 Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Chicago
Bears
28: Bruce Smith
Position: DE. Years: 1985- 2003 Teams: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins
29: Jack Lambert
Position: LB. Years: 1974- 1984 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
30: John Hannah
Position: G. Years: 1973- 85 Team: New England Patriots
31: Bob Lilly
Position: DT. Years: 1961- 74 Team: Dallas Cowboys
32: Ed Reed
Position: Teams:
S. 2002- 2013 Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans
Years:
33: Dick “Night Train” Lane
Position: CB. Years: 1952- 1965 Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions
34: Drew Brees
Position: QB. Years: 2001- Present Teams: San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
35: Gino Marchetti
Position: DE. Years: 1952- 66 Teams: Dallas Texans, Baltimore Colts
36: Tony Gonzalez
Position: TE. Years: 1997- 2013 Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons
37: Rod Woodson
Position: DB. Years: 1987- 2003 Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders
38: Eric Dickerson
Position: RB. Years: 1983- 93
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons
39: Mel Blount
Position: DB. Years: 1970- 83 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
40: O. J. Simpson
Position: RB. Years: 1969- 79 Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers
41: Aaron Rodgers
Position: QB. Years: 2005- Present Team: Green Bay Packers
42: Ray Nitschke
Position: LB. Years: 1958- 72 Team: Green Bay Packers
43: Forrest Gregg
Position: T. Years: 1956- 71
Teams: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
44: Chuck Bednarik
Position: C/ LB. Years: 1949- 62 Team: Philadelphia Eagles
45: Jim Thorpe
Position: RB. Years: 1920- 28 Teams: Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals
46: Mike Singletary
Position: LB. Years: 1981- 92 Team: Chicago Bears 47: Red Grange
Position: RB. Years: 1925- 34 Teams: Chicago Bears, New York Yankees
48: Roger Staubach
Position: QB. Years: 1969- 79 Team: Dallas Cowboys
49: Jim Parker
Position: OG/ OT. Years: 1957- 1967 Team: Baltimore Colts
50: Bronko Nagurski
Position: FB. Years: 1930- 43 Team: Chicago Bears
51: John Mackey
Position: TE. Years: 1963- 72 Teams: Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers
52: Terrell Owens
Position: WR. Years: 1996- 2010 Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals
No. 53 Merlin Olsen
Position: DT. Years: 1962- 1976 Team: Los Angeles Rams
No. 54. LaDainian Tomlinson
Position: RB. Years: 2001- 11
Teams: San Diego Chargers, New York
Jets
No. 55 Gene Upshaw
Position: G. Years: 1967- 81 Team: Oakland Raiders
No. 56 Steve Young
Position: QB. Years: 1985- 99 Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers
No. 57 Marshall Faulk
Position: RB. Years: 1994- 2005 Teams: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis
Rams
No. 58 Raymond Berry
Position: End. Years: 1955- 67 Team: Baltimore Colts
59: Earl Campbell
Position: RB. Years: 1978- 85 Teams: Houston Oilers, New Orleans
Saints
60: Junior Seau
Position: LB. Years: 1990- 2009 Teams: San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots
61: Charles Woodson
Position: DB. Years: 1998- 2015 Teams: Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers
62: Lance Alworth
Position: WR. Years: 1962- 72 Teams: San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys
63: Bart Starr
Position: QB. Years: 1956- 1971 Team: Green Bay Packers
64: J. J. Watt
Position: DE. Years: 2011- Present Team: Houston Texans
65: Larry Fitzgerald
Position: WR. Years: 2004- Present Team: Arizona Cardinals
66: Mike Webster
Position: C. Years: 1974- 90 Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City
Chiefs
67: Jack Ham
Position: LB. Years: 1971- 1982 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
68: Joe Namath
Position: QB. Years: 1965- 77
Teams: New York Jets, L. A. Rams ( 1977)
69: Orlando Pace
Position: LT. Years: 1997- 2009
Teams: St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears
70: Art Shell
Position: OT. Years: 1968- 82. Team: Oakland Raiders ( L. A. 1982).
71: Ted Hendricks
Position: LB. Years: 1969- 83 Teams: Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, L. A. Raiders
72: Randy White
Position: DT. Years: 1975- 88 Team: Dallas Cowboys.
73: Bruce Matthews
Position: OL. Years: 1983- 2001 Teams: Houston Texans, Tennessee
Titans.
74: Larry Allen
Position: OL. Years: 1994- 2007 Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers.
75: Terry Bradshaw
Position: QB Years: 1970- 83 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers.
76: Sid Luckman
Position: QB. Years: 1939- 50 Team: Chicago Bears.
77: Jim Otto
Position: Center. Years: 1960- 74 Team: Oakland Raiders.
78: Michael Strahan
Position: DE. Years: 1993- 2007 Team: New York Giants.
79: Kellen Winslow Sr.
Position: TE. Years: 1979- 87 Team: San Diego Chargers.
80: Adrian Peterson
Position: RB. Years: 2007- present Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins.
81: Walter Jones
Position: OT. Years: 1997- 2008 Team: Seattle Seahawks
82: Willie Lanier
Position: LB. Years: 1967- 77 Team: Kansas City
83: Michael Irvin
Position: WR. Years: 1988- 1999 Team: Dallas Cowboys
84: Jonathan Ogden
Position: OT. Years: 1996- 2007 Team: Baltimore Ravens
85: Marvin Harrison
Position: WR. Years: 1996- 2008 Team: Indianapolis Colts
86: Derrick Thomas
Position: LB. Years: 1989- 1999 Team: Kansas City Chiefs
87: Troy Polamalu
Position: S. Years: 2003- 14
Team: Pittsburgh
88: Aaron Donald
Position: DL. Years: 2014- present Team: St. Louis/ Los Angeles Rams
89: Rob Gronkowski
Position: TE. Years: 2010- 18 Team: New England Patriots
90: Tony Dorsett
Position: RB. Years: 1977- 88 Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
91: Lee Roy Selmon
Position: DE. Years: 1976- 84 Team: Tampa Bay
92: Fran Tarkenton
Position: QB. Years: 1961- 78 Teams: Minnesota Vikings, New York
Giants
93: Marion Motley
Position: FB. Years: 1946- 55 Teams: Cleveland ( AAFC), Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
94: Herb Adderley
Position: DB. Years: 1961- 72 Teams: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
95: Adam Vinatieri
Position: K. Years: 1996- Present Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts
96: Darrell Green
Position: CB. Years: 1983- 2002 Team: Washington Redskins
97: Mike Haynes
Position: CB. Years: 1976- 89
Teams: New England Patriots, L. A. Raiders
98: Willie Brown
Position: CB. Years: 1963- 78 Teams: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders
99: Franco Harris
Position: RB. Years: 1972- 84 Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
100: Troy Aikman
Position: QB. Years: 1989- 2000 Team: Dallas Cowboys Contributing: Tess DeMeyer, Lila Bromberg, Thomas Hindle Sources: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Reference, USA TODAY research