Greatest NFL Players of All Time

Rice, Brown, Sanders, Payton, and Brady. Brett Favre in the top ten. No frickin' way. Deion Sanders and Aaron Rodgers in the top 20? Get a clue, people. Deion couldn't/wouldn't tackle a dummy. Favre and Rodgers are both highly overrated.

By far the greatest wide receiver of all time. I judge athletes not by team achievements, but by personal achievements and the eyeball test. He has the hardest records to break in the National Football League (NFL). The best defenders in the world could not lay a finger on them. Wide receivers do not last twenty years like this man did. It's almost hard to name a record he did not break.

He owned every major receiving record when he retired, and don't forget that wasn't too long ago. He may be the reason for Joe Montana, Bill Walsh, Steve Young and the 49ers success. You could put Rice up against any cornerback in the history of the NFL and he'd still catch 2 touchdowns in that game.

At the end of the day, Jerry Rice is the best because of what matters most: having a good work ethic. Jerry Rice always wanted to be great, and he always worked super hard. Best player ever. (I'm a Pats fan, okay? )

Most super bowl rings, 7 afc championships, most superbowl mvps, most playoff wins, 2 mvps, the first ever unanimous mvp, lead the greatest comeback in history, as well as holding most quarter back records, along with playing with garbage most of the time. Say what you want about cheating and montana having less protection, but that is not a strong enough point to discredit his accomplishments, on top of that he is still playing consistently and will most likely keep proving himself to be the best player in NFL history as time goes on. Yeah he may not be undefeated in the superbowl, but he is undefeated against father time, and it's only a matter of time before Brady is recognized as the Greatest player in nfl history.

Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time. 5 Super Bowls, 4 Super Bowl MVPs, 3 NFL MVPs, 13-time Pro Bowl, 66,159 passing yards and counting, 488 passing touchdowns and counting, 63.9 completion percentage, 196-55 career regular season record, 27-10 career playoff record. Tom Brady has all of these stats with no one to throw to.
Joe Montana isn't the G.O.A.T. because he had Jerry Rice and numerous of other weapons on offense and defense. Jerry Rice isn't because he had Joe Montana and Steve Young. Jim Brown isn't because he only has 1 championship and played in the 60s. Lawrence Taylor isn't the greatest because he is a defensive player and they wouldn't name a defensive player the greatest of all time.

As of the end of the 2018 NFL season, these are Tom Brady's most notable accomplishments; 6 Super Bowl Wins, 9 AFC Championship Wins, 16 AFC East Division Titles, 14 Pro Bowls, 4 Super Bowl MVPs, 3 NFL MVPs, 3 First-Team All-Pros, 2 Second-Team All-Pros, 2 Offensive Player of the Year Awards, NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, 207 Regular Season Wins, 30 Postseason Wins, 70,514 Career Passing Yards (4th All-Time), 517 Career Passing Touchdowns (3rd All-Time), 97.6 Career Passer Rating (4th All-Time). Here are some of the most notable records he holds; Most regular season wins by a starting quarterback (207), Most passing yards (regular season and playoffs - 81,693), Most passing touchdowns (postseason included - 590), Most touchdowns thrown to different receivers (71), Division titles (16), Playoff games started (40), Playoff wins (30), Playoff touchdown passes (73), Playoff passing yards (11,179), Super Bowl appearances (9), Super Bowl wins (6), Super Bowl MVPs (4), Super Bowl ...more

Tom Brady is the best QB ever, the reason why is his determination. He could be successful in any position because of that. Plus, he reads defenses like no one else. He defeated the Seahawks even though he threw 2 interceptions. And he has been in many other superbowls (6) than anyone. Tom Brady is a play maker and a player maker. He makes flawless plays that not even Joe Cool can make. Tom Brady is a player maker because he makes players look great, see Julian Edelman who would be washed up by now of being a WR, Rob Gronkowski he would still be good on his own but not as popular, heck Tom Brady saved Bill Belichek's job. Not to dishonor Jerry Rice but why is he ranked so high if he used stickum. Tom Brady is overall a motivational leader, great playmaker, and yes the G.O.A.T.

"The Comeback Kid" -- JOE COOL is the coolest quarterback ever! Just take a look at all of his SUPER BOWL rings; plus all of 'em MVP awards! Yep. All of 'em rings don't lie... agreed? Indeed, Joe was so awesome that throughout his career, he was the most LETHAL quarterback ever, inside of the 4th quarter; especially when his team was down, with only minutes or seconds on the clock... and that's when he would create his "magic"... and score all of 'em legendary game winning touchdown passes, when he was under extreme pressure -- and that's what makes him LEGENDARY... indeed, sometimes it seemed that TIME would stop, just for him... and while everybody was frozen in time, he would take his time and then -- BOOM! Touchdown Baby! "And the Niners win another SuperBowl"... was the typical comment for FOUR of 'em Big Games... just take a look at the highlights of one of his biggest games ever -- Super Bowl 23... it was so memorable... that today, his last play is simply known as... "THE ...more

I believe that Joe Montana was perfect in the superbowl 4-0 win loss record 11 touchdown passes thrown with no interceptions. Also Joe had an insane passer rating of 127.8 in 4 superbowl wins and he ran for 105 yards on 17 carries for an average of over 5 yards a carry. He also ran for 2 touchdowns in superbowl games. The best superbowl qb by far over brady. In Bradys first four superbowl games he was 3-1 fumbled once against the giants and threw 1 interception. Joe never even fumbled once in his 4 superbowl games

He is that guy you always saw in movies or in books who would make a comeback in the final seconds of the championship, well they were all fake, except Joe Cool. He was so calm, when anyone else was about to run away. Did you ever think he could do what he did against the Bengals in the Super Bowl?

Joe Montana was amazing. Him plus Jerry Rice made something awesome and unstoppable. I think Ray Lewis should be 2 and Montana should 3 though.

He just dominated, he gave huge, fierce hits. He was a defender, and was named NFL MVP in 1986. Nobody has done it since, tell me that isn't something! He was a sack machine. The NFL has never seen a defender like him, and probably never will again.

Without a doubt the best Defensive player ever. He was insane! Quarter backs feared him, literally people would get interviewed before the game they were playing against taylor the players would say "he is the scariest player I've played against"

I'm picking Taylor first if I'm starting my All Time Team. This guy was the premier defensive player in the league's history. He defended against some of the all time greats and came away from those battles as a champion.

Revolutionized the game of Football. Was the most feared player on a weekly basis for nearly a decade. Last defensive player to win MVP better at his position than Rice, Brown, Sanders, Brady, Montana, etc. to me that makes him the Greatest Player of all Time

What is Jim Brown doing all the way down here!?!?! I mean, I get Tom Brady being above him, winning seven Super Bowls, and Jerry Rice, playing for however many years and his super-skills, but number 7?!? I mean, he should be like number three! Barry Sanders and Walter Payton are also extremely good running backs, but Jim Brown is, like, next level. He also changed the game because he was black and most other, well, at least, most other famous players of his time were white, so he is also an extreme icon.

There's a few you can argue are the GOATs - Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Peyton Manning, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Montana, Emmitt Smith but I went with Jim Brown. So far ahead of his time and like Barry Sanders (who I really think it's a tie with Brown and Sanders) he retired in his prime, he could've continued to add to his legacy. Jim Brown is the man

If the Browns named their team after someone named Brown, it shouldn't've been Paul Brown, it should've been Jim Brown. Tackling him would be more like tackling a freight train, not like tackling a human being. The guy played back when their were just about no rules, and he still did better than just about any runningback could today.

Jim Brown is arguably the best running back of all time and I say he is, definitely is the best Browns player of all time and always will but on an unrelated note Tom Brady is good but not that good.

BARRY SANDERS was unbelievable... he was amazing... he was incredible... and his flawless plays were BREATHTAKING... like a musical piece... every single play was a work of art -- a MASTERPIECE! Indeed, I was NOT a Lions fan... I was NEVER a Lions fan (I'm a lifelong 49ers fan)... but nonetheless, me and my friends would always get together, turn on the T.V. and 'em speakers, fire up the grill, and enjoy a few beers with the BBQ... all of this, while watching the GREAT ONE do his thing! Yep. We would only get together to WATCH Barry Sanders play! NOT the Lions -- Barry Sanders! That's it! And we would NEVER miss a game! It was like watching a Michael Jordan not on the basketball courts, but instead on the green NFL fields... indeed, Barry Sanders was untouchable, unstoppable... just like Michael Jordan... LEGENDARY... and he would create moves that just do NOT exist, because they are NOT humanly possible! He would still make these unforgettable plays... he was so damn fast and so damn ...more

He has to make the list. He's been on two Madden Covers, and ran like a maniac. Why Sanders retired is beyond me, he hit 2,000 yards in a single season he's done more than respectable things and I just can't let the guy miss this list.

I'm saying this flat out he was bad ass he was he played for a premier NFL team he was one of the fastest players ever pair him up with a good quarter back Detroit got them a super bowl ring Barry was excellent catcher he was remarkable for his athletic ability on the field.

To me he is number 6 but 3 is cool with me. If he didn't retire so early he might catch number 2. He had magnificent runs an footwork. Only negative part is that he never did a touchdown dance.

Payton gets overlooked because of the Bears great defense. But for those of us that had the privilege of watching Walter Payton in the mid 70's & early 80's -- Trust me - the Bears did not have a great defense until the end of his career. In 1982 the NFL went on strike -- Payton would have rushed for over 1,000 yards 10 consecutive seasons if the strike did not happen -- (Barry Sanders rushed for 1,000 yards 10 consecutive seasons) -- Another fact many do not get is Walter Payton played 3 of his NFL seasons when the NFL only played 14 games -- He rushed for 1,852 yards in 1977 - a 14 game season - imagine if he had 2 more games like today's players have? At the pace he had in 1977 (132 yds per game) he would have had 2,117 yds in a 16 game season -- Yes, Emmitt Smith broke his all time rushing record -- Only because Smith played 15 seasons (Payton Played 13 Seasons) and Smith carried the ball 4,409 times - Payton 3,838 times -- Payton is the best football player/running back I have ...more

He was everything you could want in a runningback, he was fast, he could break a tackle, he could catch, he could block. One game when they were facing the Packers the Bear were behind 9-10 with only little time left, they gave the ball to Payton, and Payton did what he did, he hit Brian Noble(which Noble later said was the hardest hit he'd ever felt)got knocked back a few yards and ran it in for the TD.

Walter was the most complete player the game has ever seen. He could run, catch, block, pass and even punt. Sanders and Sayers were both better pure runners and Jim Brown was an absolute beast but none of them could catch and block like Walter. He is the GOAT.

Sweetness was by far the best of the best. He was small in stature but trained harder than anyone. He could run, jump, block, etc. Most of all, he had heart. I have 3 young sons who talk about him. He's a hero for all generations.

Why is Peyton Manning only number 9 on this list. A better leader than Randy Moss, Brett Favre, Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders. Peyton is a better leader than Brady, but if that's not enough to pass up him on this list then here are some more. Manning has a better passer rating than Brady. Manning has 65.2% Brady has 63.7%; Manning 1 Brady 0.has 2nd most completions with 450 and the most Brady had in a season was 401; Manning 2 Brady 0.Has 2nd most completions in a single-season playoff with 97 behind his brother 106. Brady Does have more completions in a playoff career with 553, but Manning is the 3rd highest with 481. Manning 3 Brady 1. Manning has more completions in a single game with 33 Brady 32; Manning 4 Brady 1. Brady has just one more touchdowns with 50; Manning 4 Brady 2.Manning has more passing touchdown in a career with 436 Brady has 334; Manning 5 Brady 3.Manning more single-season playoff season with 9 Brady has 8.Manning 6 Brady 2. Brady has more career ...more

I just don't get how people don't understand simple things, the pats went 11-5 without Brady "after going 16-0 with one of the highest point differentials of all-time" if they made the playoffs they'd of lost to any team in there without Brady. Next off superbowls are a team record BUT there has never been a player "other than Montana which once again he's known as the 2nd greatest so your point?" to be able to win superbowls constantly with different teams, and constantly be a contender for 20 years. That isn't just a team thing anymore, he leaves and they aren't contenders, before he gets there they aren't contenders, does that really sound like those people on the field deserved the same amount of credit as him "no cause the qb in general already gets the most credit cause he is the leading factor in winning, and 2nd they've already proven they just aren't that good without him".

So, Peyton does only have 1 "ring". But that is a team accomplishment, if we are talking about individual, then I have another R word... RECORDS. Peyton has more records than any other player, more MVP's, took two different teams to the Super Bowl. Tom Brady is good, no doubt, but he is also the recipient of great play from teammates and unbelievable coaching. New England has a system that's second to none. Indianapolis went 2-14 without Manning, New England went 11-5 without Brady. Nothing against Brady, but Manning has done way more from an individual stand point. Also, with the ring talk, that is a dumb argument. Peyton only has one, so does Bernie Kosar. He was Troy Aikman's backup in Dallas when they won it. If rings are all that determine a player's greatness, then Peyton is no better than Bernie Kosar, right? Sorry Bernie, and I'm a Browns fan (WOOF WOOF), but I would take Peyton any day over Kosar. Rings are great, but it determines the greatness of a team, not players.

He is better than Tom Brady and here is why. Tom Brady may have 3 super bowl rings but that's only because he has played for a great team. Peyton Manning has played for a decent team his whole carrier. It's actually amazing that Peyton even has 1 super bowl ring.

Let's see his records... Longest pass in super bowl history (99 yards) Super Bowl MVP. Oldest quarterback ever in his 40s and was running until 2014

Favre is the number 1 gun in a "town" full of gunslingers. Nobody can deny his greatness or talent. 4 forever!

I don't think Favre is the GOAT, but he is surely one of the best.

Brett should be number one. Too bad he might retire.

He was a machine, he was just unstoppable, he could probably get around anybody, Anthony Munoz, John Hannah anybody. It would be mortifying to see Reggie White looking at you across the line of scrimmage. There would be no use in trying to block the destructive, Reggie White.

Reggie White should be number 7. He should at least make the top Ten. Also, where are Ray Lewis and Tony Gonzalez? For me Lewis is 2 and Gonzalez is 5.

Reggie White was the best on the Eagles!

What he should be top 5

Child abuse has nothing to do with his stats, he is the best RB ever, possibly.

Guys, he used child abuse. It's just stupid.

The best players ever

He should be #6 at least

Johnny U. Was amazing. If you look at his stats you'd never guess he was though. Pass-interference wasn't invented(my proof, it's called the Mel Blount rule)and very few penalties against the defense was. There were no doubters that Unitas would make the Hall of Fame.

Think about this for a sec, Drew broke Tom Brady's record for the most consecutive touchdown passes by 52. Plus, he has and 5000+ season average, and was considered the most accurate quarterback of all time. This one is a no-brainer and should obviously be higher on the list.

One of the most accurate of all time! He's not my favorite, but is one of the best at his position.

It's funny that he's been playing less than Tom Brady but yet he is way, way better in my mind.

Seriously, he isn't on here? He should be AT LEAST in the top 15. He broke to records set by some of the best hofers ever!

Not only do I think that he is the best LB of all time but I think he is the 2nd best player EVER behind Jerry Rice. He was awesome. Huge impact on the game.

Best heart of all time. Greatest leader of all-time. Best defensive player of all time. Ray Lewis. 2 time champion.

Should be the star of "How to get away with murder" Wouldn't even need to research the role. An autobiography.

Greatest defensive end of all time, an absolute monster all around.

He's a very good corner back no doubt but I think Richard Sherman should be above him not only did he play the NFC championship with excruciating pain in his hand he actually played well. He made an unbelievable clutch interception against san fran he has that really cool swag and athleticism that just can't be taught. Richard Sherman is better look at the numbers even he said that

Dion was the fastest NFL player ever! He has to be in the top ten! Actually, I think joe Haden can be like that some day

The other teams quarterbacks must have thought he was their wide receivers

He is easily the most dangerous QB of all time.
Brady, Montana, and Rice all have rings because it's a team game, he has also been practically carrying the packers, including a super bowl victory. A person I can compare him to is Dan Marino but with more mobility.

No one can throw the deep ball like my boy Aaron Rodgers! He is definitely gonna go down as one of the best! Number 26? Are you kidding me?! More like top 10 material we are working with here. At least better than Brett Favre. We don't see Rodgers leading the league in INTs. Go Pack Go!

To me he is the best because he can throw the ball really far and he is really cool.

Arron Rodgers pfff this guy is a baby. And cries to his mommy every time he gets sacked by Harrison and timmons

Calvin Johnson Jr. is a retired American football wide receiver who played his entire career for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He is often called the nickname ''Megatron'' for his rare combination of size, speed, and leaping ability on the field. He should be #1

Speed, size, strength, catching, and jumping. Not only is this receiver good, he is amazing! Not only is he the best player at wide receiver today, but he is also one of the best players today and ever.

The only or one of the only reasons that the Lions are winning games any more is because they have Calvin Johnson and without him I think they would always be out of the playoff piture.

He is unguardable with his hands, strength, and speed, he was breaking records left and right with Matthew Stafford! So, it all balances out like this: GOAT.

How is JJ Watt 84? He's literally one of the best players I've ever seen.

He should be number 1

He should be 10 ten

Roses are red, violets are blue, you better keep Butkus away from you. If you've seen him, you've seen players laying on the ground dead. He was the hardest hitter in the history of the game, period. More players would be in the Medical facility after facing the Bears with Butkus on their team than anywhere else.

The best defender of his time, memorable personality, if you saw him live or on T.V. in the day, no question.

He is awesome, he should be higher in the ranks and he schooled everybody on defense.

For me he is around number 36.

Most consistent hands ever, tall, extremely athletic, was blazing fast in his prime, and played the game like no other. When Larry Fitzgerald changed positions into more of an inside receiver instead of a wing player because of his age and the decrease of speed, he still remained as on of the best receivers in the league. The only thing that he lacks (as well as the Cardinals) is a super bowl ring.

Higher he is my favorite player and 19! that's all at lest in the top ten come on! he is amazing on the field and will never stop until he gets a super bowl ring. his hands can catch anything everything this is probably my longest complaint here make Larry 2 behind Jerry Rice of course.

Best Wide Receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, and was very good in their Super Bowl match against PittsBurgh. He is definitely one of the greatest players of today, deserves a spot in the top 10.

He is perhaps the best player of all time knowing what he's put up with what supporting cast he's had for his career in Arizona! Remember it's a team game & yet he's made every post season count

Steve Young started his NFL career too late otherwise he might have been the greatest player of all time. his 7 year span from 1992-1998 was incredible. Such a fun player to watch. He was basically as accurate as any quarterback there had even been and then you add in that he was one of the best running quarterbacks as well. Amazing!

When joe montana left, steve young replaced him and dominated one of the best 49ers

Just because he was on your favorite team doesn't mean that team is the greatest team of all time and the player is also the greatest. Jim Brown was arguably the greatest running back of all time and he played on a crappy team.

Totally overrated. Way to high. Should not be top 50.

Saying a player isn't great because he *Huurs your feelwings* (the typos are meant to imply your whinyness) isn't a logical argument. Its like saying Hitler or Atilla The Hun were bad at leading because they were evil. I wouldn't put Id say he is good in top 20, he couldn't be top ten because he sabotaged every relationship he ever had with team mates which kinda killed his career (he lasted a long time but he was always changing teams)

He should be in the top five. Don't be mad at a person for speaking his mind. When he found out he's wrong he have came oout and said it, stop HATE people. Terrell Owens

T.O can't be stoped even by Reggie white

I agree he was an a hole

My favorite QB of all time (From a Packers fan). People hate on him for his history with dog-fighting but everyone makes mistakes, and he lived up to his and spent his time. There are people in the NFL who repeatedly abuse drugs or their girlfriends, and Vick still gets more hate. Anyways, playing-wise, he is the best rushing QB of all time and had one of the greatest arms. Also the greatest player in the history of Madden because of his stats in Madden 2004.

He might have a had some good years with atlanta, some good games with eagles, and then for the jets and steelers he hasnt done anything. also he might as well say goodbye to his chance at making the Hall of fame. Because with his prison record I highly doubt he will make the hall of fame

Vick is a has-been, he was good for a couple years with the Eagles, then he played for the jets and the steelers and hasnt done anything, he is not good anymore.

Best scrambler ever plus I love how you can beat your kid senseless, beat your wife unconcious, and potentially murder someone and get off with a suspension but he fights dogs and bam federal prison and his polarizing career was ruined