If you’ve landed on this page, there’s a good chance that you’re a football purist looking to take a walk down memory lane. Join us as we chronicle bios of the best NFL players of all time. We list them by position starting with QB’s, RB’s, WR’s, TE’s and ending with defensive players. We’ll be adding more bios of all time greats over time as well. Note: This is a list of American football players, not to be confused with futbol/soccer players. Enjoy!
Best Quarterbacks of All Time
Joe Montana Biography – “Cool Joe” was an iconic signal caller in the 1980’s. He achived many feats during his career with most remembering “The Catch” to Dwight Clark as the highlight of his career. He won 4 Super Bowls during the period as well. He won 71% of his games earning him a spot in the NFL HOF in 2000.
John Elway Biography – This rocket armed QB passed up a promising baseball career to play for the Denver Broncos. Early in his career, he was known for 2 things: Being 0-3 in Super Bowls and being a guy you didn’t want to see on the other team if that team was in the 2 minute drill. Nobody could orchestrate a 4th quarter comeback like John Elway. The “not being able to win a Super Bowl” label disappeared as he closed out his career in grand fashion, winning not one, but two Super Bowls at age 37/38.
Brett Favre Biography – Like John Elway, Favre could flat out bust your fingers with his velocity. Like Jerry Rice, he came out of nowhere from a small college (Southern Miss) to wow everybody by playing 20 years in the National Football League. Holder of many records, Favre’s most impressive feat was starting 297 consecutive games, a record in which I’d bet my left nut will never be broken. Falcons coach Jerry Glanville gave up on Favre, prompting his trade to Green Bay. He got a shot because starter Don Majkowski went down with an injury. That just goes to show ya that “you never know!”
Dan Marino Biography – Considered to be the most prolific passing QB in NFL history, Marino also stakes claim to being the best quarterback to never have won a Super Bowl. There’s no shame here though as everyone who had the pleasure of watching this NFL great knows that he had no supporting cast.
Terry Bradshaw Biography – Throw all the stats out the window! This guy flat out won football games and more importantly, Super Bowls! His 4 Super Bowl wins tie Joe Montana for the most won by any QB. He threw a ton of INT’s but he could be counted on to get the job done.
Steve Young Biography – All I can say is that the San Francisco 49ers were lucky to be able go from having Joe Montana to Steve Young. The left handed scrambling QB was absolutely amazing and the Niners dynasty didn’t miss a beat with this dual threat southpaw. Imagine what he would have done had he started in his 20’s!
Fran Tarkenton Biography – “The Mad Scrambler” kept defenses on their toes as he was one of the first quarterbacks to tuck it and run in an era when QB’s weren’t so mobile. He had a very long career, playing 18 seasons. He took the Vikes to the Super Bowl three times, however, they were never able to win the big one. At time of print (2014), they haven’t gotten back since.
Troy Aikman Biograhpy – Many leave this guy off of the top 10 QB’s of all time list, HOWEVER, he won 3 Super Bowls so this is highly debatable. He’d be a unamimous choice for the top 10 list had he not been so injury prone. Either way, the guy is a flat out winner.
Roger Staubach Biography – What a fascinating career this guy had! His stats aren’t going to turn many heads, but make no doubt about it, this guy was a WINNER. He won the Heisman Trophy at Navy and due to his military committment, he ended up being a 27 year old rookie. During his time in the league, he managed to win two Super Bowl’s and was instrumental in the public dubbing the Pokes as “America’s Team”. Staubach was voted to the pro bowl 6 times and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1985. In numbers that matter, his record was 85-29 with a winning percentage of .746.
Dan Fouts Biography – He never got to a Super Bowl, but for those who were blessed to watch football during his ERA, he was a winner and one of the best to ever throw a bomb. The guy had three straight 4000 yard seasons in an era when that was unheard of. While fairly immobile, he was able to take big hits and dodge others while mastering the “Air Coryell” offense.
Greatest Running Backs of All Time
Jim Brown Biography – The most dominating football player of all time. He absolutely punished opposing defenses. He was the 6th pick in the 1957 NFL draft. What the hell were the first 5 teams thinking? LOL
Emmitt Smith Biography – The NFL’s all-time leading rusher (18,355 yards). Smith wasn’t just a ball carrier either! He created all kinds of problems for opponents as a receiver out of the backfield. He was a talented tail back and was the right guy at the right time who also benefited from a jumbo offensive line.
Walter Payton Biography – Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but mine is that “Sweetness” was the best RB of all time. A punishing runner who would stiff arm opponents like no other, NEVER go out of bounds without a fight and fly through the air on the goalline, he was the complete package. If only all NFL players brought this tenacity to the field. Rest In Peace 34!
Barry Sanders Biography – When I thought about what to write here, about 15 words flooded my mind all at the same time. Unique? Crafty? Grace? Fast? Magical? I really don’t know how exactly to explain it. All I know is that it ended too early with him deciding to walk away from the game at age 30. Imagine what this guy could have done on a good team with a formidable/good offensive line!
Franco Harris Biography – Best known for “The Immaculate Reception”, Harris was a key part of the 1970’s Pittsburgh Steelers string of four Super Bowl wins. On a team full of stars, Harris shined the brightest, during an illustrious Hall of Fame career.
OJ Simpson Biography – In my mind, “The Juice” had the best single NFL season for any running back, ever as many aren’t aware that his 2003 rushing yards in 1973 were achieved back in the day when the NFL only played 14 games per season. The former Heisman GTrophy winner played on some horrid Buffalo Bills teams and still put up great numbers. I refuse to make mention of his legal issues and fall from grace as I prefer to remember O.J. as the great running back that he was.
Thurman Thomas Biography – Thomas was undoubtedly one of the best (and toughest) pass catching running backs the game has ever seen. When one thinks of Thomas, they envision the Bills setting up a screen pass, many of which went for big yardage, with Thomas being the catalyst. He was a key reason why the Bills made four straight Super Bowl appearances.
Best Wide Receivers of All Time
Jerry Rice Biography – Who’d have ever imagined that the best WR of all time would come from tiny Mississippi Valley State University? Rice was an enigma. It’s unheard of for a pass catcher to last 20 seasons in the NFL. His longetivity and success were the direct result of his titanic workouts which kept him in superior shape. It didn’t hurt that he had Joe Montana and Steve Young throwing to him either. Something tells us he’d have done just fine with an average QB though!
Randy Moss Biography – This guy put up some pretty amazing numbers considering the hurdles he overcame as a young player. The 7 time pro bowl WR hauled in 982 passes for 15,282 yards and got into the endzone 156 times. Many of which were highlight reel in quality.
Cris Carter Biography – Look up late bloomer in the dictionary and you’re likely to see this guy’s picture. Seven years passed before he achieved his first 1000 yard season and once he got there he never looked back, stringing together 8 seasons of 1000+ yards. A poster child for “never give up”, Carter resurrected his career to score 130 touchdowns and be inducted into the pro football hall of fame in 2013. Storybook ending.
Best Tight Ends of All Time
Kellen Winslow Biography – At 6’5″ with size, grace and speed, this guy was a HUGE target that revolutionalized the position, giving many young offensive linemen hopes and dreams of following in his footsteps. Can you believe that he didn’t play football until his senior year in high school? Pretty amazing for a guy who would go on to be a 1st round draft pick. One coach said it best; “He’s a wide receiver in an offensive lineman’s body”.
Tony Gonzalez Biography – An absolute model of consistency! He not only holds tons of tight end receiving records, his achievements have also spilled over into regular receiving records as well. A question for those who great up watching foots during his ERA… It’s 4th and 10 and the game is on the line. Can you think of a better target that Tony Gonzalez? I can’t!
Mike Ditka Biography – When one thinks of a true NFL tough guy, Ditka surely makes the top 5. Born Michael Dyczko, this NFL great wasn’t just a winner on the field, he achieved great success as the heach coach of the Chicago Bears as well.
Best Defensive Players of All Time
Lawrence Taylor Biography – Nobody could shred an offensive line like “LT”. At times he ran around the field looking like a man amongst boys, sacking quarterbacks. Just ask Joe Theisman!
Pittsburgh Steelers Steel Curtain Defense – Originally named after the Steelers front four, the name eventually spread to refer to the whole defensive unit. This group of players was iconic in the 70’s. Just ask any old timer about them and you may see their eyes tear up and the hair on the back of their neck stand up!
Related:
Best Running Backs of All Time
Famous Jewish Football Players
