12 overall in the 1995 NFL draft. The four-part series goes behind the scenes with all four CFP teams, leading up to and through the semifinals and the national championship game. He rushed for 114 yards in the season opener against TCU, and at midseason, Sayers torched Oklahoma State for a Big Eight-record 283 yards on only 22 carries. Davis scored two touchdowns, intercepted a pass to set up the other one, and scored two 2-point conversions. Point of order: Sayers accolades, to the untrained eye, dont hold up to his contemporaries. The 25 greatest footballers of all time have been named - Messi, Ronaldo or Maradona? His name is synonymous with speed, footwork, and quickness, and he is rightfully cited as a high comp for every smaller back with turbojets in the league (re: Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey). Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1979 Class); 4x Champion (1x Super Bowl, 3x pre-Super Bowl); 3x MVP; 1x MoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 3x Second-Team All-Pro; 10x Pro Bowl. During his senior season in 1980, he set a UNC record with 16 sacks to go with six other tackles for loss and 69 tackles in total. In one of the nail-biters, an 18-7 victory at Big East rival Boston College, Reed sealed the victory by stripping teammate Matt Walters of his interception and returning the ball 80 yards for a touchdown. In the NFL, Olsen was part of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line. Or maybe College Football 200. Rushing yards: 6,559 | Rushing TDs: 84 | Points: 524 re are Nos. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1967; 2-time NFL champion (1949, 60); 1st-team All-Pro (1950, 51, 52, 53, 54, 60); 8-time Pro Bowler, Teams: Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals, Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1963); First-team All-pro (1923), Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1998); Super Bowl XX Champion; 7-time First-team All-pro (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991); Second-team All-pro (1990); 10 pro bowls, Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF (1963); 2-time First-team All-pro (1930, 1931). Achievements: Eight pro bowls (2004-08, 2010-11, 2013) and four-time All-Pro (2006, 2008, 2010-11). Former Nebraska star Johnny Rodgers recalls returning a punt for a touchdown in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma game. The series was based on a list of the top 100 National Football League players of all time, as compiled by a "blue-ribbon" panel assembled by the NFL Network. Rushmore. Randy White (DT, Maryland, 1972-74) The online publisher has ranked the greatest footballers of all time and Messi is in at No.1. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne wouldn't have had to wait until 1994 to win his first national championship if the Cornhuskers hadn't failed to convert a 2-point conversion with 48 seconds left in a 31-30 loss to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl. 144. Teams: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2009); 2x DPoY; 8x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 11x Pro Bowl; 4x AFC DPoY. He is best remembered for making 22 tackles in Nebraska's 35-31 win over Oklahoma in the Game of the Century in 1971. In 1998, Arrington became the first sophomore to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after he totaled 65 tackles, 7 sacks and 2 interceptions. Touchdown Celebrations. A ferocious defender on the field and a gentle giant off it, Olsen was a two-time All-American at Utah State and won the Outland Trophy as the sport's best interior lineman as a senior in 1961. He was a unanimous All-American in 1981 and '82 and set a school record with 63 tackles for loss in his career, to go with 229 tackles. He was an All-American in football in 1943 and in basketball the next year. But in a Big Ten Conference that still viewed the forward pass with a raised eyebrow, Carter wreaked havoc. Arguably the first great Washington player, Baughs place on this list is lower than expected due to how far back his career goes. 100. He has won the Ballon D'Or, the annual award given to the best player in the world, 7 times, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medal winner in 2008. He won the 2005 Heisman Trophy in a landslide, only to voluntarily give it back five years later after the Trojans were placed on NCAA probation following allegations that Bush and his family received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from two marketing agents while he played for the Trojans. He continues the trend of definitive GOATs at their position, and only slides down to 3rd because of the insane longevity of the two players ahead of him. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1965); 3x NFL Champion; 4x AAFC Champion; 3x MVP; 2x AAFC MVP 4x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro 5x Pro Bowl; 3x First-Team All-AAFC. McCaffrey led the nation in all-purpose yards again (211.6 yards per game) as a junior, before declaring for the NFL draft. George Best 14. He ran for more than 200 yards in each of his last four regular-season games and won the Heisman Trophy. Rushing yards: 1,473 | Passing yards: 2.854 | TDs responsible for: 50 44. He ran for 1,616 yards with 15 touchdowns as a freshman in 1980, leading the Bulldogs to a 12-0 record and national championship. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1980; 3-time Super Bowl Champion (1965, 66, 67); 1st-team All-Pro (1962, 63, 65, 66); 5-time Pro Bowler, Teams: New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts. The following article will trigger you. 32. If youre looking for the progenitor of the modern, juggernaut Steelers, look no further. His career was shorter than one would like, but an MVP-caliber season where he led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns bumps him up several spots. Late in the season, Howard punctuated a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State by striking the Heisman pose. Numbers. 2 the next season. Meanwhile while commentating on the match, Alan Shearer admitted that an Argentina victory would see Messi eclipse Maradona. He arrived at Maryland as a fullback, but at the end of his freshman year, new head coach Jerry Claiborne shifted him to the other side of the line. Many football fans already believed Messi was the GOAT before the tournament but after winning the biggest prize in football, that status has now been cemented. Billy Sims (RB, Oklahoma, 1975-79) 90. That was never a problem for Ditka, who led Pitt in receptions for three straight years and was a menacing defensive lineman and punter. Sacks: 19 | Tackles for loss: 39 LaDainian Tomlinson (RB, TCU, 1997-2000) As a junior in 1981, Marino completed 59% of his passes for 2,615 yards with a best-in-the-nation 34 touchdown passes. The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players was a ten-part television series that set out to determine the top 100 greatest NFL players of all time. 10. In his three seasons, Army went 27-0-1 and finished No. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1997); Super Bowl champ; 2-time First-team All-Pro (1984, 1985); 6-time Second-team All-Pro (1976-1980, 1982); 9-time Pro Bowl selection; NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1976). Early in his junior season, he ran for 269 yards against Arkansas State and 300 against San Jose State. The next season, he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman, throwing for 3,286 yards with 32 touchdowns and running for 895 yards with 23 scores. In 1993, he was named USC's athletic director, a position he held until 2010. His game-ending Hail Mary pass to upset Miami on Thanksgiving Friday will be replayed for as long as fans watch highlights. The two-time unanimous All-American is the only player in FBS history with consecutive 300-yard rushing games. Passing yards:3,384 | TD passes: 39 | Punting average: 40.9 | Interceptions by: 10 At Florida State, he was a two-time consensus All-American and helped lead the Seminoles to their first national championship in 1993. Roger Staubach (QB, Navy, 1962-64) No player had a more integral role in establishing Clemson's recent dominance than Watson, who had a 32-3 record as a starter. Here are the greatest NFL players of all-time 20. That included an upset of national champion Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl, 14-12. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry over his Sooners career. As a junior, Walker won the 1948 Heisman Trophy by doing it all: He rushed, threw or caught 1,119 yards of total offense. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time and S.L. Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane are all ranked above Cristiano. Billy Ray Smith Jr. made his own legacy at Arkansas, however, lettering four years at defensive end and serving as team captain in 1982. 148. Kickoff returns. Ohio State head coach John Cooper gave George the ball 604 times for 3,369 yards over his last two seasons. Where is Cristiano Ronaldo? Merlin Olsen (DL, Utah State, 1959-61) "That may be the fastest guy I've ever seen," Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said after Ismail returned two kickoffs for TDs to lift the Irish to a 24-19 win over the Wolverines in 1989. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1980); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 7x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 11x Pro Bowl. As a senior, he finished runner-up to Notre Dame end Leon Hart. Darrell Royal won a fierce recruiting battle for the Tyler (Texas) Rose, as Campbell would become known. OSU was 27-2 and won at least a share of three straight Big Ten titles in Tatum's three seasons. Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2018); 5x First-Team All-Pro; 6x Pro Bowl. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1979 Class); 2x DPoY; 6x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 8x Pro Bowl. That season, he had 84 tackles; led the Hurricanes in sacks (10.5), tackles for loss (9.0) and quarterback pressures (25); was a consensus All-American; and finished sixth in the Heisman voting. Raiders. 36. Jerry Robinson (LB, UCLA, 1975-78) His ranking here is still debatable and should be a credit to those ranked above him, rather than a knock on his legacy. Reed was named All-American in 2000 and 2001. He was the first and greatest of the receiving ends, which during his era were just part of the offensive line. Our panel: Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY; Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press; Christine Brennan, USA TODAY; Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer; Nate Davis, USA TODAY; Pete Dougherty Green Bay Press-Gazette; Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star; Gentry Estes, Nashville Tennessean; Doug Farrar, Touchdown Wire; Martin Frank, Wilmington (Del.) "Don had the most fluid motion you had ever seen when he was running," said Bear Bryant, who was the other end on the Tide team. As a senior, he was named UPI National Lineman of the Year and finished fifth in Heisman voting. Tackles: 287 | Tackles for loss: 41 | Sacks: 21.5 Terrell Owens Similarly to other players at this point of the list with their own teams, the Bears wouldnt be where they are without Butkus. 61. He ran for 1,891 yards as a sophomore and 1,752 as a junior, when he won the 1982 Heisman Trophy. About Boardroom. 120. Rushing yards: 3,556 | Touchdowns: 54 | All-purpose yards in 1988: 3,250 Mike Ditka (TE, Pitt, 1958-60) as his initials imply, Terrell Owens earned 6 Pro Bowl invites and 5 First-team All-Pro selections in his 16 season stint in the NFL. Interceptions: 14 | Punt return TDs: 3 | Punt return yards: 1,429 Here is my guess for the 25 Top Players in NFL History, with my apologies to the hundreds of players (especially the ones I did not see play who were at a disadvantage) who could have. Passing yards: 3,521 | Total offense: 5,476 yards | Passing TDs: 43 In their shorter lifespan, the Iowa football team has produced one Heisman Trophy Winner (18th all time), 27 consensus All-Americans (28th best) and 257 NFL draft picks (also 28th best), while spending the 24th most weeks in the AP Polls. 31. ET on ABC had to wait two years to show what he could do at TCU. As a junior, Tebow led Florida to another national title, defeating Oklahoma 24-14 in the BCS championship game. He was unfortunately stuck on some heartbreakingly good teams: his Niners were on the verge of glory before they ran into a historical anomaly in the early 2000s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and later was a part of the Eagles team that fell victim to Tom Brady. All season long, ESPN will celebrate the 150th anniversary of college football. This is our first signee. 50. He also played heavy minutes as a punter and DB, probably due to the relative size of the league back then. Jim Brown 5. A strong-armed and fleet-footed quarterback from tiny Mount Olive, Mississippi, Air McNair put Alcorn State, an HBCU with an enrollment of about 3,300 students, on the map during the early 1990s. Wide receivers are usually the lightest players in the NFL behind punters, kickers, and occasional quarterbacks, and most have had their careers but short by injury. 113. Peyton Manning 8. Three-time All-Pro (1968, 1971, 1973). One player on this list even went to a college that no longer exists. Naturally, as only one of two defensive players to earn MVP honors, and the only one to do so unanimously, Lawrence Taylor is popularly regarded as the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL. Leroy Keyes had the misfortune of playing college football in the same era as O.J. Few linebackers hit as hard or as often as Butkus, a two-time All-American at Illinois. Bruce Smith (DE, Virginia Tech, 1981-84) Passing yards: 14,607 | Passing TDs: 131 | Completions: 1,026 Howard had a knack for the big moment in the big game. He ran for 100 or more yards in 48 consecutive games, leading the Eagles to three national championship appearances, including back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000. 93. One thing is certain: Few players were as tough as Nevers, who played in the 1925 Rose Bowl with two injured ankles, which had both been broken earlier in the season. Grange was a three-time consensus All-American and in the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame class. All three losses came in his senior season, when the All-American made 91 tackles, intercepted four passes and blocked three kicks. Youre sacking them, youre bagging them. Every return, catch or run by Rocket Ismail brought a mix of anticipation and excitement. Ranking the top 25 greatest football players of all timeMusic: Yann Tiersen - Comptine d`un autre ete - l`apres-midiFollow me on Instagram: @kevskate He beat Herschel Walker for a Heisman. The sack forced a fumble, gave Beuerlein a concussion and was memorialized by artist Daniel Moore in a painting. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2013; 1995 Super Bowl Champion; 1st-team All-Pro (1996, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 01); 11-time Pro Bowler, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1989; 4-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 75, 78, 79) ; 1978 AP MVP; Super Bowl MVP (1978, 79); 1978 Bert Bell Award winner; 1st-team All-Pro (1978); 3-time Pro Bowler, Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1965; 1943 Joe F. Carr MVP Trophy winner; 4-time NFL Champion (1940, 41, 43, 46); 1st-team All-Pro (1941, 42, 43, 44. You have to go all the way down to 8th to find Portuguese superstar, Ronaldo. Receiving yards: 2,479 | Punt return yards: 1,515 | Punt return TDs: 7 The panel's selections spanned across 111 of the 150 seasons, across 51 colleges and universities. The. Passing yards: 6,040 | Rushing yards: 3,127 | Total TDs: 81 (37 rush/44 pass) Julius Peppers, Southern Nash (Bailey, N.C.) High school: A running back and defensive lineman in high school, Peppers earned All-American honors on defense from Parade Magazine. Jerry Rice or Randy Moss at WR? Instead, Howard impressed the entire country. 41. 123. Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1993); Super Bowl champ; 7-time first-team All-Pro (1976-1980, 1984, 1985); second-team All-Pro (1986); NFL MVP (1977); NFL. Rushing yards: 5,263 | Yards per carry: 5.8 | Rushing TDs: 54 Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden began to use him in a no-huddle shotgun set midway through Ward's junior season. Brown was the greatest all-around athlete in Syracuse history -- and perhaps in all of collegiate sports. Messi was brilliant throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals and winning the Golden Ball. 34. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1977); 5x First-Team All-Pro; 4x Pro Bowl. Dan Marino (QB, Pitt, 1979-82) In those less cynical days, an All-American boy made his grades and kept his nose clean. He was named the Big Ten's MVP in 1963 and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting the next year. Legendary coach Pop Warner once called Nevers the "greatest football player of all time" -- even better than Jim Thorpe, whom Warner also coached. For two seasons, Thomas played with Cornelius Bennett. The four-time FCS All-American holds Georgia Southern and Southern Conference records for career rushing attempts (996), rushing touchdowns (84) and points (524), among others. He finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior despite playing at the Division I-AA (FCS) level. He had a Cinderella story of his own: The son of blind Mexican American parents, Plunkett became a great American success story. As a senior in 1969, Owens carried the ball 358 times for 1,523 yards and 23 touchdowns. Since 2002, the Ted Hendricks Award has been given to the best defensive end in the FBS. Receptions: 168 | Receiving yards: 3,467 | Total TDs: 54 Those votes produced a list of 170 names. He punted, kicked field goals and extra points, and returned kicks. As a senior in 1938, he was named a consensus All-American, finished third in Heisman voting and made the cover of Time magazine. RANKED: The 25 Greatest Soccer Players Ever 25. [3] [4] Among defensive players, Jim Marshall's 270 is the longest. Walker was a three-time All-American for the Ponies. As a freshman, Plunkett pushed back when head coach John Ralston wanted to move him to defensive end. Perhaps best known as a commentator on Monday Night Football and for his acting roles in the TV sitcom "Webster" and film "Blazing Saddles," Karras was a menacing tackle at Iowa and for the Detroit Lions. He wasn't good enough to earn a scholarship to Texas Tech. During the 1950 season, Janowicz was the Buckeyes' star ball-carrier, rushing for 314 yards. 1. 145. The next season, in 1999, Vick led the FBS in passing efficiency and tied Herschel Walker for the highest finish in Heisman voting (third) by a freshman, behind winner Ron Dayne and runner-up Joe Hamilton. Keith Jackson (TE, Oklahoma, 1984-87) Rushing yards: 2,639 | Rushing TDs: 29 | All-purpose yards: 3,735 Up until his recent swoon, all eyes were on Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes as the best player in the game today and leader of a new pro football era. Rushing yards: 3,959 | Receiving yards: 1,314 | Touchdowns: 49 Rushing yards: 6,082 | Yards per rush: 5.7 | Rushing TDs: 55 69. Lujack, the only player between Blanchard and the end zone, made a diving tackle at the Army 36 to save the touchdown. Ron Dayne (RB, Wisconsin, 1996-99) Built like a tank (60, 205 lbs), Woodson was was a deceptively skilled ball hawk, nabbing 71 career interceptions (3rd all-time) and 32 career defensive fumble recoveries (1st all-time). Rimington remains the only two-time Outland winner (1981, 1982), a record likely to remain as safe as Archie Griffin winning two Heismans. Horvath also starred as a safety on the other . BEST TEAMS EVER:Which squad is best in league history? As the saying goes, defense wins championships, so Taylor naturally can slide no lower than 3rd on this list. You can owe the Packers existence and prestige to him. Tackles: 546 | Sacks: 8 | Interceptions: 11 Total offense: 2,747 yards | Rushing yards: 1,051 | Passing yards: 1,696 Gallery Ranking the Steelers Top 25 players 25 and younger. The reigning holder of the NFLs single-season rushing record (2,105), Eric Dickerson amassed 13,000 career rushing yards and nearly broke the 2,000 rushing-yard benchmark his rookie year, despite playing only 14 games. It seems almost criminal, therefore, to list him this low, but quarterbacks are generally more historically remembered, and the greatest running back in NFL history is more iconic and is statistically comparable (even better in some cases) on a per-game basis. Doc Blanchard (RB, Army, 1944-46) Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF 2005; two-time NFL MVP (1992, 1994); Super Bowl MVP (1994); 33,124 passing yards, 64.3 completion percentage, 232 touchdowns, 4,239 rushing yards, 43 touchdowns; seven-time Pro Bowler; won six NFL passing titles. When Baugh came out of West Texas, Horned Frogs coach Dutch Meyer made the forward pass a main course on the offensive menu rather than a side dish. He was at his best on the sport's biggest stage. Terrell Owens Mostly called T.O. 142. He finished as the Heisman runner-up. College football's top 11 players of all time (2:25) Roger Staubach, Herschel Walker and Jim Brown are among the greatest 11 players in college football history. Ferenc Puskas 6. Ricky Williams (RB, Texas, 1995-98) He won the Davey O'Brien Award in 2007 and the Maxwell Award in 2007 and '08. Those who saw him play make Mr. Outside's long list of records read like the dry text that it is. Ronaldo Nazario 7. One of the first great mobile quarterbacks, Young was extremely efficient, and has the second-most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, with 43. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1977); 3x Super Bowl Champion; 5x NFL Champion; 7x First-Team All-Pro 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl. Here are our Top 25 Steelers of all time. Walsh bolted to the 49ers, and Elway played on a succession of mediocre teams. Before the left-handed Young won three Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers, he was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback at BYU. No, he didn't win a national championship and (because!) Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1994; 1977 Super Bowl champion; 1st-team All-Pro (1981); 4-time Pro Bowler; 1977 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Robinson started his college career as a wide receiver, but Bruins coach Dick Vermeil persuaded him to move to inside linebacker just before the Rose Bowl at the end of Robinson's freshman campaign. L.T. 5:00 . His trash talking fit right in with the Hurricane greats too. As a junior in 1956, he played against rival Texas with a broken foot but still ran for a 27-yard touchdown and caught the go-ahead score in a 34-21 win, which was the Aggies' first over the Longhorns in Austin since 1922. Former Pitt RB Tony Dorsett is moved when remembering the respect he was shown by Navy during a 1976 game. Maradona has won the World Cup. He added 13 catches for 192 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-19 rout of Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl that season. He finished third in Heisman voting and won the Payton Award as the top FCS player in 1994. Passing yards: 10,796 | Passing TDs: 105 | Passing efficiency: 171.8 Rob is editor of GiveMeSport. However, his talent and numbers cannot be denied Baugh led the NFL in completion percentage eight times, with four passing yards titles and three titles in passer rating to boot. An oft-told legend is that a college football coach, lost during a recruiting trip in Minnesota, asked a farmer for directions to the nearest town. Alan Ameche (RB, Wisconsin, 1951-54) He walked on and started his first college football game. None loomed larger than Walker. The Panthers went 39-8-1 during Green's four seasons, when he started every contest but one. he didn't beat Florida. Rushing yards: 1,864 | Total offense: 2,538 yards | Touchdowns: 24 A year earlier, he was the Rose Bowl MVP after running for 192 yards and four touchdowns while passing for 180 yards and another score in a 38-37 win over Michigan. Rodgers returned eight punts or kickoffs for touchdowns, which is tied for the FBS all-time lead, and averaged 13.8 yards each time he touched the ball. During his three-year collegiate career, Walker set 41 Georgia, 16 SEC and 11 NCAA records. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2009); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x DPoY; 1x AFC PoY; 6x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 11x Pro Bowl. "He could turn a football game around like no one else.". LaDainian Tomlinson 19. Reid is a member of both the College Football and the Country Music Halls of Fame. If this were a ranking of the best, rather than greatest NFL players of all time, Payton would arguably be at the top of the list. Sims proved himself worth the effort. The Gary, Indiana, native was the first Iowa player to earn first-team All-America honors in two seasons. Harmon's final college game was his masterpiece. Lawrence Taylor (LB, North Carolina, 1977-80) Sacks: 21 | Tackles for loss: 33 | Tackles: 192 By Ameche's senior season, the 220-pound fullback needed special shoulder pads. Achievements: 2-time AP Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 18); 1st-team All-Pro (2015, 16, 17, 18); 5-time Pro Bowler. As a highly recruited player from Brooklyn, New York, Luckman spurned about 40 programs to play at Columbia, which didn't offer athletic scholarships at the time. 64. Notable accolades: 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x Super Bowl MVP; 4x MVP; 4x First-Team All-Pro; Second-Team All-Pro; 10x Pro Bowl, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. And yet, one of them one the MVP , and Munoz is largely forgotten in NFL history. The 6-foot-6 Munoz, such a talented athlete that he pitched on the Trojan baseball team, opened holes for two future Heisman winners, Charles White and Marcus Allen. Simpson (RB, USC, 1967-68) In fewer than four months, however, Munoz, through sheer will and arduous rehab, returned to the field for the Rose Bowl. The 1961 Alabama team went undefeated and won a national title. Tackles: 214 | Sacks: 24 | Interceptions: 4 Bronko Nagurski (T, Minnesota, 1927-29) 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. Brees was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He finished fourth in 2000 Heisman voting and won the Doak Walker Award. The 1934 All-American perfected catching the ball in traffic and made the end around a devastating threat. Down 3-0 in the fourth quarter, Cannon defied head coach Paul Dietzel's rule and fielded a punt at the LSU 11. Achievements: 3-time Super Bowl Champion 2015, 17, 19); 1st-team All-Pro (2011, 14, 15, 17); 5-time Pro-Bowler; 2014 AP Comeback Player of the Year. Pittsburgh coach Jackie Sherrill once said Green had only one speed: full speed. Kenny Easley (DB, UCLA, 1977-80) Bennett had nine more sacks in his senior season, finished with 19 tackles for loss, won the Lombardi Award and was named All-American. Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio make up the top 10. Who else makes the top 25? He had 216 rushing yards in an 18-12 loss to Tennessee in the 1966 Gator Bowl. Achievements: Inducted into Pro Football HOF in 1985; NFL MVP 1971, Super Bowl VI MVP; 22,700 passing yards, 153 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns, 2,264 rushing yards; lost statistics by delaying entry into NFL for four years because of military commitment after graduating from the Naval Academy. The members of the panel were current and former . In conjunction with the NFLs 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. After his two goals in the final as well as a successful spot-kick in the penalty shootout, Jamie Carragher tweeted: that Messi is "the best there has ever been". Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee, 1994-97) Moss suffered two punishing blows early in his college career, and he not only stayed on his feet but also excelled, which surprises exactly no one who ever saw him play. 1 player at his position and in the state of California. In the Game of the Century that matched Notre Dame against Army at Yankee Stadium, Black Knights fullback Doc Blanchard broke into the open field and rumbled 22 yards down the left side. Ronaldinho, Kaka, Xavi, Iniesta, and Roberto Carlos are among many of the 21st century footballing greats. 130. The 1956 Iowa team won a Big Ten title and beat Oregon State 35-19 in the school's first Rose Bowl. Alabama went 43-5 in Lowe's four years and never finished out of the top seven. A 12-year NFL career as the hardest hitter in football is no joke, though, and he has accolades to back up that claim. Youll see the first great modern quarterback later on in this list, but Graham was the first great quarterback, period (think basketballs George Mikan, relevant since Graham played ball in the NBL himself). 104. His "Bo Over the Top" touchdown leap broke a nine-game losing streak in the Iron Bowl, Bear Bryant's last. That's certainly the opinion of 90 Min. Passing yards: 3,571 | Rushing yards: 682 | TDs: 35 White was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar and first in his class at Colorado. He later joined Roger Staubach and the Cowboys to nab his third Super Bowl towards the end of his career.

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