NFL 100
NFL 100: Greatest players in NFL history
USA TODAY
Oct. 7, 2019Updated Feb. 2, 2020, 6:14 p.m. ET
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. Here's their list:
USA TODAY Sports
98. Willie Brown -- CB, Denver Broncos (1963-66), Oakland Raiders (1967-78).
Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
92. Fran Tarkenton -- QB, Minnesota Vikings (1961-66, 1972-78), New York Giants (1967-1971).
Tony Tomsic, USA TODAY Sports
91. Lee Roy Selmon -- DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976-1984).
Manny Rubio, USA TODAY Sports
89. Rob Gronkowski -- TE, New England Patriots (2010-18).
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
88. Aaron Donald -- DT, St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2014-present).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
87. Troy Polamalu -- S, Pittsburgh Steelers (2003-2014).
Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sport
86. Derrick Thomas -- LB, Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1999).
ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY
82. Willie Lanier -- LB, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-1977).
Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
81. Walter Jones -- OT, Seattle Seahawks (1997-2008).
ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY
80. Adrian Peterson -- RB, Minnesota Vikings (2007-2016), New Orleans Saints (2017), Arizona Cardinals (2017), Washington Redskins (2018-19).
Bruce Kluckhohn, US PRESSWIRE
79. Kellen Winslow, Sr. -- TE, San Diego Chargers (1979-1987).
Memphis Commercial Appeal
78. Michael Strahan -- DE, New York Giants (1993-2007).
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
74. Larry Allen -- OG, Dallas Cowboys (1994-2005), San Francisco 49ers (2006-07).
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports
73. Bruce Matthews -- OG/C/OT, Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1983-2001).
MICHAEL MADRID, USA TODAY
72. Randy White -- DT, Dallas Cowboys (1975-1988).
George Rose, Getty Images
71. Ted Hendricks -- LB, Baltimore Colts (1969-1973), Green Bay Packers (1974), Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1975-1983).
Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
70. Art Shell -- OT, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders (1968-1982).
Focus On Sport, Getty Images
69. Orlando Pace -- OT, St. Louis Rams (1997-2008), Chicago Bears (2009).
ANNE RYAN, USA TODAY
65. Larry Fitzgerald -- WR, Arizona Cardinals (2004-2019).
MICHAEL CHOW, THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
64. J.J. Watt -- DE, Houston Texans (2011-19).
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
63. Bart Starr -- QB, Green Bay Packers (1956-1971).
James Flores, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Charles Woodson played for the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2012.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
60. Junior Seau -- LB, San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (2003-05), New England Patriots (2006-09).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
57. Marshall Faulk -- RB, Indianapolis Colts (1994-98), St. Louis Rams (1999-2005).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
56. Steve Young -- QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-86), San Francisco 49ers (1987-1999).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
55. Gene Upshaw -- OG, Oakland Raiders (1967-1981).
Manny Rubio, USA TODAY Sports
54. LaDainian Tomlinson -- RB, San Diego Chargers (2001-09), New York Jets (2010-11).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
52. Terrell Owens -- WR, San Francisco 49ers (1996-2003), Philadelphia Eagles (2004-05), Dallas Cowboys (2006-08), Buffalo Bills (2009), Cincinnati Bengals (2010).
Huy Nguyen, The Dallas Morning News
46. Mike Singletary -- LB, Chicago Bears (1981-1992).
Tony Tomsic, USA TODAY Sports
45. Jim Thorpe -- RB, Canton Bulldogs (1920, 1926), Cleveland Indians (1921), Oorang Indians (1922-23), Rock Island Independents (1924), New York Giants (1925), Chicago Cardinals (1928).
Pro Football Hall Of Fame
41. Aaron Rogers -- QB, Green Bay Packers (2005-2019).
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports
36. Tony Gonzalez -- TE, Kansas City Chiefs (1997-2008), Atlanta Falcons (2009-2013).
Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports
34. Drew Brees -- QB, San Diego Chargers (2001-05), New Orleans Saints (2006-2019).
Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports
32. Ed Reed -- S, Baltimore Ravens (2002-2012), Houston Texans (2013), New York Jets (2013).
Mitch Stringer, USA TODAY Sports
31. Bob Lilly -- DT/DE, Dallas Cowboys (1961-1974).
Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
26. Brett Favre -- QB, Atlanta Falcons (1991), Green Bay Packers (1992-2007), New York Jets (2008), Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
24. Randy Moss -- WR, Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-2010), Tennessee Titans (2010), San Francisco 49ers (2012).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
21. Gale Sayers -- RB, Chicago Bears (1965-1971).
Malcolm Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
20. Dan Marino -- QB, Miami Dolphins (1983-1999).
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
19. Emmitt Smith -- RB, Dallas Cowboys (1990-2002), Arizona Cardinals (2003-2004).
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
18. John Elway -- QB, Denver Broncos (1983-1998).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
14. Anthony Munoz -- LT, Cincinnati Bengals (1980-1992).
Peter Brouillet, USA TODAY Sports
13. Ronnie Lott -- DB, San Francisco 49ers (1981-1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-1992), New York Jets (1993-1994).
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
10. Barry Sanders -- RB, Detroit Lions (1989-1998).
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
9. Johnny Unitas -- QB, Baltimore Colts (1956-1972), San Diego Chargers (1973).
Handout
8. Peyton Manning -- QB, Inidanapolis Colts (1998-2010), Denver Broncos (2012-2015).
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
7. Reggie White -- DE, Philadelphia Eagles (1985-1992), Green Bay Packers (1993-1998), Carolina Panthers (2000).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
3. Lawrence Taylor -- LB, New York Giants (1981-1993).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
2. Tom Brady -- QB, New England Patriots (2000-2019).
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
1. Jerry Rice -- WR, San Francisco 49ers (1985-2000), Oakland Raiders (2001-2004), Seattle Seahawks (2004).
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAYFeatured Weekly Ad