Who’s on the NFL‘s 1990s Mount Rushmore? Narrowing down a decade of pro football to just four emblematic players is challenging, but it forces us to narrow our scope to the truly elite.
The NFL’s All-Decade Teams get the benefit of filling out an entire roster — here, we’ll limit ourselves to a quartet of each decade’s titans.
Pro Football Network will unveil its Mount Rushmore for each NFL decade over the coming days, so be sure to check back for future eras this week and next.
Who’s on the NFL’s 1990s Mount Rushmore?
Honorable mention: QB Steve Young, QB John Elway, RB Emmitt Smith, EDGE Reggie White, EDGE Bruce Smith, LB Derrick Thomas, CB Rod Woodson
Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
Although Brett Favre only guided the Green Bay Packers to one Super Bowl win during the 1990s, we’re grading individual performances for our Mount Rushmore.
Favre threw 235 touchdowns during the decade, 35 more than second-place Dan Marino. He ranked second in passing yards and won the third-most games of any quarterback during the 1990s.
One of the toughest players in NFL history, Favre never looked back after becoming the Packers’ starter in 1992. He didn’t miss a game for the rest of the decade, eventually extending his appearance streak to a league-record 321 starts.
Sure, Favre also led the NFL in interceptions during the ’90s and ended his career as the league’s all-time picks leader. But the ultimate gunslinger also posted one of the best QB runs in league history while winning three consecutive MVP awards from 1995-97.
Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
While earning a place on PFN’s 1990s NFL Mount Rushmore is more than respectable, Barry Sanders could’ve arguably been regarded as the league’s greatest RB if he hadn’t retired after the 1998 season.
Sanders hung up his cleats after his age-30 campaign, citing frustration with the Detroit Lions’ lack of results.
Sanders rushed for at least 1,100 yards in all 10 seasons of his career, leading the NFL in rushing four times. He seemingly got better as he aged.
In 1997, Sanders set career highs in rushing yards (2,053) and yards from scrimmage (2,358) while winning MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. He earned Pro Bowl honors in all 10 NFL seasons and was named a first or second-team All-Pro every year (first-team six times).
Admittedly, it feels wrong not to include a member of the three-peat Dallas Cowboys here, and Emmitt Smith has the best argument. He owns the record for most career rushing yards (18,355), ranks second in career TDs (175), and won NFL MVP in 1993.
Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers
There’s only one Jerry Rice.
Rice owns several of the most unbreakable records in sports. No NFL player will ever touch his 22,895 receiving yards or 197 receiving touchdowns. Rice is 5,000+ yards ahead of Larry Fitzgerald and outpaced Randy Moss by 41 touchdowns — both records are uber-safe.
Essentially impossible to cover, Rice posted an absurd 14 1,000-yard seasons. He led the NFL in yards six times, touchdowns six times, and receptions twice. Rice developed connections with quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young, helping the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles.
An utterly dominant pass catcher, Rice was named an All-Pro in 12 of his 20 NFL campaigns. His 10 first-team All-Pros are tied for the most by any player. Rice is not only the best NFL wide receiver of all time — he’s one of the best overall players in league history.
While Rice was emblematic of 1980s football, he was just as productive in the 1990s. He led the NFL with 1,502 receiving yards in 1990 and paced the league four more times before the decade ended.
Rice earned six All-Pros in the ’90s, won Offensive Player of the Year in 1993, and went to the Pro Bowl after going for 1,157 yards in 1998, his age-36 campaign.
Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons/San Francisco 49ers/Dallas Cowboys
There was almost nothing Deion Sanders couldn’t accomplish on the football field.
As a cornerback, “Prime Time” was the most electric defensive player of the 1990s, consistently shutting down his side of the field for the Atlanta Falcons, 49ers, and Cowboys.
From 1991-99, Sanders claimed six first-team All-Pros and two second-team berths. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 after intercepting six passes and leading the NFL with three pick-sixes.
Sanders was an unforgettable returner. His 19 non-offensive touchdowns are the second-most in league history. After signing with Dallas, Sanders also played wide receiver. He hauled in 36 passes for 475 yards and a touchdown in 1996 while starting 12 games and earning first-team All-Pro honors on defense.
Of course, Sanders also managed a nine-year MLB career while starring in the NFL. He’s the only person to play in a Super Bowl and a World Series.