Trent Williams, the best left tackle of his generation, might be higher on this list once his career is over. Williams was excellent during his nine-year run in Washington — with seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods — but has been even better since arriving in San Francisco in 2021, making first-team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl in all three seasons with the 49ers. Blending prototypical size and strength with atypical athleticism, Williams is still one of the best offensive linemen in football
William Roaf made either the Pro Bowl, first-team All-Pro, or second-team All-Pro in 11 of his 13 NFL seasons. As such, he was a shoo-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Roaf was dynamite during his nine seasons with the New Orleans Saints, but he was equally impressive during his late-career stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s a member of both the All-1990s Team and the All-2000s Team.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Ron Yary with the No. 1 pick in the 1968 NFL Draft, and they never regretted it. Yary made the Pro Bowl every season from 1971 through 1977, while also earning six consecutive first-team All-Pro selections. He was regarded as the best lineman of his era. Yary was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001, over a decade too late.
If he played for any other team, Joe Thomas might’ve gone down as the best tackle in NFL history. Maybe. The No. 3 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Thomas didn’t miss a single game, nor an offensive snap, for the Cleveland Browns until suffering a career-ending triceps injury in Week 17 of the 2017 season. Along the way, he earned 10 Pro Bowl nods and six first-team All-Pro selections. Thomas was preposterously good and remarkably consistent. It’s a shame he never saw the postseason.
Some might argue that Walter Jones should be even higher on this list. But the No. 6 spot feels about right. Drafted sixth overall in 1997, Jones spent his entire 12-year career with the Seattle Seahawks. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Pro. Jones was soft-spoken and private off the field, but his on-field ferociousness and excellence made him a Hall of Famer.
Art Shell made just one start during his first two seasons with the Raiders. But after taking over as Oakland’s starting left tackle in 1970, he developed into one of the best linemen in NFL history. An eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Shell utilized freakish athleticism to be one of the best downfield blockers of all time. His combination of size and athletic ability made him a dominant force on the left side and an obvious choice for the Hall of Fame. In 1989, Shell became the first Black head coach in the NFL’s modern era.
We’re going old-time football for two of the final four spots, starting with Green Bay Packers legend Forrest Gregg. Some struggle to rank Gregg, as he switched between tackle and guard throughout his career. But the reality is he’s one of the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Nine pro bowls. Seven first-team All-Pros. Five NFL championships and three Super Bowl titles. The list goes on and on. Gregg also missed a full season while serving in the military. He’s one of the best players and winners the game has ever seen.
After finishing fifth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 1996, Jonathan Ogden spent the final 11 seasons of his career making either the Pro Bowl or first-team All-Pro. He was one of the NFL’s best tackles from start to finish. The fourth overall pick in 1996, Ogden started all 16 games during the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2001. At 6-foot-9, he was one of the most physically imposing tackles in football history. Ogden was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Some, like legendary executive Gil Brandt, believe Jim Parker is the best offensive tackle in NFL history. He’s far from alone in holding the opinion. Drafted eighth overall by the Baltimore Colts in 1957, Parker made first-team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl every season from 1958 through 1965. He also excelled at guard later in his career. That said, if it weren’t for his three full seasons at guard, we might’ve put Parker at No. 1. Regardless, Parker is an NFL legend and on the short list of best offensive linemen in league history.
Most lists have Anthony Muñoz at No. 1, and for good reason. Few players in NFL history were better at their position than Muñoz. He was the total package, dominating defenders with size, athleticism, and perfect technique. Overall, Muñoz racked up 11 Pro Bowl nods and nine first-team All-Pro selections. Once he entered his prime, he never really left it. To this day, Muñoz is considered the gold standard at left tackle.
