There’s a solid chance Patrick Mahomes will be higher on this list in a few years, perhaps even as early as next year. He’s the best quarterback on the planet, and it’s not particularly close. If the goal were to rank the 10 most talented players in NFL history, Mahomes might be at the top. But that’s not what this list is. And it’s still too early to rank him anywhere near the top five. With all that said, Mahomes is ridiculous. Still just 28 years old, he already has three Super Bowl titles, two MVPs, and six Pro Bowl nods on his résumé. If his career ended today, he’d be a Hall of Famer.
Peyton Manning first Super Bowl title came against an inferior, unworthy opponent, and his second saw the defense-led Denver Broncos win in spite of him. The early years of Manning’s career also were filled with postseason choke jobs, including two against the New England Patriots. Manning outsmarted opposing defenses before and after the snap. With him under center, the Indianapolis Colts were AFC contenders year in and year out. The accolades speak for themselves: five MVPs, 14 Pro Bowl nods, seven first-team All-Pro selections, and two Super Bowl titles.
Barry Sanders might be the most entertaining football player who’s ever lived. If you weren’t alive or old enough to watch him in his prime, you missed out. The Detroit Lions legend ran unlike anyone before or since. Sanders could make anyone miss in the open field, and his speed made him a threat to turn any play into a touchdown. Sanders unfortunately retired early, but he still racked up 15,259 rushing yards during an incredible 10-year career.
Joe Montana would be higher on this list if not for the player in the No. 1 spot. He’ll just have to settle for being the second-best quarterback of all time and the No. 7 player on our all-time list. Montana didn’t have the strongest arm. And while his mobility was underrated, he wasn’t exactly a burner. Yet, he did have pinpoint accuracy, great leadership, arguably the most catchable ball ever, and the clutch gene. The San Francisco 49ers legend went 4-0 in Super Bowls and won two MVPs. His postseason run from 1988 to 1990 was particularly absurd, as Montana posted a 100+ passer rating in eight straight playoff games
Walter Payton is the greatest running back in NFL history. With 16,726 rushing yards, he rank only second all-time behind Emmitt Smith’s 18,355. The Chicago Bears legend finished his Hall of Fame career with five first-team All-Pro nods and one MVP.
Reggie White is the greatest defensive lineman of all time. No disrespect to Aaron Donald, but it’s true. White also had two Hall of Fame-worthy careers: one with the Philadelphia Eagles and one with the Green Bay Packers. White won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year Award with both franchises, and he made first- or second-team All-Pro in all but two of his seasons. He was a great run defender, but White was especially great as a pass rusher. He posted double-digit sacks in 12 seasons, including nine in a row. He also posted 18+ sacks three times, including 21 sacks in 1987.
Lawrence Taylor was the face of the New York Giants throughout the 1980s and could wreck a game by himself. Taylor had 142 sacks, including 20.5 in 1986 and Nine interceptions. He is a Hall of Famer, with 10 Pro Bowls, Eight first-team All-Pro selections under his belt. He has won two Super Bowls. The LB was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981, and the MVP in 1986. He was also three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The best running back of all time, Brown also is considered by some to be the greatest athlete in the history of United States professional sports. Brown led the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and finished his illustrious career with 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns in just 118 games. He made the Pro Bowl in each season and was the NFL’s most dominant player from the time he entered the pros until the day he left. Brown averaged 104.3 yards per game, the highest mark of any player in NFL history.
Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the two best players in the history of football. Rice is the all-time leader in receptions, reception yards, and touchdowns. He’s a 10-time first-team All-Pro, a 13-time Pro Bowl, and a three-time Super Bowl champion.Rice finished his career with the Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, but he made his name with the 49ers. Rice helped the Niners go on a dynastic run throughout the 1980s and 90s.
Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time and the greatest player in NFL history. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and completions. At 45 years old, he threw for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also tore his ACL during the prime of his career. He has won Seven Super Bowl titles in 10 appearances. Brady has fourteen Conference Championship game appearances, including eight in a row. Fifteen Pro Bowls, Three first-team All-Pro selections, Three MVPs and two of the greatest statistical seasons in QB history (2007 and 2010).
