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. He won three consecutive MVP awards from 1995-97.
One of the greatest QBs of all time, Steve Young led the NFL in completion percentage four consecutive years from 1994-1997. He won two MVP awards and led the 49ers to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s.
The entirety of John Elway's 16-year career was spent with the Broncos. For the longest time, he couldn't win the big one. Then, he finished his career with back-to-back Super Bowl wins at 37 and 38 years old. Elway is currently 12th all time in passing yards with 51,475.
Considered by many to be the greatest running back of all time, Barry Sanders is the man who would be the NFL's all time leading rusher if he wanted to be. Sanders retired at just 30 years old, just one year after winning MVP in 1997. He led the league in rushing four times and is fourth in career rushing yards with 15,269, despite playing only 10 seasons.
One of the greatest Cowboys of all time, Emmitt Smith was a key part of the team's immense success in the 1990s. Smith won rookie of the year in 1990 and MVP in 1993. He led the league in rushing four times, won three Super Bowls, and one Super Bowl MVP. Smith is currently the NFL's all time leading rusher with 18,355 yards. It's a record that has virtually no chance of being broken.
We will never see a WR play at the level Jerry Rice played at for as long as he did. Rice's career spanned 20 years, most of which was with the 49ers. He led the league in receiving yardage and touchdowns six times each. Not only does he have the most receiving yards of all time, his 22,895 sits over 5,000 yards above second place Larry Fitzgerald. It's safe to say no one will ever come close to matching what Rice was able to accomplish.
Now known simply as "Coach Prime," from 1991-99, Deion 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. He’s also the only person to play in a Super Bowl and a World Series.
Easily one of the greatest defensive players of all time, Reggie White's career spanned 15 seasons. He won two defensive player of the year awards, including one at the age of 37. From 1986-1998, White made the Pro Bowl every year. He was with the Packers for one Super Bowl and on the winning side.
Playing for a whopping 17 years, Rod Woodson spent the entirety of the 90s as one of the most feared defensive backs in the league. Woodson won defensive player of the year in 1993. Unfortunately, he missed the 1995 season that saw the Steelers reach the Super Bowl, falling to the Dallas Cowboys.
Playing for 19 seasons, Bruce Smith had a ridiculous stretch from 1987-1998 when he made the Pro Bowl and first or second team all pro every season except 1991, when he got injured. Smith won two defensive player of the year awards. He was on the team for their unprecedented four straight Super Bowl appearances (and losses).
