Brady won more games and will go down in history books as the NFL's best quarterback, but based on individual statistics, Peyton Manning was undoubtedly the more productive player of the 2000s. Manning led the league in passing yards (42,254), touchdowns (314), TD rate (5.8%), passer rating (98.2), sack rate (3.2%), and adjusted net yards per pass attempt (7.35) during the decade. He lapped the rest of the NFL's top quarterbacks in efficiency. During the 2000s, Manning posted 0.263 points per snap and ranked first in EPA per play. Manning is the NFL's only player with five MVP awards, four of which came during the 2000s. He finished in the top five in MVP voting in four other seasons during the decade. Manning won Super Bowl MVP honors after guiding the Colts to the Lombardi Trophy after the 2006 campaign.
While Brady had to compete with the next player on our Mount Rushmore for individual accomplishments throughout the 2000s, the New England Patriots quarterback was the ultimate winner. With head coach Bill Belichick at his side, Brady went 97-30 during the decade's regular season and 14-4 in the playoffs, bringing home three Super Bowls along the way. Brady won his first MVP award in 2007 after setting the league on fire with a then-record 50 touchdown passes for a Patriots team that went undefeated in the regular season. He also earned Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2009 and went to five Pro Bowls during the decade.
Tomlinson, a three-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler, scored the third-most TDs in NFL history (162) and ranks seventh in career rushing yards (13,684). His most dominant campaign came in 2006 when Tomlinson won the league MVP award after scoring an NFL record 31 touchdowns (28 rushing, three receiving). His consistency was his trademark. Tomlinson holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with 10+ rushing touchdowns (nine), 15+ rushing touchdowns (six), and 1,200+ rushing yards (seven).
An undisputed top-three WR all time, Randy Moss was one of the most talented and controversial figures of the 2000s. He led the league in receiving touchdowns four separate times during the decade, with his greatest season coming in 2007 when he caught 23 touchdowns from Tom Brady, breaking Jerry Rice's 20-year record of 22 receiving TDs in a single season. Moss was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Terrell Owens also played for the Bills and Bengals during the 2000s, but he was at his best for the 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys. Owens led the league in receiving touchdowns three times during the 2000s. Some of the highlights of his career were running the ball out to the star at Cowboys stadium after scoring a touchdown, racking up 122 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXXIX while playing on a broken leg, and being one of the last WRs to remain elite into his mid 30s. Owens was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
A late bloomer, Marvin Harrison broke out in 1999, resulting in his entire prime occurring in the 2000s. He led the league in receptions twice, receiving yards once, and receiving touchdowns once. Harrison's last season as a top receiver came in 2006, the year Peyton Manning finally won the Colts a Super Bowl. Harrison was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Tony Gonzalez was never flashy. His game wasn't exciting to watch. He was simply one of the best at his position for a very, very long time. Gonzalez's best year came in 2004, when he led the league with 102 receptions. The only knock on Gonzalez is he never made it to the Super Bowl.
Drafted in 1999, Champ Bailey spent the entirety of the 2000s as one of the league's best cornerbacks. Bailey's best season came in 2006 when he led the league with 10 interceptions. Bailey was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019.
One of the greatest linebackers of all time, Ray Lewis was a menacing force over the middle of the field. Offensive players were afraid to get hit by Lewis. The career Raven won two defensive player of the year awards and was part of both Ravens' Super Bowl runs. Lewis was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018.
A ball hawk in every sense of the term, Ed Reed was a true freelancer in the defensive secondary. His instincts were second to none. Reed led the league in interceptions twice during the decade. He won defensive player of the year in 2004 and had an incredible six pick sixes during the 2000s. Reed was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
