In American football, there have been many great players over the years. But who are the best of the best? In this blog post, we will countdown the top 20 greatest NFL players of all time in America. From quarterbacks to running backs to wide receivers and more, these are the athletes that have made the greatest impact on the sport.
Top NFL players in USA
In the history of the National Football League, there have been many great players who have graced the gridiron. These are the top NFL players of all time in America, based on their performance, skill, and accomplishments.
1. Jim Brown: Jim Brown is widely regarded as the greatest player in NFL history. He was a dominant force on the Cleveland Browns teams of the 1950s and 1960s, rushing for over 12,000 yards and scoring 126 touchdowns in his career. Brown was a physical specimen, with incredible speed, strength, and agility. He was also an excellent receiver out of the backfield, catching nearly 300 passes for over 4,000 yards. Brown was named NFL MVP three times and was a First-Team All-Pro eight times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
2. Jerry Rice: Jerry Rice is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He played for 20 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, amassing 22,895 receiving yards and 197 touchdown catches. Rice was incredibly quick and had great hands, making him nearly impossible to defend against. He was named NFL MVP in 1987 and was a First-Team All-Pro 10 times. Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
3. Lawrence Taylor: Lawrence Taylor is one of the most feared defensive players in NFL history. He played 13 seasons with the New York Giants,
Tom Brady
Tom Brady is one of the most successful NFL quarterbacks of all time. He has played in ten Super Bowls, winning seven of them. He is a three-time league MVP and has been selected to fourteen Pro Bowls. Brady is also the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, at age 41.
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is a retired American football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLI. Prior to his NFL career, he played college football for the University of Tennessee, where he won numerous awards, including the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Drew Brees
Drew Brees is a retired professional football player who played quarterback for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time and was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year five times, and won Super Bowl XLIV.
Brees began his career with the San Diego Chargers after being drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Chargers before signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2006. He quickly became one of the best quarterbacks in the league, leading the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl victory in 2010.
In 2012, Brees set an NFL record for single-season passing yards with 5,476 yards. He also set an NFL record for most consecutive games with at least 20 touchdown passes (54). Brees has led the league in passing yards seven times and is currently second all-time in career passing yards behind only Peyton Manning.
Jerry Rice
There is no doubt that Jerry Rice is one of the greatest NFL players of all time. He played for 20 seasons and was a Pro Bowl selection 13 times. He was also named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1987 and 1993. Rice holds the NFL records for most career receptions, most career receiving yards, and most career touchdown catches. He is considered one of the best route runners in NFL history and was known for his ability to make clutch catches. Rice was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jim Brown
Jim Brown is widely considered to be one of the greatest NFL players of all time. He was a dominant force on the Cleveland Browns teams of the 1950s and 1960s, and his career totals include 12,312 rushing yards and 106 touchdowns. Brown was also an outstanding receiver, amassing 2,499 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches over his nine-year career. He was named NFL MVP three times (1957, 1958, 1965) and was a nine-time Pro Bowler.
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor is widely considered one of the greatest players in NFL history. He was a dominant force on the defensive side of the ball during his 13-year career with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls and earning 10 Pro Bowl selections.
Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1986. He recorded double-digit sacks in eight different seasons and finished his career with 1,088 tackles, 132 sacks, and nine interceptions.
Reggie White
Reggie White is a former American football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, and went on to play most of his professional career with them.
During his career, he was named to the NFL All-Pro First Team six times, and the Second Team three times. He won both the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and NFC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, and his jersey number 92 is retired by both the Eagles and Tennessee Titans.
Walter Payton
Walter Payton was an American football player who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. Payton was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He holds the NFL record for career rushing yards (16,726), and is second on the league’s all-time rushing list behind Emmitt Smith.
Payton is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, as well as being inducted into both the college and professional football halls of fame. He began his NFL career in 1975 with the Chicago Bears, where he spent his entire 13-year career. In his rookie season, Payton rushed for 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading the NFL in both categories. He went on to lead the league in rushing yards four more times (1977, 1979, 1980, 1983) and rushing touchdowns three more times (1977, 1979, 1980).
In addition to his many records and accomplishments on the field, Payton was also known for his work off the field. He founded the Walter Payton Foundation in 1999 to provide support to underprivileged children and families. He also wrote two books: “Sweetness: The Enshrinement Speech” and “Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton”.
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders is a former American football and baseball player who played professionally in both sports. He is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. In football, he was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. In baseball, he played for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and San Francisco Giants. Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Dick Butkus
Legendary NFL linebacker Dick Butkus was one of the most feared defenders in league history. A two-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, Butkus was a dominant force in the middle of the Chicago Bears defense for more than a decade. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1969, and his No. 51 jersey is retired by the Bears.
Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott is considered one of the best NFL players of all time. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, and New York Jets. Lott was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a ten-time All-Pro. He won three Super Bowls and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1986. Lott was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Steve Young
Steve Young became a member of the NFL in 1985 and played for 15 seasons. He was a quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers. Young was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and attended high school there. He went on to play college football at Brigham Young University.
In his NFL career, Steve Young was named the league MVP three times and was selected to seven Pro Bowls. He is also a Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowl XXIX with the San Francisco 49ers. Young retired from football in 1999 after suffering several concussions.
Since retiring from football, Steve Young has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He is currently a commentator for ESPN.
Bart Starr
Bart Starr is a name that will forever be etched in the annals of NFL history. He was the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers during their dynasty years of the 1960s, leading the team to five NFL Championships and two Super Bowl titles. Starr was named MVP of both Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former professional American football player who played running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Harris was born in Fort Dix, New Jersey, and raised in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey. He played college football at Penn State University, where he was a two-time consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft.
Harris had a successful rookie season with the Steelers, rushing for 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns. He went on to play 11 seasons with the Steelers, helping them win four Super Bowls. He was named MVP of Super Bowl IX after rushing for 158 yards and a touchdown. He retired from football after the 1983 season.
In his career, Harris rushed for 11,950 yards and 91 touchdowns. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro four times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.
Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman is a former American football quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. After playing college football for the University of Oklahoma, Aikman was drafted by the Cowboys with the first overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Aikman became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback during the 1991 season and helped lead the team to three Super Bowl victories in four years. He was also named Super Bowl MVP after each of those wins. Aikman was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and his number 8 jersey is retired by the Cowboys.
Joe Montana
Joe Montana, nicknamed Joe Cool and The Comeback Kid, is a retired American football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with San Francisco, where he played for the next 14 seasons. Traded before the 1993 season, he spent his final two years in the league with Kansas City. While a member of the 49ers, Montana started and won four Super Bowls and was the first player ever to have been named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player three times. He also holds Super Bowl career records for most passes without an interception (122 in four games) and the all-time highest passer rating of 127.8. In 1993, Montana was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his first year of eligibility. Four years later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Montana had brief stints with two other NFL teams early in his career but it was with the 49ers that he found lasting success. He helped lead San Francisco to victory in Super Bowl XVI and followed that up with wins in Super Bowls XIX and XXIII. In 1990, he led the 49ers to a then-NFL record 14 regular season wins en route to their third Lombardi trophy. The following year, Montana earned MVP honors for his performance in Super Bowl XXIV where he threw for a then-Super Bowl record 5 touchdown passes
Dan Marino
Dan Marino is a retired American football player who was a quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He was selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft and went on to play 17 seasons with the team. He led Miami to numerous division championships, as well as their only Super Bowl appearance in 1985. During his career, he set many NFL passing records and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league in 1984.
After retiring from football in 1999, Marino became involved in several business ventures, including owning a racehorse and serving as an analyst for CBS Sports’ The NFL Today. He was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith is one of the most decorated players in NFL history. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time Pro Bowler, and was named the league MVP in 1993. Smith is also the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, with over 18,000 yards to his credit. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Smith is also well-known for his charitable work off the field. He has been active with numerous charities over the years, including the United Way and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers is a running back who played for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971. He was drafted in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft, and was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. Sayers is considered one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
Sayers was known for his elusiveness and speed, and was often compared to another great running back, Barry Sanders. Sanders said of Sayers: “Gale was one of the most electrifying runners I’ve ever seen. He had a unique combination of speed, quickness and agility.”
Sayers’ career was cut short by a knee injury, but he still holds several NFL records, including most punt return yards in a season (1,094) and most total touchdowns in a rookie season (22).