The 100 Greatest NFL Players of All Time Pt. 3
Players No. 90–81
Hello, and welcome to the journey as I reveal my top 100 players of all-time! In today’s article, I will reveal numbers 90–81, but first, if you missed either of the two previous articles, you can find them here:
https://medium.com/sportsraid/the-100-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time-pt-1-dd312838f49
https://medium.com/sportsraid/the-100-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time-pt-2-9d0d30e60367
Without further ado, here are numbers 90–81!
#90: Terry Bradshaw, QB, Steelers(1970–83)
Nowadays Terry Bradshaw is a humorous television sports analyst and has his own television show entitled The Bradshaw Bunch. However, when Bradshaw’s life is ultimately remembered, it will be remembered for his impressive football career!
Bradshaw makes the cut for doing the most important thing in football: winning! Bradshaw won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers in his historic fourteen-year career, which makes it hard to ignore the postseason dominance that the Steeler teams led by Bradshaw had. Winning one Super Bowl is hard enough, but to win multiple Super Bowls is a task only capable by the great quarterbacks! Bradshaw may not have been the best quarterback statistically, but it certainly wasn’t divine intervention that granted Bradshaw four Super Bowl rings!
Admittedly, the Steelers’ reckless defense known as the “Steel Curtain” played a large role in these Super Bowl titles, but Bradshaw’s leadership was the catalyst that helped pull all of the strings together.
As a whole, Bradshaw was calm and efficient under pressure going 14–5 in his 19 career playoff games, and never lost a Super Bowl! During these Super Bowl appearances, Bradshaw managed to post a passer rating of over 100 all for times!
Bradshaw’s ability to win the big games coinciding with his three Pro Bowl appearances and one MVP award earned him spot number ninety on my list.
#89: Larry Allen, OG, Cowboys/49ers(1994–2007)
Larry Allen did it all in the NFL! During his tenure with the Cowboys, Allen played right tackle, right guard, left tackle, and left guard! Simply put, Allen was the glue that helped keep the offensive line in check! All in all, Allen cracks the list at rank eighty-nine and as the first offensive lineman to be revealed.
In his career, Allen started every game that he was healthy following his rookie season, in which he started a still respectable ten out of sixteen games. Additionally, Allen played in all sixteen games in all, but three seasons. Larry Allen was the definition of reliable, however, reliability alone isn’t enough to make this list.
To make this list, dominance must be showcased. Larry Allen clearly showcased that dominance throughout his playing days! In Allen’s fourteen seasons, Allen made the Pro-Bowl eleven times in his fourteen-year tenure! Also, Allen made First-Team All-Pro six times and helped the Cowboys win the 1995 Super Bowl against the Steelers!
Allen was the total package for an offensive lineman and his career left me amazed! His spot on this list is well deserved!
#88: Lee Roy Selmon, DE/DT, Buccaneers(1976–1984)
Selmon was only in the NFL for nine seasons, but his presence felt in those nine years was enough to earn a spot on this list. At spot eighty-eight, Selmon deserves to be viewed as one of the greatest Tampa Bay Buccaneers to every play!
His first three years in the career were solid, however, the fourth season was where his career would officially take off! Starting from his fourth season on, Selmon would be selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls to finish out his career.
Throughout his career, Lee Roy Selmon would record 742 tackles, 78.5 sacks, and a remarkable 28.5 forced fumbles. As one of the more violent defensive linemen of his era, Selmon received lots of praise from those who witnessed him and would make the NFL 100 All-Time Team! Only seven defensive ends made the team as Selmon was recognized as one of the most disruptive pass rushers to ever play!
His accolades include 1979 Defensive Player of the Year and three First-team All-Pro Selection. If one thing is clear, it’s that Lee Roy Selmon was more than worth the number one pick in 1776 and became a foundational player for the Buccaneers to build around in the years to come!
#87: Gene Upshaw, OG, Raiders(1967–1981)
Upshaw is one of the oldest players to make this list and he set the tone for the future offensive lineman to follow! Standing at a massive six feet five inches and 255 pounds, Upshaw was nearly impossible for imposing defensive lineman to get by.
Gene Upshaw spent his entire fifteen-year career with the Oakland Raiders at the left guard position, while starting every single game for the Raiders over the first fourteen years of his career. His consistency allowed for Upshaw to be named to seven Pro Bowls and helped him be named to the First-team All-Pro five times.
Upshaw’s unbelievable athleticism and knowledge of the game were recognized by fellow teammates. Teammates decided to name Upshaw as the offensive’s unit captain for eight years.
As a great team leader and an ultra-talented offensive lineman, Upshaw helped the Raiders find lots of success. Upshaw was a primary reason for the Raiders’ lethal rushing attack in the 1970s and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories.
#86: Walter Jones, OT, Seahawks(1997–2008)
Walter Jones is the third and final offensive lineman to be revealed in this article and rightfully so. In my eyes, Walter Jones’ career tops the likes of both Larry Allen and Gene Upshaw.
Jones ended his career at thirty-four years old with a season most players couldn’t produce even at their peak. That final 2008 season for Walter Jones would result in his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. From the beginning to the end of his career, Jones managed to show almost no signs of aging.
It’s easy for players to shift over from left tackle to other positions across the offensive line and find more success. The left tackle position is the most tasking position on the offensive line and the heart of the offensive line. Yet, this is a challenge that Jones never backed down from, which makes his eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances even more impressive. Jones played left tackle during all twelve of his NFL seasons.
Nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-team All-Pro player, and Hall-of-Famer Walter Jones was the greatest offensive lineman the Seahawks ever had. Putting him on this list was a no-brainer!
#85: Darrell Green, CB, Redskins(1983–2002)
Speed! Speed! Speed! This defined Darrell Green’s impressive twenty-year career! Yet, Green was far more than just a blazing fast player on a football field. Green was a stellar, shutdown cornerback, who also happened to be incredibly fast.
There is no way that Darrell Green would have played twenty years in the NFL and have won two Super Bowls with the Redskins if all he possessed was speed. Aging happens naturally, but Darrell Green was able to adapt into his forties even when his speed was probably declining. This proves that Green had all the traits needed to be a successful cornerback in the NFL. Throughout his career, Green intercepted 54 passes and made seven Pro Bowls.
Ultimately, Green’s longevity was what impressed me the most when compiling this list. It is practically unheard of for cornerbacks to play in the NFL into their early-forties and for twenty years. Other players from other positions sometimes get close, but no other cornerback has ever played twenty years besides Green. In fact, the only other none special teamers to play as long as Darrell Green is Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater.
Darrell Green may not have always been the most dominant corner, but Green was able to play at an NFL level longer than any other cornerback. Green deserves serious praise for completing this feat and has my praise!
#84: John Randle, DT, Vikings/Seahawks(1990–2003)
John Randle is easily one of the greatest undrafted players of all-time! If you don’t take my word for it, take the Hall of Fame Committee’s word for it. Randle was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010 and it tied the knot on an amazing career.
Randle earns a spot on this list after finishing his career with a grand total of 137.5 sacks and 556 tackles. Randle’s stat totals come to no surprise to many who watched him dominate quarterbacks in the 1990s. Randle finished with double-digit sacks every year from the span of 1992–1999. When watching Randle, fans had to keep their fingers crossed for their quarterback’s safety.
The most eye-opening stat about Randle’s career isn’t his enormous career sack total, but a stat that truly showcases his continuance of dominance. It is hard enough to make the Pro Bowl, but to make First-team All-Pro requires players to be the absolute best at their respective position. Randle completed this difficult feat six consecutive years in a row from 1993–1998.
Arguably no one was better at defensive tackle than Randle when he played, which makes giving him a spot on this list easy!
#83: Eric Dickerson, RB, Rams/Colts/Raiders/Falcons(1983–1993)
Adrian Peterson had in most people’s eyes the best season ever for a running back in 2012. He won the 2012 NFL MVP Award while rushing for over 2,000 years that season. Yet, even Peterson couldn’t break the record for the most rushing yards in a single season.
Instead, that record belongs to the 83rd ranked player on my list, Eric Dickerson. In just his second NFL season, Dickerson rushed for the NFL record 2,105 rushing yards in a season along with 14 touchdowns. It isn’t a fluke that this record still belongs to Dickerson either. He is an all-time great!
In his rookie season, one year prior, Dickerson rushed for over 1,800 yards, while also catching 51 balls for 404 yards. Additionally, Dickerson recorded 20 total touchdowns that same season!
Dickerson would follow these two amazing seasons with other remarkable seasons. Outside of these two first seasons, Dickerson would make three more First-team All-Pro appearances and rush for over 1,650 yards twice. His greatness was undeniable as he averaged more than four yards per carry in each of his first eight NFL seasons.
Unfortunately, Dickerson’s final three seasons consisted of playing with three different teams and poor overall play, but Dickerson shouldn’t be remembered in that light. He should instead be remembered as the elusive running back that made defenses look silly for the majority of his career!
#82: Chuck Bednarik, C/LB, Eagles(1949–1962)
Chuck Bednarik had two primary nicknames during his playing days. The first was the “60 Minute Man” and the second was “Concrete Charlie”. No other nicknames could better suit a player of his style!
Bednarik would give it his all on the football field for the Philadelphia Eagles! His career consisted of him playing both center and outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bednarik took no snaps off and was a critical part of the Eagles’ offense and defense. As a full-time two-way player, the nickname “60 Minute Man” is a perfect fit.
Having to play all game long can be physically draining on players, but it never seemed to bother Bednarik. Bednarik was always able to bring his full self to the Eagles’ defense, despite also starring on the Eagles’ offensive line. He was a tough-hitting defender that struck constant fear into the heart of his opponent. When offensive players played Bednarik, they always knew to stay away from “Concrete Charlie”!
Ultimately, Bednarik’s accolades agree with his nicknames! Bednarik was what I like to call a “BADDD MANNN” on the football field! He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was nominated to the NFL’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team!
#81: Steve Atwater, S, Broncos/Jets(1989–1999)
The 1990s Broncos had two main superstars leading the way. John Elway was the heart and the soul of the offense, but at the same time, Steve Atwater became the heart and the soul of the defense. Together, their success and leadership led the Broncos to two Super Bowl victories and helped earn Atwater a spot on this list!
Free Safety Steve Atwater only played eleven years in the NFL, but was able to make a significant dent during his time in the game! Atwater was elected to eight Pro Bowls and was named a First-team All-Pro twice! He was able to compile together twenty-four career interceptions and produce 1188 career tackles.
Atwater was primarily recognized by peers around the league as one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the league. Most notably, Atwater made one hit on the “Nigerian Nightmare”, Christian Okoye. The hit sent Okoye flying backward through the air and resulted in him landing flat on his butt. His hard-hitting and enthusiastic nature got former-Bronco Rod Smith to once say “‘If [Steve Atwater] ever hit me, I’m dead’”.
Atwater truly gave the game of his football all of his energy and played football with a passion that was reciprocated by only a few during his time for the Broncos! Atwater should always be considered as one of the greatest free safeties to ever play.
That wraps up players 90–81 on my all-time list! Next time on my countdown, three players who played on the Chargers will be revealed!
Let me know what you thought of the rankings revealed to this point in the comments sections below! Do you agree or disagree with my rankings?
