100 Greatest Players in NFL History – USA Today

[pittmeister]

Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time

Breakdown:

Steelers

# 11 Joe Greene
# 29 Jack Lambert
# 37 Rod Woodson
# 39 Mel Blount
# 66 Mike Webster
# 67 Jack Ham
# 75 Terry Bradshaw
# 87 Troy Polumalu
# 99 Franco Harris

Pitt

# 20 Dan Marino
# 65 Larry Fitzgerald
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Western PA

# 6 Joe Montana
#9 Johnny Unitas
# 20 Dan Marino
# 68 Joe Namath
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Penn State

# 67 Jack Ham
# 99 Franco Harris

West Virginia

ZERO

 

[HailToPitt725]

I’d like to see how our four compares to the rest of the country. As usual, Pitt is well represented!

 

[wbrpanther]

Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time

Breakdown:

Steelers

# 11 Joe Greene
# 29 Jack Lambert
# 37 Rod Woodson
# 39 Mel Blount
# 66 Mike Webster
# 67 Jack Ham
# 75 Terry Bradshaw
# 87 Troy Polumalu
# 99 Franco Harris

Pitt

# 20 Dan Marino
# 65 Larry Fitzgerald
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Western PA

# 6 Joe Montana
#9 Johnny Unitas
# 20 Dan Marino
# 68 Joe Namath
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Penn State

# 67 Jack Ham
# 99 Franco Harris

West Virginia

ZERO

Tough to rate all the great players. One thing I will assure you is there were not 10 players better than Joe Greene

 

[CJsE]

Tough to rate all the great players. One thing I will assure you is there were not 10 players better than Joe Greene

That's the problem with these lists, who in the top 10 would you bump to move Greene up? Unitas is before my time and I always feel that I must be missing something for him to be regarded so highly, but I respect that the game was completely different during his time. But the rest of the top 10 I couldn't imagine bumping down.

The only one that I really question on that list is Tony Gonzalez being all the way down at #36.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

I think the argument for Unitas is he basically helped create the modern quarterback position, being the sort of pocket passing/throw while they're breaking timing pattern guy that Tom Brady and Peyton Manning couldn't have existed without. Before him, passing offenses were a lot more rudimentary and imprecise.

It's definitely more for a fun barbershop debate than to be taken too seriously.

 

[Saboteur]

No Mounties!?
Where is Oliver Luck when you need him?

 

[upj87]

Tough to rate all the great players. One thing I will assure you is there were not 10 players better than Joe Greene

uh, always easy to say, but who are you kicking out of the top 10 top to put him there?

 

[upj87]

Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time

Breakdown:

Steelers

# 11 Joe Greene
# 29 Jack Lambert
# 37 Rod Woodson
# 39 Mel Blount
# 66 Mike Webster
# 67 Jack Ham
# 75 Terry Bradshaw
# 87 Troy Polumalu
# 99 Franco Harris

Pitt

# 20 Dan Marino
# 65 Larry Fitzgerald
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Western PA

# 6 Joe Montana
#9 Johnny Unitas
# 20 Dan Marino
# 68 Joe Namath
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Penn State

# 67 Jack Ham
# 99 Franco Harris

West Virginia

ZERO

no Ditka?

 

[wbrpanther]

uh, always easy to say, but who are you kicking out of the top 10 top to put him there?

I'll give you a few and will get great push back. But I am basing these on overall, play by play performance. Reggie White. Joe Montana. John Unitas.

Greene was every bit as good or better. The ones I mentioned may be deserving and I am not bashing any one of them. But Greene was unstoppable when he came into the league. Put him in Payton's or Montana's spot and push everyone down a notch.

Problem solved. JMO

 

[rmf05]

Marino was too high and Franco was as well. Definite bias towards 1960 and on. Franco should be bounced for Ernie Stautner. Don Hutson was better than Rice. Tough to figure where older players fit?

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

No Mounties!?
Where is Oliver Luck when you need him?

Wait a minute. I haven't yet opened the link to the list, but no Sam Huff?

 

[9nationalchampionships]

THis is such a subjective list and filled with skilled positions as you would think it would be. I feel honored there is 9 Steelers and 4 Panthers on this list. I am surprised no Revis but these lists hardly mention DBs.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

I am honored to have 9 Steelers and 4 Panthers! I am a little surprised to see 2 people who have helped change the rulings......Blount and Revis who were two physical corners that have helped to change rules on the bump and run. You have to draw the line!

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

OK, this list is bogus. It should START with Jim Brown.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Marino was too high and Franco was as well. Definite bias towards 1960 and on. Franco should be bounced for Ernie Stautner. Don Hutson was better than Rice. Tough to figure where older players fit?

Jerry Rice was the greatest receiver of all time, and it isn’t even close.

 

[kma0043]

I’m not a Steelers fan, but when they change the rule book due to your dominance you are an all time, revolutionary player; Mel Blount should be top 20.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Blount is better and more historically important than Franco.

Jim Brown was the most individually dominant, which is a strong case for #1.

Marino was not too high at #20. He retired with all the passing records. He threw for 5000 yards and 50 TDs his second year when other QBs were throwing for 2500 and 18.

 

[rmf05]

Jerry Rice was the greatest receiver of all time, and it isn’t even close.

Hutson was far more dominant. Tough to compare. There are several in his own era that were close to Rice. He only led the league twice and is a product of his era a d his teams offense as much as his greatness. Definitely top 20.

 

[BFo8]

Franco was not one of the top 100 players of all time, I don’t think it’s even close.

 

[VictoryLights]

Franco should not be on that list.

 

[4Mark_Marty]

Franco should not be on that list.

Neither should Jack Ham

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

I hate Tom Brady, but its ridiculous to put Rice above him. And I'm not sure how you could ever have a WR as the #1 player. They simply don't impact the game enough.

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

Jerry Rice, Tom Brady and Lawrence Taylor top our list of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time

Breakdown:

Steelers

# 11 Joe Greene
# 29 Jack Lambert
# 37 Rod Woodson
# 39 Mel Blount
# 66 Mike Webster
# 67 Jack Ham
# 75 Terry Bradshaw
# 87 Troy Polumalu
# 99 Franco Harris

Pitt

# 20 Dan Marino
# 65 Larry Fitzgerald
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Western PA

# 6 Joe Montana
#9 Johnny Unitas
# 20 Dan Marino
# 68 Joe Namath
# 88 Aaron Donald
# 90 Tony Dorsett

Penn State

# 67 Jack Ham
# 99 Franco Harris

West Virginia

ZERO

Hmm?

AD could move up quite a bit if he can keep playing at the level he is capable. Maybe he is in the top 40 in 3 years.


Interesting to think that if Franco rushed as many times as Bettis (at his same 4.1 yard per carry average), he would have had over 14,263 yards - which would’ve put him at the #5 spot all time just in front of Curtis Martin.

 

[CJsE]

Hutson was far more dominant. Tough to compare. There are several in his own era that were close to Rice. He only led the league twice and is a product of his era a d his teams offense as much as his greatness. Definitely top 20.

what? Every player is a product of their era, you can't just use that argument against a single person. It's not hard to lead the league in receptions when 2nd place has 20 catches. Three of his best seasons were the result of being able to avoid the draft.

Hutson came into the league when the rules were just changing to open up the passing game and defenses were slow to adapt to the new changes. His teams were the first dominant passing teams, with the first 1k yard and 2k yard passers in a season. Their offense and routes were revolutionary for the time so no one knew how to defend them.

He was a great player, but let's not pretend all the cards were stacked against him.

 

[rmf05]

what? Every player is a product of their era, you can't just use that argument against a single person. It's not hard to lead the league in receptions when 2nd place has 20 catches. Three of his best seasons were the result of being able to avoid the draft.

Hutson came into the league when the rules were just changing to open up the passing game and defenses were slow to adapt to the new changes. His teams were the first dominant passing teams, with the first 1k yard and 2k yard passers in a season. Their offense and routes were revolutionary for the time so no one knew how to defend them.

He was a great player, but let's not pretend all the cards were stacked against him.

The rules changed well before Hutson he was just the first to be utilized the way he was. Rice was similar but to a lesser degree, thus my opinion that Hutson was greater. Tons of WR were doing what Rice was in his era. He was just more durable and had a better supporting cast. There wasn't anything about Rice that made him far greater than his contemporaries (hands, routes, speed, size). Hell, whoever SF plugged in at WR put up big numbers (QB as well). Great but overrated in my opinion.

Jack Ham definitely is in the top 100 easily. Maybe the best pre-Taylor OLB in NFL history.

 

[wbrpanther]

The rules changed well before Hutson he was just the first to be utilized the way he was. Rice was similar but to a lesser degree, thus my opinion that Hutson was greater. Tons of WR were doing what Rice was in his era. He was just more durable and had a better supporting cast. There wasn't anything about Rice that made him far greater than his contemporaries (hands, routes, speed, size). Hell, whoever SF plugged in at WR put up big numbers (QB as well). Great but overrated in my opinion.

Jack Ham definitely is in the top 100 easily. Maybe the best pre-Taylor OLB in NFL history.

Lawrence was great because he revolutionized the position by rushing the QB. As far as the classic linebacker position, Ham was the best ever. Playing the run. Playing the pass. Positioning. You name it. Taylor was a superior pass rusher. Ham was superior at all he rest. I'll take one on each side and put Lambert between them.

 

[rmf05]

Walter Jones #81 4 x All-Pro 9 x Pro Bowl.
Jonathan Ogden #84 4 x All-Pro 11 x Pro Bowl.

Reuben Brown 4 x All-Pro 9 x Pro Bowl, not even in Hall of Fame.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

Lambert was necessary to making the entire defense work, playing the middle LB like a maniac, zipping sideline to sideline blowing everyone up.

Ham is correctly ranked, perfect outside backer for a Tampa style 4-3, though the steel curtain also operated effectively in games he missed. Ham was great, Lambert was essential.

---

Feel like above poster isn't giving Rice nearly enough credit for his hands and his route running. Largent and Fitz are the only players I've seen in the same ball park in those areas.

 

[CJsE]

The rules changed well before Hutson he was just the first to be utilized the way he was. Rice was similar but to a lesser degree, thus my opinion that Hutson was greater. Tons of WR were doing what Rice was in his era. He was just more durable and had a better supporting cast. There wasn't anything about Rice that made him far greater than his contemporaries (hands, routes, speed, size). Hell, whoever SF plugged in at WR put up big numbers (QB as well). Great but overrated in my opinion.

Jack Ham definitely is in the top 100 easily. Maybe the best pre-Taylor OLB in NFL history.

Rice led the league in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns 6 times over a 10 season span and did it in an era where multiple teams threw the ball.

The 2 seasons prior to Hutson coming into the league, the NFL made arguably the 2 biggest changes to the passing game in NFL history. They began allowing QBs to throw the ball from anywhere behind the LOS. Then they removed the penalty for incomplete passes in 1934, allowing much more freedom in routes and deep passes. In the span of 2 seasons, average quarterback completion percentage went from 31% to 40%.

Want to talk about having a better supporting cast? Hutson's quarterback lead the league in passing 2 of the 3 seasons before he got there.

Hutson was revolutionary at his position, but Rice was the best at his position during a time when everyone was utilizing that position. He didn't have to just beat out 1-2 other receivers for his records, he had to beat out dozens.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

The 2 seasons prior to Hutson coming into the league, the NFL made arguably the 2 biggest changes to the passing game in NFL history. They began allowing QBs to throw the ball from anywhere behind the LOS. Then they removed the penalty for incomplete passes in 1934, allowing much more freedom in routes and deep passes. In the span of 2 seasons, average quarterback completion percentage went from 31% to 40%.

I was aware that there were considerable restrictions on the forward pass in the early days after it became legal, but I never knew that incomplete passes resulted in a penalty. Just curious, what was the yardage assessed, and did it also come with a loss of down?

 

[CJsE]

I was aware that there were considerable restrictions on the forward pass in the early days after it became legal, but I never knew that incomplete passes resulted in a penalty. Just curious, what was the yardage assessed, and did it also come with a loss of down?

Prior to 1934, it was a 5-yard penalty plus loss of down. I think it was also a safety if you threw an incompletion from the endzone. Prior to 1933, the quarterback had to be 5-yards behind the line of scrimmage to throw a forward pass.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

I think it was also a safety if you threw an incompletion from the endzone.

That would be consistent with other penalties committed by the offense in their own end zone. (Generally the ones you see resulting in safeties are holding penalties.)

 

[JS School]

I think Brown, Rice, Greene and Butkus should be 1-4.

Tough to rank QBs. Too much variance in eras, and do you pick by passing stats or team accomplishments. Otto Graham was probably as good as any of them.

Love Lambert, but Blount, Ham and maybe Webster should be above him. Greene really kept blockers off of Lambert.

 

[JS School]

Wait a minute. I haven't yet opened the link to the list, but no Sam Huff?

After getting into a fight as a kid, my dad told me not to act cocky because there is always someone out there who is tougher. Unless you're Sam Huff.

I had no idea who Sam Huff was at the time.

 

[upj87]

I'll give you a few and will get great push back. But I am basing these on overall, play by play performance. Reggie White. Joe Montana. John Unitas.

Greene was every bit as good or better. The ones I mentioned may be deserving and I am not bashing any one of them. But Greene was unstoppable when he came into the league. Put him in Payton's or Montana's spot and push everyone down a notch.

Problem solved. JMO

You just put Joe Greene ahead of Walter Payton, uh, your problems are just beginning...
..

 

[wbrpanther]

You just put Joe Greene ahead of Walter Payton, uh, your problems are just beginning...
..

In your opinion. I saw both. Did you?