The long and glorious history of the National Football League (NFL) is filled with outstanding players who have left an indelible mark both on the field and in the hearts of fans. From spectacular catches and perfect passes to decisive tackles, each player has contributed to the growth and reputation of the sport. However, when discussing the best players in NFL history, the question is not merely about personal achievements or records. It also encompasses their influence, importance, and legacy. So who is the best player in NFL history of all time? In this article, let's join Win Tips to discover the brightest names, the legends who have shaped the face of the NFL and debate who is truly the greatest player of all time!
Who is the best NFL player in history?
1. Tom Brady
Who is the best player in NFL history? Forget about football for a moment—Tom Brady is the greatest story in sports history. After a disappointing performance at the combine, Brady was a chubby, pale quarterback from Michigan. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, 199th overall. No great writer could have crafted a more remarkable story than what happened next. Brady played for over 20 seasons, broke records, and won more Super Bowls than any other franchise in history. That’s right—not just more than any other player, but more than any other team as well.
Tom Brady is one of the fiercest competitors to have ever played football. He has consistently maintained peak performance for many years, even when he was over 40 years old. Over his 20-year career in the NFL, Brady has played in 10 Super Bowls and won 7. He is currently the all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, ranking first in almost every passing category.
Brady has done it all in his career. In addition to winning more games than any player in NFL history, he also holds the record for most passing touchdowns in a season. He led the largest comeback in NFL history, threw for the most passing yards in Super Bowl history, and was named Comeback Player of the Year after suffering a broken leg. He also led his team to a perfect regular-season record and guided a new team to a Super Bowl championship at the age of 43, after spending 19 years with another team.
2. Jim Brown
Jim Brown is regarded as the greatest running back of all time. Although many people believe Barry Sanders was superior and could not surpass Brown because he left the game early, they forget that Brown also left the game even earlier, and at a higher peak in his career. Jim Brown retired from football at the age of 29, after 9 seasons, following an argument with owner Art Modell. This decision led Brown to pursue a film career instead of continuing to compete. When he retired, he held every major title and still holds many of them today, over 50 years later.
Brown played in the early years of the NFL when there were only 12-14 games per season. He remains the only player in NFL history with a career rushing average of over 100 yards per game and 5 yards per carry. During his nine-year career, Brown led the NFL in rushing yards eight times and in total touchdowns five times. He was selected to the Pro Bowl every year and named First Team All-Conference in eight of his nine seasons. No player from his era in the NFL can compare to his dominance. His record might never have been touched had he not retired early, leaving the game after an MVP season in which he rushed for 1,544 yards and 17 touchdowns—one of the greatest statistical seasons ever.
What makes Jim Brown even more remarkable is his incredible durability. Despite playing in the early days of the league, Brown never missed a game. He led the league in touchdowns six times and never missed a game due to injury. What’s most impressive is that he did this at a time when the league focused more on rushing the ball than his major competitors, such as Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, or Emmitt Smith. When Brown played in the NFL, rushing plays accounted for 54.8% of all offensive plays. Still, no one could stop him, even though he knew the ball was coming his way.
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3. Jerry Rice
Who is the best defensive player in NFL history? Jerry Rice is the best pass catcher in NFL history, and no one even comes close. Rice holds every major passing record in NFL history, and second place is miles away. Rice outpaces second place in total receiving yards by more than 5,000 yards, more than 100 catches, and more than 40 touchdowns. Some may attribute his record to his long playing career, which spanned 20 seasons, but the reality is that Rice remained a dominant player even into his old age. At age 40, Rice still has more than 1,200 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Rice played most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers, receiving passes from legendary players like Joe Montana and Steve Young. However, his success did not only come from the talent of his quarterbacks. Rice is considered the most dangerous receiver after the catch and in open-field situations. He is famous for his ability to run short routes and turn them into long touchdowns. He was part of the West Coast Offense, which helped revolutionize the short passing game in the NFL.
Rice's ability helped build a dynasty in San Francisco, leading to three Super Bowl victories during his time with the team, including one where he won Super Bowl MVP. The records and awards that Rice accumulated during his career are unprecedented. It would take an extraordinary athlete to surpass Rice's achievements. When he's on the field, Rice is truly a dominant force. Rice was and will continue to be the greatest NFL receiver of all time.
4. Barry Sanders
Many people debate whether Barry Sanders is the greatest running back to have ever carried a football. At age 30, Sanders retired from football after a nearly 1,500-yard season. The decision shocked the sports world, as Sanders was less than 1,500 yards shy of the all-time rushing record. He retired as the only player to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 seasons. Sanders is also the only player to have ever rushed for at least 1,500 yards in four consecutive seasons.
Despite his excellent individual skills, Sanders was seldom part of a winning team. The Detroit Lions struggled with a lack of talent throughout Sanders' career, which made his accomplishments even more impressive. Even at a time when defensive opponents knew that Sanders was the only real threat, he still dominated. He is the perfect combination of strength, agility, speed, and balance. His ability to change direction and maintain a low center of gravity makes it nearly impossible for defenders to tackle him in one-on-one situations.
Sanders ended his career with an average of 99.8 rushing yards per game. He surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards twice and never recorded fewer than 1,300 yards in a season. Had it not been for his early retirement, Sanders would likely have held every rushing record by the end of his career. Unfortunately, we will never know what might have happened. Despite his early departure and the lack of talent around him, it is undeniable that Sanders was one of the greatest talents to ever play football. Although his talent may have been underutilized on a weak team, he dominated the game individually in a way that many still cannot, even to this day.
5. Lawrence Taylor (LT)
Who is the best football player in NFL history? Lawrence Taylor single-handedly changed many positions and offensive schemes in the NFL forever. In the 1970s, the average NFL quarterback was only slightly larger than Taylor, averaging 6'3" tall and weighing 255 lbs. As the league began its attack on the quarterback-oriented system, with running plays A pass-catching back and less of a rusher, Taylor entered the league during this transition and completely took over it.
His combination of size and speed disrupted offensive strategies. Teams traditionally allowed running backs to block outside linebackers, but Taylor showed from the beginning that he could overwhelm anyone in his path. This led teams to seek bigger, more athletic left tackles who could hold their own against Taylor. Over the past 30 years, the left tackle position has become the second-highest paid in the NFL, right behind quarterback.
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6. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is widely considered the smartest player in NFL history. During his 18-year career, Manning was famous for his football IQ and extensive knowledge of the offenses he led. Many players have established successful careers and signed lucrative contracts thanks to Manning's leadership. He was undoubtedly the most important player on every team he played for, as proven by his five Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards—the most in NFL history.
He had a losing record only twice in his career: once as a rookie and again in 2001, when he led an offense that ranked second in both yards and points scored, despite having the worst player in the NFL. When he suffered a career-threatening injury in 2010, the Colts went from a 10-win team to securing the first overall pick in the following draft. Similarly, after Manning retired following the 2015 season, the Denver Broncos went from winning the Super Bowl to failing to record double-digit wins for five years, including four losing seasons.
7. Aaron Donald
How can Aaron Donald be considered one of the top 10 players of all time when he is still playing and hasn't been in the league for 10 years? The answer is simple: he's just that good. Donald had a chance to be nominated to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, despite having played in the league for only seven years. Since being drafted in 2014, he has not missed a Pro Bowl and has been selected as an All-Pro every year, except for his rookie season, when he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Donald may be remembered as the greatest defensive player in football history. He consistently finished each season near the top of the league in sacks, despite playing on the inside and facing double and occasional triple teams. Donald led the league in sacks in 2018 with 20.5. His technique, strength, and finesse are key assets to his game, allowing him to get past offensive linemen, slip through defenders, and simply surpass his opponents.
Despite his relatively short career, Donald set an NFL record for most Defensive Player of the Year awards, winning three times (tied with Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt). He is unquestionably the most dominant defensive player year in and year out, consistently posting impressive statistics. Donald is already ninth all-time in career sacks, and if he maintains his current pace, he will become the all-time leader in less than four seasons.
8. Walter Payton
Walter Payton, selected fourth overall in the 1975 NFL Draft, spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. There are two stories about how Walter Payton became known as 'Sweetness'—one refers to the graceful way he ran the ball, and the other to his high-pitched voice and charming demeanor. Regardless of the reason behind his nickname, Payton's greatness extended far beyond that. He was not only an elusive runner, as his nickname suggests, but also an exceptionally strong one. The legendary Jim Brown once called Payton a 'warrior,' noting that he never shied away from a hit. Despite his boundless energy, Payton was remarkably durable. Following an injury in his rookie year, Payton went on to play 186 consecutive games.
Walter Payton not only stands out for his strength and toughness but also for his consistency and ability to change the course of a game. Throughout his career, Payton set many NFL records, including the most rushing yards of all time, a record he held until 2002. He was also a key part of the Chicago Bears' victory in Super Bowl XX. He not only has strength and stamina, but Payton also has an all-around playing style, including the ability to catch and throw the ball from the running back position. With all of his achievements and influence, it's no surprise that Walter Payton is remembered as one of the greatest players in NFL history.
9. Reggie White
Reggie White is one of the most dominant defensive players to ever play football. In his 15-year career, he recorded double-digit sacks 13 times, leading the league twice. He was a two-time recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award and helped win Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots by recording three sacks in the game. This was a Super Bowl record held only by him at the time, though it has since been tied by three other players.
White arguably had the greatest season of all time for a defensive player in 1987. Although the league played only 12 games due to the strike-shortened season, White recorded 21 sacks that year, along with four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He scored a touchdown after stripping the QB and running the ball back 70 yards. It didn't matter where or when White played; he was always the best player on the field. Although Reggie finished second all-time in sacks, just two behind Bruce Smith, he played four fewer seasons.
10. Dick Butkus
Walter Payton was selected fourth overall in the 1975 NFL Draft and played his entire career with the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. There are two stories about how Walter Payton became known as 'Sweetness': one is the graceful way he ran the ball, and the other is his high-pitched voice and sweet demeanor. Regardless of why he was named 'Sweetness,' he was much more than that. Payton was not only an elusive runner but also an exceptionally strong one. The legendary Jim Brown once called Payton a 'warrior,' noting that he never ran out of bounds to avoid a hit. Even though he relied on sheer power, Payton was remarkably durable. After an injury in his rookie year, Payton went on to play 186 consecutive games.
Dick Butkus played middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1965–1973. During his time in the NFL, Butkus was one of the most ferocious and hard-hitting defensive players in the league. He was nicknamed "The Monster of the Midway" and terrified his opponents. It is said that he would growl and growl at opposing players to intimidate them, while also cursing them and telling them that he would destroy them. But Butkus was more than just a threat on the field. He was quick to the ball and had the finesse and awareness to become one of the greatest defensive turnover machines the league has ever seen. In just nine years of playing, Butkus recorded 49 turnovers, 22 interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries.
Conclusion
Above, we have discussed who the best player in NFL history is. Identifying the best player in NFL history is a difficult task, given the many outstanding candidates who have contributed to the sport's legacy. Each individual can form their own opinion about who they consider the greatest, depending on their criteria and perception of greatness in American football. However, the players listed above are not only excellent athletes but also symbols of strength, intelligence, and perseverance in sports. So instead of looking for a single answer to this question, let's respect and admire the contributions of all the great players who have made history in the NFL, with each one bringing their part of a unique and important story to the development of this sport.
