The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players

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The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players was a ten-part television series that set out to determine the top 100 greatest NFL players of all time. It was presented by the NFL Network in 2010. The series was based on a list of the top 100 National Football League players of all time, as compiled by a "blue-ribbon" panel assembled by the NFL Network. The members of the panel were current and former NFL coaches, players, executives, and members of the media. Each episode, broadcast each Thursday from September 3 to November 4, 2010, introduced a group of 10 players from the list, with each nominee player presented and advocated for by a separate noteworthy individual in the world of sports and entertainment. It started with the players ranked 100 through 91, and moving up the list each week.[1]

The final episode, premiering on November 4, 2010, introduced the top 10 players of all time according to the panel.[2] Jerry Rice was chosen as the top player of all time, with Jim Brown as the second choice.[3]

The list[]

Rank Player Position Team(s)† Year inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame
1 Jerry Rice WR 49ers 2010
2 Jim Brown FB Browns 1971
3 Lawrence Taylor LB Giants 1999
4 Joe Montana QB 49ers 2000
5 Walter Payton RB Bears 1993
6 Johnny Unitas QB Baltimore Colts 1979
7 Reggie White DE Eagles, Packers 2006
8 Peyton Manning QB Colts 2021
9 Don Hutson E Packers 1963
10 Dick Butkus LB Bears 1979
11 Ronnie Lott S 49ers 2000
12 Anthony Muñoz OT Bengals 1998
13 Joe Greene DT Steelers 1987
14 Sammy Baugh QB Washington Redskins 1963
15 Deacon Jones DE Rams 1980
16 Otto Graham QB Browns 1965
17 Barry Sanders RB Lions 2004
18 Ray Lewis LB Ravens 2018
19 Bronko Nagurski FB, LB, OT Bears 1963
20 Brett Favre QB Packers 2016
21 Tom Brady Patriots N/A (active)
22 Gale Sayers HB Bears 1977
23 John Elway QB Broncos 2004
24 John Hannah G Patriots 1991
25 Dan Marino QB Dolphins 2005
26 Bob Lilly DT Cowboys 1980
27 Merlin Olsen Rams 1982
28 Emmitt Smith RB Cowboys 2010
29 Jack Lambert LB Steelers 1990
30 Dick Lane CB Rams, Chicago Cardinals, Lions 1974
31 Bruce Smith DE Bills 2009
32 Jim Parker OT, G Baltimore Colts 1973
33 Sid Luckman QB Bears 1965
34 Deion Sanders CB, RS Falcons, Cowboys 2011
35 Chuck Bednarik C, LB Eagles 1967
36 Raymond Berry SE Baltimore Colts 1973
37 Jim Thorpe HB Canton Bulldogs[4] 1963
38 Lance Alworth WR San Diego Chargers 1978
39 Gino Marchetti DE Baltimore Colts 1972
40 O. J. Simpson RB Bills 1985
41 Rod Woodson CB Steelers 2009
42 John Mackey TE Baltimore Colts 1992
43 Alan Page DT Vikings 1988
44 Mel Blount CB Steelers 1989
45 Tony Gonzalez TE Chiefs 2019
46 Roger Staubach QB Cowboys 1985
47 Ray Nitschke LB Packers 1978
48 Red Grange HB Bears 1963
49 Mike Haynes CB Oakland Raiders, Patriots 1997
50 Terry Bradshaw QB Steelers 1989
51 Bart Starr Packers 1977
52 Eric Dickerson RB Rams 1999
53 Willie Lanier LB Chiefs 1986
54 Forrest Gregg OT Packers 1977
55 Earl Campbell HB Oilers 1991
56 Gene Upshaw G Oakland Raiders 1987
57 Mike Singletary LB Bears 1998
58 Steve Van Buren HB Eagles 1965
59 Mike Ditka E Bears 1988
60 Jack Ham LB Steelers 1988
61 LaDainian Tomlinson RB San Diego Chargers 2017
62 Randy White DT Cowboys 1994
63 Jim Otto C Oakland Raiders 1980
64 Herb Adderley CB Packers 1980
65 Randy Moss WR Vikings 2018
66 Willie Brown CB Oakland Raiders 1984
67 Kellen Winslow TE San Diego Chargers 1995
68 Mike Webster C Steelers 1997
69 Bobby Bell LB Chiefs 1983
70 Marshall Faulk RB St. Louis Rams 2011
71 Paul Warfield WR Browns,
Dolphins
1983
72 Jonathan Ogden OT Ravens 2013
73 Ozzie Newsome TE Browns 1999
74 Marion Motley HB, LB 1968
75 Darrell Green CB Washington Redskins 2008
76 Art Shell OT Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders 1989
77 Tony Dorsett RB Cowboys 1994
78 Bruce Matthews OL,
LS
Oilers / Titans 2007
79 Emlen Tunnell S Giants 1967
80 Troy Aikman QB Cowboys 2006
81 Steve Young 49ers 2005
82 Ted Hendricks DE Oakland Raiders 1990
83 Norm Van Brocklin QB Rams 1971
84 Joe Schmidt LB Lions 1973
85 Marcus Allen RB Oakland Raiders 2003
86 Willie Davis DE Packers 1981
87 Elroy Hirsch E, FL Rams 1968
88 Ed Reed S Ravens 2019
89 Ernie Nevers FB Chicago Cardinals 1963
90 Kurt Warner QB Rams 2017
91 Fran Tarkenton Vikings 1986
92 Michael Irvin WR Cowboys 2007
93 Sam Huff LB Giants 1982
94 Lenny Moore HB Baltimore Colts 1975
95 Larry Allen G Cowboys 2013
96 Mel Hein C Giants 1963
97 Derrick Brooks LB Buccaneers 2014
98 Lee Roy Selmon DE 1995
99 Michael Strahan Giants 2014
100 Joe Namath QB Jets 1985

† Only team(s) with major contribution.

See also[]

References[]

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