The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71. He took home the 1978 Heisman Trophy during his junior season. Achievements: Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1977; 1st-team All-Pro (1965, 66, 67, 68, 69); 4-time Pro Bowler; four seasons in top 10 of all NFL rushers; career cut short by injuries; as a rookie scored four TDs, including 96-yard kickoff return, against Vikings, and later in season scored six touchdowns against 49ers including an 80-yard pass play, 50-yard run and 65-yard punt return. Passing yards: 10,579 | Pass efficiency rating: 132.2 | TD passes: 67 He is one of only four men inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Passing yards: 10,796 | Passing TDs: 105 | Passing efficiency: 171.8 USC coach John Robinson once called White "the most competitive athlete I've ever seen." In 1999, he became Wisconsin's second Heisman Trophy winner. Considered the best left winger of all time, it's not surprising that Cristiano Ronaldo has also popularized the "CR7" phrase as the No. George Gipp (B, Notre Dame, 1917-20) Former Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning recounts the time he got to conduct the Tennessee band after a game. He averaged 174.6 yards per game, and he carried the ball an astounding 34 times per game over three seasons. During the 1950 season, Janowicz was the Buckeyes' star ball-carrier, rushing for 314 yards. Passing yards: 2,548 | Passing TDs: 28 | Interceptions by: 12 Brees started 29 games in high school and never lost. The Downtown Athletic Club bestowed the Heisman name to the award after John Heisman died the following year. 10. As a senior for the Gophers in 1929, Nagurski became the only player ever named All-American at two positions: tackle on defense and fullback on offense. Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2006 Class); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 2x DPoY; 3x NFC DPoY; 8x First-Team All-Pro; 5x Second-Team All-Pro; 13x Pro Bowl. He would nab 68 picks during his career, a mark good enough for fourth on the all-time list, and was even highlighted for his explosion and tackling. This is the definitive ranking of the 50 Greatest NFL Players of All Time. Francesco Totti. That adage spurred Griffin throughout his senior year; he won the Heisman again. He was the first sophomore to win the Walter Payton Award as the FCS Player of the Year. 131. Receptions: 87 | Receiving yards: 1,463 | Touchdowns: 16 All that out of the way, here is. Teams: Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1985); 1x MVP; 1x OPoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 5x Pro-Bowl; 1x AP Athlete of the Year; 1x Bert Bell Award; 1x AFL All-Star. When Reed signed with The U in Feb. 1997, the Canes had just suffered their first losing season in 17 years. He didn't win the Heisman, but being a folk hero turned out just fine. He's the best football player in the country returning next year." White excelled on the field and in the classroom at Colorado. It is known as the Camback. That scandal continues to overshadow just how good a running back Dickerson became. Eusbio DA Silva Ferreira (January 1942 - 5 January 2014) was a Portuguese footballer who played as a striker. Feel free to agree, disagree, argue or simply enjoy a tripthrough the years. As a senior, he was named UPI National Lineman of the Year and finished fifth in Heisman voting. Alabama went 43-5 in Lowe's four years and never finished out of the top seven. As a freshman with the Gators in 1987, he ran for 1,341 yards and finished ninth in Heisman voting. He won the Davey O'Brien Award in 2007 and the Maxwell Award in 2007 and '08. . By Ameche's senior season, the 220-pound fullback needed special shoulder pads. France. He walked on and started his first college football game. Franz Beckenbauer 10. One of the first great mobile quarterbacks, Young was extremely efficient, and has the second-most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, with 43. Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1977); 3x Super Bowl Champion; 5x NFL Champion; 7x First-Team All-Pro 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 9x Pro Bowl. During his three seasons, the Crimson Tide went 29-2-2. When Fralic was in the eighth grade, he stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 235 pounds - before he started lifting weights. He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1965 and '66. The heir to Joe Montanas throne in San Francisco, Steve Young was a proper successor to the heritage of the Niners. The Wolverines' 20-14 victory over rival Ohio State encapsulated Woodson's Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 1997. What is not up for debate are the numbers that illustrate his production. Former Pittsburgh coach Foge Fazio, one of Ditka's teammates with the Panthers, once compared him to a prizefighter: "He just couldn't wait for the bell to ring and get back out there." It is a tribute to Jackson that he received this honor as a tight end in the Sooner wishbone. On the second Saturday night of the season, Brown returned a punt for a touchdown against Michigan State. He finished his UCLA career with a school-record 468 tackles, which is the second-highest school total today. Until our number one-ranked player came along, he was the leagues iron man. Passing yards:3,384 | TD passes: 39 | Punting average: 40.9 | Interceptions by: 10 25 jersey when he graduated. Page was 8 years old when the U.S. Supreme Court ended school segregation with its landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. In his last two seasons, the Nittany Lions went 22-0, and as a senior Reid won both the Outland Trophy, given to the national's best interior lineman, and the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's best player. OSU was 27-2 and won at least a share of three straight Big Ten titles in Tatum's three seasons. College: At North Carolina, Peppers was consensus All-American in 2001 and won the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Trophy. 142. Achievements: 2-time AP Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 18); 1st-team All-Pro (2015, 16, 17, 18); 5-time Pro Bowler. Hugh Green (DE, Pitt, 1977-80) The 25 greatest footballers of all time have been named - Messi, Ronaldo or Maradona? Williams, from Zachary, Louisiana, broke glass ceilings throughout his playing career. How in the world does one even approach 5,000 yards and 55 touchdowns? As a highly recruited player from Brooklyn, New York, Luckman spurned about 40 programs to play at Columbia, which didn't offer athletic scholarships at the time. View 25 photos 1-DT Joe Greene (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) 2-QB Ben Roethlisberger. 89. He carried the Irish to a 9-0-1 record and took home the Heisman Trophy in 1953. He became a songwriter, and while this list may not settle the argument over the best player, there should be no debate over the most versatile. Three-time All-Pro (1968, 1971, 1973). Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1998); 1x Super Bowl Champion; 2x DPoY; 8x First-Team All-Pro; 1x Second-Team All-Pro; 10x Pro Bowl; 3x NFC PoY; MoY. Don Hutson (E, Alabama, 1932-34) He scored 61 points in 1943, a Northwestern record that lasted 43 years. He has all of the accolades and all of the longevity, and if not for four straight championship-level heartbreaks, he would have four Super Bowl rings to his name as well. Kylian Mbappe Lottin. Robinson started his college career as a wide receiver, but Bruins coach Dick Vermeil persuaded him to move to inside linebacker just before the Rose Bowl at the end of Robinson's freshman campaign. Ties were broken by using the highest single vote a player received. 84. His trash talking fit right in with the Hurricane greats too. All-purpose yards: 6,987 | Rushing yards: 3,922 | Touchdowns: 33 Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1999); 1x OPoY; 5x First-Team All-Pro; 3x NFC OPoY; 6x Pro Bowl; ORoY. 33. 125. If not Brown, then Walker might be the player against whom every college running back is measured. The following article will trigger you. Joe Montana 9. Peyton Manning (QB, Tennessee, 1994-97) In his junior and senior seasons, Sims rushed for 3,268 yards and 42 touchdowns. Horvath also starred as a safety on the other . Rushing yards: 1,473 | Passing yards: 2.854 | TDs responsible for: 50 A two-time All-American, he won the Heisman, Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Jim Thorpe Award in 1997. "When you're standing on the sideline, as a coach, you just feel his presence out there," Carr said. When he left after his senior season of 2001, Miami had regained the national championship. He threw 119 touchdowns and ran for 33 more. Fitzgerald won the Walter Camp and Biletnikoff awards and was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2003. Tackles: 374 | Tackles per game: 14.4 Youll notice that defensive players with lengthy careers are super noticeable on this list, and Bob Lilly has the long career and one-team wonder status to boot. Simpson and No. 38. Messi was brilliant throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals and winning the Golden Ball. 110. In conjunction with the NFLs 100th season celebration, 19 current and former reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network were asked to compile a list ranking the 100 greatest players in pro football history. The easy way to check the best players in the world . Plus, he had five interceptions on defense. Despite the heavy controversy surrounding his career, Terrell Owens was the greatest wide receiver of his day outside of Randy Moss. 101. So dont blame him for his lack of a championship resume. NEWSLETTER:Exclusive NFL analysis directly in your inbox, NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, EVERY TEAM'S BEST:Top players in the history of each NFL franchise. He was an All-American and won the Outland Trophy in 1995. Mike Rozier (RB, Nebraska, 1981-83) Known as "Roger the Dodger," Staubach passed for 1,474 yards as a junior in 1963, while also winning the Maxwell Trophy and Walter Camp Memorial Award. Byron "Whizzer" White (RB, Colorado, 1935-37) And won the Heisman Trophy. The four-part series goes behind the scenes with all four CFP teams, leading up to and through the semifinals and the national championship game. Despite that, there will be many who still believe Ronaldo is, in fact, the GOAT. During his NFL career, Sanders also put in legitimate seasons (9 total) in the MLB. Newton got in trouble at Florida and decamped to junior college. Shameful. 91. Receptions: 62 | Receiving yards: 1,470 | Yards per catch: 23.7 Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2000 Class); 4x Super Bowl Champion; 3x Super Bowl MVP; 2x MVP; 3x First-Team All-Pro; 2x Second-Team All-Pro; 8x Pro Bowl. Simpson scored 33 touchdowns, none more exciting or dramatic than the 64-yarder in the fourth quarter against No. Receiving yards: 404 | Touchdowns: 3 Tony Dorsett (RB, Pitt, 1973-76) Teams: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (2009); 8-time First-team All-Pro (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993-1997); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (1989, 1998); 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1996); NFL career sack record (200 sacks), Achievements: Inducted into the Pro Football HOF (1990); 4-time Super Bowl champion; 6-time First-team All-Pro (1976, 1979-1983); 2-time Second-team All-Pro (1975, 1978); 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976, 1983); NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974); 9-time Pro Bowler. Passing yards: 10,163 | Completion percentage: 67.4 | Passing TDs: 90 He was the 2000 Maxwell Award winner and the Academic All-American of the Year. He won the 1977 Heisman Trophy vote in a runaway, like a beer truck going downhill. As a junior in 1996, he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, the highest finish by a lineman since 1980, and won the Outland Trophy. Down 3-0 in the fourth quarter, Cannon defied head coach Paul Dietzel's rule and fielded a punt at the LSU 11. Listed in alphabetical order. MOHAMED SALAH. As a senior, Bertelli completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in the first six games, all of which Notre Dame won by at least 23 points. Teams: San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Notable accolades: 1x Super Bowl Champion; 1x Super Bowl MVP; 2x OPoY; 1 First-Team All-Pro; 4x Second-Team All-Pro; 13x Pro Bowl; MoY; CPoY, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (1963); 3x NFL Champion; 2x MVP; 8x First-Team All-Pro; 4x NFL All-Star. Two years after Jim Brown graduated, Syracuse gave Davis the No. As a junior, Woodson had eight interceptions with 43 tackles, while catching 11 passes for 231 yards with one score. Eight pro bowls (1968-75). Flutie put the Eagles in a major bowl (Cotton) for the first time in 42 years and returned Boston College to the college football map, a map that within the decade would include the Big East Conference. Lawrence Taylor 10. He was the first and greatest of the receiving ends, which during his era were just part of the offensive line. But Bruins coach Tommy Prothro made two comments about Beban that defined his worth: "He has no weaknesses," and "The more pressure, the better he is." In his last college game, Griese led Purdue to a 14-13 victory over USC in the 1967 Rose Bowl. From the ways that athletes, executives, musicians and creators are moving the business world forward to new technologies, emerging leagues, and industry trends, Boardroom brings you all the news and insights you need to know. Passing yards: 3,145 | Total offense: 3,990 yards | Interceptions by: 11 He was the Browns greatest leader alongside Jim Brown, and his career extends beyond that to the prehistoric AAFC. True, freshmen had been varsity-eligible for only a few years, but Dorsett was only just getting started. No one in that offense caught many passes; Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer didn't much like to throw the ball. Rushing yards: 3,959 | Receiving yards: 1,314 | Touchdowns: 49 Tom Brady. His "Bo Over the Top" touchdown leap broke a nine-game losing streak in the Iron Bowl, Bear Bryant's last. That Payton made the Time Magazine All-America team as a senior while playing at I-AA Jackson State illustrates a few things: how good a back Payton was to draw that sort of acclaim in the era of Archie Griffin, Joe Washington and Anthony Davis; how slowly the SEC took integration seriously (Mississippi State had barely begun to integrate and Ole Miss not at all when Payton, a Mississippi native, went to college); and how HBCU football may have peaked in the mid-1970s. Johnny Rodgers (WR/KR, Nebraska, 1970-72) Hannah was also the best lineman to ever play at Alabama, earning All-America honors in 1971 and '72 and winning the Jacobs Award as the sport's best blocker as a senior. As a senior, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Thomas made 39 tackles for loss, 27 of them sacks, and added 44 quarterback hurries. He was a rare three-sport pro, playing football, basketball, and baseball, while also setting an Olympic record in the decathlon. What Newton's prolific numbers don't tell you is he carried Auburn to its second national title and won the Heisman Trophy in 2010, all while facing allegations that his father had tried to sell his son's talents to the highest bidder. By his junior year, USC won a share of the conference championship. He ran for more than 200 yards in each of his last four regular-season games and won the Heisman Trophy. The rest, as you say, is history. The 6-1, 186-pound Bailey remained on the field for an amazing 1,070 plays. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Round 1 DraftCast > ESPN Search. Raiders. The most difficult accomplishment of Allen's Trojan career may have been winning the starting tailback job. He was thought of so highly that Dallas drafted him second, ahead of Jackson State tailback Walter Payton. Legendary coach Pop Warner once called Nevers the "greatest football player of all time" -- even better than Jim Thorpe, whom Warner also coached. Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Notable accolades: Hall of Fame (2018); 5x First-Team All-Pro; 6x Pro Bowl. Versatile. Here are our Top 25 Steelers of all time. Rob is editor of GiveMeSport. 21. Texas joins Top 25 And 1 after landing Abmas 150. 94. He finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior despite playing at the Division I-AA (FCS) level. Bo Jackson? Most importantly, he helped the Wolverines win their first national title since 1948. 5. He intercepted five passes, averaged 42.0 yards per punt, and completed 55.3% of his passes in an era when anything over 50% was exceptional. 17. Before Jimmy Johnson made the Cowboys what they are today, Lilly established them as an initial power. Sanders, as a sophomore, backed up Thomas and led the nation in kickoff returns (31.6-yard average), in part by returning the first kickoff of the season for a touchdown. Ray Lewis is the second greatest linebacker of all time, and the greatest of this era. Yet Munoz might have been the greatest what-if on one of the great what-if teams in college football history. The two-time All-American broke five NCAA, 14 SEC and 28 Florida records, including career passing efficiency (170.8), completion percentage (67.1) and rushing yards by a quarterback (2,947). Merlin Olsen (DL, Utah State, 1959-61) NFL 1970s all-decade team. Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr offered Arrington perhaps the greatest compliment a linebacker can receive when he compared Arrington to Lawrence Taylor. Receptions: 45 | Receiving yards: 730 | TDs: 7 All-purpose yards: 5,024 | Receiving yards: 2,493 | Touchdowns: 22 Achievements: Two-time Super Bowl champion. The 1956 Iowa team won a Big Ten title and beat Oregon State 35-19 in the school's first Rose Bowl. 145. Smith, an east Texas native and an African American, came along too soon to play in the Southwest Conference. Bedeviled by hamstring problems and 20 pounds of extra weight, Campbell struggled as a junior. The next season, Frazier had a memorable 75-yard touchdown run in the Cornhuskers' 62-24 rout of Florida in the Fiesta Bowl to win a second straight title. The top 25 rankings are from the USA Softball/ESPN top 25 rankings . Early in his junior season, he ran for 269 yards against Arkansas State and 300 against San Jose State. Okay, lets talk about this. At 273 pounds, Parker was the biggest player the Baltimore Colts had ever drafted. He paid his way by painting walls and washing dishes at a fraternity house. Teams: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams. Right behind him is his rival Lionel Messi , who also. It also overshadowed a short but game-changing college legacy. Of very few players can we say, "He changed the game." Hannah played 13 seasons for the New England Patriots and was named to the all-time NFL team. Rodgers returned eight punts or kickoffs for touchdowns, which is tied for the FBS all-time lead, and averaged 13.8 yards each time he touched the ball. He showed enough promise to make head coach John Robinson move another running back named Ronnie Lott to defense. Tackles: 211 | Tackles for loss: 25 Exclusive NFL analysis directly in your inbox, Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, Top players in the history of each NFL franchise, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. If you havent already noticed, one-team players, particularly one-team quarterbacks, are given special attention on this list. Kinnick excelled at both, not to mention being one of the best backs in the nation. [3] [4] Among defensive players, Jim Marshall's 270 is the longest. As a senior, he finished runner-up to Notre Dame end Leon Hart. Jim Brown of Syracuse finished fifth in the vote to select the most outstanding player of 1956. set the NCAA record for rushing yards by a freshman with 1,932 in 1998 and finished his four-year career with 6,559, the most in Division I history. He rushed for 173 yards in an 18-15 upset of Harvard in 1911. The primary perimeter lynchpin of the iconic Steel Curtain Steelers, Mel Blount was as physical as his more famous NFL teammates, and feared as the prototypical secondary defender in the league. He became among the first to bring a linebacker's speed to the defensive line, and pity the poor offensive tackles who tried to do something about him. Regardless of the level, the diminutive Smith stood taller than most on the football field.

Holbox Fishing Charters, Chris Miller Skateboarder Net Worth, The Hanged Man And The Hierophant, Is Pompeii Sodom And Gomorrah, Articles T