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The 250 Best Football Players of All Time (kinda) (part 1)

Sunday, February 19, 2023



 

In 2022 I revamped my all time NBA/MLB rankings and am adopting similar methodology here.  I've developed a Total Value number crafted from (1) career performance (2) per game performance (3) postseason performance.

The basic unit of measurement is pro-football-reference's Approximate Value and Weighted Approximate Value.

Qualifiers.

Approximate Value dates from 1960- so, all player performance from then forward are evaluated here, for players who played both pre and post 1960 I look to approximate pre 60s record.  A player didn't need to play most of his career post 1960, but did need a substantial amount of post 1960 work.  So, no Otto Graham, yes Night Train Lane.  Also, 100 AV is the floor to qualify, there has to be a floor, both for administration of the list and because the per game performance starts to really skew the overall rating at the lower levels (my guess is, for most of the names you think are just ranked too high, the reason is they were short impactful career guys who didn't get the acclaim for being as impactful as they were).  So, that means -- no Dick Butkus, no Gronk, no Earl Thomas, no Calvin Johnson (Mahomes will be here after the 2023 season)

Also - quarterbacks...look, they're just super valuable.  The 10th best QB every year is honestly probably the 10th most valuable player in the league.  Successful starting QB is easily the most valuable performer in all major US sports.  

Also, because of the per game component - it's possible for active players to fall down the list, post prime play knocks your per game value down.  

One more thing - I may have missed guys; I attempted to look at every player in NFL history with an Approximate Value of 100+ and the guys whose pre 1960 work could be approximated to add to their post 1960 work to reach 100.  I've got a list of over 400 computed, but if I missed a few guys that wouldn't shock.  Will I update going forward?  Hell, I don't know.  It took forever.  

Through 2022.

Players are listed with the teams they played min 5 seasons.  First tiebreaker is AV, second tiebreaker is Weighted AV, there is no third tiebreaker.


250. JOE THEISMANN QB             TOTAL VALUE 125
1974-85
Redskins
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion

249. CLIFF BRANCH WR               TOTAL VALUE 125
1972-85
Raiders
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champion

248. MARSHALL YANDA  OG       TOTAL VALUE 125
2007-19
Ravens
2 Time All Pro
Super Bowl Champion

247. KENNY STABLER     QB          125
1970-84
Raiders
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion

246. RYAN TANNEHILL     QB     126
2012-
Dolphins

245. FLETCHER COX         DT     126
2012-
Eagles
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champion

244. EDDIE MEADOR         CB/S   126
1959-70
Rams
2 Time All Pro

243. FRED BILETNIKOFF     WR     126
1965-78
Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP

242. JOHN BRODIE                 QB       126
1957-73
49ers
1 Time All Pro

241. JOE JACOBY                    OT     127
1981-93
Redskins
2 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ

240. NEIL SMITH                     DE      127
1988-00
Chiefs
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

239. KEVIN WILLIAMS          DT      127
2003-15
Vikings
5 Time All Pro

238. BOYD DOWLER                WR     128
1959-71
Packers
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
5 Time NFL Champ

237. RICHMOND WEBB         OT      127
1990-2002
Dolphins
2 Time All Pro

236. SONNY JURGENSEN    QB      127
1957-74
Redskins/Eagles
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

235. STEVE WISNIEWSKI     OG     127
1989-2001
Raiders
2 Time All Pro

234. BRIAN DAWKINS           S         127
1996-2011
Eagles
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro

233. JOHN HADL                    QB      127
1962-77
Chargers
1 Time All Pro
1 Time AFL Champ

232. JOHN STALLWORTH      WR     128
1974-87
Steelers
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ

231. GREG LLOYD                   OLB     128
1988-98
Steelers
3 Time All Pro

230. TONY ROMO                 QB       128
2004-16
Cowboys

229. HOWIE LONG               DE       128
1981-93
Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

228. RICHARD DENT            DE       128
1983-97
Bears
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

227. LANCE BRIGGS            OLB     128
2003-14
Bears
1 Time All Pro

226. NDAMUKONG SUH       DT       128
2010-
Lions
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

225. CALAIS CAMPBELL      DE      128
2008-
Cardinals
1 Time All Pro

224. KEVIN MAWAE               C        128
1994-2009
Jets
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

222. (tie) KIRK COUSINS       QB      129
2012-
Redskins/Vikings

222. (tie) ANDRE TIPPETT    OLB   129
1982-93
Patriots
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

221. RALPH NEELY                OT     129
1965-77
Cowboys
3 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

220. DERMONTTI DAWSON    C     129
1988-2000
Steelers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro

219. PATRICK PETERSON     CB     129
2011-
Cardinals
3 Time All Pro

218. SAM MILLS                       ILB    129
1986-97
Saints
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro

217. BOB BAUMHOWER         NT    130
1977-86
Dolphins
1 Time All Pro

216. WILLIE LANIER           ILB      130
1967-77
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro 
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ

215. RANDY GRADISHAR      ILB     130
1974-83
Broncos
2 Time All Pro

214. STEVE HUTCHINSON OG        130
2001-12
Vikings/Seahawks
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

213. LEMAR PARRISH            CB      130
1970-82
Bengals
1 Time All Pro

212. STEVE LARGENT            WR  130
1976-89
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro

211. RONDE BARBER              CB     130
1997-2012
Bucs
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ


210. DAVID BAKHTIARI     OT        131
2013-
Packers
2 Time All Pro


209. MIKE MUNCHAK        OG        131
1982-93
Oilers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

208. JOHN RIGGINS            RB        131
1971-85
Redskins/Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

207. JOE FLACCO                QB       131
2008-
Ravens
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

206. CHRIS HANBURGER      OLB   131
1965-78
Redskins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

205. JOHN RANDLE               DT       131
1990-03
Vikings
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro

204. FRANK GIFFORD          RB       132
1952-64
Giants
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

203. TRAVIS KELCE              TE       132
2013-
Chiefs
4 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

202. JIM PLUNKETT             QB      132
1971-86
Raiders/Patriots
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

201. MICHAEL VICK            QB       132
2001-15
Falcons/Eagles

200. STEVE GROGAN           QB      132
1975-90
Patriots

199. DONNIE SHELL             S         132
1974-87
Steelers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ

198. CORTEZ KENNEDY    DT      132
1990-2000
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

197. LARRY WILSON          S         132
1960-72
Cardinals
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

195 (tie) CHARLEY TAYLOR      WR     132
1964-77
Redskins
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro

195 (tie) JONATHAN OGDEN      OT     132
1996-2007
Ravens
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

194. HARRY CARSON                   ILB     132
1976-88
Giants
Hall of Fame
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

193. WALTER JONES                    OT      132
1997-2008
Seahawks
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro

192. JARED ALLEN                      DE        132
2004-15
Vikings
4 Time All Pro

191. ROMAN GABRIEL               QB        132
1962-77
Rams/Eagles
1 Time All Pro

190. AENEAS WILLIAMS          CB          132
1991-2004
Cardinals
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

189. JIMMY JOHNSON               CB          132
1961-76
49ers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

188. DAVE ROBINSON                 OLB   133
1963-74
Packers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time NFL Champ

187. JASON KELCE                      C           133
2011-
Eagles
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

186. SAM HUFF                             ILB          133
1956-69
Giants/Redskins
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

185. DICK SCHAFRATH             OT           133
1959-71
Browns
3 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

184. TORRY HOLT                        WR         133
1999-2009
Rams
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

183. HALOTI NGATA                    DT          133
2006-18
Ravens
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

182. CORNELL GREEN                CB/S      133
1962-74
Cowboys
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

181. DREW BLEDSOE                 QB       133
1993-2006
Patriots
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

180. MICK TINGELHOFF            C           133
1962-78
Vikings
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

179. LEROY KELLY                     RB         134
1964-73
Browns
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

178. WILBER MARSHALL          OLB    134
1984-95
Redskins
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

177. DON MAYNARD                   WR        134
1958-73
Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL  Champ               

176. LC GREENWOOD                 DE        135
1969-81
Steelers
2 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ

175. RON YARY                             OT       135
1968-82
Vikings
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time NFL Champ

174. CHRIS DOLEMAN              DE       135
1985-99
Vikings
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

173. JIM LANGER                        C         136
1970-81
Dolphins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

172. MATT LIGHT                        OT       136
2001-11
Patriots
1 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ 

171. BUCK BUCHANAN            DT           136
1963-75
Chiefs
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
2 Time AFL Champ

170. STEVE MCNAIR                  QB        136
1995-2007
Titans

169.  ADRIAN PETERSON          RB        136
2007-21
Vikings
4 Time All Pro

168. LARRY ALLEN                    OG         136
1994-2007
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

167. DEACON JONES                 DE          136
1961-74
Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

166. WILL SHIELDS                   OG       136
1993-2006
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

165. JEFF GARCIA                     QB        137
1999-2009
49ers

164. JERRY MAYS                     DE         137
1961-70
Chiefs
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ

163. ERIC DICKERSON            RB         137
1983-93
Colts/Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

162. CHUCK HOWLEY            OLB      137
1958-73
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

161. LARRY GRANTHAM        OLB     137
1960-72
Jets
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ

160. LEO NOMELLINI              DT         137
1950-63
49ers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro

159. ROD SMITH                       WR       137
1995-2016
Broncos
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

158. TOM NALEN                      C        137
1994-2007
Broncos
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

157. BOOMER ESIASON          QB     137
1984-97
Bengals
1 Time All Pro

156. MARCUS ALLEN               RB      137
1982-97
Raiders/Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

155.  RICKEY JACKSON          OLB    137
1981-95
Saints
Hall of Fame
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

154. PHIL SIMMS                       QB      138
1979-93
Giants
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

153. CURTIS MARTIN             RB        138
1995-2005
Jets
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro

152. CARSON PALMER           QB       138
2004-17
Bengals/Cardinals

151. TERRELL SUGGS             OLB     138
2003-19
Ravens
1 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

150. BOB BROWN                      OT       139
1964-73
Eagles
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

149. RICHARD SEYMOUR       DE      139
2001-12
Patriots
3 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ

148. RICH GANNON                  QB      139
1987-2004
Vikings/Raiders
2 Time All Pro

147. DEMARCUS WARE            OLB   139
2005-16
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

146. DERRICK THOMAS           OLB  139
1989-99
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

145. JASON TAYLOR                  DE     139
1997-2011
Dolphins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

144. KHALIL MACK                  OLB   140
2014-
3 Time All Pro

143. ROGER CRAIG                   RB      140
1983-93
49ers
1 Time All Pro
3 Time Super Bowl Champ

142. TIKI BARBER                      RB      140
1997-2006
Giants
1 Time All Pro

141. LOGAN MANKINS             OG      140
2005-15
Patriots
1 Time All Pro

140. ISIAH ROBERTSON           OLB    140
1971-82
Rams
2 Time All Pro

139. REGGIE WAYNE                 WR     140
2001-14
Colts
1 Time All Pro

138. ANTONIO BROWN             WR    141
2010-21
Steelers
4 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

137. JULIO JONES                      WR     141
2011-22
Falcons
2 Time All Pro

136. ORLANDO PACE                OT     141
1997-2009
Rams
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

135. GARY ZIMMERMAN          OT    141
1986-97
Vikings/Broncos
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

134. ALAN FANECA                    OG     141
1998-2010
Steelers
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

133. RON MIX                               OT    142
1960-71
Chargers
Hall of Fame
9 Time All Pro
1 Time AFL Champ

132. MEL BLOUNT                       CB   142
1970-83
Steelers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
4 Time Super Bowl Champ

131. CHARLES WOODSON        CB   142
1998-2015
Raiders/Packers
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

130. TROY POLAMALU              S      143
2003-14
Steelers
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

129. RAY NITSCHKE                 ILB   143
1958-72
Packers
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
5 Time NFL Champ

128. MEL RENFRO                     CB/S  143
1964-77
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
2 Time Super Bowl Champ

127. THURMAN THOMAS        RB    143
1988-2000
Bills
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro

126. LOMAS BROWN                 OT      143
1985-2002
Lions
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

125. CHAMP BAILEY                CB     143
1999-2013
Broncos/Redskins
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

124. RICHARD SHERMAN       CB    144
2011-21
Seahawks
3 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

123. JOHNNY ROBINSON         S            144
1960-71
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ

122. DAN HAMPTON                 DT/DE   144
1979-90
Bears
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

121. JIM KELLY                         QB        144
1986-96
Bills
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro

120. DONOVAN MCNABB         QB        144
1999-2011
Eagles

119. LEN DAWSON                     QB        144
1957-75
Chiefs
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
3 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP

118. JACK YOUNGBLOOD       DE        144
1971-84
Rams
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro

117. JIM TAYLOR                       RB       145
1958-67
Packers
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
4 Time NFL Champ

116. LYDELL MITCHELL          RB       145
1972-80
Colts

115. TROY AIKMAN                   QB       145
1989-2000
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
3 Time Super Bowl Champ
Super Bowl MVP

114. WILLIE ROAF                     OT        145
1993-2005
Saints
Hall of Fame
4 Time All Pro

113. PAUL KRAUSE                    S            145
1964-79
Vikings
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro

112. YALE LARY                         S/P        146
1952-64
Lions
Hall of Fame
3 Time All Pro
3 Time NFL Champ

111. ZACK MARTIN                 OG          146
2014-
Cowboys
6 Time All Pro

110. ANDY ROBUSTELLI        DE           146
1951-64
Giants/Rams
Hall of Fame
6 Time All Pro
2 Time NFL Champ

109. TONY DORSETT               RB        146
1977-88
Cowboys
Hall of Fame
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

108. WARREN MOON              QB        146
1984-2000
Oilers
Hall of Fame

107. JULIUS PEPPERS             DE        146
2002-18
Panthers
3 Time All Pro

106. MIKE HAYNES                  CB       147
1976-89
Patriots/Raiders
Hall of Fame
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

105. WILLIE BROWN                CB     147
1963-78
Raiders
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ

104. GENE UPSHAW                  OG   147
1967-81
Raiders
Hall of Fame
5 Time All Pro
2 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ

103. JEFF SATURDAY              C       147
1999-2012
Colts
2 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ

102. TRENT GREEN                 QB     148
1997-2008
Chiefs

101. JOE NAMATH         QB       148
1955-67
Jets
1 Time All Pro
1 Time Super Bowl Champ
1 Time AFL Champ
Super Bowl MVP



   

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