Ralph Vacchiano
NFL Reporter
Jerry Rice was, in fact, the last word No. 80. However how do you select between the 12 whole Corridor of Famers who wore No. 88?
About 30,000 gamers have suited up for an NFL recreation over the previous 105 years, utilizing each jersey quantity time and again. We have taken on the daunting process of combing via NFL historical past to resolve who wore every quantity finest.
Among the many standards thought-about have been the gamers’ cumulative statistics, awards (MVP, Offensive/Defensive Participant of the Yr, and so forth.) and honors similar to All-Professional and Professional Bowl choices. Tremendous Bowl championships mattered as nicely, as did the impression gamers had on their period. Historic significance was very important, which is why the record is plagued by members of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
That mentioned, listed below are the alternatives for Nos. 75-99 as we conclude our four-part collection. Notice that since many nice gamers switched numbers throughout their careers, the record is predicated on the quantity every participant is finest identified for sporting.
[Greatest NFL players by jersey number: 00-24 | 25-49 I 50-74]
No. 75: Joe Greene
This longtime Steelers defensive deal with was one of many fiercest gamers on one of many all-time fiercest defenses. Greene was the Defensive Rookie of the Yr in 1969, a two-time Defensive Participant of the Yr, a 10-time Professional Bowler and six-time All-Professional. One among solely three Steelers to have his quantity retired, “Imply Joe” completed his 13-year profession with 77½ sacks. He simply barely will get the nod right here, although, edging out longtime Rams defensive finish Deacon Jones, who actually invented the sack and unofficially had 173½ of them in his 14 NFL seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Howie Lengthy, Deacon Jones
No. 76: Lou Groza
He was often called “The Toe” for his prowess because the NFL’s first actually nice placekicker, however he was extra than simply that. Groza was additionally the Cleveland Browns’ beginning left deal with for 12 of his 21 professional seasons within the Forties, ‘50s and ’60s. He was so good at each jobs that he was a six-time All-Professional and a nine-time Professional Bowler. He completed his profession with 1,608 factors, however maybe extra importantly, he ushered in an period when discipline objectives turned a suitable end result for NFL offenses — even when the kicks have been from 50 yards or longer, which Groza might hit earlier than these turned semi-automatic. Rams deal with Orlando Tempo or Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson might’ve gotten this spot, too — if solely they may kick.
Honorable Mentions: Orlando Tempo, Steve Hutchinson
No. 77: Willie Roaf
It was a really shut name between two Corridor of Fame linemen, however this Saints/Chiefs nice will get the nod over Jim Parker, the longtime Baltimore Colts deal with/guard — although simply barely. Roaf, a left deal with, was a nine-time All-Professional and 11-time Professional Bowler in his 13 NFL seasons from 1993-2005. Parker was shut behind, although, with a run of eight straight Professional Bowls and All-Professional nods, together with one outstanding yr (1962) when he was named an All-Professional at each guard and deal with.
Honorable Mentions: Jim Parker, Andrew Whitworth
No. 78: Anthony Muñoz
It took arguably the best deal with in NFL historical past to prime one of many biggest cross rushers ever. That’s what occurred right here as Muñoz, presumably the best Bengal ever, edged out Buffalo’s Bruce Smith. Muñoz is taken into account by many to be one of the best offensive lineman in historical past, and he went to 11 straight Professional Bowls and was named to 11 straight All-Professional groups to show it. Smith had 11 of every of these in his 19 NFL seasons, together with two Defensive Participant of the Yr awards and 200 profession sacks. It made for fairly a one-on-one battle.
Honorable Mentions: Bruce Smith, Artwork Shell
No. 79: Roosevelt Brown
He was a Twenty seventh-round draft choose by the Giants in 1953, chosen after crew proprietor Wellington Mara noticed him listed on a Pittsburgh newspaper’s Black All-America crew. Brown turned out to be the steal of the century, shortly turning into probably the greatest and most athletic tackles within the league. One of many pioneers of pulling linemen, Brown powered his technique to 9 Professional Bowls and eight All-Professional groups over 13 seasons. He was a key piece of the Giants’ 1956 championship crew, too.
Honorable Mentions: Ray Childress, Bob St. Clair
No. 80: Jerry Rice
Who else? In 2010, NFL Community named this iconic 49ers receiver the best NFL participant of all time — and with good motive. Rice is the NFL’s all-time chief in receiving yards (22,895) by greater than 5,000. He’s the all-time chief in catches (1,549) by greater than 100. And he’s the all-time chief in landing catches (197) by greater than 40. He went to 13 Professional Bowls and was an 11-time All-Professional in an astonishing 20 NFL seasons. He was additionally a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion, a Tremendous Bowl MVP, and a two-time Offensive Participant of the Yr. Positive, 10 Corridor of Famers wore No. 80, however this wasn’t shut. No person ever did it higher than Jerry Rice.
Honorable Mentions: Isaac Bruce, Cris Carter
No. 81: Dick Lane
In 1952, the person who would turn out to be often called “Night time Prepare” walked into the L.A. Rams’ places of work and requested a tryout. Good factor they gave him one, as a result of he went on to turn out to be some of the impactful defensive backs in historical past. Lane had 14 interceptions in 12 video games as a rookie, and although he by no means fairly reached these heights once more, he amassed an unbelievable 68 in 14 NFL seasons with the Rams, Cardinals and Lions. He was an All-Professional for 10 straight seasons too, from 1954-63.
Honorable Mentions: Terrell Owens, Carl Eller
No. 82: Ozzie Newsome
He was probably the greatest receiving tight ends in NFL historical past, though he performed lengthy earlier than they turned explosive weapons within the passing recreation. In his 13 seasons in Cleveland from 1978-90, Newsome caught 662 passes for a then-TE-record 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns. The five-time All-Professional had two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and nonetheless ranks tenth on the all-time tight finish yardage record. He was a strong blocker as nicely, which was sufficient to push him previous Raymond Berry, the good Colts receiver from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Honorable Mentions: Raymond Berry, John Stallworth
No. 83: Ted Hendricks
Although he had the dimensions of a skinny defensive finish (6-foot-7, 220 kilos), Hendricks was a devastating, disruptive linebacker for 15 NFL seasons from 1969-83. Enjoying largely for the Colts and Raiders, he completed his profession with 26 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, and an NFL-record 4 safeties. An eight-time Professional Bowler and six-time All-Professional, Hendricks additionally performed on 4 Tremendous Bowl championship groups.
Honorable Mentions: Andre Reed, Wes Welker
No. 84: Randy Moss
He was fairly merely some of the electrifying receivers in NFL historical past and doubtless the closest factor to Jerry Rice since Jerry Rice. In 14 NFL seasons, largely with the Vikings, Raiders and Patriots, Moss had 982 catches, 15,292 yards and 156 receiving touchdowns, the latter of which ranks second behind Rice on the all-time record. Moss topped 1,000 receiving yards 10 instances and had double-digit touchdowns 9 instances, together with a single-season document 23 with the Patriots in 2007. He was a four-time All-Professional, and actually, he deserved that honor just a few extra instances than that.
Honorable Mentions: Shannon Sharpe, Roddy White
No. 85: Jack Youngblood
A worthy inheritor to Deacon Jones at left defensive finish with the Los Angeles Rams, Youngblood proved to be simply as robust and practically as harmful as a cross rusher. He missed only one recreation in his 14 NFL seasons, from 1971-84, and at one level performed in 201 straight. Youngblood unofficially ended up with 151½ sacks, together with eight seasons with 10 or extra. And he was an All-Professional six instances.
Honorable Mentions: Nick Buoniconti, Antonio Gates
No. 86: Buck Buchanan
His finest days got here within the AFL within the Sixties, earlier than the merger, however that doesn’t take away from all he completed throughout his profession. Buchanan spent 13 seasons taking part in defensive deal with for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and missed just one recreation. He was an eight-time Professional Bowler and seven-time All-Professional (two Professional Bowls and one All-Professional within the NFL), and completed his profession with 70½ sacks and a Tremendous Bowl championship.
Honorable Mentions: Dante Lavelli, Hines Ward
It certain helps to play in Kansas Metropolis for Andy Reid and with Patrick Mahomes, however Kelce is nice sufficient that he would have thrived anyplace. His run of seven straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2016 to 2022 is perhaps the best stretch for a good finish in league historical past. He’s top-three all time amongst TEs in catches (1,004) and receiving yards (12,151) and fifth in landing catches (77). And at age 35, he’s not completed but. Kelce has been to 10 straight Professional Bowls and is a seven-time All-Professional. He’s additionally the highest choice within the passing recreation on the best offensive crew of his era. No tight finish has ever been higher at discovering the seam within the protection and getting open.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski, Reggie Wayne
No. 88: Tony Gonzalez
This quantity has been worn by an astonishing 12 Corridor of Famers, together with 4 gamers who have been chosen to NFL Community’s High 100 again in 2010. 4 of the HOFers are receivers (Michael Irvin, Marvin Harrison Sr., Drew Pearson, Lynn Swann) and three are tight ends (Gonzalez, John Mackey, Charlie Sanders), and but the nod right here nonetheless nearly went to defensive deal with Alan Web page. However Gonzalez topped Web page as a result of he’s merely the best tight finish in NFL historical past. A 14-time Professional Bowler in 17 seasons with the Chiefs and Falcons, he’s the all-time chief amongst tight ends in receptions (1,325) and receiving yards (15,127), and he’s second with 111 touchdowns. He was additionally named an All-Professional 10 instances.
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Harrison Sr., Alan Web page
No. 89: Gino Marchetti
Arguably probably the most feared cross rusher of the Fifties and early ‘60s, the longtime Baltimore Colts defensive finish by no means fairly bought the historic credit score he deserves as a result of he performed lengthy earlier than sacks turned an official statistic. Unofficially, Marchetti is credited with 56 over his remaining 5 seasons, beginning when he was 33 years outdated. However sack data don’t exist for his first eight NFL seasons. Nonetheless, he was an 11-time Professional Bowler, 10-time All-Professional and two-time NFL champion. Particular shout-out to longtime Buffalo Invoice Steve Tasker, who is perhaps the best particular groups participant of all time.
Honorable Mentions: Mike Ditka, Steve Smith
The one Corridor of Famer to put on No. 90, Peppers is a straightforward alternative right here. The previous Panthers, Bears and Packers defensive finish completed with 159½ sacks over 17 seasons, making him one of many most-feared cross rushers of the 2000s. He had 10 seasons with 10 sacks or extra, and his 52 compelled fumbles rank second in NFL historical past. Plus, the nine-time Professional Bowler additionally blocked 13 kicks in his profession (12 discipline objectives, one additional level).
Honorable Mentions: Neil Smith, Ndamukong Suh
No. 91: Kevin Greene
He was in some way ignored and underappreciated throughout his first eight seasons with the Rams, though he was already some of the harmful edge rushers within the recreation. Greene had 4 seasons with 10 or extra sacks and two seasons with 16½, although he solely went to the Professional Bowl as soon as. However when he moved on to Pittsburgh in 1993, he turned a star. Greene had six seasons of double-digit sacks in his remaining seven years (with Carolina and San Francisco, too) and completed with 160 in 15 seasons. He ended up going to 4 extra Professional Bowls and, finally, the Corridor of Fame.
Honorable Mentions: Fletcher Cox, Leslie O’Neal
No. 92: Reggie White
Michael Strahan stands out as the most well-known No. 92 and the single-season sack king (22½ in 2001), however this quantity belongs to the “Minister of Protection.” The Eagles and Packers nice, and one of many greatest free-agent signings in NFL historical past, was some of the unstoppable cross rushers ever. White had 198 sacks in his 15 NFL seasons, which ranks second all time, and that included 12 seasons with at the very least 10. He was a 13-time All-Professional, 13-time Professional Bowler and two-time Defensive Participant of the Yr, too.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Strahan, James Harrison
No. 93: John Randle
He was the scariest member of the Vikings’ protection in the course of the Nineties, and the athletic defensive deal with was one of many league’s most harmful cross rushers, too. A six-time All-Professional and two-time runner-up for Defensive Participant of the Yr, Randle completed his 14-year profession with 137½ sacks. Not unhealthy for a child who was undrafted out of tiny Texas A&I in 1990.
Honorable Mentions: Richard Seymour, Dwight Freeney
No. 94: DeMarcus Ware
This was a battle between two Cowboys greats, however nearly as good a linebacker/defensive finish as Charles Haley was, LB/DE DeMarcus Ware was even higher. A nine-time Professional Bowler and seven-time All-Professional in his 12 NFL seasons from 2005-16, Ware completed with 138½ sacks, which nonetheless ranks him within the prime 15 all time. He additionally had 35 compelled fumbles, proving how disruptive he was.
Honorable Mentions: Charles Haley, Cam Jordan
No. 95: Richard Dent
Probably the most harmful cross rusher on the Chicago Bears’ dominant 1985 protection, Dent led that championship crew with 17 sacks and was the Tremendous Bowl XX MVP. He had 137½ sacks in his 15 NFL seasons, largely with the Bears, and was a four-time All-Professional and four-time Professional Bowler. Most of his manufacturing got here throughout a outstanding 10-year run from 1984-93, when he averaged 12 sacks per season.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Williams, Greg Lloyd
No. 96: Cortez Kennedy
A participant whose worth went far past the numbers, this longtime Seahawk was a harmful and disruptive defensive deal with. Typically double-teamed whereas taking part in for some mediocre-at-best groups in Seattle, Kennedy was a rock, taking part in all 16 video games in 9 of his 11 seasons. He had simply 58 sacks — together with 14 in 1992 — however was typically among the many crew leaders in tackles. A legend in Seattle, Kennedy went to eight Professional Bowls, was a four-time All-Professional and was the 1992 Defensive Participant of the Yr.
Honorable Mentions: Clyde Simmons, Carlos Dunlap
Some unbelievable defensive tackles have worn this quantity, together with former 49er (and Corridor of Famer) Bryant Younger, Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins, and former Saint/Cowboy/Ram La’Roi Glover. However Heyward, on a Corridor of Fame monitor of his personal, will possible find yourself higher than all of them. A five-time All-Professional and seven-time Professional Bowler in 14 seasons (up to now), Heyward has recorded 88½ sacks. He’s additionally batted down 58 passes. And at age 36, he’s again for at the very least another yr with the Steelers.
Honorable Mentions: Bryant Younger, Geno Atkins
No. 98: Robert Mathis
He hasn’t made the Corridor of Fame but, however this longtime Colts edge rusher has been on the doorstep as a semifinalist. He wrapped his 13-year profession in 2016 with 123 profession sacks, together with a 19½-sack season in 2013, when he was the runner-up for Defensive Participant of the Yr. He additionally had an NFL-record 54 compelled fumbles and 47 strip sacks and performed within the Professional Bowl 5 instances.
Honorable Mentions: Jessie Armstead, Casey Hampton
Three unbelievable Corridor of Fame defensive linemen have worn this quantity: Tampa Bay’s Warren Sapp, Chicago’s Dan Hampton and Miami’s Jason Taylor. However Donald’s 10 seasons with the Rams are untouchable. He redefined what a defensive deal with might do, significantly within the cross rush. He completed his profession with 111 sacks, together with one season with a ridiculous 20½ (2018, when he received the second of his three Defensive Participant of the Yr awards). He was a Professional Bowler in each season he performed, an All-Professional in 9 of them, obtained DPOY votes in seven of them and was the Defensive Rookie of the Yr in 2014. He was probably the most dominant defensive participant of his period, probably the greatest ever, and he might have completed much more if he hadn’t retired at age 32.
Honorable Mentions: Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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