My personal vote for the GOAT at the quarterback position. Brady has done incredible things in his 20 years (thus far) in the NFL. Tommy Terrific brings his six Super Bowl rings to Tampa Bay next season.

Photo: People

As the cross-barred helmet in the picture to the left might intimate, Earl Campbell was a bit before my time. However, I’ve seen enough to know this dude was a monster. Check out this YouTube highlight reel if you don’t believe me.

Photo: Complex

Another member of our list that was before my time. But Dickerson is a bonafide Hall of Famer. Also, the rec specs, neck roll, and oversized shoulder pads basically solidify ED’s place on our list.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

John Elway was such a great athlete he had his pick between baseball and football after college. He made the right choice. Elway finished his career in fairy tale fashion with two straight Super Bowl victories in ’98 and ’99.

Photo: Sporting News

Biased opinion alert – Brett Favre is my favorite player of all time. The joy and freedom he played the game with was incredible to watch. Add a Super Bowl victory in ’97, and you’ve made the list. Congrats, Brett.

Photo: Pens & Patron

Papa Bear! This one is admittedly kind of cheating. George Halas was of course better known for founding, owning, and coaching my beloved Chicago Bears rather than playing. Little known fact – Halas was also a professional baseball player for The Yankees.

Photo: YouTube

Not a lot of options in the “I” category, but still a fine choice here. Irvin won three Super Bowls with the aforementioned Troy Aikman in Dallas, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, with an incredibly long (but great!) teary-eyed speech in 2007.

Photo: CBS Sports

In a world that criminally under appreciates offensive linemen, Walter Jones may be the most overlooked of them all. Jones was an absolute brick wall for the Seattle Seahawks from 1997-2009. He started all 180 games of his career, was called for holding only 9 times, and allowed only 23 sacks out of 5,703 career snaps.

Photo: ESPN

If it weren’t for Jim Kelly, the Buffalo Bills may have never seen any legitimate success as a franchise. After playing for a season in the USFL, Kelly joined the Bills in 1986. Despite going 0-4 in the big game, he brought Buffalo to four straight Super Bowls (a feat no one else has accomplished) from 1990-1993.

Photo: York Dispatch

I’m cheating again here. While Vince Lombardi was one of the greatest coaches to ever do it, he did technically play for the Wilmington Clippers and Brooklyn Eagles of the American Association in 1937-1938. The NFL named the Super Bowl trophy after the guy, he has to make the list.

Photo: Packerville, USA

Look at that stud! John Madden was a practice squad player for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958. Obviously, Madden contributed to the game more as a Super Bowl winning head coach of the Raiders, and became a cultural icon for his video game series.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

Aside from having a great name, Bronko Nagurski was one of the greatest Chicago Bears in the 30’s and 40’s. A three-time champion, he was also a four-time first-team all-pro and a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Photo: Encyclopedia Britannica

Jonathan Ogden, a very Walter Jones-esque career (see above). Ogden was the first ever draft selection of the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. Ogden played his entire career for the Ravens, racking up 11 Pro Bowl appearances, and won a Super Bowl in 2001.

Photo: Bleacher Report

Walter Payton is the best running back in Chicago Bears history. He was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl winning team, rushed for an (at the time) NFL record 275 yards in a game, and was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

Photo: Bleacher Report

I have to be honest here; this was pretty slim pickings. Robert Quinn has played for the Rams, Dolphins, Cowboys, and signed with the Bears this offseason. He has recorded 290 tackles and made two Pro Bowls in his seven seasons.

Photo: USA Today

Jerry Rice is thought of by many smart people as the overall best football player of all time, the true GOAT. His numbers are simply outrageous: 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards, and 197 receiving touchdowns.

Photo: American Football International

Barry Sanders might be the best running back ever (see: all of his stats ever) with the worst luck (see: drafted by the Lions). Widely considered one of the nicest men to ever play the game, Sanders retired in 1998 after only 10 years of breaking everyone’s ankles.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

LT might have been the scariest player to ever lace them up in the NFL. This dude was an absolute freak; he recorded 132.5 sacks, was an eight-time first team all-pro, and won two Super Bowls in his 13 seasons with the Giants.

Photo: SB Nation

Brian Urlacher is a card carrying member of the long history of all-time Chicago Bear linebackers; following in the footsteps of Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, etc. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, and lead a defense that dragged Rex Grossman and the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006.

Photo: Chicago Tribune

The ageless wonder. Vinatieri is incredibly 47 years old, and has spent more than half of his life (24 seasons) kicking for the Patriots and Colts. He was instrumental in three Super Bowl victories for New England, and one for Indianapolis.

Photo: Seattle Times

Reggie White, AKA “The Minister of Defense,” known for his outgoing religious beliefs, was also a mauler defensive tackle. White recorded over 1,000 tackles, is a member of both the 75th and 100th NFL Anniversary All-Time Teams, and has his number retired by both the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Reggie was a Pro Bowler in 13 of his 15 seasons, and won Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay.

Photo: Lombardi Ave

Oshane Ximines is the only player in NFL history with a last name that starts with “X.” He played one season for the Giants in 2019, recording 4.5 sacks and 25 tackles. He is by default the greatest player of all-time in the “X” category.

Photo: Giants Wire

Steve Young is the best left handed quarterback that the NFL has ever seen. He won three Super Bowls, and was the MVP of the ’95 win over the Chargers. He wasn’t just a thrower either, and was a threat with his legs. Young rushed for 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

Fun fact: Gary Zimmerman is the only player in the Hall of Fame with a last name starting with “Z.” Zimmerman started all 184 games he played in his 12-year career, was a seven-time Pro Bowler, and won Super Bowl XXXII with the Broncos in 1998.

Photo: Bronco Talk