The Athletic’s Top 100 Players in NFL History, By Team

The Athletic recently put together a list of the Top 100 Player in NFL history. A terrific book, The Football 100, soon followed. This book is terrific because it includes a significant write-up for each of the 100 players. Here’s a look at The Athletic’s Top 100 Players broken down by the teams for which they played the bulk of their career.

The Athletic’s Top 100 Players in NFL History, By Team

Minnesota Vikings 

32.   Alan Page

38.   Randy Moss

54.   Adrian Peterson

100. Fran Tarkenton

If there’s a criticism of The Athletic’s terrific work, it’s the omission of Cris Carter and Randall McDaniel. Perhaps John Randle as well. 

San Francisco 49ers

  3. Jerry Rice

  6. Joe Montana

19. Ronnie Lott

50. Steve Young

83. Leo Nomellini

Chicago Bears

  8. Walter Payton

10. Dick Butkus

33. Bronko Nagurski

46. Gale Sayers

49. Sid Luckman

85. Clyde “Bulldog” Turner

97. Mike Ditka

Cincinnati Bengals

12. Anthony Munoz

Buffalo Bills

20. Bruce Smith

52. O.J. Simpson

Denver Broncos

15. John Elway

87. Champ Bailey

Cleveland Browns

  2. Jim Brown

11. Otto Graham

73. Marion Motley

96. Paul Warfield

Los Angeles Chargers

63. Junior Seau

71. LaDanian Tomlinson

75. Lance Alworth

82. Kellen Winslow

Kansas City Chiefs

53. Bobby Bell

80. Willie Lanier

82. Tony Gonzalez

86. Buck Buchanan

98. Patrick Mahomes

Indianapolis Colts

  7. Peyton Manning

  9. Johnny Unitas

34. Gino Marchetti

42. Jim Parker

57. John Mackey

92. Lenny Moore

Washington Commanders

25. Sammy Baugh

88. Darrell Green

Dallas Cowboys

29. Emmitt Smith

31. Bob Lilly

45. Larry Allen

48. Randy White

79. Roger Staubach

Miami Dolphins

18. Dan Marino

Philadelphia Eagles

  5. Reggie White

74. Chuck Bednarik

94. Steve Van Buren

Atlanta Falcons

22. Deion Sanders

56. Julio Jones

New York Giants

  4. Lawrence Taylor

84. Mel Hein

Detroit Lions

23. Barry Sanders

51. Dick “Night Train” Lane

60. Joe Schmidt

89. Bobby Layne

Tennessee Titans

44. Bruce Matthews

67. Earl Campbell

Green Bay Packers

13. Don Hutson

21. Aaron Rodgers

24. Brett Favre

36. Forrest Gregg

59. Herb Adderley

62. Bart Starr

66. Ray Nitschke

91. Willie Davis

New England Patriots

  1. Tom Brady

27. John Hannah

47. Rob Gronkowski

Las Vegas Raiders

68. Gene Upshaw

69. Charles Woodson

76. Art Shell

77. Ted Hendricks

78. Mike Haynes

90. Willie Brown

95. Jim Otto

99. Marcus Allen

Los Angeles Rams

16. Deacon Jones

26. Aaron Donald

30. Merlin Olsen

40. Eric Dickerson

41. Marshall Faulk

93. Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch

Baltimore Ravens

17. Ray Lewis

39. Ed Reed

61. Jonathan Ogden

New Orleans Saints

43. Drew Brees

Seattle Seahawks

64. Steve Largent

65. Walter Jones

Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Joe Greene

28. Rod Woodson

37. Jack Lambert

55. Jack Ham

58. Mike Webster

70. Terry Bradshaw

72. Mel Blount

Houston Texans

35. J.J. Watt