Saturday, July 31, 2021

NFL 100: 70-61

The Athletic is counting down their 100 best players in the history of the National Football League. The NFL 100. Their most recent reveals are the players ranked 70-61. 

  70. Marshall Faulk
  69. Terry Bradshaw
  68. Charles Woodson
  67. Gene Upshaw
  66. Earl Campbell
  65. Joe Schmidt
  64. Walter Jones
  63. Raymond Berry
  62. Ray Nitshke  
  61. Bart Starr

Perhaps due a bit to their incredible versatility, #70 an #68 feels low for Marshall Faulk and Charles Woodson. It’s easy to say that now but there are a lot of great football players that have yet to be called. This is a list of the greatest players. Every player on the list is great. 

Earl Campbell was such a fun running back. That Monday Night game against the Miami Dolphins was a revelation.  

This block of 10 greats is wrapped up by a couple of Vince Lombardi’s leaders. Bart Starr was the steady, offensive leader. Ray Nitschke was the fiery, defensive leader. 

Pre-Super Bowl Era Tracker:

Steve Van Buren
Jim Otto
Mike Ditka
Fran Tarkenton
Elroy Hirsch
Lenny Moore
Willie Davis
Willie Brown
Bobby Layne
Buck Buchanan
Bulldog Turner
Mel Hein
Leo Nomellini
John Mackey
Paul Warfield
Bobby Bell
Marion Motley
Joe Schmidt
Raymond Berry
Ray Nitschke
Bart Starr

The Athletic is doing a nice job of including the great players that played much, if not all, of their careers before the first Super Bowl. 

A recap of the previously revealed players:

100-81:

100. Derrick Brooks
  99. Dermontti Dawson
  98. Steve Van Buren
  97. Jim Otto 
  96. Mike Ditka
  95. Fran Tarkenton
  94. Elroy Hirsch
  93. Mike Singletary
  92. Lenny Moore
  91. Willie Davis
  90. Willie Brown
  89. Bobby Layne
  88. Darrell Green
  87. Champ Bailey
  86. Buck Buchanan
  85. Bulldog Turner
  84. Mel Hein
  83. Leo Nomellini
  82. Kellen Winslow
  81. John Mackey
  80. Willie Lanier
  79. Mike Haynes
  78. Roger Staubach
  77. Ted Hendricks
  76. Art Shell
  75. Paul Warfield
  74. Bobby Bell
  73. Marion Motley
  72. Adrian Peterson
  71. Mel Blount

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