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Lists to get you through all the long, boring, miserable, non-football hours until kickoff.

Football

Oilers Trade Steve Largent to the Seahawks

The NFL is not known for outlandish trades. Superstar trades are usually more reserved for the NBA and MLB. But over time, there have been many well-known names that have been moved in the NFL. Often times, the players are moved for draft picks as everyone is always trying to get younger in a league that is filled with injuries. When trading someone like Steve Young, Jerome Bettis, or Randy Moss you better know what you're doing. Extra draft picks may not be worth the risk of losing a future Hall of Fame player. On the flip side, trading all your draft picks to move up in the Draft to select what you think is a sure thing can also be a drastic mistake. Everyone remembers the Chargers moving up to grab Ryan Leaf with the second overall pick, but the Chargers aren't the only team to make that mistake. Here is a list of the 15 worst trades in NFL history. Vote up which ones you think teams regret the most. &nbsp;

Albert Haynesworth

The dirtiest NFL players of all time are some of the meanest and most hated men to ever play professional football. Some of these players are among the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-current-nfl-players/pedro-cerrano" target="_blank">most hated NFL players today</a>. You probably won&#39;t see these current and former National Football League players earning any sportsmanship awards anytime soon but there&#39;s a good chance their names will be in the news for bone-crushing hits, injuries and losing their tempers on the football field.

Each year several sports media outlets asks the NFL players themselves which current player they see as the dirtiest. In recent years, names like longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong &quot;Donkey Kong&quot; Suh have been selected by their peers as the dirtiest. With both players having nasty on-and-off-field incidents to their credit, the selections are not undeserved.

But dirty play is nothing new in the NFL. In fact, many of the dirtiest NFL players of all time are from many decades ago. Conrad Dobler, an offensive lineman who played from 1972 to 1981, bit, hit, kicked and spit on opposing players, including an incident where he punched fellow tough guy and one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-defenders-in-nfl-history" target="_blank">greatest defenders in NFL history</a> Mean Joe Greene. Johnny Sample is another long retired player who earned the reputation for dirty play. The defensive back in the 1950s and 60s even named his autobiography &quot;Confessions of a Dirty Ballplayer.&quot;

While professional football is and will probably always be a violent sport, these dirty NFL players took that to another scary level. Vote for the NFL players you think are the dirtiest below or add any that are missing. Think these guys are bad? Check out the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-most-shocking-nfl-scandals/sportsyeah" target="_blank">most shocking NFL scandals</a> too.

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best NFL players</a> of the 2010s all dominated the sport in different ways. Offensive talents like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, and Julio Jones led their teams with incredible stats and awards. Defensive standouts like J.J. Watt, Von Miller, and Aaron Donald proved that defense could impact the game with positive results and hard work.&nbsp;

All the best NFL players of the decade will be featured here along with a hit list of their biggest accomplishments in the decade. Teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-green-bay-packers-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Green Bay Packers</a> had the biggest impact by&nbsp;going to the Super Bowl multiple times, and all featured superstars who would be major factors on any list like this. Given how hard it is to have a long career in the NFL, these talents all deserve to be appreciated for their success.&nbsp;

Vote up for the best overall players to shine in the decade and&nbsp;help decide which <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nfl-players-from-texas/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top NFL players</a> of the decade deserve to be ranked the highest on the list.

Every No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft is a potentially franchise-changing player. Sometimes that player leads his team to multiple Super Bowls like Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman, two of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time" target="_blank">the best quarterbacks in NFL history</a>.

Other times, he leads another franchise to multiple Super Bowls like John Elway and Eli Manning, neither of whom played a snap for the team that drafted them.

Nine Hall of Famers have gone been the top overall pick in the NFL draft and five league MVPs.

But who has been the best No. 1 overall draft pick for his franchise. Stats below reflect only a player&#39;s time with the team that drafted him, unless otherwise noted, and that&#39;s how these players should be ranked. How much did they help the team that spent a No. 1 pick on them?

New York Giants

The greatest NFL teams are those professional football teams beloved by fans and often hated by rivals. These teams are often Super Bowl champions and filled with all-star players young and old. Most fans who follow the National Football League have a favorite team, and that&#39;s totally cool, but these teams are the best of the best. Deciding on the <a href="/list/greatest-pro-football-teams-of-all-time/mathayus" target="_blank">greatest pro football teams of all time</a> is often a matter of what the criteria is.

Few fans would select a team other than the one they root for as the best, but if you&#39;re looking at it in terms of Super Bowl wins, the Pittsburgh Steelers lead all other with their six titles. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers come in right behind with five, but neither have won the championship in nearly two decades. More recently, teams like the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-new-england-patriots-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New England Patriots</a> and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-new-york-giants-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New York Giants</a> have dominated the championships and battled one another in the title game in recent years.

So how do you select which NFL team is best? Titles and wins or simply which team you root for over those which are bitter rivals? However you select the top NFL teams, do so below by voting and re-ranking this list of the greatest NFL teams!

poll

Ryan Tannehill

One of the hottest debates in all of sports is over who is the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best quarterback</a> in the NFL right now. It&#39;s an argument that will rage on as long as there are NFL teams. Over the last decade, the question of the best current quarterback in pro football came down to two players: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Both of them have dominated the league, but there&#39;s a new breed of quarterbacks who can stake their claim to being the best in the league.

Would you argue with Aaron Rodgers as the best quarterback right now? The Green Bay quarterback is a guy who was won a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/super-bowl?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">Super Bowl</a> and&nbsp; an MVP, after all. How about Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger, both whom have won two Super Bowls. You can even throw Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan into the mix.

This is your chance to weigh in on who is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. The key here is right now. We aren&#39;t interested in the greatest quarterback in NFL history, only the best in the current season. This is the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-ultimate-dream-garage?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Ultimate List</a> of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League right now, so pick who you think is the most worthy contender for that title and vote him up.

Jarvis Landry

In order to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, players must learn their routes, lose their defenders, and most importantly, not drop the ball. Also known as the fastest and most agile players in the league, these are the best wide receivers in the NFL right now. &nbsp;

When fans discuss the best wide receivers in football, players like the Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins&nbsp;are usually in the mix. In recent years, stars like Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, and Mike Evans have all made a name for themselves with their stellar play on the field.&nbsp;

Vote for who you think are the best current NFL wide receivers. Even if the player is a rookie or a veteran, just vote up the WRs who are currently playing well in the league. Feel free to add other great wide receivers&nbsp;missing from the list.

Ken Anderson

A list of the most underrated quarterbacks of all time. Despite the gargantuan scouting staffs that NFL teams employ, there are still plenty of players who fly under the radar or in some cases, don't even play in the league at all. This list includes players who were successful in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as well, after all, there are number of great players on here who never could become the apple of the NFL's eye. There are a bunch of players, even some Hall of Famers and some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time">greatest quarterbacks of all time</a>, who are on here. You'll be surprised to learn that these guys slipped through the cracks, especially players like Super Bowl winners like Kurt Warner and Joe Theismann on here, along with one of the best pure passing quarterbacks in Warren Moon. Somehow, these guys were overlooked, yet after honing their craft in the CFL or even the Arena League, these guys got their chance at the big time. Though some of these guys became NFL afterthoughts, and some, didn't even have a chance to show how good they were, they are still supremely underrated compared to other quarterbacks that did get a chance to play in the pros. You may be surprised to see some other big names on here, but when push comes to shove, this is the reason why these guys are underrated. This is your chance to have your say on who is the most underrated pro quarterback of all time. Vote whether or not you agree with the status of these players on this Ultimate List.

Football is one of the most dangerous sports for players and one of the hardest on atheltes&#39; bodies, meaning the list of NFL players whose careers ended too soon is long and unfortunate. While some players made their mark in the short time they had before injuries or tragedy took them out of the game, some were not around in the league long enough to showcase the full extent of their talents.

Perhaps the most famous NFL player to have his career cut short is Pat Tillman, who famously left the NFL after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to join the military and died as a result of friendly fire. Other popular players like Troy Aikman and Gale Sayers, while they did not suffer the same tragic end as Tillman, were forced to retire after multiple injuries made the game impossible to play.

So check out this list of the top&nbsp;football players whose short careers left fans wondering what might have been if not for injuries or tragedies or just not wanting to put their bodies through the pain anymore. Vote up the players <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-wish-you-were-better-at/lauren-slocum?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">you wish you</a> could have seen take another snap and the ones you think retired too early.

Terrance West

Using a combination of speed, strength, and agility, NFL running backs must carry the&nbsp;football through elite defenses. During the&nbsp;rush to a touchdown, they must avoid getting tackled and fumbling the ball, which sounds easier than it is. Only the most athletic halfbacks, tailbacks, and fullbacks&nbsp;are able to juke and spin their way&nbsp;onto this list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best running backs</a> in the NFL right now. Some of whom might even end up among&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time">the greatest running backs in football history</a>.

In his rookie year, Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott lead the league in yards rushed and first downs rushed. However, New England Patriot LeGarrette Blount&nbsp;lead&nbsp;other RBs with 18 rushing&nbsp;touchdowns. Other notable&nbsp;running backs include Chicago Bear Jordan Howard, Tennessee Titan DeMarco Murray, and Pittsburgh Steeler Le&#39;Veon Bell.&nbsp;

Vote up the athletes you think are the best running backs in the NFL right now. Even if the player is a rookie or a veteran, just vote up the halfbacks, tailbacks, and fullbacks who are currently playing well in the league. Feel free to add other great running backs&nbsp;missing from the list.&nbsp;If you&#39;re a fantasy football player, head over and help decide the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/2019-fantasy-football-running-backs/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best fantasy football RBs of 2019</a>.

Current NFL

NFL fans love to argue over what team has the best uniform in the league. While to non-football fans this may seems like a trivial detail, a team's uniform and colors are important to projecting an image that is vital to a team and its fans. The best uniforms can also be some of the league's most basic and simple. For many years, the Oakland Raiders' intimidating silver and black uniform has been considered one of the best in the NFL due its menacing color combination. Traditionalists love uniforms of classic teams like the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. These uniforms have barely changed over the years.In 2012, Nike became the official outfitter of the NFL. A few teams have updated their uniforms since then. The Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins changed their uniforms, hoping that a snazzy new look will help them vault into the upper echelon of the best uniforms in the NFL. Has it helped? Some people now think that they have the worst NFL uniforms. Who knows! What we can know is which are the coolest NFL jerseys. Which ones would you sport while tailgating a big game? Or wear to a party? Is there a NFL uniforms so cool that you'd even wear it to your wedding? If so, it's going to be on this definitive ranking of the top football jerseys.Vote on what you consider to be the best uniforms in the NFL in these NFL uniform rankings. There's no rhyme or reason to the list; just vote for the team you think has the best uniform, that way we can find out which are the coolest and which are the ugliest in the league! The title of the team with the best uniform in the NFL is in your hands!

Are you ready for some football? Okay, well&nbsp;how about some NFL&nbsp;memes and&nbsp;jokes instead? The NFL, to put it lightly, is an obsession for many, which is why&nbsp;NFL memes,&nbsp;the modern day version of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/nfl-game-day-signs/ranker-nfl">NFL Game Day&nbsp;signs</a>, are so popular.&nbsp;Combining sports mania with the zest of Internet humor, NFL memes add a whole new level to the fun of football. From the endless array of Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions jokes, to making fun of one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time">best quarterbacks of all time</a>, these are the funniest NFL memes of all time.

NFL football <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10354114/harris-poll-nfl-most-popular-mlb-2nd">is the most popular sport in America</a>, but that doesn't mean there aren't things about it that suck. Every Sunday, Americans are glued to their TVs watching football, but unless you're watching NFL RedZone, which costs a fortune, you're probably watching a commercial or footage of a bunch of guys in uniform standing around waiting. That's because in a&nbsp;football game, there are <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406">only 11 minutes of action</a>. Even the biggest football fans can agree there are plenty of reasons the NFL sucks.For starters, commissioner Roger Goodell makes more than&nbsp;$30 million a year in salary. That seems a tad high for someone who seems to never do anything right. The rules are probably the least clear of any of the major sports, and it's certainly the most dangerous sport in the US. And these are just a few of the NFL complaints every football fan has.&nbsp;Here are things about the NFL that suck. Vote up the ones you think suck the hardest (and not in a good way).&nbsp;

Georgia Dome

The best NFL stadiums are those beautiful and historic homes of everyone's <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-pro-football-teams-of-all-time/mathayus" target="_blank">favorite National Football League teams</a>. Scattered across America, these stadiums welcome millions of fans annually all pumped up to cheer for their home teams. While each NFL stadium has a bit of charm, there are a few stadiums that stand above and beyond the rest with technological advancements, beautiful scenery and enough fan spirit to carry a team to a Super Bowl.Picking the best NFL stadiums is often a matter of preference with fans of a certain team favoring their home stadium as the top pick. That said, some stadiums, mainly those which are newer or iconic, do stand out as among the best. Few can deny that the new Cowboys Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas, is not a masterpiece complete with ginormous video screens that stretch from one 20-yard line to the other. Similarly, Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, is one of the oldest in the league having been built in 1957 but remains as a favorite with decades of history--plus some 21st century updates--to its name.On the opposite end of the spectrum, many NFL stadiums leave fans a bit underwhelmed. Candlestick Park for instance, home to the San Francisco 49ers, has been the site of numerous historical events since it opened in 1960 yet is in desperate need of modern updates. The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome would be another that falls in the lower rankings and is actually set to be demolished and replaced by 2016.What do you think are the best football stadiums in the NFL? Show your stadium love by voting for those you like best or re-ranking this list of the best NFL stadiums below. Now a fan of these cities' stadiums? Vote for the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cities-that-should-have-a-football-team/the-round-mound" target="_blank">cities that should have a football team</a> instead.

Cities / Towns

San Jose

&nbsp;

Of course big cities like New York and Miami have NFL teams, but there are plenty of other cities that should have a football team! The places on this list are the populous and thriving cities across the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/united-states?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">United States</a> that are deserving of a home National Football League team. Many of these cities have nearby teams or hosted teams in the past but none currently have an NFL team to call their own.

For years, Los Angeles was the biggest city without its own NFL team. In 2016, however, the Rams&nbsp;moved back to LA, and in no time, the Chargers announced a move from San Diego to the City of Angels. With that, Los Angeles became&nbsp;easily one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cities-with-the-best-sports-teams/sportsyeah " target="_blank">best sports cities in the US</a>. Which other burgs around America deserve to enjoy a similar&nbsp;NFL renaissance?

After all, it&#39;s not just Southern California that constantly made the list of places that deserve an NFL team. Las Vegas&nbsp;was a popular pick for where fans would like to see a pro football franchise spring up until the Raiders moved there in 2020. Other major&nbsp;Southwest cities like San Antonio, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, are in the conversation as well.

Adding or moving NFL franchises is a highly debated topic on which not everyone will ever agree. Some want to see more action and closer but others argue that expansion means only more <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-teams-to-ever-make-nfl-playoffs/the-round-mound" target="_blank">bad teams in the NFL</a>. But what fun would sports be if fans didn&#39;t argue all the time? Which cities and states without NFL teams do you think should be on top of the list? Make your voice heard here!

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From breaking up passes to making tackles on receivers, the top NFL&nbsp;cornerbacks&nbsp;play an important role on the field. They&#39;ve got to be quick, powerful, and fearsome&mdash;and all the players on this list of NFL cornerbacks&nbsp;are just that. Whether they&#39;re a part of an impenetrable duo or are simply known as one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-defenders-in-nfl-history" target="_blank">best defenders in football</a>, who do you think are&nbsp;the best cornerbacks in the NFL right now?

When it comes to current cornerbacks, few hold down the CB&nbsp;position better than players like Jalen Ramsey, Xavier Rhodes, and Casey Hayward. However, you&#39;ve also got to consider guys like Patrick Peterson, who may be one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-arizona-cardinals-of-all-time/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best Arizona Cardinals</a>, not to mention Darius Slay, A.J. Bouye, and Josh Norman, among others. In short, there are plenty of killer corners&nbsp;out there going up against the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nfl-wide-receiver/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best wide receivers</a>,&nbsp;but only one can be considered the very best. What would your rankings look like?

Check out the list of current cornerbacks below and give votes to the players you think are at the top of their class. While you&#39;re at it, cast a vote for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-linebackers-in-nfl-right-now/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best linebackers in the NFL today</a>.

Scandals

&nbsp;

The most shocking NFL scandals tell tales of professional football players or complete National Football League teams who have committed <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-accused-of-horrible-crimes/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">horrible crimes</a>, been caught breaking zero-tolerance NFL rules or simply (literally) caught with their pants down. These NFL players, quarterbacks, coaches and owners may have been welcomed back in the league after their various incidents but their legacies will forever be tainted with the dirty details of these dramatic NFL scandals.

For many of these scandals, the resulting discipline came directly from the National Football League. Coaches have been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars, like New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick after the Spygate scandal, and suspended for entire seasons, like New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Peyton after the Bountygate scandal. Players have been suspended, such as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-pittsburgh-steelers-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback</a> Ben Roethlisberger following allegations of sexual assault and former <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-green-bay-packers-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Green Bay Packers quarterback</a> Brett Favre after his incident with a female field reporter.

In other extreme cases, players, owners and other organization members saw law enforcement get involved which resulted in felony charges and long prison terms. The world tuned in when former <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">Heisman Trophy</a> winner OJ Simpson led police on a chase in his white Bronco before the highly publicized murder trial. Fans protested again when former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick went to prison for running a dogfighting ring, and staged boycotts later when he was reinstated and praised for his comeback.

What are the biggest NFL scandals ever recorded? Whatever these NFL teams, NFL players and NFL coaches did to earn their place among the biggest NFL scandals--even if it was just getting drunk and trying to kiss a female sideline reporter, like &quot;Broadway Joe&quot; Namath did with Suzy Kolber--each of these scandals show us that while people in the NFL are rich and famous, they&#39;re also human, just like us.

&nbsp;

Memes

Football is great. Sports are the best. But do you know what's even better than just regular football? Incredibly awkward NFL photos and and NFL memes. Honestly, it just enhances the game. They may be gladiators on the field, but that doesn't make them immune to embarrassing&nbsp;moments.&nbsp;These are some of the weirdest moments in NFL football history ever captured on camera which is basically a nice way of saying there are a lot of personal fouls and illegal touching going on here.&nbsp;

The worst teams to ever make the NFL Playoffs are not just okay teams, they are simply bad teams that somehow managed to qualify for the National Football League postseason following a really crappy season. We're not talking about the borderline 9-7 teams that somehow squeak into the playoffs, we're talking a handful of teams that had losing seasons and still managed to win their division and earn that automatic playoff spot. The process for selecting teams for the NFL Playoffs is pretty simple. The winners in each of the six divisions automatically qualify along with two wild card teams from each of the two conferences based on their regular season win-loss record. Usually this means the best teams in the league compete for the chance to play in the Super Bowl but as these teams prove, that logic is not always flawless. With the exception of the shortened 1982 NFL season in which both the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns entered the playoffs with 4-5 records, never has a team with a losing record in a 16-game season qualified for the playoffs until the 2010 season. The Seattle Seahawks managed to win the beyond weak NFC West with a losing 7-9 record and earn the automatic bid into the postseason. Meanwhile, a 10-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the competitive NFC South sat home and watched with their 10-6 record getting them nowhere. Seattle was pretty bad during the year, allowing 407 points compared to scoring 310, but managed to shock everyone in the first round of the 2010 NFL Playoffs by upsetting the defending-champion New Orleans Saints. Only slightly better than teams with a losing record that qualified for the NFL Playoffs are teams that went an even .500 on the year and still reached the postseason. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 through 2010, 10 teams have qualified for the playoffs with an even 8-8 record. Many argued that allowing these sub-par teams into the playoffs was a travesty, especially in cases where other teams with much better records sat home, such as the case of the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots who went 11-5 in 2008 and spent their winter on vacation, not competing to play in the Super Bowl. Hmm, sounds like they may have a point.What are the worst teams to make the playoffs? There are some really bad teams on this list, some might have even had the worst record in NFL history, and there are plenty options to vote for so choose wisely.

Curses

Richard Sherman (2015)

Even if you’re not a particularly superstitious person, there are some peculiar happenings that really can’t be denied when it comes the cover image of this particular video game franchise. The Madden Curse is the stuff of legend. The history of those who are featured on Madden covers is undeniably unsettling. Being featured on the game doesn’t gaurantee anything (except for more money), but there are certainly cases that make it seem like being the Madden cover athlete is the equivalent of making a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-to-sell-your-soul-to-the-devil/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">deal with the devil</a>. These are the worst cases of the Madden Curse.

Are You Ready for Some NFL?

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This list of the greatest defenders in NFL history is here to decide definitively who is the best defender in NFL history. These are beasts of men who played for some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-sports-franchises-of-all-time">best sports franchises ever</a> and were (or are) among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-25-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time/hardtack">best NFL players of all time</a>. These NFL legends are all here, in one place, so you can vote on the best NFL defender to ever play football.Some of these exceptional NFL players include the legendary Dick Butkus, &quot;Mean&quot; Joe Greene, and hard hitter-turned-coach Mike Singletary. Whatever it is that you factor into the skills of the best NFL defenders (speed, aggression, determination, stamina), these NFL players are the best at what they do from a defensive player standpoint. What makes a great NFL defender? Who are the best NFL defenders of all time? Who is the top NFL defender in history? You decide! Vote for the NFL players you think make the biggest impact as defensive players and vote them up to the top of this list of the greatest defenders in NFL history. If you don't see your favorite NFL defender on this top NFL defenders list, make sure to add him so others can revel in his athletic glory. So who are the best defensive players in NFL history? Vote!Check out more lists like the<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-25-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time/hardtack">&nbsp;best NFL players in history</a>, the<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time"> top quarterbacks</a>, and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-greatest-linebackers-of-all-time">the greatest linebackers of all time</a>.&nbsp;

Best NFL Defensive Players in History, Ranked

The Greatest Defenders in NFL History

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FREEFORM

Derrick Thomas

Derrick Vincent Thomas (January 1, 1967 – February 8, 2000), nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end who played for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Thomas was drafted fourth overall by the Chiefs in the 1989 NFL Draft where he spent the entirety of his 11-year career until his death in 2000. Considered one of the greatest pass rushers of all time, he was named to nine Pro Bowls and holds the record for most sacks in a single game at seven.
After the conclusion of the Chiefs' 1999 season, Thomas was involved in a car accident during the 1999–2000 NFL playoffs that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Days later, he died from a blood clot that developed in his paralyzed legs and traveled to his lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Mel Blount

Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948) is a former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, five-time Pro Bowler and a 1989 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.Blount is considered one of the best cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL.  His physical style of play made him one of the most feared defensive backs in the game at a time when pass interference rules were less stringent.  He founded the Mel Blount Youth Home.

Julius Peppers

Julius Frazier Peppers (born January 18, 1980) is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at North Carolina, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016.
Peppers was named to the Pro Bowl nine times, and both the first and second All-Pro teams three times each. In his rookie season, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002, where he recorded 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception, all while playing in only 12 games. He was also named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

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Kevin Greene

Kevin Greene may refer to:

Kevin Greene (rugby union) (born 1949), New Zealand rugby union player
Kevin Greene (politician) (born 1958), Australian politician
Kevin Greene (American football) (born 1962), American football player
Kevin Greene (archaeologist), British archaeologist
Kevin J. Greene, American law professor

Jack Ham

Jack Raphael Ham Jr. (born December 23, 1948) is a former American football outside linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1971 to 1982. He is considered one of the greatest outside linebackers in the history of the NFL. Ham was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Michael Strahan

Michael Anthony Strahan (; born November 21, 1971) is an American former football defensive end who spent his entire 15-year career with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Strahan set a record for the most sacks in a season in 2001, and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII over the New England Patriots in his final season in 2007. After retiring from the NFL, Strahan became a media personality. Strahan was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and  co-host of ABC's Strahan and Sara. He was previously on the syndicated daytime talk show Live! with Kelly and Michael with co-host Kelly Ripa from 2012 to 2016, where he was a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner. In 2014, he became a regular contributor on morning show Good Morning America, and in 2016 the network announced that Strahan would be leaving Live! to join GMA on a full-time basis.

Derrick Brooks

Derrick Dewan Brooks (born April 18, 1973) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. He played college football for Florida State University, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American.  He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, where he played his entire professional career. An eleven-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro, Brooks was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and earned a championship ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Later, he was elected to the 2000s all decade defensive team.  He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He was the co-owner and president of the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League from 2011 to 2017.

Steve Atwater

Stephen Dennis Atwater (born October 28, 1966) is a former American football player who spent most of his career playing free safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Atwater and Dennis Smith made up a Broncos secondary that was known for their ferocious hits on opposing players. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion.

Junior Seau

Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. (; SAY-ow; January 19, 1969 – May 2, 2012) was an American football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Known for his passionate play, he was a 10-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He was elected posthumously to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Originally from Oceanside, California, Seau played college football at the University of Southern California (USC). He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers as the fifth overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft. Seau started for 13 seasons for the Chargers and led them to Super Bowl XXIX before being traded to the Miami Dolphins where he spent three years, and spent his last four seasons with the New England Patriots. Following his retirement, he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and the team retired his number 55.
Seau committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest in 2012 at the age of 43. Later studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease that has also been found in other deceased former NFL players. The disease is believed to derive from repetitive head trauma, and can lead to conditions like dementia, rage and depression.

Richard Dent

Richard Lamar Dent (born December 13, 1960) is a former American football defensive end, who played primarily for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

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John Lynch

John Terrence Lynch Jr. (born September 25, 1971) is a former American football strong safety and the current general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford University, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He also spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2008. After the end of his playing career, Lynch worked in the broadcasting booth as a color commentator for NFL on Fox games, and remained doing so until his hiring as the general manager of the 49ers in 2017.

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Jack Youngblood

Herbert Jackson Youngblood III (born January 26, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before playing professionally, Youngblood played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. He is considered among the best players Florida ever produced—a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and one of only six Florida Gators to be named to the Gator Football Ring of Honor.
After retiring as a player in 1985, Youngblood worked in the Rams' front office until 1991. He also worked in the front office of the Sacramento Surge of the World League (WLAF) from 1992 to 1993, and the administration of the Canadian Football League's Sacramento Gold Miners from 1993 to 1994. He was a vice-president, then president, of the Orlando Predators from 1995 until 1999. From 1999 through 2002, he served as the NFL's liaison for the Arena Football League.Youngblood has made forays into broadcasting (both radio and television), acting, and business, and has written an autobiography. He was a popular spokesperson for various products, and he has been consistently involved in charity work, starting in college, continuing throughout his NFL career, and remaining so today. Currently, Youngblood serves on the NFLPA Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee.In 2014, Youngblood opened the Jack Youngblood Center for NeuroEnhancement in Orlando, Florida, which purports to treat the symptoms of traumatic brain injury and offer care to patients in effort to restore normal brain function. Youngblood has stated, "The bonus with this therapy is that the time invested is minimal, while the results are extraordinary."

Bob Lilly

Robert Lewis Lilly (born July 26, 1939), nicknamed "Mr. Cowboy", is a former American football defensive tackle and photographer. After a college career at Texas Christian University (TCU), he played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. Lilly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Charles Haley

Charles Lewis Haley (born January 6, 1964) is a former  American football linebacker and defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers (1986–1991, 1998–1999) and the Dallas Cowboys (1992–1996).
A versatile defensive player, Haley began his career as a specialty outside linebacker, eventually progressing to pass-rusher and finally full-fledged defensive end. He is the first five-time Super Bowl champion and is second only to Tom Brady who has six Super Bowl titles. He won two Super Bowls with the 49ers (XXIII, XXIV) and three with the Cowboys (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX); he was a starter in all five championship games. Haley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

L. C. Greenwood

L. C. Henderson Greenwood (September 8, 1946 – September 29, 2013) was an American football defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).

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DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Omar Ware (born July 31, 1982) is a former American football outside linebacker and defensive end. He played college football at Troy and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. After spending nine seasons with the Cowboys, Ware departed in 2013 as the franchise's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 117. Ware then played three seasons for the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. After the 2016 season with the Broncos, he announced his retirement from the NFL. In 2017, he signed a one-day contract with Dallas to retire as a Cowboy. In 2018, the Broncos hired Ware as a pass-rush consultant.

Ed Jones

Ed Lee Jones (born October 21, 1950), commonly known as Ed "Too Tall" Jones, is a retired American football player who played 15 seasons (1974–1978, 1980–1989) in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. In 1979, he briefly left football to attempt a career in professional boxing.

Darrell Green

Darrell Ray Green (born February 15, 1960) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL. Green was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
The self-proclaimed "itty bitty guy," Green was nicknamed the "Ageless Wonder" by his peers and the general media for his remarkable ability to maintain a high level of play well into the twilight of his career. Green was also known for his speed and was one of the fastest players in the history of the NFL.

Warren Sapp

Warren Carlos Sapp (born December 19, 1972) is a former American football defensive tackle. A Hall of Famer, Sapp played college football for the University of Miami, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American and won multiple awards. Sapp played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2007 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders, making the Pro Bowl seven times. Following Sapp's NFL career, he was an analyst on NFL Network until 2015.
Sapp was drafted by the Buccaneers in the 1995 NFL Draft as the 12th overall pick. In his nine seasons with the Buccaneers, he earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl and a Super Bowl ring in 2002.  He moved to the Raiders in 2004.  His 96.5 career sacks (100 with playoffs included) are the second-highest career sacks for a defensive tackle and the 28th-highest overall for a defensive lineman. His 77 sacks with the Buccaneers are the second-most in the team's history to Lee Roy Selmon's 78.5.
His career was checkered by controversy from his hard-hitting style of play and occasional verbal outbursts, both on the field and off, some of which resulted in fines by the league, and he was once ejected from a game for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In his first year of eligibility, on February 2, 2013, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Buccaneers entered him into their Ring of Honor on November 11, 2013, and retired his number 99 jersey. Sapp became the second Buccaneer to have his jersey retired, after Selmon.

Sean Taylor

Sean Michael Maurice Taylor (April 1, 1983 – November 27, 2007) was an American football free safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Redskins with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft where he played for four seasons until his death in 2007. 
As a high school player, Taylor led Gulliver Prep to a Florida state championship and rushed for a state record 44 touchdowns in a season. He subsequently played college football as a defensive back for the University of Miami, where he was a member of the Hurricanes' 2001 BCS National Championship team, and earned unanimous All-American honors. 
Taylor's success in college led to him being selected in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Redskins where he gained a reputation as a hard-hitting player. Due to his ferocious hits, several of his Redskins teammates nicknamed him "Meast", from the expression "half man, half beast." He made one Pro Bowl appearance in 2006.
During the 2007 NFL season, on November 26 Taylor was shot by intruders at his Miami area home and died the next day on November 27. His death led to an outpouring of national support and sympathy, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, where Taylor had been a fan favorite as a Redskin, and the Miami area, where he had starred in high school and college. Posthumously, he earned a second Pro Bowl selection and First Team All-Pro honors.

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Jack Tatum

John David Tatum (November 18, 1948 – July 27, 2010) was an American football safety who played 10 seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL). He was popularly known as "the Assassin" because of his playing style. He was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls (1973–1975) and was a member of one Super Bowl-winning team in his nine seasons with the Raiders. He is also known for a hit he made against New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley in a 1978 preseason game that paralyzed Stingley from the chest down.
A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Tatum was a unanimous All-American in 1969 and 1970. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft, and with them earned a reputation as a fierce competitor and one of the hardest hitters ever to play the game. Tatum was also noted for his involvement in the Immaculate Reception play during a 1972 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tatum's hitting style was well recognized in the 1970s, and his New York Times obituary stated Tatum was a "symbol of a violent game".

TimothyEMantlow

Randy White

Randall Lee White (born January 15, 1953) is a former American football defensive tackle. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1988. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame (1994), the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994) and the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.

James Harrison

James Henry Harrison Jr. (born May 4, 1978) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for Kent State University and was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers: XL and XLIII. In 2008, he became the only undrafted player to be named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Harrison also played for NFL Europe's Rhein Fire and had brief stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. After the 2013 season, he stated that he would be retiring from the NFL, but he came out of retirement to return to the Steelers, and spent his final NFL season with the New England Patriots. Harrison is the Steelers' all-time sack leader, with 80.5. Harrison currently appears on FS1 as a football analyst.

Chuck Bednarik

Charles Philip Bednarik (May 1, 1925 – March 21, 2015), nicknamed Concrete Charlie, was a professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last full-time two-way player in the National Football League (NFL). A Slovak American from the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, Bednarik played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 through 1962 and, upon retirement, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, his first year of eligibility.

Merlin Olsen

Merlin Jay Olsen (; September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American football player, announcer, and actor.  He played his entire 15-year professional football career in National Football League (NFL) as a defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Rams.  He was selected to the Pro Bowl a record 14 straight times, missing selection only in the last year of his career. This record of 14 seasons selected to play in the Pro Bowl, consecutive or otherwise, is shared with current New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, former tight end Tony Gonzalez, and former quarterback Peyton Manning. A recipient of the 1961 Outland Trophy as the best lineman in college football, Olsen is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As an actor, he portrayed farmer Jonathan Garvey on Little House on the Prairie. After leaving that series, he starred in his own NBC drama, Father Murphy.

This list of the greatest defenders in NFL history is here to decide definitively who is the best defender in NFL history. These are beasts of men who played ... (Page 2)