nflbestbythenumbers

This is a research effort I took on a few years ago and continue to delve back into from time-to-time. While looking through this list of players, keep in mind that this is completely an inexact science. I have found that locating uniform numbers for some of the pre-World War II players is a real challenge - particularly the numbers for players on the many now-defunct franchises of the 1920s and 30s. Note that this list also includes players from the old All American Football Conference (AAFC), the original AFL and the AFL of the 1960s. Also note that many players have a star by their name, this indicates players who wore more than one jersey number. In cases of players who did wear more than one number, I have generally tried to associate that player with the number he wore for the longest tenure or the number he wore during his greatest success.

The selecting of players to list with each number is an inexact science as well. For this, I used a combination of different standards. Obviously, induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the ultimate judgement of a player's career. All Hall of Famers are listed. Next, a combination of awards, honors and statistics were used to determine the best players of all-time. Awards: NFL MVP, NFL Player of the Year, NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year, Super Bowl MVP, Pro Bowl MVP, and so on. Several different media sources and publications, as well as the official NFL voting, have been used to name award winners over the years. All were taken into consideration. Honors: By honors, I mean All Pro selections and Pro Bowl selections. All Pro teams have been selected since the very early days of the NFL and by many different sources. The Pro Bowl started in the early 1940s when the NFL champion played a team of NFL all stars after the season. This game was discontinued in 1943 and, following the 1950 season, the NFL Pro Bowl as we know it today was born. During the 1960s, the AFL selected an All Pro team, as well as, a Pro Bowl team. The AAFC, from 1946-50, also selected All Pro teams. Honors also include selection to All Decade Teams and NFL anniversary teams. Statistics: Stats weren't officially kept in the NFL until 1932 and they were somewhat limited, by todays standards. Year-by-year stats gives you an idea of who was among the league leaders in the many different categories each year. Carrer stats help judge a player's overall achievement, including longevity and consistency. Both lifetime or career stats and yearly stats were used for consideration.

During the early days of professional football, uniform numbers meant very little to players and spectators. In fact, during the 1920s, very few teams even assigned jersey numbers. Those teams who did use numbers paid very little attention to them. Players, during that time, often switched numbers from year-to-year and even game-to-game. I have, for example, no less than five or six numbers listed for many early greats like Ernie Nevers, Ray Flaherty, Mike Michalske and Cal Hubbard - only to name a few. If you notice the obvious omission of some of these plyers, it is probably due to the fact that I haven't been able to accurately determine a number to list him with.

By the 1930s, all teams were using uniform numbers, but there was still very little order in how they were chosen and listed in the game programs. Uniform numbers as we know them today came along after the 1951 season, when the NFL adopted the numbering system which is still in use. This was a system that was taken from the All American Football Conference and tinkered with just a bit. Prior to 1952 and the current numbering system, players were free to wear any number regardless of what position they played. The numbering system mandated that players had to wear numbers according to the positions they played. You have probably seen old photos and video clips of Red Grange wearing #77 or Otto Graham wearing #60 or Marion Motley wearing #76, those were all pre-numbering system years. Many players were forced to switch numbers as a result of the changes.

Here is the list which I have compiled. Thanks to all the PR folks in NFL offices who have helped in correspondence.

NUMBERS AND PLAYERS:

#1. Warren Moon, Gary Anderson, Garo Yepremian, Paddy Driscoll*(20)

#2. Charley Trippi*(62), Darren Bennett

#3. Bronko Nagurski*, Jan Stenerud*(10), Tony Canadeo, Mark Moseley, Daryl LaMonica*, Pete Gogolak

#4. Tuffy Leemans, Brett Favre

#5. Paul Hornung, George McAfee,

#6. Kevin Butler, Don Kindt, John James

#7. John Elway, Bob Waterfield, Mel Hein, Ace Parker, Dutch Clark, Morten Anderson*(5), Ed Sprinkle, Joe Theisman, Boomer Esiason, Craig Morton*(14,15), Ron Jaworski*, Ken O'Brien, Bert Jones, Elmer Angsman

#8. Steve Young, Larry Wilson, Troy Aikman, Ray Guy, Nick Lowery*(7), Archie Manning*(4), Bill Paschal

#9. Sonny Jurgenson, Jim McMahon, Tommy Kramer, Billy Wade, Bill Osmanski, Bill Shepard, Matt Bahr*

#10. Fran Tarkenton, Steve Bartkowski, Brad Van Pelt, Jack Manders

#11. Norm Van Brocklin*(25), Phil Simms, Jim Everett*(17), Drew Bledsoe, Danny White

#12. Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, John Brodie, Jim Kelly, Bob Greise, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler*(16), Randall Cunningham*(7), Joe Ferguson, Doug Williams*(17), Lynn Dickey*(10), Charley Johnson*

#13. Dan Marino, Jake Scott, Don Maynard, Joe Stydahar*, George Trafton, Ken Riley, Dave Jennings, Frank Ryan*(15), Guy Chamberlin

#14. Don Hutson, Dan Fouts, Ken Anderson, Otto Graham*(60), Y.A. Tittle*(64), Eddie LeBaron, Steve Grogan, Bob Hoernschemeyer, Ed Podolak, Ward Cuff*(21)

#15. Steve Van Buren, Bart Starr, Earl Morrall*(11,14,10), Babe Parilli*(10), Jack Kemp*(18), Niel Lomax

#16. Joe Montana*(19), Frank Gifford, Ed Healy, George Blanda*(22), Jim Plunkett*(14), Len Dawson*(18), George Musso, Norm Snead

#17. Turk Edwards, Harold Carmichael, Don Meredith, Rich Pettibon*(16), Steve DeBerg, Dave Krieg, Billy Kilmer, Brian Sipe, Jim Hart, Cecil Isbell

#18. Charlie Joiner*(40), Roman Gabriel*(5), Emmitt Thomas, Fred Gehrke, Frank Tripuka*(8), Gene Washington, Tobin Rote*(38)

#19. Johhny Unitas, Lance Alworth, Tom Dempsey*(6,11), Ox Emerson, Bernie Kosar

#20. Barry Sanders, Lem Barney, Cliff Battles, Mel Renfro, Lemar Parrish*(24), Gino Capaletti, Jim Patton, Jerry Logan, Billy Sims, Joe Morris, Deron Cherry, Bobby Bryant, Louis Wright, Zuck Carlson, Buster Ramsey*

#21. Dan Fortman, Dieon Sanders, John Hadl*(12), Cliff Branch, James Brooks, Nolan Cromwell, Ernest Byner*(44,23), Mike Garrett*, Terry Metcalf*, Eric Metcalf, Ed Meador, Eric Allen, Rick Volk*

#22. Bobby Layne*, Bob Hayes, Emmitt Smith, Roger Wherli, Paul Krause*(26), Buddy Young*, Mercury Morris, Keith Lincoln*(20), Dick Bass, Timmy Brown*(2,25), Dave Brown*(32), Milt Gantenbein*(46,21), Lavie Dilweg, Ed Danowski

#23. Paul Lowe*(20), Goose Gonsoulin*(35), Mike Wagner, Travis Williams*, Mel Gray*(37,21)

#24. Willie Brown, Jack Christiansen, Lenny Moore, Willie Wood, Everson Walls*(28), Johhny Sample*(44,47), Freeman McNiel, Warren Lahr

#25. Tommy McDonald*(29), Fred Biletnikof, Jim Bakken, Joe Washington*, Haven Moses, Jim David

#26. Herb Adderly, Rod Woodson, George Saimes, Lydell Mitchell*(22), Preston Pearson, Ray Renfro, Wendell Tyler

#27. Ken Houston*(29), Gary Garrison, Steve Atwater, Rodney Hampton

#28, Yale Lary, Willie Gailimore, Abner Haynes, Curt Warner*(21), Ahmad Rashad*(27), Jimmy Orr*(84), Hugh Taylor*(84), Darrell Green, Bill Bradley*(30)

#29. Eric Dickerson, Harold Jackson*(89), Alex Webster, Ed Kolman, Albert Lewis*(24), Charlie Brock

#30. Bill Willis*(60), Lawrence McCutcheon*, Terrell Davis, Bill Brown, Bosh Prichard, George Wilson, Mark Van Eeghen, Clark Hinkle*(33,41)

#31. Jim Taylor, Joe Fortunato, Donnie Shell, William Andrews, Wilbert Montgomery, Emerson Boozer, Dick Hoerner, James Wilder, Gaynell Tinsley

#32. Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Franco Harris, Mike Curtis, Al Blozis, Jack Pardee, Marcus Allen, Otis Anderson*(24), Dan Towler, Jack Tatum, Ricky Watters

#33. Sammy Baugh, Tony Dorsett, Roger Craig, Ollie Matson*, Larry Morris*, Nick Petrosante, Reggie Rucker,

#34. Walter Payton, Earl Campbell*(35), Joe Perry*(64), Andy Russell, Thurman Thomas, Hershel Walker, Cornell Green, Cookie Gilchrist*(2, 30),Walt Michaels, Greg Pruitt, Don Chandler, Pat Harder

#35. Pete Pihos, Bill Dudley, Alan Ameche, John Henry Johnson, Rick Casares*(38), Neal Anderson, Tank Younger, Calvin Hill, Jim Nance, Joe Geri, Jim Otis, Aeneas Williams

#36. Marion Motley*(76), Tommy Davis, Clem Daniels*(33), Bill Pellington, Chuck Drazenovich, McAthur Lane, Bill Thompson, Jerome Bettis, LeRoy Butler

#37. Jimmy Johnson, Pat Fischer, Doak Walker, Lester Hayes, Mel Gray*(23), Gerald Riggs*, Carnell Lake

#38. Arnie Herber*(41), George Rogers, Bob Tucker

#39. Hugh McEllheny, Larry Csonka, Sam Cunningham

#40. Gale Sayers, Mike Haynes*(22), Dick Anderson, Elroy Hirsch, Wayne Milner, Abe Woodson, Bobby Boyd, Ken Willard, Bobby Joe Conrad, Joe Morrison

#41. Charlie Waters, Matt Snell, Tom Matte, Phil Vilapiano, Keith Byars, Terry Barr, Jerry Norton, Lindon Crow*, Eugene Robinson, Jimmy Hill

#42. Sid Luckman, Ronnie Lott, Johnny Robinson, Charlie Connerly, Paul Warfield, Charley Taylor, John Brockington, Dick Hoak

#43. Cliff Harris, Larry Brown, Mike Pruitt*, Don Perkins, Carl Lockhart, Will Sherman, Jim Norton, Steve Foley, Dave Hampton*(25), Buckets Goldenberg*(44)

#44. John Riggins, Chuck Foreman, LeRoy Kelly, Pete Retzlaff, Kyle Rote, Dick LeBeau, Jerrell Wilson, Floyd Little, Andy Farkas, Donny Anderson, Dave Waymer*, Don Doll*, Lou Rymkus*, Bobby Dillon, Paul Christman*(15,28), John David Crow, Baby Ray

#45. Kenny Easly, Emlem Tunnell, Clyde Duncan, Gary Fencik, Homer Jones, Dave Grayson

#46. Pete Johnson, Chuck Muncie*(42), Todd Christensen, Dan Abramowicz, Tim McDonald

#47. Mel Blount, Johnny Morris, Joey Browner, Jess Whittenton, Paul Lipscomb

#48. Beatie Feathers*(3), Les Richter*(67), Al Carmichael*(42)

#49. Bobby Mitchell, Erich Barnes*(24,40), Dennis Smith

#50. Mike Singletary, Ken Strong, Jeff Seimon, John Reger*

#51. Dick Butkus, Ken Kavanaugh, Randy Cross, Sam Mills, Ken Norton, Jim Ringo*(54)

#52. Mike Webster, Frank Gatski*, Robert Brazile, Pepper Johnson

#53. Mick Tinglehoff, Randy Gradishar, Harry Carson, Tom Addison, Rod Martin, Bob Brueing, Bill Romanowski, Alyn Beals, Mark Stepnoski

#54. Randy White, Chuck Howley, Bob Johnson, Ed Flanagan, Tom Banks

#55. Lee Roy Jordan, Maxie Baughn, Tom Fears*(80), Junior Seau, EJ Holub, Chris Hanburger, Matt Hazeltine*, Dan Conners, Jon Kolb, Wayne Walker, Paul McGuire, Ray Weitcha

#56. Lawrence Taylor, Joe Schmidt, Bill Hewitt*, Dante Lavelli*, Chip Banks, Andre Tippett, John Offerdahl, Pat Swilling, Len Hauss, Chris Doleman, Jon Morris*, Hardy Nickerson

#57. Dwight Stephenson, Clay Matthews, Tom Jackson, Steve Nelson, Rickey Jackson, Mike Merriwether, Jeff Van Note,

#58. Jack Lambert, Mac Speedie, Derick Thomas, Mike Stratton, Isiah Robertson, Wilbur Marshall, Jack Rudnay

#59. Jack Ham, Horace Gillam*(80), Matt Blair, Seth Joyner

#60. Chuck Bednarik, Tommy Nobis, Dick Stanfel, Dennis Harrah, Larry Grantham, LeRoy Caffey, Len Younce, Dale Dodrill

#61. Bill George, Curley Culp*(78), Dick Barwegan*, Bob Talamini, Duane Putnam, Rich Saul, Bob DeMarco

#62. Jim Langer, Ed White, Guy McIntire, Kent Hill, Dale Meinert

#63. Willie Lanier, Gene Upshaw, LeRoy Selmon, Frank Albert*(13), Mike Munchak, Bruno Banducci, Dermontti Dawson, Fuzzy Thurston

#64. Abe Gibron*, Jerry Kramer, Dave Wilcox, Jack Reynolds, Ken Gray, Randall McDaniel, Ted Fritsch, Bob Young

#65. Tom Mack, Max Montoya, Gary Zimmerman

#66. Ray Nitschke, Larry Little, Gene Hickerson, Billy Shaw, Clyde Turner, Jack Stroud, Bill Bergy, Joe Jacoby, Myron Pottios, Conrad Dobler

#67. Reggie McEnzie, Bob Kuchenberg, Grady Alderman, Pat Donovan

#68. Joe DeLamielleure*(64), L.C. Greenwood, Howard Mudd, Russ Grim, Gale Gillingham

#69. Keith Simms, Sherrill Headrick, Revie Sorey, Tim Krumrie, Bill Forrester*(71)

#70. Art Donovan*, Al Wistert, Jim Marshall, Tom Sestak, Ernie Stautner, Sam Huff, Don Colo*

#71. Ed Budde, Alex Karras, Charles Mann, George Connor*, Tony Boselli, Bob Reynolds

#72. Ed Jones, Dan Deirdorf, Bob Vogel, Larry Eisenhower, Jerry Sherk,

#73. John Hannah, Ron Yary, Leo Nomellini, Arnie Weinmeister*, Alex Wojciechowicz*(30,50), Ernie McMillan*, Ralph Neely, Charlie Cowan, Joe Klecko, Bob Baumhower, Larry Allen, Mark May

#74. Merlin Olsen, Mike McCormack, Ron Mix, Henry Jordan*(72), Bruce Matthews, Bob Lilly, Fred Dean*(71)

#75. Deacon Jones, Forrest Gregg, Joe Greene, Howie Long, John Gordy, Forrest Blue*, Lomas Brown, George Kunz, Fred Williams, Keith Millard*(77), Jerry Mays, Jim Katcavage

#76. Rosey Greir, Bob Brown, Roger Brown*, Frank Kilroy, Gene Lipscomb*, Lou Groza*(46), Lou Creekmur, Fred Smerlas, Steve McMichael, Steve Wisniewski

#77. Red Grange, Jim Parker, Jim Tryer, AJ Duhe, Lyle Alzado, Bruce Bosley, Willie Roaf, Dick Scafrath, Karl Mecklenberg, Stew Barber

#78. Anthony Munoz, Bobby Bell, Art Shell, Bruce Smith, Jackie Slater, Stan Jones*, Mike Kenn, Walt Sweeny, Dwight White, Doug English, Bubba Smith*, Richmond Webb

#79. Roosevelt Brown, Harvey Martin, Bob St Clair, Bob Gain, Jim Hunt, Jim Lachey, Vic Sears, Sherman Plunkett, Marvin Powell

#80. Jerry Rice, Len Ford*, Steve Largent, Gene Brito, James Lofton*, Kellen Winslow, Rick Upchurch, Jack Butler*(25), Chris Carter, Irving Fryar*, Henry Ellard*, Chris Collinsworth, Tony Hill, Mal Kutner, Bill Glass*

#81. Dick Lane, Art Monk, Andy Robustelli*, Carl Eller, Doug Atkins, Jackie Smith, Spec Sanders, Roy Green*(25), Anthony Carter, Tim Brown, Elbie Nickel, Ernest Givins, Gerry Philbin*

#82. Ozzie Newsome, John Stallworth, Raymond Berry, Jim Houston, Gordy Soltau*, Frank Clarke, Ray Bray

#83. Ted Hendricks*(56), Andre Reed, Steve Jordan, Mark Clayton, George Sauer, Pat Tilley, John Jefferson

#84, Sterling Sharpe, Horace Gillom*(59), Billy Johnson*, Billy Wilson, Carrol Dale*, Shannon Sharpe*(81), Jack Snow, Art Powell, Gary Clark, Fred Arbanas, Jay Novachek*(85)

#85. Nick Buoniconti, Jack Youngblood, Lamar Lundy, Mark Duper, Mel Gray, Issac Curtis, Max McGee, Wesly Walker, Del Shofner*, Russ Francis*

#86. Buck Buchanon, Gary Collins, Boyd Dowler, Stanley Morgan, Charle Young, Billy Howton, Earl Fasion, Dub Jones*

#87. Willie Davis, Lionel Taylor, Dave Casper, Charley Hennigan, Dwight Clark, Harlon Hill, Roy Jefferson*, Jerry Smith, Claude Humphrey, Ben Coates

#88. Alan Page, John Mackey, Lynn Swann, Drew Pearson, Charlie Sanders, Ron Kramer, Michael Irvin, Pete Brewster, Riley Odoms, Sonny Randle, Keith Jackson

#89. Gino Marchetti, Otis Taylor, Mike Ditka, Dave Robinson, Nat Moore, Bob Dee, Fred Dryer, Wes Chandler, Mark Bavaro, Gail Cogdill

#90. Larry Brooks, George Webster, Ezra Johnson, Neil Smith

#91. Kevin Greene, John Strzykalski

#92. Reggie White,

#93. John Randle, Greg Townsend

#94. Charles Haley, Dana Stubblefield

#95. Michael Carter, Richard Dent, William Fuller,

#96. Cortez Kennedy, Sean Jones, Clyde Simmons,

#97. Cornelius Bennett, Tim Green, Tim Harris*, Bryant Young

#98. Eric Swann

#99. Dan Hampton, Mark Gastineau, Marshall Goldberg*, Levon Kirkland

#00. Jim Otto, Ken Burrough

Thanks for visiting. Very soon, I will be adding more players and updating numbers. Feel free to email me with any comments, suggestions and/or corrections. I would love to hear any feedback.

PRO FOOTBALL GREATS: BY THE NUMBERS

Yahoo Quick Search