In 1999 The Sporting News compiled a list of the best 100 players in NFL history. Short articles were written about each player. In 2010 NFL Films did the same thing, creating short (3-6 minute) videos about each player. Here they are presented by decade, 1933-1967, giving the overall rating in ascending order. The NFL films listing is the index key and linked to both sets of information. There is more information about most of these players in the main narrative text. Use this page as an introduction to the very best of the best and see if you agree with the ratings. All of the below listed players are in the NFL Hall of Fame.
Note: * = NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team (1994)
Note ! = NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Two-Way Team (1994)
Source for both * and !: Wikipedia
1933-1939:
Don Hutson*! (1935-1945) (Packers--End, Defensive Back, Kicker) NFL Films (#9); SN (#6)
Sammy Baugh*! (1937-1952) (Redskins--Tailback, Quarterback, Defensive Back, Punter) NFL Films (#14); SN (#11)
Bronko Nagurski*! (1930-37, 1943) (Bears--Fullback, Linebacker, Defensive Tackle, Offensive Tackle) NFL Films (#19); SN (#35)
Red Grange (1925, 1927, 1929-34) (Bears, Yankees--Fulback, Blocking Back, Tailback, Defensive Back) NFL Films (#48); SN (#80)
Mel Hein*! (1931-1945) (Giants--Center, Linebacker) NFL Films (#96); SN (#74)
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1940-49
Don Hutson*! (See under 1933-39)
Sammy Baugh*! (See under 1933-39)
Otto Graham* (1946-1955) (Browns, AAFC and NFL--Quarterback, Defensive Back) NFL Films (#16); SN (#7)
Sid Luckman (1939-1950) (Bears--Quarterback, Halfback, Defensive Back) NFL Films (#33); SN (#39)
Steve Van Buren*! (1944-1951) (Eagles--Halfback, Defensive Back) NFL Films (#58); SN (#77)
Marion Motley*! (1946-1953, 1955) (Browns, AAFC and NFL, Steelers--Fullback, Linebacker) NFL Films (#74); SN (#32)
Lou Groza (1946-59, 1961-67) (Browns, AAFC and NFL--Offensive Tackle, Center, Defensive Tackle, Kicker). Not on NFL films list; SN (#99) Lou Groza at the Hall of Fame
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1950-59
Jim Brown* (1957-1965) (Browns--Fullback) NFL Films (#2); SN (#1)
Johnny Unitas* (1956-1973) (Colts, Chargers--Quarterback) NFL Films (#6); SN (#5)
Otto Graham* (see 1940-1949)
Dick "Night Train" Lane* (1952-1965) (Rams, Cardinals, Lions--Defensive Back, Cornerback, Offensive End) NFL Films (#30); SN (#19)
Jim Parker* (1957-1967) (Colts--Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard) NFL Films (#32); SN (#32)
Chuck Bednarik! (1949-1962) (Eagles--Center, Linebacker) NFL Films (#35); SN (#54)
Raymond Berry* (1955-1967) (Colts--Offensive End) NFL Films (#36); SN (#40)
Gino Marchetti * (1952-1966) (Texans, Colts--Defensive End, Defensive Tackle, Offensive Tackle) NFL Films (#39); SN (#15)
Bill George (1952-1966) (Bears, Rams--Linebacker, Offensive Guard, Middle Guard, Defensive Tackle, Middle Linebacker) Not on NFL Films List; SN (#49) Bill George at the Hall of Fame
Bobby Layne (1948-1962) (Bears, Bulldogs, Lions, Steelers--Quarterback) Not on NFL Films List; SN (#52) Bobby Layne at the Hall of Fame.
Roosevelt (Rosey) Brown* (1953-1965) (Giants--Offensive Tackle) Not on NFL Films List; SN (#57) . Roosevelt Brown at the Hall of Fame.
Marion Motley*! (See 1940-49)
Emlen Tunnell (1948-1961) (Giants, Packers--Defensive Back, Safety, Kickoff and Punt Returner) NFL Films (#79); SN (#70)
Norm Van Brocklin (1949-1960) (Rams, Eagles--Quarterback, Punter) NFL Films (#83); Not on SN list; Norm Van Brocklin at the Hall of Fame.
Joe Schmidt (1953-1965) (Lions--Linebacker, Middle Linebacker) NFL Films (#84); SN (#65)
Jack Christiansen (1951-1958) (Lions--Safety, Free Safety, Kickoff and Punt Returner) Not on NFL Films List; SN (#86); Jack Christiansen at the Hall of Fame.
Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch (1946-1957) (Rockets (AAFC), Rams--Halfback, Defensive Halfback, End, Flankerback, Defensive End) NFL Films (#87); SN (#89)
Sam Huff (1956-1969) (Giants, Redskins--Middle Linebacker) NFL Films (#93); SN (#76)
Lenny Moore (1956-1967) (Colts--Halfback, Flankerback, Kickoff Returner) NFL Films (#94); SN (#71)
Lou Groza (See 1940-1949)
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1960-67
Jim Brown* (See 1950-1959)
Dick Butkus* (1965-1973) (Bears--Middle Linkebacker) NFL Films (#10); SN (#9)
David (Deacon) Jones (1961-1974) (Rams, Chargers, Redskins--Defensive End) NFL Films (#15); SN (#13)
Gale Sayers* (1965-1971) (Bears--Halfback, Kickoff Returner, Punt Returner) NFL Films (#22); SN (#21)
Bob Lilly* (1961-1974) (Cowboys--Defensive End, Defensive Tackle) NFL Films (#26); SN (#10)
Merlin Olsen* (1962-1976) (Rams--Defensive Tackle) NFL Films (#27); SN (#25)
Dick (Night Train Lane)* (See 1950-1959)
Jim Parker* (See 1950-1959)
Chuck Bednarik! (See 1950-1959)
Raymond Berry* (See 1950-1959)
Lance Alworth* (1962-1972) (Chargers (AFL and NFL), Cowboys--Flankerback, Wide Receiver, Punt Returner) NFL Films (#38); SN (#31)
Gino Marchetti* (see 1950-1959)
John Mackey (1963-1972) (Colts, Chargers--Tight End) NFL Films (#42); SN (#48)
Larry Wilson* (1960-1972) (Cardinals--Safety, Free Safety) Not on NFL Films list; SN (#43). Larry Wilson highlight film and partial Hall of Fame Speech
Ray Nitschke* (1958-1972) (Packers--Middle Linebacker) NFL Films (#47); SN (#18)
Bill George (See 1950-1959)
Bart Starr (1956-1971) (Packers--Quarterback) NFL Films (#51); SN (#41)
Forrest Gregg* (1956-1971) (Packers, Cowboys--Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Offensive Guard) NFL Films (#54); SN (#28)
Mike Ditka* (1961-1972) (Bears, Eagles, Cowboys--Tight End) NFL Films (#59); SN (#90)
Jim Otto (1960-1974) (Raiders (AFL and NFL)--Center) NFL Films (#63); SN (#78)
Herb Adderley (1961-1972) (Packers, Cowboys--Cornerback, Kickoff Returner) NFL Films (#64); SN (#45)
Willie Brown (1963-1978) (Broncos (AFL), Raiders (AFL and NFL)--Cornerback) NFL Films (#68); SN (#50)
Junious (Buck) Buchanan (1963-1975) (Chiefs (AFL and NFL)--Defensive Tackle) Not on NFL Films list. SN (#67). Buck Buchanan at the Hall of Fame.
Bobby Bell (1963-1974) (Chiefs (AFL and NFL--Defensive End, Outside Linebacker, Long Snapper) NFL Films (#69); SN (#66)
Paul Warfield (1964-1977) (Browns, Dolphins--Split End, Wide Receiver) NFL Films (#71); SN (#60)
Norm Van Brocklin (See 1950-1959) Van Brocklin 1960 Highlight Film
Joe Schmidt (See 1950-1959)
Charlie Taylor (1964-1977) (Redskins--Halfback, Split End, Wide Receiver) Not on NFL Films list; SN (#85) Charlie Taylor highlight video. Charlie Taylor at the Hall of Fame.
Willie Davis (1958-1969) (Browns, Packers--Offensive Tackle, Defensive End) NFL Films (#86); SN (#69)
Fran Tarkenton (1961-1978) (Vikings, Giants--Quarterback) NFL Films (#91); SN (#59)
Sam Huff (See 1950-1959)
Lenny Moore (See 1950-1959)
George Blanda (1949-1958, 1960-1975) (Bears, Colts, Oilers, (AFL), Raiders (AFL and NFL--Tailback, Outside Linebacker, Quarterback, Kicker) Not on NFL Films list; SN (#98) George Blanda highlight video. George Blanda at the Hall of Fame.
Lou Groza (See 1940-1949)
Joe Namath (1965-1977) (Jets (AFL and NFL), Rams--Quarterback). NFL Films #100); SN (#96).
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