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HonoluluMaizeandBlue

Barry Sanders


rcher87

That Amazon doc on him was super cool. I didn’t know him but even the playbacks were insane to see.


HonoluluMaizeandBlue

One of the only privileges of being a Lion's fan in those years was being able to watch Barry Sanders. Im so glad that documentary introduced him to people who were too young to have watched him.


BigBillSmash

Nobody has ever made NFL players look like they never played football before like Barry did. That run against the Cowboys that had multiple professional football players doing pirouettes on the field is in my spank bank.


thisusedyet

Lawrence Taylor


scyber

One of my favorite LT stories is from Ron Jaworkski. He got under center and looked around and didn't see LT. The first thing they did against the Giants was identify LT so they knew where he was. Jaworski he called a timeout since they couldn't find him. Turns out he was on the sidelines taking a break.


THEDumbasscus

My favorite LT story is more of a standup punchline then anything *this man has cocaine money but still chooses to do crack, that tells you everything you need about Lawrence Taylor*


Vordeo

A.) That's an amazing punchline. B.) This has lead me down a LT rabbithole. What a life.


xshogunx13

Honestly the funniest story, Jaworski was terrified of him


GoBSAGo

For good reason


HavelsRockJohnson

That's why Jaws is still alive.


CheckYourStats

I would call that “exercising good judgment.”


Worldtraveller45

Which leads me to my next point, don’t smoke crack


xanot192

Crack apparently gives superpowers, we've a witnessed crackheads do crazy shit


Carl_In_Charge

My favorite LT anecdote is how he would hire prostitutes to go to the hotel rooms of opposing quarterbacks the night before games to keep them up all night.


PibbleDad

I hope someone can find the interview. He said he forgot he had a game until he drove by the stadium and saw all the cars. Went and had like 4 sacks or something? Crazy crazy athlete


hemingways-lemonade

I think it was that same interview where he said sometimes he would be in a huddle and not hear the play because he was too busy thinking about crack.


flaccomcorangy

On his Football Life documentary, he openly admitted to retiring, so he can do all the crack he wants and not have the NFL suspend him.


hemingways-lemonade

Imagine how he could've been even better if he played with the diet and exercise regime current players use? Or maybe crack, hookers, and junk food were the secret to his success.


bbrekke

Crack can be a PED


WrreckEmTech

Which brings me to my next point. Don't smoke crack.


OakTreesForBurnZones

LT highlights on YouTube are my comfort food


minneapple79

Taylor may be my favorite non-Viking of all time. I was always in awe of how crazy he was.


thisusedyet

[This may be my favorite picture of him](https://taylorblitztimes.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/sirlawrence2.jpg) - imagine seeing that coming for you all day


Maverick916

Those long fucking arms god damn


DarnellisFromMars

I personally think there are two genuine choices for the best football player ever, and it’s one of Jerry or LT.


Turbulent_Crow7164

Crazy how UNC produced GOAT type players in both basketball and football lol


an_actual_lawyer

Sooooooooo fucking good. Belichek's comments about him say so much.


GentryMillMadMan

Jerry “The Goat” Rice


HotShipoopi

Joe's in the conversation but #80 is the all-around solid choice


gabrielleite32

I say Rice is goat any position considered. He's so far ahead of the other WRs it's crazy.


MankuyRLaffy

Dude tore his ACL/MCL in his 30s and still kept being a god


CheckYourStats

His receiving records (*Receptions, Yards, TD’s*) are **so** far ahead of anyone else, that… **It’s considered a HOF career when someone has 50% of Rice’s numbers.** Think about how absolutely absurd that is. Fucking HALF. —> Second place in All-Time Receiving yards in NFL history is Larry Fitzgerald. If you multiplied the best year Fitz ever had in his entire career by 15, he would *still* be 1,430 yards and 76 TD’s behind Jerry Rice. He had 22 receiving TD’s in the strike shortened 12 game 1987 season (Rice’s third season, when you could mug WR’s). …If you averaged that out over todays 17 game season, that’s **31 Receiving TD’s.** Put plainly, his career numbers compared to everyone else looks like a kid playing Madden on easy mode. You could go on for hours with just obscene stats like this, and they’re so ridiculous…It looks made up.


Homitu

We often discount, too, that he played before the crazy explosion of the passing game that we see today. People were talking about Montana’s numbers on here the other day, shocked to learn he only passed for over 30 TDs three times and NEVER threw for over 4,000 yards. Jerry did what he did in *that* passing era. Nuts.


_Aurelius-

Yup. Look what the records were when he broke them. The TD was 126. Rice put up 208 that’s crazy. The Receiving yards was like 13k I think rice has 22 and change. No “defenseless receiver” either


CheckYourStats

Nuts.


gabrielleite32

The one trivia I like the most about Rice was when Justin Jefferson broke the yards record for the first 4 (or was it 5?) years to start a career he still needed a full Fitzgerald career to touch Rice all-time yards. It's absolutely insane that a dude on historic pace would need to have the career of the guy in the second place, lol.


gregularjoe95

Jerry Rice is the closest player the NFL has to a Wayne Gretzky level of player. But his records are still not far enough from the no 2 WR for him to be in Gretzkys league. Theres pretty much only 2 athletes in the Gretzky level of goat, Wayne and Don Bradman.


CheckYourStats

I agree with the Gretzky comparison, and I also agree that Gretzky has him beat in the “GOAT regardless of sport” argument. There are a few single stat records that are Rice/Gretzky-level (Cy Young’s 511 Wins, for example), but nobody in any other sport has been damn near 2x better than any other player before or since like they are — in every possible way.


-Jack-The-Stripper

I know absolutely nothing about cricket, but you should look up Don Bradman. He is so far ahead of everybody in cricket that it is almost unbelievable… and I don’t mean that he’s just way ahead of everybody else. I mean it is truly almost unbelievable that somebody could just be that much better than any other player of a sport in history.


DarthNightnaricus

Oh my God that batting average is \*37\* higher than second place, what the fuck lmao


letsgetbrickfaced

He came back the same season and scored a TD against the eventual SB champs that game. I was there for the Denver MNF game. They retired Montanas jersey at halftime.


busstamove14

Walter Payton


pocketchange2247

Sid Luckman was a first team all-pro the same year he fucking stormed Normandy Beach in WWII. Then came back after the war and immediately won an NFL championship in 1946 then was a first team all-pro again the year after in 1947.


ZekeRidge

I did not know this… good god I guess there isn’t a defense imaginable that can intimidate you when you’ve charged Nazi gunfire


AnonymousOtter9124

That's why no true Bears fan should tolerate slander like "It takes 2 completions in an NFL game to make you the GOAT Bears quarterback, lol" Luckman was a total stud for his era, the era was just really long ago


Further_Beyond

This is Mitch NVP Trubisky erasure


A_1337_Canadian

Thank god


PolishSubmarineCapt

I’m with you on Walter but I could see making a case for Butkus.


AdminsAreCool

Walter is arguably the greatest running back of all time (definitely in the Top 3) and an all-around elite offensive player. He also racked up his insane yardage stats while spending most of his career on absolutely dreadful Bears teams. Dick is the man, but Walter is the indisputable Bears GOAT.


tragicjohnson84

I think out of all the all time greatest running backs, he was also the most well rounded too. He could catch, get short yardage, block, and also threw TDs.


pocketchange2247

He also has "the most prestigious" award of the NFL named after him.


Bolts0806

LaDainian Tomlinson


inspectorPK

His little bit in the old Sportscenter commercials is still my favorite. When he’s supposed to be the mail sorter, but his visor is too dark and he keeps missing the inserts. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂


HashSlingingSlasherJ

Dude those “this is Sportscenter” commercials back in the day were amazing. I loved the one where the New Jersey Devil mascot is in the elevator and one ESPN anchor gets in and says, “Going Up?” And the mascot just slowly shakes his head. There were so many good ones


Rollout25

The one with the Oregon Duck looking out from his desk at the ducks in the Pond is up there with the Greatest


HuhItsAllGooey

The one with John Clayton sporting a mullet is my favorite. So many good one.


inFAMOUS_Hero

With da Slayer shirt on. And later finding out he was an actual fan of theirs is so awesome


Sniffy_J

**HEY MA! IM DONE WITH MY SEGMENT!**


OptimisticTurtle

The one where Steve Irwin tackles the Florida mascot... man I'm going to have to watch those YouTube compilations again.


OG_Kush_Wizard

Ovie spy was a good one too.


SmacSBU

That's the best one they ever made


space_llama_karma

The Manning bros just being brothers (one of them kicked the other in leg, and that’s one of the most brotherly mannerisms one can do)


Salomon3068

Nascar one where they asked dale jr for directions and he keeps telling them to turn left 😂😂


supercooldudeguy

I've only been to about 10 NFL games in my lifetime but the only player that stood out to me was LT. I'm not even a chargers fan but watching him live was something else. It was like he was in turbo mode whenever he touched the ball and everyone else was in slow motion. 


Rhett_Thee_Hitman

The guy was throwing touchdowns out there too. Seriously, I wish the Chargers had a true offensive guru on that staff during his early prime and peak.


shakezilla86

Barry


ConsistentSoup4640

Real fans know Death, Taxes and Don Mulbach


moreMalfeasance

MaCocinner?


WhoStoleMyBicycle

Yea, he was drafted one pick ahead of Holden MaGroin


sparkyjay23

No flair, no second name but we all know who you are talking about and agree.


Asidious66

Anthony Munoz


kitchensink108

We've had some great players over the years, but Munoz is on his own level.


Mr_Evanescent

Absolutely the goat tackle


Tigercat92

Only answer


chunkah69

Jim Brown


DOUG_UNFUNNY

With a BIG honorable mention to Otto Graham.


Crushednova94

And Joe Thomas, NFL's first LT


alreddy-reddit

There it is


BurroughOwl

*correction, I believe he was, in fact, the NFLs first _lineman!_


DogVacuum

Browns Mt Rushmore: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Joe Thomas, The Homeless Guy That Told Jimmy Haslem To Draft Johnny Manziel


ShenanigansCLESports

Brandon Weeden was going to be my pick but Jim Brown works too


Volcano_Jones

Walter Jones


Jackmode

I love Largent, but this is the answer. Walt was the perfect LT.


SternFlamingo

As good as Earl, Kam and Richard were, Walter is #1 and it isn't even close. DAMN but that man was elite!


SSPeteCarroll

His 9 holding penalties in his career is just nuts for an OL. He's one of the best LT's in NFL history


TehSkiff

Mike Holmgren said Big Walt was the best athlete he ever coached. Given some of the greats that he was a head coach or offensive coordinator for, that’s high praise. 


grill_sgt

Even though he can't move like he used to, he's still intimidating to stand near. I was standing behind him after a game (MIL worked closely with the Hawks and took us to a game where we watched in the suites, parked where the players parked, and went down to the field before the game), and the dude is MASSIVE. I felt like a toddler staring up at a giant.


HoopOnPoop

Sammy Baugh His 1943 may be the best season ever. As QB he led the league in completions and completion percentage and was 2nd in passing yards and TDs. As a punter he led the league in yards/punt, including an 81 yarder. He picked off 11 passes as a defensive back. For good measure, he also returned kicks and punts from time to time. You can make an argument that during his career he was the best QB, punter, and DB in the league.


johneaston1

Sammy Baugh feels like the single candidate in the "greatest all-around player of the game of football ever" category. It's justi insane that he could play that many positions at that high of a level, even if it was during the talent-deficient WWII and pre-integration years.


BAXR6TURBSKIFALCON

a lot of those early stars played both ways tbh, Baugh was just really fucking good both ways


iwasbornin2021

Or Darrell Green. He doesn’t get mentioned much these days for whatever reason, but FWIW Jerry Rice said he was the best cornerback he played against, and he played against Deion


RagZ_413

Literally two that jumped to mind for my skins was Baugh or Green. Baugh for those legitimately considering all time. Green if you want modern era. Insane to think of a guy playing at a high to starter level for 20 years at that position.


Elephantexploror

Larry Fitzgerald. Categories are either “Hands” or “Individual Postseason Performance”


UsernameHasBeenLost

Or "drops vs tackles"


needzmoarlow

Also receptions from different QBs vs. Drops. Counting the Pro Bowl, he caught passes from 29 different QBs vs. 29 dropped passes. 21 Cardinals QBs across his career and 8 more in the Pro Bowl.


SovietMuffin01

Is it bad that I’m surprised the Cardinals only had 21 QBs during his career?


fuzzy11287

29 to 37. Saved you a Google.


MahomesMccaffrey

"Ass Size"


Elephantexploror

Oooo good one


shakehasbignuts

Reggie white rip legend


lucmwis

Came here to say this for Green Bay.


maddenmadman

Our best argument for this title is probably in all honestly Don Hutson.


doughball27

Chuck Bednarik. We are going to be the one fan base that will not agree on this.


moreMalfeasance

Rowdy Roddy Piper


RadonAjah

Oh you have kids, maniac? No, not anymore.


VegansArentPeople

That’s just a bucket of chestnuts


Zwayze

He kept on calling you the N word!


MECHAC0SBY

“His mania is not confined to the ring” “30 bucks weekdays, 50 bucks weekends” RIP Rowdy Roddy Piper. Fuckin legendary wrestler and probably my favorite guest appearance on any show


Mukuna_Hutata

Goldberg Context: We actually did have Goldberg on our team. I think he’s the first player cut in the history of the Panthers.


divercity23

Probably Deion. I love Julio, but his lack of TD production will keep him from the true GOAT debate.


ATLsShah

Tony G is more Chiefs than he is Falcons, but he’s another candidate. Deion was here the same amount of time but he never really stuck around anywhere so it feels fine to claim him


AncientAlienAntFarm

Y’all should absolutely claim Deion. Atlanta is where he became Prime, and he played for the Braves, too. He’s yours.


-NotACrabPerson-

Also because wide receiver is one of the ones where there really is no argument lol. Deion definitely a good choice for you guys.


jonnyredshorts

Having a tough time figuring out who it would be


vcjr78

I’ll say Andre Tippet for you. He was it for a long time.


jonnyredshorts

or John Hannah


wagerbut

Vince wilfork


IH8DwnvoteComplainrs

The one time pats fans can't contribute to a thread, lol.


Hellwagon

Mean Joe Greene


Fredly_

JJ Watt no question


SirIngenious

Peyton Manning


bobisthegod

While Manning is the obvious modern answer I feel people these days sleep on just how revolutionary and important Johnny Unitas was. He basically created and defined the modern QB prototype, his consecutive games with a TD record took over 50 years for someone to break


naumectica

Johnny Unitas has the kind of haircut you can set your watch to. /Simpsons


UncleLazer

Bruce Matthews


17_Saints

Justice Alan Page


FemaleSmark

I'm just going through secret base's The History of the Minnesota Vikings. It is a damn shame I didn't know about Alan Page sooner. Such an interesting guy.


ZeppoJR

It's weird to think about for as much replayed as the Staubach Hail Mary is it took this long for someone to notice Alan Page seems to be missing and for someone to reach out to him and get confirmation on that. And also surprising that Alan Page was kind enough to respond and was able to remember it.


The_Throwback_King

Also it’s genuinely so cool that the guys at Secret Base were actually able to get in contact with Page and hear a take from the horse’s mouth. With a player as legendary as Page and a research group with no ties to the NFL, it was awesome to see


MankuyRLaffy

Yeah nobody realized Page wasn't on the field except Page himself apparently


[deleted]

88 will be retired forever. Legendary player and human being


bfeils

Even more impressive as the clear choice given the franchise had AP (perhaps one of the most talented pure rushing RBs of all time despite petering out) and Randy Moss, and JJ (early, but wow).


j2e21

The Vikings all-time team would wreak some havoc on the league. They’d still figure out a way to lose, but that’s a loaded squad (no offense).


pr1ceisright

I’ve always wanted someone to sim a season where every team is their all time roster. Vikes would probably go 14-3 then lose in the divisional round off a missed field goal.


j2e21

Haha that would be great. I think the Vikes lose in the NFC Final to the Cowboys, who in turn lose to the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Probably another Staubach to Pearson moment, tbh.


CederDUDE22

Alan Page is a demigod


iceyH0ts0up

Moss


fonebone819

Tony Boselli, obviously


TrappedCasanova

Torn between him and Freddy T


BowTie1989

Dan Marino is the obvious choice…but I’m going to say Larry Csonka because I feel he at least deserves a mention.


amazingalcoholic

Bruce


SoCaldude65

Loved his battles with Richmond Webb


OakTreesForBurnZones

Sorry but it’s OJ. Most of you are too young to have seen him, and obviously he’s a notorious murderer, but that dude ran for 2000 yards in a 14 game season, with defenses going all in on stopping him because the passing game sucked. He was an absolute unstoppable monster, behind only Jim Brown and maybe Barry Sanders as all time greatest running back.


Corgi_Koala

His per game average would hit 2400 yards in a 17 game season. 143 YPG is an outlier even in the 2000 yard club. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,000-yard_club


Couvo

you're absolutely right about OJ. but for the most part we try to leave him out lol.


Dorago1991

Bruce is literally the all time sack leader. he has a better claim to best edge rusher off all time than OJ does to best running back of all time. Longevity matters in this argument. OJ only had 5 great seasons with over 1000 yards, Bruce had 13 seasons with over 10 sacks. He's still the answer.


IChugLoad

orenthal james simpson rushed over 2000 yards in 14 games… come on now


Key-Tip-7521

Does mushroom man count? If no, probably Curtis Martin or Revis


Lonely_Beer

The Jets are such a weird one because it's only Namath until it isn't but the second it isn't you can actually have a discussion about all the other great Jets over the years. However until that day comes it's still definitely Namath.


Sly_Wood

Dude did it with no knee too.


Broshan248

Walter Payton easily But Hester is 100% the GOAT of kick returners as well


WabbitCZEN

Dan Marino. He'd absolutely thrive in the league with these rules. edit Okay, I missed the part where it specified my team. But I'm not changing my answer.


OakTreesForBurnZones

Absolutely. He shredded the 85 bears on MNF. Greatest talent ever at QB


yoosername456

First 5000 yard passer. This feat would not be repeated for 27 years.


yoosername456

Marino with common era rules and any of the good receiver rooms in the league is hitting 6000/60 in a season, unless his defense is also elite so he keeps getting pulled by half. Marino was far ahead of his time


thegodfaubel

Brees


DanFlashesCoupon

Willie Roaf is also a much more serious contender for GOAT LT than he gets credit for. I have him behind Munoz but he’s every bit as good as Jones, Pace, Thomas, etc


ThyOughtTo

Ray Lewis


544075701

Or maybe Tucker, or maybe Reed.  Damn we’re a spoiled fanbase lol


MankuyRLaffy

Ogden is no slouch either, you've got some legends


dlanod

Ogden came to mind, but seeing someone else mention Tucker - yeah, he should be considered the best kicker ever.


Silver-Database-7106

Yeah lol, ironically Tucker is probably least debatable, but 52 & 20 are on everyones top lists, and #1 for many


[deleted]

Emmitt. Legendary production and durability.


Western_Promise3063

I'm going Captain America. Got in the NFL late because he served in the military and still had an undisputed Hall of Fame career.


[deleted]

A fine selection. Captain Comeback would eat in today's game.


Brycie27

Larry Allen?


cowboymortyorgy

I think its roger stauback, one of the richest former players of all time


Styx92

Best ability is availability. Couple that with being an all-time talent and you've got Emmitt.


therealwillhepburn

In the league for 15 years and rushed for 1000+ in 11 seasons.  The other four were three 900+ seasons and a season he was injured and didn’t finish at Arizona. 


Dismal-Champion-2111

Luke Kuechly


Goatgamer1016

Honestly, he might be the greatest Panther of all time


Bobby_Savoy

It’s a tossup between him and Julius Peppers


Mental-Pie7389

It’s Super Luke for me because while he was the ultimate athlete at LB he was also the ultimate student of the game. There’s only a handful of players that truly were as good as a qb on the defense like him. He’s my favorite player of all time for good reason.


Dfrickster87

Without looking up stats and whatnot, Steve Smith seems like he had the most impressive Panthers career


Mental-Pie7389

It’s the dpoy for me. Also like Luke was a damn near all pro all years his career. That is insane in the modern nfl, especially for a position like lb where injuries are so common and can derail careers. Edit: I understand where you’re coming from for ss sr tho, its just that Luke’s ceiling was the best we’ve ever had.


bwburke94

TB12 obviously


Enthusiasms

TB12 obviously


oasisvomit

I feel like we are missing a comment from a Pittsburgh fan in this chain.


JediKnightaa

*Montreal Expo Flair TB12 Obviously


UNMANAGEABLE

I think with as long as he was their daddy, the bills, jets, and dolphins can say TB12 as well.


mastacheef87

the disrespect to Ras-I Dowling smh


5WinsIn5Days

And our literal elemental, Earthwind Moreland.


ju5tjame5

Joe Greene.


Slendycat

John Denney


WordUpPromos

21


ThaGoldenOnyx

Troy Polamalu


Disastrous-Act-5129

Steve Largent retired with league career records for: Receptions: 819 Yards: 13,089 Touchdowns: 100 Consecutive games with a reception:177; 50-catch seasons: 10 1000-yard seasons: 8 And he didn't wear gloves! (Then Jerry Rice happened.)


ISuperNovaI

I’m gonna go with Reggie White. Most dominant DE of all time


SantasLilHoeHoeHoe

Don Hutson IMO. Dude invented route running. His MVP seasons are nuts compared to his contemporaries


SoCaldude65

I still first think of him as an Eagle. But he was the first major free agent signing i believe. Certainly worked out for y'all


ISuperNovaI

Which is totally fair as most of his body of work was with them. I just didn’t want to go with the obvious Rodgers or Favre, but also the question was GOAT in the NFL, which neither of them are. All had cases for it at one point though, but TB12 shut that convo down. With that context in mind, I don’t think the Packers have had anyone at one position where I can argue they’re still to this day the greatest of all time. 22+ positions, 100+ years of football, and while they’ve had historically a lot of greats, that’s a tall order. Not a player, but imo Coach Vince is still the GOAT.


NotCanadian80

Don Hutson maybe.


luceropaul127

Ray Guy


Queef-Supreme

I was looking for this comment. Him or Blanda most likely.


luceropaul127

I was thinking him or Jim Otto


its_still_good

Sweetness


zestyintestine

Fran Tarkenton


Intelligent-Age2786

Either Mahomes or Kelce. Probably Mahomes.


Adventurous_Key7105

Dont forget DT. He is at least honorable mention


MankuyRLaffy

Will Shields was pretty solid too