Greatest NFL Players – Jersey #’s: 1-25

Here are what I consider to be the top 100 players in NFL History according to their particular jersey numbers. I’m going to do this in four different posts in groups of 25. I will have a picture of the jersey that I feel is the best player in each group. I know you are bound to take issue with these. That’s fine. Let me know what you think. Here are the first 25:

(Corrections from comments in Red).

.00 Jim Otto – C – 60’s Raiders- (Thanks to Rod Heneger)
-1 Jim Thorpe – HB – 20’s Bulldogs – (Thanks to James Booth)
-2 Charley Trippi – HB – 40’s Cardinals
-3 Bronco Nagurski – FB – 30’s Bears
-4 Brett Favre – QB – 90’s Packers
-5 Paul Hornung – HB – 60’s Packers
-6 Kevin Butler – K – 80’s Bears – (Thanks to Ron Milz)
-7 John Elway – QB – 90’s Broncos
-8 Larry Wilson – SS – 60’s Cardinals
-9 Sonny Jurgensen – QB – 60’s Redskins
10 Fran Tarkenton – QB – 70’s Vikings
11 Norm Van Brocklin – QB – 50’s Rams
12 Tom Brady – QB – 00’s Patriots – (Thanks to Jimbo Booth)
13 Dan Marino – QB – 80’s Dolphins
14 Otto Graham – QB – 50’s Browns – (Thanks to Ron Milz)
15 Bart Starr – QB – 60’s Packers
16 Joe Montana – QB – 80’s 49ers
17 Red Badgro – WR – 30’s Giants
18 Peyton Manning – QB – 00’s Colts
19 Johnny Unitas – QB – 60’s Colts
20 Barry Sanders – HB – 80’s Lions
21 Deion Sanders – CB – 90’s Falcons
22 Emmitt Smith – HB – 90’s Cowboys
23 Devin Hester – CB – 00’s Bears
24 Lenny Moore – HB – 60’s Colts
25 Fred Biletnikof – WR – 70’s Raiders

Out of this group I struggled between Johnny U and California Joe. In the end, I had to go with Montana. Not just a great quarterback. Montana was the consummate leader, teammate, and a real live football player.