As the NFL turns 100 in 2019, a look at the best player born in each year since 1919. A century of excellence.
1919: Ben Agajanian
Ben Agajanian played football for a long, long time. He was in the NFL from 1945-59 after serving in the military during WWII. Agajanian was a placekicker who then took his talents to the AFL, where he played through 1964. He is one of two players (the other was Hardy Brown) who played in the All-America Football Conference, the American Football League, and the National Football League. More remarkable about his career is he kicked despite losing multiple toes in an accident while in high school.
1920: Bob Waterfield
One of the glamorous NFL quarterbacks, Bob Waterfield was NFL MVP in 1945, one of two seasons he played on championship teams in the league. He also was married to the famed actress Jane Russell.
1921: Otto Graham
Another legendary quarterback is Otto Graham, who was a four-time AAFC champion and five-time Pro Bowler and three-time league MVP. Graham, who played at Northwestern in college, threw for more than 23,000 yards.
1922: Tom Fears
1923: Ara Parseghian
A fun pick. Ara Parseghian didn’t have the longest NFL career, playing parts of two seasons with Cleveland Browns. However, he did go on to become one of college football’s legendary coaches at Notre Dame. Parseghian suffered a serious hip injury that ended his career in 1949. He was part of two AAFC championship teams.
1924: Lou Groza
Lou “The Toe Groza” was signed by the Cleveland Browns out of the military. Groza earned his nickname by playing from 1946-67 in a career that earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1925: Chuck Bednarik
One of the hardest hitters and most ferocious players in league history. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Chuck Bednarik will always be remembered for his hit on Frank Gifford in 1960.
1926: Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne edges fellow quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin and Y.A. Tittle in 1926. A rebellious sort, Layne was quite the charismatic character on and off the field. He was a three-time NFL champ and six-time Pro Bowler.
1927: George Blanda
George Blanda was a quarterback and kickers whose career went on for decades. He was a three-time AFL champion and The Associated Press Athlete of the Year in 1970 … at the age of 43!
1928: Night Train Lane
A fierce hitter like Chuck Bednarik, Dick “Night Train” Lane was also a two-time NFL interception leader. You did not want to pick on him if you were a quarterback. Fourteen of his 68 career intereceptions came as a rookie.
1929: Bill George
In addition to his 18 career interceptions, Bill George recovered 19 fumbles, and in 1954 scored 25 points on 13 PATs and four field goals.
1930: Doug Atkins
Another of the Monsters of the Midway, Doug Atkins came to the Bears from Tennessee and became a two-time NFL champion. He stood 6-foot-8 and weighed 280 pounds. Atkins was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was inducted into both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
1931: Jim Ringo
Jim Ringo played college ball at Syracuse before going on to a stellar career with the Green Bay Packers and then the Philadelphia Eagles. A seventh-round pick, Ringo showed them he was a star by making 10 Pro Bowls.
1932: Rosey Brown
Possibly the greatest steal in NFL Draft history, Roosevelt Brown went from 27th round pick to the Hall of Fame. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro and part of one title team.
1933: Johnny Unitas
Johnny U was born in a year with fellow Colts stars Raymond Berry and Lenny Moore. A complete afterthought out of Louisville, Unitas went from the Steelers to the Colts, where he became a legend. A Super Bowl champ, three-time NFL champ and 10-time Pro Bowler, Johnny U threw for better than 40,000 yards.
1934: Bart Starr
Another historic draft steal, Bart Starr went from Alabama to the Packers as a 17th-round pick. All he did was win five NFL titles, two Super Bowls and was the MVP in the first two such games.
1935: Len Dawson
Len Dawson led the Kansas City Chiefs for many years and is best remembered as the quarterback who guided KC to an upset of the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.
1936: Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke was a mean and fierce linebacker on the great Green Bay Packer teams under Vince Lombardi. As rugged an LB as they come.
1937: Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall gained fame for his “wrong way run” but he was so much more for the Minnesota Vikings. One of the great Purple People Eaters, Marshall was an NFL champion and two-time Pro Bowler. He recovered 30 fumbles in his career, one of which was … of course. The trivia question: George Mira threw the pass and Billy Kilmer was the receiver who fumbled it. The same Billy Kilmer who later quarterbacked the Washington Redskins.
1938: Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones was one of the players that made up the Los Angeles Rams’ Fearsome Foursome. He was 1 14th round pick out of Mississippi Valley State, who went on to greatness.
1939: Buck Buchanan
Buck Buchanan was the first overall pick in the AFL Draft in 1963. He went in the 19th round in the NFL Draft that year to the New York Giants. Buchanan was a Kansas City Chief and a formidable one. A six-time AFL All-Star and two-time NFL Pro Bowler, Buchanan played on two AFL championship teams and was on the Super Bowl IV Chiefs that downed the Vikings.n
1940: Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen was another player who was part of the Rams’ Fearsome Foursome. Olsen was a 14-time Pro Bowler in a career that spanned 1962-76. Unfortunately, the Rams did not win an NFC championship during his illustrious career. Olsen went on to become a broadcaster and an actor.
1941: Mel Renfro
A fantastic defensive back, Mel Renfro was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys out of Oregon. The second-round pick wound up as a 10-time Pro Bowler and was on the Super Bowl VI and XII championship teams. He had 52 interceptions in a Hall of Fame career.
1942: Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus defined mean and nasty. The Chicago Bears’ middle linebacker was as scary as anyone who has played in the NFL.
1943: Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers rocketed into the NFL from Kansas. The running back and returner extraordinaire was only stopped by knee injuries that ruined his career. “The Kansas Comet” was a two-time rushing leader and four-time Pro Bowler. As a rookie, he scored six touchdowns and had 326 total yards in a romp over the San Francisco 49ers at Wrigley Field.
1944: Garo Yepremian
Time to have some fun. Garo Yepremian was one of the elite foreign kickers in the NFL when soccer-style players started to take over the responsibilities. Yepremian was a two-time Super Bowl champion and kicked 210 field goals in his career. One of his kicks in the Super Bowl was blocked and set up the Keystone Kops play that saw Mike Bass of the Redskins return his errant and awful pass attempt for a touchdown.
1945: Larry Little
A free agent out of Bethune Cookman, Larry Little went on to become a two-time Super Bowl champ, and five-time Pro Bowler.
1946: Joe Greene
Mean Joe Greene is a legend on and off the field. On the field, he was a tower of power for Pittsburgh’s vaunted “Steel Curtain.” He was a four-time Super Bowl champ and 10-time Pro Bowler. No one will forget his classic Coca-Cola commercial, which saw him give his jersey to a youngster.
1947: Ted Hendricks
“The Mad Stork” Ted Hendricks brought the edge that fit perfectly with the Oakland Raiders. There weren’t many linebackers back in the day that were as tall or talented as the pride of the Silver & Black.
1948: Terry Bradshaw
A No. 1 overall pick out of Louisiana Tech, Terry Bradshaw was as responsible for changing the fortunes of the Steeler franchise as any offensive player. Four Super Bowl championships.
1949: Ray Guy
The man who turned punting into his own art form. Ray Guy is a Hall of Famer as a punter. Let that run around your brain for a while. One of the absolutely greats.
1950: Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood would not be stopped. Not by opponents, not by a broken leg. Yes, the Rams’ Hall of Famer once played on a leg that had broken bones. In the Pro Bowl, no less. Nowadays that would be an excuse for players to skip the next three Pro Bowls.
1951: John Hannah
John Hannah wasn’t part of any of the glory the Patriots currently enjoy. Still, he was a legendary offensive lineman, playing and starting in all 183 games in his career. He’s a Pro and College Football Hall of Famer.
1952: Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert was fierce and ferocious and dominant for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A four-time Super Bowl champ and nine-time Pro Bowler, he was another vital cog for the “Steel Curtain.”
1953: Mike Haynes
Mike Haynes was a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ out of Arizona State. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 after a career as a shutdown corner for the Patriots and Raiders.
1954: Walter Payton
Walter Payton, “Sweetness” was one of the greatest running backs of any era in the NFL. He was a part of the Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship and played his entire career for Chicago. Payton was a nine-time Pro Bowler and rushed for 16,726 yards and caught passes for more than another 4,000.
1955: Phil Simms
Straight from Morehead State, a small school, to The Big Apple. Phil Simms had one of the greatest Super Bowl performances. He went 22-for-25 as the New York Giants thumped the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI.
1956: Joe Montana
One of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time is Joe Montana. He came out of Notre Dame to the San Francisco 49ers as a third-round pick. All he did was become the offensive leader of a team that turned into a dynasty. In three of his four winning Super Bowls, he was the game MVP. He was a two-time league MVP and eight-time Pro Bowler.
1957: Art Monk
From White Plains, N.Y., to Syracuse University to the Washington Redskins, to Art Monk was a go-to receiver. A three-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Pro Bowler, Monk led the NFL in receptions in 1984. Overall, he caught 940 passes for 12,721 yards.
1958: Anthony Munoz
Considered by many as the best offensive lineman to play in the NFL, Anthony Munoz went from USC to the Cincinnati Bengals and dominated defensive linemen. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and nine times first-team All-Pro.
1959: Lawrence Taylor
The Giants drafted Lawrence Taylor second overall out of North Carolina. LT was second to none as a linebacker. He was a menace to opposing offenses and was a two-time Super Bowl champ and 10-time Pro Bowler.
1960: John Elway
One of the great quarterbacks from the 1983 NFL Draft class. John Elway was selected by the Colts but wanted no part of playing for them. He forced a trade to the Broncos and off they went. He was a two-time Super Bowl champ, threw for 51,475 yards and 300 TDs.
1961: Dan Marino
Dan Marino is another QB from the 1983 class. His NFL resume checked every box except for winning a Super Bowl. The Miami Dolphins legend threw for more than 61,000 yards and 420 TDs.
1962: Jerry Rice
The best wide receiver to play the game is Jerry Rice. He was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers from Mississippi Valley State and became the G.O.A.T. How about 1,549 career receptions and nearly 23,000 receiving yards?
1963: Bruce Smith
The Buffalo Bills made Bruce Smith the No. 1 overall pick out of Virginia Tech. He delivered big time. A defensive terror, Smith forced 43 fumbles and had 200 sacks.
1964: Randall McDaniel
A Pro and College Football Hall of Famer, Randall McDaniel was a 12-time Pro Bowler. Interesting bit: When he played for Tampa Bay, in 2000, he became the oldest player in the NFL to score his first touchdown reception at 36 years, 282 days old.
1965: Rod Woodson
A Pro and College Football Hall of Famer, Rod Woodson earned one Super Bowl ring and 11 Pro Bowl spots. He had 71 picks and scored 17 TDs in his NFL career.
1966: Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman was part of the huge turnaround in Dallas. The team couldn’t win no matter how hard it tried. Aikman arrived with Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys were three-time Super Bowl champs.
1967: Deion Sanders
A player who had a unique style and flourish, Deion Sanders was a generational DB and returner. The two-time Super Bowl champ and eight-time Pro Bowler had 53 picks. He had 10 pick sixes, nine return TDs and caught three passes for scores.
1968: Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders was not around long enough for Detroit Lions fans. He provided all sorts of highlights in his dazzling career. He led the NFL in rushing four times in a 10-year career. Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards and scored 99 TDs on the ground.
1969: Brett Favre
Brett Favre was a legend in Green Bay. And yes, he turned his retirement into a circus and spent time with the Jets and Vikings, but one should never forget the amazing run he had with the Packers.
1970: Jason Hanson
There had to be some kicker love on this list. Jason Hanson is the one who stands out. He spent his entire 21-year career as a Detroit Lion. That meant precious little playoffs and not a look at the Super Bowl. Still, Hanson was as accurate and dynamic as it comes for a kicker.
1971: Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan was a sack master for the New York Giants. A force for Big Blue that led to one Super Bowl championship and seven visits to the Pro Bowl. The star from Texas Southern had 141.5 career sacks, including 22.5 in 2001.
1972: Adam Vinatieri
Another kicker who has had an amazing career. Adam Vinatieri wound Super Bowls for the Patriots with his foot. He is a four-time Super Bowl champ and three-time Pro Bowler. He made 44 straight kicks at one point and he is still going strong for the Indianapolis Colts.
1973: Terrell Owens
Controversial, colorful and charismatic. The words don’t do justice to Terrell Owens. One of the great wideouts to come down the pike. He didn’t make many friends on opposing teams and found a way to rub teammates wrong, too. Still, a guy who you wanted to be on the receiving end of any pass.
1974: Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor earned a spot in the Hall of Fame after a stellar career with the Miami Dolphins. Of his 139.5 career sacks, 131 came with the Dolphins.
1975: Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis was a dominant middle linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He ruled the field. He had 41.5 sacks and 31 picks in a legendary run.
1976: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning goes down as one of the QB legends of the game. He was a 14-time Pro Bowler, five-time league MVP and two-time Super Bowl champ.
1977: Tom Brady
The greatest quarterback of this generation and arguably the G.O.A.T. of any. How on earth did he fall to the sixth round in the draft before being chosen by the Patriots. There’s some synergy to sixth round and six Super Bowl rings.
1978: Ed Reed
One of the best defensive backs of any era, Ed Reed came to the Baltimore Ravens from Miami and produced a career that earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1979: Drew Brees
Another amazing quarterback, Drew Brees moved from Purdue to the Chargers and then to the Saints, where he has cemented his place as a legend in the Big Easy and NFL. He has thrown for more than 74,000 yards and 520 TDs.
1980: Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates went from basketball player in college to superstar tight end with the Chargers. The eight-time Pro Bowler has 955 receptions, 116 TDs and 11,841 receiving yards.
1981: Eli Manning
Eli Manning forced the Chargers’ hand and they traded him to the New York Giants for another QB drafted in the same year of 2004, Philip Rivers. Both were born in 1981 and both have been brilliant. Manning gets the nod because of his two Super Bowl rings.
1982: Ben Roethlisberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed Ben Roerthlisberger in the same draft as Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. The Steelers have gotten themselves a Hall of Famer. He has thrown for 56,000 plus yards while running up a starting mark of 144-69-1.
1983: Larry Fitzgerald
The gift of grab belongs to Larry Fitzgerald. A class act on and off the field, the former Pitt star has 1,303 catches for more than 16,000 yards and 116 TDs.
1984: Haloti Ngata
Haloti Ngata clogs up the middle and opposing teams want to avoid trying to run by him. The former Oregon stars is a five-time Pro Bowler and has a Super Bowl ring to his credit.
1985: Adrian Peterson
They don’t last much longer than Adrian Peterson when it comes to running backs. Once you think he is slowing down, he delivers a wonderful year as he had in 2018 for the Washington Redskins. He led the league in rushing three times and has more than 13,300 yards on the ground.
1986:Marshawn Lynch
The recently retired Marshawn Lynch trampled opponents en route to more than 10,000 yards rushing. His legendary playoff run against the New Orleans Saints in 2011 was the stuff that made “Beast Mode” unforgettable.
1987: Demaryius Thomas
Demaryius Thomas played nine-plus years in Denver before moving to Houston. He’s going to try and regain the Bronco magic in 2019 as a Patriot. He has 688 catches and 62 career TDs.
1988: A.J. Green
A.J. Green is a brilliant wide receiver who excels despite the rough going for the Cincinnati Bengals. In eight seasons, Green has 602 receptions for 8,907 yards and 63 TDs.
1989: Rob Gronkowski
There is only one Gronk. Rob Gronkowski may be retired but he has left the NFL and Patriots fans with more memories than most teams get from a generation of players.
1990: Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson is a bright spot during tough times for the Arizona Cardinals The former LSU star has 23 picks and 12 fumble recoveries in his NFL career. He also returned four punts for touchdowns in his rookie season of 2011.
1991: Aaron Donald
Aaron Donald is a defensive gift to the Los Angeles Rams. He can do anything and everything, imposing his will on offensive linemen in every game. He is coming off a league-leading 20.5 sack season.
1992: DeAndre Hopkins
One could easily argue DeAndre Hopkins has the best hands in the league at WR. He makes spectacular catches look routine on a weekly basis. He has 528 catches for more than 7,400 yards in six seasons. Apparently the one thing you shouldn’t ask the former Clemson star to do is rush with the ball. He has one carry for minus-seven yards.
1993: Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon has proven to be a versatile back for the Los Angeles Chargers. Drafted out of Wisconsin, Gordon has apparently taken a liking to the West Coast. In four seasons, he has more than 5,200 yards of total offense and has scored 38 TDs.
1994: Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley may have slowed in the playoffs in 2018, but the former Georgia star has been a dynamo for the Rams. He has three seasons of 1,100 yards or better out of four and has scored 46 TDs rushing and 10 more receiving.
1995: Patrick Mahomes
Hard to imagine anyone become a legend as a starter faster than Patrick Mahomes in his first season as Kansas City quarterback. After sitting behind Alex Smith as a rookie, Mahomes only threw for 5,000 yards and 50 TDs.
1996: Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey bloomed in 2018. The former Stanford standout rushed for 1,098 yards and caught passes for another 867. Overall, in two seasons he has accounted fore more than 3,000 total yards and 20 TDs.
1997: Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley was the lone bright spot for the New York Giants in 2018. As a rookie, the former Penn State star combined for more than 2,000 yards in total offense.
1998: Tremaine Edmunds
There is only one player who saw much action that was born in 1998. Tremaine Edmunds appears to be a good one and the Buffalo Bills are glad to have him.
