Football is a game of numbers, and that includes jersey numbers — which define players in our minds to a certain degree. Who can think of Hall of Fame center Jim Otto without thinking of his 00 jersey, or Warren Moon’s No. 1, or a host of legendary quarterbacks rocking the No. 12, and on and on.
In this specific exercise, we are determining the greatest player in pro football history to wear each jersey number from 00 to 99. Sometimes, the choices are eminently obvious, and other times… not so much. No. 8 had the duel between Steve Young and Troy Aikman, just as we saw in multiple NFC Championship games in the early 1990s. No. 21 had us deciding between LaDainian Tomlinson, Deion Sanders, Frank Gore, Charles Woodson, and Patrick Peterson. Yikes!
On and on it went, but we finally worked through each jersey number and each correspondingly greatest player, and here is that list for your perusal — with the honorable mentions that made this process quite tricky at times.
00: Jim Otto
Honorable Mention: Ken Burrough
1. Warren Moon
Honorable Mention: Cam Newton, Ja’Marr Chase, Gary Anderson, Jalen Hurts.
2. Matt Ryan
Honorable Mention: Darius Slay, Cookie Gilchrist, Amari Cooper, Doug Flutie.
3. Jim Thorpe
Honorable Mention: Russell Wilson, Daryle Lamonica, Carson Palmer, Bronko Nagurski, Jan Stenerud.
4. Brett Favre
Honorable Mention: Dak Prescott, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Jim Harbaugh, Adam Vinatieri.
5. Paul Hornung
Honorable Mention: Donovan McNabb, Joe Flacco, Jeff Garcia, Kerry Collins.
6. Benny Friedman
Honorable mention: Ray Flaherty, Jay Cutler.
7. John Elway
Honorable mention: Ben Roethlisberger, Mel Hein, George Halas, Michael Vick, Boomer Esiason, Bob Waterfield, Bert Jones, Ron Jaworski, Morten Andersen, Earl “Dutch” Clark
8. Steve Young
Honorable mention: Troy Aikman, Larry Wilson, Ray Guy, Lamar Jackson, Tommy McDonald.
9. Drew Brees
Honorable mention: Sonny Jurgensen, Matthew Stafford, Steve Owen, Steve McNair, Tony Romo.
10. Fran Tarkenton
Honorable mention: Eli Manning, Tyreek Hill, DeSean Jackson.
11. Larry Fitzgerald
Honorable mention: Fritz Pollard, Norm Van Brocklin, Ernie Nevers, Drew Bledsoe, Phil Simms, Julio Jones.
12. Tom Brady
Honorable mention: Aaron Rodgers, Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw, Jim Kelly, Ken Stabler, Joe Namath, Bob Griese.
13. Dan Marino
Honorable mention: Kurt Warner, Ken Riley, Don Maynard, Jake Scott, Joe Stydahar, Guy Chamberlain.
14. Dan Fouts
Honorable mention: Don Hutson, Otto Graham, Y.A. Tittle, Ken Anderson, Earl “Curly” Lambeau, Steve Grogan.
15. Patrick Mahomes
Honorable mention: Bart Starr, Steve Van Buren, Jack Kemp, Earl Morall.
16. Joe Montana
Honorable mention: Len Dawson, George Blanda, Frank Gifford, Jim Plunkett, Duke Slater.
17. Philip Rivers
Honorable mention: Josh Allen, Jim Hart, Harold Carmichael, Davante Adams, Don Meredith.
18. Peyton Manning
Honorable mention: Charlie Joiner, Emmitt Thomas, Roman Gabriel, A.J. Green.
19. Johnny Unitas
Honorable mention: Lance Alworth, Bernie Kosar.
20. Barry Sanders
Honorable mention: Ed Reed, Ronde Barber, Lem Barney, Brian Dawkins, Mel Renfro, Cliff Battles, Gino Cappelletti.
21. LaDainian Tomlinson
Honorable mention: Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, Patrick Peterson, Cliff Branch, Frank Gore.
22. Emmitt Smith
Honorable mention: Paul Krause, Bob Hayes, Mike Haynes, Bobby Layne,
23. Troy Vincent
Honorable mention: Arian Foster, Patrick Surtain, Joe Haden, Mike Wagner.
24. Darrelle Revis
Honorable mention: Willie Brown, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson, Ty Law, Willie Wood, Lenny Moore, Marshawn Lynch.
25. Richard Sherman
Honorable mention: Fred Biletnikoff, Haven Moses, LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Tommy McDonald.
26. Rod Woodson
Honorable mention: Herb Adderley, Antoine Winfield, Le’Veon Bell, Raymond Clayborn, Clinton Portis.
27. Eddie George
Honorable mention: Steve Atwater, Malcolm Jenkins, Tre’Davious White, Kareem Hunt.
28. Marshall Faulk
Honorable mention: Darrell Green, Adrian Peterson, Fred Taylor, Curtis Martin, Yale Lary, Darren Woodson, Abner Haynes, Corey Dillon.
29. Eric Dickerson
Honorable mention: Harold Jackson, Ken Houston, Earl Thomas, Sam Madison, Albert Lewis, Eric Berry.
30. Terrell Davis
Honorable mention: Clarke Hinkle, Bill Willis, Lawrence McCutcheon.
31. Jim Taylor
Honorable mention: Donnie Shell, Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, Kem Chancellor.
32. Jim Brown
Honorable mention: Marcus Allen, Franco Harris, Edgerrin James, O.J. Simpson, Devin McCourty, Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Weddle.
33. Sammy Baugh
Honorable mention: Tony Dorsett, Roger Craig, Ollie Matson.
34. Walter Payton
Honorable mention: Thurman Thomas, Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, Joe Perry, Cornell Green.
35. Aeneas Williams
Honorable mention: Christian Okoye, Calvin Hill, John Henry Johnson.
36. Jerome Bettis
Honorable mention: Leroy Butler, Brian Westbrook, Lawyer Milloy, Billy Thompson.
37. Lester Hayes
Honorable mention: Rodney Harrison, Shaun Alexander, Jimmy Johnson, Doak Walker, Pat Fischer, Carnell Lake.
38. Eugene Daniel
Honorable mention: Arnie Herber, Roland James, Tramon Williams.
39. Larry Csonka
Honorable mention: Steven Jackson, Hugh McElhenny.
40. Gale Sayers
Honorable mention: Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch, Mike Haynes, Wayne Millner, Dick Anderson, Mike Alstott.
41. Eugene Robinson
Honorable mention: Antoine Bethea, Charlie Waters, Alvin Kamara, Tom Matte, Phil Villiapiano.
42. Ronnie Lott
Honorable mention: Johnny Robinson, Charley Taylor, Paul Warfield, Sid Luckman, Darren Sharper.
43. Troy Polamalu
Honorable mention: Cliff Harris, Larry Brown.
44. John Riggins
Honorable mention: Dick LeBeau, Leroy Kelly, Chuck Foreman, Floyd Little, Dallas Clark, Bobby Dillon.
45. Emlen Tunnell
Honorable mention: Kenny Easley, Dave Grayson, Gary Fencik.
46. Todd Christensen
Honorable mention: Lou Groza, Herm Edwards, Danny Abramowicz.
47. Mel Blount
Honorable mention: John Lynch, Joey Browner.
48. Stephen Davis
Honorable mention: Lionel Washington.
49. Bobby Mitchell
Honorable mention: Dennis Smith.
50. Mike Singletary
Honorable mention: Alex Wojciechowicz, Dave Dalby, Justin Houston.
51. Dick Butkus
Honorable mention: Sam Mills, Jim Ringo, Takeo Spikes, Randy Cross.
52. Ray Lewis
Honorable mention: Patrick Willis, Mike Webster, Robert Brazile, Khalil Mack, Clay Matthews, Frank Gatski.
53. Randy Gradishar
Honorable mention: Harry Carson, Mick Tingelhoff, Mark Stepnoski, Ray Donaldson.
54: Randy White
Honorable mention: Brian Urlacher, Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David, Zach Thomas.
55. Junior Seau
Honorable mention: Derrick Brooks, Willie McGinest, Steve Owen, Terrell Suggs, Lee Roy Jordan, Chris Hanburger, Lance Briggs, John Abraham.
56. Lawrence Taylor
Honorable mention: Chris Doleman, Joe Schmidt, Andre Tippett, Pat Swilling, Bill Hewitt, Derrick Johnson, Hardy Nickerson, Demario Davis.
57. Dwight Stephenson
Honorable mention: Rickey Jackson, Jeff Van Note, Clay Matthews, Tom Jackson, Mo Lewis.
58. Derrick Thomas
Honorable mention: Von Miller, Jack Lambert, Thomas Davis, Isiah Robertson, Wilber Marshall, Jack Rudnay, Jeddie Tuggle, Mike Stratton, Mac Speedie,
59. Jack Ham
Honorable mention: Luke Kuechly, London Fletcher, Donnie Edwards.
60. Chuck Bednarik
Honorable mention: Otto Graham, Larry Grantham, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Al “Bubba” Baker.
61. Bill George
Honorable mention: Curley Culp, Nate Newton, Jesse Sapolu.
62. Jason Kelce
Honorable mention: Jim Langer, Guy McIntyre.
63. Willie Lanier
Honorable mention: Gene Upshaw, Jeff Saturday, Dermontti Dawson, Lee Roy Selmon, Mike Munchak, Dick Stanfel,
64. Jerry Kramer
Honorable mention: Randall McDaniel, Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds.
65. Elvin Bethea
Honorable mention: Lane Johnson, Garry Zimmerman, Tom Mack.
66. Alan Faneca
Honorable mention: Larry Little, Tom Nalen, Ray Nitschke, Billy Shaw, Joe Jacoby, Clyde “Bulldog” Turner.
67. Bob Kuechenberg
Honorable mention: Reggie McKenzie, Kareem McKenzie, Grady Alderman.
68. Will Shields
Honorable mention: Kevin Mawae, L.C. Greenwood, Russ Grimm, Joe DeLamielleure.
69. Jared Allen
Honorable mention: Jon Runyan, David Bakhtiari, Jordan Gross, Mark Schlereth.
70: Jim Marshall
Honorable mention: Sam Huff, Art Donovan, Ernie Stauntner, Rayfield Wright, Zack Martin, Logan Mankins, Russ Washington, Leonard Marshall.
71. Walter Jones
Honorable mention: Trent Williams, Jason Peters, Alex Karras, Willie Anderson, Tony Boselli, George Connor.
72. Dan Dierdorf
Honorable mention: Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Lincoln Kennedy, Matt Light, Tra Thomas.
73. Joe Thomas
Honorable mention: Larry Allen, John Hannah, Leo Nomellini, Joe Klecko, Marshal Yanda, Ralph Neely, Ron Yary.
74. Bob Lilly
Honorable mention: Bruce Matthews, Merlin Olsen, Fred Dean, Henry Jordan, Ron Mix, Henry Jordan, Joe Staley, Mike McCormack, Jimbo Covert, Nick Mangold.
75. Joe Greene
Honorable mention: Deacon Jones, Jonathan Ogden, Howie Long, Forrest Gregg, Vince Wilfork, Manny Fernandez.
76. Orlando Pace
Honorable mention: Steve Hutchinson, Marion Motley, Steve Wisniewski, Lou Groza, Bob Brown, Lou Creekmur.
77. Willie Roaf
Honorable mention: Andrew Whitworth, Jim Parker, Tyron Smith, Jim Tyrer, Lyle Alzado, Red Grange.
78. Bruce Smith
Honorable mention: Art Shell, Anthony Munoz, Jackie Slater, Bobby Bell, Curley Culp, Bruce Armstrong, Richmond Webb, Stan Jones, Mike Kenn,
79. Roosevelt Brown
Honorable mention: Ray Childress, Coy Bacon, Harvey Martin, Bob St. Clair, Jacob Green, Barney Chavous, Harris Barton.
80. Jerry Rice
Honorable mention: Steve Largent, Cris Carter, James Lofton, Kellen Winslow, Isaac Bruce, Andre Johnson, Rod Smith, Tom Fears.
81. Calvin Johnson
Honorable mention: Dick “Night Train” Lane, Carl Eller, Terrell Owens, Torry Holt, Doug Atkins, Tim Brown, Art Monk, Jackie Smith, Andy Robustelli.
82. Ozzie Newsome
Honorable mention: Raymond Berry, Jason Witten, Jimmy Smith, John Stallworth.
83. Ted Hendricks
Honorable mention: Andre Reed, Wes Welker, John Jefferson.
84: Randy Moss
Honorable mention: Shannon Sharpe, Andre Reed, Sterling Sharpe, Gary Clark, Roddy White.
85. Nick Buoniconti
Honorable mention: Jack Youngblood, Antonio Gates, Derrick Mason, Chad Johnson, Isaac Curtis.
86. Junious "Buck" Buchanan
Honorable mention: Dante Lavelli, Hines Ward, Stanley Morgan, Verlon Biggs.
87. Willie Davis
Honorable mention: Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, Dave Casper, Reggie Wayne, Claude Humphrey, Muhsin Muhammad, Keenan McCardell.
88. Alan Page
Honorable mention: Michael Irvin, Tony Gonzalez, John Mackey, Marvin Harrison, Dez Bryant, Lynn Swann, Charlie Sanders, Drew Pearson, Greg Olsen.
89. Steve Smith Sr.
Honorable mention: Mike Ditka, Gino Marchetti, Otis Taylor, Dave Robinson, Fred Dryer, Santana Moss, Doug Baldwin.
90. Julius Peppers
Honorable mention: Neil Smith, Larry Brooks, Jason Pierre-Paul, Darnell Dockett, T.J. Watt, Ndamukong Suh.
91: Kevin Greene
Honorable mention: Fletcher Cox, Leslie O’Neal, Tamba Hali, Cameron Wake, Ryan Kerrigan, Aaron Smith.
92. Reggie White
Honorable mention: Michael Strahan, Haloti Ngata, James Harrison, Ted Washington.
93: John Randle
Honorable mention: Richard Seymour, Calais Campbell, Dwight Freeney, Kevin Williams, Kevin Carter, Gerald McCoy.
94. DeMarcus Ware
Honorable mention: Charles Haley, Justin Smith, Cameron Jordan, Chad Brown, Dana Stubblefield.
95. Richard Dent
Honorable mention: Greg Lloyd, Chris Jones, Kyle Williams.
96. Cortez Kennedy
Honorable mention: Clyde Simmons, Carlos Dunlap, Adalius Thomas.
97. Cameron Heyward
Honorable mention: Bryant Young, Geno Atkins, La’Roi Glover, Cornelius Bennett, Simeon Rice, Grady Jarrett, Patrick Kerney.
98. Robert Mathis
Honorable mention: Casey Hampton, Jessie Armstead, Tony Siragusa, John Henderson.
99. Aaron Donald
Honorable mention: J.J. Watt, Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor, DeForest Buckner, Dan Hampton, Mark Gastineau.
