20 most underrated football players of all time20 most underrated football players of all time

Starting in at least 13 games every year since entering the league in 2012, David has finished just one season with less than 100 tackles. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. He announced his retirement from pro football in 2010, not long after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. The USFL may not have been the NFL in terms of quality, but being the Luke Kuechly of a league that featured Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young should count for something. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by, Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images, Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Bottom line: OK, kids, lets play Name That Hall of Famer. Greenwood, but there are dozens of other great old players clamoring for their chance who didn't enjoy the glory of playing for a "team of the decade.". His 42-yarder in the 1990 NFC championship game rates as one of the greatest clutch kicks in league history. He arrived in Buffalo at the same time Marv Levy was revolutionizing NFL offense with the help of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars overtake Detroit for No. But the former NFL Man of the Year award winner and two-time All-Pro should not have had to wait so long. To understand why he is not in the Hall of Fame, you must familiarize yourself with both the era he played in and the vagaries of Hall voting. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. Every NFL teams most underrated player of all time - FanSided Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. In the nine seasons that Aaron Smith had double-digit starts, their D ranked among the top nine in yards allowed every time, but his consistent play went over the heads of many. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. Teams: Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1986, 1987, 1992), Super Bowl championships: Two (1985, 1991). So LeRoy Butler, innovator of the Lambeau Leap, is excluded from his own statue. Bottom line: In his 15th and final season, the 36-year-old Ken Riley had eight interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns, one of the most incredible performances by an old man ever. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. Franklin-Myers went from fourth-round draft choice of the Rams in 2018, to a final roster cut in 2019. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Beachum, OT. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. The Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players - ONE37pm The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. Smith wasnt a no-show on third-and-long, either. According to Pro Football Reference, he was flagged for 14 accepted holding penalties in 187 career games, little more than one per season. If Isiah Robertson is famous at all, it's for being "posterized" by Earl Campbell in one of the most famous NFL Films highlights of all time. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. Top 20 most underrated footballers of all time: who are they? most underrated footballers of all time Defensive Player of the Year awards? Juszczyk knows his role and is a winning player that will always fight to win those tough yards. 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, tiers, sleepers He once sacked Dan Marino twice on the first two plays of a gamea remarkable achievement, as Marino was one of the least sacked quarterbacks in NFL history. Hes on the short list of running back leaders in yards per rush (4.6, 17th), touches (2,824, 25th) and yards from scrimmage (14,079, 35th) in NFL history. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. McDole was a starting defensive end for two of history's legendary defenses: the AFL champion Buffalo Bills of 1964 and '65 and Washington's "Over-the-Hill Gang" of the early 1970s. Now that's underrated. The top 20 most under-rated footballers of all time - The Telegraph Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. Far from it. Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. Bates has still developed into a leader in the Bengals secondary and arguably their best player on defense. Norton made the key play of the game in the second period, when he stood up Buffalo Bills back Kenneth Davis mere inches from the goal line. Bates finished tied for 6th in 2020 with 15 passes defended. Not enough credit is given to Waller who lacks the Shanahan offense or elite QB to help take his game to the next level. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. Tom Nalen protected John Elway in a pair of Super Bowl victories and helped trigger a zone-blocking revolution as part of Alex Gibbs' influential offensive lines. Wright earned a second-team All-1970s nod from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, even though several of his signature years were in the 1980s. He reached the playoffs as a rookie backup in 2004 and a 32-year-old backup in 2015, but zero times in the decade in between. While every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. If Morgan had played in a pass-happy offense with a Pro Bowl quarterback and hands-off rules, you would find him in Canton right now. His 4.53 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was far from elite level speed either, but none of that has not stopped Johnson from playing fast and producing at a high level for the Steelers. Dave Meggett -- RB, 1989-1994. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Turner was the ultimate plug-and-play guy, one of five 49ers to be part of all eight of their playoff teams in the decade. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. Steve Atwater. He headed to Washington and moved from the weak to strong side. Sam Mills rises above the rest of the gritty linebacker pack, at least when it comes to being underrated, because three of his greatest seasons have been erased from history. A lifelong Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Davids 10-year career has been about consistency and productivity. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | TheRichest Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos Date of birth: March 21, 1989 Age: 33 years old (as of 2023) Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Height: 1.70 m Current team: Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. On the final play a year later, he picked off a Roger Staubach pass in the end zone that put the Cowboys to rest. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. Although it is tough to put a second-year player on this list as underrated when he is still relatively unproven, Laviska Shenault has such a unique skill set at wide receiver that will quickly start to garner more attention. It was rival 49ers tackle Bryant Young who the Rams were most concerned about before the 1999 season, when they signed Timmerman as a free agent. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. Most Underrated Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL history. Who are the top 20 best left-footed football players as of 2023? And no Hall of Famers allowed. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. Buckner is a smart player and one of the better-run defenders in football. He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. Wide receiver Chase Claypool stole headlines as a rookie in 2020, while teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster always seems to attract headlines one way or another. The Hall of Fame eluded Ellard for several reasons: comparisons to Rice, the Rams' move to St. Louis (it takes hometown writers and buzz to mount a campaign) and those five early seasons in a ground-and-pound offense. Angel Di Maria. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Membership on various All-1960s teams. most underrated players in football at White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . He was an All-Pro for the Orange Crush defenses of the 1970s, and then he stuck around to play for the 1986 Broncos Super Bowl team. He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. Randy Gradishar. But McCree did fumble. While Stafford's game is Hall of Fame worthy, an 0-3 career record in the playoffs on some flawed Lions teams has done little to elevate his name into the conversation of top QBs. Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. If he started his career a decade earlier or a decade later, Young would have anchored the defense for one of history's great teams or helped push the Harbaugh 49ers over the top in the Super Bowl. Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. Time has been hard on both of them. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. Anderson's 1,000-yard seasons came in a primitive offense with a rudimentary passing game. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. There are no official sack statistics before 1982, but the Minnesota Vikings credit Jim Marshall with 127 career sacks. It is absurd that Jones isnt talked about more with his ability to impact games. He played in the run-'n'-shoot offense, which means he was on an island against the NFL's best pass-rushers on every snap for a half-decadeno tight end flanking him, no blocking back behind him. While most Giants fans remember Meggett, he is still one of the most underrated players of all time. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. Teams: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. They say you know an offensive lineman is doing a great job when his name is rarely brought up, but its time Moton is talked about more for his success. Jerry Hughes has been a consistent pass rusher and important piece to the Buffalo Bills defense. Allen made a lot of plays. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. But the diminutive Brees would not have been able to lead the Saints to a Super Bowl and several seasons as top contenders without a clean pocket, particularly right in front of him. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. They're the working stiffs who bust their butts at so-called lesser positions, on teams that are seldom seen on highlights shows, let alone national television. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, 10 Most Underrated Promising Football Players In The World If Mel Blount, Mike Haynes and teammate Lemar Parrish hadnt been in the same conference, Riley would have made more a few more Pro Bowl trips. The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Whether they were disrespected by the media, or scrappy fan-favorites, every NFL team has had a selection of players that didnt get the attention they deserved. Jackson probably helped you win a fantasy title or two, but he would be remembered for so much more if he wasn't always on the wrong team at the wrong time. When London Fletcher retired after the 2014 season, Robert Klemko of The MMQBasked him if he was motivated by feeling underappreciated for most of his career. Top 10 most underrated NFL players: Justin Tucker, Keenan And then there is plain old forgotten. Coughlin gave Smith a tryout, then kickoff return duties, and then teamed him with Mark Brunell and Keenan McCardell to create one of the most dangerous passing attacks of the late '90s and early 2000s. Without Kenn, there might not be free agency in the NFL, to say nothing of limitations on practice conditions and other initiatives that make pro football less dangerous than it was decades ago. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1993, 1995, 1997), Super Bowl championships: Three (1992, 1993, 1994). Slot specialists such as Julian Edelman and Victor Cruz are now considered valuable components to the modern passing game. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. Man Utd's double winning David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio In 10 of the 12 seasons in which he started at least half their games, the Seahawks prevailed more times than not. Some might say it's a stretch to put Allen on this list after four straight Pro Bowl seasons and 95+ catch seasons. "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". Sideways. He is also proficient with his right foot and is a versatile player who can play multiple positions in the attacking third of the pitch. most underrated player Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. His 23 fourth-quarter comebacks (20th overall) are more than Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Sonny Jurgensen and Bart Starr, to name a few Hall of Famers at the position. Juszczyk has made five Pro Bowl appearances, including each season since joining San Francisco in 2017. The linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. Upon entering the league in 2019, Johnson recorded 59 catches as a rookie and then topped that mark in 2020 with 88 catches. He won 65 percent of his NFL starts. NFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. It doesn't matter: If you are a Broncos defender, you might as well forget about a bust in Canton. most underrated nfl players There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf You know the type. Ten of the most underrated footballers of all time He accounted for all his teams points in a 15-13 white-knuckler that wrecked the 49ers three-peat bid and sent the Giants to Super Bowl XXV. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick. Some of the 19 Dunn left Tampa Bay as a free agent after the 2001 season and headed to Atlanta, largely because of his relationship with Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner. WebDespite being just 20-years-old, Pedri has become a key player for Barcelona The midfielder names his former teammate Lionel Messi as the 'best' ever He hopes to There will never be another player like Marshall. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. He then became a staple of trivia questions and All-Time Worst Trades listicles, as the Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed an even more impressive moment in Hadl's transaction history. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. Start with Adam Timmerman, who won Super Bowl rings with the Packers and Rams three years apart. Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. Young started his career as the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ended it as a four-time winner of the Len Eshmont Award, the 49ers' team award for character and leadership. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". Pro Bowl? That "something" was throwing for more than 29,000 yards and going to four AFL All-Star Games and a Pro Bowl with the Chargers and then leading the Rams to a 12-2 record in 1973. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. This list begins with a quarterback who is preparing to play in the 2015 NFL regular season. 25 Feb/23. He enjoyed one of the greatest receiving games in NFL history: 15 catches, 291 yards and three touchdowns against the historic 2000 Ravens defense. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. Not Fred Dean. St. As the Chargers faded, Rivers kept them in the wild-card picture and became the franchise's only recognizable public figure. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. Since 2013, Jones has registered six double-digit sack seasons including a 17 sack season in 2017 that led the NFL, and a career-high of 19 in 2019. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. They lost to the Vikings 30-14 in the 1974 Wildcard Round, and they were defeated by the Rams 35-23 in the opening round of the playoffs in 1975. By being overshadowed by Brown, achieving his greatest success just before the dawn of the Super Bowl era and getting stuck behind the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of your grandfather's generation, Ryan earned the title of the NFL's All-Time Most Underrated Player. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. Brown did one thing terribly wrong in 18 NFL seasons, but for his teams to win as often as they did, he must have done an awful lot more right. That may be unfair to players like Robinson, Jerry Kramer and L.C. The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. After spending a season on the practice squad and injured-reserve with the Jets, Franklin-Myers made the most of his opportunities as a rotational player throughout most of 2020, leading to a starting role in 2021 and a massive $55M extension. Ryan would blitz between five and eight defenders, plus some water boys and maybe a few boo birds from the 700 level of Veterans Stadium. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. Unless you live in Cleveland or are over 50, you probably have never heard of him. If not for Schlereth's many health problems that included 29 surgeries, 15 on his left knee alone, he would have been a perennial Pro Bowl selection. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. He had the speed to get to the edge and beat defenders down the sideline, the power to plow through tackles, the elusiveness to make things happen in the open field and receiving chops to rival contemporaries Roger Craig or Thurman Thomas. Anderson is no Hall of Famerthe middle of his career is a morass of ordinary-at-best seasonsbut he was a pioneer and an innovator. Most Underrated Franklin-Myers has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line and is off to a strong start in the Jets' new 4-3 defense under head coach Robert Saleh. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. Ellard moved on to Washington in 1994 and enjoyed a late-career renaissance, averaging 61 catches and 18.8 yards per reception over a three-year span in his mid-30s. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. Bottom line: After eight seasons in Buffalo, where he had been a mainstay with the best defense in AFL history, Ron McDole took his two-bar helmet to Washington. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. Jones has also recorded at least 100 tackles every year since entering the league with the exception of 2018 when he played in only 6 games. WebDeion Sanders: Deion Sanders is one of the most underrated players of all time. Photo by JOHN CAPUTO/AFP via Getty Images, ST. LOUIS, MO CIRCA 1980: Ed Jones #72 of the Dallas Cowboys gets blocked by Dan Dierdorf #72 of the St. Louis Cardinals during an NFL football game circa 1980 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The difference between the great and the all-time great is often a matter of timing and luck. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. And let's not place the full burden of history on his shoulders, as Marty Schottenheimer, Norv Turner, the Chargers front office and Rivers himself had a hand in making the team a playoff also-ran during those peak years. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. WebWhile every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). Ron McDole falls into that final category. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. Even without the same speed and athleticism as when he entered the league, David continues to find ways to make impact plays like a seasoned veteran. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball.