Top 5 NFL Players of All-Time

1. Jerry Rice
2. Walter Payton
3. Jim Brown
4. Joe Montana
5. Lawrence Taylor

1. Jerry Rice:
1,549 Receptions (1st),
22,895 Receiving Yards (1st),
207 Touchdowns (1st- 197 receiving, 10 rushing)
Pro Bowls- 13
All-Pro Selections-12 (11x 1st Team All-Pro)
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)
3x Super Bowl Champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
Super Bowl XXIII MVP
2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)
Holds numerous NFL records
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receptions (1,281)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career Receiving Yards (19,247)
49ers All-Time Leader in Career TDs (187)
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
Most 1,000 yard receiving seasons (14)
Most consecutive games with with a pass reception (274)
Most consecutive games with a touchdown reception- (13-1986-1987)
Most seasons with 50 or more receptions (17)
4 seasons with 100+ receptions
6 seasons leading the league in receiving yards
Led the league in touchdown receptions 6 times.
Postseason Records:
Most postseason games (29)
Most postseason touchdowns (22)
Most postseason receiving yards (2,245)
Most postseason receptions (151)
Most consecutive games, 100 or more receiving yards-3 (1988-1989)
Super Bowl Records:
Career points-48 (1st)
Receptions-33 (1st)
Receiving yards- 589 (1st)
Touchdowns- 8 (1st)
Receptions in a game- 11 (1st)
Receiving yards in a game- 215 (1st)
Ranked 1st for NFL Network's Top 100 Players of All-Time
Ranked 2nd for Sporting News Top 100 Players of All-Time
San Francisco 49ers #80 retired

The Consumate definition of consistency and work ethic. What else can be said about the imprint that Jerry Rice has left on the NFL? While other positions can be highly debated, no one can dispute the contributions that Rice has made during his 20-year tenure. His name is written all across the NFL Record Books. Rice's dedication, professionalism, drive and exceptional play are what have made him the legend that he has become. Rice was the most valuable weapon for San Francisco's Super Bowl Success. He was the lead option of the West Coast Offense, as he and HOF QB's like Joe Montana and Steve Young engineered legendary drives and amazing games that will go down in history. Rice is the automatic first pick for any NFL All-Time Team. Jerry's most notable achievements include being first all-time in Receptions (1,549), Receiving Yards (22,895) and Touchdowns (207). Rice is also the NFL All-Time Leader in Receiving for the Postseason, along with being a member of both the 80's and 90's All-Decade Teams. Jerry Rice was, is and will always be the San Francisco Treat.

2. Walter Payton
3,838 Carries (2nd)
16,726 Rushing Yards (2nd)
125 Touchdowns (110 Rushing-4th, 15 Receiving)
1977 NFL AP MVP
1977 NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year
1985 Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year)
Super Bowl Champion (XX)
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1993)
Pro Bowl Selections: 9
Pro Bowl MVP (1978)
All-Pro Selections: 9 (6x 1st Team, 3x 2nd Team)
10 seasons with 1,000 yards rushing (1st)
Most seasons with 1,300 or more rushing yards (9-1st)
6 Consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards rushing
Led the league in Rushing Attempts 4 times
NFL Rushing Champion (1,852-1977)
League leader in Rushing Touchdowns (14-1977)
League leader in Yards from Scrimmage (1977, 1978)
Career-high 275 rushing yards in one game (Nov. 20, 1977 vs Minnesota Vikings)
Games with 100 or more yards rushing, career: 77
Consecutive Games with 100 or more yards rushing: 9 (10/13/85-12/8/85)
Yards from Scrimmage, Career: 21,264 (3rd)
All-Purpose Yards, Career: 21,803 (3rd)
Average Yards Per Game, Career: 88 ypg (7th)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Ranked 5th for NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 8th on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
Chicago Bears #34 retired

Walter Payton has to be considered one of the best all-around players in NFL History. He was a dynamic combination of strength and agility, and played with intense physicality. His 5-10, 200 pound frame packed a powerful punch. Coming out of small Jackson St., Sweetness was exceptional from the start. In 1977, Walter won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award as he led the league in Rushing for 1,852 yards with 14 TD's. The highlight of that season came when he rushed for a then Single-Game Record 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20, 1977 in a home game in Chicago. As a bonus, he played with the flu. Payton was also named Offensive Player of the Year that season. Sweetness was the embodiment of the Chicago Bears franchise, as he has left a giant stamp on that organization. For 7 long years, Payton carried a Bears squad that was often mediocre at best. By 1982, Mike Ditka became the coach of Chicago, and started making a turnaround to bring him help. With the addition of fellow Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, Chicago built a defensive machine that would take the weight off of Walter's shoulders while he still continued to produce at a very high level. In 1984, Walter Payton joined Jim Brown on the Rushing Mountain, as he surpassed him to become the NFL's All-Time Leader in Rushing. A torch had been symbolically passed, and there was no one more deserving than Sweetness. In 1985, Walter finally put the icing on his legendary cake as he won his first and only Super Bowl when the Chicago Bears wiped out the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. In 1987, Payton retired with 16,726 yards with 125 Touchdowns. Walter also had 10 seasons with 1,000 or more rushing yards. He was also a 9-time Pro Bowler, and 9-time All-Pro Selection. In 1993, Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sadly, he passed away in 1999 at the age of 45. His legacy will continue to be held in the highest regard as his influence has been seen years after his retirement. Payton was also named to the 70's and 80's All-Decade Teams, along with a selection on the NFL 75th Anniversary Team. His nickname was Sweetness, but Payton was like Wolverine on the field.

3. Jim Brown:
2,359 Carries (25th)
12,312 Rushing Yards (9th)
126 Touchdowns (106 Rushing-5th, 20 Receiving)
3x NFL MVP (1957, '58, '65)
Pro Bowl Selections: 9
9x All-Pro Selection (8x 1st Team, 1x 2nd Team)
8x Rushing Champion ('57-'61, '63-'65)
Average Yards Per Game, Career: 104.3 ypg (1st)
Average Yards Per Carry, Career: 5.2 ypc (1st)
Yards from Scrimmage, Career: 14,811 (21)
All-Purpose Yards, Career: 15,459 (24th)
NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1971)
Ranked 2nd on NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 1st on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
Cleveland Browns #32 retired

Jim Brown was simply a man among boys during his time. He was a revolutionary running back that you could take from his era and you can guarantee that he will have success in whatever time frame or system that you put him in. Like Wilt Chamberlain in Basketball, Jim Brown was a force to be reckoned with on the Football Field. In his rookie campaign (1957), Brown won his first NFL MVP Award, along with his first Pro Bowl Selection and Rushing Title. Brown would win another MVP in his second season ('58). In 1963, Jim set the original single-season rushing record of 1,863 yards. Brown would make the greatest impression in a short time span of any player in NFL History. Brown would finish his career with 12,312 yards, which is still good enough for ninth all-time. His 126 TD's still rank 5th among all players. Brown's averages are still at the top of all rushers, as he averaged 104.3 yards per game with 5.2 yards per carry. In translation, he averaged half of a first down. Brown monopolized the running back position, and practically carried defenders to the end zone. Jim Brown was the quintessential player of his time, as he was in a class of his own. If you were to build a prototype running back, Jim Brown would be the ultimate model. Brown was a unanimous choice for the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, along with the 60's All-Decade Team. Brown raised the bar exceptionally high, and was in a class of his own.

4. Joe Montana:
Completions: 3,409
Attempts: 5,391
Percentage: 63.2%
Passing Yards: 40,551
Touchdowns: 273
Interceptions: 139
QB Rating: 92.3
Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)
Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV)
4x NFC Champion (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989)
Pro-Bowl Selections: 8 (1981, '83-'85, '87-'90, '93)
3x AP First-Team All-Pro ('87, '89-'90)
2x AP Second-Team All-Pro ('81, '84)
NFL AP MVP (1989-'90)
NFL AP Offensive Player of the Year (1989)
2x AP Sportsman of the Year (1989, '90)
Sporting News Sportsman of the Year (1989)
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (1990)
NFL 1980's All-Decade Team
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (2000)
Ranked 4th on NFL Network's 100 Greatest Players list
Ranked 3rd on Sporting News 100 Greatest Players list
San Francisco 49ers #16 retired

Joe Montana was the perfect Quarterback to captain Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense in the 1980's. Montana was overlooked coming into the NFL, because of his lack of size. However, what he lacked in arm strength he more than made up for with his IQ and precision. Joe also had great mobility along with a laser arm. His footwork and motion were brilliant. Montana was the king of comebacks, and game time heroics. When you are looking for a clutch QB to build a team around, Montana would be the guy. Joe would decimate opponents with short to medium passes as Jerry Rice and John Taylor excelled in slant routes during the Niners march to victory. Joe Montana has a flagship career with 4 Super Bowl trophies and 3 Super Bowl MVP Awards. Montana could manufacture a comeback victory (Super Bowl XXIII), or he could rip a team to shreds (Super Bowl XXIV). He also won two MVP Awards, along with other honors. Montana was exciting and is a standard bearer for other QB's to model themselves after. He was the chief QB of the 80's All-Decade Team, and the 75th Anniversary Team. In 2000, Joe Montana Joe Cool was one of a kind.

5. Lawrence Taylor
10× Pro Bowl (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
10× All-Pro (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)
AP NFL MVP (1986)
PFWA NFL MVP (1986)
NFL sacks leader (1986)
Career Sacks (132.5-11th)
3× AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)
NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1986)
2× UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1983, 1986)
AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)
Bert Bell Award (1986)
NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
New York Giants No. 56 retired
Ranked 3rd by The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players
Member of Pro-Football Hall of Fame (1999)

Lawrence Taylor reshaped the linebacker position from the moment he stepped into the NFL in 1981. Taylor changed how offenses schemes were run, as his dominance led to coaches implementing a two Tight-End System. Lawrence was an intense blend of strength, quickness and athleticism as he was able to spin past defenders to get to his assignment, whether it was the Quarterback or Running Back. LT was a menace as a pass rusher, as he would terrorize QB's on the blitz. In his 1981 rookie season, Taylor was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year. This would be his first of three DPOY Awards, as he won his second straight in 1982. That season, he also made his first of ten consecutive Pro Bowls and All-Pro Teams. 1986 is considered to be Taylor's finest season of his career, as he became the first Defensive Player in 15 years to win the NFL MVP Award. That season, he lead the league in Sacks (20.5) along with his third DPOY. Taylor was the Unanimous choice for MVP that season, as he was the engine that led the Giants defensive machine to win their first Super Bowl in history. Taylor would help the Giants win another Trophy in SB XXV, before retiring in 1993. When you consider how dominant he was at his peak while looking at his entire body of work, Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player of all-time. Taylor ranks 11th all-time in sacks with 132.5. LT took his rightful place in the HOF in 1999.