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

A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players Waller was a sixth-round draft pick at wide receiver by the Ravens in 2015 and struggled to find targets early in his career in spite of his 66 frame. Guys who played in Jacksonville repeatedly have been crapped on in Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame votes, none more so than Taylor during and after his 11 seasons there. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. 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. Far from it. Actually, make that four careers. "Even now I still get pissed off. There is one football player who could score from literally anywhere, and his name is 2. Six All-Pro selections. 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. But Wright never posted massive interception totals, and his teams ended up on the receiving end of a pair of Super Bowl beatings. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. Juszczyk knows his role and is a winning player that will always fight to win those tough yards. Bottom line: If an inquiring mind had asked "Which team will win the Super Bowl?" With his career spread evenly across three teams and zero All-Pro selections (a consequence of playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher), Fletcher is a Hall of Fame long shot. 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. 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. Matthew Stafford is approaching 50,000 career passing yards, a number only topped by 11 quarterbacks in history. In two Super Bowl trips, Bahr didnt miss a kick three field goals, six PATs. 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. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. Derrick Mason recorded four 1,000-yard seasons for Jeff Fisher teams and four more for the Baltimore Ravens. Allen made a lot of plays. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. 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. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. Make no mistake about it, Eric Bieniemys exodus from Kansas City to Washington is only one move on the chess board Membership on various All-1960s teams. Know who created those wide-open spaces? The Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players - ONE37pm He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. WebWhile positional drills may be more indicative of a player's success in the NFL, other events like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press are less obvious. 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. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. A Hall of Fame voter once warned me that "every town has its linebacker.". One of the most underrated players in AM Football, Brodie Croyle was drafted into the NFL by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2006 after being a college football standout with the University of Alabama. C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? Developing a rapport with new QB Trevor Lawrence should only help Shenault quickly reach his true potential. There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Maybe he wasn't the best defender on the field for any one play, but he stayed on that field for an entire generation. 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. Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time by Team | Stadium Talk In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. But here's the thing: Gradishar, Mecklenberg and Atwater are famous for being snubbed. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Anderson's 1,000-yard seasons came in a primitive offense with a rudimentary passing game. Ground rules: A max of three Pro Bowl invitations. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Entering 2021, Moton had allowed only 10 sacks in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. Barca star Pedri hails Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time 10 Most Underrated Promising Football Players In The World 10 Most Underrated Football Players - Sports Al Dente He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. In an era when 50 percent completion rates and 20-interception seasons were common for Pro Bowl quarterbacks, Anderson's 64.9 percent completion rate and quarterback ratings above 90 look like temporal anomalies. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. Kenny Anderson may be the most "so underrated that he's overrated" player in NFL historya darling of the stat-head community and common first-guy-mentioned when Hall of Fame snubs come up. Hence, the Campbell video. The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. 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. 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. Year after year, Chandler Jones is one of the best pure pass rushers in football. Bates has still developed into a leader in the Bengals secondary and arguably their best player on defense. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. Jones topped the 100 career sack total in week one of 2021, a five-sack day that tied a Cardinals franchise record and set a personal career-best. But this list is all about giving overlooked players their due respect. NFL Nostalgia: Ranking the Most Underrated Players in NFL History Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. Passing wasn't really their thing. 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. Top 20 Most Underrated Footballers in 2022 - Top Soccer Blog But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. There, he led a relentless Redskins pass rush in their Super Bowl XXVI ambush. Buckner plays within the defense, often allowing others to make plays, but remains a nightmare trying to block one on one. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. And almost nobody remembers that, when Edwards caught the ball, he knew what to do it. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. The fullback has become a non-factor in many of todays NFL offenses, but Juszczyk remains an integral part of how the San Francisco 49ers run their offense. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. 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. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. The Packers believed they were a veteran quarterback away from a playoff run in 1974, so head coach/GM Dan Devine acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by surrendering a ransom of draft picks huge enough to cause even Ryan Pace to do a spit take: two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a third-rounder. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. WebDeion Sanders: Deion Sanders is one of the most underrated players of all time. For years, the team couldn't even harken back to its glory days properly, as Smith's Pride of the Jaguars induction was delayed until he was sober and no longer under house arrest. These men did so much but received so little credit in return. Wisniewski reached eight Pro Bowls and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 1990s, so he's not exactly obscure. There have been too many players in NFL history to count, so naturally, many of them werent going to get the attention they deserved for their play. The Lions drafted him as a running back. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. Young played for the teams that slowly slid from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to oblivion. Player B passed for 31,548 yards and 214 touchdowns and ran for 22 touchdowns with below average-to-good teams. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. If the soft-spoken scatback had been in the right place at the right time, he would have filled his one nagging void a Super Bowl title and the exposure that accompanied it. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. 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. There's underrated, underappreciated and overlooked. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. Robinson was one of those players. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. Giants: All-time underrated, overrated players Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). The linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. The top 20 most under-rated footballers of all time - The Telegraph There are no official sack statistics before 1982, but the Minnesota Vikings credit Jim Marshall with 127 career sacks. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. 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. WebA key ingredient of arguably the best back four to grace the game Mauro Tassoti, him, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini the Milan central defender made more than 450 Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts 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. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. Measurables. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. The Colts accused Ryan of running up the score in the 27-0 championship rout of 1964. Most Underrated American Football Players of All Time There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf never seems to have his name mentioned. Ron McDole falls into that final category. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. In both New England and Arizona, Jones has wreaked havoc on quarterbacks, demonstrating versatility as a 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan, right, battles for And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. The Jaguars upset John Elway's Broncos and reached the AFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team and then went on to three more playoff berths, culminating in a 14-2 season. If the quarterback got rid of the ball before getting crushed, it was up to Allen to make a play. According to Next Gen Stats, Johnson averaged 3.6 yards of separation for each target during his rookie season, the most of any receiver in football. And no Hall of Famers allowed. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund Looks 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. As a pass blocker, Moton has developed into a steady presence capable of holding his own, and at times even dominating top pass rushers that include Joey Bosa and Cameron Jordan. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. He started for an offensive line that helped Barry Sanders win two of his four rushing titles. By the time the 49ers are great again, Bowman may be in his early 30s or on another team. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. 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. If Marlon McCree hadn't fumbled that interception in the playoffs after the 2006 season, everything might have been different. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. 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. Bottom line: The 49ers of the 1980s are remembered most for Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, coach Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense. Pittsburgh Steelers: All-time underrated, overrated players - NFL.com The correct answer is Player A (Ken Stabler), and if youre Player B (Brodie), you have to wonder if one Super Bowl should make that much difference. Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. It doesn't matter: If you are a Broncos defender, you might as well forget about a bust in Canton. Hull started his professional career with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, where he helped Herschel Walker rush for 2,411 yards in one 18-game season. Nope, not Charles Haley. 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. Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. That's its own kind of recognition. Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time. He didnt just take up space, either. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea. Along with the legendary Johnny Unitas, Rote probably did more to change the quarterback position than anyone in the pre-merger era even if so few know it. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. Jerry Rice and John Taylor may have been the greatest receiving tandem of that era, but Ellard and Flipper Anderson were the most explosive pair of deep threats. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). FanDuel NFL 2021: Best lineup for Week 16, Jets HC Robert Saleh tests positive for COVID, could miss Jaguars game, LeVeon Bell fires back on Twitter at fans trolling him for signing with Buccaneers. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. It is absurd that Jones isnt talked about more with his ability to impact games. All-time underrated and overrated players for Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. 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. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. Most Underrated Perhaps it's time we look back on how much of an impact he and his Jaguars had on the NFL two decades ago.