20 most underrated football players of all time

Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. Jones is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. 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. Maybe he wasn't the best defender on the field for any one play, but he stayed on that field for an entire generation. Anderson was the first quarterback to successfully orchestrate the beta version of Bill Walsh's West Coast offense for multiple seasons. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. A Colts defender delivered some payback in the all-star game. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. 25 Feb/23. Anderson's 1,000-yard seasons came in a primitive offense with a rudimentary passing game. And you're never going to guess who's No. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. 100-91). Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. Drew Brees endured an average of just 24 sacks per season in Evans' All-Pro seasons, despite typically dropping back to pass over 650 times per year. Bowman is a four-time All-Pro and tremendous all-purpose linebacker who emerged as a stalwart leader for teams that otherwise might have packed it in before Labor Day. Tom Jackson. Robertson was one of the NFL's fastest linebackers in the 1970s. 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. As good as Ellard was at the time, he almost was never mentioned in debates about the best at his position. Not only was Fleming good enough to stick with great teams, but he also was the luckiest son of a gun on the face of the earth. 1 overall pick, NFL coverage map 2021: TV schedule Week 16, Seattle Seahawks: 3 players who wont be back in 2022. The Hall of He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He's also among the top 100 in games started (83rd), interception return yardage (89th) and interception return touchdowns (31st). Here are ten of the most underrated college football players of all time. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. Its hard to think of a player more dominant and less talked about over a long period of time than Chandler Jones. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. Edouard Mendy - Chelsea. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. McDole is not known for much of anything anymore, as his AFL stardom came before the Super Bowl era and his Redskins heroics predated the era of Joe Gibbs and the Hogs. Not Fred Dean. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. 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. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. He is also infamous for admitting on ESPN Radio that he once purposely let Packers defender Sean Jones sack Scott Mitchell so the struggling quarterback would get knocked out of a game. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. Travis Kelce and George Kittle dominate the conversation at tight end but Darren Waller is quickly emerging as a name that should be discussed as well. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. With 4.35 speed, McLaurin can take the top off any defense but has also rounded out the rest of his game since his time at Ohio State. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. And then there is plain old forgotten. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Upon entering the league in 2019, Johnson recorded 59 catches as a rookie and then topped that mark in 2020 with 88 catches. If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. It takes bad timing and bad luck. WebThe Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time 1. Sideways. 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. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). Its easy to forget the Seahawks had some pretty good teams way back when, even a few playoff ones. 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. Rivers had neither, but he possessed just about everything else. 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. 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. But Anderson was an extraordinary talent. Steve Atwater. He led his team to an NFL championship. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). Then again, the fourth-round draft pick had no choice. Let's hope the fame doesn't go to his head. An ever-growing backlog of outstanding safeties is queuing up outside Canton, as Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed will soon joinJohn Lynch and Brian Dawkins. Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. They would rank first in the NFL in yardage four other times while Evans was a starter. While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. TGT Tips! 1. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. During his first four seasons, three with the Ravens and one in Oakland, Waller caught just 18 passes on 29 targets while also being suspended all of 2017. Hes the only quarterback with AFL and NFL titles on his resume and he darn near pulled it off in the Canadian Football League as well. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. Bottom line: The 1970s Steelers won four Super Bowls two with a power run game, two with a potent pass attack and who better than Jon Kolb to do the heavy lifting? The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. One look at the logjam forming outside the entrance to Canton tells you Wisniewski isn't moving up the ladder anytime soon. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Overall, the total still ranks ninth at the position. They never had any playoff success, even when they did make it into the postseason. 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 may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. 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. Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. But a double whammyplaying center and playing for the Broncoshas kept him miles from Hall of Fame consideration. Bottom line: Wilber Marshall was the most athletic and versatile linebacker with the legendary 1985 Bears defense he often replaced the celebrated Mike Singletary in pass situations. Terry McLaurin has played through one of the more unstable quarterback situations in football with Washington since entering the league but continues to emerge as one of the top wideouts in football. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. At only 510, Johnson lacks the ideal size. It is absurd that Jones isnt talked about more with his ability to impact games. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. "Even now I still get pissed off. He finished his career by doing something almost impossible: signing with the Patriots as a veteran role player during one of the few years they didn't reach the Super Bowl. 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. Williams' career-high in receptions is only 49, but with increased targets, he has already recorded 31 catches over the first five games in 2021. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. Butler was the NFL's most dangerous all-purpose safety for much of the 1990s. 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. His career was cut short by injuries suffered in the first of those three Pro Bowls. Butler's defensive accomplishments might have brought him to the cusp of immortality, but don't underestimate the power of that Lambeau Leap. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. 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. Young played for the teams that slowly slid from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to oblivion. He played center, as well, before his career was over. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Dierdorf. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. This commitment to team defense is perhaps one of the main reasons Buckner is not more recognized as one of the top interior defensive linemen in football. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. Henry Ellard spent the first five seasons of his NFL career returning punts and putting up humdrum receiving stats. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. Year after year, Chandler Jones is one of the best pure pass rushers in football. It would rank 16th all-time, except that if we allow Marshall's sacks into the record, we would have to make room for Deacon Jones, Mean Joe Greene and others. "No one was going to catch no ball.". Bottom line: If an inquiring mind had asked "Which team will win the Super Bowl?" Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. 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.". Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. Brown is now best known as a television personality. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. While most Giants fans remember Meggett, he is still one of the most underrated players of all time. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. But his Rams had a running back named Eric Dickerson and quarterbacks named Dieter Brock and Jeff Kemp. 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. There will never be another player like Marshall. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. His 65 interceptions are fifth most in NFL history. It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. He picked off a dozen passes in his career two of them at 38 years of age an absurd number for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lineman. Regardless of the Cardinals struggles, Dierdorf was a star. Put Ellard in another era or even the AFC with an accomplished quarterback, and his legacy as The Best Wideout Not Named Jerry Rice would be that much greater. Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. Bottom line: One of the premier long-ball threats of any era, Stanley Morgan ranks 10th in yards per reception (19.2) and 39th in touchdown catches (72) on the all-time list. Bahr converted 84 percent of his field-goal attempts (21 of 25), and 98 percent of his extra-point tries (40 of 41) when it counted most. Buckner plays within the defense, often allowing others to make plays, but remains a nightmare trying to block one on one.

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