20 most underrated football players of all time

20 most underrated football players of all timeamtrak san jose to sacramento schedule

20 most underrated football players of all time

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. On a walk-through between center and left guard, naturally. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. It was the era of great defensive lines with catchy namesthe Rams had the Fearsome Foursome, the Cowboys the Doomsday Defense, the Steelers later added the Steel Curtain, and so forthand Marshall was the Ringo Starr of the Purple People Eaters, the guy who once ran the wrong way for a touchdown and was happy just to be in the band. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. If McCree doesn't cough up that fourth-quarter pick, the Chargers beat the Patriots, and perhaps Philip Rivers leads a team that went 14-2 in the regular season to the Super Bowl. Ronald Koeman. And then there is plain old forgotten. There's underrated, underappreciated and overlooked. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. A great story off the field and rare talent on it, Waller appears to still be getting better at age 29. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. 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. Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. We could just trudge onward to the next player right now. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. WebBUY OUR MERCH: https://www.thegivengo.com/merchTIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegivengoSPOTIFY: Its hard to think of a player more dominant and less talked about over a long period of time than Chandler Jones. And no Hall of Famers allowed. Finally, at last, the cornerback was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl game as some kind of lifetime achievement award. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. 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 tough, but I was happy for those guys," Dunn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. McDole's Bills defenses held opponents to fewer than 3.1 yards per carry across three consecutive seasons. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins. Edouard Mendy of Chelsea celebrates after his sides victory in the Premier League match 2. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. Lets hear some "un-der-ra-ted!" "Because when the ball was thrown, I knew I had better ball skills and would go up and get it.". In 10 of the 12 seasons in which he started at least half their games, the Seahawks prevailed more times than not. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onAll NFL and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. Hence, the Campbell video. But here's the thing: Gradishar, Mecklenberg and Atwater are famous for being snubbed. Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. Cooke is the most underrated player in the sport, performing mostly in the wonderful but considerable shadows of Boston, Staleys grand personality and all the noise at Colonial Life Arena. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. 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. Victory propelled Montana to superstardom, while defeat left the 32-year old Anderson to play out the string as a high-percentage passer for a rapidly disintegrating franchise. 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. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. These men did so much but received so little credit in return. The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. His stardom was spread among three teams, robbing him of local hero status (or Hall of Fame momentum) in any one city. On the final play a year later, he picked off a Roger Staubach pass in the end zone that put the Cowboys to rest. So LeRoy Butler, innovator of the Lambeau Leap, is excluded from his own statue. One of the greatest defenders of his era reduced to stuntman status in Campbell's action movieall it takes is a moment to make a player underrated forever. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Meet every NFL team's all-time most underrated player. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. 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. He must either play for teams so good that they overshadow his accomplishments, or teams so bad that he had to do it all by himself. 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. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. As a 31-year-old, no less. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. More than anything, though, Rote was a leader and winner. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). Sanders was an extremely Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. Marshall cant get his name even on the preliminary Hall of Fame ballot. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including four in 1993 and three during his age-35 season with the Raiders in 2000. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. 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. Upon entering the league in 2019, Johnson recorded 59 catches as a rookie and then topped that mark in 2020 with 88 catches. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. Jordi Alba. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . Hmmm. 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. The rumors themselves were not surprising. WebThis list is for those players the ones who were great football players and did not get the credit they deserve. Poor Louis Wright has a hard time even making the Broncos' overcrowded All-Snub Team. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. The NFL is now full of receivers like Mason, but few of them are as productive as he was for over a decade. But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. 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. As Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase earn praise for helping bring competitive football back to Cincinnati, safety Jessie Bates is a huge reason for the Bengals turnaround on defense. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. Maybe there is still an NFL team in San Diego. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. 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. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. Shanahan uses Juszczyk as a traditional lead blocking back, but he provides plenty of versatility out of the backfield and with the ball in his hands. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. It made the Bills of the early 1990s the greatest team to never win a Super Bowl. Web20 most underrated football players of all time 1. in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are "Whichever one has Marv Fleming" would have been a correct answer. Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. He lacked the straight-line speed to be a game-breaker. 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. FEDERICO CHIESA. He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. 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. He was a Pro Bowl regular, two-time All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1971. WebThe Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time 1. That may be unfair to players like Robinson, Jerry Kramer and L.C. Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. He started for an offensive line that helped Barry Sanders win two of his four rushing titles. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then? New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan, right, battles for Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? The least glamorous position on the field, a so-so team, a franchise moveWisniewski pulled three lemons on the recognition slot machine. Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Bates started every game during his first three seasons since entering the league in 2018, recording three interceptions in each season and averaging over 100 tackles. David entered the league as a terrific coverage linebacker and has continued to grow into an all-around complete linebacker and playmaker. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. Ogbah improved against the run while putting up a career-high in both sacks (9) and QB hits (21). The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. 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. Johnson can line up all over the field and consistently find space in the opposing defense. Its a frigging joke that Taylor isnt in the Hall of Fame discussion. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. Because he is one of the NFL's best defensive players, for one thing. 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. 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. 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. Young played for some great 49ers teams, including a Super Bowl-winning squad as a rookie in 1994. He began his career at the tail end of Jim Harbaugh's great defensive teams, but he has since battled both injuries and the incompetence of the Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly experiments. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. He routinely beat defenders with quickness out of his breaks and clever change-of-pace moves, qualities that also served him well as a punt returner. After making the Pro Bowl twice early in his career, David has failed to make it since 2015 while still playing at a high level. Tom Jackson. Marshall reached just two Pro Bowls. Player A was a one-time Most Valuable Player who took part in four Pro Bowl games. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. According to Pro Football Reference, he was flagged for 14 accepted holding penalties in 187 career games, little more than one per season. "No one was going to catch no ball.". Tom Jackson. In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. One of the most well-traveled quarterbacks in NFL history, Vinny Testaverde hung around long enough to register the seventh-most passing yards ever in his 20-year career. 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. Jones is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. 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. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. Hadl signed with the Chargers instead, and Sid Gilman built him into the trigger man for an offense from which all modern offenses descended. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. Evans, the best pass-protecting guard of his era, was charged with making sure pass-rushers didn't get close enough to Brees to bat his passes down, let alone sack him. Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. So whaddya say, fans? He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. 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. "I dont get it. Jerry Hughes has been a consistent pass rusher and important piece to the Buffalo Bills defense. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. He was usually the Bears' best rusher and receiver in his prime years, catching 40-50 passes per season from Mike Tomczak or the young Jim Harbaugh. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund Looks Matthew Stafford is approaching 50,000 career passing yards, a number only topped by 11 quarterbacks in history. Fred Warner gets a lot of attention at linebacker for the 49ers, but Dre Greenlaw flies under theradar as a young playmaker quickly on the rise. Arizona Cardinals: Dan Dierdorf. St. Brandon Graham is an incredibly underrated defensive lineman and lifelong Philadelphia Eagle. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. The best we can offer is a little bit of credit where a lot is due. Is Jalen Hurts the Future of the Philadelphia Eagles? 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. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. The best teams in the AFL proved to be NFL-caliber, but the bottom of the league was populated with a nearly bankrupt franchise or two, so the best players clumped on the best teams and stood out from the crowd. 'Nuff said, right? Rivers had neither, but he possessed just about everything else. Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. Kolb set the Super Bowl standard for left tackles in Super Bowl IV, when he smoked undersized Minnesota Vikings end Jim Marshall like a bad cigar. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. He was one of the first true slot receivers of 21st-century NFL offenses. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. There's a statue outside of Lambeau Field commemorating the Lambeau Leap, perhaps the most recognizable and beloved (except to Packers opponents) end-zone celebration in the NFL. That may tick him off. Not Fred Dean. Naturally, it also guarantees that some of the best players in the country get overshadowed and forgotten in the sport's warp-speed news cycle. He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. Along with Devin White, David was all over the field making plays around the ball and was one of the more valuable players in shutting down the Chiefs offense in the Super Bowl. Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. 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. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. Mason also caught 49 postseason passes and was one of the game's best return men for a few years. 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 You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? 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). 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. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. Bowman makes this list because he has the makings of a player who will be underappreciated historically. Sad to say, Morgan was woefully miscast in a run-first offense in a less pass-friendly time. 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. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. Following a strong start to 2021, McLaurin is slowly beginning to earn the respect his game deserves. The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. Johnny Robinson's credentials make you want to drive to Canton, kick down the Hall of Fame's door and clear a spot for his bust yourself. He led his team to an NFL championship. Player B was a one-time MVP who played in two Pro Bowl games. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. In addition to the most underrated and overrated Raiders of all time, Adam Rank goes on a mini-tirade about a criminally underrated coach. Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. WebOnce called the toughest cornerback in the NFL by Jerry Rice, Lewis would have received much more acclaim in his career if hed played a position that wasnt just following other In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. Membership on various All-1960s teams. Dave Meggett -- RB, 1989-1994. Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" And you're never going to guess who's No. 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. You will find some familiar Hall of Fame snubs on this list (like Jim Marshall, pictured above), but also plenty of players who were even snubbed from the Hall of Fame snubs, plus some current players who aren't getting their due. A lifelong Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Davids 10-year career has been about consistency and productivity. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. 100-91). The statue portrays jubilant Packers fans in tundra-weather gear appearing to cradle a player who just pounced into the stands. That feeling never really went away.". "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. The Cardinals were 0-3 in the playoffs in Dierdorfs time with the team, and none of the games were particularly close. 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.

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