20 most underrated football players of all time

He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. 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. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. Today we look back at the most underrated Quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and a few of these should be in Canton. As some players continue to grow their stardom and gain league-wide recognition, others are less talked about, often flying under the radar for several seasons or even entire careers without proper acknowledgment. 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. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. Here are ten of the most underrated college football players of all time. 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. Honourable Mentions Hajime Hosogai, Hertha Berlin DM, Age: 27 Turned out he was skilled and driven enough to be a champion. And then there is plain old forgotten. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. 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. Bottom line: Warrick Dunn overcame the murder of his mother, bouts with depression and 5-foot-9 size to have a successful 12-year NFL career. 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. Hence, the Campbell video. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. We look at the 10 most underrated players in football at the moment. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". WebThe 10 most underrated football players of all time are: Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Gaetano Scirea, Hristo Stoichkov, Matthias Sammer, Davor Suker, Gunter Netzer, 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. They didnt allow a sack in 84 pass attempts. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. 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. Graham has only missed one game since 2012 prior to 2021, and similar to Hughes is a winning culture type of player. Nothing screams underappreciated like rumors you're about to be traded to make room for a late first-round pick. Shenault is dynamic after the catch and plays like a running back with the ball in his hands. WebDeion Sanders: Deion Sanders is one of the most underrated players of all time. Allen made a lot of plays. Is Jalen Hurts the Future of the Philadelphia Eagles? The Packers were a team with more history than identity when Butler arrived. 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). Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1993, 1995, 1997), Super Bowl championships: Three (1992, 1993, 1994). But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. But Hadl had to do something to make the Packers think he was worth two armfuls of draft picks. 100-91). In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. 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. Lets not forget they also dominated with cold-blooded efficiency at the other side of the ball, where Keena Turner was rarely out of position at right outside linebacker. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. 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. 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. WebDuring the next few weeks, we here at NFL.com will unveil our Most Underrated and Overrated Players of All Time for all 32 teams and allow users to determine their Jones is a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Mills and Reggie White were the USFL's two greatest defenders ever. Yet he still led his team to the playoffs three more times. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. It takes bad timing and bad luck. Robinson was one of those players. The Rams acquired him from the Chargers in 1973 in exchange for defensive end Coy Bacon. Juszczyk knows his role and is a winning player that will always fight to win those tough yards. Membership on various All-1960s teams. McDole, nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" because of his boogie on the dance floor rather than his on-field footwork, was known as more of a run defender than a pass-rusher. 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. 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. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. This past offseason, Juszczyk signed a five-year $27M contract to return to the 49ers, making him the highest-paid fullback in football by a wide margin. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. He ran a Sonny Jurgensen pass back 59 yards in the fourth quarter to seal a Rams playoff win over the Redskins in 1974. Off to a fast start in 2021, Sutton is quickly reminding opposing defenses of his talent. If the quarterback got rid of the ball before getting crushed, it was up to Allen to make a play. 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. Web12. 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. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. 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 linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? 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. Allen has much in common with many others on this underrated list. 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. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. 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. With Warfield hurt nearly all of that season, Ryan helped make a Pro Bowler out of receiver/punter Gary Collins. 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. Also, the field was often a block of ice. As a 31-year-old, no less. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). 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. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. Greenlaw is equally effective against the run and pass, a sure tackler, and brings plenty of energy to theNiners' 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. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. He finally won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Buccaneers. Randy Gradishar. Ron McDole falls into that final category. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. He started for the Rams in their Super Bowl seasons at the beginning of his career and then earned Pro Bowl berths for Washington from 2009 through 2012 when he was in his mid-30s. Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts Butler was the NFL's most dangerous all-purpose safety for much of the 1990s. A lifelong Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Davids 10-year career has been about consistency and productivity. An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. His stardom was spread among three teams, robbing him of local hero status (or Hall of Fame momentum) in any one city. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. Mike Williams is an elite deep threat at wide receiver and has maintained an average YPC of over 15 every year since 2018. Not Fred Dean. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. But none accomplished more than Ryan while receiving less acclaim. Randy Gradishar. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. Much of the Saints' offensive success in Evans' prime years is rightfully credited to Brees. Bottom line: Terrell Davis rushed for 2,008 yards in his momentous 1998 season, but look at the game films and you wont see him fake out many defenders or break many tackles. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. Unlike many of Marshall's teammates, however, he wasnt an obnoxious self-promoter, which partly explained his absence from the NFC Pro Bowl roster that season. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. The most underrated player on all 32 NFL teams Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs with the ball while being tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. Developing a rapport with new QB Trevor Lawrence should only help Shenault quickly reach his true potential. St. McDole played 251 professional games as a defensive lineman, a remarkable feat in any era that should not be forgotten. By the time the 49ers are great again, Bowman may be in his early 30s or on another team. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Fewer yet realize that he made a crucial play in each victory. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. Incredibly, McDole started 97 of the next 98 games. He covered receivers (38 career interceptions). NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. 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. Brandon Graham is an incredibly underrated defensive lineman and lifelong Philadelphia Eagle. Actually, theres a simple explanation. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. That feeling never really went away.". McLaurins route running continues to improve while routinely making contested catches look easy. Man Utd's double winning Sanders was an extremely Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. Web113 Likes, TikTok video from FootWorld (@lovingfootbal): "The most underrated player of all time #dimaria #football". He also had some of the clutch gene. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. 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. "Even now I still get pissed off. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. In both New England and Arizona, Jones has wreaked havoc on quarterbacks, demonstrating versatility as a 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE. Now that's underrated. 1. 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. 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. So Kenn basically had three careers. If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. Through the 2018 season, Vinatieri checked in at 81 (56 of 69) and 99 (70 of 71), respectively. No matter what the two-time All-Pro accomplished, he could never be Jerry Rice, who cast a long, tall shadow in the same conference. Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. In two Super Bowl trips, Bahr didnt miss a kick three field goals, six PATs. 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. If Anderson had failed, the 49ers may never have lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff. Waller upped his game in 2020 and hauled in 107 passes and nine touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. 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. He started for an offensive line that helped Barry Sanders win two of his four rushing titles. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. Bottom line: Quick, name the winningest Seahawks quarterback before the Russell Wilson era. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images). Buckner is rarely discussed with the likes of Cameron Heyward, Fletcher Cox, or Grady Jarrett among the top interior defensive linemen (next tier behind Aaron Donald), but he is every bit as talented. Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. 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. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. He lacked the straight-line speed to be a game-breaker. The NFL is now full of receivers like Mason, but few of them are as productive as he was for over a decade. 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. Try Dave Krieg. 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. Fletcher intercepted 23 passes and recorded 39 sacks as a do-it-all middle linebacker. Both of those seasons came, ironically enough, after Allen and Buddy were separated. 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. 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. Young played for the teams that slowly slid from George Seifert to Steve Mariucci to oblivion. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. 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. in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are "Whichever one has Marv Fleming" would have been a correct answer. 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. Nope, not Charles Haley. 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. That's not something to hold against a player. 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. In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. 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. 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 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. Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. Not bad for a guy who might as well have played in a straight jacket for 14 seasons. But what peak years they were: 14- and 13-win seasons, annual playoff appearances, routine 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown seasons. 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. Super Bowl championships: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). So Anderson cranked out a few 1,000-yard seasons and played in some Pro Bowls, and that was that. 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. 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. Jones played for the Cowboys from 1974-78 and 1980-89. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. Buckner plays within the defense, often allowing others to make plays, but remains a nightmare trying to block one on one. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . But here's the thing: Gradishar, Mecklenberg and Atwater are famous for being snubbed. Karl Mecklenburg. 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. WebMost Underrated NFL Players of All Time These men did so much but received so little credit in return. WebThis list is for those players the ones who were great football players and did not get the credit they deserve. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. It takes years of playing the wrong position for the wrong team in the wrong league at the wrong time. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. Unless you live in Cleveland or are over 50, you probably have never heard of him. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. 10. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. "Underrated" is in the eye of the beholder, so let's establish some ground rules for these rankings: After that, players are ranked based how underappreciated they are, not how great they are. The most similar current player to Anderson is Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell, but Bell plays in a modern offense that amplifies his production instead of suppressing it. 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. Bottom line: Never mind guys such as Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. When the team inducted Smith into the Pride of the Jaguars ring of honor last year, it was the strange case of a moribund franchise honoring a former receiver still on parole for succumbing to the demons of addiction. 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? All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. You know the type. 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. 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. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. Its hard to think of a player more dominant and less talked about over a long period of time than Chandler Jones. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. "I wasnt the fastest guy, but I didnt mind having the defender at my hip," Ellard said per Yahoo Sports. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. In the 1950s and the days of 12-game regular seasons, he rushed for 3,078 yards, nearly 1,000 more than the runner-up. They never had any playoff success, even when they did make it into the postseason. Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. Marshall cant get his name even on the preliminary Hall of Fame ballot. 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. On the field, it is Diontae Johnson that has emerged as a favorite target of Big Ben. 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. Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. 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.