20 most underrated football players of all time

Actually, theres a simple explanation. Maybe Wright wasn't a Blount-level legend, but he deserves better than to be the forgotten man among the Broncos' forgotten men. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. Or as astute NBC broadcaster Dick Enberg scored it, "KO for Ken Norton.". 10 Most Underrated Promising Football Players In The World But Brown was a unique and underappreciated player for over a decade on a team that nearly revolutionized the way football is played. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. Running backs suffer none of the "didn't win the big game" biases that color our perception of quarterbacks. WebBUY OUR MERCH: https://www.thegivengo.com/merchTIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegivengoSPOTIFY: Maybe he wasn't the best defender on the field for any one play, but he stayed on that field for an entire generation. 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. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. A mauler of a right guard, Timmerman also was agile enough to escort Marshall Faulk on screens and sweeps. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. 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. Most Underrated NFL Players Of All Time - The Onion The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. In Jahri Evans' four All-Pro seasons (2009-12), the Saints ranked first, sixth, first and second in the NFL in total yards. But the diminutive Brees would not have been able to lead the Saints to a Super Bowl and several seasons as top contenders without a clean pocket, particularly right in front of him. He intercepted 34 passes for the Eagles and 54 in his career. "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 admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. No modern coach suppressed passing offenses quite like Fisher, and no team produces offensive stats that look like they come from the early 1930s quite like the Ravens. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. Web12. He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). Then it was off to Carolina, where he earned an All-Pro selection for leading the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team during his age-37 season. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . Here are ten of the most underrated college football players of all time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. As for being so underrated he's overrated, wellthat's extremely underrated, which justifies Anderson's ranking here. NFL Combine records: Complete list of top 40 times, bench press Some of the 19 David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. Entering 2021, Moton had allowed only 10 sacks in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. Brandon Graham is an incredibly underrated defensive lineman and lifelong Philadelphia Eagle. He isn't the dynamic threat thatTyreek Hill orDavante Adams are, but Allen is an elite route runner that consistently puts up elite production. 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. The Hall of Success came early for Fletcher, recognition late. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time. 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. If Marlon McCree hadn't fumbled that interception in the playoffs after the 2006 season, everything might have been different. Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Super Bowl championships: Two (1979, 1990). There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound. #5. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. 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. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. 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. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. Once an arbitrary number of players from a historic team get enshrined, the committee moves on in search of underappreciated players from other franchises. On the field, it is Diontae Johnson that has emerged as a favorite target of Big Ben. How he slipped through the cracks for 13 years remains one of the unsolved mysteries in pro football. Pittsburgh Steelers: All-time underrated, overrated players - NFL.com David has amassed 12 interceptions, 16 fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles, and 53 pass deflections during his career. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. "That was my territory," Edwards recalled in The Palm Beach Post. The Top 10 Most Underrated Football Players of All Time Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. 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). 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.". Still don't understand why the writers don't respect it.". "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. 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. He's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses. Here is every NFL teams most underrated player of all time. Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. Two names that are familiar to even casual football fans sit atop the mountaintop of underrated NFL players for the 2015 regular season. Sanders was an extremely Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. He played for teams that were more interesting than outstanding, from the Ryan and Rich Kotite-era Eagles to the Jim Mora and Mike Ditka Saints to Jon Gruden's Raiders. Robinson is a staple of Hall of Fame Snubs lists, and he certainly has his case. He was an iron man for a powerhouse franchise that reached four Super Bowls while playing many of their home games in arctic conditions. The start to his career is Hall of Fame worthy and includes a Super Bowl championship while with the New England Patriots. Mason was frequently his team's most valuable offensive player, but he and Steve McNair made their short pitch-and-catch passes look a little too easy. 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. Start with Adam Timmerman, who won Super Bowl rings with the Packers and Rams three years apart. Old-timers call it the Lawrence Welk trade after a television bandleader of the era who would begin songs by counting off "A one, and a two, and a three". Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. 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. 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. At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. 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. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. 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. Teams: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1993, 1995, 1997), Super Bowl championships: Three (1992, 1993, 1994). Thats what Krieg did best win football games. 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. 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. Still, Allen rarely gets respect as a true number one wideout. 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. in the mid-1960s to early '70s, chances are "Whichever one has Marv Fleming" would have been a correct answer. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Not one of the Jim Harbaugh-era guys. Super Bowl championships: Two (1996, 1999). 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. Johnson can line up all over the field and consistently find space in the opposing defense. 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. Bottom line: Derrick Mason was among the shrewdest, most precise route runners of his time. 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. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. There may be such a thing as too much blitzing, after all. Not Fred Dean. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. The former top ten draft pick looks to be on the verge of breaking out. Dont know about you, but I want Mason on my retro fantasy league team. St. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Marshall cant get his name even on the preliminary Hall of Fame ballot. Steven Jackson arrived in St. Louis just as the Greatest Show on Turf was deteriorating into the Most Miserable Slog in the Midwest. Ryan was Jim Brown's quarterback and then Leroy Kelly's quarterback. Butler has never even been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, and it's not going to happen for him soon. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Make no mistake about it, Eric Bieniemys exodus from Kansas City to Washington is only one move on the chess board Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. Theyre the core players who are overshadowed by more well-paid, high-profile teammates and just plain pathetic, shameless self-promoters. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, acquired the 34-year-old Rams quarterback by, Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images, Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 10 Most Underrated Football Players - Sports Al Dente Efficient? But run defense was king in the era when McDole played, and his 16-year career is littered with big plays: 12 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, three safeties and a pair of sacks in the 1966 AFL Championship Game. Player A passed for 27,928 yards and 194 touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns with mostly very good teams and one great one. The Top 20 Most Underrated NFL Players - ONE37pm Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. He was a Pro Bowler in 1974 and 75, and he was an All-Pro selection from 1976-78. Theyre the flat-liners whose drop-dead consistency gets lost with average-to-bad teams, in smaller markets, with brain-challenged organizations that have little, if any, history of success. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. 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. 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. Randy Gradishar. 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. He's rarely mentioned as an all-time great. It was rival 49ers tackle Bryant Young who the Rams were most concerned about before the 1999 season, when they signed Timmerman as a free agent. Bowman doesn't get the recognition he's due, and he may have to get used to it. Overshadowed on a bad team for much of his early career, Bates also came from a draft that featured top safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James. Even so, Smith was pretty much a well-kept secret outside Pittsburgh despite meeting or approaching Pro Bowl standards for almost a decade. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. WebTop 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time 20 Drew Brees. He was arrested four times after his abrupt retirement. His 65 interceptions are fifth most in NFL history. Perhaps it's time we look back on how much of an impact he and his Jaguars had on the NFL two decades ago. Dierdorf started his career with the Cardinals in 1971 as a guard. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. Far from it. 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. In two Super Bowl trips, Bahr didnt miss a kick three field goals, six PATs. Actually, make that four careers. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. 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 NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. A beast in coverage, Jones continues to round out his game as one of the top overall linebackers in football. Ron McDole falls into that final category. In his most prolific early season, he caught 54 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns. Ronald Koeman. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. 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. When London Fletcher retired after the 2014 season, Robert Klemko of The MMQBasked him if he was motivated by feeling underappreciated for most of his career. 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. During his time at Fiorentina, he was the best player, 2. 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. most underrated footballers of all time He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. And then there is plain old forgotten. Young started his career as the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and ended it as a four-time winner of the Len Eshmont Award, the 49ers' team award for character and leadership. "I dont get it. McLaurins numbers through two-plus seasons are very similar to Stefon Diggs, who went through a similar quarterback situation early during his career in Minnesota. As good as Ellard was at the time, he almost was never mentioned in debates about the best at his position. 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. Eric Allen's job in Buddy Ryan's 46 defense was simple. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. Moton started all 16 games each of the last four years, gradually improving and joining the conversation of best right tackles in football. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. Get this: Ten of those seasons were spent with either the Vince Lombardi Packers or Don Shula Dolphins. Deion Jones is one interception away from tying the all-time record for pick 6's by a linebacker, and he's done it in a fraction of the games. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. Measurables. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. While coverage is Bates' strength, he can still lay the big hit and be a factor in run support. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. 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. As a 31-year-old, no less. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. On the final play a year later, he picked off a Roger Staubach pass in the end zone that put the Cowboys to rest. That makes sense: Both started their careers late, played with workhorse running backs, won a championship and had their careers curtailed by vicious hits. 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, tiers, sleepers Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. It's hard for a running back to be underrated. 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. Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time | Stadium Talk That feeling never really went away.". Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1997, 2000, 2005). Defensive Player of the Year awards? Guards don't make the Hall of Fame unless they win multiple Super Bowls or play forever. 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. "No one was going to catch no ball.". C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? 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. Web20 most underrated football players of all time 1. 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. Oakland Raiders. While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. The Bucs hired head coach Jon Gruden and won Super Bowl XXXVII the next season. Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports By Sam Monson May 13, Ryan threw five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth to beat the Giants and lead the Browns to the NFL championship in 1964. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. Robinson was one of those players. And consider this: The one-time college triple-jumper played with a Pro Bowl quarterback (Jim Everett) in only one season. While under the radar, Bates has emerged as one of the better all-around safeties in football. 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 finally won a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Buccaneers. The rumors themselves were not surprising. 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. Jacksonville's all-time leading receiver is now beginning what he calls the "second chapter in his life." More than one scout considered Turner to be too light to play linebacker, too slow to play defensive back. The problem with Dierdorf is he played for a lot of bad Cardinals teams. Anderson became a footnote to the Ditka era, but fans who saw him play know he was far more than that. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. Kenn is one of the NFL's all-time great players and leaders, and his impact ranges far beyond his playing career. Chiesa is a winger who plays for Juventus. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. Lambeau Field was an icy outpost; the Packers still played a handful of home games in Milwaukee back then. most underrated players in football at 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. 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. His career was cut short by injuries suffered in the first of those three Pro Bowls. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). 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. Those who like to shout "first-ballot Hall of Famer" about Rivers do not know how the Hall of Fame works. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. He then became a staple of trivia questions and All-Time Worst Trades listicles, as the Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed an even more impressive moment in Hadl's transaction history. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. In the nine seasons that Aaron Smith had double-digit starts, their D ranked among the top nine in yards allowed every time, but his consistent play went over the heads of many. He intercepted 25 career regular-season passes and two more in the postseason. The difference between the great and the all-time great is often a matter of timing and luck. The Jaguars, meanwhile, slowly descended to their current status as the NFL's punching bag. Karl Mecklenburg. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. 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. The Lions drafted him as a running back. The Packers were a team with more history than identity when Butler arrived. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. 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. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. Super Bowl championships: Two (2005, 2008). Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. 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. 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. Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. And you're never going to guess who's No. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. Tom Jackson. Teams: Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Houston Texans. Oh, and Norton scored the final touchdown of the game on a 9-yard fumble return. Hadl played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punter for the University of Kansas. 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. Ohhh-kaaaaay, one of the Hasselbecks then?

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