20 most underrated football players of all time

Jackson then moved on to Atlanta just after the collapse of the Mike Smith playoff teams but before the rise of the current Dan Quinn contenders. WebThe 10 most underrated football players of all time are: Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Gaetano Scirea, Hristo Stoichkov, Matthias Sammer, Davor Suker, Gunter Netzer, There have been too many players in NFL history to count, so naturally, many of them werent going to get the attention they deserved for their play. 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. The 49ers are installing a new system and reshaping their roster. Yes, Marshall amassed that sack total by playing foreverhe started270 games (plus 19 playoff starts) from 1961 through 1979. 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. For a few years, he was not only the best guard in the NFL, but the most important. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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. The Hall of 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. It's hard for a running back to be underrated. To make our list, a player must contribute to a winning effort while putting up bad stats, misunderstood stats or no stats. The Steelers rushed for a then-record 249 yards and did not allow a sack. Bates finished tied for 6th in 2020 with 15 passes defended. Dave Meggett -- RB, 1989-1994. There have been many better quarterbacks than Ryan in NFL history. Pro Football Reference rates him at near a Pro Bowl level well into his 30s. Web113 Likes, TikTok video from FootWorld (@lovingfootbal): "The most underrated player of all time #dimaria #football". Interior defensive linemen: The average height and weight for defensive tackles entering the league is 6-foot-3, 306 pounds. Randy Gradishar. Player B passed for 31,548 yards and 214 touchdowns and ran for 22 touchdowns with below average-to-good teams. WebWho are the most underrated players of all time? 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. And to think, the guy never played in a Pro Bowl game. Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts ), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Super Bowl championships: Two (1974, 1975). Maybe not, seeing as Nalen has not had much success. An all-underrated team like this one can get flooded with Zach Thomas, Hardy Nickerson, Tommy Nobis and Tedy Bruschi types if we don't get a little choosy. 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. Robertson is so poorly remembered that it was hard to find a decent photo of him in our archives. They would rank first in the NFL in yardage four other times while Evans was a starter. During his nine seasons in Buffalo, Hughes has emerged as a leader while registering double-digits in QB hits every season but one. Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? 1. He announced his retirement from pro football in 2010, not long after signing with the Arizona Cardinals. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. WebA key ingredient of arguably the best back four to grace the game Mauro Tassoti, him, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini the Milan central defender made more than 450 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 is also proficient with his right foot and is a versatile player who can play multiple positions in the attacking third of the pitch. Along with the legendary Johnny Unitas, Rote probably did more to change the quarterback position than anyone in the pre-merger era even if so few know it. There, he led a relentless Redskins pass rush in their Super Bowl XXVI ambush. Evans is still playing at a high level; the Packers hope that he can do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees. Year after year, Chandler Jones is one of the best pure pass rushers in football. St. 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. "No one was going to catch no ball.". WebBUY OUR MERCH: https://www.thegivengo.com/merchTIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegivengoSPOTIFY: So whaddya say, fans? #5. Rote was the first quarterback who regularly beat defenses with his legs as well as his arm. How he slipped through the cracks for 13 years remains one of the unsolved mysteries in pro football. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson most underrated nfl players 2000s. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. He intercepted 25 career regular-season passes and two more in the postseason. 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. Mills was a USFL All-Star in all three seasons of the league's existence, and he led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars' Doghouse Defense (coached by Jim Mora) to a pair of league titles. The NFL is a star-driven league. Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. He helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. Many of those catches occurred down the field, with Anderson serving as a de facto possession receiver. 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). If ever a geezer was meant to play with George Allens Over The Hill Gang, he was the one. Johnson can line up all over the field and consistently find space in the opposing defense. When the Rams finally earned a Super Bowl berth, Robertson was in Buffalo, playing for another playoff also-ran. He was overshadowed by more famous teammates throughout his career. Pro Bowl? Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Rivers lacks several quarterback prerequisites for enshrinement: playoff glory, all-time records and, most importantly, momentum from a regional fanbase and media. Players like McDole are what all-time underrated lists exist for. Hull never lived to see himself make a Hall of Fame semifinalist list, as he died of liver failure at age 50 in 2011. Only a dozen players have more career interception return yards (961), and seven of them are in the Hall of Fame. One of the greatest defenders in the history of a storied franchise, Young is just another victim of bad timing when it comes to getting the reputation he deserves. Despite his incredibly high waist seriously, check out his build Kelvin Beachum has been one of the most underrated tackles in the NFL. An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. He played left tackle in 1972 and moved to right tackle in 1974. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. He was a participant in four Super Bowls and a member of two All-Pro teams. He enjoyed one of the greatest receiving games in NFL history: 15 catches, 291 yards and three touchdowns against the historic 2000 Ravens defense. Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). If you guessed both or neither one, youre wrong. What Mason did have was a keen attention to detail and fanatical drive to succeed. Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos Date of birth: March 21, 1989 Age: 33 years old (as of 2023) Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Height: 1.70 m Current team: And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. The system helped make Hall of Famers of Kelly, Reed and Thomas. Mostly Schlereth and sidekick Tom Nalen, who were masters of zone-blocking schemes, a major reason why Davis is in the Hall of Fame today. Two 10-interception seasons, with 57 career interceptions. Rivers' excellence, longevity and ability to barely dodge immortality make him the John Hadl of his era. 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. White: 12 underrated players; White: 12 overrated players; Towers: Generic vs. Name Brand; Prospect hunting . Jeff Saturday had to translate Peyton Manning's spur-of-the-moment audibles into protection schemes a split second before the snap. On this All-Underrated list, he is in very good company. He led his team to an NFL championship. Brandon Graham is an incredibly underrated defensive lineman and lifelong Philadelphia Eagle. "Stanley Steamer" could run every route and was hell on wheels with the ball in his hands. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. Time has been hard on both of them. 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. Not bad for a guy who might as well have played in a straight jacket for 14 seasons. 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. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Bottom line: Adam Vinatieri was money in the postseason, but Matt Bahr was even better. 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. Let's take a look at the the five most underrated footballers of all time. He took over as the Bears' featured offensive weapon after the Super Bowl Shuffle years. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. Quarterback ratings for Washington skyrocket when targeting McLaurin, who has become a nightmare to defend with the ball in his hands after the catch. Make no mistake about it, Eric Bieniemys exodus from Kansas City to Washington is only one move on the chess board As a 31-year-old, no less. But his Hall of Fame candidacy has been stuck in semifinalist limbo. "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. He also scored 35 touchdowns on the ground in that span. 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. Bottom line: Few remember Glen Edwards as the fearless strong safety with the Steelers first two Super Bowl teams. Bottom line: In the Steelers' 3-4 scheme, defensive ends were akin to smaller, more agile tackles run-stoppers first, pass-rushers second. Mason's 95-catch, 1,200-yard seasons translate to 115-catch monsters in more pass-oriented schemes. 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 Taylor rushed for 1,000-plus yards in seven seasons. Teammates Alan Page and Carl Ellar were held in higher regard. Ronald Koeman. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. Lomas Brown played left tackle for four Lions playoff teams. Here on the All-Time Underrated List, it counts for a lot. Off to a fast start in 2021, Sutton is quickly reminding opposing defenses of his talent. 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. Passing wasn't really their thing. 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. That's a higher sack total than Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis. Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. 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. "I wasnt the fastest guy, but I didnt mind having the defender at my hip," Ellard said per Yahoo Sports. More than one scout considered Turner to be too light to play linebacker, too slow to play defensive back. Fletcher followed Gregg Williams from coaching stop to coaching stop, serving as the sometimes controversial, always effective defensive mastermind's field marshal. The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. 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. Related:Most Overrated NFL Players of All Time. Peppers will have to play three more seasons to catch Marshall, and Peppers' starts are non-consecutive. "Hate to say it, but I do believe I should be there (in Canton)," Marshall once said. Sideways. Super Bowl victories? Web20 most underrated football players of all time 1. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Honourable Mentions Hajime Hosogai, Hertha Berlin DM, Age: 27 Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. David was a crucial component of the Bucs defense during their playoff run in 2020 that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). 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. Unless you live in Cleveland or are over 50, you probably have never heard of him. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf never seems to have his name mentioned. 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. Entering 2021, Moton had allowed only 10 sacks in over 2,000 pass-blocking snaps. Here are ten of the most underrated college football players of all time. 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. 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. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. He had one sack in four games, all Rams victories. 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. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. And few were better at making opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes. 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. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Even so, Smith was pretty much a well-kept secret outside Pittsburgh despite meeting or approaching Pro Bowl standards for almost a decade. He recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 1988 through 1991, a rare feat at the time. He became an All-Pro playing blindside protector in an early 1990s run-'n'-shoot offense. Some might say it's a stretch to put Allen on this list after four straight Pro Bowl seasons and 95+ catch seasons. And Jackson spent a generation as a pre- and postgame show staple, which puts him in a whole different category. DeForest Buckner plays great team defense and has done so successfully for two franchises. 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. Put him on the Tom Brady-led Patriots, and Mason might have invented a new branch of mathematics. The 6'2" Wright was renowned as a run-stuffing cornerbackthat's him tackling Walter Payton in the photobut he also intercepted 26 career passes, even though opposing quarterbacks spent much of his career avoiding him. But no highlight clip of that play can be found on the internet. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. A dominant presence as a run blocker, Moton uses his athleticism to get to the next level of the defense in a hurry. Waller overcame addiction and his suspension to emerge in 2019, catching 90 passes for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns while starting all 16 games for the Raiders. Mason also caught 49 postseason passes and was one of the game's best return men for a few years. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. 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. Brown earned seven Pro Bowl berths and an All-Pro selection. 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. Steve Atwater. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. The Cardinals were 0-3 in the playoffs in Dierdorfs time with the team, and none of the games were particularly close. He was an All-Pro for the Orange Crush defenses of the 1970s, and then he stuck around to play for the 1986 Broncos Super Bowl team. At age 25, Franklin-Myers seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential and should benefit from some additional pieces being added to a young rebuilding Jets defense. The USFL may not have been the NFL in terms of quality, but being the Luke Kuechly of a league that featured Herschel Walker, Jim Kelly and Steve Young should count for something. Hmmm. And because versatility is his calling card, he'll never produce gaudy sack totals or climb any all-time leaderboards. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. 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. 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. 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. He didnt just take up space, either. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. FEDERICO CHIESA. When Da Bears bean counters refused to pay up two years later, Marshall was the odd man out again. By the time the 49ers are great again, Bowman may be in his early 30s or on another team. Even unspectacular ones manage to rack up a few 1,000-yard seasons and get drafted early in fantasy leagues. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Without Kenn, there might not be free agency in the NFL, to say nothing of limitations on practice conditions and other initiatives that make pro football less dangerous than it was decades ago. 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. They were the Yale football of the NFL, their glory years moldering in history books. 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. Defensive Player of the Year awards? 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. At 67 Buckner also has a wide arsenal of pass rush moves to pressure the quarterback. He's not the kind of player a wise organization sheds to cut expenses. He lacked the straight-line speed to be a game-breaker. 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. He blitzed (20.5 sacks). Butler is all but guaranteed to get lost in the shuffle. A longtime semifinalist, his case is about to be handed over to the Veterans Committee, which has done a fine job recently of correcting oversights from Kenn's era. Super Bowl championships: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. Were talking about the most unsung, underappreciated players in NFL history here. WebTop 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time 20 Drew Brees. Let's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. Maybe that victory gives them the psychological edge they need to beat the undefeated Patriots in their 2008 playoff rematch. The Pro Football Reference Similar Players tool compares Ryan's five-year peak to that of Joe Theismann. Mike Williams is an elite deep threat at wide receiver and has maintained an average YPC of over 15 every year since 2018. Bates has still developed into a leader in the Bengals secondary and arguably their best player on defense. In Dierdorfs second to last season, the Cardinals were embarrassed by the Packers 41-16 in their playoff opener. WebFive players made their "Top 100" debuts -- David Montgomery, Jimmie Ward, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Tucker and Kyle Pitts -- in Episode 1 (Nos. While the 2021 season is still early, Johnson looks to have cleaned up some issues with drops that hindered his 2020 performance and is perhaps the only thing stopping him from gaining more notoriety. The easiest way to be overlooked by history is to replace a legend just after a franchise has peaked. 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. Fifteen years ago, similar receivers were gimmicky undersized role players. The only lineman to start all four of those games was a workout warrior and routinely bench-pressed 550 pounds in his prime. Allen made a lot of plays. He isn't the dynamic threat thatTyreek Hill orDavante Adams are, but Allen is an elite route runner that consistently puts up elite production. And then there is Kent Hull, the first center to achieve greatness in a no-huddle offense. Super Bowl championships: Four (1966, 1967, 1972, 1973). Hes also among a select few to be a four-time Super Bowl champion. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and 2000 NFC champion Giants. 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. Hall of Fame receiver Paul Warfield was on the receiving end of many of Ryan's touchdowns. But there is no player; fans themselves get to "leap" into the statue for photo ops. While Kreig didnt possess fleet feet or a bazooka arm, he could read defenses and throw an accurate ball. If John Hadl is remembered for anything these days, it's for one of the most disastrous trades in NFL history. Evans is a long shot to do either, which is a shame. Both Courtland Sutton and teammate Tim Patrick could easily make this list together as neither player is discussed nearly enough. 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.

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