Top 10 Best NFL Players of All Time

If you’re a fan of sports betting, the chances are that you’ve previously wagered on the NFL or its iconic season finale the Super Bowl.

It was estimated that 68 million US adults wagered a combined total of $23.1 billion on the 2024 Super Bowl (€22.02 billion), while more than $100 million was bet globally on the event.

A significant percentage of NFL and Super Bowl bets are placed on player props, with American football having produced some iconic household names over the years. But who makes our list of the 10 best NFL football players of all-time, and what’s the legacy of these players? Let’s get into it!

What Makes an NFL Player Legendary?

Anyone involved in sports betting online has at some point tried to quantify the affords of NFL player legendary status. However, longevity is something that tends to set great players apart from good ones.

Players are also judged on their accolades from annual MVP awards to the number of Super Bowls that they’ve won – although the latter is a collective achievement that requires contributions from the entire team.

Some manage to transcend the sport and North American bubble, for example, becoming household names and implanting the love for sports betting in Ireland and across the globe.

The Top 10 Best NFL Players Ever

Every NFL betting fan and franchise supporter will have their takes on the best players of all-time. Below, however, you can see my top 10 list!

1. Tom Brady

Undoubtedly, Tom Brady is one of the most popular NFL players of all-time. During his stellar 22-year career, he won seven Super Bowl titles and made 10 finals appearances (both competition records).

Quarterback Brady also maintained an incredibly high standard through the years, completing 7,753 of his 12,050 passing attempts for an accuracy rate of 64.3%. He also threw an impressive 649 career touchdowns.

2. Jerry Rice

Wide receiver Jerry Rice played between 1985 and 2004 in the NFL, spending 16 of these seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. During this period, he won three Super Bowl titles and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1993.

Rice is broadly considered to be the best receiver in NFL history, having recorded 1,549 receptions in 303 games during his career. He also recorded an incredible 22,895 receiving yards, which is more than any other NFL player. His tally of 197 receiving touchdowns is also a league high and 41 ahead of nearest rival Randy Moss.

3. Jim Brown

Although Jim Brown was never able to win a Super Bowl title, this is only because he retired before this competition was inaugurated. He did win the NFL championship with the Cleveland Browns in 1964, while earning the distinction of being a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league between 1957 and 1968.

Brown was renowned as a dominant running back, leading the way in running yards recorded in all but one of his seasons as a professional. Overall, his total of 12,312 rushing yards places him 11th on the all-time list.

4. Joe Montana

Next up is the three-time Super Bowl winner Joseph ‘Joe’ Montana Jr., who played as a quarterback in the NFL for 16 seasons. He was referred to by many as "the Comeback Kid", having overcome a severe back and spinal disc injury in 1986.

Montana is widely considered to be one of the greatest clutch players in history. He won three Super Bowl MVP awards and was voted as the NFL’s MVP in 1989 and 1990. He threw 40,551 passing yards in just 192 career games, earmarking Montana as one of the leading QBs and best NFL players of all time!

5. Peyton Manning

Regarding passing yardage leaders, former quarterback Payton Manning is ranked third on the all-time list with 71,940 yards. Only the aforementioned Brady (89,214 yards) and Drew Brees (80,358) rank higher. Manning won two Super Bowl titles and was voted as the NFL’s MVP on five occasions.

No other NFL player has recorded more 4,000 passing yard seasons either (14), while Manning is thought to have revolutionised the role of QB with his skill, intelligence and positional play.

6. Lawrence Taylor

Our next pick Lawrence Taylor revolutionised the less glamorous role of linebacker and is widely considered to be one of the best defensive NFL players of all-time. A true defensive powerhouse, Taylor won two Super Bowls during his 13-year career, while he was crowned the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1986.

Interestingly, Alan Page is the only other defensive player to earn this distinction in the history of the league. Taylor is also credited with changing the defensive pass running schemes and even offensive formations used in the NFL!

7. Walter Payton

Of the top NFL players, you’ve never heard of, Walter Payton may well top the list. He earned the nickname ‘Sweetness’ during his 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. A one-time Super Bowl champion, Payton was also voted as the NFL’s MVP in 1977.

At the time of his retirement, the running back held records for the most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards. He’s also a nine-time Pro Bowl selection.

8. Reggie White

Not only is Reggie White one of the best NFL players ever, but he also stands alone as the greatest ever defensive end. White played with incredible distinction and consistency for 15 seasons, winning Super Bowl XXXI and earning 13 All-Pro selections during his stellar career.

At some point, Reggie Wite was a top player considered by NFL football betting fans. The two-time NFL defensive player of the year also places second in the list of all-time career sack leaders, recording 198 in total.

9. Barry Sanders

In 1988, Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders, compiled what is still considered to be the greatest individual season by a running back in college football, rushing for an incredible 2,628 yards and recording 37 touchdowns in just 11 games.

As a pro, he was known for his elusive running style and highlight-reel plays, while he won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in 1997. He was also voted as Rookie of the Year in 1989 and earned six First Team All-Pro nominations despite only completing nine seasons in the NFL.

10. Brett Favre

Last, but not least, every American football betting fan should know is another iconic quarterback in the form of gunslinger, Brett Favre. He played for 20 NFL seasons, while he had an astonishing 321 consecutive starts between 1992 and 2010.

Favre was the first ever QB to make 70,000 yards, complete 10,000 passes and break the 6,000 barrier for completions. He was also the first ever NFL player to record victory over all 32 franchises. Favre was voted as the NFL’s MVP in three successive seasons between 1995 and 1997.

Betting on NFL Games and Players

Of course, the current NFL is home to several potential all-time greats, including Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey and Lamar Jackson.

These individuals dominate contemporary NFL betting online volumes, particularly the most popular player prop markets. Here are some of the best wagering strategies?

How to Bet on NFL Games Online?

Let’s start by reviewing the most popular markets when wagering on American football and the NFL. These include:

• Moneyline Bets: these are incredibly straightforward and require you to pick the winner of a particular NFL match.
• Spread Bets: in American football betting online, this enables you to back betting favourites at enhanced odds, by ascribing them a virtual handicap (such as -3.5 points).
• Prop Bets: we’ve already touched on prop bets, which are usually focused on in-game events and performance metrics that don’t directly impact the game result.
• Futures Bets: here, you’ll wager on long-term outcomes such as the next Super Bowl winner.

Tips for Smarter NFL Betting

Regardless of your preferred wager type or how you engage with online betting in the NFL, the following are tips and strategies to help you achieve the best possible outcomes.

• Research and Analyse Data: it’s important that you analyse relevant datasets before making informed selections. For example, if you were placing a moneyline or spread bet, you’d want to analyse head-to-head data and the latest form statistics.
• Understand and Analyse Odds: at Betiton, NFL betting odds are usually presented in decimal format. Mastering how these odds work does not only helps you to set the optimal stake amount, but it also makes it possible to identify potential value bets.
• Follow Injury News and Team Rotations: it’s not uncommon for players to pick up injuries and their absence can weaken even the strongest NFL sides. Franchises may also rotate players during the regular season.

Live Betting on NFL Games

When it comes to NFL live betting, you can access an even more diverse selection of lines and markets.

This includes examples such as the identity of the next touchdown scorer, the team that will produce the most punts and the first side to turnover during a match.

It’s also important to watch the matches that you intend to bet on where possible. This ensures that you place individual wagers at the optimal time, while accounting for the dynamic and changeable nature of in-play odds.

Betiton: The Best Sportsbook for NFL Betting

Betiton is one of the most recognisable and trusted online sports betting brands, and one that offers extensive coverage of American football and the NFL.

You can access the site’s NFL betting markets seamlessly too, through the vertical menu on the left-hand side of the lobby. Betiton also offers highly competitive NFL odds for those who enjoy betting on American football. This is particularly the case when you engage in futures and spread betting.

Clicking on selections automatically adds them to your bet slip in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, while you can use ‘1-Click Betting’ to place wagers immediately with a predetermined stake amount.

A few other key features about Betiton are:

The Legacy of NFL Legends and Their Impact on Modern American Football

Regardless of how you wager on the NFL and Super Bowl, Betiton has you covered. With an extensive selection of player props, the bookie enables you to wager on the performances of the league’s best and most consistent performers.

Currently, the NFL is littered with stars and potential Hall of Fame candidates, many of whom may eventually be considered as being among the best NFL players of all-time. We’d certainly expect current Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to achieve this, alongside Aaron Rogers and three-time Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce.

These players have certainly followed in the footsteps of past NFL greats, by maintaining consistent levels of performance over time and producing in clutch moments during post-season matches!