The best American football players: Who Are They and How They Become the Best of the Best?

By:

Posted: June 25, 2021

Updated: August 9, 2023

  • NFL best players list: Whose name is in this list?
  • Who leads all the best American Football players lists?
  • Check out for the best American football players

While you surf on the internet you can find various lists that show the best American football players for all of the time and for modern times. What kind of features are considered important for making the top players list? Do you want to get aware of the best American football players and be part of upcoming NFL matches?

1xBET Sportsbook Welcome Bonus

100% Max. €100

Claim your Exclusive Bonus for GamingZion readers at the 1xBET Sportsbook. Collect the 100% first deposit bonus up to €100. 18+. New customers only. Minimum deposit amount is EUR1. 5x wagering requirement applies. Bonus must be wagered on accumulator bets containing minimum 3 events with odds minimum 1.40. Unused bonus expires in 30 days. T&Cs apply.

The Best American Football Players: Why Are Lists So Various?

Thus, according to the USA Today Sports, there were no strict parameters that every survey has to follow. However, they took into consideration points such as on the field of play and considered elements such as induction to the Hall of Fame, statistics, awards, reputation and the eye test. There is another list that is defined just by NFL players. They decided who are the best players in the league among them for their performance in a year. So, NFL players determined the following players in the top 10: Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Aaron Donald, Patrick Mahomes, Michael Thomas, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, DeAndre Hopkins, Stephon Gilmore, and Derrick Henry.

Actually, this list is based on the performance of players in 2020. So, NFL NetWork states that NFL Top 100 will air during the 2021 offseason as a lead up to the start of the Regular Season. Yes, as American Football fans we will eagerly wait for the new list of best players of the year. What about the general list? Let’s look at both of the lists provided by players and voters. Are you ready to see who is the top 10 best American football players?

Tom Brady: The Only Player Who Won Five Super Bowl MVP Award

Whatever list you look on the internet you will see the name of Tom Brady. Yes, you can see his name among the best American Football players of all time in second place after Jerry Rice.  So, a famous American football quarterback currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). However, before this he played with the New England Patriots for 20 years where he had great contributions to the team during 2001-2019. Let’s look at Tom Brady’s career highlights and awards which made him the best of the best. Currently, Brady is the only NFL quarterback named to two first-team all-decade teams (2000s and 2010s) and was unanimously named to the 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.

Moreover, he is the oldest player who received Super Bowl MVP at the age 43 and won a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback, along with being the oldest NFL MVP at age 40 in 2017. One of the interesting facts about the player is he is only Super Bowl MVP for two different teams. If you are a fan of Tom Brady and enjoy watching his great performance in the game, here is the great opportunity for you. You can visit   1xBET Sportsbook and bet on the match between Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys on 10 September at the Raymond James.

the best American football players
Tom Brady – Image source: Flickr

 

Lamar Jackson: Is He the Most Promising Rising Stars in the NFL?

NFL Network announced NFL Top 100? Do you have any suggestions on who can be number one in the NFL list? Yes, the NFL Network crowned Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens as the number one ranked player ahead of the season. The current Baltimore Ravens quarterback played his first full season in 2019 as starter and he set a record for the most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback. So, Jackson led the league with 36 touchdown passes, and became the second unanimous NFL Most Valuable Player winner in league history.

This also has to be mentioned that he was the fourth African American quarterback to win the award. Moreover, according to ESPN, in 2020 Lamar Jackson became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season more than once. How about betting and earning money? Lamar Jackson’s team, the Baltimore Ravens will play with Las-Vegas Raiders on 14 September at the Allegiant. Are you going to use this opportunity?

the best American football players
Lamar Jackson – Image source: Flickr

Will Aaron Donald Go Down as the Best Defensive Player in NFL history?

The next prominent and successful player on the best American football players list is Aaron Charles Donald who plays as defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. Let’s look at the player’s main achievements through these years. Actually, 2013-2014 was very successful for the player. In 2013 he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy.

Moreover, Aaron Donald became the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times in 2017, 2018, 2020. Before this title, he received ACC Defensive Player of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year titles also in 2013-2014, respectively. Actually, Aaron Donald has more awards such as First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl. The first one the player got 6 times during 2015–2020. However, the second award he received seven times from 2014 to 2020. Yes, now it is very obvious why he is in the best American football players’ list.

the best American football players
The cool Aaron Donald – Image source: The 621st Contingency Response Wing, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aaron Rodgers with the Best Touchdown-to-interception Ratio in NFL History

Aaron Rodgers has been playing for the Green Bay Packers since 2005 and in 2010 he led them to a victory in Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning the Super Bowl MVP. What kind of achievements bring him to the best American football players’ list? So, Aaron Rodgers has the following records: five times in touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020; five times in lowest passing interception percentage in 2009, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020); three times in passer rating in 2011, 2012, 2020) and others. Just last year he received NFL Most Valuable Player, NFL passer rating leader, NFL passing touchdowns leader and NFL completion percentage leader which was not the first time. All Aron Rodger fans know that his team has a match with New Orleans Saints on 12 September at the Mercedes-Benz Superdom (New Orleans). Are you ready to support your favorite player?

the best American football players
Aaron Rodgers – Image source: Flickr

J.J.Watt: Is He best Known for His Sacks, Power, Hulking Size and Donations?

Justin James Watt is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. So, he received the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times in his first five seasons. What about his success? Firstly, Watt became the first player in NFL history to record two 20+ sack seasons in a career in 2014. Moreover, the currently successful player holds the Texans’ franchise records for both sacks and forced fumbles. Beside all these fabulous achievements, American football fans like to watch his shifts to defensive tackle in some situations although he is a defensive end. What about you? Do you know the J.J.Watt team, Arizona Cardinals will play with the Minnesota Vikings on 19 September at the State Farm. Here is the chance to bet and watch great matches of the five-time All-Pro NFL defensive end. J.J.Watt.

the best American football players
J.J.Watt – Image source: Flickr

Larry Fitzgerald: The Oldest player to record 100 reception, 1,000+ yard, 5+ TD

Larry Fitzgerald is an American football wide receiver who played for Arizona Cardinals between 2004–2020. Actually, right now he is a free agent. As a successful American football player all of the time you can see his name in various lists. Let’s glance at the players career highlights. So, he has a number of NFL records which will count just few of them like the youngest player to record 1,000 receptions,  First wide receiver in NFL history to record at least 150 career receptions against three different franchises, Art Rooney Award (2014), Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2016), 11 times Pro Bowl and others. Have you watched Larry Fitzgerald matches?

the best American football players
Larry Fitzgerald – Image source: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Best American Football Players: Russell Wilson is One of The High Paid Player

Wilson has played for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL since 2012. In this year he set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie and got Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. According to the Sports NorthWest, Wilson holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through nine seasons (98). Also, he is one of four quarterbacks in NFL history with a career passer rating over 100. Moreover, he has eight Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls awards. In 2019, he signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Seahawks. Yes, actually, with this he became the highest paid player in the NFL at the time.

the best American football players
Russel Wilson – Image source: Flickr

Patrick Mahomes with $503 Million Contract 

Yes, Patrick Mahomes, great American football quarterback in the Kansas City Chiefs who is also known for the second largest known contract in sporting history. According to the NFL, Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year contract extension that is worth totally $503 million. So, prominent players received the following awards and titles throughout their career: 3 times Pro Bowl in 2018–2020, Super Bowl champion (LIV), NFL Most Valuable Player, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Bert Bell Award and others. Last year he received Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. If you want to be between American Football fans here is data, venue and betting opportunity. Thus, on 20 September Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs will have a match at the MT Bank. You can just click   1xBET Sportsbook and be aware of all teams odds as well as other matches for realizing your betting. 

the best American football players
Patrick Mahomes – Image source: Flickr

Michael Thomas with Most Single-Season Receptions (149) NFL Record

Michael Thomas is an American football wide receiver and currently plays for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. So, related to the best American football player list, currently, Michael Thomas is in the fifth place in the list determined by NFL players. Let’s look at his performance and awards. Thus, the player holds the NFL record for the most receptions by a player through his first four seasons with 470 along with the most receptions by a player in a single season with 149. In 2018 and 2019 seasons he led the league in receptions while also leading the league in yardage in the 2019 season. Moreover, he has the following titles and awards: NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2019), 2 times First-team All-Pro, 3 times Pro Bowl in 2017–2019, 2 times NFL receptions leader in 2018, 2019 and others. 

the best American football players
Michael Thomas – Image source: Flickr

Christian McCaffrey: The Best American Football Players in 2020

Our next best American Football player is Christian McCaffrey whose name you can see in the best players’ list in different places. Regardless of which place exactly, he is among the top 10. So, as a running player, he has been on the Carolina Panthers team since 2017. Christian McCaffrey holds numerous NFL and Panthers franchise records, one of them is the NCAA record for most all-purpose yards in a season, with 3,864. Actually, he is one of the three players ever to record 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, doing so in 2019. Moreover, he has the following awards: First-team All-Pro (2019), Pro Bowl (2019), Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year (2015), 2 times First-team All-Pac-12 and others.

File:Christian McCaffrey (22481313846).jpg
Christian McCaffrey – Image source: Daniel Hartwig from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are a fan of Christian McCaffrey you know that his team Carolina Panthers and New York Jets will have a match at the Bank of America (Charlotte) on 12 September. How about betting on the game and earning money while having a good time? Thus, regardless of which player is your favorite you can visit online sportsbook news in the US and enjoy various American Football betting. 

Click here to visit the 1xBET SPortsbook

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x