Adam Vinatieri, the undisputed king of clutch kickers, landed at number 140 on Sporting News’ new list of the 140 greatest NFL players of all time. The guy with 2,673 points and four Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and Colts is kicking off a debate that’s going to go on for ages. Sporting News dove deep into the league’s 106-year history to pull this off.
The Near-Impossible Task of Ranking Gridiron Immortals
Trying to rank 140 of the absolute best Hall of Famers and active legends from the NFL’s entire existence? That’s what Sporting News took on, and honestly, it sounds like a near-impossible task. These are players who defined NFL history, collecting top individual accolades and team glory. Sporting News has been around long enough to cover most of these all-time greats. They broke down selections by position: 14 quarterbacks, 18 running backs, 14 wide receivers, 8 tight ends, 19 offensive tackles, 7 guards, 6 centers, 14 edge rushers, 11 defensive tackles, 19 linebackers, 12 cornerbacks, 10 safeties, and that one kicker. From the most clutch kicker to the consensus GOAT quarterback, this list is going to be talked about for a long, long time.
The First Wave of Legends: 140 to 133
We already hit number 140, Adam Vinatieri, whose record 2,673 points and four Super Bowl rings (Patriots and Colts) just scream “clutch.” At 139, “The Galloping Ghost” Red Grange, an Illinois superstar who terrorized Bears defenses in the 20s and 30s. Grange was a dynamic, gamebreaking runner and two-way star, his speed and toughness defining the early NFL.
At 138, Mike Haynes, a shutdown specialist (6-2, 192 pounds) and ballhawk for seven seasons each with the Patriots and Raiders, set the standard for tall cornerbacks. Then at 137, Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch. His unusual running style made him effective flying past defenders. This versatile trend-setter used speed and quickness to set early single-season marks with 1,495 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns for the Rams in 1951.
Number 136 is Sam Huff, one of the first star linebackers for the Giants and Washington (50s-60s). A hard-nosed leader, he took tough tackling assignments, even against Jim Brown, and his New York personality gave him off-field appeal. At 135, Michael Irvin, “The Playmaker” from those iconic Cowboys “triplets,” stacked five Pro Bowls as the premier field-stretching receiver (1991-95), consistently making game-changing big plays.
At 134, Paul Krause, an 8-time Pro Bowl defensive back for Washington and the Vikings, holds the NFL’s record with 81 career interceptions. Talk about a ballhawk! Rounding out this first batch at 133 is Brian Urlacher, who played all 13 seasons with the Bears and lived up to the legacy.
So there you have it, the start of one of the wildest debates in NFL history. This list is only getting warmed up, with 132 more legends to go. Who’s next? Where do your favorite all-time greats land? We’ll be glued to this as the rest of the rankings drop, ready to argue every single pick. Get ready, because the conversations about these gridiron heroes are just beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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