GOAT Rank · 1370

Greatest Athletes from United States

This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carl Lewis. GOAT Rank currently ranks 1370 eligible athletes from United States using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 95.2.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

1599

Ken Norton

78.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1967–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Ken Norton

1600

Grover Cleveland Alexander

78.9

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1911–1930
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 92.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Grover Cleveland Alexander

1601

Alycia Baumgardner

78.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 2017–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Alycia Baumgardner

1608

Mia St. John

78.9

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1997–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Mia St. John

1613

Monica Seles

78.8

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1988–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Monica Seles

1615

Jimmy Butler

78.8

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2011–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Jimmy Butler

1616

Michael Chang

78.8

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1988–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Michael Chang

1621

Shannon Sharpe

78.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Shannon Sharpe

1623

Willie Davis

78.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 96.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Willie Davis

1624

Jack Lambert

78.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Jack Lambert

1628

Don Maynard

78.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Don Maynard

1636

Christian Taylor

78.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2009–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Christian Taylor

1638

Dick McGuire

78.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1949–1960
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Dick McGuire

1639

Lindsay Benko

78.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1996–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Lindsay Benko

1640

T.J. Watt

78.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 2017–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: T.J. Watt

1644

Derrick Adkins

78.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1990–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Derrick Adkins

1646

Ed Macauley

78.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1949–1959
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Ed Macauley

1647

Carol Blazejowski

78.7

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1974–1982
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 64.0

Athlete: Carol Blazejowski

1648

John Hannah

78.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1973–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: John Hannah

1649

Tony DeMarco

78.7

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1948–1962
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Tony DeMarco

1650

Wilmer Allison

78.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1927–1938
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Wilmer Allison

1658

Me'Lisa Barber

78.7

Sport: Athletics
Career: 2002–2010
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Me'Lisa Barber

1661

Carmelo Anthony

78.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2003–2022
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Carmelo Anthony

1669

DeMarcus Ware

78.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2005–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: DeMarcus Ware

1670

Randy White

78.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1975–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Randy White

1683

Dana Vollmer

78.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2000–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Dana Vollmer

1684

Edwin Moses

78.5

Sport: Athletics
Career: 1976–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 94.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Edwin Moses

1689

Chris Byrd

78.5

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1993–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Chris Byrd

1696

Joe Bottom

78.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1974–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Joe Bottom

1697

Len Dawson

78.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Len Dawson

1698

Bill George

78.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1952–1966
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Bill George

1703

Aaron Donald

78.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 2014–2023
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Aaron Donald

1706

Chipper Jones

78.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1993–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Chipper Jones

1708

George Blanda

78.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1949–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 99.0

Athlete: George Blanda

1710

Steve Largent

78.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1976–1989
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Steve Largent

1725

World B. Free

78.3

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1975–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 72.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: World B. Free

1727

William Larned

78.3

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1891–1911
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: William Larned

1728

Derrick Brooks

78.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1995–2008
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Derrick Brooks

1729

Doug Atkins

78.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1953–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Doug Atkins

1730

Leo Nomellini

78.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1950–1963
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Leo Nomellini

1731

Holcombe Ward

78.3

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1899–1906
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Holcombe Ward

1734

Stan Musial

78.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1941–1963
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 89.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 89.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Stan Musial

1735

Aaron Rodgers

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 2005–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Aaron Rodgers

1737

Aaron Pryor

78.2

Sport: Boxing
Career: 1976–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Aaron Pryor

1739

Dan Brouthers

78.2

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1879–1904
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Dan Brouthers

1741

Brian Dawkins

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Brian Dawkins

1742

Chuck Bednarik

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1949–1962
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Chuck Bednarik

1743

Jim Parker

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Jim Parker

1744

Richard Dent

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Richard Dent

1745

Mel Renfro

78.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1964–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Mel Renfro

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
1599	Ken Norton	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1981	78.9
1600	Grover Cleveland Alexander	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1911–1930	78.9
1601	Alycia Baumgardner	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	2017–active	78.9
1608	Mia St. John	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2016	78.9
1613	Monica Seles	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1988–2003	78.8
1615	Jimmy Butler	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2011–active	78.8
1616	Michael Chang	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1988–2003	78.8
1621	Shannon Sharpe	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2003	78.8
1623	Willie Davis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1969	78.8
1624	Jack Lambert	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1984	78.8
1628	Don Maynard	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1973	78.8
1636	Christian Taylor	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	2009–active	78.7
1638	Dick McGuire	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1960	78.7
1639	Lindsay Benko	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2004	78.7
1640	T.J. Watt	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2017–active	78.7
1644	Derrick Adkins	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2000	78.7
1646	Ed Macauley	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1959	78.7
1647	Carol Blazejowski	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1982	78.7
1648	John Hannah	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1973–1985	78.7
1649	Tony DeMarco	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1962	78.7
1650	Wilmer Allison	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1927–1938	78.7
1658	Me'Lisa Barber	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2010	78.7
1661	Carmelo Anthony	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2022	78.6
1669	DeMarcus Ware	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2005–2016	78.6
1670	Randy White	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1975–1988	78.6
1683	Dana Vollmer	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2000–2016	78.5
1684	Edwin Moses	Athletics	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1988	78.5
1689	Chris Byrd	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2009	78.5
1696	Joe Bottom	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1980	78.5
1697	Len Dawson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1975	78.5
1698	Bill George	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1966	78.5
1703	Aaron Donald	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2014–2023	78.4
1706	Chipper Jones	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2012	78.4
1708	George Blanda	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1975	78.4
1710	Steve Largent	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1989	78.4
1725	World B. Free	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1975–1988	78.3
1727	William Larned	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1891–1911	78.3
1728	Derrick Brooks	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1995–2008	78.3
1729	Doug Atkins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1953–1969	78.3
1730	Leo Nomellini	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1950–1963	78.3
1731	Holcombe Ward	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1899–1906	78.3
1734	Stan Musial	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1941–1963	78.2
1735	Aaron Rodgers	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2005–active	78.2
1737	Aaron Pryor	Boxing	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1990	78.2
1739	Dan Brouthers	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1879–1904	78.2
1741	Brian Dawkins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2011	78.2
1742	Chuck Bednarik	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1962	78.2
1743	Jim Parker	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1967	78.2
1744	Richard Dent	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1997	78.2
1745	Mel Renfro	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1977	78.2

Compare the leaders

Michael Phelps vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Read the full methodology

Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

How is this ranking calculated?

Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Who is included?

According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.

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