GOAT Rank · 330

Greatest American Football Players from United States

This ranking is led by Lou Groza, Sammy Baugh and Otto Graham. GOAT Rank currently ranks 330 eligible American Football players from United States using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Lou Groza ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 92.4.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

104

O.J. Simpson

87.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 98.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: O.J. Simpson

105

Merlin Olsen

87.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1962–1976
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Merlin Olsen

106

Walter Payton

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1975–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 87.0
Statistics: 91.0
Honours: 85.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Walter Payton

107

Don Hutson

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1935–1945
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 92.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Don Hutson

108

Dwight Freeney

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2002–2017
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Dwight Freeney

109

Jared Allen

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2004–2015
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Jared Allen

110

Julio Jones

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2011–2022
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Julio Jones

111

Paul Warfield

87.6

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

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

Athlete: Paul Warfield

112

Tom Mack

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1966–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Tom Mack

113

Rickey Jackson

87.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1981–1995
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Rickey Jackson

114

Ollie Matson

87.6

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

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

Athlete: Ollie Matson

115

Bruce Smith

87.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1985–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Bruce Smith

116

Devin Hester

87.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 2006–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Devin Hester

117

Walter Jones

87.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1997–2008
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Walter Jones

118

Curtis Martin

87.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1995–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Curtis Martin

119

James Lofton

87.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1978–1993
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: James Lofton

120

Paul Hornung

87.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1966
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Paul Hornung

121

Dermontti Dawson

87.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1988–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Dermontti Dawson

122

Larry Little

87.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Larry Little

123

Dan Marino

87.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 93.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Dan Marino

124

Jim Taylor

87.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Jim Taylor

125

Bill Dudley

87.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1942–1953
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Bill Dudley

126

Johnny Unitas

87.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1956–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 87.0
Honours: 87.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Johnny Unitas

127

Raymond Berry

87.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1955–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Raymond Berry

128

Patrick Peterson

87.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 2011–2023
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Patrick Peterson

129

Marion Motley

87.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Marion Motley

130

John Riggins

87.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1971–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: John Riggins

131

Henry Jordan

87.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Henry Jordan

132

John Stallworth

87.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: John Stallworth

133

Jerome Bettis

87.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1993–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Jerome Bettis

134

Bob Hayes

87.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Hayes

135

Dante Lavelli

87.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Dante Lavelli

136

Clarke Hinkle

87.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1941
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Clarke Hinkle

137

Emmitt Smith

86.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Emmitt Smith

138

Frank Gore

86.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 2005–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Frank Gore

139

Elroy Hirsch

86.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1957
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Elroy Hirsch

140

Ken Houston

86.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ken Houston

141

Ty Law

86.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1995–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Ty Law

142

Antonio Brown

86.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 2010–2021
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Antonio Brown

143

Dan Fouts

86.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1973–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Dan Fouts

144

Fred Biletnikoff

86.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Fred Biletnikoff

145

Deion Sanders

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1989–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Deion Sanders

146

Troy Polamalu

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 2003–2014
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Troy Polamalu

147

Ken Riley

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Ken Riley

148

Warren Moon

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1978–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Warren Moon

149

Terry Bradshaw

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1970–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Terry Bradshaw

150

Lance Alworth

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1962–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Lance Alworth

151

Jack Christiansen

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1951–1958
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Jack Christiansen

152

Elvin Bethea

86.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Elvin Bethea

153

Ray Lewis

86.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 89.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 87.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Ray Lewis

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
104	O.J. Simpson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1979	87.7
105	Merlin Olsen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1962–1976	87.7
106	Walter Payton	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1975–1987	87.6
107	Don Hutson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1935–1945	87.6
108	Dwight Freeney	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2017	87.6
109	Jared Allen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2004–2015	87.6
110	Julio Jones	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2022	87.6
111	Paul Warfield	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1977	87.6
112	Tom Mack	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1966–1978	87.6
113	Rickey Jackson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1995	87.6
114	Ollie Matson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1966	87.6
115	Bruce Smith	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1985–2003	87.5
116	Devin Hester	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2006–2016	87.5
117	Walter Jones	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2008	87.5
118	Curtis Martin	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1995–2005	87.5
119	James Lofton	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1993	87.4
120	Paul Hornung	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1966	87.4
121	Dermontti Dawson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1988–2000	87.4
122	Larry Little	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	87.4
123	Dan Marino	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1999	87.3
124	Jim Taylor	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1967	87.3
125	Bill Dudley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1942–1953	87.3
126	Johnny Unitas	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1973	87.2
127	Raymond Berry	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1955–1967	87.2
128	Patrick Peterson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2023	87.1
129	Marion Motley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1955	87.1
130	John Riggins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1985	87.1
131	Henry Jordan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1969	87.1
132	John Stallworth	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1987	87.0
133	Jerome Bettis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2005	87.0
134	Bob Hayes	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1975	87.0
135	Dante Lavelli	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1956	87.0
136	Clarke Hinkle	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1941	87.0
137	Emmitt Smith	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2004	86.9
138	Frank Gore	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2005–2020	86.9
139	Elroy Hirsch	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1957	86.9
140	Ken Houston	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	86.8
141	Ty Law	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1995–2009	86.8
142	Antonio Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2010–2021	86.8
143	Dan Fouts	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1973–1987	86.8
144	Fred Biletnikoff	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1978	86.8
145	Deion Sanders	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1989–2005	86.7
146	Troy Polamalu	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2014	86.7
147	Ken Riley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1983	86.7
148	Warren Moon	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1978–2000	86.7
149	Terry Bradshaw	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1970–1983	86.7
150	Lance Alworth	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1962–1972	86.7
151	Jack Christiansen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1951–1958	86.7
152	Elvin Bethea	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1983	86.7
153	Ray Lewis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2012	86.6

Compare the leaders

Lou Groza vs Sammy Baugh

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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