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

154

Andre Johnson

86.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2003–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Andre Johnson

155

Larry Csonka

86.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Larry Csonka

156

Pete Pihos

86.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1947–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Pete Pihos

157

Barry Sanders

86.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1989–1998
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Barry Sanders

158

Steve Young

86.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1984–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Steve Young

159

Chuck Howley

86.5

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

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

Athlete: Chuck Howley

160

Johnny Blood

86.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1925–1939
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Johnny Blood

161

Michael Irvin

86.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1988–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Michael Irvin

162

Guy Chamberlin

86.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1920–1927
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Guy Chamberlin

163

Junior Seau

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Junior Seau

164

Kevin Mawae

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1994–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Kevin Mawae

165

Steve McMichael

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1980–1994
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Steve McMichael

166

Davante Adams

86.4

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

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

Athlete: Davante Adams

167

Willie Lanier

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Willie Lanier

168

Orlando Pace

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1997–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Orlando Pace

169

Dan Fortmann

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1936–1943
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Dan Fortmann

170

Harry Carson

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1976–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Harry Carson

171

Len Ford

86.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1948–1958
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Len Ford

172

Ed "Too Tall" Jones

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1989
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ed "Too Tall" Jones

173

Earl Campbell

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1978–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Earl Campbell

174

Ozzie Newsome

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1978–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ozzie Newsome

175

John Mackey

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1963–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: John Mackey

176

Benny Friedman

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1927–1934
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Benny Friedman

177

Jerry Kramer

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1968
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Jerry Kramer

178

Eric Allen

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1988–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Eric Allen

179

Rosey Brown

86.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1953–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Rosey Brown

180

Hines Ward

86.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1998–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Hines Ward

181

Paddy Driscoll

86.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1920–1929
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Paddy Driscoll

182

Lou Creekmur

86.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1950–1959
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Lou Creekmur

183

Dave Robinson

86.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1963–1974
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Dave Robinson

184

John Elway

86.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1998
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: John Elway

185

Joe Greene

86.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Joe Greene

186

Gene Hickerson

86.1

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

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

Athlete: Gene Hickerson

187

Claude Humphrey

86.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Claude Humphrey

188

Travis Kelce

86.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 2013–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Travis Kelce

189

Michael Strahan

86.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1993–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Michael Strahan

190

Cooper Kupp

86.0

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

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Cooper Kupp

191

Ernie Nevers

86.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1926–1931
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Ernie Nevers

192

Ronnie Lott

85.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1981–1994
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ronnie Lott

193

Adam Vinatieri

85.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Adam Vinatieri

194

DeAndre Hopkins

85.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 2013–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: DeAndre Hopkins

195

Sonny Jurgensen

85.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1974
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Sonny Jurgensen

196

Mike Webster

85.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mike Webster

197

Alan Faneca

85.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1998–2010
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Alan Faneca

198

Harold Carmichael

85.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1971–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Harold Carmichael

199

Joe DeLamielleure

85.8

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

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

Athlete: Joe DeLamielleure

200

Dan Hampton

85.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1979–1990
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Dan Hampton

201

Cortez Kennedy

85.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Cortez Kennedy

202

Curley Culp

85.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Curley Culp

203

Charlie Joiner

85.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1986
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Charlie Joiner

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
154	Andre Johnson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2016	86.6
155	Larry Csonka	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1979	86.6
156	Pete Pihos	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1947–1955	86.6
157	Barry Sanders	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1989–1998	86.5
158	Steve Young	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1984–1999	86.5
159	Chuck Howley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1973	86.5
160	Johnny Blood	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1925–1939	86.5
161	Michael Irvin	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1988–1999	86.5
162	Guy Chamberlin	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1927	86.5
163	Junior Seau	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2009	86.4
164	Kevin Mawae	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1994–2009	86.4
165	Steve McMichael	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1980–1994	86.4
166	Davante Adams	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2014–active	86.4
167	Willie Lanier	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1977	86.4
168	Orlando Pace	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2009	86.4
169	Dan Fortmann	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1936–1943	86.4
170	Harry Carson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1988	86.4
171	Len Ford	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1958	86.4
172	Ed "Too Tall" Jones	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1989	86.3
173	Earl Campbell	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1985	86.3
174	Ozzie Newsome	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1990	86.3
175	John Mackey	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1972	86.3
176	Benny Friedman	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1927–1934	86.3
177	Jerry Kramer	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1968	86.3
178	Eric Allen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1988–2001	86.3
179	Rosey Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1953–1965	86.3
180	Hines Ward	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2011	86.2
181	Paddy Driscoll	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1929	86.2
182	Lou Creekmur	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1950–1959	86.2
183	Dave Robinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1974	86.2
184	John Elway	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1998	86.1
185	Joe Greene	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1981	86.1
186	Gene Hickerson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1973	86.1
187	Claude Humphrey	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1981	86.1
188	Travis Kelce	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2013–active	86.0
189	Michael Strahan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2007	86.0
190	Cooper Kupp	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2017–active	86.0
191	Ernie Nevers	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1931	86.0
192	Ronnie Lott	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1994	85.9
193	Adam Vinatieri	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2019	85.9
194	DeAndre Hopkins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2013–active	85.9
195	Sonny Jurgensen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1974	85.9
196	Mike Webster	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1990	85.8
197	Alan Faneca	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2010	85.8
198	Harold Carmichael	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1984	85.8
199	Joe DeLamielleure	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1973–1985	85.8
200	Dan Hampton	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1979–1990	85.8
201	Cortez Kennedy	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2000	85.8
202	Curley Culp	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1981	85.7
203	Charlie Joiner	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1986	85.7

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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