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

204

Rod Woodson

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1987–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Rod Woodson

205

John Lynch

85.6

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

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

Athlete: John Lynch

206

Cliff Branch

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1972–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Cliff Branch

207

Johnny Robinson

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1960–1971
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Johnny Robinson

208

Winston Hill

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1963–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Winston Hill

209

Torry Holt

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1999–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Torry Holt

210

Link Lyman

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1922–1934
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Link Lyman

211

Terrell Davis

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1995–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 98.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 60.0

Athlete: Terrell Davis

212

Leroy Kelly

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1964–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Leroy Kelly

213

Pete Henry

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1920–1928
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Pete Henry

214

Chris Hanburger

85.6

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

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

Athlete: Chris Hanburger

215

Tony Canadeo

85.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1941–1952
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Tony Canadeo

216

Adrian Peterson

85.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 2007–2021
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Adrian Peterson

217

Jimmy Smith

85.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1992–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Jimmy Smith

219

Luke Kuechly

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 2012–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Luke Kuechly

220

Richard Seymour

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Richard Seymour

221

Bronko Nagurski

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1930–1943
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Bronko Nagurski

222

Russ Grimm

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1981–1991
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Russ Grimm

223

Stan Jones

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1954–1966
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Stan Jones

224

Art Donovan

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1950–1961
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Art Donovan

225

Fred Dean

85.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1975–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Fred Dean

226

J.J. Watt

85.3

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

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

Athlete: J.J. Watt

227

Charles Haley

85.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1986–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Charles Haley

228

Tom Fears

85.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1948–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Tom Fears

229

Lem Barney

85.3

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

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Lem Barney

230

George McAfee

85.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1940–1950
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: George McAfee

231

Frank Gifford

85.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1952–1964
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Frank Gifford

232

LeRoy Butler

85.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2001
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: LeRoy Butler

233

Dave Casper

85.2

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

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

Athlete: Dave Casper

234

Sam Mills

85.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1986–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Sam Mills

235

George Musso

85.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1933–1944
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: George Musso

236

Mike Munchak

85.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1982–1993
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mike Munchak

237

Lee Roy Selmon

85.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1976–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Lee Roy Selmon

238

Andre Reed

85.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1985–2000
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Andre Reed

239

Steve Hutchinson

85.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Steve Hutchinson

240

John Henry Johnson

85.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1954–1966
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: John Henry Johnson

241

Mike McCormack

85.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1951–1962
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mike McCormack

242

Alex Karras

84.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1970
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Alex Karras

243

Anthony Muñoz

84.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1980–1992
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Anthony Muñoz

244

Marshall Faulk

84.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1994–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Marshall Faulk

245

Jim Kelly

84.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1986–1996
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Jim Kelly

246

Dan Dierdorf

84.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1971–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Dan Dierdorf

247

Joe Klecko

84.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1977–1988
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Joe Klecko

248

Randy Moss

84.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1998–2012
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 83.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 78.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Randy Moss

249

LaDainian Tomlinson

84.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: LaDainian Tomlinson

250

Roger Craig

84.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1983–1993
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Roger Craig

251

Chad Johnson

84.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 2001–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Chad Johnson

252

Aqib Talib

84.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 2008–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Aqib Talib

253

Ed Reed

84.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 2002–2013
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Ed Reed

254

Mike Michalske

84.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1926–1937
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mike Michalske

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
204	Rod Woodson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1987–2003	85.6
205	John Lynch	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2007	85.6
206	Cliff Branch	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1972–1985	85.6
207	Johnny Robinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1971	85.6
208	Winston Hill	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1977	85.6
209	Torry Holt	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1999–2009	85.6
210	Link Lyman	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1922–1934	85.6
211	Terrell Davis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1995–2001	85.6
212	Leroy Kelly	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1973	85.6
213	Pete Henry	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1928	85.6
214	Chris Hanburger	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1978	85.6
215	Tony Canadeo	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1941–1952	85.6
216	Adrian Peterson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2007–2021	85.5
217	Jimmy Smith	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1992–2005	85.5
219	Luke Kuechly	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2012–2019	85.4
220	Richard Seymour	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2012	85.4
221	Bronko Nagurski	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1930–1943	85.4
222	Russ Grimm	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1991	85.4
223	Stan Jones	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1954–1966	85.4
224	Art Donovan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1950–1961	85.4
225	Fred Dean	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1975–1985	85.4
226	J.J. Watt	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2022	85.3
227	Charles Haley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1999	85.3
228	Tom Fears	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1956	85.3
229	Lem Barney	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1977	85.3
230	George McAfee	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1940–1950	85.3
231	Frank Gifford	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1964	85.2
232	LeRoy Butler	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2001	85.2
233	Dave Casper	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1984	85.2
234	Sam Mills	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1997	85.2
235	George Musso	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1933–1944	85.1
236	Mike Munchak	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1982–1993	85.1
237	Lee Roy Selmon	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1976–1984	85.1
238	Andre Reed	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1985–2000	85.0
239	Steve Hutchinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2012	85.0
240	John Henry Johnson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1954–1966	85.0
241	Mike McCormack	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1951–1962	85.0
242	Alex Karras	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1970	84.9
243	Anthony Muñoz	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1980–1992	84.8
244	Marshall Faulk	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1994–2005	84.8
245	Jim Kelly	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1986–1996	84.8
246	Dan Dierdorf	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1983	84.8
247	Joe Klecko	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1977–1988	84.8
248	Randy Moss	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2012	84.7
249	LaDainian Tomlinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2011	84.7
250	Roger Craig	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1983–1993	84.7
251	Chad Johnson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2001–2011	84.7
252	Aqib Talib	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2008–2019	84.7
253	Ed Reed	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2013	84.5
254	Mike Michalske	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1937	84.5

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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