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

255

Joe Thomas

84.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 2007–2017
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Joe Thomas

256

Hugh McElhenny

84.4

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

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

Athlete: Hugh McElhenny

257

Turk Edwards

84.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1940
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Turk Edwards

258

Bob Brown

84.4

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

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Brown

259

Edgerrin James

84.3

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

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

Athlete: Edgerrin James

260

Herman Moore

84.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1991–2002
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Herman Moore

261

Keenan McCardell

84.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1991–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Keenan McCardell

262

Gale Sayers

84.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1971
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 98.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 62.0

Athlete: Gale Sayers

263

Robert Brazile

84.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1975–1984
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Robert Brazile

264

Marvin Harrison

84.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2008
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Marvin Harrison

265

Stefon Diggs

84.2

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

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

Athlete: Stefon Diggs

266

A.J. Green

84.2

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

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

Athlete: A.J. Green

267

Walt Kiesling

84.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1926–1938
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Walt Kiesling

268

Rob Gronkowski

84.1

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

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Rob Gronkowski

269

Ja'Marr Chase

84.1

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

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Ja'Marr Chase

270

Howie Long

84.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1981–1993
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Howie Long

271

Von Miller

84.0

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

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Von Miller

272

Jason Taylor

84.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1997–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Jason Taylor

273

Bill Hewitt

84.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1943
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Bill Hewitt

274

Bobby Dillon

83.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1952–1959
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Bobby Dillon

275

George Connor

83.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1948–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: George Connor

276

Steve Owen

83.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1924–1933
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Steve Owen

277

Terrell Owens

83.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1996–2010
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Terrell Owens

278

Sam Huff

83.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1956–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Sam Huff

279

Red Grange

83.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1925–1934
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Red Grange

280

Ace Parker

83.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1937–1946
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Ace Parker

281

Mike Singletary

83.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1981–1992
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Mike Singletary

282

Cliff Harris

83.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1970–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Cliff Harris

283

Dick Butkus

83.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Dick Butkus

285

Bruiser Kinard

83.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1938–1947
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Bruiser Kinard

286

Jack Butler

83.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1951–1959
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Jack Butler

287

Steve Van Buren

83.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1944–1951
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Steve Van Buren

288

Randy Gradishar

83.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Randy Gradishar

289

Eli Manning

83.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 2004–2019
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Eli Manning

290

Tuffy Leemans

83.3

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

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Tuffy Leemans

291

Charles Woodson

83.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1998–2015
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Charles Woodson

292

Steve Atwater

83.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1989–1999
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Steve Atwater

293

Lynn Swann

83.2

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1982
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Lynn Swann

294

Ed Healey

83.2

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

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

Athlete: Ed Healey

295

Drew Pearson

83.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1973–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Drew Pearson

296

Dutch Clark

83.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1931–1938
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Dutch Clark

297

Joe Guyon

83.1

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

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Joe Guyon

298

Bart Starr

83.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1956–1971
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Bart Starr

299

Tommy McDonald

83.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1968
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Tommy McDonald

300

Odell Beckham Jr

83.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 2014–2024
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Odell Beckham Jr

301

Greasy Neale

83.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1916–1924
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Greasy Neale

302

Jason Witten

82.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 2003–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Jason Witten

303

Charlie Sanders

82.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Charlie Sanders

304

Floyd Little

82.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Floyd Little

305

Wayne Millner

82.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1936–1945
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Wayne Millner

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
255	Joe Thomas	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2007–2017	84.4
256	Hugh McElhenny	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1964	84.4
257	Turk Edwards	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1940	84.4
258	Bob Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1973	84.4
259	Edgerrin James	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1999–2009	84.3
260	Herman Moore	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1991–2002	84.3
261	Keenan McCardell	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1991–2007	84.3
262	Gale Sayers	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1971	84.3
263	Robert Brazile	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1975–1984	84.3
264	Marvin Harrison	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2008	84.2
265	Stefon Diggs	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2015–active	84.2
266	A.J. Green	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2022	84.2
267	Walt Kiesling	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1938	84.2
268	Rob Gronkowski	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2010–2021	84.1
269	Ja'Marr Chase	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2021–active	84.1
270	Howie Long	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1993	84.1
271	Von Miller	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–active	84.0
272	Jason Taylor	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2011	84.0
273	Bill Hewitt	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1943	84.0
274	Bobby Dillon	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1952–1959	83.9
275	George Connor	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1948–1955	83.9
276	Steve Owen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1924–1933	83.9
277	Terrell Owens	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1996–2010	83.8
278	Sam Huff	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1969	83.8
279	Red Grange	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1925–1934	83.8
280	Ace Parker	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1937–1946	83.8
281	Mike Singletary	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1981–1992	83.7
282	Cliff Harris	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1970–1979	83.7
283	Dick Butkus	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1973	83.6
285	Bruiser Kinard	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1938–1947	83.6
286	Jack Butler	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1951–1959	83.6
287	Steve Van Buren	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1944–1951	83.5
288	Randy Gradishar	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1983	83.5
289	Eli Manning	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2004–2019	83.3
290	Tuffy Leemans	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1936–1943	83.3
291	Charles Woodson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1998–2015	83.2
292	Steve Atwater	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1989–1999	83.2
293	Lynn Swann	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1982	83.2
294	Ed Healey	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1927	83.2
295	Drew Pearson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1973–1983	83.1
296	Dutch Clark	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1931–1938	83.1
297	Joe Guyon	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1920–1927	83.1
298	Bart Starr	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1971	83.0
299	Tommy McDonald	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1968	83.0
300	Odell Beckham Jr	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2014–2024	83.0
301	Greasy Neale	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1916–1924	83.0
302	Jason Witten	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2020	82.8
303	Charlie Sanders	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1977	82.8
304	Floyd Little	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1975	82.7
305	Wayne Millner	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1936–1945	82.6

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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