GOAT Rank · 50

Greatest American Football Players who debuted in the 1960s

This ranking is led by Deacon Jones, Ted Hendricks and Bob Lilly. GOAT Rank currently ranks 50 eligible American Football players who debuted in the 1960s using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Deacon Jones ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 90.4.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

Deacon Jones

90.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1961–1974
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Deacon Jones

Ted Hendricks

90.2

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

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

Athlete: Ted Hendricks

Bob Lilly

90.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1961–1974
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Bob Lilly

Alan Page

90.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Alan Page

Paul Krause

90.0

Sport: American Football
Career: 1964–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Paul Krause

Herb Adderley

89.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1961–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 96.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Herb Adderley

Mel Renfro

88.9

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

Willie Brown

88.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1963–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Willie Brown

Gene Upshaw

88.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1981
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Gene Upshaw

Art Shell

88.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1968–1982
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Art Shell

Nick Buoniconti

88.5

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

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

Athlete: Nick Buoniconti

Jim Otto

88.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1960–1974
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Jim Otto

Carl Eller

88.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1964–1979
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Carl Eller

Mike Ditka

88.1

Sport: American Football
Career: 1961–1972
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Mike Ditka

Ron Mix

88.0

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

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

Athlete: Ron Mix

Buck Buchanan

87.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1963–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

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

Athlete: Buck Buchanan

Bob Griese

87.8

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

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

Athlete: Bob Griese

102

Bobby Bell

87.7

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

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

Athlete: Bobby Bell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

306

Joe Namath

82.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1977
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Joe Namath

316

Fran Tarkenton

81.9

Sport: American Football
Career: 1961–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 84.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Fran Tarkenton

329

Roger Staubach

80.4

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

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Roger Staubach

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
13	Deacon Jones	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1974	90.4
17	Ted Hendricks	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1983	90.2
18	Bob Lilly	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1974	90.1
19	Alan Page	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1981	90.0
22	Paul Krause	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1979	90.0
24	Herb Adderley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1972	89.9
48	Mel Renfro	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1977	88.9
58	Willie Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1978	88.6
60	Gene Upshaw	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1981	88.5
61	Art Shell	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1982	88.5
64	Nick Buoniconti	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1962–1976	88.5
68	Jim Otto	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1974	88.3
80	Carl Eller	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1979	88.1
82	Mike Ditka	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1972	88.1
86	Ron Mix	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1971	88.0
91	Buck Buchanan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1975	87.9
98	Bob Griese	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	87.8
102	Bobby Bell	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1974	87.7
104	O.J. Simpson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1979	87.7
105	Merlin Olsen	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1962–1976	87.7
111	Paul Warfield	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1977	87.6
112	Tom Mack	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1966–1978	87.6
122	Larry Little	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	87.4
134	Bob Hayes	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1975	87.0
140	Ken Houston	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	86.8
144	Fred Biletnikoff	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1978	86.8
147	Ken Riley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1983	86.7
150	Lance Alworth	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1962–1972	86.7
152	Elvin Bethea	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1983	86.7
155	Larry Csonka	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1979	86.6
167	Willie Lanier	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1977	86.4
175	John Mackey	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1972	86.3
183	Dave Robinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1974	86.2
185	Joe Greene	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1981	86.1
187	Claude Humphrey	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1981	86.1
202	Curley Culp	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1981	85.7
203	Charlie Joiner	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1986	85.7
207	Johnny Robinson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1960–1971	85.6
208	Winston Hill	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1963–1977	85.6
212	Leroy Kelly	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1973	85.6
214	Chris Hanburger	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1978	85.6
229	Lem Barney	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1977	85.3
258	Bob Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1964–1973	84.4
262	Gale Sayers	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1971	84.3
283	Dick Butkus	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1973	83.6
303	Charlie Sanders	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1968–1977	82.8
304	Floyd Little	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1975	82.7
306	Joe Namath	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1977	82.5
316	Fran Tarkenton	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1961–1978	81.9
329	Roger Staubach	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1979	80.4

Compare the leaders

Deacon Jones vs Ted Hendricks

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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