Who is the greatest American Football Athlete of all time?

Tom Brady leads American Football with a verified GOAT Score of 97.2/100.

How is the American Football GOAT ranking calculated?

Five verified categories are weighted against 2779 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.

How many American Football players are ranked?

373 eligible American Football athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 2779 reference records.

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American football: the greatest of all time

GOAT Rank's data-driven ranking

Super Bowl rings, MVP share and volume production across long careers. Each players below is scored on verified career data and normalised against the full American football reference cohort — no shortlists, no unverified provisional numbers.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Tom Brady is the highest-ranked of the players in American football, with an in-sport GOAT Score of 97.2. Next are Jerry Rice (94.9), Lou Groza (92.4).

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

2406 records fall below the data threshold and are excluded from this ranking. Eligibility rules →

Showing 373 of 373 ranked players# = official in-sport rank

Category

PositionCountryEraStatusSort

#	Athlete	Era	Super Bowl rings	Super Bowl MVP	League MVP	Passing yards	Passing touchdowns	GOAT
1	🇺🇸Tom BradyRetired	2000–2022	7	5	3	89,214	649	97.2
2	🇺🇸Jerry RiceRetired	1985–2004	3	1	—	—	—	94.9
3	🇺🇸Lou GrozaRetired	1946–1967	—	—	—	—	—	92.4
4	🇺🇸Sammy BaughRetired	1937–1952	—	—	—	—	—	92.3
5	🇺🇸Otto GrahamRetired	1946–1955	—	—	—	23,584	—	92.0
6	🇺🇸Bruce MatthewsRetired	1983–2001	—	—	—	—	—	92.0
7	🇺🇸Tony GonzalezRetired	1997–2013	—	—	—	—	—	91.6
8	🇺🇸Darrell GreenRetired	1983–2002	—	—	—	—	—	91.6
9	🇺🇸Mel BlountRetired	1970–1983	—	—	—	—	—	91.5
10	🇺🇸Gino MarchettiRetired	1952–1966	—	—	—	—	—	91.3
11	🇺🇸Julius PeppersRetired	2002–2018	—	—	—	—	—	90.9
12	🇺🇸Peyton ManningRetired	1998–2015	—	1	—	71,940	—	90.7
13	🇺🇸Deacon JonesRetired	1961–1974	—	—	—	—	—	90.4
14	🇺🇸Larry FitzgeraldRetired	2004–2020	—	—	—	—	—	90.4
15	🇺🇸Ray NitschkeRetired	1958–1972	—	—	—	—	—	90.4
16	🇺🇸Forrest GreggRetired	1956–1971	—	—	—	—	—	90.3
17	🇺🇸Ted HendricksRetired	1969–1983	—	—	—	—	—	90.2
18	🇺🇸Bob LillyRetired	1961–1974	—	—	—	—	—	90.1
19	🇺🇸Alan PageRetired	1967–1981	—	—	—	—	—	90.0
20	🇺🇸Justin TuckerRetired	2012–2024	—	—	—	—	—	90.0
21	🇺🇸Franco HarrisRetired	1972–1984	—	—	—	—	—	90.0
22	🇺🇸Paul KrauseRetired	1964–1979	—	—	—	—	—	90.0
23	🇺🇸Cris CarterRetired	1987–2002	—	—	—	—	—	89.9
24	🇺🇸Herb AdderleyRetired	1961–1972	—	—	—	—	—	89.9
25	🇺🇸Champ BaileyRetired	1999–2013	—	—	—	—	—	89.8
26	🇺🇸Randall McDanielRetired	1988–2001	—	—	—	—	—	89.8
27	🇺🇸Shannon SharpeRetired	1990–2003	—	—	—	—	—	89.6
28	🇺🇸Willie DavisRetired	1958–1969	—	—	—	—	—	89.6
29	🇺🇸Don MaynardRetired	1958–1973	—	—	—	—	—	89.6
30	🇺🇸Jack LambertRetired	1974–1984	—	—	—	—	—	89.5
31	🇺🇸T.J. WattActive	2017–present	—	—	—	—	—	89.4
32	🇺🇸John HannahRetired	1973–1985	—	—	—	—	—	89.4
33	🇺🇸DeMarcus WareRetired	2005–2016	—	—	—	—	—	89.3
34	🇺🇸Randy WhiteRetired	1975–1988	—	—	—	—	—	89.3
35	🇺🇸Len DawsonRetired	1957–1975	—	—	—	28,711	239	89.2
36	🇺🇸Bill GeorgeRetired	1952–1966	—	—	—	—	—	89.2
37	🇺🇸Aaron DonaldRetired	2014–2023	—	—	—	—	—	89.1
38	🇺🇸George BlandaRetired	1949–1975	—	—	—	—	236	89.1
39	🇺🇸Steve LargentRetired	1976–1989	—	—	—	—	—	89.1
40	🇺🇸Derrick BrooksRetired	1995–2008	—	—	—	—	—	89.0
41	🇺🇸Doug AtkinsRetired	1953–1969	—	—	—	—	—	89.0
42	🇺🇸Leo NomelliniRetired	1950–1963	—	—	—	—	—	89.0
43	🇺🇸Aaron RodgersActive	2005–present	—	1	—	62,000	—	88.9
44	🇺🇸Brian DawkinsRetired	1996–2011	—	—	—	—	—	88.9
45	🇺🇸Chuck BednarikRetired	1949–1962	—	—	—	—	—	88.9
46	🇺🇸Jim ParkerRetired	1957–1967	—	—	—	—	—	88.9
47	🇺🇸Richard DentRetired	1983–1997	—	—	—	—	—	88.9
48	🇺🇸Mel RenfroRetired	1964–1977	—	—	—	—	—	88.9
49	🇺🇸Larry AllenRetired	1994–2007	—	—	—	—	—	88.8
50	🇺🇸Tony DorsettRetired	1977–1988	—	—	—	—	—	88.8

1–50 of 373 athletes

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Compare top two: Brady vs Rice

Coaches

Coaching career — listed separately from the player ranking.

🇺🇸 Bill BelichickHead coach 🇺🇸 Don ShulaHead coach 🇺🇸 Curly LambeauFounder and head coach 🇺🇸 Vince LombardiHead coach 🇺🇸 Tom FloresQuarterback and head coach 🇺🇸 Bill CowherHead coach 🇺🇸 Jimmy JohnsonHead coach 🇺🇸 Don CoryellHead coach

Top 10 American Football players of all time

The ten highest verified GOAT Scores across every era.

1🇺🇸Tom Brady2000–202297.2
2🇺🇸Jerry Rice1985–200494.9
3🇺🇸Lou Groza1946–196792.4
4🇺🇸Sammy Baugh1937–195292.3
5🇺🇸Otto Graham1946–195592.0
6🇺🇸Bruce Matthews1983–200192.0
7🇺🇸Tony Gonzalez1997–201391.6
8🇺🇸Darrell Green1983–200291.6
9🇺🇸Mel Blount1970–198391.5
10🇺🇸Gino Marchetti1952–196691.3

By position

Quarterback

1🇺🇸Tom Brady2000–202297.2
2🇺🇸Sammy Baugh1937–195292.3
3🇺🇸Otto Graham1946–195592.0
4🇺🇸Peyton Manning1998–201590.7
5🇺🇸Len Dawson1957–197589.2

Wide receiver

1🇺🇸Jerry Rice1985–200494.9
2🇺🇸Larry Fitzgerald2004–202090.4
3🇺🇸Cris Carter1987–200289.9
4🇺🇸Don Maynard1958–197389.6
5🇺🇸Steve Largent1976–198989.1

Tight end

1🇺🇸Tony Gonzalez1997–201391.6
2🇺🇸Shannon Sharpe1990–200389.6
3🇺🇸Mike Ditka1961–197288.1
4🇺🇸Antonio Gates2003–201887.9
5🇺🇸Ozzie Newsome1978–199086.3

Cornerback

1🇺🇸Darrell Green1983–200291.6
2🇺🇸Mel Blount1970–198391.5
3🇺🇸Herb Adderley1961–197289.9
4🇺🇸Champ Bailey1999–201389.8
5🇺🇸Willie Brown1963–197888.6

Defensive end

1🇺🇸Gino Marchetti1952–196691.3
2🇺🇸Julius Peppers2002–201890.9
3🇺🇸Deacon Jones1961–197490.4
4🇺🇸Willie Davis1958–196989.6
5🇺🇸Doug Atkins1953–196989.0

Linebacker

1🇺🇸Ray Nitschke1958–197290.4
2🇺🇸Ted Hendricks1969–198390.2
3🇺🇸Jack Lambert1974–198489.5
4🇺🇸T.J. Watt2017–present89.4
5🇺🇸DeMarcus Ware2005–201689.3

Tackle

1🇺🇸Forrest Gregg1956–197190.3
2🇺🇸Leo Nomellini1950–196389.0
3🇺🇸Cal Hubbard1927–193688.6
4🇺🇸Willie Roaf1993–200588.2
5🇺🇸Ron Mix1960–197188.0

Defensive tackle

1🇺🇸Bob Lilly1961–197490.1
2🇺🇸Alan Page1967–198190.0
3🇺🇸Randy White1975–198889.3
4🇺🇸Aaron Donald2014–202389.1
5🇺🇸Warren Sapp1995–200788.3

By country

USA

1🇺🇸Tom Brady2000–202297.2
2🇺🇸Jerry Rice1985–200494.9
3🇺🇸Patrick Mahomes2017–present85.4

United States

1🇺🇸Lou Groza1946–196792.4
2🇺🇸Sammy Baugh1937–195292.3
3🇺🇸Otto Graham1946–195592.0
4🇺🇸Bruce Matthews1983–200192.0
5🇺🇸Tony Gonzalez1997–201391.6

International

1🏳️Joe Burrow2020–present64.3
2🏳️Lamar Jackson2018–present61.7
3🏳️Kyler Murray2019–present60.9
4🏳️Joe Flacco2008–present60.8
5🏳️Matthew Stafford2009–present60.8

By era

1920s

1🇺🇸Cal Hubbard1927–193688.6
2🇺🇸Johnny Blood1925–193986.5
3🇺🇸Guy Chamberlin1920–192786.5
4🇺🇸Benny Friedman1927–193486.3
5🇺🇸Paddy Driscoll1920–192986.2

1930s

1🇺🇸Sammy Baugh1937–195292.3
2🇺🇸Mel Hein1931–194588.5
3🇺🇸Sid Luckman1939–195088.4
4🇺🇸Arnie Herber1930–194587.8
5🇺🇸Don Hutson1935–194587.6

1940s

1🇺🇸Lou Groza1946–196792.4
2🇺🇸Otto Graham1946–195592.0
3🇺🇸George Blanda1949–197589.1
4🇺🇸Chuck Bednarik1949–196288.9
5🇺🇸Joe Perry1948–196388.4

1950s

1🇺🇸Gino Marchetti1952–196691.3
2🇺🇸Ray Nitschke1958–197290.4
3🇺🇸Forrest Gregg1956–197190.3
4🇺🇸Willie Davis1958–196989.6
5🇺🇸Don Maynard1958–197389.6

1960s

1🇺🇸Deacon Jones1961–197490.4
2🇺🇸Ted Hendricks1969–198390.2
3🇺🇸Bob Lilly1961–197490.1
4🇺🇸Alan Page1967–198190.0
5🇺🇸Paul Krause1964–197990.0

1970s

1🇺🇸Mel Blount1970–198391.5
2🇺🇸Franco Harris1972–198490.0
3🇺🇸Jack Lambert1974–198489.5
4🇺🇸John Hannah1973–198589.4
5🇺🇸Randy White1975–198889.3

1980s

1🇺🇸Jerry Rice1985–200494.9
2🇺🇸Bruce Matthews1983–200192.0
3🇺🇸Darrell Green1983–200291.6
4🇺🇸Cris Carter1987–200289.9
5🇺🇸Randall McDaniel1988–200189.8

1990s

1🇺🇸Tony Gonzalez1997–201391.6
2🇺🇸Peyton Manning1998–201590.7
3🇺🇸Champ Bailey1999–201389.8
4🇺🇸Shannon Sharpe1990–200389.6
5🇺🇸Derrick Brooks1995–200889.0

2000s

1🇺🇸Tom Brady2000–202297.2
2🇺🇸Julius Peppers2002–201890.9
3🇺🇸Larry Fitzgerald2004–202090.4
4🇺🇸DeMarcus Ware2005–201689.3
5🇺🇸Aaron Rodgers2005–present88.9

2010s

1🇺🇸Justin Tucker2012–202490.0
2🇺🇸T.J. Watt2017–present89.4
3🇺🇸Aaron Donald2014–202389.1
4🇺🇸Derrick Henry2016–present88.0
5🇺🇸Julio Jones2011–202287.6

By country · By position · By era

American Football GOAT debates

The closest calls in the ranking, with a full side-by-side breakdown.

Brady vs Rice· Brady ranks higher at 97.2 versus Rice at 94.9, a margin of 2.3 points.Rice vs Groza· Rice ranks higher at 94.9 versus Groza at 92.4, a margin of 2.5 points.Groza vs Baugh· Groza ranks higher at 92.4 versus Baugh at 92.3, a margin of 0.1 points.Baugh vs Graham· Baugh ranks higher at 92.3 versus Graham at 92.0, a margin of 0.3 points.Graham vs Matthews· Graham ranks higher at 92.0 versus Matthews at 92.0, a margin of 0.0 points.

How the American Football ranking works

Every athlete is scored on five verified components — Dominance (25%), Peak (20%), Longevity (20%), Honours (20%) and Statistics (15%) — normalised against the full American Football reference cohort rather than a shortlist. A record only receives a published score once it is editorially verified and complete: a season-by-season series, at least three career metrics, documented honours and independent sources. Read the full methodology.

American Football GOAT — frequently asked

Who is the greatest American Football Athlete of all time?: Tom Brady leads American Football with a verified GOAT Score of 97.2/100.
How is the American Football GOAT ranking calculated?: Five verified categories are weighted against 2779 reference records. Only eligible profiles receive a score.
How many American Football players are ranked?: 373 eligible American Football athletes currently have a published GOAT Score, from 2779 reference records.