His 2,690 all-purpose yards with the Titans in the 2000 season are second in league history. Naturally, it also guarantees that some of the best players in the country get overshadowed and forgotten in the sport's warp-speed news cycle. Hmmm. This past offseason, Juszczyk signed a five-year $27M contract to return to the 49ers, making him the highest-paid fullback in football by a wide margin. He rose to Pro Bowl status playing left tackle for a single-back, Joe Gibbs-style 1980s offense. Mills followed Mora to New Orleans and led the Dome Patrol linebacking corps, which brought the Saints franchise its first playoff appearances. Schlereth started in three Super Bowls with the Redskins and Broncos, all of them victories. Dont let the numbers fool you Morgan wasnt a one-trick racehorse. He is also infamous for admitting on ESPN Radio that he once purposely let Packers defender Sean Jones sack Scott Mitchell so the struggling quarterback would get knocked out of a game. He played the run with authority (721 career solo tackles). You know the type. While the 2021 season is still early, Johnson looks to have cleaned up some issues with drops that hindered his 2020 performance and is perhaps the only thing stopping him from gaining more notoriety. Teams kept doing something special to get their hands on Hadl. If Mel Blount, Mike Haynes and teammate Lemar Parrish hadnt been in the same conference, Riley would have made more a few more Pro Bowl trips. With his career spread evenly across three teams and zero All-Pro selections (a consequence of playing in the same era as Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher), Fletcher is a Hall of Fame long shot. He played in the run-'n'-shoot offense, which means he was on an island against the NFL's best pass-rushers on every snap for a half-decadeno tight end flanking him, no blocking back behind him. Six All-Pro selections. Waller upped his game in 2020 and hauled in 107 passes and nine touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. An undrafted quarterback out of the late Milton College (Wisconsin), Krieg got them to the postseason four times and the AFC championship game once. McLaurin registered 87 catches in 2020 after 58 during his rookie season in 2019. It didnt help that he had ordinary quarterbacks named Tony Eason and Steve Grogan to throw him the ball. Addiction soon began consuming Smith's career, and then his life. One of the greatest defenders of his era reduced to stuntman status in Campbell's action movieall it takes is a moment to make a player underrated forever. The AFL was an eight- to 10-team league, so All-Pro selections were easier to come by. The linebacker ranks 17th in career solo tackles (1,130) and is the only player to be part of three consecutive Super Bowl champions. It takes more than mere greatness to be considered one of the most underrated players in pro football history. C'mon, who doesn't love Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert? But three of his best seasons are not listed in the encyclopedias. Antoine Griezmann is known for his excellent left foot and can score and create goals with it; hence, he is one of the best left-footed midfielders. But he didn't play for the legendary 49ers teams. With that in mind, NFL The career active leader in games started by a defensive lineman is Julius Peppers with 227. He's the Rams' all-time leading rusher with almost 3,000 more yards for the franchise than Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. Truth is, Norton should have been Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player, not Troy Aikman, who was the obligatory quarterback pick. 1 overall pick, NFL coverage map 2021: TV schedule Week 16, Seattle Seahawks: 3 players who wont be back in 2022. He also doesn't play in the shadow of a legend. Yet somehow, some way, Kolb never received a Pro Bowl invitation. The most underrated player on all 32 NFL teams Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs with the ball while being tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters (24) in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. The Bills were among the first teams to frequently operate without a huddle. By the time Rivers is retired for five years, the "San Diego Chargers" will be as relevant as the Dayton Triangles, and Hall voters will be too busy rubber-stamping Tom Brady and Drew Brees to get to a guy from a lost city who couldn't win the big one. Young played for some great 49ers teams, including a Super Bowl-winning squad as a rookie in 1994. Bowman is coming off an Achilles tear in 2016. Neal Anderson replaced Walter Payton. Dunn left Tampa Bay as a free agent after the 2001 season and headed to Atlanta, largely because of his relationship with Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner. Bottom line: All Ken Norton could do was take down ballcarriers and collect Super Bowl rings. The Lions drafted him as a running back. ", Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Pro Bowl appearances (AFL All-Star Game): Two (1965, 1967). Web#shortsucl#bayernmunich #bayern #barcelona#football#footballedit#footballedits#footballshirts#soccer#socceredit#socceredits#soccershorts Jerry Hughes has been a consistent pass rusher and important piece to the Buffalo Bills defense. Anderson was not Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears could never approach the heights reached by the 1985 Bears. It's better to be remembered for one of the most painful moments in your career than to not be remembered at all. Steve Atwater. Anderson's 1,000-yard seasons came in a primitive offense with a rudimentary passing game. Terry McLaurin has played through one of the more unstable quarterback situations in football with Washington since entering the league but continues to emerge as one of the top wideouts in football. Teams: Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1986, 1987, 1992), Super Bowl championships: Two (1985, 1991). He had the speed to get to the edge and beat defenders down the sideline, the power to plow through tackles, the elusiveness to make things happen in the open field and receiving chops to rival contemporaries Roger Craig or Thurman Thomas. The Hall of Fame eluded Ellard for several reasons: comparisons to Rice, the Rams' move to St. Louis (it takes hometown writers and buzz to mount a campaign) and those five early seasons in a ground-and-pound offense. If the soft-spoken scatback had been in the right place at the right time, he would have filled his one nagging void a Super Bowl title and the exposure that accompanied it. Taylor Moton has quietly emerged as a dominant presence at right tackle for the Panthers. But few cornerbacks spent more of their careers in the crosshairs than Allen. The Over-the-Hill Gang fielded one of the most ferocious pass rushes of its era, notching 53 sacks in 1973. Seven times, he surpassed 1,000 yards on pass receptions, most of them on slants and corner routes. Even pesky third-down backs and gritty fullbacks may seem underrated until you realize how many of them become local heroes. Cooke is the most underrated player in the sport, performing mostly in the wonderful but considerable shadows of Boston, Staleys grand personality and all the noise at Colonial Life Arena. Bottom line: The Greatest Show On Turf boasted so much star power you couldnt tell the other Rams without a program. Teams: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Pro Bowl appearances: Three (1984, 1988, 1989). Feyenoord v VVV Venlo - Eredivisie. In addition to the most underrated and overrated Raiders of all time, Adam Rank goes on a mini-tirade about a criminally underrated coach. During his first four seasons, three with the Ravens and one in Oakland, Waller caught just 18 passes on 29 targets while also being suspended all of 2017. Randy Gradishar. Frank Ryan led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice. I still don't know that people gave me my due respect for my production. "It pissed me off," Fletcher replied. WebLet's face it: An entire All-Underrated Team can be assembled using only Broncos defenders. The correct answer is Player A (Ken Stabler), and if youre Player B (Brodie), you have to wonder if one Super Bowl should make that much difference. He once sacked Dan Marino twice on the first two plays of a gamea remarkable achievement, as Marino was one of the least sacked quarterbacks in NFL history. Jones has also recorded at least 100 tackles every year since entering the league with the exception of 2018 when he played in only 6 games. He should be remembered as more than a throwback to the era when Lawrence Welk references were topical. When the team inducted Smith into the Pride of the Jaguars ring of honor last year, it was the strange case of a moribund franchise honoring a former receiver still on parole for succumbing to the demons of addiction. Maybe Rivers takes his place among the all-time greats. Quarterback is the most important position in organized football and maybe in all of sports, so it should be no surprise that men who play QB dominate the top spots of this list. Thats what Krieg did best win football games. There are a ton of names in the conversation for best offensive linemen of all time, but Dierdorf His teams averaged 392.0 yards and 34.0 points in those games. His franchises just kept ending up on the wrong side of history. Karl Mecklenburg. Moton has also committed just 10 penalties in over 50 career starts, an average of less than one penalty every five games. The trade went how you might expect a lopsided midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go. Johnson can line up all over the field and consistently find space in the opposing defense. By being overshadowed by Brown, achieving his greatest success just before the dawn of the Super Bowl era and getting stuck behind the Tom Brady and Peyton Manning of your grandfather's generation, Ryan earned the title of the NFL's All-Time Most Underrated Player. It's not that Ellard, an Olympic-caliber triple-jumper with 4.4 speed, didn't know what he was doing. Brett Favre may be the player most responsible for bringing spectacle and success back to Titletown, but Butler brought back celebration. The guy should demand a recount, I tell ya. You mean future Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace didnt block four guys all by himself? Mostly Schlereth and sidekick Tom Nalen, who were masters of zone-blocking schemes, a major reason why Davis is in the Hall of Fame today. But outside of Wisconsin, his accomplishments were mostly forgotten shortly after his career ended in 2001. NaVorro Bowman trade rumors surfaced in early spring, only to be quickly squelched by new 49ers general manager John Lynch. Coaches rave about his work off the field and his dedication to improving his craft. Anderson went on to duel with Walsh and Montana's 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. That made Hull one of the first centers to make line adjustments on the fly. As a 31-year-old, no less. WebBUY OUR MERCH: https://www.thegivengo.com/merchTIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegivengoSPOTIFY: WebTop 20 Most Underrated NFL Players of All Time 20 Drew Brees. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he didnt wow anyone physically. But run defense was king in the era when McDole played, and his 16-year career is littered with big plays: 12 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, three safeties and a pair of sacks in the 1966 AFL Championship Game. Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Bottom line: Fred Taylor once tweeted, "I earned respect on the field. Ronald Koeman is a bonafide legend of Dutch football. We could just trudge onward to the next player right now. Jackson probably helped you win a fantasy title or two, but he would be remembered for so much more if he wasn't always on the wrong team at the wrong time. Super Bowl championships: Four (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989). WebWhile every fan base is sure to have two or three names they feel are undervalued and worthy of this list, here are my current top ten underrated players in the NFL. He is now stuck in a rebuilding cycle that may take a few years. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. That's where the politics of Hall voting come in. The Niners' willingness to spend big money on a long-term deal at fullback demonstrates the value and unique skill set Juszczyk provides. Super Bowl championships: 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979. Bottom line: For 16 seasons, Henry Ellard wreaked havoc as a pass receiver and punt returner. Mike Kenn began his career playing left tackle for a lumbering 1970s power-running offense. He then led three fourth-quarter comebacks to bring them back to the playoffs in 1965. Is Jalen Hurts the Future of the Philadelphia Eagles? Whether they were disrespected by the media, or scrappy fan-favorites, every NFL team has had a selection of players that didnt get the attention they deserved. #5. If Anderson had failed, the 49ers may never have lured Walsh away from the Bengals staff. That's not something to hold against a player. Kenn was one of the leaders of the NFL Players Association during the era of replacement players and court battles over free agency. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Sanders was an extremely Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos Date of birth: March 21, 1989 Age: 33 years old (as of 2023) Place of birth: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain Height: 1.70 m Current team: But don't write him off as some 1960s product of the system. The converted all-purpose athlete became one of the fathers of modern quarterbacking. New England Patriots wide receiver Stanley Morgan, right, battles for After making the Pro Bowl twice early in his career, David has failed to make it since 2015 while still playing at a high level. Man Utd's double winning Then it was off to Carolina, where he earned an All-Pro selection for leading the Panthers to the NFC Championship Game as a second-year expansion team during his age-37 season. Saleh has compared Franklin-Myers to Arik Armstead, whom he coached in SF while registering 10 sacks in 2019. Craters so big that you could drive a semi through them. Meet every NFL team's all-time most underrated player. He didnt just take up space, either. He had 44 career sacks and as many as eight in a season on two occasions. The Packers were a team with more history than identity when Butler arrived. Modern centers don't get the credit they deserve. Old-timers call it the Lawrence Welk trade after a television bandleader of the era who would begin songs by counting off "A one, and a two, and a three". Moton started all 16 games each of the last four years, gradually improving and joining the conversation of best right tackles in football. "I dont get it. And then there is plain old forgotten. Who knows what the NFL might have looked like then? Starting in at least 13 games every year since entering the league in 2012, David has finished just one season with less than 100 tackles. Mills looks like just another local hero linebacker in the encyclopedias, albeit a good one. Krieg was a career overachiever who survived 19 seasons on modest talent with defense-driven teams. He isn't the dynamic threat thatTyreek Hill orDavante Adams are, but Allen is an elite route runner that consistently puts up elite production. It's Bryant Young, whorecorded 89.5 sacks for the 49ers, 23 more than Haley. "When I was there, the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach brought that in.". Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images. Teams: Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Super Bowl championships: Three (1991, 1997, 1998). Numbers better than majority of RBs in history. In Super Bowl IX, Edwards killed a drive and darn near Vikings intended receiver John Gilliam on a hellacious hit near the goal line. Since 2013, Jones has registered six double-digit sack seasons including a 17 sack season in 2017 that led the NFL, and a career-high of 19 in 2019. WebDeion Sanders: Deion Sanders is one of the most underrated players of all time. Far from it. Bottom line: The 49ers of the 1980s are remembered most for Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, coach Bill Walsh and the West Coast offense. The 49ers drafted linebacker Reuben Foster at the bottom of the first round. Bates is a ball-hawking safety in coverage with excellent range, intelligence, and athleticism. That may tick him off. Steve Atwater. And he played in one stinking Pro Bowl game. He picked off a dozen passes in his career two of them at 38 years of age an absurd number for a 6-foot-4, 265-pound lineman. A Super Bowl ring and two AFL championships. Dave Meggett -- RB, 1989-1994. A mauler of a right guard, Timmerman also was agile enough to escort Marshall Faulk on screens and sweeps. Ryan would blitz between five and eight defenders, plus some water boys and maybe a few boo birds from the 700 level of Veterans Stadium. He once threw three touchdowns in a shutout victory in a title game. The admission probably slams the door of the Hall of Fame on Brown forever. Oh, and sub-packages were pretty rare in the 1960s and 1970s, so Marshall didn't leave the field much. In his prime, Wright was often mentioned in the same breath as Hall of Famers Mel Blount and Mike Haynes. By the time the 49ers are great again, Bowman may be in his early 30s or on another team. Other than Steve Largent and Kurt Warner, Pro Bowlers were harder to find in the Seahawks offense than a haystack in the Space Needle. In their two Super Bowl seasons that followed, Young was a virtual nonfactor in the matchup. TGT Tips! Anchoring defenses with catchy names like the "Orange Crush?" Ryan needed surgery and was in constant pain for the rest of his career. There are over 120 teams that compete in the FBS, which means that storylines and hidden superstars abound. He led the Bengals to a pair of playoff appearances in 1973 and 1975, Joe Montana's high school senior and Notre Dame sophomore seasons. Playing in Detroit can stifle any career. The best teams in the AFL proved to be NFL-caliber, but the bottom of the league was populated with a nearly bankrupt franchise or two, so the best players clumped on the best teams and stood out from the crowd. He played for teams that were more interesting than outstanding, from the Ryan and Rich Kotite-era Eagles to the Jim Mora and Mike Ditka Saints to Jon Gruden's Raiders. 1. WebWhile positional drills may be more indicative of a player's success in the NFL, other events like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press are less obvious. His .588 win percentage ranks second to Wilson in team history. Ellard was an Antonio Brown-level talent in his prime, but his teams were in no hurry to get him the ball. So it takes a remarkable streak of hard luck for a running back to make this list. The Hall of Fame has turned up its nose on all of them. Jackson finished his career with 11,438 rushing yards (18th all-time) and 15,121 total scrimmage yards (21st all-time). It was the era of great defensive lines with catchy namesthe Rams had the Fearsome Foursome, the Cowboys the Doomsday Defense, the Steelers later added the Steel Curtain, and so forthand Marshall was the Ringo Starr of the Purple People Eaters, the guy who once ran the wrong way for a touchdown and was happy just to be in the band. While Graham's sack numbers have never hit double digits, he remains a complete player and Super Bowl champion. Those accomplishments may soon finally land Kenn in the Hall of Fame. He arrived in Buffalo at the same time Marv Levy was revolutionizing NFL offense with the help of Jim Kelly, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. "No one was going to catch no ball.". Where did Davis score the game-winner late in Super Bowl XXXII? Actually, theres a simple explanation. There's underrated, underappreciated and overlooked. Both players were Pro Bowlers the previous year. Fleming was a reliable backup tight end/wide receiver who played with four Super Bowl-winners (and one NFL champion) in a dozen seasons. Perhaps Hull would be in the Hall of Fame if the Bills had won even one Super Bowl. Mason had seven seasons of at least 70 pass receptions, 1,000 yards and five touchdowns. Edouard Mendy of Chelsea celebrates after his sides victory in the Premier League match 2. He accounted for all his teams points in a 15-13 white-knuckler that wrecked the 49ers three-peat bid and sent the Giants to Super Bowl XXV. Photo by JOHN CAPUTO/AFP via Getty Images, ST. LOUIS, MO CIRCA 1980: Ed Jones #72 of the Dallas Cowboys gets blocked by Dan Dierdorf #72 of the St. Louis Cardinals during an NFL football game circa 1980 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.