The 35 Greatest NFL Players Born in the 1950s

Steel Curtain enforcers, West Coast passers and the linemen who protected or hunted them, all born inside the same ten-year window.

1. 1
   Joe Montana

   Quarterback born in 1956 who won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and was Super Bowl MVP three times.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Lawrence Taylor

   New York Giants linebacker born in 1959 who was the 1986 NFL MVP and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
   896pts
3. 3
   Andre Tippett

   New England Patriots linebacker born in 1959 who recorded 35 sacks across 1984 and 1985 and made five Pro Bowls.
   845pts
4. 4
   Mike Singletary

   Chicago Bears middle linebacker born in 1958 who was twice named Defensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowl XX.
   716pts
5. 5
   Kenny Easley

   Seattle Seahawks safety born in 1959 who was the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year.
   678pts
6. 6
   John Hannah

   Guard born in 1951 who played 13 seasons for the New England Patriots, made nine Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
   586pts
7. 7
   Ozzie Newsome

   Cleveland Browns tight end born in 1956 who retired in 1990 with 662 receptions, then a record for the position.
   532pts
8. 8
   Earl Campbell

   Houston Oilers running back born in 1955 who led the NFL in rushing in each of his first three seasons, 1978 to 1980.
   532pts
9. 9
   Joe Jacoby

   Undrafted Washington left tackle born in 1959 who made four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls.
   532pts
10. 10
    Randy White

    Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle born in 1953 who was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII and made nine Pro Bowls.
    532pts
11. 11
    Anthony Muñoz

    Cincinnati Bengals left tackle born in 1958 who made 11 Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 1998.
    469pts
12. 12
    Ottis Anderson

    Running back born in 1957 who rushed for 1,605 yards as a 1979 Cardinals rookie and was MVP of Super Bowl XXV with the Giants.
    469pts
13. 13
    Art Monk

    Washington wide receiver born in 1957 who won three Super Bowls and set a single-season record with 106 catches in 1984.
    469pts
14. 14
    Ronnie Lott

    Defensive back born in 1959 who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and made ten Pro Bowls.
    469pts
15. 15
    Steve Largent

    Wide receiver born in 1954 who spent his 14-season career with the Seattle Seahawks and retired holding the NFL records for career receptions and receiving yards.
    469pts
16. 16
    Tony Dorsett

    Dallas Cowboys running back born in 1954 who won Super Bowl XII as a rookie and ran a record 99-yard touchdown in 1983.
    469pts
17. 17
    Billy Sims

    Detroit Lions running back born in 1955, the 1978 Heisman winner and 1980 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
    397pts
18. 18
    Warren Moon

    Quarterback born in 1956 who won five Grey Cups in the CFL before passing for 49,325 yards in the NFL.
    397pts
19. 19
    Walter Payton

    Running back born in 1953 who played 13 seasons for the Chicago Bears, retired as the NFL's career rushing leader with 16,726 yards and won Super Bowl XX.
    397pts
20. 20
    Steve McMichael

    Chicago Bears defensive tackle born in 1957 who won Super Bowl XX and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024.
    397pts
21. 21
    Phil Simms

    New York Giants quarterback born in 1955 who completed 22 of 25 passes as MVP of Super Bowl XXI.
    313pts
22. 22
    Mike Webster

    Pittsburgh Steelers center born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and made nine Pro Bowls.
    313pts
23. 23
    Dan Hampton

    Chicago Bears defensive lineman born in 1957 who anchored the Super Bowl XX defense and made four Pro Bowls.
    313pts
24. 24
    James Lofton

    Wide receiver born in 1956 who made eight Pro Bowls, mostly with the Green Bay Packers, and retired as the NFL leader in receiving yards.
    313pts
25. 25
    Harry Carson

    New York Giants linebacker born in 1953 who made nine Pro Bowls and captained the Super Bowl XXI champions.
    313pts
26. 26
    Jack Lambert

    Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and was the 1976 Defensive Player of the Year.
    213pts
27. 27
    Lynn Swann

    Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and was MVP of Super Bowl X.
    213pts
28. 28
    Doug Williams

    Quarterback born in 1955 who was MVP of Super Bowl XXII with Washington, the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.
    213pts
29. 29
    John Stallworth

    Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and caught touchdowns in Super Bowls XIII and XIV.
    213pts
30. 30
    Russ Grimm

    Washington guard born in 1959, a member of the Hogs line who won three Super Bowls.
    213pts
31. 31
    Franco Harris

    Pittsburgh Steelers running back born in 1950, scorer of the Immaculate Reception and MVP of Super Bowl IX.
    213pts
32. 32
    Joe Klecko

    New York Jets defensive lineman born in 1953 who made Pro Bowls at end, tackle and nose tackle.
    213pts
33. 33
    Chuck Foreman

    Minnesota Vikings running back born in 1950 who made five Pro Bowls and played in three Super Bowls.
    213pts
34. 34
    Dan Fouts

    San Diego Chargers quarterback born in 1951 who led the NFL in passing yards four straight seasons, 1979 to 1982.
    0pts
35. 35
    Cris Collinsworth

    Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver born in 1959 who made three Pro Bowls and played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII.
    0pts

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