# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published November 12, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-35-greatest-nfl-players-born-in-the-1950s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Joe Montana** — score 1000/1000
   Quarterback born in 1956 who won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and was Super Bowl MVP three times.
2. **Lawrence Taylor** — score 896/1000
   New York Giants linebacker born in 1959 who was the 1986 NFL MVP and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
3. **Andre Tippett** — score 845/1000
   New England Patriots linebacker born in 1959 who recorded 35 sacks across 1984 and 1985 and made five Pro Bowls.
4. **Mike Singletary** — score 716/1000
   Chicago Bears middle linebacker born in 1958 who was twice named Defensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowl XX.
5. **Kenny Easley** — score 678/1000
   Seattle Seahawks safety born in 1959 who was the 1984 Defensive Player of the Year.
6. **John Hannah** — score 586/1000
   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.
7. **Ozzie Newsome** — score 532/1000
   Cleveland Browns tight end born in 1956 who retired in 1990 with 662 receptions, then a record for the position.
8. **Earl Campbell** — score 532/1000
   Houston Oilers running back born in 1955 who led the NFL in rushing in each of his first three seasons, 1978 to 1980.
9. **Joe Jacoby** — score 532/1000
   Undrafted Washington left tackle born in 1959 who made four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls.
10. **Randy White** — score 532/1000
   Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle born in 1953 who was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII and made nine Pro Bowls.
11. **Anthony Muñoz** — score 469/1000
   Cincinnati Bengals left tackle born in 1958 who made 11 Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 1998.
12. **Ottis Anderson** — score 469/1000
   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.
13. **Art Monk** — score 469/1000
   Washington wide receiver born in 1957 who won three Super Bowls and set a single-season record with 106 catches in 1984.
14. **Ronnie Lott** — score 469/1000
   Defensive back born in 1959 who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and made ten Pro Bowls.
15. **Steve Largent** — score 469/1000
   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.
16. **Tony Dorsett** — score 469/1000
   Dallas Cowboys running back born in 1954 who won Super Bowl XII as a rookie and ran a record 99-yard touchdown in 1983.
17. **Billy Sims** — score 397/1000
   Detroit Lions running back born in 1955, the 1978 Heisman winner and 1980 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
18. **Warren Moon** — score 397/1000
   Quarterback born in 1956 who won five Grey Cups in the CFL before passing for 49,325 yards in the NFL.
19. **Walter Payton** — score 397/1000
   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.
20. **Steve McMichael** — score 397/1000
   Chicago Bears defensive tackle born in 1957 who won Super Bowl XX and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024.
21. **Phil Simms** — score 313/1000
   New York Giants quarterback born in 1955 who completed 22 of 25 passes as MVP of Super Bowl XXI.
22. **Mike Webster** — score 313/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers center born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and made nine Pro Bowls.
23. **Dan Hampton** — score 313/1000
   Chicago Bears defensive lineman born in 1957 who anchored the Super Bowl XX defense and made four Pro Bowls.
24. **James Lofton** — score 313/1000
   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.
25. **Harry Carson** — score 313/1000
   New York Giants linebacker born in 1953 who made nine Pro Bowls and captained the Super Bowl XXI champions.
26. **Jack Lambert** — score 213/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and was the 1976 Defensive Player of the Year.
27. **Lynn Swann** — score 213/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and was MVP of Super Bowl X.
28. **Doug Williams** — score 213/1000
   Quarterback born in 1955 who was MVP of Super Bowl XXII with Washington, the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.
29. **John Stallworth** — score 213/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver born in 1952 who won four Super Bowls and caught touchdowns in Super Bowls XIII and XIV.
30. **Russ Grimm** — score 213/1000
   Washington guard born in 1959, a member of the Hogs line who won three Super Bowls.
31. **Franco Harris** — score 213/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers running back born in 1950, scorer of the Immaculate Reception and MVP of Super Bowl IX.
32. **Joe Klecko** — score 213/1000
   New York Jets defensive lineman born in 1953 who made Pro Bowls at end, tackle and nose tackle.
33. **Chuck Foreman** — score 213/1000
   Minnesota Vikings running back born in 1950 who made five Pro Bowls and played in three Super Bowls.
34. **Dan Fouts** — score 0/1000
   San Diego Chargers quarterback born in 1951 who led the NFL in passing yards four straight seasons, 1979 to 1982.
35. **Cris Collinsworth** — score 0/1000
   Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver born in 1959 who made three Pro Bowls and played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII.

Tags: sports, american-football, players, nfl, 50s