# The 46 Best NFL Players of the 1980s

> Quarterbacks who rewrote the record book share space with linemen and defensive backs the highlight reels mostly skipped. Rank the decade of Air Coryell, the Hogs and the '85 Bears defense.

*By YPB Team · Published November 5, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-46-best-nfl-players-of-the-1980s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Joe Montana** — score 1000/1000
   San Francisco 49ers quarterback who won Super Bowls after the 1981, 1984, 1988 and 1989 seasons and was named NFL MVP in 1989.
2. **Joe Klecko** — score 926/1000
   New York Jets lineman credited with 20.5 sacks in 1981 who made Pro Bowls at defensive end, tackle and nose tackle.
3. **Jack Lambert** — score 889/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker who made the Pro Bowl every year from 1980 to 1983 and was named to the 1980s All-Decade second team.
4. **Andre Tippett** — score 833/1000
   New England Patriots outside linebacker who recorded 18.5 sacks in 1984 and 16.5 in 1985.
5. **Mike Singletary** — score 802/1000
   Chicago Bears middle linebacker who was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988.
6. **Joe Theismann** — score 778/1000
   Washington quarterback who won Super Bowl XVII after the 1982 season and was named NFL MVP in 1983.
7. **Lawrence Taylor** — score 751/1000
   New York Giants outside linebacker who won the 1986 NFL MVP award with 20.5 sacks and then won Super Bowl XXI.
8. **Jerry Rice** — score 751/1000
   San Francisco 49ers receiver drafted in 1985 who caught 22 touchdown passes in the 12-game 1987 season and was MVP of Super Bowl XXIII.
9. **Dan Fouts** — score 751/1000
   San Diego Chargers quarterback in the Air Coryell offense who led the NFL in passing yards each season from 1979 through 1982.
10. **John Elway** — score 694/1000
   Denver Broncos quarterback, the first overall pick of 1983, who won the 1987 NFL MVP award and started three Super Bowls in the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons.
11. **Steve Largent** — score 694/1000
   Seattle Seahawks receiver who retired in 1989 holding NFL career records for receptions (819) and touchdown catches (100).
12. **Mike Haynes** — score 694/1000
   Cornerback traded from New England to the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983 who won Super Bowl XVIII that season and was a first-team 1980s All-Decade pick.
13. **Morten Andersen** — score 629/1000
   Danish-born New Orleans Saints kicker who made four straight Pro Bowls from 1985 to 1988 and was the first-team 1980s All-Decade kicker.
14. **Dwight Stephenson** — score 629/1000
   Miami Dolphins center who made five straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1987 and won the 1985 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
15. **Eric Dickerson** — score 629/1000
   Los Angeles Rams running back who set the NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984.
16. **Tony Dorsett** — score 629/1000
   Dallas Cowboys running back who ran for 1,646 yards in 1981 and scored on a record 99-yard run against Minnesota in January 1983.
17. **Bruce Smith** — score 629/1000
   Buffalo Bills defensive end, first overall pick in 1985, who made the Pro Bowl in 1987, 1988 and 1989.
18. **Anthony Muñoz** — score 555/1000
   Cincinnati Bengals left tackle selected to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981 to 1991 and named to the 1980s All-Decade Team.
19. **Dan Hampton** — score 555/1000
   Chicago Bears defensive lineman who started on the 1985 defense that won Super Bowl XX and entered the Hall of Fame in 2002.
20. **Ted Hendricks** — score 555/1000
   Outside linebacker who won Super Bowls XV and XVIII with the Raiders and was a first-team 1980s All-Decade pick.
21. **James Lofton** — score 555/1000
   Receiver named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team who made seven Pro Bowls with the Green Bay Packers before stints with the Raiders and Bills.
22. **Deron Cherry** — score 555/1000
   Undrafted Kansas City Chiefs safety who made six straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1988 and once intercepted four passes in a 1985 game.
23. **Mike Munchak** — score 555/1000
   Houston Oilers guard drafted in 1982 who made nine Pro Bowls and was named to the 1980s All-Decade second team.
24. **Russ Grimm** — score 470/1000
   Guard in Washington's Hogs offensive line who made four straight Pro Bowls from 1983 to 1986 and was a first-team 1980s All-Decade pick.
25. **Dan Marino** — score 470/1000
   Miami Dolphins quarterback who threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in 1984, his second season, and won that year's NFL MVP award.
26. **Kellen Winslow** — score 470/1000
   San Diego Chargers tight end who led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981 and caught 13 passes in the January 1982 playoff win at Miami.
27. **Randy White** — score 470/1000
   Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle who was selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls from 1977 to 1985.
28. **Earl Campbell** — score 470/1000
   Houston Oilers running back who rushed for 1,934 yards in 1980 to win his third straight NFL rushing title.
29. **Art Monk** — score 470/1000
   Washington receiver who set an NFL single-season record with 106 catches in 1984.
30. **Harry Carson** — score 470/1000
   New York Giants middle linebacker with nine Pro Bowl selections who won Super Bowl XXI after the 1986 season.
31. **Howie Long** — score 470/1000
   Raiders defensive end who won Super Bowl XVIII and made eight Pro Bowls between 1983 and 1993.
32. **Ken Anderson** — score 370/1000
   Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who won the 1981 NFL MVP award and led the team to Super Bowl XVI.
33. **Reggie White** — score 370/1000
   Philadelphia Eagles defensive end who recorded 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987 and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
34. **Ronnie Lott** — score 370/1000
   San Francisco 49ers defensive back who won four Super Bowls in the 1981–1989 seasons and led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1986.
35. **Phil Simms** — score 370/1000
   New York Giants quarterback who completed 22 of 25 passes as MVP of Super Bowl XXI after the 1986 season.
36. **Richard Dent** — score 370/1000
   Chicago Bears defensive end who had 17 sacks in 1985 and was named MVP of Super Bowl XX.
37. **John Hannah** — score 370/1000
   New England Patriots guard who made the Pro Bowl in each of his six 1980s seasons and played in Super Bowl XX before retiring.
38. **Ozzie Newsome** — score 370/1000
   Cleveland Browns tight end who caught 89 passes in both 1983 and 1984 and retired in 1990 with 662 career receptions.
39. **Mel Blount** — score 252/1000
   Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback who made his fifth Pro Bowl in 1981, retired after 1983 and was a first-team 1980s All-Decade pick.
40. **John Riggins** — score 252/1000
   Washington fullback who rushed for 166 yards as MVP of Super Bowl XVII and scored 24 rushing touchdowns in 1983.
41. **Roger Craig** — score 252/1000
   San Francisco 49ers running back who in 1985 became the first player with 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
42. **Boomer Esiason** — score 0/1000
   Left-handed Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who won the 1988 NFL MVP award and started Super Bowl XXIII.
43. **Kenny Easley** — score 0/1000
   Seattle Seahawks strong safety who intercepted 10 passes in 1984 and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
44. **Walter Payton** — score 0/1000
   Chicago Bears running back who passed Jim Brown as the NFL's career rushing leader in 1984 and won Super Bowl XX the following season.
45. **Marcus Allen** — score 0/1000
   Los Angeles Raiders running back who was MVP of Super Bowl XVIII and won the 1985 NFL MVP award with 2,314 yards from scrimmage.
46. **Jimbo Covert** — score 0/1000
   Chicago Bears left tackle drafted in 1983 who protected the backfield of the Super Bowl XX champions and was a first-team 1980s All-Decade pick.

Tags: 80s, american-football, players, nfl, legends