The 60 Greatest NFL Players Born in the 1980s

By YPB TeamNov 10

Quarterbacks with rings meet left tackles with iron-man streaks and a return man who still holds an NFL record, all born within the same ten years.

1
Aaron Rodgers
Born in 1983, the Green Bay quarterback won four MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021) and was Super Bowl XLV MVP.
1000pts
2
Adrian Peterson
Born in 1985, the Minnesota running back rushed for 2,097 yards in 2012 and was named NFL MVP.
855pts
3
Richard Sherman
Born in 1988, the Seattle cornerback led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2013 and won Super Bowl XLVIII.
721pts
4
Earl Thomas
Born in 1989, the Seattle free safety won Super Bowl XLVIII and was first-team All-Pro three years running (2012–2014).
689pts
5
Cam Newton
Born in 1989, Carolina's first overall pick in 2011 was Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and NFL MVP in 2015.
674pts
6
Anquan Boldin
Born in 1980, he was 2003 Offensive Rookie of the Year with Arizona and won Super Bowl XLVII with Baltimore.
653pts
7
Wes Welker
Born in 1981, the undrafted slot receiver led the NFL in receptions three times with New England (2007, 2009, 2011).
653pts
8
Kam Chancellor
Born in 1988, the strong safety anchored Seattle's 'Legion of Boom' secondary and won Super Bowl XLVIII.
631pts
9
Marshawn Lynch
Born in 1986, he scored on the 'Beast Quake' touchdown run in the January 2011 playoffs and won Super Bowl XLVIII with Seattle.
614pts
10
Devin Hester
Born in 1982, he returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown and holds the NFL record of 20 return touchdowns.
614pts
11
Frank Gore
Born in 1983, he retired with 16,000 rushing yards, third in NFL history, after 16 seasons.
570pts
12
Julio Jones
Born in 1989, the Atlanta receiver led the NFL in receiving yards in 2015 and 2018.
570pts
13
Logan Mankins
Born in 1982, the guard made seven Pro Bowls, six with New England and one with Tampa Bay.
521pts
14
Rob Gronkowski
Born in 1989, the tight end won four Super Bowls (XLIX, LI, LIII, LV) and caught 17 touchdown passes in 2011.
521pts
15
Troy Polamalu
Born in 1981, the Pittsburgh safety was 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, won two Super Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 2020.
521pts
16
Travis Kelce
Born in 1989, the Kansas City tight end won Super Bowls LIV, LVII and LVIII and had seven straight 1,000-yard seasons (2016–2022).
521pts
17
Trent Williams
Born in 1988, Washington's fourth overall pick in 2010 later became a first-team All-Pro left tackle with San Francisco.
521pts
18
Nick Mangold
Born in 1984, he was the New York Jets' center from 2006 to 2016 and made seven Pro Bowls.
521pts
19
Terrell Suggs
Born in 1982, the Baltimore pass rusher was 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowls XLVII and LIV.
521pts
20
Julius Peppers
Born in 1980, he retired with 159.5 sacks, fourth in NFL history, and entered the Hall of Fame in 2024.
521pts
21
Charles Tillman
Born in 1981, the Chicago cornerback known for the 'Peanut Punch' forced 10 fumbles in 2012 and won the 2013 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
521pts
22
J. J. Watt
Born in 1989, the Houston defensive end was Defensive Player of the Year three times (2012, 2014, 2015).
521pts
23
Jared Allen
Born in 1982, he led the NFL in sacks in 2007 and 2011 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2025.
466pts
24
Geno Atkins
Born in 1988, the Cincinnati defensive tackle made eight Pro Bowls.
466pts
25
Larry Fitzgerald
Born in 1983, he spent 17 seasons with Arizona and retired second in NFL history in receptions and receiving yards.
466pts
26
Marshal Yanda
Born in 1984, the Baltimore guard won Super Bowl XLVII and made eight Pro Bowls.
466pts
27
Dwight Freeney
Born in 1980, he led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2004, won Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis and entered the Hall of Fame in 2024.
466pts
28
Matthew Stafford
Born in 1988, he was the first overall pick by Detroit in 2009 and won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams.
466pts
29
Jamaal Charles
Born in 1986, the Kansas City running back led the NFL with 19 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2013.
466pts
30
Calvin Johnson
Born in 1985, the Detroit receiver set the NFL single-season record with 1,964 receiving yards in 2012.
404pts
31
Calais Campbell
Born in 1986, he had 14.5 sacks for Jacksonville in 2017 and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019.
404pts
32
Eli Manning
Born in 1981 and taken first overall in 2004, he was Super Bowl MVP in the Giants' wins in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
404pts
33
Clay Matthews III
Born in 1986, the linebacker won Super Bowl XLV and is Green Bay's career sack leader.
404pts
34
Jason Witten
Born in 1982, the Dallas tight end made 11 Pro Bowls and won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2012.
404pts
35
DeMarcus Ware
Born in 1982, he led the NFL in sacks with Dallas in 2008 and 2010, won Super Bowl 50 with Denver and entered the Hall of Fame in 2023.
404pts
36
Matt Ryan
Born in 1985, the Atlanta quarterback was 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year and 2016 NFL MVP.
404pts
37
Antonio Gates
Born in 1980, the former college basketball player went undrafted and caught 116 touchdown passes for the Chargers, the most by a tight end.
404pts
38
Thomas Davis
Born in 1983, the Carolina linebacker came back from three torn ACLs and won the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
404pts
39
Lance Briggs
Born in 1980, the Chicago linebacker made seven straight Pro Bowls from 2005 to 2011.
333pts
40
LeSean McCoy
Born in 1988, he led the NFL with 1,607 rushing yards for Philadelphia in 2013.
333pts
41
Jimmy Graham
Born in 1986, the New Orleans tight end led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches in 2013.
333pts
42
Ndamukong Suh
Born in 1987, the defensive tackle was 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year with Detroit and won Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay.
333pts
43
Haloti Ngata
Born in 1984, the Baltimore defensive tackle won Super Bowl XLVII and made five Pro Bowls.
333pts
44
Patrick Willis
Born in 1985, the San Francisco linebacker was 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year and made seven Pro Bowls in eight seasons.
333pts
45
Eric Berry
Born in 1988, the Kansas City safety returned from Hodgkin lymphoma to win 2015 Comeback Player of the Year.
333pts
46
Maurice Jones-Drew
Born in 1985, the Jacksonville running back led the NFL with 1,606 rushing yards in 2011.
333pts
47
Antonio Brown
Born in 1988, he caught at least 100 passes in six straight seasons for Pittsburgh from 2013 to 2018.
333pts
48
A. J. Green
Born in 1988, Cincinnati's fourth overall pick in 2011 made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons.
333pts
49
Darrelle Revis
Born in 1985, the cornerback starred for the New York Jets, won Super Bowl XLIX with New England and entered the Hall of Fame in 2023.
251pts
50
Brandon Marshall
Born in 1984, he set the NFL single-game record with 21 catches for Denver in 2009.
251pts
51
Justin Tucker
Born in 1989, the Baltimore kicker made a 66-yard field goal in 2021, then the longest in NFL history.
251pts
52
Jason Kelce
Born in 1987, the Philadelphia center won Super Bowl LII and was a six-time first-team All-Pro.
251pts
53
Philip Rivers
Born in 1981 and drafted fourth overall in 2004, he started every Chargers game from 2006 through 2019.
251pts
54
Ben Roethlisberger
Born in 1982, he was 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year and won Super Bowls XL and XLIII with Pittsburgh.
251pts
55
Russell Wilson
Born in 1988, the 2012 third-round pick led Seattle to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.
155pts
56
Chris Johnson
Born in 1985, the Tennessee running back rushed for 2,006 yards in 2009.
155pts
57
Von Miller
Born in 1989, he was 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year with Denver and Super Bowl 50 MVP.
155pts
58
Joe Thomas
Born in 1984, the Cleveland left tackle played 10,363 consecutive snaps and entered the Hall of Fame in 2023.
155pts
59
Jason Peters
Born in 1982, he went undrafted as a tight end, moved to tackle and made nine Pro Bowls with Buffalo and Philadelphia.
155pts
60
Andre Johnson
Born in 1981, the Houston receiver led the NFL in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2024.
0pts