# The 60 Greatest NFL Players Born in the 1980s

> 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.

*By YPB Team · Published November 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-60-greatest-nfl-players-born-in-the-1980s*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

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

Tags: 2000s, american-football, players, nfl, 2010s, legends