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Who is the best NFL player born in 1961?

By YPB Team

Hall of Fame quarterbacks share this birth year with a comeback-king backup, a bruising Chiefs rusher and trench veterans fans still argue about. Gold jackets or cult heroes of the 1980s, your call.

  1. Dan Marino — ranked #11
    Dan Marino
    Miami Dolphins quarterback from 1983 to 1999 who threw 48 touchdown passes in his 1984 MVP season and entered the Hall of Fame in 2005.
    1000pts
  2. Christian Okoye — ranked #22
    Christian Okoye
    Nigerian-born Kansas City Chiefs running back, nicknamed the Nigerian Nightmare, who led the NFL with 1,480 rushing yards in 1989.
    527pts
  3. Bruce Matthews — ranked #33
    Bruce Matthews
    Offensive lineman who played 19 seasons for the Oilers and Titans, made 14 Pro Bowls and entered the Hall of Fame in 2007.
    422pts
  4. Boomer Esiason — ranked #44
    Boomer Esiason
    Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who won the 1988 NFL MVP award and led the team to Super Bowl XXIII.
    357pts
  5. Jim Jeffcoat — ranked #55
    Jim Jeffcoat
    Dallas Cowboys defensive end who recorded 102.5 career sacks and won two Super Bowls with the team.
    357pts
  6. Chris Doleman — ranked #66
    Chris Doleman
    Pass rusher, mostly with the Vikings, who led the NFL with 21 sacks in 1989, finished with 150.5 and entered the Hall of Fame in 2012.
    357pts
  7. Frank Reich — ranked #77
    Frank Reich
    Buffalo Bills backup quarterback who led the comeback from a 35–3 deficit to beat the Houston Oilers in the January 1993 playoffs.
    281pts
  8. Steve Young — ranked #88
    Steve Young
    San Francisco 49ers quarterback, NFL MVP in 1992 and 1994, who threw six touchdown passes as MVP of Super Bowl XXIX.
    281pts
  9. Reggie White — ranked #99
    Reggie White
    Defensive end for the Eagles and Packers who retired with 198 sacks, won Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
    281pts
  10. Leonard Marshall — ranked #1010
    Leonard Marshall
    New York Giants defensive end who made two Pro Bowls and won Super Bowls XXI and XXV.
    192pts
  11. Jesse Sapolu — ranked #1111
    Jesse Sapolu
    Samoan-American 49ers offensive lineman who won four Super Bowls and made two Pro Bowls.
    192pts

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