The best player to wear each number

[swiftaw]

I have an unhealthy obsession with jersey numbers (no idea why). As I can't sleep I decided to go through the numbers in my head to see if I could name who I thought was the best player associated with each number. (Generally if a player wore more than one number, I associated them only with the one they are best known for, for example Montana 16 and Rice 80). It got tough when you get to the non-skill numbers, but I thought people might want to debate my list:

The QB numbers (1-19)* Yes, I know non-QBs can wear these numbers also.
1 Warren Moon
2 Matt Ryan
3 Russell Wilson
4 Brett Favre
5 Donovan McNabb
6 Jay Cutler
7 John Elway
8 Steve Young
9 Drew Brees (was on the fence between him and Sonny Jurgensen)
10 Fran Tarkenton
11 Larry Fitzgerald
12 Tom Brady
13 Dan Marino
14 Dan Fouts
15 Bart Starr
16 Joe Montana
17 Philip Rivers
18 Peyton Manning
19 Johnny Unitas

Notes: Its funny how certain numbers seem to be way more popular with QBs than others. For example, 12 is absolutely loaded (in addition to Brady, you have Rodgers, Bradshaw, Griese, Kelly, Staubach, Namath and Stabler). I can't believe Jay Cutler was the best number 6 I could name.

The RB/DB numbers (20-49)

20 Barry Sanders
21 Deion Sanders
22 Emmitt Smith
23 Troy Vincent
24 Champ Bailey
25 Fred Biletnikoff
26 Rod Woodson
27 Steve Atwater
28 Darrell Green (This was a tough one, Marshall Faulk could be argued too)
29 Eric Dickerson
30 Terrell Davis
31 Donnie Shell
32 Jim Brown
33 Tony Dorsett (honorable mention to Roger Craig)
34 Walter Payton
35 Aeneas Williams
36 Jerome Bettis
37 Jimmy Johnson
38 Sam Baker
39 Larry Csonka
40 Gale Sayers
41 Eugene Robinson
42 Ronnie Lott (honorable mention to Paul Warfield)
43 Troy Polamalu
44 John Riggins
45 Kenny Easley
46 Tim McDonald
47 Mel Blount (honorable mention John Lynch)
48 Stephen Davis
49 Bobby Mitchell

Notes: I jokingly wanted to put Ickey Woods in for 30 or 31 since he was amazing in 1988 when I first started watching the NFL. Interestingly he changed numbers half way through that season. He wore 31 for the first 8 games and 30 for the second 8 games. 32 and 34 are both tough, with lots of candidates, 32 also has Edgerrin James, Franco Harris, Marcus Allen, and OJ. 34 also has Thurman Thomas, Earl Campbell, Herschel Walker, and Bo Jackson. 38. 46, and 48 seem the most devoid of historical talent.

The OL numbers (50-79) (yes, Linebackers too)

50 Mike Singletary
51 Dick Butkus
52 Ray Lewis
53 Mick Tingelhoff
54 Brian Urlacher (as a Dolphins fan I wanted to say Zach Thomas)
55 Junior Seau
56 Lawrence Taylor
57 Rickey Jackson (Dolphins Pick: Dwight Stephenson)
58 Derrick Thomas
59 Jack Ham
60 Larry Grantham
61 Nate Newton
62 Jim Langer
63 Gene Upshaw
64 Randall McDaniel
65 Gary Zimmerman
66 Larry Little
67 Bob Kuechenberg
68 Will Shields
69 Jared Allen
70 Logan Mankins
71 Walter Jones
72 Dan Dierdorf
73 Larry Allen
74 Bruce Matthews
75 Joe Greene
76 Orlando Pace
77 Willie Roaf
78 Bruce Smith (honorable mention to Anthony Munoz)
79 Harvey Martin

The WR/TE numbers (80-89).

80 Jerry Rice
81 Tim Brown (considered Terrell Owens, Art Monk, Calvin Johnson, and Car Elier)
82 Jason Witten
83 Andre Reed (Wes Welker was also consider, the Dolphins Fan in me wanted Mark Clayton)
84 Randy Moss
85 Nick Buoniconti
86 Buck Buchanan (honorable mention Hines Ward)
87 Willie Davis (honorable mention Reggie Wayne, Gronk)
88 Tony Gonzalez (also considered Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, and Alan Page)
89 Steve Smith

The defensive line numbers (90-99)

90 Julius Peppers
91 Kevin Greene
92 Reggie White
93 John Randle
94 Charles Haley
95 Richard Dent
96 Cortez Kennedy
97 La'Roi Glover
98 Jessie Armstead
99 Jason Taylor (honorable mention Warren Sapp)

 

[SteveF]

Doing that from memory is impressive. Your pick for #73 likely earns you no friends in these parts, though.

 

[BaseballJones]

Doing that from memory is impressive. Your pick for #73 likely earns you no friends in these parts, though.

Exactly. Great list. Some quibbles:

73 John Hannah
87 Rob Gronkowski
5 Paul Hornung
31 Jim Taylor

 

[Old Fart Tree]

81 I’d do TO or even Moss

 

[mikeford]

Randy Moss is the 2nd best WR who ever lived. 81 should be his.

Also I looked up the historical #6 on pro football reference and Jay Cutler is MILES ahead of anyone else to ever wear that number which is... pretty unbelievable. I don't know how they quantify their "AV" stat but he was over 100 and the NEXT guy up after him was in the 40s and it was BUBBY BRISTER so... yeah. Don't let your kids wear #6 on the football field.

 

[loshjott]

Moss is there at 84, which is where he should be. I agree with Monk over TO or Brown for 81.

 

[loshjott]

Randy Moss is the 2nd best WR who ever lived. 81 should be his.

Also I looked up the historical #6 on pro football reference and Jay Cutler is MILES ahead of anyone else to ever wear that number which is... pretty unbelievable. I don't know how they quantify their "AV" stat but he was over 100 and the NEXT guy up after him was in the 40s and it was BUBBY BRISTER so... yeah. Don't let your kids wear #6 on the football field.

Don't sleep on the Sanchize for #6.

 

[Average Game James]

Don't sleep on the Sanchize for #6.

I think we should go with 4x All Pro punter Johnny Hekker.

 

[Hoya81]

There’s only 4 players who ever wore #00, but one is in the HoF: Jim Otto.

For #60, I’d go with Otto Graham as he wore that number for most of his Browns career before going to #14.

 

[simplyeric]

#1 Tom Brad
#2 Tom Brady
…
#10 Tom Brady
…
#12 Tom Brady
…
#1100 Tom Brady

look, there’s 10 kinds of people in the NFL:
Tom Brady
And everyone else.

 

[BaseballJones]

And frankly, I'm a little surprised we don't have Mac Jones for #10. Just saying.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

Moss is there at 84, which is where he should be. I agree with Monk over TO or Brown for 81.

I know. Moss did set the single season TD record wearing 81 though.

And I never loved TO but the man’s numbers are what they are. I think he deserves 81 over Brown or Monk or Moss

 

[Preacher]

#1 Tom Brad
#2 Tom Brady
…
#10 Tom Brady
…
#12 Tom Brady
…
#1100 Tom Brady

look, there’s 10 kinds of people in the NFL:
Tom Brady
And everyone else.

And Tom Brad.

 

[Captaincoop]

Randy Moss is the 2nd best WR who ever lived. 81 should be his.

Also I looked up the historical #6 on pro football reference and Jay Cutler is MILES ahead of anyone else to ever wear that number which is... pretty unbelievable. I don't know how they quantify their "AV" stat but he was over 100 and the NEXT guy up after him was in the 40s and it was BUBBY BRISTER so... yeah. Don't let your kids wear #6 on the football field.

There's something about #6 that has always made a QB look shaky and incompetent to me (at any level).

Just like #22 automatically makes guys look super fast.

It's witchcraft.

 

[bankshot1]

I'd argue that Ray Guy #8 IIRC the only punter to make the HoF, and generally recognized as the GOAT punter, is more deserving than Steve Young, one of a gazillion very good/great QBs.

Having said that, Guy is fortunate Tom Brady did not wear #8.

Impressive work sir

 

[BroodsSexton]

Randy Moss is the 2nd best WR who ever lived. 81 should be his.

Also I looked up the historical #6 on pro football reference and Jay Cutler is MILES ahead of anyone else to ever wear that number which is... pretty unbelievable. I don't know how they quantify their "AV" stat but he was over 100 and the NEXT guy up after him was in the 40s and it was BUBBY BRISTER so... yeah. Don't let your kids wear #6 on the football field.

No Friday Night Lights fans I guess.

 

[Ale Xander]

I go C. Woodson over Bailey at 24 by a tiny bit.

and semi-homer pick, Curtis at 28.

Actually, let's be complete homers, Law at 24.

 

[Mugsy’s Walk-Off Bunt]

N’Keal Harry would like a word. “Warren Moon” - gimme a break.

 

[J.T. Pinch]

8 Larry Wilson (All Decade Team 1960's and 1970's and member of both the 75th & 100th All-Time Anniversary Teams)
14 - Don Hutson
33 - Sammy Baugh

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

I go C. Woodson over Bailey at 24 by a tiny bit.

This is among the closest debates, isn't it? I have Woodson, too. Woodson is tied second all time for pick-6s, he had 33 forced fumbles (to Bailey's 7), and he made Tom Brady famous.

 

[worm0082]

76- Lou Groza

 

[bob burda]

Great list - would be interesting to know how may HOF'ers share the same # - some suggested replacements or honorable mentions:
54 - Randy White
63 - Willie Lanier
85 - Jack Youngblood (honorable mention...a terrific player - so was Nick)
40 - Mike Haynes (honorable mention - though a much longer career than Sayers)

 

[johnmd20]

I feel like Marshall Faulk should be ahead of Darrell Green. Faulk was exceptional.

But it is a tough call. Green was also quite a player.

edit - Faulk is 8th in all time all purpose yards. 7th in career touchdowns. It's gotta be Faulk.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

Notes: Its funny how certain numbers seem to be way more popular with QBs than others. For example, 12 is absolutely loaded (in addition to Brady, you have Rodgers, Bradshaw, Griese, Kelly, Staubach, Namath and Stabler). I can't believe Jay Cutler was the best number 6 I could name.

I remember my dad explaining to me the intricacies of NFL number rules (who's an eligible receiver, etc...) circa 1973 and me saying at one point, "and the quarterback has to wear 12, right?" because it seemed like they all did back then.

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

Great list - would be interesting to know how may HOF'ers share the same # - some suggested replacements or honorable mentions:
54 - Randy White
63 - Willie Lanier
85 - Jack Youngblood (honorable mention...a terrific player - so was Nick)
40 - Mike Haynes (honorable mention - though a much longer career than Sayers)

I thought Randy White for 54 too. He was so dominant.

For #60, I'd go with Chuck Bednarik, the last true two-way player and the guy who ended Frank Gifford's career.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

N’Keal Harry would like a word. “Warren Moon” - gimme a break.

All joking aside, Cam Newton won an MVP wearing #1 and went to a SB, which Moon never did. Moon's longevity has him at a higher career AV than Newton but not by that much, and Newton's 2015 and 2011 are both better than Moon's best year. Peak value, Newton was better.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I love Tim Brown, but 81 going to him over Nightrain Lane bums me out.

Dude was before my time, but even by today's standards he's a human highlight reel and a fucking assassin to boot.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

Night Train is amazing but he did have an awfully short career. Best nickname ever though.

Owens is materially better than Brown. TO had four seasons better than Brown's best season. It's Owens in a walk unless you really, really want to penalize him for being a clubhouse cancer, which, I guess, is up to you.

 

[Humphrey]

For #60, I'd go with Chuck Bednarik, the last true two-way player and the guy who ended Frank Gifford's career.

Me too, although Gifford came back after a year off, just for the record.

 

[BaseballJones]

I love Tim Brown, but 81 going to him over Nightrain Lane bums me out.

Dude was before my time, but even by today's standards he's a human highlight reel and a fucking assassin to boot.

I'm still salty that Tim Brown won the Heisman in 1987 over Don McPherson.

 

[Ale Xander]

I'm still salty that Tim Brown won the Heisman in 1987 over Don McPherson.

I'm still salty that both of them finished ahead of Gordie

 

[BaseballJones]

I'm still salty that both of them finished ahead of Gordie

Yes, well, as cool as his season was (and it was cool, and he was great), he never stood much of a chance. What killed me was that Brown dominated the voting, even though he only had 39 receptions, 846 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs, 1 rushing TD, and 23 kick/punt returns for 456 yards. That's a fine season, and yay good for him. But Notre Dame was 8-4. Meanwhile, McPherson was amazing, leading SU to an undefeated season and the #4 ranking at the end of the year. McPherson was a MUCH better player that year - not really even close - and yet Brown won going away.