Who Wore It Best? The Greatest NFL Players by Jersey Number, 50-74

National Football League: Who Wore It Best? The Greatest NFL Players by Jersey Number, 50-74

Yes, of course, Lawrence Taylor is the quintessential No. 56. But who’s the quintessential No. 55: Junior Seau or Derrick Brooks? And how about No. 58: Jack Lambert or Derrick Thomas? Despite some seemingly impossible choices along the way, we’ve combed through the roughly 30,000 players who have suited up for an NFL game over the past 105 years to decide who wore each jersey number best, from No. 0 (or 00) through No. 99.

We assessed players based on their cumulative statistics, awards (MVP, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, etc.), and honors such as All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. Super Bowl championships mattered as well, along with the impact players had on their era. Historical significance was very important, which is why our list is filled with members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That said, here’s our look at the greatest players in NFL history to wear Nos. 50-74. Note that, since many players switched numbers during their careers, this list is based on the number each player is most known for wearing.

No. 50: Mike Singletary

He was the leader of the 1985 Bears defense, which is universally considered one of the greatest of all time. Despite standing just 5-foot-11, this powerful middle linebacker was one of the league’s biggest players, making nearly 1,500 tackles in his 12-year career. Singletary was a 10-time Pro Bowler, a nine-time All-Pro, and in both 1985 and 1988, he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Honorable Mentions: Justin Houston, Alex Wojciechowicz

No. 51: Dick Butkus

Butkus was, perhaps, the most feared player in the NFL during the 1960s and early 1970s. The linebacker for some struggling Bears teams went to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons in the league, was an All-Pro six times, and even received MVP votes in three seasons. The award for the best linebacker in college football is now named after him. Sam Mills, the 5-foot-9 linebacker from the Saints and Panthers, deserves some consideration here, but Butkus is simply an NFL legend.

Honorable Mentions: Sam Mills, Jim Ringo

No. 52: Ray Lewis

Few defensive players had more of an impact on the NFL than this Ravens linebacker did in his 17 seasons. Lewis went to 12 Pro Bowls and was a 10-time All-Pro. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1996, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and was also a Super Bowl MVP. His 2,059 career tackles remain an NFL record, proving he might be the best sideline-to-sideline linebacker ever. He’s such a Baltimore legend that they built a statue of him outside the Ravens’ stadium.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Webster, Patrick Willis

No. 53: Harry Carson

A leader of the formidable Giants defenses in the early-to-mid 1980s, Carson might not have needed 30 years to make the Hall of Fame if he hadn’t played in the shadow of Lawrence Taylor. Both Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick have said they consider Carson, a nine-time Pro Bowler, to be one of the best all-around linebackers in NFL history. He was also one of the best run-stuffing middle linebackers ever.

Honorable Mentions: Mick Tingelhoff, Randy Gradishar

No. 54: Randy White

This was a close call between White and longtime Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher. However, once White was shifted from linebacker/end to defensive tackle in his third season with the Cowboys, he enjoyed an unmatched run — nine straight Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro nods. He also finished his career with 111 sacks and missed just one game in his 14 seasons from 1975-88. Urlacher, an eight-time Pro Bowler and one of the greatest defensive players in Chicago’s storied history, also deserves recognition.

Honorable Mentions: Brian Urlacher, Zach Thomas

No. 55: Junior Seau

No. 55 is one of the few numbers on the list that probably should be shared, given how close this all-time Chargers great is to Bucs legend Derrick Brooks. The two linebackers rank among the greatest defenders of their era. Seau exploded onto the scene with 12 Pro Bowls and nine All-Pro nods in the first 13 years of his 20-year career from 1990-2009. He finished with 1,847 tackles and 56½ sacks, giving him the nod over Brooks, who recorded 11 Pro Bowls, nine All-Pros, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and 1,300 tackles.

Honorable Mentions: Derrick Brooks, Chris Hanburger

No. 56: Lawrence Taylor

If the NFL were going to retire any number league-wide, this probably should be it. Taylor redefined the linebacker position and was as dominant a defensive player as ever existed. He was the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in 1981, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a 10-time Pro Bowler, a 10-time All-Pro, and the NFL’s MVP in 1986. He had 132½ career sacks, 142 if you include the 9½ he had as a rookie before sacks were an official statistic. He surely gave more nightmares to opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators than any other player in NFL history.

Honorable Mentions: Chris Doleman, Andre Tippett

No. 57: Rickey Jackson

A key part of the Saints’ transition from NFL doormats to serious contenders, this versatile linebacker amassed 1,173 tackles and 40 forced fumbles during his 17 seasons, including 15 spent in New Orleans. A six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Jackson was also an elite pass rusher with 136 career sacks, including six seasons with 10 or more. He capped his career with a Super Bowl championship in 1995 after playing his final two seasons in San Francisco.

Honorable Mentions: Dwight Stephenson, Tom Jackson

No. 58: Jack Lambert

Here’s another number that could easily have a timeshare, this time between this great Steelers linebacker and Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas. Lambert gets the nod because he was the centerpiece of the four-time Super Bowl champion “Steel Curtain” defense in Pittsburgh. He was a seven-time All-Pro, was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1976, and received votes in five other years. He played 11 seasons and recorded 1,479 tackles, 28 interceptions, and 23½ sacks. Thomas, with 126½ sacks in 11 seasons and five All-Pro nods, was close behind Lambert.

Honorable Mentions: Derrick Thomas, Von Miller

No. 59: Jack Ham

The only Hall of Famer to wear this number, Ham was the mastermind of Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense. The smart and speedy linebacker was a six-time All-Pro, though he was sometimes overshadowed by bigger stars on his four-time Super Bowl championship team. Ham finished his career with 32 interceptions and 25½ sacks in 12 NFL seasons.

Honorable Mentions: London Fletcher, Luke Kuechly

No. 60: Chuck Bednarik

Bednarik was a dominating two-way player for most of his 14-year NFL career, all spent in Philadelphia. He was a powerful center on offense but was known primarily for being a devastating hitter and tackler as a linebacker. A nine-time All-Pro, he was famous for his toughness and willingness to hit anyone. He played an essential role in helping the Eagles win the 1960 NFL championship with a game-saving tackle in the final seconds after playing the entire game on both sides of the ball.

Honorable Mentions: Larry Grantham, D’Brickashaw Ferguson

No. 61: Bill George

He’s believed to be the first middle linebacker to move beyond the standard five-man defensive line and regularly drop into the secondary, effectively redefining the position. With the Bears in the 1950s and early ’60s, George could do it all — pass rush, coverage, and side-to-side tackling. He starred at it as well, being named an All-Pro seven straight times and eight times overall in his 15 NFL seasons. He ended up with 18 career interceptions, surpassing long-time Chiefs/Oilers defensive tackle Curley Culp, who had 68½ sacks from the interior of the line.

Honorable Mentions: Curley Culp, Nate Newton

No. 62: Jason Kelce

Ownership of this number came down to an epic battle between two elite centers, including this Philadelphia icon and longtime Dolphins center Jim Langer. Both won two Super Bowls and will likely be Hall of Famers. While it’s tough to top Langer’s seven-year run of not missing a game while being a five-time All-Pro, Kelce might have outdone him with 13 years at the center of one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. He didn’t miss a game in his last nine seasons and was a six-time All-Pro. confidence sa sarili He’s also the driving force behind the Eagles’ famous “tush push” — arguably the greatest short-yardage play of all time.

Honorable Mentions: Jim Langer, Guy McIntyre

No. 63: Gene Upshaw

Several Hall of Fame offensive linemen wore this number, including Mike Munchak, Dermontti Dawson, and Dick Stanfel, but none did it better than Gene Upshaw. He played 207 consecutive games at guard for the Raiders. He’s the only player to start for championship teams in both the AFL and NFL, and the only player to reach the Super Bowl with the same team in three different decades (1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s). He was an eight-time All-Pro and, following his career, became the leader of the NFL players’ union.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Munchak, Dermontti Dawson

No. 64: Randall McDaniel

One of the best and most durable guards ever to play, this Vikings great once competed in 202 consecutive games. He was a dominant pass blocker during some of the best offensive lines in the mid-1990s. McDaniel was selected to 12 straight Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro in nine consecutive seasons during his 14-year career. Green Bay’s Jerry Kramer deserves a mention for being one of the most dominant guards of the 1960s, but it’s hard for anyone to match what McDaniel accomplished.

Honorable Mentions: Jerry Kramer, Joe DeLamielleure

No. 65: Gary Zimmerman

A two-time All-Pro left tackle in Minnesota and a three-time All-Pro left tackle in Denver, Zimmerman was the anchor of some of the best offensive lines in the league during his 12-year career from 1986-97. perpetual jersey He concluded his career with a Super Bowl championship as well and played in 169 consecutive games. He was nose-to-nose with Tom Mack, an elite guard with the Rams in the 1960s and ‘70s, who also had an impressive Iron Man streak, playing in all 184 games during his 13-year career.

Honorable Mentions: Tom Mack, Elvin Bethea

No. 66: Ray Nitschke

A tough decision went to the legendary Packers linebacker who was the leader of their dynasty defense in the 1960s. A quick, powerful tackler and their unquestioned leader, Nitschke was an All-NFL selection seven times and was the first Packers defensive player to make the Hall of Fame. This selection was closely contested due to two of the most dominant guards in NFL history. Pittsburgh’s Alan Faneca made eight straight All-Pro teams in the 2000s, while Miami’s Larry Little made seven of his eight All-Pro teams in the 1970s.

Honorable Mentions: Alan Faneca, Larry Little

No. 67: Bob Kuechenberg

A powerful and often-overlooked guard on the excellent Dolphins offensive lines of the 1970s, Kuechenberg has been a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist an agonizing eight times. Though he has yet to be inducted, he has secured his spot in Miami’s Ring of Honor as a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. If he does make it to the Hall, he’ll be the first member of Canton to primarily wear this number.

Honorable Mentions: Kent Hull, Reggie McKenzie

No. 68: Will Shields

Four Hall of Fame linemen wore this number, including Russ Grimm, Kevin Mawae, and Joe DeLamielleure, but none was quite as dominant as this longtime Chiefs right guard. Shields went to an NFL-record 12 straight Pro Bowls from 1995-2006 and was named an All-Pro six times. Perhaps most impressively, he didn’t miss a single game in his 224-game career, with only one game he didn’t start being his first.

Honorable Mentions: Kevin Mawae, Russ Grimm

No. 69: Jared Allen

In August, Allen will become the first player to wear this number to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. This fierce defensive end earned that honor with 136 career sacks and an NFL-record four safeties during his 12-year career, spent mostly in Minnesota. He was a four-time All-Pro and came within half a sack of the NFL’s single-season record when he had 22 in 2011.

Honorable Mentions: Mark Schlereth, Jon Runyan

No. carlos agassi movies and tv shows 70: Sam Huff

He was one of the NFL’s first true crossover celebrities, starring for the Giants in the mid-1950s and becoming a New York media sensation. Huff was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in four of his first five seasons as he rapidly became one of the toughest, most disruptive middle linebackers in the game. He had his best seasons in New York, though he did earn a Pro Bowl trip while finishing out his 13-year career in Washington. Cowboys right tackle Rayfield Wright and Colts defensive tackle Art Donovan also deserve mention, but Huff shined brightly among the league’s stars.

Honorable Mentions: Rayfield Wright, Art Donovan

No. 71: Alex Karras

Though he played for some truly awful Lions teams in the 1960s and his career was interrupted by a year-long suspension for betting on NFL games, Karras was still one of the dominant defensive players of his era. From his defensive tackle position, he unofficially recorded 100 career sacks over 12 seasons and was named an All-Pro eight times. He narrowly edges out longtime Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones, who dominated for a dozen years and went to the Pro Bowl nine times.

Honorable Mentions: Walter Jones, Tony Boselli

No. 72: Dan Dierdorf

Dierdorf may have played in relative obscurity for the St. Louis Cardinals, but he was still a dominant force on some strong offensive lines. He played all five line positions for the Cards, ultimately settling in as their longtime right tackle during his 13 NFL seasons from 1971-83. He was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler six times. He is also the only Hall of Famer to predominantly wear No. 72, which secures his spot over Ed “Too Tall” Jones, who recorded 106 career sacks as a defensive end for the Cowboys.

Honorable Mentions: Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Lincoln Kennedy

No. 73: John Hannah

The longtime Patriot is considered by many to be the greatest guard in NFL history, which is why he secures this spot over fellow Hall of Fame linemen Joe Thomas and Larry Allen. Hannah was a 10-time Pro Bowler and a 10-time All-Pro during his 13 NFL seasons. He won the NFLPA’s Offensive Lineman of the Year award for four consecutive years, from 1978-81, and he missed only five games due to injury throughout his career.

Honorable Mentions: Larry Allen, Joe Thomas

No. 74: Merlin Olsen

Nine Hall of Famers wore No. 74, making it one of the most challenging choices. However, the Rams defensive tackle and future Hollywood star stands out among the greats. He went to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 14 NFL seasons and was named an All-Pro nine times. Remarkably, he also didn’t miss a single game in his 15-year career, starting all 208 from 1962-76. Strong cases could also be made for Cowboys defensive tackle Bob Lilly, an eight-time All-Pro with 95½ career sacks, and Oilers lineman Bruce Matthews, who was an All-Pro 10 times in his 19-year career.

Honorable Mentions: Bob Lilly, Bruce Matthews

Our four-part series concludes on Thursday, July 31, with the greatest players in NFL history to wear Nos. 75-99.

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports betdito casino. He spent the previous six years covering the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York and, before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. sudan vs gilas Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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