All-Time NFL Ranks You Probably Didn’t Know

Smith's career numbers are better than you might think

- Each and every year there are a handful of former NFL greats who are inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They are players who have obviously had storied careers and put up impressive numbers along the way. Winning a Super Bowl or two only enhances their legacies and helps cement them as some of the best to ever put on the pads. But if you take a closer look at some of the all-time rankings when it comes to key statistical categories, some guys are forgotten to a certain extent when a conversation pops up at any bar between friends. It’s not to say all of these players deserve to be considered for the Hall of Fame, but they do deserve to be remembered a lot differently than I believe they are. Here are some “under the radar” former players if you will, and some surprising facts about where they currently sit on some all-time ranks……

- Rod Smith (WR, Denver) - Only 23 wide receivers in the history of the NFL have more career receiving yards than does Mr. Rod Smith. He amassed 11,389 yards over 12 seasons and won two rings in the process. Smith has more yards than several receivers who are already in the Hall, but is largely forgotten in general because he was quiet and not the diva that so many players are today. Oh yeah, Smith wasn’t ever drafted either, and has the most receiving yards ever for an undrafted player.

- Vinny Testaverde (QB) - Vinny played for 7 teams and that has a part in why he doesn’t get much credit. Did you know he has the 7th most passing yards in NFL history? 7th!! Testaverde has more passing yards than Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Jim Kelly, and Troy Aikman, to name a few. He never had that signature moment or won a Super Bowl, so those are two big reasons he is largely forgotten.

- Kerry Collins (QB) - Collins is basically in the same boat as Testaverde, as Collins ranks 10th on the all-time passing yards list. He bounced around the NFL, and never had that big playoff moment.

- Curtis Martin (RB) - Ok, Martin was voted into the Hall of Fame, but is very much forgotten when it comes to discussions of the best running backs ever. Martin is 4th on the all-time rushing yards list, ahead of guys like Jim Brown, Tony Dorsett, and O.J. Simpson.

- Isaac Bruce (WR) - This might by the most stunning fact. Bruce is 3rd all-time in receiving yards, only behind Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice. He did win a Super Bowl with the Rams, but was a very quiet guy during his career. Bruce never, ever comes up in discussions about the best wide receivers ever.

- Kevin Greene (LB) - Amazingly, there are only 2 players in NFL history with more sacks than Greene. They are Bruce Smith and Reggie White. Greene began with the Rams and had his most productive years with the Steelers during the 90′s. He ended up with more sacks than players like Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, and Michael Strahan, who all seem to get more recognition.

- Fred Taylor (RB) - Taylor ranks 15th on the all-time rushing yards list, ahead of players like Eddie George, John Riggins, and Earl Campbell. Taylor, like many others didn’t have much post-season success, and therefore probably won’t be remembered as an all-time great.

- Darren Sharper (S) - Sharper ranks 6th on the all-time interceptions list, ahead of Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, and Champ Bailey. Sharper played the same number of years as Ronnie Lott, as they both ended up with 63 career picks.

- LaDainian Tomlinson (RB) - Tomlinson should be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but I doubt he will be remembered as a top 5 back of all time. He ranks 3rd in TD’s scored at any position, and 5th in rushing yards. Playing for an under-achieving San Diego team for the majority of his career will undoubtedly hurt his legacy some.

Denver Sports by J Simp