Image: NFL
About This Quiz
From traditionalists to millennials, every generation lays claim to having the best experiences growing up, particularly if they're discussing sports. When it comes to the NFL, baby boomers might just have the best case. After all, they watched the sport develop from the NFL-AFL merger in the '60s through the cable television boom of the '80s.Â
One of the most intriguing aspects of this growth was the players who made football so fun to watch each week as families gathered around their televisions to catch a glimpse of the greatest legends of the gridiron. These star athletes constantly pushed the boundaries of what their positions on the field could do, revolutionizing both their side of the ball as well as the entire game.Â
How well do you remember these players who the baby boomers grew up idolizing? Are you familiar with their contributions to the game? Will you be able to identify them if we show you an image? This quiz will provide you with the opportunity to do just that.Â
From the earliest Super Bowl contenders through the elite defenders to the offensive juggernauts, this quiz covers the greatest stars the NFL has ever seen. Find out if you can run up the score or if you'll crumble beneath the pressure. Â
Johnny Unitas
Bart Starr
Bart Starr had a mediocre college career at the University of Alabama, where he barely played the final two seasons of his career. The lack of play caused Starr to drop to the 17th round in the 1956 NFL Draft.
Joe Namath
Roger Staubach
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Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly spent his entire 14-year career with the Dallas Cowboys, where he won a Rookie of the Year award and was selected to 11 Pro Bowls. Cowboy fans loved him so much that they nicknamed him "Mr. Cowboy."
Merlin Olson
Randy White
Charles Haley
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Gary Collins
Charley Taylor
Steve Largent
Del Shofner
A five-time Pro Bowler, Del Shofner had some incredible years playing for the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants. For the Giants, he was the first player in the team's history to put up over 1,000 receiving yards over the course of a season.
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John Mackey
Baby boomers enjoyed watching John Mackey because of his well-rounded game, which was much ahead of his time. Not only could Mackey block, but he could also take a pass in for a touchdown with his speed and physicality.
Mike Ditka
Ozzie Newsome
Kellen Winslow
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Gene Hickerson
Jerry Kramer
In an era where player safety was less of a concern, Jerry Kramer was as tough as they come on the field. He even received the nickname "Zipper" because of the number of stitches he got from the numerous operations throughout his career.
Ralph Neely
Forrest Gregg
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Bart Starr
Sammy Baugh
Sonny Jurgensen
Sonny Jurgensen pushed the boundary on what it meant to be a pure passer in the NFL. In 1961, he became the first quarterback to throw for over 3,500 yards, a record he held until it was surpassed by Dan Fouts in 1979.
Johnny Unitas
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Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung put himself in the NFL history books in 1960 when he scored a record 176 points over the course of 12 NFL games. That record stood until it was passed by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, though it took Tomlinson 14 games.
John David Crow
Leroy Kelly
Gale Sayers
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Jim Taylor
Gale Sayers
Jim Brown
Though he only played nine seasons in the NFL, Jim Brown made a name for himself as one of the greatest running backs of all time. His accomplishments included eight league rushing titles and three AP NFL MVP awards.
John David Crow
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Willie Davis
Doug Atkins
Doug Atkins was not only a standout player in the pros, but he was a stellar college player at the University of Tennessee as well. During his time with the Volunteers, Atkins won a national championship and earned All American honors. For his contributions, Tennessee retired his No. 91.
David Jones
Bob Lilly
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Gino Marchetti
Merlin Olson
Bob Lilly
Alex Karras
A dominant defensive tackle, Alex Karras played 12 seasons in the NFL. When his career ended in 1970, Karras started a career as an actor, playing in movies like "Blazing Saddles" and "Against All Odds."
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Ray Nitschke
Larry Morris
Dick Butkus
With the ability to play sideline to sideline, Dick Butkus showed future players just how dominant a middle linebacker could be. However, his hard-hitting, physical style of play was the main reason Butkus only played nine seasons in the league.
Tommy Nobis
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Bob Brown
Charley Taylor
Gary Collins
Boyd Dowler
Boyd Dowler was a top target on the Green Bay Packers throughout the '60s, as they won five championships throughout the decade. However, he finished his career playing one season with the Washington Redskins, finally retiring in 1971.
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Leroy Kelly
Leroy Kelly was an exceptional talent at the running back position, but he was also great in the return game. By the time he called it quits, Kelly had racked up over 12,000 combined yards on the field.
John David Crow
Gale Sayers
Jim Taylor
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Willie Davis
David Jones
David "Deacon" Jones was known for smashing opposing quarterbacks, which helped him earn two Defensive Player of the Year awards. He even coined the term "sacks," which became a valuable stat for future generations.
Merlin Olson
Chuck Howley
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Joe Namath
Roger Staubach
Fran Tarkenton
Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas was the star for the Baltimore Colts when they defeated the New York Giants to capture the 1958 NFL championship. The game, which ended in overtime, saw Unitas throw for 349 yards and rush for another 20.
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John David Crow
Jim Taylor
Gale Sayers
Gale Sayers made an immediate impact for the Chicago Bears in his rookie season. During the season, Sayers received the Rookie of the Year award after scoring 22 touchdowns while gaining 2,272 all-purpose yards.
Walter Payton
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Raymond Berry
Raymond Berry went into coaching when he left the NFL following the 1967 season. Berry mainly served as a position coach, but he did take over the New England Patriots from 1984 until 1989.
Lenny Moore
Art Donovan
Weeb Ewbank
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Rayfield Wright
Lee Roy Jordan
Dick LeBeau
Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro had one of the best seasons of his career in 1969 when he was first moved to cornerback after playing both safety and halfback in previous seasons. One of the fastest players in the league, Renfro led the NFL in interceptions during the 1969 season.
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Forrest Gregg
Jim Taylor
During his 1962 MVP season, Jim Taylor led the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while carrying the ball 272 times. His Green Bay Packers went on to win the NFL championship that season behind his tough running style.
Leroy Kelly
John David Crow
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Lamar Lundy
Dabbs Greer
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen played defensive tackle in the NFL for 15 seasons, all with the Los Angeles Rams. Starting his rookie season, Olsen made 14 straight Pro Bowls, only missing out in the final year of his career.
Willie Davis
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Drew Pearson
Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann was nearly unguardable when his Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. After recording 161 receiving yards in the game, Swann was named the Super Bowl MVP.
Harold Carmichael
Paul Warfield
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Ron Yary
Art Shell
Rayfield Wright
Larry Little
Baby boomers should remember Larry Little as the lead blocker on the power sweep play run by the Miami Dolphins throughout the '70s. His ability to lead the way was a major reason the Dolphins led the league in rushing yards twice.
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Joe Namath
Joe Namath knew how to throw the football, but it wasn't always to players on his team. Namath finished his career with 173 regular season touchdown passes but also had 220 interceptions.
Roger Staubach
Terry Bradshaw
Ken Stabler
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Walter Payton
Earl Campbell
O.J. Simpson
Despite his controversial life, no one can take away from what O.J. Simpson was able to do on the football field. After an outstanding college career, Simpson played 11 seasons in the NFL, where he led the league in rushing yards four times.
Franco Harris
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Harvey Martin
L.C. Greenwood
Jack Youngblood
Carl Eller
Carl Eller could get after the quarterback as good as anyone in NFL history. His defensive prowess helped him make seven straight All Pro teams, five on the first team and two on the second team.
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Jack Lambert
Alan Page
Joe Greene
Opposing offenses will remember Joe Greene for his outstanding play on the defensive side of the ball, but many baby boomers might remember him for his famous Coca Cola commercial. In the commercial, Greene receives a drink from a kid, who he rewards by giving the kid his jersey.
Jack Ham
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Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris was a ball hawk for the Dallas Cowboys during his NFL career, with his best total coming in 1977 when the Cowboys reached the Super Bowl. That season, Harris recorded five interceptions.
Ken Houston
Larry Wilson
Dick Anderson
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Roger Staubach
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw wasn't the greatest regular season quarterback, but he always did enough to give his team a chance to win. However, once in the playoffs, Bradshaw turned it on, winning four Super Bowls and two Super Bowl MVPs.
Ken Stabler
Dan Marino
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Earl Campbell
Franco Harris
Walter Payton
Walter Payton was part of the '85 Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. However, after the game, Payton locked himself in a closet because he failed to score a touchdown, which he blamed his head coach for.
Tony Dorsett
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Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert was an important piece on the "Steel Curtain" defense that defined the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout the '70s. Lambert was particularly known for his tackling ability, which helped him earn two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Ted Hendricks
Robert Brazile
Bobby Bell
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Dave Casper
Drew Pearson
Paul Warfield
Harold Carmichael
Harold Carmichael made his first Pro Bowl in his third season in the NFL while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. That season, Carmichael led the league in both receiving yards and receptions, but his efforts weren't enough to help the Eagles reach the playoffs.
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Barry Sanders
Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett is one of only two players to achieve a 99-yard touchdown run in a game. He accomplished the feat on Jan. 3, 1983 while playing against the Minnesota Vikings, who were trying to defend ground in their new stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Emmitt Smith
Robert Newhouse
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Chuck Howley
When Chuck Howley was named the MVP of Super Bowl V, he set two precedents, one of which has never been broken. For one, he was the first non-quarterback to win the award, and second, he remains the only player from the losing team to receive the honor.
Larry Allen
Daryl Johnston
Robert Newhouse
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John Mackey
Anthony Munoz
Anthony Munoz played both college football and baseball at the University of Southern California. A testament to his immense talent, he won both a national championship and a College World Series while playing for the Trojans. He had a Hall of Fame career with the Bengals.
Mike Ditka
Harvey Martin
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Joe Montana
Fran Tarkenton
Ken Stabler
Roger Staubach
Even after leaving college, Roger Staubach remained in the U.S. Navy from 1965 until 1969. While serving in the Navy, he did one tour in Vietnam, a mission he volunteered for as he could have asked for an assignment in the United States.
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Franco Harris
Larry Csonka
Earl Campbell
From 1978, which was his rookie season, until 1980, Earl Campbell won three straight NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards with the Oilers. Every season during that span, he rushed for over 1,400 yards, topping it off with 1,934 yards in 1980.
Larry Brown
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Ozzie Newsome
Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka was part of three Super Bowl victories throughout his lifetime. He won a single title as a player for the Dallas Cowboys before winning one as an assistant coach and one as a head coach.
Dave Casper
Jackie Smith
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Steve Young
Troy Aikman
Joe Montana
As injuries hampered his career, Joe Montana competed directly against the up and coming Steve Young for the starting quarterback spot on the San Fransisco 49ers. Rather than cause division within the locker room, Montana requested a trade following the 1992 season.
Danny White
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Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott came into the 1986 season off a finger injury that required part of his pinky to be amputated. The injury did nothing to slow him down as Lott led the league in interceptions in 1986 despite missing two games.
Kenny Easley
Deron Cherry
Nolan Cromwell
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Kellen Winslow
Art Monk
James Lofton
Steve Largent
After his 14-year career in the NFL came to a close, Steve Largent went into politics. From 1994 until 2002, Largent represented his home state of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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