Image: Keith Allison via WikiCommons
About This Quiz
The NFL has changed a lot in the 2010s. Rules have been put in place to make the game safer while also increasing offensive production to make the product more entertaining to watch. However, with these new rules, players have to be looked at in a different light. The run-heavy, defensive slugfests of the past are out, and statistics are up, especially on offense. That means it's not uncommon for a quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards or a wide receiver to rack up over 1,000 yards through the air.
So how do players establish a legacy in this modern NFL? Regular season stats are still an indicator, even if they are inflated by rule changes that benefit the offense. It hasn't slowed down defenses from racking up sacks and interceptions, after all. Of course, there's always one surefire way for a great player to define their career: win a championship. Obviously, there are plenty of legends over the last decade who didn't win a title, but the ones who did so have left an imprint on the game that can never be removed.
Are you prepared to identify the biggest stars of the past decade, from statistical juggernauts to championship winners? If so, dive into this quiz, and see if your knowledge of the NFL matches that of other fans.
Aaron Rodgers
It takes a legend to replace a legend, and that's exactly what Aaron Rodgers did with Brett Favre in Green Bay. Since taking over as the starter for the Packers in 2008, Rodgers has made eight Pro Bowls and won two NFL MVPs.
Drew Brees
Philip Rivers
Kurt Warner
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Matt Ryan
Russell Wilson
Philip Rivers
Ben Roethlisberger
Despite not making the playoffs, Ben Roethlisberger had his best statistical season in 2018, at the age of 36. Throwing a league high 675 passes, Roethlisberger finished the season with 5,129 yards and 34 touchdowns, showing that he's not finished building his legacy.
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Tony Gonzalez
When a player's name is mentioned near that of Jerry Rice, they clearly have accomplished something spectacular. That's exactly the position Tony Gonzalez finds himself in, as he's ranked third in career receptions, behind Rice and Larry Fitzgerald, with 1,325 receptions.
Antonio Gates
Jason Witten
Jimmy Graham
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Marshawn Lynch
Viewed as a potential bust after three and a half seasons in Buffalo, Marshawn Lynch revamped his career when he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks. In his first full season in Seattle, Lynch made the Pro Bowl after rushing for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Le'Veon Bell
Todd Gurley
Devonta Freeman
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Matt Ryan
Alex Smith
Eli Manning
Eli Manning never put up the stats to be considered a great regular season quarterback, but he has two of the greatest Super Bowl performances in NFL history, taking home two Super Bowl MVPs. One of those came against an undefeated New England Patriots team when Manning led the New York Giants to a 17–14 victory.
Joe Flacco
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Greg Olsen
Jimmy Graham
Rob Gronkowski
Injuries were the only thing that could keep Rob Gronkowski from making huge plays on the football field. A three-time Super Bowl champion, Gronkowski was always a threat in the red zone, recording 79 touchdowns in his nine-year career.
Jason Witten
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Matt Ryan
Alex Smith
Russell Wilson
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers has at one point or another led the league in multiple categories, including passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer rating and completion percentage. His regular season play has earned him eight trips to the Pro Bowl.
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Russel Wilson
Russell Wilson had his first 4,000 yard passing season in 2015, completing 68.1 percent of his passes for 4,024 yards. He also had 34 touchdowns that year to only eight interceptions, putting himself right in the middle of the MVP conversation.
Lamar Jackson
Patrick Mahomes
Deshaun Watson
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Richard Sherman
Richard Sherman was part of a dominant defense for the Seattle Seahawks when they won Super Bowl XLVIII. In the championship game, the Seahawks held the Denver Broncos, who had the top offense in the league, to only eight points, and much of that had to do with players like Sherman.
Kam Chancellor
Earl Thomas
Patrick Peterson
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Tom Brady
At 42 years old in 2020, Tom Brady's future in the NFL might be in question, but there's no doubt that his legacy has already been cemented. A six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP, Brady is truly in a class of his own when it comes to accomplishments.
Peyton Manning
Drew Brees
Aaron Rodgers
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Antonio Brown
Julio Jones
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the top receivers in the NFL for over 15 seasons, earning a place in 11 Pro Bowls while also making three All-Pro teams. To add to his legacy, Fitzgerald has twice led the NFL in receptions and twice in receiving touchdowns.
Andre Johnson
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Greg Olsen
Jimmy Graham
Kyle Rudolph
Jason Witten
Despite being perhaps the greatest tight end to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Witten was never able to reach the Super Bowl, let alone win a title. However, the veteran tight end has played in eight playoff games, recording 45 total catches for 486 yards.
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Ryan Clark
Brian Dawkins
Sean Taylor
Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu had perhaps his best season in 2010 when he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That season, Polamalu recorded a career-high seven interceptions, returning them for a total of 101 yards.
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Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis was a legend over the course of three different decades in the NFL. Getting his start in 1996, Lewis made it to the Pro Bowl on 13 different occasions — at least twice in all three decades.
Derrick Brooks
Patrick Willis
Bobby Wagner
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Odell Beckham Jr.
Reggie Wayne
A.J. Green
Antonio Brown
Known for his conditioning, Antonio Brown rarely disappointed when he was actually on the field. Brown twice led the league in receiving yards and twice in receptions, defining a career that should earn him a place in the Hall of Fame.
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Warrick Dunn
Clinton Portis
LeSean McCoy
During the past decade, LeSean McCoy led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2011 and rushing yards in 2013. Both seasons, he earned a spot in the Pro Bowl while also making the First-Team All-Pro.
Steven Jackson
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Ray Lewis
Patrick Willis
Terrell Suggs
Though he has since moved on, Terrell Suggs established his legacy with the Baltimore Ravens, where he holds the franchise record for the most sacks in a career. He also holds the team's record for career forced fumbles, making him one of the best defenders in the history of a franchise stacked with defensive talent.
Ed Reed
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Ed Reed
Known as a student of the game, Ed Reed always came into a matchup prepared for the opposing offense. His knowledge helped him record 64 interceptions, which he returned for an NFL record 1,590 interception return yards.
Champ Bailey
Ty Law
Sean Taylor
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Eli Manning
Tony Romo
Matt Ryan
Drew Brees
Helping to establish his legacy, Drew Brees delivered the New Orleans Saints their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history by winning Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. Brees was named the MVP of the game after throwing for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
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Frank Gore
LeSean McCoy
Marshawn Lynch
Adrian Peterson
If a player comes nine yards short of breaking the NFL single-season rushing record, they definitely have to be classified as a legend. That's exactly what Adrian Peterson did in 2012, winning the NFL MVP after rushing for 2,097 yards.
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Bobby Wagner
Sean Lee
Luke Kuechly
In his first year in the league, Luke Kuechly showed everyone his potential as an elite defender, recording 164 combined tackles to lead the league. For his play, Kueckly was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The seven-time Pro Bowler hasn't slowed down since.
Clay Matthews
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Aaron Donald
Jared Allen
Jason Pierre-Paul
J.J. Watt
Entering the league in 2011, J.J. Watt immediately established himself as an impact player for the Houston Texans, where he has spent his entire career. In his first five seasons, Watt earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards, while leading the league in sacks twice.
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Khalil Mack
Von Miller
The second overall draft pick in 2011, Von Miller was a star from the moment he entered the league. In his rookie season, Miller started 15 games and recorded 11.5 sacks, earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Cameron Heyward
Akiem Hicks
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Richard Sherman
Darrelle Revis
Darrelle Revis was so talented that they named an entire side of the field after him when he played. This area was known as "Revis Island," and no receiver wanted to be stuck on it, playing against one of the greatest corners in NFL history.
Stephon Gilmore
Antonio Cromartie
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Tyron Smith
Joe Staley
Joe Staley has been one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL since he was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. A six-time Pro Bowler, Staley was named a starter for the San Francisco 49ers in just his first NFL season.
Quenton Nelson
David DeCastro
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Dante Hall
Devin Hester
Teams were so scared of Devin Hester's return ability that they often refused to even kick the ball in his direction. After all, he did set the NFL record for all-time returns for a touchdown and punt returns for a touchdown.
Percy Harvin
Charles Tillman
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Eli Manning
Drew Brees
Peyton Manning
Unlike most players, Peyton Manning got to retire from the NFL on his own terms, following a Super Bowl victory to conclude the 2015 season. Manning was not at his best for most of the year, but he still made plays when the time called for it, which allowed him to go out a champion.
Aaron Rodgers
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LaDainian Tomlinson
Arian Foster
Frank Gore
Running back is a tough position to play in the NFL, and most of them are done by the age of 30. However, Frank Gore has been productive well into his 30s, rushing for over 1,000 yards three times since he hit that mark.
Chris Johnson
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Wes Welker
Wes Welker was one of the few wide receivers to play for the New England Patriots over the last decade not to win a championship. Welker joined the Patriots in 2007 and competed in two Super Bowls with the Pats, but the team lost both times to the New York Giants.
Julian Edelman
Danny Amendola
Eric Decker
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Julio Jones
Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson had perhaps the single best season of any wide receiver to ever play in 2012. That year, he led the league in receptions with 122 passes caught and set the single-season receiving yards record with 1,964 yards.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Antonio Brown
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Ty Law
Patrick Peterson
Jalen Ramsey
Champ Bailey
The only accomplishment Champ Bailey wasn't able to add to his resume was a Super Bowl championship. The Hall of Fame cornerback did compete in Super Bowl XLVIII, but his Denver Broncos lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
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Eric Berry
Earl Thomas
Earl Thomas was the final member of the "Legion of Boom" on the roster for the Seattle Seahawks, after the departure of the other players who made up one of the greatest secondary units in NFL history. Thomas finally departed the team in 2019, ending an era in Seattle.
Tyran Mathieu
Jalen Ramsey
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A.J. Green
Antonio Brown
DeAndre Hopkins
Julio Jones
Perhaps Julio Jones' greatest skill is his ability to get down the field on pass plays. Not only can he blow the top off a defense, averaging over 15 yards per catch, but he can also secure the catch, utilizing his large frame to box out defenders.
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Bruce Smith
Julius Peppers
Even in the latter part of his career, Julius Peppers was still productive, adding stats to further secure his future place in the Hall of Fame. Over the course of his final two seasons, Peppers recorded 16 sacks and forced four fumbles against opposing teams.
Michael Strahan
Reggie White
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Robert Mathis
Dwight Freeney
Dwight Freeney made a name for himself with the Indianapolis Colts, where he made all seven of his Pro Bowl appearances. He also was a major reason the Colts won Super Bowl XLI, as he helped balance out the high-powered offense led by Peyton Manning.
Reggie White
Richard Dent
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Andre Johnson
Andre Johnson was a stellar deep-threat wide receiver during his prime, at one point averaging 15.5 yards per catch. Only once did he finish with less than 10 yards per catch, ending his career with an average of 13.4 yards per catch.
Antonio Brown
Randy Moss
DeAndre Hopkins
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Richard Seymour
Warren Sapp
Vince Wilfork
Vince Wilfork stuffed the middle of the line for the New England Patriots from 2004 through 2014. His play on the interior of the defensive line helped the Patriots win both Super Bowl XXXIX and Super Bowl XLIX.
Albert Haynesworth
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Khalil Mack
Aaron Donald
Drafted with the 13th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Aaron Donald made six straight Pro Bowls between 2014 and 2019. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice in his short career, proving that even young players can establish a legacy.
Ndamukong Suh
Fletcher Cox
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Rod Woodson
Rodney Harrison
Charles Woodson
From winning the Heisman Trophy in college to being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the pros, Charles Woodson has done it all on the football field. However, Woodson would probably define his greatest accomplishment as winning Super Bowl XLV, as he was always a team player first.
Ty Law
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Aaron Donald
Calais Campbell
Due to the vast number of injuries, the NFL is a young player's league, with most players being out of the NFL after only a few seasons. However, Calais Campbell only got better with age, making three of his five Pro Bowls after the age of 30.
Cameron Heyward
Akiem Hicks
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