Image: Wiki Commons by Erik Drost
About This Quiz
Legends are not born but raised on the gridiron through hard work, dedication and a will to be the best at what they do. Whether it's setting records or winning championships, every player who becomes a legend has put in the time to make sure their names go down in the history books. They have left stamps on the NFL that cannot be removed.
One of the easiest ways to identify these legends is by reflecting on the teams they starred for. Some of these players were members of the dominant defenses that defined the '70s and '80s on teams like the Steelers, Vikings and Giants. Others made a name for themselves by putting up record-breaking stats on offense year after year with teams like the Cowboys in the '90s and the Patriots after the turn of the century.
Are you capable of determining who these legends are just by looking at the teams they played for, or will you be playing the guessing game throughout most of this quiz? These are the biggest names the game has ever produced, so the challenge will be remembering how their careers played out.
When you're ready, get started and see if your NFL knowledge is really as well rounded as you thought.
Kevin Greene
Junior Seau
A 12-time Pro Bowler, Junior Seau was a machine when he was on the football field. The proof lies in his production, as Seau finished his career with 1,846 combined tackles, 56.5 sacks and 18 interceptions.
Zach Thomas
Joey Porter
Advertisement
Joe Montana
"The Catch" in the 1981 AFC Championship Game led the San Francisco 49ers past the Dallas Cowboys as they advanced to Super Bowl XVI. In the Super Bowl, Joe Montana was named the MVP after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 to take home his first championship.
Johnny Unitas
Dan Marino
Troy Aikman
Advertisement
Walter Payton
The staple of the Chicago Bears' offense for years, Walter Payton had a tough outing when the Bears won Super Bowl XX. The defense for the New England Patriots was keyed in on Payton all game, holding him to 61 yards rushing and no touchdowns.
Barry Sanders
O.J. Simpson
Tony Dorsett
Advertisement
Marvin Harrison
Isaac Bruce
Michael Irvin
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice put on one of his greatest performances in Super Bowl XXIII against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the game, he hauled in 11 passes for a Super Bowl record 215 yards, with one of his catches going for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Advertisement
Brett Favre
Brett Favre had a rough start to his NFL career when he was drafted in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Playing in just two games during his rookie season, Favre completed no passes and was intercepted twice. He was immediately traded following the season.
Bart Starr
Drew Brees
Terry Bradshaw
Advertisement
John Elway
Early in his career, John Elway appeared in three Super Bowls, but he was never able to lead the Denver Broncos to a victory. However, in the final two seasons of his NFL career, Elway won back-to-back championships, allowing the veteran quarterback to go out on top.
Steve Young
Troy Aikman
Jim Kelly
Advertisement
John Randle
Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp made seven Pro Bowls during his NFL career, all with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He reached the height of his individual success in 1999 when he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording 12.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles.
Buck Buchanan
Reggie White
Advertisement
Terry Bradshaw
Steve Young
Steve Young only played three full seasons during his NFL career without missing a game. Despite his sporadic availability, Young was named to seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and won two NFL MVPs.
Roger Staubach
Troy Aikman
Advertisement
Reggie White
Bruce Smith
Joe Greene
Michael Strahan
In 2001, Michael Strahan had a year for the ages, setting the NFL single-season sack record by recording 22.5 sacks. Strahan set the record on the final game of the season when he sacked fellow legend Brett Favre.
Advertisement
Brett Favre
Peyton Manning
Reaching Super Bowls with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning was the first quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams. After winning Super Bowl 50, Manning retired at the age of 39.
John Elway
Bart Starr
Advertisement
Greg Olsen
Rob Gronkowski
The only thing that could stop Rob Gronkowski on the football field was injury, because he had the ability to out-power most defenders who guarded him. However, Gronkowski only played two full regular seasons without missing a game before retiring after only nine seasons.
Jason Witten
Antonio Gates
Advertisement
Patrick Willis
Terrell Suggs
Ray Lewis
Twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Ray Lewis became a legend in Baltimore where he helped the Ravens win two championships. He was even named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV after making three tackles and breaking up four passes.
James Harris
Advertisement
Antonio Gates
Jason Witten
Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez holds several records for NFL tight ends, including most receiving yards in a career and most receptions in a career. Gonzalez was able to set these records by consistently putting up at least 70 receptions a season, with several seasons where he put up over 1,000 receiving yards.
Mike Ditka
Advertisement
Ray Lewis
Junior Seau
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor's 1986 season was one for the history books as he led the NFL in sacks with 20.5 while playing in all 16 regular season games. When he won the NFL MVP that year, he was the first defensive player unanimously selected for the award.
Derrick Brooks
Advertisement
Dan Marino
In only his second season in the NFL, Dan Marino was named the NFL MVP after becoming the first player to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. The Miami Dolphins advanced to the Super Bowl that year, but they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
John Elway
Ken Anderson
Johnny Unitas
Advertisement
Michael Irvin
Chris Carter
Calvin Johnson
The offense for the Detroit Lions between 2007 and 2015 was basically formed around the talents of Calvin Johnson. Johnson had his best season in 2012 when he set the single-season record for receiving yards by racking up 1,964 yards through the air.
Steve Largent
Advertisement
Joe Greene
Joe Greene was a member of the "Steel Curtain," a defensive line that helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowls between 1974 and 1979. For his contributions during that run, the Steelers retired Greene's No. 75.
Reggie White
Jack Lambert
Deacon Jones
Advertisement
Gale Sayers
Marcus Allen
Earl Campbell
Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk wasn't only great at running the football but could also catch passes out of the backfield. During the 1999 season, Faulk rushed for 1,381 yards and added 1,048 receiving yards to prove he was one of the most balanced backs in the league.
Advertisement
Adrian Peterson
Earl Campbell
LaDainian Tomlinson
The same season that LaDainian Tomlinson set the NFL single-season rushing touchdowns record, he also won the NFL MVP and NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Aside from touchdowns, Tomlinson also led the NFL in rushing yards that season.
Jim Brown
Advertisement
Darrell Green
Champ Bailey
Darrelle Revis
Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders displayed his unique athleticism on both the gridiron and the baseball field, becoming the only person to ever play in a World Series and a Super Bowl. His team lost in the World Series, but Sanders did end his NFL career with two championships.
Advertisement
Chris Carter
The ball stuck to Chris Carter's hands anytime a pass was thrown his way, which is why the Hall of Fame wide receiver finished his career with 1,101 receptions. Carter added 130 receiving touchdowns to signify he was one of the best receivers to ever take the field.
Art Monk
Andre Johnson
Hines Ward
Advertisement
Larry Fitzgerald
Chris Carter
Terrell Owens
Randy Moss
Randy Moss was a star from the moment he touched an NFL field in 1998, setting the NFL rookie record for touchdown catches in a season with 17. For his play in 1998, Moss was named the NFL Rookie of the Year.
Advertisement
Tony Dorsett
Eric Dickerson
Jerome Bettis
Jim Brown
Jim Brown only played nine seasons in the NFL, but he led the league in rushing yards eight of those nine seasons. His greatest season came in 1963 when he rushed for 1,863 yards during a season where only 14 games were played.
Advertisement
Charles Woodson
In 1997, Charles Woodson became the only defensive player to ever win the Heisman Trophy while playing at the University of Michigan. He is also the last player who's not a running back or quarterback to win the award.
Mel Blount
Ronnie Lott
Ty Law
Advertisement
Ronde Barber
Ty Law
Steve Atwater
Ronnie Lott
After being drafted with the eighth overall pick in 1981, Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. Always a threat in the defensive secondary, Lott finished his career with 63 interceptions.
Advertisement
Gale Sayers
Terrell Davis
Frank Gore
Thurman Thomas
Thurman Thomas helped the Buffalo Bills revolutionize the NFL with their no-huddle offense in the late '80s and early '90s. The offense, which is common in the NFL today, was groundbreaking at the time because most teams only used the no-huddle approach in the fourth quarter when they were down.
Advertisement
Tony Dorsett
Walter Payton
Emmitt Smith
Despite a stellar college career where he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1989, Emmitt Smith was viewed as undersized coming into the 1990 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys were happy to snag him with the 17th overall pick, and he became a staple of their success in the '90s.
Eric Dickerson
Advertisement
Johnny Unitas
Len Dawson
Joe Namath
After promising New York City a championship, Joe Namath not only won Super Bowl III with the New York Jets but was also named the MVP of the game. During the matchup with the Baltimore Colts, who were heavily favored, Namath completed 17 passes for 206 yards.
Sonny Jurgensen
Advertisement
Sam Huff
Kevin Greene
Despite a celebrated individual career, Kevin Greene was never able to win a championship as a player. However, after taking over as the outside linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers in 2009, he was part of the team when they won Super Bowl XLV.
Patrick Willis
DeMarcus Ware
Advertisement
Gene Upshaw
Bruce Matthews
After Bruce Matthews made his first Pro Bowl in 1988, he was elected to the game 14 straight times until he retired in 2001. His 14 selections to the Pro Bowl are tied for the most all-time by any player.
Mike Webster
Forrest Gregg
Advertisement
Anthony Munoz
Walter Jones
Jonathan Ogden
Jonathan Ogden was a great selection for the Baltimore Ravens considering he made the Pro Bowl every season he was in the NFL besides his rookie year. He was also named to nine All-Pro teams and won Super Bowl XXXV.
Ron Yary
Advertisement
Bart Starr
Winning back-to-back titles, Bart Starr was named the MVP of Super Bowl I and II. He had the better game in Super Bowl I when he threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, finishing the game with a 116.2 passer rating.
Johnny Unitas
Fran Tarkenton
Roger Staubach
Advertisement
Wes Welker
Isaac Bruce
Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison could catch a football lined with grease, which is why he twice led the NFL in receptions for a season. He finished his career with 1,102 receptions and 14,580 yards while also adding in 128 receiving touchdowns.
Reggie Wayne
Advertisement
Ed Reed
Brian Dawkins
After retiring, Brian Dawkins returned to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016 as the executive of football operations for player development. In this position, he helped the Eagles win the first Super Bowl in franchise history when they defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Charles Woodson
Brian Westbrook
Advertisement
Dan Hampton
John Randle
Randy White
Alan Page
Alan Page was the leader of a defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings who were known as the "Purple People Eaters." Wearing their purple uniforms, Page and his fellow linemen put immense pressure on opposing quarterbacks, often recording sacks as their purple jerseys smothered the opposition.
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
.jpg){kind=link}
