I will conclude it by doing the greatest performers in all of sport to wear the number. There's only one punter in the Hall of Fame.Part 5 of a series. Most notable players: Adam Vinatieri, Jason Hanson, John Kasay, Phil Dawson Punter - #8 It also turns out that some of the league's other highest scoring kickers have donned No. While many will joke that kickers aren't really football players, Vinatieri has commanded the respect of the football world with his clutch kicks for the Patriots and Colts. Most notable players: Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Mel Renfro Kicker - #4 Very few safeties have made it into the Hall, especially since the NFL changed it's numbering system in 1973, but Reed and Dawkins should both join Renfro soon after gaining eligibility to Canton. Most notable players: Darrelle Revis, Willie Brown, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson (also wore 21), Ty Law Safety - #20 21 often comes to mind as the most iconic number at this position, but when you line up the players, it's 24 that has the best resume of shutdown cornerbacks. Honorable mention: #52 - Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis Cornerback - #24ĭeion Sanders's No. Most notable players: Derrick Brooks, Junior Seau, Lance Briggs, Chris Hanburger The Hall of Fame trio of Brooks, Seau, and Hanburger - with Briggs likely on his way to Canton - narrowly edged out the modern duo of Lewis and Willis. Most notable players: Lawrence Taylor, Chris Doleman, Andre Tippett, Pat Swilling Interior Linebacker - #55ĭefinitely the most difficult jersey number to determine, interior linebacker has proved to be one of the most difficult positions to truly excel at. Honorable mention: #92 - Reggie White, Michael Strahan Edge Linebacker - #56Īrguably the greatest defender in NFL history, 'L.T.' leads the list of football's scariest linebackers off the edge along with Doleman and his 150.5 career sacks. Watt, Warren Sapp, Dan Hampton, Jason Taylor, Mark Gastineau While many of the great ends and tackles have gone their separate ways in selecting numbers, many of football's best defensive linemen have worn the highest number possible.

Most notable players: Larry Allen, Joe Thomas, John Hannah, Marshall Yanda, Ron Yary, Jahri Evans Defensive Line - #99 73 has appeared on the jerseys of a surprising amount of Hall of Famers and future Canton members who block for a living. There are too many great O-linemen who play too many positions to settle on one number at all five spots. Most notable players: Tony Gonzalez, John Mackey, Charlie Sanders, Greg Olsen Offensive Line - #73 Three of the eight Hall of Fame tight ends, including the all-stats leader (pictured above), wore the same digits, so maybe they should have by now. The league's top tight ends have yet to agree on which jersey number is best. Honorable mention: #81 - Tim Brown, Randy Moss (also wore 84), Art Monk, Calvin Johnson, Terrell Owens, Anquan Boldin Tight End - #88 Most notable players: Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Steve Largent, James Lofton, Isaac Bruce, Andre Johnson, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar 80, thus making it tough to forget all of the historical highlights featuring the likes of Rice, Carter, Largent, and Lofton catching the ball with ease. Honorable mention: #34 - Earl Campbell, Walter Payton, Thurman Thomas, Bo Jackson, Ricky Williams, Herschel Walker Wide Receiver - #80Įight of the NFL's top 20 all-time leading receivers wore No. Simpson, Edgerrin James, Ricky Watters, Maurice Jones-Drew Most notable players: Jim Brown, Marcus Allen, Franco Harris, O.J.

One of the toughest decisions on the list boiled down to career accomplishments and got a push over the top from Jim Brown, arguably the most iconic player in league history. Most notable players: Tom Brady, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Aaron Rodgers, Jim Kelly, Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler, Bob Griese Running Back - #32 12, along with an impressive list of NFL greats to make this the easiest choice on this list. Two of history's trio of four-time Super Bowl winning quarterbacks have donned No. Some positions were more obvious than others, but using a combination of Hall of Fame inductions, future gold jacket wearers, Canton snubs, and career accomplishments, we took a shot at determining the most successful jersey number at each position.

The NFL implemented a numbering system in 1973 limiting which jersey numbers can be worn by players at each position.

Soccer jersey numbers by position