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Here is the list of the most overrated NFL players from the Super Bowl era. It's hard to rate NFL players as overrated before then, simply because the game has changed so much over the years to make it easier for QBs and WRs...

The Most Overrated NFL Players from the Past 40 Years

by John Lewis (Senior Writer)

31

1,676 reads

Opinion

July 04, 2008


Here is the list of the most overrated NFL players from the Super Bowl era. It's hard to rate NFL players as overrated before then, simply because the game has changed so much over the years to make it easier for QBs and WRs.

Remember, you have to be considered a great player to be called overrated.

Here we go.

 

Michael Vick

Vick went first in the 2001 NFL draft, and from there, the bumpy ride to stardom began. Blessed with blazing speed, in 2006 he became the first QB to rush for 1,000 yards. Also that year he teamed up with RB Warrick Dunn to become the only QB/RB to rush for 1,000 yards in same season.

That's the good news. Now for the bad: For all of his agility and speed, he couldn't find a way to consistently win games. Though Vick has been in the league for six seasons, he's only played four full years and has averaged 8.75 wins.  

The rest of his four full season averages are: 2,533 passing yards, 16.2 touchdowns, 11.5 interceptions, and a 54.7 percent completion percentage.  These are not exactly first-overall-pick numbers.   

 

Keyshawn Johnson

Johnson was drafted first in the 1996 NFL draft by the New York Jets. He played 11 seasons and could only muster three Pro Bowls, one All-Pro selection, and was kicked out shortly after winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His temper continually wrote checks that his performances couldn't cash. He was traded away from the Jets, traded away from the Buccaneers, released by the Dallas Cowboys, and released by the Carolina Panthers after just one season.      

While his career numbers are pretty solid, they are certainly not among the top WRs ever. His career averages were 74 receptions and 961 yards per season.

  

Lynn Swann

Swann was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, 21st overall in 1974. While he had some of the greatest hands in the game, he certainly didn't put up the stats that would put him on the best WR list.

He never had a 1,000-yard season, and he only scored 10 or more touchdowns twice. In his nine seasons, he only averaged 37.3 receptions, 606 yards, 5.6 touchdowns per season and 47.5 yards per game.      

We all know the game has changed over the years to be more pass happy, but his QB, Terry Bradshaw, had over 3,700 yards passing in 1979 and over 3,300 in 1980. Swann's receiving yards in those seasons were 808 and 710.   

 

Terry Bradshaw

This one may get a few eyebrows, but just look at the teams he played on. During their great years, the Steelers had the best defense, a great offensive line, and a great running game. 

Sure, the first couple of years in Pittsburgh weren't the best, but just look at the defensive rank from 1972-1979. The Steelers had the second, eighth, second, second, first, 17th, first, and fifth-ranked defense during those years. Then throw in Franco Harris and his seven 1,000-yard rushing and five double-digit-scoring seasons.

Not to mention Bradshaw threw a lot of interceptions, 210, to 212 touchdowns, and he only completed 51.9 percent of his passes.     

 

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31 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Chris Allen about 1 year ago

    I totally about Michael Vick. The only reason Vick was talked about so much was because of his speed and his rushing abilities, being the QB with the most rushing yards per year on average, as well as the only QB to rush for 1000 yards.

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  2. Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

    Great List.

    You should have put Joe Namath on this list aswell.

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  3. Barrett Harger about 1 year ago

    Good point about Swann, I didn't know that.

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  4. Bob Cunningham about 1 year ago

    The thing with Swann is to remember the system he was in. run-first, run-second, pass 3rd, maybe. also, he had another pretty good receiver on the other side of him in stallworth.

    But yes, Joe Namath should be on here.

    Most people dont know that he only had TWO year where he had more TD than INT. ONLY TWO YEARS?!?! THATS A HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK?! no way. he's only in because he ran his mouth before super bowl 3. His performance on Suzy Kolber was more impressive than his career. most overrated player in history.

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  5. Jerry Desaulniers about 1 year ago

    I'm obviously not alone, if you ever witnessed Swan you would say, I'll trade Chad and TO to get Swan on my team. Swan was artwork not football. And Namath was real good but not as great as some would say. Good list except Namath should replace Swan!

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    • Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

      Jerry,
      Swann was good, but not that good. I would take Chad or T.O. over him anyday.

      T.O. isn't even finished playing and he has 129 career td's in comparison to Swann's 51.

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  6. Dan Boone about 1 year ago

    Dan Fouts and Warren Moon, post season blahs....

    Mike Singletary. Madden raving about his eyes made him famous. Playing behind Hampton and McMichael prevented him from being run over and his pass coverage ability was poor.

    Jermey Shockey...

    Keyyawn Johnson...

    How bout Bob Griese and the 1972 Dolphins?

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  7. Len Nolan about 1 year ago

    The nut case with the political avatar doesn't know what he is talking about.

    The same goes for the so-called "Senior Writer. A senior high school writer perhaps.

    Football was/is a team sport.

    Consider the player's on the basis of what they did for their teams and not personal statistics.

    How did they contribute?

    Did they make the big plays when it mattered?

    What was/is their overall quality with respect to their teams...families...communities, and the game itself.

    How many championship rings do they have in comparison to the selfish twerps to which you would compare them

    Short sighted people have other shortcomings.

    Baloney!

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    • Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

      Len,
      Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but if you're going to criticize "senior writer" for his writing skill, you need to step it up yourself. Not only do you obviously write like a middle-schooler but nowhere in your comments do you mention what player your talking about. In fact you don't even mention anything that could possibly validate what you're trying to say other than generalizations. You just make broad statemets and ask indirect questions.

      "What was/is their overall quality with respect to their teams...families...communities, and the game itself."

      Please. I hope that was in refernce to Lynn Swann and not Joe Namath. But then gain your commenting is so childish there is no real way to discern what the hell your talking about. Perhaps you can be more concise next time and we can have a legitimate discussion.

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  8. William Berry about 1 year ago

    Why am I defending Joe Namath? Lack of Jet fans.:)

    Namath pre-1970 97 TDs 104 Ints 1.07 int./TD ratio
    Namath post-1972 (not counting Rams in 1977) 63 TDs 93 ints 1.48 int./TD ratio

    Namath should have retired when injured. Hindsight, however, is 20/20.:D )

    (Yes, Interceptions to TDs. :D I’m not saying he was good, I’m saying he became horrid after the injury.)

    He also became the poster boy for the AFL merger “proving” they were as good as the NFL.

    Also keep in mind all QB stats before Montana are a bit screwy by our standards. (Higher ints. and higher ypa) He lead the league many of those “pitiful” years.

    For raw data:

    http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/NamaJo00.htm

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    • Bruce Dickenson about 1 year ago

      Joe was only supposed to play 4 years in the NFL.

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    • Dan Boone about 1 year ago

      Bill Walsh once said if he could pick one QB, in complete health, in NFL history to lead his team it would have been Namath.

      Walsh loved his arm, brains, drive and daring deep shots. And Joe had wheels till his knees went.

      Namath took a physical pounding from other teams cause of his playboy image.

      Especially from AFL brothers like the Raiders and Chiefs...

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  9. Jeff Whalen about 1 year ago

    If yer talkin fantasy football, with the big stats an all, Swann's numbers don't match up...but I agree with Jerry, Swann was artwork and you'd still be smilin if you'da seen him play...the Super Steelers of the 70's were a grreat all around team, not many players had the fantasy numbers of today, they all contributed...something we should all do in life...the same agruement can be meade about Vick, only in the other direction...the teams he was on weren't great, although he had big stats, the team lagged, one guy can carry a team for only so long..
    Swann puts Chad and TO to shame, those two clowns should go on tour as a vaudeville team and see who screws up the most...big egos do not make a great player, which is why O-linemen don't get enough respect, they're not mouthin-off about somethin that they think was a big deal when it was nuthin..I already miss Fanaca, & I do wish he didn't gripe as much as he did last year. Most fantasy players stand out becuase they play on crappy teams, great teams don't have big stats guys...exception to Brady, but let's see where his stats are when he reitres, Tds/INTs, et. al.....
    Here We Go Steelers..Here We Go!

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    • Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

      Please. Jeff.

      Big Egos don't make a great player? Mean Joe Greene had a big ego, Deion Sanders had a big ego, Jerry Rice had a big ego, Lawrence Taylor had a big ego, Jim Brown had a big ego, Michael Irvin had one, i could keep goin..... Yes it dosen't necessarily make a great player but it can help. You can sit here and argue that he's better than Chad Johnson thats fie, but to say Swann is better than T.O. is to either have no clue about the football, or be a steelers fan (which is ok).

      Your Super Steelers of the 70's were dominated by defense not offense. In fact John Stallworth was better than Lynn Swann in my opinion. yes Lynn was graceful, but had it not been for NFL FIlms and his amazing superbowl catch the guy wouldnt be in the hall of fame. IF you wanna talk about inflated numbers you can make some good arguments but when Swanns 51tds to T.O. 129; thats not just minor era inflation. T.O. is a much better player than Lynn Swann period. Is he a better teammate? No. But if T.O. played on the Steelers in the 70s im sure he'd have 4 rings as well. Don't stand up for a receiver who never once eclipsed 1000yards receiving. Pathetic.

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  10. Jeff Whalen about 1 year ago

    big egos don't make great bloggers either

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  11. Jeff Whalen about 1 year ago

    well, if Swann is overrated, then Stallworth is underrated...and all is fair in love and war..., but mostly I meant Swann, much like Hines Ward today, both players make great contributions to the team that don't dhow up on the stats

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    • Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

      haha there ya go. Fair trade off in my opinion.

      Yes Hines Ward is HUGELY undervalued. Not only is he a phenomenal possesion receiver; he blocks with the best of them and brings a physical prescence to the offense. Hines Ward is the shit. Period.

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  12. Jeff Whalen about 1 year ago

    plus, Swann was forced into retirement because of too many concussions, because he leapt so high into the air he would get hit in the ankles and spun up-side down then fall on his head...many times in his career this happened.

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  13. Joe G about 1 year ago

    Shaun Alexander? Tiki Barber? Just putting those two out there.

    Enjoyed the article, and definitely agree on Vick. The numbers you give definitely back that up. He's no Steve Young, that's for sure.

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  14. Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago

    Thank you for saying Keyshawn! I hate him with an absolute passion!

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  15. BabyTate about 1 year ago

    Most overrated could also include Todd Blackledge. A nice man who won a natl title for Joe Paterno but should not have gone in front of Dan Marino in the draft.

    Ricky Bell. No business in going #1 before Tony Dorsett in the draft.

    Ron Dayne. A good helper but no star.

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  1. Lyle Gillis about 1 year ago

    Now, Mr. Lewis has officially made himself and idiot. By his own standards, even. First, he makes the comment that the player has to be considered "great". Now, let's double-take that list a minute...Jeff George has been blasted for years for being a perennial loser, so he isn't considered "great". Now, since we're going to nit-pick the overrated line, how about Vinny "the Franchise" Testaverde? Labeled the savior of Tampa Bay, and if Terry Bradshaw did well and was overrated, then Testaverde should be high on the list. Next to hammer away at would be Ottis "OJ" Anderson of St. Louis Cardinal and New York Giant fame, yes he reached 10,000 yards, but it took him 13 years, kinda not-so-good for a back who is supposed to be on level with Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders. Chris Doleman and Mark Gastineau were excellent pass rushers, but were invisible at stopping the run. Which hardly puts them in the category of Michael Strahan, Howie Long, and Reggie White. I can go on for hours, with names that would upset and aggravate you. Danny White, John Randle, Joe Montana(if Bradshaw's overrated because of the team around him, then Montana, Aikman, and Brady so fit.), Jack Del-Rio, every New York Giants linebacker not named Lawrence Taylor since 1984, William Perry, Ty Law...(I'm only going on this guy's criteria, here...) I could keep going. I disagree, and Mr. Lewis needs to get an editor, because this article's writing was overrated. I've read several amateur posts, who didn't spend two weeks editing them that are better than this article.

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  2. Chris Soult 7 months ago

    I know this is old, but I would like to make some points about Swann and Bradshaw.

    First, Swann's career as a whole was not hugely productive, and was unfortunately short, I will give you that.

    The reason Swann's career was cut short was because of injuries, obviously, but the season Swann was injured so often had to do with the kinds of catches Swann made on a routine basis. If you took a list of the 100 most spectacular catches in NFL history, Swann would probably get at least 10 of them... three of them in Super Bowl X alone.

    Bradshaw is overrated, but not as badly as you claim. First, you have to remember that Bradshaw played half of his career in the pre-Mel Blunt Rule era, so every quarterback had lower stats. He also played the first four years of his career with almost no one to throw to on offense... Swann and Stallworth were both from 1974 Draft Class.

    Finally, what made Bradshaw great was not his play week to week. It was his play in the big games. Bradshaw was one of the top three greatest big game QB's in history. Bradshaw was always at his best when the season was on the line... and his best was far better than most.

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  3. JAMES BOND 5 months ago

    Warren SAAAAAAAAP is beyond overrated.i am trying to find a stronger adjective to describe how overrated he is.....cant seem to find one

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  4. JAMES BOND 5 months ago

    Lest i forget BEN WORTHLESSBURGHER

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  5. Mark Rinehart 5 months ago

    The whole T.O. debate is a joke. It doesnt matter how much talent the guy has because he is a cancer to any team he plays for. If his attitude were different and he was more of a team player I think he would have a superbowl ring on his finger. I dont care how great his numbers are because until he starts worrying more about winning instead of individual praise he will never be a great player. That is what makes people like Montana, Polamalu, Rice, Nameth, ect. great players. There talent is only part of it, and by itself does not make them great players. Its the fact that they used that talent to win football games as a team and not just for personal praise. Winning games was the most important thing and all they wanted was to put 7 on the scoreboard and it didnt matter who did it.

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