Bleacher Report's NFL All-Quarter-Century Team

The past quarter-century has featured plenty of the NFL's all-time greats. Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, we assembled a panel to decide upon the best of the best at each position since 2000.

More than a dozen NFL experts, editors and analysts weighed in on a Heisman-style ballot—three points for a first-team vote, two points for second-team, one point for third-team—and the top vote-getters earned a spot on B/R's All-Quarter-Century Team.

All players who have taken the field in the 2000s were eligible, though only their production from this century was considered.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Gregory Payan

Tom Brady

1st Team: Tom Brady

2nd Team: Peyton Manning

3rd Team: Patrick Mahomes

Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers also received votes at quarterback, but the top three were totally unsurprising.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of the QB voting was the fact that Tom Brady didn't receive 100 percent of the first-team votes. After winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and another one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady is unquestionably the most decorated quarterback in NFL history.

Of course, an argument could be made that Peyton Manning was the best quarterback of his era; he just wasn't fortunate enough to be on teams as good as Brady's. The five-time MVP and two-time champ trails only Brady and Drew Brees in all-time passing yards and still holds single-season records for yards (5,477) and touchdowns (55).

Patrick Mahomes is still playing and has a long way to go to catch Brady and Manning in career statistics. However, he has become the face of the modern NFL era. With three Super Bowl wins and five appearances in seven seasons as a full-time starter, Mahomes could retire tomorrow and be a Hall of Famer.

Running Back

AP Photo/Chris Park

Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs by Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha in 2009.

1st Team: LaDainian Tomlinson

2nd Team: Adrian Peterson

3rd Team: Derrick Henry

The running back vote was interesting because each of the top three vote-getters represents a different running style. While backs like Christian McCaffrey, Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch deserved and received consideration, these three are sort of the prime examples of their archetypes.

If you're talking about running backs and mention "L.T.," "A.P." or "King Henry," people will know who you're talking about.

LaDainian Tomlinson was everything a team could want in a dual-threat runner/receiver. With five Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pro selections, one MVP, more than 13,000 rushing yards and nearly 5,000 receiving yards on his resume, Tomlinson was one of the most electric offensive weapons the league has ever seen.

Adrian Peterson was much more of a run-first back, but his combination of speed, athleticism and power made him a sensation. He made seven Pro Bowls and won one league MVP during his first nine seasons. While he was slowed by injuries later in his career, Peterson played for 15 years and rushed for 14,918 yards.

Derrick Henry, who is still going strong at 31, is a unicorn with an unmatched combination of size (6'2", 252 lbs) and breakaway speed. His ability to run through tackles and run away from defenders has allowed him to rack up 11,423 rushing yards and 106 rushing touchdowns in nine seasons, even though Henry wasn't a full-time starter until Year 3.

Wide Receiver

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Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson

1st Team: Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson

2nd Team: Terrell Owens, Julio Jones, Marvin Harrison

3rd Team: Steve Smith Sr., Tyreek Hill, Andre Johnson

With teams relying on the pass and multiple-receiver sets more than ever before, we felt it was appropriate to follow the Associated Press' example and utilize a three-receiver lineup—just like the All-Pro team.

This was an extremely close race with only one vote separating first-teamer Calvin Johnson and second-team receiver Terrell Owens. It's hard to argue with the top three, though, and it's virtually impossible to argue with the selection of Randy Moss.

One of only five players to earn a first-team spot on every ballot, Moss might have been the most gifted wideout we've ever seen. While the Hall of Famer never won a Super Bowl, he racked up more than 15,000 receiving yards in 14 seasons and still holds the record for touchdown receptions in a season (23).

While Moss brought plenty of flash to the receiver position, Larry Fitzgerald was the workmanlike professional. His career spanned 17 seasons—all with the Arizona Cardinals—and yielded 17,492 receiving yards, second all-time to only Jerry Rice.

Calvin Johnson was almost universally considered the best receiver in the game during a nine-year career that included 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns. His reputation was so great that he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer despite his relatively short career.

Tight End

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Tony Gonzalez

1st Team: Tony Gonzalez

2nd Team: Rob Gronkowski

3rd Team: Travis Kelce

We've seen a number of dominant tight ends over the past 25 years. The top of the list was great enough to leave Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Famer Antonio Gates off our All-Quarter-Century team even though he's fourth all-time among tight ends in receiving yards.

Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who has three Super Bowl rings, 10 Pro Bowls and 12,151 career receiving yards, only made the third team.

Of course, one could argue Rob Gronkowski was the biggest mismatch at tight end we've ever seen. The four-time first-team All-Pro appeared in 32 fewer regular-season games than Kelce but has 15 more career touchdowns. Gronkowski also won four Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady, three in New England and one in Tampa.

As impressive as Gronkowski was and Kelce still is, neither has had the lengthy prime of Tony Gonzalez. In 17 seasons with the Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, he amassed 15,127 receiving yards, 111 touchdowns, 14 Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro nods.

Left Tackle

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Joe Thomas

1st Team: Joe Thomas

2nd Team: Trent Williams

3rd Team: Walter Jones

It's hard for any quarterback to thrive without an elite left tackle, and the past quarter-century has featured a few of them. While our LT vote wasn't all that close, Jason Peters, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Andrew Whitworth did receive votes.

Joe Thomas was the top vote-getter, which wasn't stunning. The most recent Cleveland Browns Hall of Famer was a 10-time Pro Bowler and six-time first-team All-Pro who played what is believed to be an NFL-record 10,363 consecutive snaps.

Trent Williams hasn't had Thomas' durability, but he's been every bit as capable when healthy. The 11-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro remains one of the best in the game—Pro Football Focus graded him sixth among all offensive tackles last season, which was his age-36 campaign.

Walter Jones was a 12-year starter for the Seattle Seahawks who never started fewer than 12 games in a season. He made nine Pro Bowls and earned four first-team All-Pro nods.

Left Guard

AP Photo/David Richard

Alan Faneca

1st Team: Alan Faneca

2nd Team: Steve Hutchinson

3rd Team: Logan Mankins

Interior linemen don't always gain the recognition of tackles, but the best can still help turn a good offense into a great one.

Alan Faneca was a Pittsburgh Steelers staple for the early part of this century. A seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time champion with the Steelers, the Hall of Famer earned another two Pro Bowl nods after leaving Pittsburgh in 2008.

Steve Hutchinson, another Hall of Famer, was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro who spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, five with the Seattle Seahawks and one with the Tennessee Titans. Logan Mankins was a six-time Pro Bowler for the Patriots who earned another Pro Bowl nod as a Buccaneer.

Mankins edged out current Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson for our third-team spot by a single vote.

Center

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Jason Kelce

1st Team: Jason Kelce

2nd Team: Jeff Saturday

3rd Team: Kevin Mawae

Jason Kelce isn't just one of the greatest centers of the modern era. He's become one of the most prolific figures in all of professional sports, which speaks to the popularity and the production of Kelce's playing career.

Kelce helped the Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl in the 2017 season. He retired before Philly's latest Super Bowl win, but he capped his career with seven Pro Bowl selections and six first-team All-Pro selections.

Jeff Saturday won't be remembered fondly for his brief and failed stint as the Colts' interim head coach. However, he'll long be remembered as Peyton Manning's longtime running mate. The two-time first-team All-Pro made five Pro Bowls in Indianapolis and another with the Green Bay Packers. He also helped bring the Lombardi Trophy to Indianapolis in the 2006 season.

Kevin Mawae is a Hall of Famer who likely slipped to the third team because his playing career began back in 1994. However, Mawae made seven Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro lists after the turn of the century.

Maurkice Pouncey and Alex Mack were the only other centers who received multiple votes.

Right Guard

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Zack Martin

1st Team: Zack Martin

2nd Team: Jahri Evans

3rd Team: Marshal Yanda

The fact that former NFL standouts such as Chris Snee and Will Shields didn't make our All-Quarter-Century Team is telling. While there have been several excellent right guards over the last 25 years, Zack Martin, Jahri Evans and Marshal Yanda are a cut above the rest.

Yanda spent all 13 of his seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and helped the franchise win its second Super Bowl in the 2012 season. He started 166 games during his time in Baltimore, made eight Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro twice. Evans, a four-time first-team All-Pro, helped the New Orleans Saints win their first and only Super Bowl in the 2009 season.

The Dallas Cowboys haven't had postseason success this century, but that probably won't stop Zack Martin from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. When healthy, he was one of the franchise's most consistent performers before retiring this spring.

"I hope I left as much of an impression on this organization as it did on me," Martin said, per ESPN's Todd Archer.

The "impression" Martin left on the Cowboys franchise involved nine Pro Bowl appearances and seven first-team All-Pro selections.

Right Tackle

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Lane Johnson

1st Team: Lane Johnson

2nd Team: Willie Anderson

3rd Team: Tristan Wirfs

Right tackle isn't considered as premium a position as left tackle because they typically don't protect a quarterback's blind side. However, the value gap between left and right tackle has narrowed in recent years since top pass-rushers rarely stick to one side.

The Eagles are fortunate to still have Lane Johnson holding down the right side. Our top vote-getter at RT has started 158 games, made six Pro Bowls and helped deliver two Lombardi Trophies to the Eagles. He'll add to his impressive resume in 2025, as will Buccaneers star Tristan Wirfs.

The fact that Wirfs made our third team after only three seasons at right tackle—he moved to LT in 2023—is a reflection of his elite performance. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro has proven to be a high-end starter on either side of the line.

Willie Anderson spent the vast majority of his career on the right side but was one of the best in the business during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Though he began his career in 1996, Anderson played nine seasons, appeared in four Pro Bowls and was a three-time first-team All-Pro after the turn of the century.

Defensive Tackle

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Aaron Donald

1st Team: Aaron Donald, Kevin Williams

2nd Team: Richard Seymour, Chris Jones

3rd Team: Ndamukong Suh, Warren Sapp

For our All-Quarter-Century Team, we opted for a defensive alignment that includes two interior defenders, three edge-defenders, two linebackers, two cornerbacks and two safeties. Unsurprisingly, our defensive front will be anchored by Kevin Williams and Aaron Donald.

Donald, who received a first-team vote on every ballot, was arguably the biggest common-sense inclusion on this entire list. His 10-year career with the Los Angeles Rams included 10 Pro Bowls, eight first-team All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy.

Williams didn't have a career quite as prolific as Donald's, but the five-time first-team All-Pro was unquestionably one of the best interior defenders of the last 25 years.

Williams beat out Richard Seymour for a first-team spot by only two votes. Seymour was a three-time first-team All-Pro who also won three Super Bowls in New England.

Warren Sapp is already in the Hall of Fame, and Ndamukong Suh and Chris Jones may get there one day. Each would be a star in any defensive line rotation.

Edge

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J.J. Watt

1st Team: J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers, Von Miller

2nd Team: DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Myles Garrett

3rd Team: Terrell Suggs, T.J. Watt, Dwight Freeney

The last 25 years have been headlined by so many terrific edge-rushers that we decided to deviate from the All-Pro formula and include three of them. Even with an expanded position group, stars like Khalil Mack, Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan were left off the team.

This was another close vote, but seeing J.J. Watt and Julius Peppers at the top was unsurprising. Watt's 12-year career included five first-team All-Pro selections and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. While his 114.5 career sacks have him outside of the top 30 all-time, Watt was the most dominant defender in football for a large chunk of the 2010s.

Julius Peppers was never named Defensive Player of the Year, but the three-time first-team All-Pro was consistently productive throughout his 17-year career. With 159.5 career sacks, he trails only Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Deacon Jones and Kevin Greene on the unofficial all-time list. (Sacks didn't become an official statistic until 1982.)

Von Miller, who is set to play for the Washington Commanders in 2025, is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. The eight-time Pro Bowler has won Super Bowls with both the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, has a Super Bowl MVP on his resume and has 129.5 career sacks in 13 seasons.

Linebacker

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Ray Lewis

1st Team: Ray Lewis, Bobby Wagner

2nd Team: Brian Urlacher, Luke Kuechly

3rd Team: Patrick Willis, Derrick Brooks

If Aaron Donald was the most obvious choice for our All-Quarter-Century Team, longtime Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was a close second.

The 12-time Pro Bowler, seven-time first-team All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year spent his entire career in Baltimore and earned all but three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro nod after the turn of the century. Lewis also helped lead the Ravens to championships in 2000 and 2012.

Joining Lewis on our first team is another seemingly ageless veteran. Bobby Wagner is gearing up for his 14th pro season and has shown no signs of slowing down. The six-time first-team All-Pro racked up 132 tackles and made his 10th career Pro Bowl this past season.

Brian Urlacher would be a logical first-team selection if our LB core was expanded. A 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Urlacher was an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and one-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Chicago Bears.

Luke Kuechly, Patrick Willis and Derrick Brooks all had stretches where they could be considered the best in the NFL. They round out a truly impressive linebacker room.

Cornerback

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Darrelle Revis

1st Team: Champ Bailey, Darrelle Revis

2nd Team: Charles Woodson, Ronde Barber

3rd Team: Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman

While no cornerback received a first-team vote on every ballot, Champ Bailey and Darrelle Revis tied for the most selections and would forge a potent secondary tandem.

Revis, a seven-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro, spent more than a decade stranding opposing receivers on "Revis Island." Though he's best known for his time with the New York Jets, Revis won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2014.

Bailey joined the Broncos in 2004 after five seasons with the Commanders and earned 12 Pro Bowl selections and three first-team All-Pro nods in his 15-year NFL career.

Charles Woodson, who played safety later in his career, was only a handful of votes away from earning a first-team spot. Though his career began in 1998, Woodson was a seven-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro and one-time Defensive Player of the Year in the 2000s and 2010s.

Ronde Barber, Patrick Peterson and Richard Sherman were all Hall of Fame-caliber cornerbacks during their prime—Barber was inducted in 2023—and each would be a welcome addition to any defensive backfield.

Safety

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Ed Reed

1st Team: Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu

2nd Team: Brian Dawkins, Earl Thomas

3rd Team: Eric Weddle, Tyrann Mathieu

Like longtime teammate Ray Lewis, Ed Reed was a first-ballot Hall of Famer who also received a first-team nod from every one of our voters. One could also argue that Reed was the best back-end safety the NFL has ever seen.

A nine-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro, Reed is also the NFL's all-time leader in interception-return yards (1,590). He finished his career with 64 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and nine defensive touchdowns. While Reed wasn't around for Baltimore's first Super Bowl, he did help deliver its second in 2012.

Longtime Steelers star Troy Polamalu was a sensible pick to be Reed's running mate, even if one (and only one) of our voters listed him as a second-team safety.

Another first-ballot Hall of Famer, Polamalu was an instinctual defender who always seemed to be in the right place at the correct time. An eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time first-team All-Pro, Polamalu racked up 32 picks, 14 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, five defensive touchdowns and 56 tackles for loss during his 12-year career.

No other safety really threatened Reed and Polamalu for a first-team spot, though Brian Dawkins, Earl Thomas, Eric Weddle and Tyrann Mathieu were all deserving of All-Quarter-Century recognition.

Punter

AP Photo/George Bridges

Shane Lechler

1st Team: Shane Lechler

2nd Team: Johnny Hekker

3rd Team: Andy Lee

Would a team this talented ever really have to punt? Perhaps not, but our squad wouldn't be complete without a field-flipping specialist.

Shane Lechler is undoubtedly one of the top specialists of the last 25 years. With a career average of 47.6 yards per punt and a resume that includes six first-team All-Pro selections, Lechler might just be one of the best punters of all time.

Johnny Hekker, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in March, has made four first-team All-Pro lists and holds the NFL record for the longest punt in a Super Bowl (65 yards). Andy Lee was a three-time first-team All-Pro who holds the No. 2 spot (4,968 yards) on the single-season punt-yardage list behind only Dave Zastudil (5,209 yards).

Kicker

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Adam Vinatieri kicks a field goal from the hold of Rigoberto Sanchez in 2018

1st Team: Adam Vinatieri

2nd Team: Justin Tucker

3rd Team: Stephen Gostkowski

Kickers are never the faces of franchises, but they're similar to quarterbacks in one way. There are great ones, and then there's everyone else.

The last 25 years have featured plenty of great kickers, but Adam Vinatieri, Justin Tucker and Stephen Gostkowski stand above guys like David Akers, Robbie Gould, Sebastian Janikowski and Phil Dawson.

Vinatieri was the logical choice for the first team given the big-time kicks he delivered for the Patriots and Colts, his four Super Bowl wins and his NFL records for career points scored (2,673) and field goals made (599).

Tucker has made 417 field goals in his career and holds an impressive 89.1 percent career FG rate, along with the record for longest regular-season field goal (66 yards). Gostkowski made 86.3 percent of his 454 career attempts and helped deliver three Lombardi Trophies to New England.

Return Specialist

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Devin Hester

1st Team: Devin Hester

2nd Team: Dante Hall

3rd Team: Josh Cribbs

Our All-Quarter-Century Team wouldn't be complete without a game-breaking return specialist, and ours has three of them. While Cordarrelle Patterson and Darren Sproles also received votes, Devin Hester, Dante Hall and Josh Cribbs form the logical trio.

Hester is the all-time record holder with 20 combined kick- and punt-return touchdowns, and his contributions as a return specialist have already earned him a place in Canton. Hall, who is in the Chiefs Hall of Fame, accumulated 12,397 return yards and 12 return touchdowns and earned a spot on the NFL's 2000s All-Decade team as a punt returner.

Cribbs was one of the only reasons to watch Browns football during his eight years with the franchise. He finished his career with 13,488 return yards and 11 return touchdowns.