Every Major Sports City's Mt. Rushmore of the Century

The Mt. Rushmore debate is one of the best discussions in sports, and the difficulty of the exercise increases exponentially when it is opened up to multiple sports.

Challenge accepted.

Here, we've selected the Mt. Rushmore of athletes for 33 of the most prominent sports cities, each of which has at least two major sports teams.

The sole focus is on this century, from the 2000 season onward. Anything accomplished before then was off-limits in building a player's case.

Only accomplishments while playing for the city they are representing were considered. For example, LeBron's Cleveland case doesn't include anything he did in Miami or Los Angeles.

With that, let's begin.

Anaheim

Mike Trout (Angels): Arguably the best all-around MLB player of the last 25 years, Trout has racked up 90.5 WAR since making his MLB debut in 2011, winning three AL MVP awards and earning 11 All-Star selections along the way. Unfortunately, he has suffered through 11 straight losing seasons since making his one and only playoff appearance in the 2014 ALDS.

Shohei Ohtani (Angels): Ohtani spent the first six seasons of his unicorn career in an Angels uniform, winning 2018 AL Rookie of the Year along with 2021 and 2023 AL MVP honors. He crushed 34 home runs and had a 2.33 ERA with 219 strikeouts in 166 innings in 2022 for the greatest two-way campaign in baseball history.

Ryan Getzlaf (Ducks): Getzlaf spent his entire 17-year career with the Ducks, retiring as the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 1,019 points. He won a Stanley Cup in his second season and spent more than a decade anchoring Anaheim's top line as team captain.

Corey Perry (Ducks): Perry won the 2010-11 Hart Trophy when he logged career-high marks in goals (50) and points (98). He ranks second in franchise history in goals (372) behind Teemu Selanne, who saw much of his prime come before our 2000 cutoff line.

Atlanta

Matt Ryan (Falcons): The Falcons found a franchise quarterback when they selected Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick in 2008, as he threw for 59,735 yards and 367 touchdowns in 14 seasons. He won MVP in 2016 while leading Atlanta to its second-ever Super Bowl appearance, and had 10 seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards for the Falcons.

Freddie Freeman (Braves): Freeman made his MLB debut as a 20-year-old in 2010, and he laid the foundation for a likely Hall of Fame career over 12 seasons in Atlanta. He won NL MVP in 2020 and a World Series ring in 2021 before departing in free agency, finishing with 1,704 hits, 271 home runs and 43.0 WAR in a Braves uniform.

Julio Jones (Falcons): At his peak, Jones was the best wide receiver in football. He led the NFL in receiving yards in 2015 (1,871) and 2018 (1,677), and he had 848 receptions for 12,896 yards and 60 touchdowns as Matt Ryan's primary target over 10 seasons.

Chipper Jones (Braves): Jones hit .304/.404/.529 with 315 home runs and 1,099 RBI from 2000 through the end of his career. While his 1999 NL MVP award came before our cut line, that production is still enough to earn him the nod over Ronald Acuña Jr. for the final spot on Atlanta's Mt. Rushmore of the 2000s.

Baltimore

Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis (Ravens): One of the greatest linebackers of all time, Lewis was the leader of an elite defense that led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2000. The 2000 and 2003 Defensive Player of the Year spent his entire 17-year career in Baltimore and was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.

Ed Reed (Ravens): Widely regarded as the best free safety in NFL history, Reed was an elite ball-hawk. The five-time first-team All-Pro and 2004 DPOY had 61 of his 64 career interceptions with the Ravens, and he followed Lewis into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot in 2019.

Lamar Jackson (Ravens): Jackson joined Tom Brady (2010) as the only unanimous MVP winners in NFL history when he had 3,127 passing yards, 1,206 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns in 2019. He won a second MVP in 2023 and comfortably clears Joe Flacco as the greatest quarterback in Ravens history.

Terrell Suggs (Ravens): With 139 sacks, 202 tackles for loss, seven Pro Bowl selections and 2011 DPOY honors, Suggs is one of the elite pass-rushers of his era. Shout-out to Adam Jones as the Orioles' best candidate, but his accomplishments are comfortably exceeded by all four Ravens here.

Bay Area (Oakland/San Francisco)

Stephen Curry (Warriors): In the 17 seasons prior to Curry's debut, the Warriors made the playoffs just twice. In his 17 seasons with the team, they have made the playoffs 10 times and won four championships. Curry is the NBA's all-time leader in made threes (4,248) and a 42.2 percent shooter from deep. He won two MVP awards and earned 12 All-Star selections while changing the game with his outside shot.

Barry Bonds (Giants): Bonds joined the Giants in free agency prior to the 1993 season, which meant much of his career came prior to the 2000s. But his epic run from 2001-04 earned him a spot here regardless. During that four-year stretch, he hit .349/.559/.809 for an outrageous 256 OPS+, won four straight MVPs, and set the single-season home run record with 73 long balls in 2001.

Buster Posey (Giants): Posey was the face of the Giants' run to three World Series titles in a five-year stretch, starting in 2010 when he was NL Rookie of the Year. He won the NL batting title (.336) and MVP honors in 2012, and he was a .302/.372/.460 career hitter over 12 seasons while anchoring some excellent pitching staffs.

Draymond Green (Warriors): A nine-time All-Defensive team selection and the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, Green was the missing piece that pushed the Warriors dynasty over the top. That significance and a longer run with the club earns him the final spot on the Bay Area's Mt. Rushmore over former Splash Brother Klay Thompson.

Boston/New England

Tom Brady

Tom Brady (Patriots): With six Super Bowl rings over a 20-year run with the Patriots, Brady is not only a lock for this Mt. Rushmore conversation, but also an easy choice in the all-time debate alongside guys like Ted Williams, Larry Bird, Bill Russell and Bobby Orr. The three-time MVP is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and passing touchdowns (649).

David Ortiz (Red Sox): Ortiz provided some of the most memorable moments in Boston sports history during the Red Sox's historic comeback against the rival New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. He hit 483 of his 541 career home runs in a Red Sox uniform, and he added a .975 OPS and 17 home runs in 76 playoff games while winning three World Series rings.

Patrice Bergeron (Bruins): With six Selke Trophy wins, Bergeron is widely regarded as one of the best defensive centers in NHL history. He spent his entire 19-year career in Boston, winning a Stanley Cup in 2011, and he ranks third in franchise history with 1,040 points.

Paul Pierce (Celtics): The only homegrown member of Boston's "Big Three" alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Pierce won 2008 Finals MVP while leading the Celtics to their first title since 1986. He averaged 21.8 points per game and made 10 All-Star teams in his 15 seasons with the Celtics.

Buffalo

Josh Allen (Bills): The Bills had not won a playoff game since 1995 when they selected Allen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Over his last six seasons, he has averaged 4,157 passing yards and 32 touchdowns along with 597 yards and 10 more scores on the ground. The 2024 MVP has an 8-7 record in the postseason, though he is still searching for his first Super Bowl appearance.

Ryan Miller (Sabres): Miller is the Sabres' all-time leader in games (540), wins (284) and saves (14,847) by a sizable margin. He won the 2009-10 Vezina Trophy when he finished 41-18-8 with a .929 save percentage, and he retired as the winningest American-born goalie in NHL history.

Kyle Williams (Bills): A six-time Pro Bowler and the best player on the Bills prior to Josh Allen's arrival, Williams started 178 games over a 13-year career spent entirely in Buffalo. He peaked with 10.5 sacks in 2013 and tallied 48.5 sacks and 141 quarterback hits across his career.

Dion Dawkins (Bills): Dawkins arrived the year before Josh Allen was drafted, and he has done a fantastic job protecting the franchise quarterback's blind side. The 6'5", 320-pound Temple product has made five straight Pro Bowl appearances and was No. 42 on the NFL Top 100 prior to the 2025 season.

Charlotte

Cam Newton (Panthers): With an MVP award and Super Bowl appearance in 2015, there's an easy case to be made that Newton is the best quarterback in Panthers history. He is the franchise leader in passing yards (29,725), passing touchdowns (186) and rushing touchdowns (63), and he also ranks third in rushing yards (5,036).

Steve Smith Sr. (Panthers): Smith ranks among the top 15 all-time in receptions (1,031, 14th) and receiving yards (14,731, 8th), and he spent the first 13 seasons of his 16-year career in Carolina. He won the receiving Triple Crown in 2005 with 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he was also a threat on special teams early in his career with six punt and kick return scores.

Luke Kuechly (Panthers): Kuechly played only eight seasons before retiring at the age of 28 to protect his long-term health. In that relatively short career, he racked up seven Pro Bowl selections, five first-team All-Pro nods and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year honors en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Julius Peppers (Panthers): Peppers racked up 97 sacks and five Pro Bowl selections during his initial eight-year run with the Panthers as an elite athlete off the edge. That put him in front of three-time All-Star Kemba Walker, the best Hornets candidate for Charlotte's Mt. Rushmore.

Chicago

Brian Urlacher (Bears): Urlacher was the heart and soul of the Bears defense for 13 seasons, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year honors. A safety in college, he developed into one of the best sideline-to-sideline middle linebackers of all time in Chicago.

Derrick Rose (Bulls): The Bulls went 33-49 the season before they took Rose with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. Three years later, Rose was league MVP and the Bulls were in the Eastern Conference Finals. A torn ACL and subsequent knee issues robbed him of his explosiveness, but he was a bona fide superstar at his peak.

Anthony Rizzo (Cubs): Rizzo was the first block laid in the foundation that would secure the Cubs' first World Series title in 108 years, debuting with a 101-loss team in 2012. He was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and a perennial 30-homer, 100-RBI threat at his peak.

Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks): Patrick Kane may have been more dynamic, but Toews gets the nod as captain of the Blackhawks' three Stanley Cup teams in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The 2012-13 Selke Trophy winner was a standout two-way center and the unquestioned leader of the Blackhawks during his 15 years with the team.

Cincinnati

Joey Votto (Reds): Votto spent 17 seasons in a Reds uniform, eschewing traditional first baseman power expectations to build a Hall of Fame case on his elite on-base ability. The 2010 NL MVP led the league in OBP seven times and finished with a .409 mark for his career while posting a 144 OPS+ with 356 home runs and 1,144 RBI.

Joe Burrow (Bengals): Burrow was the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft. After suffering a knee injury as a rookie, he led a Bengals team that had not won a playoff game since 1990 all the way to the Super Bowl in his second season. He has recorded three 4,000-yard passing seasons and led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) in 2024.

Chad Johnson (Bengals): "Ochocinco" had six straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and seven total in his 10 years with the Bengals, earning six Pro Bowl selections along the way. He was an adventure off the field, but he was one of the best receivers of his era in his prime.

A.J. Green (Bengals): Green made seven straight Pro Bowls to begin his NFL career, averaging 79 receptions, 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns during that stretch. Defensive tackle Geno Atkins also has a strong case for Cincinnati's final Mt. Rushmore spot, but Green's status as one of the league's elite receivers at his peak gets him the nod.

Cleveland

LeBron James (Cavaliers): James debuted as a teenage phenom for the Cavaliers during the 2003-04 season and finally delivered the franchise its first title in 2016 when he returned following a four-year stint in Miami. He won his first two MVP awards during his initial run in Cleveland and stands as the greatest athlete in the city's history.

José Ramírez (Guardians): Despite never taking home the hardware, Ramírez has finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting eight times in the last nine years. He has three 30/30 seasons on his resume and has quietly piled up 60.1 career WAR, which stands 16th all-time among third basemen.

Joe Thomas (Browns): It's not often an offensive lineman is the face of his franchise, but Thomas was that for some bad Browns teams. He was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time first-team All-Pro en route to first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in 2023.

Myles Garrett (Browns): One of the best pass-rushers of all time, Garrett has 125.5 sacks in nine seasons, including an NFL-record 23 last year when he took home Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second time. He was traded to the Rams in June 2026, but he had already carved out his legacy as an all-time great in Cleveland by that point.

Dallas

Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks): Nowitzki is the greatest player in Mavericks history, and it's not close. He was a 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA selection and won 2006-07 MVP honors. He also led the team to its only NBA title in 2011. Nowitzki's 31,560 career points rank seventh all-time, and they all came in a Mavs uniform.

DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys): Ware tallied 117 of his 138.5 career sacks as a member of the Cowboys, leading the NFL in that category in 2008 (20.0) and 2010 (15.5). The seven-time All-Pro also logged 145 tackles for loss and 32 forced fumbles during his nine seasons in Dallas on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Adrián Beltré (Rangers): Beltré turned a decent career into a Hall of Fame career after joining the Rangers, tallying 1,277 hits, 199 home runs and 41.3 WAR over eight seasons from his age-32 campaign until his retirement. He won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers in Texas and starred for the 2011 AL pennant winners.

Jason Witten (Cowboys): Witten ranks second all-time behind Tony Gonzalez in receptions (1,228) and receiving yards (13,046) by a tight end, while his 74 touchdowns are sixth at the position. The 11-time Pro Bowler is not yet in the Hall of Fame, but it's only a matter of time.

Denver

Nikola Jokić (Nuggets): The best passing center in NBA history, Jokic won three MVP awards in four years before averaging a triple-double in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. With career averages of 22.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, he has already achieved all-time great status, and his 2023 Finals MVP is icing on the cake.

Todd Helton (Rockies): The only Hall of Famer to spend his entire career in a Rockies uniform, Helton hit .316/.414/.539 with 2,519 hits, 369 home runs and 1,406 RBI over 17 seasons, all but three of which came after 2000. His 133 OPS+ speaks to his offensive impact beyond the Coors Field effect.

Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche): MacKinnon has lived up to the lofty expectations that came with being the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft. The 2023-24 Hart Trophy winner has recorded four straight 100-point seasons and was one of the stars of the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Avalanche.

Von Miller (Broncos): Miller spent the first 10 seasons of his career in Denver, where he was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro. He had double-digit sacks seven different times and 110.5 in total for the Broncos, and he finished runner-up in DPOY voting twice.

Detroit

Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): The Tigers acquired a 24-year-old Cabrera from the Marlins prior to the 2008 season in one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history. The legendary slugger went on to play 16 seasons in Detroit, winning two MVP awards, four batting titles and the first Triple Crown since 1967. He also recorded his 3,000th hit and 500th home run in a Tigers uniform.

Nicklas Lidström (Red Wings): The first eight seasons of Lidström's career came prior to 2000, but all seven of his Norris Trophy wins came after. He became the first European born-and-trained captain to lead his team to a Stanley Cup title in 2008, and he's one of eight defensemen in NHL history with 1,000 points.

Calvin Johnson (Lions): "Megatron" played only nine seasons, but he put together a Hall of Fame career as one of the most physically dominant receivers in history. He averaged 1,291 receiving yards per season and set the NFL single-season record with 1,964 yards in 2012.

Ben Wallace (Pistons): During his initial six-year run in Detroit, Wallace averaged 12.9 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.6 steals per game while winning DPOY four times. The Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals four times, the Finals twice and were NBA champions for the 2003-04 season during that stretch.

Green Bay/Milwaukee

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): While his tenure in Milwaukee came to an end in June 2026, "The Greek Freak" departed as a legend. From 6.8 points per game as a rookie to Most Improved Player to back-to-back MVP awards, he developed into one of basketball's brightest stars. He led the Bucks to just their second NBA title during the 2020-21 season and the first in 50 years.

Aaron Rodgers (Packers): Rodgers spent his first three seasons holding a clipboard, then went on to throw for 58,726 yards and 474 touchdowns over 15 seasons as Green Bay's starting quarterback. He won four MVP awards and a Super Bowl ring, solidifying his standing as a top-10 quarterback in NFL history.

Christian Yelich (Brewers): Yelich won NL MVP in his first season in Milwaukee in 2018, and he followed it up with a second straight NL batting title and another 7-WAR season in 2019. His production dipped from that impressive peak, but he still has a 132 OPS+ and 27.9 WAR over nine seasons with the Brewers.

Charles Woodson (Packers): Despite not joining the Packers until his age-30 season after eight years with the Raiders, Woodson still made his mark. He was 2009 DPOY and a four-time All-Pro in seven years with the team, recording 38 interceptions and nine pick-sixes out of the Green Bay secondary.

Houston

J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt (Texans): Watt is one of only three players in NFL history to win three Defensive Player of the Year awards, along with Lawrence Taylor and Aaron Donald. He had 101 sacks, 172 tackles for loss and 25 forced fumbles in 10 seasons with the Texans, and he figures to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible for enshrinement in 2028.

James Harden (Rockets): During his nine seasons with the Rockets, Harden was one of the NBA's most prolific scorers, winning three scoring titles and an MVP award during the 2017-18 season. He is the Rockets' all-time leader in assists (4,796) and ranks second to Hakeem Olajuwon in points (18,365).

Jose Altuve (Astros): The Astros lost 106, 107, 111 and 92 games during Altuve's first four seasons in the majors, as he was a central figure in their ground-up rebuilding efforts. A career .301 hitter with three batting titles to his credit, he also has an .841 OPS with 27 home runs in 105 playoff games.

Andre Johnson (Texans): With seven 1,000-yard seasons in 12 years with the Texans, Johnson was the first true offensive star in franchise history. He is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (1,012), receiving yards (13,597) and receiving touchdowns (64).

Indianapolis

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning (Colts): Manning won an NFL-record five MVP awards during his storied career, the first four of which came as a member of the Colts. He spent 13 seasons in Indianapolis, winning one Super Bowl while piling up 54,828 passing yards and 399 touchdowns as one of the best ever under center.

Marvin Harrison (Colts): Harrison teamed with Manning to form one of the most prolific quarterback-receiver duos in NFL history. The Hall of Famer recorded eight straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons and peaked with a then-record 143 receptions for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2002.

Tamika Catchings (Fever): Catchings is all over the WNBA record books, ranking inside the top 10 all-time in steals (1,074, 1st), points (7,380, sixth) and rebounds (3,315, 7th). She won DPOY five times, was MVP in 2011 and led the Fever to their only title in franchise history in 2012.

Dwight Freeney (Colts): A Hall of Fame pass-rusher, Freeney recorded 107.5 of his 125.5 career sacks as a member of the Colts. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time first-team All-Pro and a key member of the 2006 Super Bowl champions.

Kansas City

Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs): After spending his rookie season holding a clipboard behind veteran Alex Smith, Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2018 to emerge as an instant superstar. With two MVP awards, five AFC championships and three Super Bowl rings, he has already achieved all-time great status entering his age-31 campaign.

Travis Kelce (Chiefs): With seven straight 1,000-yard seasons at his peak, Kelce has been the one constant in Kansas City's passing game throughout the Mahomes era. His 1,080 receptions and 13,002 receiving yards both rank third all-time among tight ends, while his 82 touchdowns are good for fifth.

Salvador Perez (Royals): Perez is one of only eight primary catchers in MLB history with at least 300 home runs and 1,000 RBI. He was also a standout defender in his prime, taking home five Gold Glove Awards. He won 2015 World Series MVP and had an epic 48-homer, 121-RBI season in 2021.

Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs): The first three seasons of Gonzalez's career came before 2000, but the NFL's all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (1,325) and receiving yards (15,127) still had nine prime seasons in Kansas City from 2000-08. He made the Pro Bowl every year during that stretch while earning four first-team All-Pro selections.

Las Vegas

A'ja Wilson

A'ja Wilson (Aces): The first WNBA player ever to win four MVP awards, Wilson also led the Aces on championship runs in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Her 26.9 points per game in 2024 are the highest single-season mark in WNBA history, and she is also a force on the defensive end with three DPOY awards on her resume.

Maxx Crosby (Raiders): A Pro Bowl selection in each of the past five seasons, Crosby is the most accomplished player to wear a Raiders uniform since the team moved from Oakland. He has 69.5 sacks and 133 tackles for loss over seven NFL seasons, exceeding expectations as a former fourth-round pick.

Jonathan Marchessault (Golden Knights): Marchessault is the Golden Knights' all-time leader in goals (192) and points (417). He spent seven years with the team after he was selected in the 2017 NHL expansion draft. He won the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy with 13 goals and 25 points during the Knights' run to the Stanley Cup.

Chelsea Gray (Aces): One of the best point guards in WNBA history, Gray has spent six seasons playing alongside Wilson, winning three WNBA championships along the way. She has averaged 12.2 points and 6.1 assists during her time with the Aces and won 2022 WNBA Finals MVP honors.

Los Angeles

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant (Lakers): Bryant began his career prior to the 2000 cut line, but from the 1999-00 season until his retirement, he made 17 straight All-Star appearances and won five championships, two Finals MVP awards and the 2007-08 MVP. He averaged 27.0 points per game during that stretch and won two scoring titles, establishing himself as one of the best ever to do it.

Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers): Kershaw was the best pitcher of his generation. During his elite seven-year peak, he went 118-41 with a 2.10 ERA and 1,623 strikeouts in 1,452 innings, winning five NL ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards and 2014 NL MVP honors. He won a long-awaited World Series ring in 2020 and added two more in 2024 and 2025.

Aaron Donald (Rams): One of three players in NFL history to win three DPOY awards, Donald was an absolute force up front. The 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time first-team All-Pro tallied 111 career sacks and 176 tackles for loss, and he anchored the defense for the 2021 Super Bowl champions.

Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers): Playing in just his third season with the Dodgers, Ohtani has already won back-to-back MVP awards and World Series titles while furthering his legacy as a true unicorn in the sport. He turned in baseball's first 50/50 season in 2024, and he is back to pitching like a bona fide Cy Young candidate in 2026 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85.2 innings.

Miami

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade (Heat): The Heat finished 25-57 the year before drafting Wade. Three years later, he led them to an NBA title while winning Finals MVP. He won two more rings after teaming up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and he stands as the franchise's all-time leader in points (21,556), assists (5,310) and steals (1,492).

LeBron James (Heat): A four-year tenure that started with "The Decision" ended with James winning two NBA titles and two MVP awards during his time in Miami. He averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists in Miami, winning Finals MVP during both title runs.

Aleksander Barkov (Panthers): The longest-serving captain in Panthers history, Barkov is the franchise's all-time leader in goals (286), assists (496) and points (782) as an elite two-way center. He won the Selke Trophy three times and was the captain for back-to-back Stanley Cup runs during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Jason Taylor (Dolphins): Taylor debuted in 1997, but he didn't make his first Pro Bowl until 2000, when he broke out with 14.5 sacks and earned first-team All-Pro recognition. The Hall of Famer tallied 123 of his 139.5 career sacks after the 2000 cut line, and he added 2006 DPOY honors to his illustrious resume.

Minneapolis

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett (Timberwolves): Garnett is the greatest player in Timberwolves history by a sizable margin, at least with Anthony Edwards still in the early stages of carving out his legacy. The first player to jump from high school to NBA in 20 years, he averaged 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds during his initial 12-year run with the team and won 2003-04 MVP honors.

Adrian Peterson (Vikings): Peterson logged the second-highest single-season rushing total in NFL history when he racked up 2,097 yards and won MVP honors during the 2012 season, less than a year after suffering a torn ACL. The seven-time Pro Bowler holds the Vikings franchise records for rushing yards (11,747) and rushing touchdowns (97).

Joe Mauer (Twins): A graduate of Cretin High School in St. Paul, Mauer was selected No. 1 overall in 2001 by the hometown Twins. A .306 career hitter, his three batting titles are the most ever by a catcher. He won AL MVP in 2009 when he hit .365/.444/.587 with 28 home runs and 7.8 WAR, and he was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2024.

Maya Moore (Lynx): Moore won 2011 ROY and 2014 MVP, and her 18.4 points per game are the ninth-highest career mark in WNBA history. She was four-time WNBA champion, six-time All-Star and three-time ASG MVP, establishing an all-time great legacy over an eight-year career spent entirely with the Lynx.

Nashville

Pekka Rinne

Pekka Rinne (Predators): The 2017-18 Vezina Trophy winner, Rinne spent his entire 15-year career in goal for the Predators. He is the franchise's all-time leader in wins (369), save percentage (.917), and shutouts (60), and in 2026, he became the first player who spent his entire career in Nashville to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Steve McNair (Titans): "Air McNair" played the first five seasons of his career during the 1990s, including the Titans' AFC Championship Game victory in 1999, but he still did enough during the 2000s to earn a Mt. Rushmore spot. The dual-threat was co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003, throwing for 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns in 14 games.

Derrick Henry (Titans): Henry posted the fifth-highest single-season rushing total in NFL history in 2020, logging 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns on his way to OPOY honors. That was the second year in a row he led the NFL in rushing. He finished his Titans career with 9,502 rushing yards and 90 touchdowns in eight seasons before he joined the Ravens ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Chris Johnson (Titans): Dubbed "CJ2K" following a 2,006-yard rushing season during his second year in the NFL in 2009, he also added 503 receiving yards that year for an NFL-record 2,509 yards from scrimmage. The three-time Pro Bowl selection rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his six seasons with the Titans.

New Orleans

Drew Brees

Drew Brees (Saints): After five seasons with the Chargers, Brees joined the Saints on a six-year, $60 million deal that stands as one of the greatest free-agent signings in NFL history. He spent the next 15 years as the Saints' quarterback, throwing for 68,010 yards and 491 touchdowns, earning 12 Pro Bowl selections and leading the 2009 squad to a Super Bowl win.

Chris Paul (Hornets): Paul spent the first six seasons of what will be a Hall of Fame career with the Hornets, winning 2005-06 Rookie of the Year while leading the NBA in assists and steals twice. He was runner-up in MVP voting during the 2007-08 season when he averaged 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals for a 56-win team.

Anthony Davis (Hornets/Pelicans): Davis averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over his seven seasons in New Orleans. He was a six-time All-Star and a three-time All-NBA selection during his time in the Big Easy, and he stands as the franchise's all-time leader in points (11,059), rebounds (4,906) and blocks (1,121).

Cameron Jordan (Saints): The face of the New Orleans defense for more than a decade, Jordan has racked up 132 sacks, 175 tackles for loss and 248 quarterback hits in 15 seasons with the Saints. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection was still going strong in his age-36 season in 2025 with 10.5 sacks.

New York

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter (Yankees): "The Captain" won three rings before the 2000 cut line, but what he did on the other side is still more than enough to secure his spot on the New York Mt. Rushmore. From 2000 through his retirement after the 2014 season, Jeter hit .307/.374/.432 with 2,658 hits on his way to joining the 3,000-hit club, and he added two more rings along the way.

Eli Manning (Giants): A pair of Super Bowl wins and MVP honors in the big game both times make Manning a no-brainer representative for New York. The four-time Pro Bowler is the Giants' all-time leader in passing yards (57,023) and passing touchdowns (366) by a wide margin over Phil Simms.

Mariano Rivera (Yankees): Like Jeter, Rivera won his first three rings before 2000, but his late-inning dominance stretched all the way to 2013. He recorded 523 of his MLB-record 652 saves after that cut line and added 29 more saves with a 0.86 ERA in 65 postseason games to help secure two more titles. In 2019, he became the first unanimous Hall of Fame selection in baseball history.

Jalen Brunson (Knicks): There may be some recency bias at play here, but Brunson leading the Knicks to their first NBA title since the 1972-73 season while averaging 32.6 points to win Finals MVP sure feels like enough to earn him the final spot. Right now, it's what separates him from Aaron Judge, who is still hunting for his first ring.

Philadelphia

Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson (76ers): While his Rookie of the Year award and first scoring title came before 2000, Iverson added three more scoring titles and 2000-01 MVP honors on the other side of the cut line. He led the 76ers to the NBA Finals almost single-handedly during his MVP campaign for their first Eastern Conference championship since 1982-83. They haven't been past the conference semifinals ever since.

Brian Dawkins (Eagles): With 34 interceptions, 35 forced fumbles and 21 sacks during his 13 seasons with the Eagles, Dawkins established himself as one of the most impactful safeties ever to play the game. The Hall of Famer earned seven Pro Bowl selections and four first-team All-Pro nods in Philadelphia.

Chase Utley (Phillies): While he never won an MVP award like his teammates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins, Utley was the Phillies' best all-around player during that era. During his five-year peak from 2005-09, Utley hit .301/.388/.535 while averaging 29 home runs, 101 RBI and 7.9 WAR. He won four Silver Sluggers during that stretch and helped deliver a World Series title in 2008.

Jason Kelce (Eagles): Enduring popularity off the field aside, Kelce has a strong case for the title of greatest center in modern NFL history. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time first-team All-Pro, won a Super Bowl ring and started a franchise-record 156 consecutive games.

Phoenix

Steve Nash

Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals): One of the most sure-handed receivers in NFL history, Fitzgerald spent his entire 17-year career with the Cardinals. He ranks second all-time in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492) behind Jerry Rice, and he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.

Steve Nash (Suns): Originally drafted by the Suns, Nash spent two seasons as Jason Kidd's backup before he was traded to the Mavericks. He returned to Phoenix six years later a different player, winning MVP honors in his first year back and repeating the following season. All told, he averaged 16.3 points and 10.9 assists during his second run with the Suns, making six All-Star teams in eight years.

Diana Taurasi (Mercury): Taurasi is the WNBA's all-time leader in points (10,646) and made threes (1,447), putting together an all-time legacy over a 20-year career spent entirely in Phoenix. She won MVP in 2009 and led the Mercury to three WNBA titles, taking home Finals MVP twice.

Randy Johnson (Diamondbacks): Johnson signed with the D-backs ahead of their second season as a franchise in 1999. Over his first four years in Arizona, he went 81-27 with a 2.48 ERA and 1,417 strikeouts in 1,030 innings, winning four straight NL Cy Youngs. He shared World Series MVP honors with Curt Schilling in 2001 as the two veteran aces led the fledgling club to an unlikely title.

Pittsburgh

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby (Penguins): Over 21 seasons in Pittsburgh, Crosby has compiled a legacy that puts him among the NHL's all-time greats. His 1,761 career points are seventh on the all-time list, and his accolades include three Stanley Cups and two Conn Smythe Trophy wins. He has six 100-point seasons and a pair of Hart Trophy wins, and he is still playing at a high level in his late 30s.

Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers): With 64,088 passing yards, 418 passing touchdowns and two Super Bowl wins, Roethlisberger is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks of all time. He went 13-0 in his first season en route to Rookie of the Year honors, and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection while leading the NFL in passing yards twice.

Troy Polamalu (Steelers): Polamalu was the centerpiece of a stout Pittsburgh defense that paved the way to a pair of Super Bowl wins during his tenure. The 2010 DPOY and a four-time first-team All-Pro selection tallied 32 interceptions, 107 pass deflections, 14 forced fumbles and 12 sacks across his 12-year career. He was a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection in 2020.

Andrew McCutchen (Pirates): McCutchen helped the Pirates snap a 20-year playoff drought during his MVP season in 2013, hitting .317/.404/.508 with 21 home runs and 27 steals in a 7.8-WAR season. That was part of a four-year run where he finished in the top five of MVP voting every year. McCutchen's 42.6 WAR ranks 12th in the storied history of the Pirates.

San Diego

LaDainian Tomlinson

LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers): Anyone who played fantasy football in the 2000s remembers Tomlinson's elite dual-threat production—triple threat if you count his seven touchdown passes. Over his first eight NFL seasons, he racked up 11,760 rushing yards, 3,801 receiving yards and 141 total touchdowns, and he had an NFL-record 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006 when he won MVP honors.

Antonio Gates (Chargers): Despite averaging 20.6 points as a senior at Kent State, Gates had a "tweener" profile and no NBA future. He shifted to football and signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent despite not playing on the gridiron since high school. He went on to pile up 955 catches, 11,841 yards and 116 touchdowns over 17 seasons on his way to the Hall of Fame.

Philip Rivers (Chargers): While a ring is missing from his resume, Rivers still stands as one of the NFL's most prolific passers. His 63,984 yards (eighth) and 425 touchdowns (sixth) both rank inside the top 10 all-time. He had 12 seasons with 4,000 passing yards, including eight while the Chargers were still in San Diego.

Manny Machado (Padres): Now in his eighth season with the Padres, Machado is steadily climbing the franchise leaderboards. He is already the club's all-time leader in home runs (213), and he ranks second in RBI (686), second in runs (606), and fourth in hits (1,088). Machado is signed through 2033, so he will continue climbing in the coming years.

Seattle

Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners): Ichiro made history when he became the first Japanese-born position player to appear in an MLB game. He immediately validated the Mariners' decision, taking home the AL batting title, Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001 for a 116-win team. That was his first of 10 straight seasons with a .300 average and 200 hits, including a single-season record 262 hits in 2004, on his way to Cooperstown.

Russell Wilson (Seahawks): While defense and a stout running game were the foundation of the 2013 Seahawks team that won the Super Bowl, Wilson was also a major factor in the passing game. He is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards (37,059) and touchdowns (292), and he also ranks fifth in rushing yards (4,689), while nine of his 10 Pro Bowl selections came in Seattle.

Sue Bird (Storm): Bird won four WNBA titles across three decades, averaging 11.7 points and 5.6 assists over 19 seasons with the Storm. She is the WNBA's all-time leader in assists (3,234), sits ninth in points (6,803) and was a 13-time All-Star as arguably the greatest point guard in league history.

Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks): In his four full seasons with the Seahawks, Lynch averaged 1,339 yards and 12 touchdowns as one of the NFL's most bruising runners. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection in Seattle, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2012 and won a Super Bowl in 2013.

St. Louis

Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols (Cardinals): Pujols debuted with one of the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history in 2001, hitting .329/.403/.610 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI. That was the first of 10 consecutive seasons with a .300/30/100 line, and he took home three NL MVP awards and won two World Series rings during that stretch to cement his status as one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time.

Yadier Molina (Cardinals): Molina's impact on the game stretched beyond his stats, as he was a second manager on the field. His accolades are nonetheless impressive, with 10 All-Star selections, nine Gold Gloves, four Platinum Gloves and a Silver Slugger. His 2,168 hits also rank fifth all-time among primary catchers.

Torry Holt (Rams): Holt led the NFL in receptions (868) and receiving yards (12,594) during the 2000s on the strength of eight 1,000-yard seasons as the top target in the Rams' aerial attack. He topped the NFL in receiving yards in 2000 (1,635) and 2003 (1,696) and was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

Alex Pietrangelo (Blues): The final spot for St. Louis is a coin toss between Pietrangelo and teammate Vladimir Tarasenko, with the edge going to the captain of the 2018-19 Stanley Cup winners. Pietrangelo was a rock-solid, two-way defenseman over 12 seasons in St. Louis, and he ranks third in franchise history with 341 assists.

Tampa Bay

Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos (Lightning): Stamkos spent the first 16 seasons of his prolific career with the Lightning, serving as the captain on back-to-back Stanley Cup winners during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. He is the franchise's all-time leader in goals (555) and points (1,137), making good on being the No. 1 overall pick in 2008.

Evan Longoria (Rays): Longoria arrived on the scene for a Rays team that had lost 96 games the previous year and led them to the 2008 World Series, winning AL Rookie of the Year along the way. He is the franchise leader in WAR (51.7), home runs (261) and RBI (892), and his walk-off home run on the final day of the 2011 regular season to clinch a playoff spot is an all-time Tampa sports moment.

Derrick Brooks (Buccaneers): Brooks had three Pro Bowl selections during the 1990s, but he emerged as a bona fide defensive superstar during the 2000s. He won the 2002 DPOY while anchoring a defense that carried the Bucs all the way to a Super Bowl victory, and he earned four of his five first-team All-Pro selections in the 2000s while securing his spot in the Hall of Fame.

Mike Evans (Buccaneers): Evans set an NFL record with 11 consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards to begin his career, earning six Pro Bowl selections and winning a Super Bowl along the way. His long-standing impact in the passing game is enough to edge out Tom Brady's brief tenure in Tampa Bay.

Toronto

Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay (Blue Jays): Things didn't click immediately for Halladay, who had a 10.64 ERA over 67.2 innings in 2000. But once he hit his stride, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. From his breakout 2002 season through 2009, he went 130-59 with a 3.13 ERA in 1,710.1 innings and won the AL Cy Young in 2003. He also logged 46 complete games over that span as one of baseball's last true workhorses.

Kyle Lowry (Raptors): Lowry averaged 10.4 points over the first six seasons of his career with the Grizzlies and Rockets before coming to the Raptors ahead of the 2012-13 season. When he left nine years later, the G.R.O.A.T. was an NBA champion and a six-time All-Star after averaging 17.5 points and 7.1 assists in Toronto.

Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs): Still just 28 years old, Matthews has established himself as an elite goal-scorer over 10 NHL seasons since going No. 1 overall in the 2016 draft. His 428 goals are already the most in franchise history, and he is quickly climbing the franchise's points list with 780, which is good for fourth.

José Bautista (Blue Jays): One of the most dramatic examples of a late-bloomer in recent baseball history, Bautista was a 29-year-old journeyman when he exploded for a 54-homer season in 2010. That kicked off a six-year peak where he averaged 38 home runs, 97 RBI and 5.9 WAR while making the All-Star team every year. His bat flip in the 2015 ALDS is an all-time Toronto sports moment.

Washington D.C.

Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin (Capitals): Ovechkin broke a record many believed to be untouchable when he surpassed Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history. His current tally of 929 goals is now 35 ahead of the "Great One" on the NHL leaderboard. He led the Capitals to their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2018, is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, and has led the NHL in goals nine times.

Ryan Zimmerman (Nationals): Zimmerman was the first draft pick by the Nationals after their move from Montreal when he went No. 4 overall in the 2005 draft. He debuted later that year and was a staple in the lineup for 16 seasons, tallying 284 home runs, 1,061 RBI and 40.1 WAR. He is a deserving holder of the "Mr. National" moniker, and he won a World Series ring in 2019.

Max Scherzer (Nationals): One of the greatest free-agent signings in MLB history, Scherzer joined the Nationals on a seven-year, $210 million deal prior to the 2015 season. Over his seven seasons in D.C., he went 92-47 with a 2.80 ERA and 1,610 strikeouts in 1,229 innings, winning a pair of Cy Young Awards and a World Series ring.

John Wall (Wizards): While his tenure with the Wizards didn't lead to much in the way of postseason success, Wall was a bona fide star, averaging 19.0 points and 9.2 assists over nine seasons. He was a five-time All-Star and is the franchise's all-time leader in assists (5,282) and steals (976).