2011 Senior Bowl: The Top 25 Players To Ever Have Suited Up in Mobile
Since the 1950s, the Senior Bowl has been showcasing the skills in a Pro Bowl-type format for College Football's best seniors.
The Senior Bowl has featured some of the best players ever to step foot on a football field from Joe Namath to Walter Payton to Terrell Owens.
After the Senior Bowl, many of these players went on to have spectacular pro careers and this list sets out to find out who is the best player ever to play in the Senior Bowl.
25. Jerry Kramer (Class of 1958)
1 of 25College: Idaho
Jerry Kramer was one of the most versatile players ever to play the game. Kramer was not only the Right Guard for the Green Bay Packers but was also a Place Kicker.
Kramer won two Super Bowls with the Packers and was a five time All-Pro Guard.
He would certainly be in the Hall of Fame if not for his career being cut short by injuries. He played 11 years with Green Bay, however he had 22 surgeries during that time period.
Kramer is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
24. Lee Roy Jordan (Class Of 1963)
2 of 25College: Alabama
Lee Roy Jordan left Alabama after arguably becoming the best Linebacker in the history of the school. He went on to have an exceptional pro career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Jordan went on to become the second-leading tackler in the history of the Cowboys, and once had a game where he had 21 tackles against the Eagles, a Cowboy team record.
He appeared in five Pro Bowls and recorded 32 career interceptions (the third most all-time among Linebackers).
Lee Roy was never provided with Hall of Fame honors, one of the more questionable the decisions the Hall of Fame Committee has made in its history.
Jordan is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
23. Michael Strahan (Class Of 1993)
3 of 25College: Texas Southern
Michael Strahan will go down as one of the best pure pass rushers to play the game. He finished his NFL career with 141.5 sacks, and set the mark for most sacks in a single season with 22.5 in 2001.
During Strahan's 15-year NFL career, he appeared in seven Pro Bowls and seems to be destined for the Hall of Fame.
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22. Ed Jones (Class Of 1974)
4 of 25
College: Tennessee State
"Too Tall" Jones was a legendary pass rusher throughout the 1980s. Jones makes this list ahead of Strahan partially due to the fact that he took a two-year layoff to pursue a boxing dream and came back stronger than ever.
For his career, Jones had over 100 sacks (unofficially) and from 1982-89 he had 57.5 sacks and appeared in three Pro Bowls in his career.
Jones is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
21. Thurman Thomas (Class Of 1988)
5 of 25College: Oklahoma State
After attending Oklahoma State, Thurman Thomas went onto have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 after rushing for over 12,000 yards and recording 88 total touchdowns in his career.
Thomas went on to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls with the Bills, losing all four, but Thomas did record a touchdown in all four games.
20. Bo Jackson (Class Of 1986)
6 of 25College: Auburn
One of the most talented athletes that the football and baseball worlds have ever seen, Bo Jackson, was both a Pro Bowl running back in the NFL and also a member of the All-Star Game in MLB.
Bo Jackson holds the record for most rushing yards in a Monday Night Football game when he went for 221 yards for the Raiders against the Seahawks.
If not for a fluke hip injury, Bo Jackson had the talent to become one of the best running backs in NFL history.
Jackson is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
19. Sam Huff (Class Of 1956)
7 of 25College: West Virginia
After spending four years at West Virginia, and almost quitting football multiple times to go work in the coal mines, Sam Huff will be remembered as one of the best all-around Linebackers in the game.
He was a dominant run stopper and solid in pass coverage, recording 30 interceptions in his career.
Huff appeared in five Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982. Huff is also a member of the Redskins Ring of Fame.
18. Joe Namath (Class Of 1965)
8 of 25College: Alabama
Broadway Joe had a stellar career at Alabama winning a National Championship under "Bear" Bryant. After leaving Alabama he went on to have a shaky NFL career, but led the Jets to an upset Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts.
Elected into the Hall of Fame in 1985, Namath finished his career with 47 more interceptions than touchdowns and a 62-63 career record.
Namath was also named to the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
17. Lynn Swann (Class Of 1974)
9 of 25College: Southern California
Lynn Swann was a four-time Super Bowl champion for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a favorite target of Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
Swann was a 14-time finalist for the Hall of Fame before finally being elected in 2001.
Swann won Super Bowl MVP honors in SB X and finished his career with 5,462 receiving yards and 51 TDs.
Swann is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
16. Len Dawson (Class Of 1957)
10 of 25College: Purdue
Len Dawson left Purdue and went on to become the Super Bowl MVP in 1969 for the Kansas City Chiefs. Dawson was nominated for seven Pro Bowls during his time in the NFL.
He ended his career by throwing for over 28,000 yards and 239 TDs and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969.
15. Terrell Owens (Class Of 1996)
11 of 25College: Tennessee-Chattanooga
While Terrell Owens is best known for his antics off the field and his inability to be a team leader in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Dallas, Owens has become one of the best receivers in NFL history.
Owens is top five all-time in both yards and receptions, and currently boasts over 15,000 yards for his career and over 150 TDs. Owens has appeared in six Pro Bowls during his time in the NFL and has gone over 1,000 yards in nine of his seasons.
14. Kellen Winslow (Class Of 1979)
12 of 25College: Missouri
Kellen Winslow joined the San Diego Chargers after a spectacular career at Missouri. Winslow went on to become the first tight end ever to lead the NFL in receptions in consecutive seasons.
He finished his career with over 6,000 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns in just nine seasons. Of those nine seasons, Kellen Winslow appeared in five Pro Bowls.
13. Terry Bradshaw (Class Of 1970)
13 of 25College: Louisiana Tech
Terry Bradshaw came out of little-known Louisiana Tech and went on to win four Super Bowls in the NFL.
Behind a ferocious defense that was known as the "Steel Curtain," Bradshaw just needed to not lose his team the game.
Bradshaw will be known as one of the best "game managers' to line up under center, he had 14 career playoff wins and led 19 fourth-quarter comebacks in his career.
He passed for over 27,000 yards and had over 200 TD passes, and went on to win two Super Bowl MVP awards.
Bradshaw was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
12. Ray Nitschke (Class Of 1958)
14 of 25College: Illinois
Nitschke was the glue that held together the Packers defense in the first two Super Bowls. He was one of only five Packers players to have their number retired, that alone should speak volumes about how good he was for the Packers.
He finished his career with 25 interceptions and was a member of both the 50th and 75th NFL Anniversary Teams, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.
Nitschke is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
11. Franco Harris (Class Of 1972)
15 of 25College: Penn State
Franco Harris, while best known for the "Immaculate Reception," was a dominant running back throughout his career.
Franco Harris went on to make nine Pro Bowls during his tenure in the NFL and averaged 4.1 yards per carry during his career. He totaled over 14,000 yards of offense with 100 total touchdowns.
Harris is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
10. Steve Largent (Class Of 1976)
16 of 25College: Tulsa
After leaving Tulsa and being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, Steve Largent went on to become one of the most successful Wide Receivers in NFL history.
He recorded eight 1,000-yard seasons and finished his career with over 13,000 total yards and 100 touchdowns.
Largent was nominated to seven Pro Bowls and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1995.
Largent is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
9. Philip Rivers (Class Of 2004)
17 of 25College: North Carolina State
Many people will think this is too high for a guy who has never appeared in a Super Bowl and for a guy that has only been a starter in the NFL for five years.
However, in those five years, Rivers has thrown for over 4,000 yards three times and has improved his yards every season he has been in the league.
Rivers averages over eight yards per attempt and over 12 yards per completion for his career. He has already amassed over 19,000 yards passing and 136 touchdowns.
8. Gene Upshaw (Class Of 1967)
18 of 25College: Texas A&I
Not only was Gene Upshaw one of the best offensive lineman to ever play the game, he went on to become the President of the NFL Players Association and was instrumental in advocating for the rights of retired players.
Upshaw was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987. During his time in the NFL, he went to six Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls.
Upshaw is also a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
7. Jack Youngblood
19 of 25College: Florida
Jack Youngblood waited through seven Hall of Fame ceremonies before he was finally inducted to the Hall in 2001.
Jack gets his revenge by being in the top 10 of this list. For his career, he had over 150 sacks (unofficially), and was inducted into 7 Pro Bowls.
He was also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the NFC and was Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1975.
Jack is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
6. LaDainian Tomlinson (Class Of 2001)
20 of 25College: Texas Christian
Tomlinson has most recently been known for his fall from grace with the San Diego Chargers. This past season, LaDainian was able to rebound with the Jets and add up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
For his career, Tomlinson has over 17,000 total yards and has gone over 2,000 yards from scrimmage a total of three times in his career.
Tomlinson holds the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 28 and has 159 touchdowns overall.
He started his NFL career with eight straight 1,000-yard seasons.
5. Joe Greene (Class Of 1969)
21 of 25College: North Texas
The "Mean" Greene was the anchor of the "Steel Curtain" of the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout the 1970s. He was the featured guy on the defensive line for Pittsburgh and became a four-time Super Bowl Champion.
He was a five-time All-Pro and was nominated to appear in 10 Pro Bowls during his career.
Joe is also a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
4. Art Monk (Class Of 1980)
22 of 25College: Syracuse
One of the most underrated players of all-time, Art Monk had hands of glue for the Washington Redskins. He was the best receiver on a Joe Gibbs coached team that preferred to run first, run second.
Even on a hard-nosed running team, Art Monk went on to have five 1,000-yard seasons and won three Super Bowls. When he retired from the NFL, he was the all-time leader in receptions.
Monk was an nominated for the Hall of Fame eight times before finally securing his invitation to join the Hall in 2008.
Monk is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster.
3. Brett Favre (Class Of 1991)
23 of 25College: Southern Miss
After a 20-year career in the National Football League, Favre will be retiring as one of the best quarterbacks the game as ever witnessed.
At 40 years old, Favre was able to lead the Minnesota Vikings to the doorsteps of the Super Bowl, with perhaps his best season as a pro.
While Favre's image may be tarnished slightly over recent accusations, he is undoubtedly one of the toughest players to play the game.
Favre leaves with almost every Green Bay Packers record and over 500 touchdowns. He made 11 Pro Bowls in his 20 seasons and made 297 straight starts during that time period.
2. Walter Payton (Class Of 1975)
24 of 25College: Jackson State
Arguably the best running back ever to play the game, Walter Payton took the NFL by storm when he arrived in 1975. Payton ran for 110 touchdowns in his career, and when he retired, he was the NFL leader in rushing yards with 16,727 rushing yards.
Payton totaled over 2,000 yards from scrimmage four times in his career and averaged 88 yards per game rushing for his career.
When Payton retired, he held 14 different rushing records, most which were later broken by Emmitt Smith.
Walter is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.
1. Dan Marino (Class Of 1983)
25 of 25College: Pittsburgh
Dan Marino is the best quarterback to ever suit up for the Miami Dolphins, and possibly for any team ever in the NFL. If Marino had the defense that Bradshaw, Steve Young, or Joe Montana had, Marino could have won five or six Super Bowls.
In Marino's NFL career, he threw for over 60,000 yards and had 420 touchdowns, while throwing 252 interceptions. At the time Marino retired he owned every significant passing record in the NFL, including touchdown passes, yards, and completions.
Marino was a nine-time Pro Bowler and had 36 career fourth-quarter comebacks during his Hall of Fame career. His lone disappointment was the inability to win a Super Bowl.
Marino was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and is a member of the All-Time Senior Bowl Roster
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
