The All Quarter Century team: Let's fill out a 53-man NFL roster, from Tom Brady to Devin Hester

At this constituent of the NFL offseason, beforehand offices are starting to deliberation astir their last 53-man rosters for the upcoming season. Tough decisions are connected platform for each 32 teams. But let's grow the scope a little: How would a afloat All-NFL roster for the past 25 years look? To observe the quarter-century mark, we picked retired the champion NFL players since 2000 and filled retired a implicit lineup.

To propulsion it off, we couldn't deliberation of 2 radical amended for this occupation than our stat-loving NFL analysts Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder. They served arsenic de facto wide managers for this All Quarter Century team, gathering the 53-man roster done a fewer elemental rules and methods:

• Players are inactive eligible if they began their vocation successful the 1990s, but lone accumulation opening successful the 2000 play was considered.

• These decisions were made mostly connected statistical output, focusing connected highest seasons portion inactive rewarding longevity. We relied heavy connected FTN's DYAR metric (defense-adjusted yards supra replacement), which calculates a player's worth implicit the people of the play compared to a replacement-level baseline. Other precocious statistic were besides taken into account.

• This squad includes 25 violative players, 23 antiaircraft players and 5 peculiar teams players. For different wrinkle, we filled retired a afloat "practice squad" with the players who conscionable missed the chopped and listed them successful their respective presumption groups. We followed existent NFL signifier squad rules, which includes 17 players if 1 was brought successful from the International Player Pathway Program. Finally, we besides needed an elite coaching unit to get the astir retired of this quarter-century team, truthful we picked a caput manager and 3 coordinators.

Let's leap into the All Quarter Century lineup picks, starting with the astir important presumption successful sports. Players are listed by presumption radical and successful bid of however they'd onshore connected the extent chart.

Jump to a position:
QB | RB | FB | WR
TE | OL | DL | LB
DB | ST | Coaches

Quarterbacks (3)

Tom Brady

Teams: Patriots (2000-2019), Buccaneers (2020-22)
Résumé since 2000: 89,214 passing yards, 649 passing TDs, seven-time Super Bowl champion, three-time MVP, six-time All-Pro

The champion grounds of Brady's greatness is his all-time precocious successful Super Bowl rings, of course, but helium exemplified some squad and idiosyncratic occurrence passim his career. His 2007 play is the champion successful NFL past utilizing some FTN's DYAR metric and ESPN's Total QBR. He was astir arsenic bully successful 2010 contempt playing successful a wholly antithetic discourtesy structured astir 2 rookie choky ends.

For a agelong time, determination was a large statement astir who was better: Brady oregon Peyton Manning. But portion Manning called it a vocation aft his age-39 season, Brady won 2 Super Bowls successful his 40s. Nobody has ever played truthful good for truthful long. -- Schatz

Peyton Manning

Teams: Colts (1998-2011), Broncos (2012-15)
Résumé since 2000: 64,066 passing yards, 487 passing TDs, two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time MVP, nine-time All-Pro

Manning ranks 2nd down Brady successful DYAR since 2000. He has 3 of the apical 5 seasons for full passing worth -- 2013, 2004 and 2006. His 2004 play has the highest passing DVOA (value per play) of immoderate play since 1978. And portion QBR doesn't spell backmost arsenic far, Manning's 2006 play is the second-highest QBR down Brady's 2007 season. Close your eyes, and you tin inactive representation Manning audibling down the enactment of scrimmage, moving his players astir earlier the drawback to instrumentality vantage of his unthinkable quality to work defenses. -- Schatz

Patrick Mahomes

Teams: Chiefs (2017-present)
Résumé since 2000: 32,352 passing yards, 245 passing TDs, three-time Super Bowl champion, two-time MVP, three-time All-Pro

There are arguments for Aaron Rodgers oregon Drew Brees here, but we judge Mahomes deserves a spot connected this squad contempt his comparative "lack" of MVPs oregon first-team All-Pro selections (two) done 8 seasons.

His QBR for his vocation (postseason included) is 75.0, which trails Manning (75.6) but is up of Brady (71.0), Brees (70.9) and Rodgers (66.9). And from the unbelievable throws to the mistake avoidance to the postseason heroics, we're choosing highest Mahomes implicit highest Rodgers oregon Brees. -- Walder

Practice squad: Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees

play

1:20

Why Patrick Mahomes likes comparisons with 'GOAT' Tom Brady

Patrick Mahomes tells "The Pat McAfee Show" unit wherefore he's much than blessed being compared to Tom Brady.

Running backs (3)

Priest Holmes

Teams: Ravens (1997-2000), Chiefs (2001-07)
Résumé since 2000: 9,256 all-purpose yards, 85 all-purpose TDs, one-time Super Bowl champion, one-time OPOY, three-time All-Pro

Yes, Holmes is our RB1 implicit anyone else. Think backmost to the crook of the century, erstwhile Holmes emerged from the Baltimore seat to thrust the almighty discourtesy of the Dick Vermeil Chiefs, utilizing a dynamic operation of rushing and receiving skills.

Other moving backs mightiness person had longer peaks, but nary of them tin lucifer the three-year play that Holmes had from 2001 to 2003. In the precocious DYAR metrics for full value, these seasons fertile 15th, 2nd and 3rd among each moving backmost seasons since 1978, respectively. -- Schatz

Christian McCaffrey

Teams: Panthers (2017-22), 49ers (2022-present)
Résumé since 2000: 10,853 all-purpose yards, 81 all-purpose TDs, one-time OPOY, four-time All-Pro

As the champion receiving backmost of the past 25 years, McCaffrey needs to beryllium included connected this roster. He averages 47 receiving yards per game, which is much than anyone other with astatine slightest 500 carries successful the span.

But he's not only a receiving back. What makes McCaffrey peculiar is that helium has maintained 4.7 yards per transportation implicit his career, 14th-best among moving backs this 4th century. -- Walder

Derrick Henry

Teams: Titans (2016-23), Ravens (2024-present)
Résumé since 2000: 13,074 all-purpose yards, 111 all-purpose TDs, one-time OPOY, four-time All-Pro

King Henry gives this squad a powerfulness rusher successful the crushed game. But benignant aside, Henry's accumulation truly earns him his spot connected this list. His 4.9 yards per transportation puts him good up of Adrian Peterson (4.6) and LaDanian Tomlinson (4.3), who we besides considered successful this spot. His 2.4 yards aft interaction per transportation marque him No. 1 among each moving backs with astatine slightest 500 rushes since 2000, and helium has a precise debased 0.6% fumble rate. -- Walder

Practice squad: LaDainian Tomlinson

Fullbacks (1)

Kyle Juszczyk

Teams: Ravens (2013-16), 49ers (2017-present)
Résumé since 2000: 2,901 all-purpose yards, 24 all-purpose TDs, two-time All-Pro

Juszczyk's 9 Pro Bowl selections are 4 much than the Ravens' Patrick Ricard and 5 much than erstwhile Charger Lorenzo Neal. He's a unsocial playmaker arsenic a fullback successful the passing game, with the quality to determination astir and tally each kinds of antithetic routes. -- Schatz

Wide receivers (6)

Randy Moss

Teams: Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Raiders (2005-06), Patriots (2007-10), Titans (2010), 49ers (2012)
Résumé since 2000: 12,566 receiving yards, 128 receiving TDs, three-time All-Pro

The top receiver of the 21st period based connected the oculus test, Moss besides dominated successful precocious metrics. He acceptable the all-time NFL grounds with 23 receiving touchdowns successful 2007, a play that ranks 3rd each clip successful DYAR.

Moss ranked No. 1 successful receiving DYAR 3 times: 2000, 2003 and 2007. In each of those seasons, helium had astatine slightest 1,400 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. He is besides the person successful full receiving worth by DYAR whether you adhd unneurotic a player's apical 5 seasons oregon apical 10 seasons since 2000. Plus, he's a fable of the podium interview. -- Schatz

Calvin Johnson

Teams: Lions (2007-15)
Résumé since 2000: 11,619 receiving yards, 83 receiving TDs, four-time All-Pro

Johnson leaped implicit defenders en way to 2 1,600-plus-yard seasons and the all-time single-season receiving yards grounds (1,964) successful 2012. He ranks 4th since 2000 successful yards per crippled down lone 3 existent players with acold less games played (Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase).

What's astir astonishing astir Johnson is what helium did without Matthew Stafford arsenic his QB. During Detroit's infamous 0-16 play successful 2008, Johnson managed 1,331 yards with Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper and Jon Kitna astatine quarterback. -- Walder

play

6:50

E:60 - Factors that led to Calvin Johnson's retirement

Three-time first-team All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson speaks extensively for the archetypal clip astir his status from the game, injuries and concussions successful the NFL, and his years of losing successful Detroit.

Julio Jones

Teams: Falcons (2011-20), Titans (2021), Buccaneers (2022), Eagles (2023)
Résumé since 2000: 13,703 receiving yards, 66 receiving TDs, five-time All-Pro

If we look astatine each player's 3 champion seasons by receiving yards this 4th century, nary wideout's apical 3 years matched Jones' full of 5,141 -- 4 yards up of Johnson. If we bash the aforesaid workout for each player's 5 champion seasons, Jones again sits astatine the top. Best seven? Still Jones.

Also, with each owed respect to Matt Ryan, Jones did not person a Hall of Fame backmost throwing to him the mode different receivers connected this database did. Though helium ne'er won a ring, Jones' miraculous sideline drawback successful Super Bowl LI helped the Falcons get awfully adjacent to one. -- Walder

Terrell Owens

Teams: 49ers (1996-2003), Eagles (2004-05), Cowboys (2006-08), Bills (2009), Bengals (2010)
Résumé since 2000: 12,627 receiving yards, 123 receiving TDs, five-time All-Pro

In the 11 seasons Owens played successful this 4th century, helium recorded 3 second-place finishes successful DYAR and 1 infamous driveway quality conference. He led the league successful receiving touchdowns 3 times, and his 80.3 receiving yards per crippled ranks sixth among WRs with astatine slightest 50 games played since 2000.

Owens would play done immoderate wounded for this team, arsenic evidenced by his miraculous 122-yard show successful Super Bowl XXXIX aft breaking his limb 7 weeks earlier. -- Walder

Marvin Harrison

Teams: Colts (1996-2008)
Résumé since 2000: 10,439 receiving yards, 95 receiving TDs, one-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time All-Pro

Harrison didn't miss a first- oregon second-team All-Pro enactment from 1999 to 2006. Although helium lone led the NFL 1 clip each successful receiving yards (2002) and receiving touchdowns (2005), helium led the NFL successful receiving DYAR 3 times: 2001, 2002 and 2006.

Harrison had 205 targets successful 2002, the third-highest full successful NFL history, and helium caught 70% of those passes. We chose Harrison for this spot implicit different options due to the fact that helium had a stronger peak. -- Schatz

Justin Jefferson

Teams: Vikings (2020-present)
Résumé since 2000: 7,432 receiving yards, 40 receiving TDs, one-time OPOY, four-time All-Pro

Jefferson has played lone 5 NFL seasons, but what astonishing seasons they person been. When helium won the Offensive Player of the Year grant successful 2022, helium was No. 1 successful receptions, yards and DYAR. He ranked successful the apical 3 for DYAR successful 3 of his different seasons (2020, 2021 and 2024), with astatine slightest 1,400 receiving yards successful each of them. The lone objection is 2023, erstwhile helium played lone 10 games due to the fact that of wounded but inactive managed to apical 1,000 yards. -- Schatz

Practice squad: Antonio Brown, Andre Johnson

Tight ends (3)

Rob Gronkowski

Teams: Patriots (2010-18), Buccaneers (2020-21)
Résumé since 2000: 9,286 receiving yards, 92 receiving TDs, four-time Super Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro

Gronk's 2011 play is the all-time top for a choky extremity successful some modular stats (18 touchdowns) and precocious stats (461 DYAR). He ranked archetypal successful DYAR among choky ends 3 times and 2nd different 3 times. Oh, and helium was besides a devastating blocker -- helium could fundamentally beryllium utilized arsenic different violative tackle during tally plays. -- Schatz

Travis Kelce

Teams: Chiefs (2013-current)
Résumé since 2000: 12,151 receiving yards, 77 receiving TDs, three-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time All-Pro

Kelce is simply the champion axenic receiving choky extremity this 4th century. If we number the postseason, Kelce recorded much receiving yards (14,229) than immoderate different choky extremity successful this span. And connected a per-game basis, the lone subordinate who comes adjacent to Kelce (71.1) is 2024 rookie Brock Bowers (70.2), who could beryllium connected the mid-century squad if helium keeps it up. Kelce ranked No. 1 among choky ends successful DYAR 3 times (2016, 2020 and 2022). -- Walder

Tony Gonzalez

Teams: Chiefs (1997-2008), Falcons (2009-13)
Résumé since 2000: 13,289 receiving yards, 96 receiving TDs, nine-time All-Pro

Gonzalez was large twelvemonth aft twelvemonth aft twelvemonth successful a vocation that seemingly went connected forever. He led each choky ends successful receiving DYAR 7 antithetic times and ranked successful the apical 5 successful 12 retired of the 14 seasons we're considering for this exercise. His vocation full successful receptions (1,325) is inactive an all-time precocious for choky ends and ranks 3rd highest of immoderate subordinate each time. -- Schatz

Practice squad: Antonio Gates

Left tackles (2)

Joe Thomas

Teams: Browns (2007-17)
Résumé since 2000: 167 starts, eight-time All-Pro

In his 11 pro seasons with the mostly woebegone Browns, Thomas failed to scope the Pro Bowl lone 1 time. That was successful 2017, his last twelvemonth successful the league. His six first-team All-Pro selections since 2000 are 2 much than immoderate tackle successful this span (regardless of side), making him a slam-dunk prime for this team. -- Walder

play

1:09

Thomas connected retirement: 'I went done a batch of boxes of Kleenex'

Joe Thomas says helium was amazed to perceive from younger NFL linemen and LeBron James congratulating him connected his vocation and retirement.

Trent Williams

Teams: Washington (2010-19), 49ers (2020-present)
Résumé since 2000: 187 starts, four-time All-Pro

Williams was chosen for the Pro Bowl successful 11 seasons from 2012 to 2023, the astir by immoderate violative tackle since 2000. He was precise bully successful his 20s for Washington earlier holding out the full 2019 play implicit disagreements with the team's aesculapian staff. He is adjacent amended successful his 30s for San Francisco, starring each tackles successful walk artifact triumph complaint successful 2023. -- Schatz

Practice squad: Walter Jones, Jordan Mailata (International Player Pathway)

Left guards (2)

Alan Faneca

Teams: Steelers (1998-2007), Jets (2008-09), Cardinals (2010)
Résumé since 2000: 175 starts, one-time Super Bowl champion, eight-time All-Pro

A stalwart astatine near defender for the Steelers earlier late-career spells with the Jets and Cardinals, Faneca missed lone 1 crippled from 2000 connected -- and that was owed to remainder successful a meaningless Week 17 contention successful 2001. His six first-team All-Pro selections are much than immoderate different near defender this 4th century. -- Walder

Steve Hutchinson

Teams: Seahawks (2001-05), Vikings (2006-11), Titans (2012)
Résumé since 2000: 169 starts, seven-time All-Pro

Hutchinson made the Pro Bowl each twelvemonth from 2003 done 2009 and helped pb the 2005 Seahawks to Super Bowl XL, on with Walter Jones. There were a fig of comparatively equal, beardown near guards to take from, but we went with Hutchinson implicit Joel Bitonio, Logan Mankins and Quenton Nelson. His interaction connected the NFL besides stretches past the field, arsenic helium forced a alteration successful the rules astir contracts aft the "poison pill" that kept Seattle from matching the declaration helium signed with Minnesota successful 2006. -- Schatz

Centers (1)

Jason Kelce

Teams: Eagles (2011-23)
Résumé since 2000: 193 starts, one-time Super Bowl champion, six-time All-Pro

Picking our lone halfway was a reasonably straightforward call. While Maurkice Pouncey made the Pro Bowl 9 times (versus Kelce's seven), Kelce's six first-team All-Pro selections are by acold the astir of immoderate halfway -- nary different subordinate has had much than 2 since 2000. Kelce helped pb the Eagles to 2 Super Bowl appearances and revolutionized third- and fourth-and-1s leaguewide with his captious relation successful the (still permitted!) tush propulsion play. -- Walder

Right guards (2)

Zack Martin

Teams: Cowboys (2014-24)
Résumé since 2000: 162 starts, nine-time All-Pro

Martin's fig of first-team All-Pro selections (seven) is the highest full for immoderate defender since 2000. Former Cowboys backmost Tony Romo once said Martin didn't person a weakness and had everything required of an violative lineman astatine an elite level: footwork, base, punch, athleticism, spot and mind. -- Schatz

Marshal Yanda

Teams: Ravens (2007-19)
Résumé since 2000: 166 starts, one-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time All-Pro

Yanda's distinguished vocation with the Ravens included 2 first-team All-Pro selections. While we don't person precocious blocking metrics for the bulk of his career, his numbers were astounding adjacent the process end. He finished archetypal among guards successful tally artifact triumph complaint successful some 2018 and 2019 and archetypal successful walk artifact triumph complaint successful 2019. -- Walder

Practice squad: Jahri Evans

Right tackles (2)

Lane Johnson

Teams: Eagles (2013-current)
Résumé since 2000: 158 starts, two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

Johnson leads each close tackles successful Pro Bowl selections since 2000 with six; nary different subordinate who chiefly played close tackle successful that span has much than four. He has possibly been astatine his champion implicit the past mates seasons. In 2023, helium led each tackles successful tally artifact triumph complaint and was ninth successful walk artifact triumph rate. Last season, Johnson was 5th among tackles successful some tally artifact triumph complaint and walk artifact triumph rate. -- Schatz

Willie Anderson

Teams: Bengals (1996-2007), Ravens (2008)
Résumé since 2000: 138 starts, four-time All-Pro

Even though our clip span cuts disconnected the archetypal 4 seasons of Anderson's career, what helium did successful the 9 years from 2000 connected earns him a spot connected this list. He played successful 16 regular-season games each twelvemonth from 2000 to 2006 with the Bengals.

Unlike astatine near tackle wherever determination were rather a fewer feasible candidates, close tackle was rather clear-cut, with Johnson and Anderson being the 2 champion options. If sixth-year Bucs tackle Tristan Wirfs had much seasons nether his belt, helium could person been a bully candidate. -- Walder

Edge rushers (4)

Demarcus Ware

Teams: Cowboys (2005-13), Broncos (2014-16)
Résumé since 2000: 138.5 sacks, 35 forced fumbles, one-time Super Bowl Champion, seven-time All-Pro

There are truthful galore large borderline rushers to take from, but they mostly travel successful 2 categories: large vocation totals oregon large peaks with a precocious ratio of sacks to games played. Ware had the champion equilibrium betwixt the two. He had the third-most sacks retired of each players since 2000, portion his 0.78 sacks per crippled fertile 4th among borderline rushers. -- Schatz

Jared Allen

Teams: Chiefs (2004-07), Vikings (2008-13), Bears (2014-15), Panthers (2015)
Résumé since 2000: 136 sacks, 32 forced fumbles, four-time All-Pro

Allen's highest was incredibly strong, hitting 22.0 sacks (just shy of the single-season record) successful 2011. But helium was not a one-hit wonder: Allen deed double-digit sacks 8 times and tallied the fourth-most sacks successful our clip span. He besides ranks 4th among borderline players (if we see J.J. Watt) successful full plus-EPA since 2001 -- a measurement wherever defenders who are connected the tract for affirmative antiaircraft plays are credited with the resulting EPA. -- Walder

Myles Garrett

Teams: Browns (2017-present)
Résumé since 2000: 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, one-time DPOY, six-time All-Pro

Since Garrett entered the league successful 2017, nary borderline subordinate has accumulated much walk unreserved wins than his 522 -- up of T.J. Watt's 467. And Garrett did that portion maintaining the third-highest double-team complaint astatine borderline (27%) of each qualifying borderline rushers. He has made the astir of his 8 seasons successful the league, with a first-team All-Pro motion successful fractional of those seasons, making him plentifulness worthy of selection. -- Walder

Julius Peppers

Teams: Panthers (2002-09, 2017-18), Bears (2010-13), Packers (2014-16)
Résumé since 2000: 159.5 sacks, 51 forced fumbles, six-time All-Pro

No subordinate recorded much sacks this 4th period than Peppers. There's a just critique that his numbers are a merchandise of longevity, but helium besides had astir 20 much sacks than anyone successful this span and a higher plus-EPA than immoderate different subordinate since 2001, period. One crushed wherefore helium led that second class implicit prima linebackers -- who are favored successful the stat -- is due to the fact that Peppers' 51 forced fumbles were the astir since 2000. -- Walder

Practice squad: T.J. Watt, Michael Strahan

play

0:33

Julius Peppers gives Michael Jordan recognition successful HOF speech

Julius Peppers shouts retired chap Tar Heel Michael Jordan for inspiring him passim his Hall of Fame career.

Defensive tackles (3)

Aaron Donald

Teams: Rams (2014-23)
Résumé since 2000: 111 sacks, 24 forced fumbles, one-time Super Bowl champion, three-time DPOY, eight-time All-Pro

Donald is surely the top antiaircraft tackle of the past 25 years and perchance the top successful NFL history. His 20.5 sacks successful 2018 acceptable a single-season grounds for a superior antiaircraft tackle, portion his vocation full is 2nd among antiaircraft tackles (since 1982) down John Randle's 137.5.

Donald is 1 of lone 3 players successful NFL past to triumph 3 DPOY awards (along with J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor). Only 2 different antiaircraft linemen tin lucifer his fig of first-team All-Pro selections (Reggie White and Bruce Smith, eight). Donald adjacent went retired connected top, starring each antiaircraft tackles successful walk unreserved triumph complaint successful his last season. -- Schatz

Calais Campbell

Teams: Cardinals (2008-16, 2025-present), Jaguars (2017-19), Ravens (2020-22), Falcons (2023), Dolphins (2024)
Résumé since 2000: 110.5 sacks, 18 forced fumbles, three-time All-Pro

Though Campbell has had the payment of a 17-year (and counting!) career, his numbers are genuinely rather remarkable. He's lone 1 sack shy of passing Donald's vocation total, portion his full plus-EPA ranks 4th among each players and archetypal among interior defenders. Campbell has moved astir a batch implicit his career, but he'd play the 3-technique for this squad (that's the presumption helium has played the astir since NFL Next Gen Stats tracking information started successful 2017). -- Walder

Chris Jones

Teams: Chiefs (2016-current)
Résumé since 2000: 80.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, three-time Super Bowl champion, six-time All-Pro

There were a fig of large interior antiaircraft linemen who we considered for this team, and immoderate of them had much first-team All-Pros than Jones' three. Kevin Williams had five, Cameron Heyward 4 and Warren Sapp besides 3 (not including his vocation earlier 2000). In the end, we asked ourselves this: Who would we take if we needed to triumph 1 large game? So we went with the subordinate who anchored a defence for 3 title teams.

If Donald didn't exist, Jones would person ranked archetypal successful walk unreserved triumph complaint astatine antiaircraft tackle for 5 consecutive seasons (2020-24). In 2 of those seasons, helium besides ranked archetypal successful double-team complaint astatine antiaircraft tackle. -- Schatz

Practice squad: Kevin Williams, Cameron Heyward

Nose tackles (1)

Vince Wilfork

Teams: Patriots (2004-14), Texans (2015-16)
Résumé since 2000: 16 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

While determination were plentifulness of different antiaircraft tackles who could endanger the quarterback, we wanted to marque definite we enactment astatine slightest 1 chemoreceptor tackle connected the squad. Wilfork deed 105 successful approximate worth -- a statistic by Pro Football Reference that attributes a azygous fig connected the seasonal worth of a player. That's the astir by immoderate chemoreceptor tackle successful our span and the fourth-most among immoderate antiaircraft tackle careless of alignment, giving Wilfork an borderline implicit five-time Pro Bowler and longtime Steeler Casey Hampton. -- Walder

Versatile antiaircraft linemen (1)

J.J. Watt

Teams: Texans (2011-20), Cardinals (2021-22)
Résumé since 2000: 114.5 sacks, 27 forced fumbles, three-time DPOY, seven-time All-Pro

We wanted to prevention a spot for Watt due to the fact that helium tin play arsenic an borderline rusher oregon interior lineman. He is 1 of lone 3 players successful past to triumph Defensive Player of the Year 3 times, and helium has the champion plus-EPA of immoderate subordinate since 2000 (minimum 50 games).

Another mode to picture Watt's greatness is with a look astatine defeats. That's a metric that adds unneurotic turnovers, tackles for nonaccomplishment and plays that forestall a conversion connected 3rd oregon 4th down. There person been lone a twelve seasons of much than 40 defeats since 1991. Watt has 3 of them, including a grounds 57 defeats successful 2012. -- Schatz

Linebackers (5)

Ray Lewis

Teams: Ravens (1996-2012)
Résumé since 2000: 28.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 24 interceptions, two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time DPOY, seven-time All-Pro

The preeminent linebacker of this 4th century, Lewis' numbers backmost up his reputation. He led each linebackers successful Pro Football Reference's approximate worth metric implicit these 25 years, adjacent though that clip play missed the archetypal 4 years of his career. Lewis' plus-EPA per crippled ranks 2nd among each players since 2001, and that adjacent omits 1 of his DPOY seasons. And from 2001 to 2012 (the clip erstwhile Lewis played that we person EPA information to measure), the Ravens ranked arsenic the champion defence successful the NFL successful presumption of EPA per play. -- Walder

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1:42

Lewis watched Manning's each determination to hole for NFL Sundays

Ray Lewis shares his movie strategy with Peyton Manning, saying helium was watching Manning's each move. For much Peyton's Places, motion up for ESPN+ contiguous astatine https://plus.espn.com/.

Bobby Wagner

Teams: Seahawks (2012-21, 2023), Rams (2022), Commanders (2024-present)
Résumé since 2000: 35 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 13 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, 11-time All-Pro

Wagner has the aforesaid fig of first-team All-Pro selections arsenic Lewis (seven), which is much than immoderate different linebacker since 2000. His 10 Pro Bowl selections don't adjacent see the twelvemonth helium finished 2nd successful the Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting (2012) oregon the twelvemonth helium helped pb the Seahawks to a Super Bowl triumph (2013). Wagner besides led the NFL successful tackles 3 times. Since 2000, lone London Fletcher has much tackles than Wagner's 1,838. -- Schatz

Brian Urlacher

Teams: Bears (2000-12)
Résumé since 2000: 41.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 22 interceptions, one-time DPOY, five-time All-Pro

The Urlacher-led Bears had the third-best defence successful presumption of EPA per play from 2001 to 2012. His 22 vocation interceptions are the 2nd astir by immoderate linebacker successful the past 25 years, down lone Lewis' 26. Urlacher ranks 4th among each players successful plus-EPA per crippled astatine minus-3.59, too. -- Walder

Lavonte David

Teams: Buccaneers (2012-current)
Résumé since 2000: 39 sacks, 31 forced fumbles, 13 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, three-time All-Pro

No linebacker implicit the past 25 years has dominated with splash plays rather similar David. His 415 defeats fertile 3rd among each players since 1991 (behind Lewis and Junior Seau), portion his 31.9 defeats per play fertile first. David besides has 330 walk tackle stops (tackles aft walk receptions that forestall the discourtesy from having a palmy play). Derrick Brooks (275) is the lone different subordinate since 1991 with much than 240. It's ridiculous that David has lone 2 full Pro Bowl (2015) oregon first-team All-Pro (2013) selections, but we're not letting that support him disconnected our team. -- Schatz

Luke Kuechly

Teams: Panthers (2012-19)
Résumé since 2000: 12.5 sacks, 18 interceptions, one-time DPOY, seven-time All-Pro

Kuechly's vocation burned truthful blistery implicit its abbreviated eight-year span. The lone 1 of those seasons successful which helium did not scope the Pro Bowl and gain first- oregon second-team All-Pro honors was 2012 ... erstwhile helium won Defensive Rookie of the Year. Kuechly's 9.2 tackles per crippled and 0.15 interceptions per crippled are the 2nd and 3rd astir of immoderate linebacker successful this century, respectively. -- Walder

Practice squad: Derrick Brooks

Cornerbacks (5)

Darrelle Revis

Teams: Jets (2007-12, 2015-16), Buccaneers (2013), Patriots (2014), Chiefs (2017)
Résumé since 2000: 29 interceptions, one-time ace Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro

Even the champion receivers successful the NFL disappeared connected Revis Island. In the prima cornerback's champion play (2009), the Jets allowed an mean of 29 receiving yards per crippled to opposing WR1s. Revis' 31 passes defensed that twelvemonth are inactive an NFL record, 4 much than immoderate different cornerback has ever had successful a azygous season. -- Schatz

Champ Bailey

Teams: Washington (1999-2003), Broncos (2004-13)
Résumé since 2000: 5 forced fumbles, 47 interceptions, seven-time All-Pro

Bailey amassed much approximate worth (149), per Pro Football Reference, since 2000 than immoderate different cornerback by a steadfast borderline (Patrick Peterson was 2nd astatine 131). His fig of interceptions from 2000 fertile 3rd astir successful this span. Bailey qualifies for this squad connected some highest and longevity; helium is tied with Ray Lewis for the astir Pro Bowl nods (12) connected this roster. -- Walder

Ronde Barber

Teams: Buccaneers (1997-2012)
Résumé since 2000: 24 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 43 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

Barber was 1 of the integral parts of the "Tampa 2" defence that dominated the NFL successful the aboriginal 2000s. Plenty of cornerbacks successful that epoch played adjacent to the enactment of scrimmage arsenic portion of a Cover 2 shell, but nary 1 matched Barber's numbers against the tally and pass. He leads each antiaircraft backs with 292 defeats since 2000; Charles Woodson is the lone different antiaircraft backmost supra 220. Barber's interceptions fertile sixth successful that span, and helium besides made the astir tackles connected moving plays (477). -- Schatz

Richard Sherman

Teams: Seahawks (2011-17), 49ers (2018-20), Buccaneers (2021)
Résumé since 2000: 5 forced fumbles, 37 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

Sherman headlined the "Legion of Boom" secondary that took implicit the NFL successful the 2010s, making the game-clinching deflection that sent the Seahawks to their 2nd Super Bowl quality of the 21st century. And successful retrospect, it's a testament to Sherman and Earl Thomas III (more connected him later) that the emulations by different teams of Seattle's Cover 3 defence ne'er had arsenic overmuch occurrence arsenic the original. From 2012 to 2014, Sherman earned 3 consecutive first-team All-Pro selections and recorded 20 interceptions. -- Walder

Patrick Peterson

Teams: Cardinals (2011-20), Vikings (2021-22), Steelers (2023)
Résumé since 2000: 2 forced fumbles, 36 interceptions, three-time All-Pro

Peterson's vocation had a agelong tail, but that shouldn't overshadow his eight-year highest from 2011 to 2018. He was supra mean successful yards allowed per people successful each play during the aboriginal portion of his career, peaking erstwhile helium allowed a league-leading 4.4 yards per people successful 2015. Peterson besides tied for eighth (with Sherman) successful interceptions during the past 25 seasons. -- Schatz

Practice squad: Jalen Ramsey

Safeties (4)

Ed Reed

Teams: Ravens (2002-12), Texans (2013), Jets (2013)
Résumé since 2000: 11 forced fumbles, 64 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, one-time DPOY, eight-time All-Pro

The eventual shot hawk, Reed picked disconnected 15 much passes than immoderate different antiaircraft backmost successful this 4th century. His 0.39 picks per crippled were by acold the highest, amounting to astir 1 interception per 10 quarters! During his Defensive Player of the Year play successful 2004, helium picked disconnected 9 passes (the archetypal of 2 seasons helium deed that number). -- Walder

Troy Polamalu

Teams: Steelers (2003-14)
Résumé since 2000: 12 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, 32 interceptions, two-time Super Bowl champion, one-time DPOY, six-time All-Pro

Polamalu flying each implicit the tract epitomized what NFL teams began prioritizing with modern safeties. He is 5th among safeties with 103 passes defensed since 2000. He besides had 80 tally stops (tackles to halt runs abbreviated of a palmy play), which is 3rd among each antiaircraft backs since 2000. -- Schatz

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2:32

Polamalu receives HOF jacket, pays tribute to Steelers during speech

Troy Polamalu gets to don his golden Hall of Fame overgarment for the archetypal clip and lauds the Pittsburgh Steelers during his speech.

Brian Dawkins

Teams: Eagles (1996-2008), Broncos (2009-11)
Résumé since 2000: 22.5 sacks, 29 forced fumbles, 25 interceptions, five-time All-Pro

Dawkins delivered immoderate immense hits during his 12 seasons this 4th century, arsenic evidenced by the information that helium forced the second-most fumbles among DBs successful our span and finished with the third-most sacks. When Dawkins was connected the Eagles from 2000 to 2008, Philadelphia ranked 3rd successful EPA allowed per dropback connected defense. -- Walder

Earl Thomas III

Teams: Seahawks (2010-18), Ravens (2019)
Résumé since 2000: 12 forced fumbles, 30 interceptions, one-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

Thomas doesn't person galore awesome numbers due to the fact that you don't accumulate numbers erstwhile cipher volition propulsion adjacent you. He unopen down the heavy portion of the tract for the Seahawks, earning a Pro Bowl motion successful 5 consecutive seasons (2011-15). At his highest successful 2013, Seattle was the No. 1 defence against some abbreviated passes and heavy passes connected the mode to a Super Bowl XLVIII win. -- Walder

Practice squad: Charles Woodson

Kickers (1)

Justin Tucker

Teams: Ravens (2012-24)
Résumé since 2000: 1,775 points scored, 89.1% tract extremity percentage, one-time Super Bowl champion, eight-time All-Pro

The recently released Tucker is intelligibly the champion kicker successful these 25 years -- and possibly ever. If we comparison him to different apical contenders specified arsenic Adam Vinatieri, Sebastian Janikowski, Phil Dawson and Robbie Gould, Tucker recorded a higher tract extremity percent from 40-44 yards, 45-49 yards and 50-54 yards. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, helium besides had the astir tract goals made implicit anticipation (24.5, with nary different subordinate reaching 17) and the astir triumph probability added among kickers (plus-78%) since 2017. -- Walder

Punters (1)

Shane Lechler

Teams: Raiders (2000-12), Texans (2013-17)
Résumé since 2000: 47.6 yards per punt, nine-time All-Pro

One of the top and longest-tenured punters successful NFL history, Lechler was named a first-team All-Pro successful his rookie season. Throughout his 18-year career, helium racked up much first-team All-Pro selections (six) than immoderate different punter successful NFL past (no 1 has had much than four). Lechler led the league successful gross punt mean successful 5 seasons, and his vocation mean successful yards per punt is an NFL grounds for punters who person played implicit 120 games. -- Schatz

Return specialists (1)

Devin Hester

Teams: Bears (2006-13), Falcons (2014-15), Ravens (2016), Seahawks (2016)
Résumé since 2000: 20 instrumentality touchdowns, 11,028 full instrumentality yards, four-time All-Pro

Though Hester is remembered for scoring connected the opening kickoff successful Super Bowl XLI, helium was really much prolific arsenic a punt returner. Fourteen of his instrumentality touchdowns came disconnected punts; nary different subordinate recorded much than 4 successful that aforesaid span. In 2024, helium became the archetypal instrumentality specializer to beryllium inducted into the Hall of Fame. -- Walder

Practice squad: Cordarrelle Patterson

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1:02

Devin Hester acknowledgment ma astatine HOF induction: 'Your lad is simply a Hall of Famer!'

Devin Hester shares an affectional infinitesimal with his ma astatine his enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Special teamers (1)

Matthew Slater

Teams: Patriots (2008-23)
Résumé since 2000: 4,487 peculiar teams snaps, Three-time Super Bowl champion, five-time All-Pro

The Patriots had above-average peculiar teams DVOA each azygous play from 1996 done 2020, and Slater was a immense origin successful the 2nd fractional of that streak arsenic a gunner. Slater stayed successful the NFL for 16 seasons contempt having conscionable 1 vocation reception astatine wide receiver and lone 1 play with much than 20 antiaircraft snaps astatine information (both successful 2011). There's nary mode we were leaving him disconnected this team. -- Schatz

Long snappers (1)

Morgan Cox

Teams: Ravens (2010-20), Titans (2021-present)
Résumé since 2000: 233 starts, one-time Super Bowl champion, one-time All-Pro

We're not going to enactment similar agelong snapper experts, but Cox is simply a five-time Pro Bowler and earned his lone first-team All-Pro grant successful 2020 -- the archetypal twelvemonth agelong snappers were added to the team. He has played 15 years successful the league for the Ravens and Titans. -- Walder

Coaching staff

Bill Belichick, caput coach

We wrestled backmost and distant here, considering some Belichick and Andy Reid. Reid has the vantage of sustained occurrence with aggregate quarterbacks and aggregate franchises, but we went with Belichick due to the fact that of his superior occurrence successful the postseason: 9 Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl championships.

Belichick besides won successful antithetic ways. His aboriginal Patriots teams were much astir the defense, highlighted by a crippled program that slowed down the 2001 Rams' dynamic offense. The midcareer Patriots were violative juggernauts. At the extremity of his New England tenure, the squad went backmost to being defense-first, highlighted by a 13-3 victory successful its last Super Bowl. -- Schatz

Kyle Shanahan, violative coordinator

Our criteria for the coordinators was that caput coaches were allowed arsenic agelong arsenic they spent immoderate clip arsenic a coordinator successful this 4th century. Shanahan -- on with Sean McVay and the resulting coaching histrion -- proliferated a schematic displacement crossed the league that happened to beryllium rather successful.

Teams coordinated oregon coached by Shanahan averaged 0.06 EPA per play (postseason included), including 3 seasons wherever they ranked apical 2 successful DVOA and six seasons successful the apical six. Shanahan's statistical occurrence is notable fixed that helium usually hasn't had elite quarterbacks playing for him -- the backmost with the astir playing clip nether him is Jimmy Garoppolo. -- Walder

Wade Phillips, antiaircraft coordinator

Phillips not lone has a grounds of coordinating beardown defenses astatine aggregate stops; helium besides has a large grounds of improving those defenses. He took the Falcons' defence from 24th successful DVOA successful 2001 to 10th successful 2002. He took the Chargers' defence from 28th successful 2003 to ninth successful 2004. He took the Texans' defence -- with immoderate assistance from rookie J.J. Watt, of people -- from 30th successful 2010 to eighth successful 2011. Then helium took the Broncos to No. 1 successful antiaircraft DVOA successful some 2015 and 2016, with a Super Bowl championship.

Including Phillips' stops arsenic a caput manager (Bills and Cowboys), his defenses person ranked successful the apical fractional of the league successful 15 of 18 seasons since 2000. -- Schatz

Dave Toub, peculiar teams coordinator

Toub holds 1 of the astir awesome streaks a manager tin have. He coordinated a top-five peculiar teams portion successful each play from 2006 (when ESPN's ratio ratings began) to 2017, including the postseason. That wholly absurd streak -- astir intolerable considering the fickle quality of peculiar teams -- was breached successful 2018 erstwhile Toub's Chiefs finished ... sixth successful the category. -- Walder