Over the past 25 years, the NFL has seen a shift from a running back-focused league to one dominated by quarterbacks. This transition is reflected in individual awards and player salaries, with quarterbacks winning each of the last 12 NFL MVP awards and commanding higher salaries than any other position.
Tom Brady exemplifies this shift. With seven Super Bowl victories and five Super Bowl MVP awards, along with three league MVP titles, Brady has become a symbol of the quarterback’s rise in prominence. “Brady isn’t the only quarterback who has contributed to this change,” as noted in recent rankings of top NFL players.
Patrick Mahomes is another key figure in this evolution. Despite his recent Super Bowl loss, Mahomes remains the only active player on a list of the top 25 players in NFL history. His achievements already place him among all-time greats, suggesting he would be “a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame” even if he never played another game.
The criteria for ranking these players included individual success and accolades, dominance during their era, longevity and career milestones, enduring impact and legacy, team success, and championships won. The list also considers each player’s ranking relative to their position.
Among those ranked is Alan Page, a defensive tackle who played from 1967 to 1981. Page was part of the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eater” defense and was notable for being the first defensive player to win an NFL MVP award. He was a Pro Bowler every year from 1968 to 1976 and recorded an impressive 148.5 career sacks.
Page’s contributions helped lead the Vikings to three NFC titles and an NFL crown in 1969. He concluded his career with three solid seasons with the Chicago Bears.
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