NFL Top 100

Last updated
NFL Top 100
NFL Top 100 logo.jpg
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons13
No. of episodes130
Production
Running time3–9 minutes (per player)
Original release
Network NFL Network
Release2011 (2011)
Related
NFL Top 10

The NFL Top 100 is an annual television series counting down the top one hundred players in the National Football League (NFL), as chosen by fellow NFL players. The rankings are based on an off-season poll organized by the NFL, where players vote on their peers based on their performance for the recent NFL season. Only players that are not retired in the next season are eligible for consideration. [1]

Contents

In 2010, NFL Network aired The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players , an all-time top 100 list, with wide receiver Jerry Rice being voted as the number-one player. The following year, the network debuted their annual NFL Top 100, with quarterback Tom Brady being voted at the top. Brady holds the record for most number-one selections, with four (2011, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Fellow quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the only other player to have been voted number-one multiple times (2021, 2023). Running back Adrian Peterson (2013), defensive end J. J. Watt (2015), and defensive tackle Aaron Donald (2019) are the only non-quarterbacks to be voted number-one. Following Brady's retirement and resulting exclusion from the 2023 list, quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds the distinction of being the only player to be an NFL Top 100 selection each year of its existence. [2]

Series overview

SeasonOriginally airedNumber 1
First airedLast airedPlayerTeam
1 April 30, 2011July 3, 2011 Tom Brady New England Patriots
2 April 28, 2012June 27, 2012 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers
3 April 27, 2013June 27, 2013 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings
4 May 10, 2014July 9, 2014 Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
5 May 6, 2015July 8, 2015 J. J. Watt Houston Texans
6 May 4, 2016July 6, 2016 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers
7 May 1, 2017June 26, 2017 Tom Brady New England Patriots
8 April 30, 2018June 25, 2018
9 July 22, 2019July 31, 2019 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams
10 July 26, 2020July 29, 2020 Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens
11 August 15, 2021August 28, 2021 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs
12 August 14, 2022August 28, 2022 Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13 July 24, 2023August 3, 2023 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs

History

Tom Brady has been named the #1 player four times Tom Brady2 (1).jpg
Tom Brady has been named the #1 player four times

The first season of the series was released prior to the 2011 NFL season. NFL Network released ten episodes, each revealing ten players on the list during the 2011 offseason. The first episode, revealing the players ranked #100 through #91 was aired on April 30, 2011. The list's top 10 players were revealed when the tenth episode of the 2011 list was aired on July 3, 2011. The list and series began with the #100 ranked player, Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, [3] and ended when New England Patriots quarterback and 2010 NFL MVP Tom Brady was selected as the number one ranked player. [4]

The NFL Top 100 list returned for the 2012 NFL season. The season ran from April 28 to June 27, 2012. The list began with Tennessee Titans running back, Chris Johnson, [5] and concluded the reveal of the number one ranked player, and the 2011 MVP, Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. [6] Each episode of the season was followed up by NFL Top 100 Reaction Show, which featured NFL Network analysts reacting and voicing their opinions on the ten most recent players revealed on the list. [7]

The series has run every offseason since, following the same countdown format, and continuing to feature players and analysts reacting to the rankings. [8] [9]

Players with most Top 100 selections

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been selected to the Top 100 list a record 13 times Aaron Rodgers crop.jpg
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been selected to the Top 100 list a record 13 times
Von Miller has the most Top 100 selections among defensive players Von Miller (29315783687).jpg
Von Miller has the most Top 100 selections among defensive players
Key
SymbolMeaning
†Denotes Pro Football Hall of Fame member
^Denotes active player
PlayerPosition#Sel.Years selectedPeak
Aaron Rodgers ^ Quarterback 13 2011–2023 #1 (2012)
Tom Brady Quarterback12 2011–2022 #1 (4 times)
Drew Brees Quarterback10 2011–2020 #2 (2 times)
Von Miller ^ Linebacker 2012–2020, 2022 #2 (2017)
Russell Wilson ^Quarterback 2013–2022 #2 (2020)
Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver 2011–2020 #7 (2012)
Trent Williams ^ Offensive tackle 2013–2019, 2021–2023 #14 (2 times)
J. J. Watt Defensive end 9 2013–2021 #1 (2015)
Aaron Donald ^ Defensive tackle 2015–2023 #1 (2019)
Ben Roethlisberger Quarterback 2011–2019 #18 (2018)
Cam Newton Quarterback8 2012–2019 #1 (2016)
Julio Jones ^Wide receiver 2013, 2015–2021 #3 (2017)
Khalil Mack ^ Defensive end 2015–2021, 2023 #3 (2019)
Travis Kelce ^ Tight end 2016–2023 #5 (2 times)
A. J. Green Wide receiver 2012–2019 #9 (2014)
Bobby Wagner ^Linebacker 2015, 2017–2023 #13 (2020)
Earl Thomas Safety 2012–2018, 2020 #17 (2014)
Philip Rivers Quarterback 2011, 2012, 2014–2019 #17 (2019)
Patrick Peterson ^ Cornerback 2012–2019 #18 (2016)
Tyron Smith ^Offensive tackle 2014–2020, 2022 #18 (2017)
Cameron Jordan ^Defensive end 2014, 2016, 2018–2023 #23 (2020)
Ndamukong Suh ^Defensive tackle 2011–2018 #24 (2015)

Reception

Several NFL players have expressed negative opinions of NFL Top 100. Responding to the 2021 list, Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle D. J. Humphries called the list "bullshit" and "made up" and cast personal doubt on if players actually vote, stating that he had never voted. [10] In 2022, former tackle Andrew Whitworth, a 3× NFL Top 100 selection himself, also asserted that not every player votes on the list, calling it a "joke" and "content filler". [11]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Where Would Manning, Megatron & Other Retirees Be on the Top 100 Players of 2016?. National Football League. July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2019– via YouTube.
  2. ↑ #51 Aaron Rodgers (QB, Jets) | Top 100 Players of 2023. NFL Top 100. National Football League. August 8, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023– via YouTube.
  3. ↑ "Top 100: Donovan McNabb". National Football League. April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ Aashish Sharma (July 4, 2011). "Tom Brady Named NFL's Top Player of 2011: Why He Will Go Down as the Greatest". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ Michael David Smith (April 29, 2012). "Chris Johnson falls 87 spots in NFL Top 100 ranking". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ Network Ranking (June 27, 2012). "'The Top 100: Players of 2012': Aaron Rodgers". National Football League. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Top 100 reaction: Biggest surprise". National Football League. April 28, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ Sara Bibel (April 19, 2013). "NFL Network Presents 'The Top 100 Players of 2013'". TV by the Numbers. Zap 2 it. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Aaron (April 29, 2013). "Dennis Pitta Named NFL's 100th-best player". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  10. ↑ Balzer, Howard (September 3, 2021). "Humphries on NFL Top 100 Players: It's 'All Made Up'". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ Crisafulli, Owen (August 15, 2022). "'It's a joke': Andrew Whitworth rips NFL Top 100 list, exposes that not all players vote". ClutchPoints . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
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