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For people who don't know, Mount Rushmore is a mountain that has faces sculpted out depicting the four most influential Presidents of the United States at that time in 1941. The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt all are sculptured out in this mountain in the state of South Dakota of the United States. Now if we take the idea of Mount Rushmore and apply it to every team in the NFL, who would we have up there for their Mount Rushmore. So I decided to do my own Mount Rushmore for every team in the NFL. The best four players for every category in the NFL. No owners, general managers or coaches will be selected, it will be strictly players. Teams like the Los Angeles Raiders, St.Louis Cardinals, St.Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers will all be included. We also decided to have the AFC and NFC Mount Rushmore. Finally, we will have the Mount Rushmore for the NFL as a whole league all time. After many days of jotting down players. I chose the 4 for the Mount Rushmore and included the player that just missed the cut. The players that missed the cut are players that almost made it, and if they are active players, they would still have a chance to make it. Let's get started.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Larry Wilson, Anquan Boldin, Aeneas Williams
Just Missed Cut: Jackie Smith
Arizona has two receivers who led the team during the winning years in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The next two that were a big part of the team has to be the secondary players Larry Wilson and Aeneas Williams. Tight End Jackie Smith misses the cut by a hairline.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Deion Sanders
Just Missed Cut: Michael Vick
During the best years for the Falcons, there has been a group of three players. Matt Ryan has been the best quarterback ever to dawn the Falcons jersey. Ryan had some help with those unique numbers by having wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones in your corner. Deion Sanders represents the earlier Falcons players. He was day and night the best player in Atlanta in his time there. Quarterback Michael Vick misses out.
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jonathan Ogden, Joe Flacco
Just Missed Cut: Terrell Suggs
Terrell Suggs misses out but has a chance to gain the position with the way Joe Flacco has been playing lately and how Flacco ends his legacy with the team. The other three are locks. Ogden was a stud offensive lineman and two of the best defensive players of all time are locks.
Bills: Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, O.J. Simpson
Just Missed Cut: Andre Reed
This selection was where social aspect and player numbers were the conflicts of reason here. I went by the football side and not the social front of the player, and OJ Simpson makes it over wide receiver Andre Reed. The trio of Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly, and Bruce Smith are players that are 100% locks on the mountain.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith, Cam Newton, Sam Mills, Julius Peppers
Just Missed Cut: DeAngelo Williams
Steve Smith was easily the best wide receiver to play for the Carolina Panthers, and some will say he might be one of the best all-time at that position. Cam Newton right now is the best quarterback to play for the Panthers. Julius Peppers and Sam Mills round out the best of the Panthers, with Peppers being the first real star player the Panthers ever had.
Chicago Bears: Walter Payton, Brian Urlacher, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers
Just Missed Cut: Mike Singletary
When your team has a rich history like the Chicago Bears, it is hard to pick the four best in your mindset, and I did my best to figure my four. Dick Butkus Walter Payton and Gale Sayers are locks for me as to what they provided as players for the franchise. I was stuck on Brian Urlacher and Mike Singletary. I went with Brian Urlacher where his consistency stood atop year after year as a player who stayed mostly healthy his whole career.
Cinncinati Bengals: Anthony Munoz, Boomer Eaison, Chad Johnson, Ken Anderson
Just Missed Cut: A.J. Green
This team only has one player who has made the Hall of Fame as a Bengal. Anthony Munoz is the best Bengal player of all time, no doubts. Ken Anderson and Boomer Eaison come in second as the most successful passers of the franchise and are part of the prosperous historical times of the Bengals. It went down to the two wide receivers and right now Chad Johnson has the edge over AJ Green, but that doesn't mean Green cant get past Johnson by the end of his career.
Cleveland Browns: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Joe Thomas, Clay Matthews Jr.
Just Missed Cut: Eric Metcalf
Jim Brown as one of the best running backs of all time is a lock to be on the mountain. As does Otto Graham who will be regarded as one of the best passers a lot of us fans never got to see. Joe Thomas is a future Hall of Famer who was the best offensive lineman in his time. As well goes for Clay Matthews Jr. who was a phenomenal linebacker.
Dallas Cowboys: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly
Just Missed Cut: Michael Irvin
This selection for the Cowboys was tough to pick the top four after Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. I had three left to choose from my list. I went with Roger Staubach, and Bob Lilly over Michael Irvin. Michael Irvin was a big part of the three Super Bowl wins, but the way Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman took over those games were the same way Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach took over their games.
Denver Broncos: John Elway, Terell Davis, Von Miller, Champ Bailey
Just Missed Cut: Shannon Sharpe
All four Denver Broncos players were not just an integral part of the Broncos teams that won the Super Bowls, but they were players who changed the way their position played today. They are on the list because of their accomplishments with the Broncos, but also how they changed the NFL for the better.
Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders, Dick LeBeau, Bobby Layne
Just Missed Cut: Matthew Stafford
Surefire Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson redefined the jump ball catch in the NFL. Many times the quarterback would launch the ball in the air, and Calvin Johnson known as Megatron would grab the ball no matter where it was. He joins one of the greatest players ever to play the game in Barry Sanders who accomplished so much in so little time when he retired in his prime playing days. Dick LeBeau is probably was one of the most feared cornerbacks in his playing days and was perhaps considered Detroit's best secondary player of all time. Bobby Layne is maybe the best quarterback in Detroit history, but there is a guy named Matthew Stafford that might make it there in a few years.
Green Bay Packers: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Reggie White, Bart Starr
Just Missed Cut: Ray Nitschke
The Green Bay Packers started Super Bowl 1 and 2 with a great quarterback named Bart Starr. Starr was the best quarterback in NFL history and of course Packers history. Until came the gunslinger Brett Favre who won a Super Bowl broke many passing records in the NFL along the way and is also a Hall of Famer. Then after Brett Favre they had an encore with another quarterback who is still playing, has won a Super Bowl, earned the MVP in the NFL, future Hall of Famer, and is also trying to surpass all those records Favre had set. The one I am talking about is Aaron Rodgers. To end the foursome why not add the guy preacher who loved football with all his might and came to Green Bay when most players of his status wouldn't. Mr Reggie White.
Houston Texans: Andre Johnson, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, Arian Foster
Just Missed Cut: Duane Brown
This Texans team was one of the newer teams that do not have much history. We went with the best player to ever dawn the jersey in JJ Watt. We added the two receivers that became the face of the franchise in Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. Finally, we edged out the running back Arian Foster over the offensive lineman Duane Brown.
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Johnny Unitas
Just Missed Cut: Jeff Saturday
Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning are one of the best players to play their position. Easy choice when it comes to the first two to represent the Colts. We all know the Peyton Manning highlights over the years and is one of the best there ever was to play the game. Johnny Unitas was the Peyton Manning of his era. The other two I went with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne as the two primary targets under Peyton Manning. One who was almost there in the foursome was centre Jeff Saturday and even Dwight Freeney.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew, Tony Boselli, Jimmy Smith, Fred Taylor
Just Missed Cut: Mark Brunell
Jacksonville Jaguars are also another team that does not have a rich history as of yet. We went with the two running backs that were the face of the franchise in their time with Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. Then we went with the wide receiver Jimmy Smith and Offensive lineman Tony Boselli, who both beat quarterback Mark Brunell to be in the top 4.
Kansas City Chiefs: Len Dawson, Derrick Thomas, Tony Gonzalez, Will Shields
Just Missed Cut: Willie Lanier
Quarterback Len Dawson comes to mind when you start talking about the best Chiefs of all time. In the 60's he was one of the best quarterbacks in the AFL/NFL. Next is defensive lineman Derrick Thomas who was a natural choice where he led the defence of the Chiefs in the 90's in the NFL. After that, I chose Tony Gonzalez in my mind the greatest tight end of all time. Finally to the top four, we added offensive lineman Will Shields to the group.
Los Angeles Rams: Kurt Warner, Deacon Jones, Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson
Just Missed Cut: Issac Bruce
One of the hardest top four to name as many are left out like Issac Bruce, Torry Holt, Steven Jackson, Jack Youngblood, Orlando Pace to name a few. In the end, we went with two players from recent history and two from history. From past, we have quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk. These two were an integral part of the greatest show on turf. The history comes from one powerhouse defensive end in Deacon Jones, and the other is the stalwart running back Eric Dickerson.
Los Angeles Chargers: Phillip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Junior Seau, Dan Fouts
Just Missed Cut: Antiono Gates
To me, this team will always be San Diego, but that is another whole article. The greatest Chargers of all time. Easy take one of the best scoring running backs of my time in LaDainian Tomlinson, add a stout linebacker in Junior Seau these two are and always will be the face of the franchise. The other two spots I went with the two quarterbacks who provided the most success for the franchise in Rivers, and Fouts over the Hall of Famer tight end Antonio Gates.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Jason Taylor, Larry Csonka
Just Missed Cut: Zach Thomas
There has to be representation from the 1972 undefeated team of the Dolphins, and we have that representation with quarterback Bob Griese and running back Larry Csonka. Easily the best two players from that time of the franchise. The next two were not hard to choose as well. We went with Hall of Famer quarterback Dan Marino who had all the quarterback records till like of Bradys, Mannings, and Brees came along. Probably the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl. Last is linebacker Jason Taylor who consistently was the leader of the Dolphins defence in his prime with the team.
Minnesota Vikings: Frank Tarkenton, Randy Moss, Chris Carter, Adrian Peterson
Just Missed Cut: Alan Page
All the players that come to mind are the offensive players of the Minnesota Vikings, who because of their offence were always channelling for a playoff spot year after year. We started with the best quarterback, two wide receivers and one of the best running backs of all time. Three of the four players are Hall of Famers and one will once he will be done playing. Frank Tarkenton, Randy Moss, Chris Carter, and Adrian Peterson are the faces of this franchise. Close was like of Alan Page, Jared Allen and John Randle.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Rob Gronkowski, John Hannah
Just Missed Cut: Adam Vinatieri
First one for the Patriots is easy, Tom Brady. The only player to win five Super Bowls. His Super Bowl record is 5-3 which is astonishing in its own. 8 Super Bowl appearances is a record for any quarterback. Rob Gronkowski was part of some of those Super Bowls with Brady, future Hall of Famers will be part of the Mount Rushmore for Patriots as they continue their winning ways. Defensive players Tedy Bruschi and John Hannah complete the foursome. They both beat out the likes of Adam Vinatieri and Ty Law.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees, Archie Manning, Willie Roaf, Rickey Jackson
Just Missed Cut: Morten Anderson
Drew Brees is the automatic selection for the Saints foursome. Brees is still playing and shattering quarterback records week after week. Next two are the Hal of Famers that contributed most as Saints players after Brees. Offensive tackle Willie Roaf and linebacker Rickey Jackson are the next in line to be the top four. We had then the likes of Morten Anderson, Duece McAllister, Archie Manning, and Marquez Colston. We went with Archie Manning as he held most of the passing records for the Saints till Brees came along. Manning was also the face of the franchise in that time.
New York Giants: Lawerence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Eli Manning, Frank Gifford
Just Missed Cut: Y.A. Tittle
Lawerence Taylor and Michael Strahan are locks for me for not just best Giants of all time, but they both are some of the best defensive players of all time. Frank Gifford played three positions and was a pro bowler in all three, an MVP, and Hall of Famer. The last a lot of people will hate on me for this selection, but Eli Manning is the fourth even over YA Tittle and Phil Simms. He has won many games as a clutch quarterback. There is a lot of back and forth on Eli as a Hall of Famer, and I think he will be there. My opinion one of the best clutch quarterbacks of his time.
New York Jets: Joe Namath, Curtis Martin, Don Maynard, Darrelle Revis
Just Missed Cut: Al Toon
Now there is no question when it comes to keeping a promise about winning the big game there is no one like Joe Namath. Broadway Joe as he was often referred to as was the first real star of the NFL. When it came with the ladies, the commercial ads. He was the first face of the NFL, and he was a great quarterback as well. Don Maynard along with Namath led the passing game for the Jets. Since that Super Bowl win the Jets, have been mediocre at best, but two players that shined brightly during that time was running back Curtis Martin and cornerback Darrelle Revis. After that not many players that I could count towards the top four.
Oakland Raiders: Tim Brown, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, Ken Stabler
Just Missed Cut: Bo Jackson
If Bo Jackson played more he probably would have been part of the Raiders Mount Rushmore, but the four I named did a lot more for the franchise then Jackson did in his time. Marcus Allen was the running back of the then Los Angeles Raiders. Allen led the team in all rushing categories. Allen won a Super Bowl and also was named the Super Bowl MVP. Ken " The Snake" Stabler won a Super Bowl with the Raiders, was also league MVP, and offensive player of the year. Stabler along with Allen are both in the Hall of Fame. Rounding out the four is Hall of Famers Howie Long and Tim Brown whom both excelled at their positions.
Philadelphia Eagles: Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, Reggie White
Just Missed Cut: Steve Van Buren
Randall Cunningham was maybe the first running quarterback to play the game. Cunningham brought something to the table that other quarterbacks in that time were not known to be outside of the pocket and be the teams leading rusher. Donovan McNabb came to the side when it had its most success going to the NFC Championships many times and only making it to the Super Bowl once and lost. McNabb was a leader in the NFL in passing and in some rushing statistics as well. Brian Dawkins and Reggie Wayne were dominant defensive players in their time and dominated their position in the entire NFL. Reggie Wayne is the only player on my lists to be part of two teams, Mount Rushmore.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Ben Roethlisberger, Jack Lambert
Just Missed Cut: Franco Harris
Pittsburgh Steelers could be one of the hardest teams to pick a foursome to be their Rushmore.Likes of Antonio Brown, Troy Polamalu, Franco Harris, Mel Blount, Rod Woodson, Jack Ham, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Jerome Bettis and even not so loved Le'Veon Bell. When it comes up to me, I am sure my four are different from most of the peoples top 4 when it comes to the Steelers. I have quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger who were the leaders of the teams that won all of those Super Bowls. Next is Joe Greene whos nickname was "Mean Joe" for a reason. Mean Joe was one of the most dominant defensive players of all time, so he for me was on the list. I could have picked anyone to be the fourth, but to me, if there was a linebacker who changed the way his position was played it was Jack Lambert. Lambert was probably the best linebacker in the 70's.
San Fransico 49ers: Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Ronnie Lott
Just Missed Cut: Roger Craig
The San Fransico 49ers had a lot of fantastic players in their rich histoty. Good thing I just had to name four of them. Jerry Rice for me comes first because he is probably the best offensive athlete to play the game. Next came Joe Montana who led the 49ers to four Super Bowls. Joe Montana was considered the best quarterback to play the game, not the way of statistical numbers, but winning the big games. Joe Montana won 4 of those big games and won the MVP 3 times in those Super Bowls. Steve Young was Montana heir apparent in San Fransico. Young was a different type of quarterback than Montana and led them to another Super Bowl once Montana was traded away. Finally, the last spot goes to cornerback/safety Ronnie Lott. Lott one of the hardest hitters in football, punished players with extreme power if they came in his way.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson, Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones
Just Missed Cut: Marshawn Lynch
The Seattle Seahawks till recent time has usually been an awful team, and in those dreadful teams, some gems make the Mount Rushmore for the Seahawks. We start with wide receiver Steve Largent who played his whole career with the Seahawks. Largent was the receiver record holder when he retired from the league that has now been broken by other receivers. Next, we have offensive tackle Walter Jones who also played his whole career as a Seahawk and was inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Seahawk as well. One cool fact I learned about Walter Jones. Jones was called for holding penealities just nine times in his whole career. Cortez Kennedy was another player who opted to play for the Seahawks for his entire career. Kennedy had won the Defensive Player of the Year award and is also in the Hall of Fame. So now we had to add someone from the current success of the Seahawks. That was an easy choice. The franchise face and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Warren Sapp, Mike Alstott, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber
Just Missed Cut: John Lynch
Tampa Bay like Seattle was really bad in the 90's. It wasn't until Jon Gruden came to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that the defence came to be known as the best in the league and went on to win a Super Bowl with that fantastic deference. It was easy for me to name all defensive players as the greatest Buccaneers, but I had to add the most popular Buccaneer of that time. Mike Alstott was a powerhouse fullback who won a Super Bowl and was elected to the Pro Bowl six times as well. The other three is all defensive players and you could probably guess them as well. Warren Sapp was the face of the defence. Sapp was a Pro Bowler, a Defensive player of the year winner, Hall of Famer. Considered one of the best defensive linemen in his era. Then there was another flasher in Ronde Barber who played his whole career with the Buccaneers and could be a future Hall of Famer. Derrick Brooks was also a Pro Bowler, Hall of Famer, Defensive player of the year winner. This Buccaneers team was loaded on defence. This defence had a lot of players that could have been on the Rushmore including John Lynch.
Tennessee Titans: Warren Moon, Steve McNair, Jevon Kearse, Earl Campbell
Just Missed Cut: Eddie George
Warren Moon would have had a lot more success in the NFL if he was allowed to play quarterback in the league. Moon successfully played in six seasons in the Canadian Football League until the Houston Oilers as Titans were called back in the 80's gave him a chance in the NFL. One of the best quarterbacks ever to never win a Super Bowl went to the Pro Bowl many times and was offensive player of the year once as well. Steve McNair some would say was a better Oilers/Titans quarterback than Moon was. Took the Titans to the Super Bowl and lost on one play that went short of the goal line. McNair had won the NFL MVP as well. Jevon Kearse was the prototype defensive end that made it nightmares for opposing quarterbacks. The "Freak" is probably the best defensive player to dawn a Titans jersey. We save the end for a great running back in Earl Campbell. Campbell was an MVP, NFL leading rusher three times, Offensive player of the year three times, Rookie of the year and the list goes on for this stud of a running back.
Washington Redskins: John Riggins, Joe Theismann, Darrell Green, Sammy Baugh
Just Missed Cut: Art Monk
Sammy Baugh was an outstanding quarterback that we never got to see, and then there is the quarterback whom we all got to look on YouTube when Lawerence Taylor ended Joe Thisemena short but celebrated career. Then we have late bloomer running back John Riggins who had his best years late in his career almost after his prime. The final position is the most significant defensive back ever to play the game which is Darrell Green who is an automatic lock for this group. Green played an incredible 20 years in the league. In those 20 years everything came and went, but Green played all of them for one team the Washington Redskins.
AFC: Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas
The AFC Mount Rushmore was tough to choose, but I did my best to pick my top four. First, there is Tom Brady. The only quarterback to be in eight Super Bowls and has won five of them as a starting quarterback. Jim Brown is the running back that everyone who wants to be a running back idolises. Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas are very similar. They both played for the Colts. They were popular with the media, and they had a strong passing game that held most of the quarterback records to their names. In their era, they were considered the best passing quarterbacks.
NFC: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders
I struggle here because I think one day Drew Brees might be in the top 4 for the NFC but hasn't entirely made it as of yet. Joe Montana as we said prior was the first quarterback to win three MVPs in the Super Bowls, like Brady he was not the statistical guy like Unitas, Manning and Brees. Though if you wanted a win in the most important game, most people would pick either Joe Montana or Tom Brady. Jerry Rice was probably the best athletic player to ever play in the NFL. Rice receiving stats are far away ahead of anyone who ever played his position. The swagger he brought to the game was always appreciated because of how hard he worked outside of games. Walter Payton and Barry Sanders were two running backs in different eras but changed the game when it came to rushing in games. Both running backs redefined how teams had to battle the run game.
NFL: Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Jim Brown
In the end, I had to pick the top four of all time, so here it goes. Jim Brown who changed the running game, dominated in his era. Won the MVP three times, was a Pro Bowler every year he played and won a then NFL Championship. Jerry Rice as I said before some will say is the best football player ever. Rice was a freak athlete that has 13 Pro Bowl selections, Super Bowl MVP. Rice has many NFL records like career receptions, career receiving yards, career receiving and total touchdowns, and career all-purpose yards. Finally, if I ever had to pick one quarterback to lead my team in a championship game, it would be either Tom Brady or Joe Montana. Their winning percentage is tops in the league. They have won the most Super Bowl MVP's. They both are the ultimate clutch quarterbacks of all time.
