Barry Sanders - I have never seen a more balanced runner. I've never seen any player in any football code who could change direction like he did, without losing any pace. A total freak of nature. He carried a team that really didn't have any other stars, so he was an obvious target, but rose above being double and triple teamed almost every game. His stats are stratospheric. And he had a loyalty and humility that was as legendary as his playing ability.
I'm glad this is the first comment I saw when I was about to bring him up. I'm always surprised he's not on list like this. He still holds records like Most Yards after being first touch and Most Yards after being hit Behind the line of scrimmage. Those two stats alone give you some idea what he would have done with an offensive line like what Emmitt Smith had. For me Hands down the Best Running Back Ever!!! Oh and I'm a HUGE Dallas Cowboy fan but I call them like I see em....
His cuts were legendary the way he could just cut and change direction was amazing and his ability to fight off tackles trying to tackle him was like trying to catch a greeced pig
I come from a family of hard core Bears fans. My dad always said while he thinks Payton is the best overall running back, Barry Sanders was the best pure runner he’s ever seen
You left off Lawerence Taylor... The dude ran like a DB hit like a DE and shed blocks like a LB or Safety. His entire career, every play, he was always the best player on the field. Even playing against 49ers montanna and rice. L.T. is the one who jumps off the screen as most impactful.
@@nickmiller48234 i mean yeah, Megatron was a 1 in a million and there will probably never be another like him with his talent,hight, and skill but dk has shown that he is good enough to make it. Give it a few years and dk will be up there if he keeps getting better and working for it.
I think Peppers is the most naturally talented defensive player I’ve ever seen. He had a Hall of Fame career but I feel like he actually underperformed what he was truly capable of
That run down was just freaking awesome. Larry was just standing there didn't know what was going on then he realized it and just took off like a 325lb rocket. Something I'll never forget.
my only caveat was it was at the height of the NFL-sponsored doping era of which the Cowsills were one of the major doping teams; either you have that kind of speed or you don’t; the fact he only did it once makes that play look highly suspect;
Thank you for mentioning Jim Thorpe! His legacy gets swept under the rug. Pro football hall of fame, pro baseball hall of fame, college hall of fame and the Olympics hall of fame.
@@whayes8084 good enough to play professionally. And still the only person to win the decathlon and the pentathlon in the olympics, and he did it in the same games.
@@b_m3998 You're right. Also doesn't score touchdowns like Calvin did. I think Julio has had double digits TD seasons once maybe? Edit: He had 10 touchdowns in his second year. It's usually 6 to 8 he averages which is still really good and a yardage machine. Calvin caught 13 tds and lead the NFC in tds and had guys like Stanton, Orlovsky, and Culpeper the year we didn't win a single game. A stud then got Stafford the next season with the number one pick. I miss seeing Megatron doubled even triple coverage "Mossing" defensive backs.
Maybe less track & field in nature, Barry Sanders is certainly one of the freakish athletes ever. Outside his records, he is simply the most spectacular RB to watch, ever. I would also add Michael Vick with his unique arm and leg combination
@@wisconsinman3590 Arm strength, yeah it was similar. Accuracy, Elway was a lot better. There's so many highlights from Vick with the commentators saying that ball looked like it was 100mph, etc.
I am 77 years old and I saw many of Jim Brown's games. People forget that when he played, the season was only 12 games for each of his first 4 years, then 14 games for his next 5, and he amassed over 12,000 rushing yards. He was big as some of the linemen, and he would literally run right through them. He was a beast and the only other players who I can think of that were that great in their prime were Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker.
One of the most amazing things I saw Bo do was field the ball at the warning track and throw the ball to the catcher for an out. No cutoff man. To throw a baseball that far, that fast and that accurately is amazing
I grew up in Wilson, NC and played against Julius Peppers/Southern Nash in high school. When I was a senior and he was a junior it was obvious he was a whole different level of human. People also forget that he was a strong player off the bench for UNC basketball for 2 years till he decided to focus on football.
As I recall, Carolina basketball team wasn't doing very well that year, until the football season ended and Peppers then devoted his efforts to basketball and actually led NC to the final 4 that year. I used to live in Sothern Pines NC and a huge ACC fan.
Deon told the story once that the hardest hit he ever took was from Bo Jackson. Deon's freshman season at FSU was Bo's last year at Auburn. Auburn and FSU used to play each other regularly in the regular season back then. Bo took a toss sweep around the corner and Deon tried to make the tackle and got truck sticked into the ground. Probably had a lot to do with why he didn't try to tackle too much after that.
@@rodhester2166 Earl Campbell was...a Marshawn Lynch type runner(except with a tearaway Jersey). Derek Henry...but I don't think he could hit like Bo could. Bo had that FREAK speed, balance and was about the same size. Campbell didn't have that same speed/acceleration that Bo did. I'd guess just one on one, open field, Bo would come with more force than Earl Campbell. Campbell was the better all-time back(by a wide margin as Bo didn't play long). But in this ONE area...
@@scourge8097 different styles of running for sure, Bo 230lbs and Earl at 245lbs, Bo was faster but I think Early ran lower and could cut almost like a giant barry sanders.
When Jim Thorpe was in the Olympics, the night before they started someone stole his track shoes. He ended up finding 2 mismatched shoes in the garbage and competed in those and still won.
One can't help but wonder what he would have accomplished barring injury. He truly was something to behold but LT was in his class. LT v Bo would be the greatest match of all time.
@@Mozart1220 yeh I disagreed when they said he had soft hands im a lions fan and he dropped alot of balls early in his career had he had say cris carters hands he'd absolutely be the best wr of all time
Great call on Larry Allen. He was a phenomenal lineman. But he was equally phenomenal as an athlete. To be that massive in size, the strongest player in the league (probably ever), andt o still have that kind of speed is just BONKERS!
As a Cowboys fan I remember one game where Martin Gramatica was wildly celebrating a made kick in a game the Cowboys were losing badly. Allen confronted Martin....grabbed his facemask...lifted him off the ground by the facemask...and shook him. I can't find the video but that moment stuck with me.
Why is everyone forgetting about Allen's teammate, Erik Williams, one of the best offensive tackles ever. he's just not mentioned at all and as a lifelong Cowboys fan, I don't get it.
Yeah it blows my mind how football has changed in the years lineman used to be a lot larger 300+ more blockers then they moved to 2 point stances a lot more mobile and leaner in size capable of running 4.6 40s built like a fridge I miss the 90s to early 2000s football though when you could actually hit people
I was really glad to see Jim Thorpe on this list. He did things that no one else has ever done. You can talk all you want about multi sport athletes but Thorpe was on a different planet then everyone else and he did it without training. He gets forgotten a lot of times these days but he was the true definition of a freak athlete.
Adrian Peterson, came back less than a year later off of a broken ACL to place 9yds shy of the single season rushing record, and happens to hold the single game rushing record at 296yds.
@Brad Friday The doctor who did his ACL surgery said his knee looked like that of a teenager with no visible signs of wear. That would explain his running ability at his advanced age and yards.
Awesome video! I knew about Herschel Walker but no one else really. It was really awesome to learn about these guys, especially Deion Sanders and Jim Thorpe. I think walkers still my fav but all these guys are awesome
✊🏽 Respect. Happy to see Jimmy Thorpe on a modern list! A native hero. He was a specimen way before his time.
4 года назад
Unhappy to see that Paul Robeson was not mentioned . He was a scholar as well as a 4 sport athlete at Rutgers as well as a teammate of Fritz Pollard as a pro football player .
The first time I realized this phenomenon was watching Deon Sanders playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Even from 70 yards away he immediately stuck out from the rest of the players on the field. Great video, I appreciate your efforts and thoughts put into your choices.
Fun fact: Deion was getting questions from a nfl team and he asked them what pick her had and they said “16” he got up and said “I’ll be gone by then I don’t have time for this”
I wouldnt say he was a athletic freak theres stories of him in the nfl trying to backpedal as part of a drill and constantly tripping over his feet before the coaches decided it didnt matter cause they didnt want him to run backwards anyway lmao, he was a beast though for sure
0:24 Bo Jackson 1:49 Julius Peppers 3:28 Randy Moss 5:01 Larry Allen 6:28 Deion Sanders 7:51 Calvin Johnson 9:14 Herschel Walker 10:43 Jim Brown 11:50 Jim Thorpe 13:07 Vernon Davis
RIght , he didnt even bring up the fact that he played pro Baseball and Football at the same time . Same as Deon Sanders. Ive always revered them cause they played two of my favorite sports at the same time growing up.
Henry is built like a DE and still has the ability to run like any other back. Every play is like that goal line gimmick where you hand off to a “big guy” to pound it in… only the big guy gets the ball in his own half and outruns the defense.
@@masonmartinez9579 oh it means plenty since a good Oline, and let's be honest 1500 yards isn't shit anymore. CMC had 1400 and another 1000 receiving. If it was back to back 2k seasons you may have had an argument. Sanders has a better argument.
best video EVER! And for once a video probably got a list right! To top it off is that it goes fast and to the point and doesn't waste time with a bunch of fluff down time making you wait in between the great parts. This video is from beginning to end great!
Bo Jackson is arguably the greatest athlete in American sports history and that’s including he had a career ending injury.If he had been able to keep playing he would have been the greatest rb and possibly football player of all time and not to mention his success in baseball
I remember going to Clemson games as a kid and every year Calvin Johnson would just absolutely destroy them. As an 11 year old I could never figure out why he was always open lol
@@hemvp9532 He was the first guy to hit a home run off me at 7 years old....he did it with one hand on a low and outside pitch lol.... He did everything with ease and no effort
Henry is big and fast yes but na. After the lose to my Steelers nobody talks about him and his production has dropped even tho he put up 100 week 10. Cool has takin his spot.
@@donniematthews6270 I'll tell you why. Bobby Bowden was a legend even before his passing. Great coach, better man. I was lucky enough to play for him in the 90s. He not only met, but exceeded all the hype. To mispronounce his name is not just an insult to the man, but to football itself.
I remember getting tickets to the lions last game of the 2012 season against the Bears in hopes of seeing Calvin break the receiving record only for him to not even need all 16 games to beat the record. Dudes a freak and sadly the Lions treated him poorly like they do with all their stars and legends.
Yep. What coulda/shoulda been if Calvin had played for a team that treated him right. That could be said of other players/teams too, but the lions have consistently been one of if not the worst club over the years about shitting on their own players. It’d be a game changer for y’all if the owners cared.
Absolutely right. Once a certain level is achieved it becomes really pointless to argue over who is better, especially when they are from different eras.
The only other guy I can think of that might deserve a nod is The Nigerian Nightmare, Christian Okoye. He ran a 4.5 40 at 6'1" 260 lbs and was an Olympic grade track and field star before ever picking up a football. He was likely the last true rushing fullback in NFL history (Alstott played RB a lot, so, he doesn't count.)
@@Mike9201984 Atwater hitting Okoye and Earl Thomas leveling Gronk and damaging his lungs feel pretty similar. Small dudes just destroying the "untackleable" big guy.
Randy Moss is so good he played opposite Cris Cater (a hall of famer) and everyone forgot Cris Carter. Also it’s criminal Calvin Johnson played his whole career in Detroit.
@@phonymex3340 Racism card? Really? Just because I don't agree with your pick means I'm racist? Come on, man. You are better than that. I'm white, and I would never put a white man in my top 50. Think before you vomit your baseless opinion. Are you just trolling me? If not, this is sad.
@@egonschiele8404 Really tryna water it down that you're not racist. Don't be mad a Native American reigns supreme over any other athlete. LOL have a good day Christophe Columbus 😂👍
A little before your time, but 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 years in the 70s and 80s should be on this list.
Missed Adrian Peterson. Strength, speed, quickness and absolute stupid level determination. His best season came after an injury that would essentially end most running backs careers
Lawrence Taylor. He belonged on this list for sure. Aside from the off the field issues dude was a freakishly good defender that offensive coaches had to game plan to try and neutralize his effectiveness on the outcome of the game. Good list still though.
@@bradylange02 julio is a freak of nature lol he runs a 4.3 like 5 or 6 years ago 6’3” 235 and is a HOF caliber reciever all of thr seasons he wasnt injured he had 1k plus yards every season he has arguably the best route running and hands in the NFL he is moss remade and he hasnt even played close to a full career
Calvin Johnson was at Tech before they switched to the triple option. They threw plenty, problem was his QB was Reggie Ball, who threw plenty but badly.
@@grahamgregory1450 oh that’s right… I forgot he went to the all stars in both of his professional non-contact sports - basketball and basketball. Lol! Get real
@@FFLL2112 "lol get real" Wilt beat Jim brown in a sprint, ran a sub 11 100m dash, a 49 second 400m, had a 40+ inch vertical, is a member of the basketball AND volleyball HOF, and was more physically imposing than anyone else.
Honestly I hate the patriots but Rob Gronkowski should be on this list. He was a freak that couldn’t be brought down, and one of the greatest TE to ever play the game
They have a beautiful mural of Jim Thorpe here in Downtown Canton. Stands about 50-60 ft tall looking down the Hall of Fame parade route. A true legend!
Why is no one talking about Jerry Rice he should have definitely been in this list. Best player to ever play there game. He was sent straight from god as a gift to the nfl
HELL YEAH YOU LEFT SOMEONE OFF THIS LIST HOW THE HELL DID YOU FORGET ABOUT WALTER PAYTON AND BARRY SANDERS REALLY COME ON NOW THAT'S BLASPHEMOUS HOW DARE YOU
I believe it was either a few weeks before or after the Larry Allen chase down I saw Reggie White throw Larry Allen to the side with one arm like a rag doll.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Barry Sanders - I have never seen a more balanced runner. I've never seen any player in any football code who could change direction like he did, without losing any pace. A total freak of nature. He carried a team that really didn't have any other stars, so he was an obvious target, but rose above being double and triple teamed almost every game. His stats are stratospheric. And he had a loyalty and humility that was as legendary as his playing ability.
I'm glad this is the first comment I saw when I was about to bring him up. I'm always surprised he's not on list like this. He still holds records like Most Yards after being first touch and Most Yards after being hit Behind the line of scrimmage. Those two stats alone give you some idea what he would have done with an offensive line like what Emmitt Smith had. For me Hands down the Best Running Back Ever!!! Oh and I'm a HUGE Dallas Cowboy fan but I call them like I see em....
The fact that Barry Sanders is not on this list makes me wonder
His cuts were legendary the way he could just cut and change direction was amazing and his ability to fight off tackles trying to tackle him was like trying to catch a greeced pig
I come from a family of hard core Bears fans. My dad always said while he thinks Payton is the best overall running back, Barry Sanders was the best pure runner he’s ever seen
Thank you
I like how people are saying jerry rice. He wasnt an athletic freak. He just had immaculate work ethic
EXACTLY
Same with Mj he wasn’t a big of a freak like bo Jackson but he was crazy
Facts hard work and natural born talent is different as how jim thorpe did what he did with no training
I agree. He was amazing, and 1 of my favorites. His work ethic got him there completely. Nothing against anyone on the list.
@@svayjeetsingh903 no mj was def a freak. Dude had a 50 in vertical. Thats crazy
You forgot Lawrence taylor
Yeah he was unstoppable
I actually had him as a given on this last. Was anticipating no way they forget him.
Factsss
Exactly
Agreed Taylor was a freak!
You left off Lawerence Taylor... The dude ran like a DB hit like a DE and shed blocks like a LB or Safety. His entire career, every play, he was always the best player on the field. Even playing against 49ers montanna and rice. L.T. is the one who jumps off the screen as most impactful.
Watching LT play was like watching those documentaries about lions hunting in the jungle.
Deon Sanders and Bo Jackson were the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
Ever heard of MJ?
@@chriswolf1089 True, but he was such an amazing athlete overall. Wasn't just randomly chosen for athlete of the decate when he was active
Larry Allen
Pelé
@@guilhermequintela7506 are you stupid
Bo getting hurt robbed all of us on what could have been.
Adrian Petersen getting hurt
What about Jim Brown
Based on his stats from just a few years, project that out to an entire career and he would’ve been the GOAT.
Him and Terrel Davis.
Davis had a 2,000+ yard season and he missed 8 full quarters of play.
Both make me legitimately sad.
Bo was still the best ever
5 years later and Dk Metcalf will be on this list
No cap
Fr
I love DK but being from the D at 6'5 240lb running a 4.35 40 1,927yds in a season its gonna be a while before the next Megatron comes thru
@@nickmiller48234 i mean yeah, Megatron was a 1 in a million and there will probably never be another like him with his talent,hight, and skill but dk has shown that he is good enough to make it. Give it a few years and dk will be up there if he keeps getting better and working for it.
Dk is shredded
I think Peppers is the most naturally talented defensive player I’ve ever seen. He had a Hall of Fame career but I feel like he actually underperformed what he was truly capable of
Larry Allen's chasedown of the potential pick six is incredible & terrifying
That run down was just freaking awesome. Larry was just standing there didn't know what was going on then he realized it and just took off like a 325lb rocket. Something I'll never forget.
Don Bebe's was better
my only caveat was it was at the height of the NFL-sponsored doping era of which the Cowsills were one of the major doping teams;
either you have that kind of speed or you don’t;
the fact he only did it once makes that play look highly suspect;
@@uniquegore1063 Bebe isnt a lineman
Whats even scarier is the linebacker Allen chased down was a track star and very fast…
Derrick Henry will be here soon🐐🐐🐐🐐
👑 Henry
Yes as a ravens fan he will and that’s coming from a ravens fan keep in mind
Facts
@Damacio V Lamar is better all tho Mcscorly is a legend in music and football memes
@Aneesh Anand him too
Thank you for mentioning Jim Thorpe! His legacy gets swept under the rug. Pro football hall of fame, pro baseball hall of fame, college hall of fame and the Olympics hall of fame.
He's not in the baseball hall of fame
Thorpe wasn’t good in baseball
ረ
@@whayes8084 good enough to play professionally. And still the only person to win the decathlon and the pentathlon in the olympics, and he did it in the same games.
The Jim Thorpe Award..
Great List! I'd like to see Earl Campbell on it.
One of my all time favorites. It’s sad he paid the price for his run style in his old age. Dude was a monster.
Julio Jones is 6’4 and ran a 4.3 with a broken foot. I personally believe he should make the list
He’s Moss without the flash. And I think Moss was slightly quicker and an inch taller?
JULIO IS JUST INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!
@@b_m3998 You're right. Also doesn't score touchdowns like Calvin did. I think Julio has had double digits TD seasons once maybe? Edit: He had 10 touchdowns in his second year. It's usually 6 to 8 he averages which is still really good and a yardage machine. Calvin caught 13 tds and lead the NFC in tds and had guys like Stanton, Orlovsky, and Culpeper the year we didn't win a single game. A stud then got Stafford the next season with the number one pick. I miss seeing Megatron doubled even triple coverage "Mossing" defensive backs.
@@darky8995 He's a beast.
@@b_m3998 Yeah you're right.
Maybe less track & field in nature, Barry Sanders is certainly one of the freakish athletes ever. Outside his records, he is simply the most spectacular RB to watch, ever.
I would also add Michael Vick with his unique arm and leg combination
barry was a true freak
Yeah, Vick could choke a dog out or kick it to death.
Yeah Vick had the speed of Deion, the quickness of Barry, and the arm strength of Elway. Truly freaky.
@@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081 He didn't have the Arm of Elway.
@@wisconsinman3590 Arm strength, yeah it was similar. Accuracy, Elway was a lot better. There's so many highlights from Vick with the commentators saying that ball looked like it was 100mph, etc.
DK Metcalf is gonna be on this list soon
Especially after seeing him run down and prevent that pick six
@@austinhigley9295 I couldn't believe that when I saw that live
@@JulianWavy ikr
He should be on this list
Shredder
Glad to see that Jim Thorpe was not forgotten . He was simply the greatest athlete of the 20th century.
I am 77 years old and I saw many of Jim Brown's games. People forget that when he played, the season was only 12 games for each of his first 4 years, then 14 games for his next 5, and he amassed over 12,000 rushing yards. He was big as some of the linemen, and he would literally run right through them. He was a beast and the only other players who I can think of that were that great in their prime were Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker.
Wasn’t Jim brown just bigger than everyone t that time. Was he really that great or just bigger for the time.
@@tonytiger8248 My dad swears by him also and my dad knows his stuff
Jim Brown was the NFL's Shaquille Oneal.
my favorite running back and running style of all time!
@@tonytiger8248 bigger and meaner.....the point of the video
Lawrence Taylor!!
Yessssurr
@The random Dude. Ok
@The random Dude He did a lot of coke
He did a lot of coke but that would have hurt his game if anything. He had unstoppable strength and there is no denying that.
And Sean Too
“Megatron” is a great nickname.
Yeah, but the picture wasn’t Megatron
@@ligiabran5602 I think it was berricade
@@ligiabran560281 is Calvin Johnson
One of the most amazing things I saw Bo do was field the ball at the warning track and throw the ball to the catcher for an out. No cutoff man. To throw a baseball that far, that fast and that accurately is amazing
I watched a documentary on Bo and they joked he could throw an apple through a screen door and make applesauce.
I was at a white sox game when Bo fielded a ball at the track and fired a bullseye easily throwing out a tagging player. Best arm ever!
Missed the top 2 freaks of nature: Lawrence Taylor and Barry Sandrers
NO CAP FOOL
Barry Sanders is not a freak at all. He was undersized as hell. But he was more skilled than any other running back who have played in the NFL.
@@SoFantasticWonderful that’s exactly what makes him a freak of nature. Nobody was more gifted
4:42 I think you mean 2007 patriots not 2011
@@davidzellow1292 Lmmfao hell yea. If crack don’t affect anything you gotta e a demon or a freak of nature
Don't forget! Bo was the only person to ever hit a home run and score a TD in the same day!
Nope Deon Sanders did it too!
Lies detected here
Deon Sanders.
Only because Deion played defense
Neither one did it the same day, but Deion is the only one in history to do it in the same week.
Bo Jackson was a true beast of an athlete of athletes when it comes to a perfect specimen. I love this piece
I grew up in Wilson, NC and played against Julius Peppers/Southern Nash in high school. When I was a senior and he was a junior it was obvious he was a whole different level of human. People also forget that he was a strong player off the bench for UNC basketball for 2 years till he decided to focus on football.
As I recall, Carolina basketball team wasn't doing very well that year, until the football season ended and Peppers then devoted his efforts to basketball and actually led NC to the final 4 that year. I used to live in Sothern Pines NC and a huge ACC fan.
Deon told the story once that the hardest hit he ever took was from Bo Jackson. Deon's freshman season at FSU was Bo's last year at Auburn. Auburn and FSU used to play each other regularly in the regular season back then. Bo took a toss sweep around the corner and Deon tried to make the tackle and got truck sticked into the ground. Probably had a lot to do with why he didn't try to tackle too much after that.
Deon would have ran the other way if Earl Campbell was coming his way.. lol
Same with Larry Csonka and Franci Harris 😁
@@rodhester2166 Earl Campbell was...a Marshawn Lynch type runner(except with a tearaway Jersey). Derek Henry...but I don't think he could hit like Bo could.
Bo had that FREAK speed, balance and was about the same size. Campbell didn't have that same speed/acceleration that Bo did.
I'd guess just one on one, open field, Bo would come with more force than Earl Campbell.
Campbell was the better all-time back(by a wide margin as Bo didn't play long). But in this ONE area...
@@scourge8097 different styles of running for sure, Bo 230lbs and Earl at 245lbs, Bo was faster but I think Early ran lower and could cut almost like a giant barry sanders.
LT was a freak. Love watching his highlights
Cocaine is a helluva drug
He changed the game, the chop move to cause a QB to fumble he invented.
When Jim Thorpe was in the Olympics, the night before they started someone stole his track shoes. He ended up finding 2 mismatched shoes in the garbage and competed in those and still won.
"Bo Jackson..." OK, you can end it after the first entry. He's in a class all his own.
One can't help but wonder what he would have accomplished barring injury. He truly was something to behold but LT was in his class. LT v Bo would be the greatest match of all time.
Yeah the rest of the list is just being nice to other people.
You can triple-cover Megatron and it doesn't matter. He was always open.
I'm a UGA fan. If I remember right we were called for pass interference against him 3 or 4 times in one series. And we had an elite defense.
When he said Megatron and showed the picture of the transformer I’m like dang he really sounds like a transformer
Dropped the ball a LOT, but always open. LOL
Lawrence Taylor!!
@@Mozart1220 yeh I disagreed when they said he had soft hands im a lions fan and he dropped alot of balls early in his career had he had say cris carters hands he'd absolutely be the best wr of all time
Great call on Larry Allen. He was a phenomenal lineman. But he was equally phenomenal as an athlete. To be that massive in size, the strongest player in the league (probably ever), andt o still have that kind of speed is just BONKERS!
As a Cowboys fan I remember one game where Martin Gramatica was wildly celebrating a made kick in a game the Cowboys were losing badly. Allen confronted Martin....grabbed his facemask...lifted him off the ground by the facemask...and shook him.
I can't find the video but that moment stuck with me.
Reggie White was superman!
Why is everyone forgetting about Allen's teammate, Erik Williams, one of the best offensive tackles ever. he's just not mentioned at all and as a lifelong Cowboys fan, I don't get it.
Yeah it blows my mind how football has changed in the years lineman used to be a lot larger 300+ more blockers then they moved to 2 point stances a lot more mobile and leaner in size capable of running 4.6 40s built like a fridge I miss the 90s to early 2000s football though when you could actually hit people
Thank you! I've been touting Jim Thorpe for years as one of the best athletes ever. Glad to see you did your home work my friend - glad indeed!
I was really glad to see Jim Thorpe on this list. He did things that no one else has ever done. You can talk all you want about multi sport athletes but Thorpe was on a different planet then everyone else and he did it without training. He gets forgotten a lot of times these days but he was the true definition of a freak athlete.
I’m so glad I was able to see Bo Jackson play and witness his amazing god given talent.
God had NOTHING to do with his talent, period!
Me too.
Adrian Peterson, came back less than a year later off of a broken ACL to place 9yds shy of the single season rushing record, and happens to hold the single game rushing record at 296yds.
“Broken ACL”
Kevin Jacques u might wanna edit that “broken acl” to torn acl
Thought I was the only one who never forgot that 😄 this guy was pure freak of nature and still can do half of what use to do right now
@Brad Friday The doctor who did his ACL surgery said his knee looked like that of a teenager with no visible signs of wear.
That would explain his running ability at his advanced age and yards.
Big AP
Awesome video! I knew about Herschel Walker but no one else really. It was really awesome to learn about these guys, especially Deion Sanders and Jim Thorpe. I think walkers still my fav but all these guys are awesome
Bo Jackson said he ran a 4.13 not 4.12 so he’s slower than we thought
😂😂😂
LOL
Stop hating
🤣☠️🤣
He was hand timed ! No human can run a sub 4.2 ! Its not possible
✊🏽 Respect. Happy to see Jimmy Thorpe on a modern list! A native hero. He was a specimen way before his time.
Unhappy to see that Paul Robeson was not mentioned . He was a scholar as well as a 4 sport athlete at Rutgers as well as a teammate of Fritz Pollard as a pro football player .
Yes the only down side was he competing against the best at that time
DK Metcalf is gonna be on this list soon
Agreed
4:42 I think you mean 2007 patriots not 2011
🤷🏽♂️
Swear I was gonna say that lmao
Moss wasn’t even on the 2011 team
Yeah and Larry Allen didnt bench press over 700lbs
Yeah I noticed this as well
The first time I realized this phenomenon was watching Deon Sanders playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Even from 70 yards away he immediately stuck out from the rest of the players on the field. Great video, I appreciate your efforts and thoughts put into your choices.
Wait what? Moss wasn’t on 2011 Patriots. The record setting offense was 2007.
I was like, "is someone going to tell him..." I'm glad someone did.
I swear I was confused for a second
I'm glad someone said it. Thought I was gonna have to bring it up
DK Metcalf is gonna be on this list soon
Went straight to the comments when I heard that!!!! I was like, wait what? Wasn’t that ‘07? 😂
BEAST LIST!
Ayeee I went to the game when Calvin Johnson broke the receiving yard record
At 48 Herschel Walker was 2-0 in mma too, I’m young but that longevity is special. All these dudes are Legends.
Deion, Bo and Herschel are just BEYOND AMAZING!
You forgot about Darrell Green. The man had elite speed and coverage into his 40s.
And sean taylor
@@DanTorinoGT01 Sean Taylor had one good season
@@justthisguy1948 are u stupid? Every year he was in the league he was amazing, literally a freak of nature
yeah he ran a 4.50 at age 50 and reportedly ran a 4.09 at training camp
@@DanTorinoGT01 no he wasn’t he just had some highlights of big hits but got smoked in coverage
Actually a pretty good list but u missed a lot of people but my list would go on for a while so good job
Yea like Derrick Henry
Gronk
Bettis
"top 10" !!
Yeah! Like Kam Chancellor
Walker is a legend for being able to command the best haul of draft picks in NFL trade history.
What a great video! Each Player your named definitely give me goosebumps! Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Deion Sanders! GOAT
Larry allen used to make a train whistle sound as they came to the line letting them know he's coming and try and stop it man's a fn legend
Yes
Fun fact: Deion was getting questions from a nfl team and he asked them what pick her had and they said “16” he got up and said “I’ll be gone by then I don’t have time for this”
Yo Deion really a savage for that 😂
Deion also said he hung up on a team owner too, I think it was the cards 😂😭
@@D1__Tee he really backed it up like nobody else
@@demonNthesn0w facts he really did
I love this. NFL teams, especially back then, treat players like livestock to be appraised. Love that prime said the hell with this i dont need u
If you ask the guys that tried to tackle him , Earl Campbell would be a major vote getter
I wouldnt say he was a athletic freak theres stories of him in the nfl trying to backpedal as part of a drill and constantly tripping over his feet before the coaches decided it didnt matter cause they didnt want him to run backwards anyway lmao, he was a beast though for sure
So would Jim Brown
who? who?
@@zatarasankofa7892 Earl Campbell is one of the best RBs of all time
@@uniquegore1063 Jim Brown could of been even better but gave up football for movies
0:24 Bo Jackson
1:49 Julius Peppers
3:28 Randy Moss
5:01 Larry Allen
6:28 Deion Sanders
7:51 Calvin Johnson
9:14 Herschel Walker
10:43 Jim Brown
11:50 Jim Thorpe
13:07 Vernon Davis
The fact my name is Bo 😊
Oh cool
Bo Jackson, in my opinion, is the greatest athlete in recorded human history.
You can triple-cover Megatron and it doesn't matter. He was always open.
@@michaelsmithwick1738 facts
Wilt
The thing that I will always remember is how Bo Jackson ran UP that wall in that baseball game! 🤩
RIght , he didnt even bring up the fact that he played pro Baseball and Football at the same time . Same as Deon Sanders. Ive always revered them cause they played two of my favorite sports at the same time growing up.
I have a feeling Derrick Henry will find is way to one of these lists soon.
Wrd
Henry is built like a DE and still has the ability to run like any other back. Every play is like that goal line gimmick where you hand off to a “big guy” to pound it in… only the big guy gets the ball in his own half and outruns the defense.
Christian McCaffrey... you want to go freaks? Henry is good, but ill talk CMC anyday over him
@@coryflynn6391 so back to back rushing titles mean nothing?
@@masonmartinez9579 oh it means plenty since a good Oline, and let's be honest 1500 yards isn't shit anymore. CMC had 1400 and another 1000 receiving. If it was back to back 2k seasons you may have had an argument. Sanders has a better argument.
Bo Jackson is number one on my list.
Also, Lawrence Taylor should probably be included. He revolutionized the outside linebacker position.
Amen & Amen.
@@gfoursux9 While LT was great . This consisted of how athletes with superb speed or power
@@kaashifameer3583 yea but LT was fast for a OLB
@@kaashifameer3583 right bro this list isn’t even valid without L.T bruh is the definition of freakish!!!
@@kaashifameer3583 ... and that's why he belongs on the list!
Thanks for putting Jim Thorpe on the list!
best video EVER! And for once a video probably got a list right! To top it off is that it goes fast and to the point and doesn't waste time with a bunch of fluff down time making you wait in between the great parts. This video is from beginning to end great!
Your video left off the most electric player to ever touch a football. #20 BARRY.
For sure, Sanders could move like NO ONE before, since, or ever will. Freakish, that qualifies.
Absolutely right. Not sure if you ever seen him play, but he’s the guy no one could tackle. The Greatest RB ever.
Bo Jackson is arguably the greatest athlete in American sports history and that’s including he had a career ending injury.If he had been able to keep playing he would have been the greatest rb and possibly football player of all time and not to mention his success in baseball
When he said Megatron and showed the picture of the transformer I’m like dang he really sounds like a transformer
I'd say Lawrence Taylor should be on this list
Walter Payton
killua Zoldyk coke
excellent video
Once Bo has been featured there’s no point in watching any of the others, they’re all human.
best athlete to ever come out of the combine.....still.
You can triple-cover Megatron and it doesn't matter. He was always open.
@Christopher Surillo Sanders WAAAAAYYYY Overrated. refused to tackle, depended on refs NOT calling holding during most of his returns.
No was great, but he wasnt no Jim Brown...
@@dominictan8370 not when he’s covered by Charles Tillman
Calvin Johnson at GT was the glory years of my life ! Back in the teen years watching Megatron rip it at GT with Reggie Ball ! I was like in HS
I remember going to Clemson games as a kid and every year Calvin Johnson would just absolutely destroy them. As an 11 year old I could never figure out why he was always open lol
Calvin was insane, as a Lions fan seeing him comedown with the ball in double triple coverage frequently was crazy.
@@hemvp9532 He was the first guy to hit a home run off me at 7 years old....he did it with one hand on a low and outside pitch lol.... He did everything with ease and no effort
Derrick Henry💯 From High School, To Alabama in college, To the NFL to The Titans! 💯🔥 TitanUp!
Henry is big and fast yes but na. After the lose to my Steelers nobody talks about him and his production has dropped even tho he put up 100 week 10. Cool has takin his spot.
@@lagariustalbert5786 what lol
Great picks😉
We need to discuss calling Bobby BOWden Bobby Bo-den. Come on man this dude is like the 2nd most notorious coach to Nick Saban
I was thinking the same thing. I don’t know why I’m so bothered by this mistake.
Was looking for this comment!!
@@donniematthews6270 I'll tell you why. Bobby Bowden was a legend even before his passing. Great coach, better man. I was lucky enough to play for him in the 90s. He not only met, but exceeded all the hype. To mispronounce his name is not just an insult to the man, but to football itself.
Amen, Dominic. I commented and then just started scrolling to see if anyone else caught that. Totally surprised that no one else said anything.
I remember getting tickets to the lions last game of the 2012 season against the Bears in hopes of seeing Calvin break the receiving record only for him to not even need all 16 games to beat the record. Dudes a freak and sadly the Lions treated him poorly like they do with all their stars and legends.
Yep. What coulda/shoulda been if Calvin had played for a team that treated him right. That could be said of other players/teams too, but the lions have consistently been one of if not the worst club over the years about shitting on their own players. It’d be a game changer for y’all if the owners cared.
excellent job putting this list together
After watching football since 1969, I have seen all of these greats. You cant rank them. Great is just great.
Absolutely right. Once a certain level is achieved it becomes really pointless to argue over who is better, especially when they are from different eras.
I'm so happy Larry Allen is on this list, much deserved!
The only other guy I can think of that might deserve a nod is The Nigerian Nightmare, Christian Okoye. He ran a 4.5 40 at 6'1" 260 lbs and was an Olympic grade track and field star before ever picking up a football. He was likely the last true rushing fullback in NFL history (Alstott played RB a lot, so, he doesn't count.)
He's the biggest EVER at RB. He was the man on super techmo bowl
But Steve Atwater…
The Nigerian Nightmare had the best eve nic name in NFL history
@@Mike9201984 Yeah man!! He turned the Nigerian Nightmare into a quiet night's sleep!
@@Mike9201984 Atwater hitting Okoye and Earl Thomas leveling Gronk and damaging his lungs feel pretty similar. Small dudes just destroying the "untackleable" big guy.
Randy Moss is so good he played opposite Cris Cater (a hall of famer) and everyone forgot Cris Carter. Also it’s criminal Calvin Johnson played his whole career in Detroit.
It’s criminal ANY player plays their entire career at Detroit!!!
When you’re a transformer fan and you realize he put a Barricade pic and not Megatron
i’m glad i’m not the only one who saw that
facts
About to comment that
Its okay micheal bay transformers sucks ass anyway
Facts
I'm glad you included Jim Thorpe. Arguably the greatest athlete of all time.
thanks for the laugh!
@@egonschiele8404 Racist much? You dont like to see a Native American dominate in multiple sports? 😂😂😂😂 keep that mentality kid
@@phonymex3340 Racism card? Really? Just because I don't agree with your pick means I'm racist? Come on, man. You are better than that. I'm white, and I would never put a white man in my top 50. Think before you vomit your baseless opinion. Are you just trolling me? If not, this is sad.
@@egonschiele8404 Really tryna water it down that you're not racist. Don't be mad a Native American reigns supreme over any other athlete. LOL have a good day Christophe Columbus 😂👍
@@phonymex3340 damn. I honestly have no idea what is happening in your adorable mind right now, but you trippin, bro. Take care of yourself please.
World Ballroom Championships! 😂 I'm weak lol
A little before your time, but 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 years in the 70s and 80s should be on this list.
Bob Hayes and Lawrence Taylor... Both transcendent athletes
Had the honor of meeting Mr. Dion Sanders-he was a beast athlete-and also a class act!!!
Hershal Walker also was an Olympian in team bobsledding and is a blackbelt in karate
He tried out for the Olympic bobsleigh team. He was not selected. There are children with black belts.
Hershel is awesome at knocking up women
Lol...no, he lied about that
Lol....you forgot the Heisman
@@60zeller jealousy is an ugly thing.
Well done!!💪💪
Black athletes build different 🐐👌🏿
Matt Jones was actually a freak. But he was a coke head 🤣
“Megatron”
*shows a picture of Barricade*
Thank you, someone who notices
LMAO
Missed Adrian Peterson. Strength, speed, quickness and absolute stupid level determination. His best season came after an injury that would essentially end most running backs careers
Agreed. I cant think of a single runningback as fast as him thats that strong besides Bo
I think Earl Campbell deserves a mention in this group.
Despite his storied and cemented legalities, Orenthal James Simpson was one of the purest athletes I’ve ever seen.
No one ever mentions that he gained 2000 yards in 14 games in a season. No one ever came close to that. The rest barely did it in 16
Another banger
“Bullet” Bob Hayes. He’s the reason the zone defense exists. He was just better and faster. Transcending player.
You can triple-cover Megatron and it doesn't matter. He was always open.
Wow... I forgot about Bob Hayes. Probably the fastest man every. Even faster than Bolt (they say).
Also the only person with olympic gold and SB.
@@jaidamann8365 Faster than Bolt? Uh, no. Who would be so misinformed to say that???
@@thku4grace
Bob Hayes was probably the fastest human being to ever live.
Lawrence Taylor. He belonged on this list for sure. Aside from the off the field issues dude was a freakishly good defender that offensive coaches had to game plan to try and neutralize his effectiveness on the outcome of the game. Good list still though.
What about Julio Jones he is one of the greatest wide receivers still playing or ever
He’s an absolute stud but he’s not 6’7” or anything like that. He’s very much like Moss but I think Moss was a hair taller
@@b_m3998 but he is like 6’3 and is one of the most complete receivers in nfl history
He’s just unfair he is the best rn and definitely gonna be close if not best of all time
@@SkueyYT he’s a great athlete but he’s not a freak of nature (similar to Jerry Rice).
@@bradylange02 julio is a freak of nature lol he runs a 4.3 like 5 or 6 years ago 6’3” 235 and is a HOF caliber reciever all of thr seasons he wasnt injured he had 1k plus yards every season he has arguably the best route running and hands in the NFL he is moss remade and he hasnt even played close to a full career
Calvin Johnson was at Tech before they switched to the triple option. They threw plenty, problem was his QB was Reggie Ball, who threw plenty but badly.
Bo Jackson should be on this list twice.. he’s the greatest athlete that’s ever lived, period. Watch his ESPN’s 30 for 30 💯
wilt chamberlain is the best athlete of all time
@@grahamgregory1450 oh that’s right… I forgot he went to the all stars in both of his professional non-contact sports - basketball and basketball. Lol! Get real
@@FFLL2112 "lol get real" Wilt beat Jim brown in a sprint, ran a sub 11 100m dash, a 49 second 400m, had a 40+ inch vertical, is a member of the basketball AND volleyball HOF, and was more physically imposing than anyone else.
@@grahamgregory1450 volleyball?
@@grahamgregory1450 Wilt was a good athlete - tall and fast. No one argues that.. but he would have been Bo’s bitch
Honestly I hate the patriots but Rob Gronkowski should be on this list. He was a freak that couldn’t be brought down, and one of the greatest TE to ever play the game
They have a beautiful mural of Jim Thorpe here in Downtown Canton. Stands about 50-60 ft tall looking down the Hall of Fame parade route. A true legend!
Why is no one talking about Jerry Rice he should have definitely been in this list. Best player to ever play there game. He was sent straight from god as a gift to the nfl
jerry rice was not naturally a freak. he just had a freaky work ethic, and that's putting it lightly.
He aint even that gooddddddd he was fast and could catch and broke records many recievers could've beat if their career didn't end early
Nah
Bo Jackson was the best athlete I have ever seen play ever!
Enjoyed the video. One correction, the catch at 4:26 doesn’t appear to be Randy Moss. I can’t tell, but the name looks like it might be Rudolph(?).
HELL YEAH YOU LEFT SOMEONE OFF THIS LIST HOW THE HELL DID YOU FORGET ABOUT WALTER PAYTON AND BARRY SANDERS REALLY COME ON NOW THAT'S BLASPHEMOUS HOW DARE YOU
Barry Sanders definitely
Give me my respect.
Sweetness! 🏃🏾♂️🏈
Earlier Campbell
My man sweetness would fuck any team rn
Reggie white was a beast moving linemen with one arm
I believe it was either a few weeks before or after the Larry Allen chase down I saw Reggie White throw Larry Allen to the side with one arm like a rag doll.
Ayeee I went to the game when Calvin Johnson broke the receiving yard record
And he did it stoned 💪🏻
I swear I’ve seen dis comment 6 times already
Against his hometown team lol
Yo this was narrated very well! They way he described everybody freakish abilities drew me into the seg
Love it
Wait a minute you forgot Earl Cambell you can’t do a list like this and forget to add Earl Cambell