NFL Top 100
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons13
No. of episodes130
Production
Running time3–9 minutes (per player)
Original release
NetworkNFL 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]

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

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

History

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
Von Miller has the most Top 100 selections among defensive players
Key
Symbol Meaning
† Denotes Pro Football Hall of Fame member
^ Denotes active player
PlayerPosition#Sel.Years selectedPeak
Aaron Rodgers^Quarterback132011–2023#1 (2012)
Tom BradyQuarterback122011–2022#1 (4 times)
Drew BreesQuarterback102011–2020#2 (2 times)
Von Miller^Linebacker2012–2020, 2022#2 (2017)
Russell Wilson^Quarterback2013–2022#2 (2020)
Larry FitzgeraldWide receiver2011–2020#7 (2012)
Trent Williams^Offensive tackle2013–2019, 2021–2023#14 (2 times)
J. J. WattDefensive end92013–2021#1 (2015)
Aaron Donald^Defensive tackle2015–2023#1 (2019)
Ben RoethlisbergerQuarterback2011–2019#18 (2018)
Cam NewtonQuarterback82012–2019#1 (2016)
Julio Jones^Wide receiver2013, 2015–2021#3 (2017)
Khalil Mack^Defensive end2015–2021, 2023#3 (2019)
Travis Kelce^Tight end2016–2023#5 (2 times)
A. J. GreenWide receiver2012–2019#9 (2014)
Bobby Wagner^Linebacker2015, 2017–2023#13 (2020)
Earl ThomasSafety2012–2018, 2020#17 (2014)
Philip RiversQuarterback2011, 2012, 2014–2019#17 (2019)
Patrick Peterson^Cornerback2012–2019#18 (2016)
Tyron Smith^Offensive tackle2014–2020, 2022#18 (2017)
Cameron Jordan^Defensive end2014, 2016, 2018–2023#23 (2020)
Ndamukong Suh^Defensive tackle2011–2018#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

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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