Top 30 NFL players of the 1900s

Top 30 NFL Players of the 1900s

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers passes during pregame warm up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 13, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the 49ers 30-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 31: Troy Aikman #8 of the Dallas Cowboys gets his pass off under pressure from Bruce Smith #78 of the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVII on January 31, 1993 at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys won the Super Bowl 52-17. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

21. Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith really enjoys sacking quarterbacks. He enjoys it so much, in fact, that he did it more than any player in NFL history. Smith’s 200 sacks over a 19 year career are the most of any player of all time. The longevity and consistency in which he got to the quarterback is what was most impressive about Smith.

He had at least 10 sacks in 13 seasons. He eclipsed 14 sacks in a season five times. That amount of production over such a large span of time is incredibly difficult to uphold. We’ve seen several great pass rushers since Smith, but there always seems to be a fall off.

While the K-Gun offense of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed were the talk of the town in Buffalo in the 1990s, Smith anchored the defense and made life abysmal for opposing quarterbacks and offensive lines. He was by far the best defender on those Bills team that went to four consecutive Super Bowls, and always answered the call when Buffalo needed a big play defensively.

Smith was an eight-time All-Pro and an 11-time Pro Bowler. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1990 and 1996, and his sacks record is one of the least likely to ever be broken.

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