Top 30 NFL players of the 1990

Top 30 NFL players of the 1990s

DENVER, UNITED STATES: Denver Brocos running back Terrell Davis (30) makes a 12 yard carry late in the second quarter during game action 24 September, 2000 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. AFP PHOTO/ MARK LEFFINGWELL (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

24 of 30

ORCHARD PARK, NY – SEPTEMBER 15: Buffalo Bills hall of famer Bruce Smith speaks during a ceremony retiring his number during halftime of the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets on September 15, 2016 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. New York defeats Buffalo 37-31. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

7. Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith was to quarterbacks as crocodiles are to any animal that crosses their path. Every play, he put his hand in the dirt and was lurking and waiting to strike. He sacked the quarterback more times than anyone else in NFL history, retiring with 200 sacks.

Smith was selected as a first-team All-Pro an astonishing six times throughout the decade, including five consecutive selections from 1993-97. He had his career high in sacks in 1990, totaling 19 takedowns of the quarterback and winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He totaled 113.5 sacks in the decade. On top of the All-Pro selections, Smith was selected to eight Pro Bowls in the 1990s, and by far the best defender on a Bills team that won four consecutive AFC Championships. His dominance continued after the Super Bowl years and then some. He won his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996, a year in which he totaled 13.5 sacks and forced a league-high five fumbles.

Smith is one of the best defensive players of all time, and was the best edge rusher of the decade. His prowess, combined with his longevity and consistent production, helped make him one of the NFL’s all-time greatest players. He was enshrined in Canton in 2009.

Home/NFL