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) /

29 of 30

17 Dec 2000: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field during the game against the Chicago Bears at the 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The 49ers defeated the Bears 17-0.Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

2. Jerry Rice

Some may say that Rice should be No.1, but his best work was done in the 1980s. Even so, he still led all receivers of the decade in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Rice also became the all-time leader in touchdowns before the end of the decade, surpassing Walter Payton and Jim Brown in that span.

There isn’t much to be said about Jerry Rice that hasn’t already been said a million times before. The impossible was his norm. Teams knew that Steve Young was going to look his way time and time again, yet no one could ever really slow him down.

With Rice, the 49ers had the most wins of the decade, going 113-45 in the regular season and 9-7 in the playoffs. The greatest receiver of all time had a big day in Super Bowl XXIX, as well. He caught 10 passes for 149 yards and was on the receiving end for three of Steve Young’s six touchdown passes.

Rice went on to play until the ripe age of 43 before retiring in 2005 with a novel of records to his name. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

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