Top 30 NFL players of the 1980s

Top 30 NFL Players of the 1980s

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 30: Lawrence Taylor #56 of the New York Giants in action against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game September 30, 1990 at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Taylor played for the Giants from 1981-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 10: Warren Moon #1 of the Houston Oilers scrambles away from the pressure against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game January 10, 1988 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. Moon played for the Oilers from 1984-93. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

22. Warren Moon

If you were looking for the quarterback who threw the prettiest pass of all time, you would be hard pressed to find someone who did it better than Warren Moon. Moon’s story is well-known, but incredible. He spent years in the CFL after a stellar career at the University of Washington, winning five Grey Cups. He made his way to the NFL in 1983 with the Houston Oilers.

The Oilers didn’t have much success in terms of winning in Moon’s first few seasons, but at the tail end of the decade, he was the man.

Moon made consecutive Pro Bowls in 1988 and 1989. He led the Oilers to winning records in both seasons, and it was the third straight year he had a record above .500 since starting with three consecutive losing seasons.

While Moon’s best seasons would come in the 1990s, the final few seasons of the 1980s are when we got the first glimpse of what was to come in a long, successful career. He was a two-time Pro Bowler during the decade, and would go on to appear in nine Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

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