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Top 30 duos in NFL history

By Jarrett Bailey

BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - 1960's: (L to R) Quarterback Johnny Unitas #19 and wide receiver Raymond Berry #82 of the Baltimore Colts on the sidelines during a game circa 1960's at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 29: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young (R) and teammate Jerry Rice (L) celebrate as they lift the Lince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy 29 January 1995 in Miami. Young threw for a record six touchdowns as the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26 to become the first team to win five Super Bowls in NFL history. (COLOR KEY: Silver trophy.) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 29: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young (R) and teammate Jerry Rice (L) celebrate as they lift the Lince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy 29 January 1995 in Miami. Young threw for a record six touchdowns as the 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26 to become the first team to win five Super Bowls in NFL history. (COLOR KEY: Silver trophy.) AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Steve Young and Jerry Rice

It didn’t matter who was throwing passes to Jerry Rice, it just always seemed to work. It also helped that he was lucky enough to play with two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

There was a good chunk of the 49ers fan base that initially rejected Steve Young. They weren’t happy that Joe Montana was sent away, and they blamed Young for their favorite quarterback leaving the Bay Area. Young was quick to silence the hometown critics, though. With Rice as his leading target, Young led the NFL in touchdown passes three consecutive times from 1992-94.

In 1994, though, Young and Rice put on their greatest show. Young threw 35 touchdown passes and won the league MVP. Rice led the NFL in receiving yards, and together, the quarterback and wide receiver helped the 49ers win their fifth Super Bowl in 15 years.

Together, Rice and Young combined for 92 touchdowns, the third most of any duo in history. Young won two MVPs, and Rice kept re-writing the record books with Young as his quarterback. Both men are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and will forever be remembered as one of the best duos in NFL history.

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