Tommy McDonald
Tommy McDonald played as a flanker for 12 seasons, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. He is best known for playing without a face mask and being the last player to do so. We’re glad that’s not allowed anymore, but wow, talk about tough!
Tommy McDonald
Cliff Harris
Cliff Harris played as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970 until 1979. He was known for his two-way play, breaking the mold for safety players. “Captain Crash” even wore kid’s size shoulder pads in order to improve his speed and the force of hits.
Cliff Harris
Ed Sprinkle
Ed Sprinkle played as a defensive end for the Chicago Bears from 1944 until 1955. A Collier’s Weekly article called him “The Meanest Man in Football,” to which he responded: “I was about as aggressive as any football player that walked on the field. If I had an opportunity to hit someone, I hit them. … That doesn’t make me mean or dirty.”
Ed Sprinkle
Jackie Slater
Jackie Slater was an offensive tackle for the Loss Angeles/St. Louis Rams from 1976 until 1995. By the time Slater retired, he had recorded more games played than any other offensive lineman ever. He made the Pro Bowl seven times total as well.
Jackie Slater
Jim David
Jim David was a defensive back for the Detroit Lions from 1952 until 1959. Though Jim David was 5 foot 11 and 178 pounds, he did not let that hold him back in any way. He played with such reckless abandon that it’s pretty unbelievable that he never sat out a game during eight whole seasons.
Jim David
Anquan Boldin
Anquan Boldin was a wide receiver who played from 2003 until 2016. He has played for the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Detroit Lions. He described his style of playing: “That’s always been my attitude. Some people say that’s the best part of me and that’s the worst part of me — my nonchalance.”
Anquan Boldin
Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp played at the quarterback position for the Minnesota Vikings and Boston Patriots from 1967 until 1970. Despite his short NFL career, he also played in Canada. However, his teammate Dale Hackbart said he was: “A hell of a leader. He picked us up. There are three kinds of quarterbacks. There’s the brain like Bart Starr and the arm like Joe Namath and the leader like Joe Kapp.”
Joe Kapp
Mark Bavaro
Mark Bavaro played at the tight end position from 1958 through 1990, and then again from 1992 until 1994. He played for the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles. He helped lead the Giants to a victory at Super Bowl XXI.
Mark Bavaro
Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall had a long career, playing over 20 seasons total from 1960 until 1979. He played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns. He is often overlooked but is arguably one of the most, if not the toughest player in NFL history. He never missed a game, playing through pneumonia and an ulcer.
Jim Marshall
Lorenzo Neal
Lorenzo Neal played as fullback from 1993 until 2008. He played for the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens. LaDainian Tomlinson said about him: “You see guys from the other team jog out on the field before the game, and they always talk to him. They say, ‘Hey, Lo!’ When somebody does that, you know they respect him. I’ve seen it time and time again.”
Lorenzo Neal
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith played for the Dallas Cowboys and is known for not allowing injuries to stop him. In 1993 in a game against the New York Giants, Smith separated his shoulder. Instead of sitting out, he helped the team beat the Giants, using just one arm while rushing 170 yards.
Emmitt Smith
Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith was a longtime defensive end for the Buffalo Bills. He played with the team and helped them reach the Super Bowl four times, though he didn’t win any championships throughout his career.
Bruce Smith
George Blanda
George Blanda played for an incredible 26 seasons of pro football. He played for the Chicago Bears for years, switching from quarterback, linebacker, to kicker until he retired at age 48. In 1974, he won the NFL Man of the Year Award.
George Blanda
Steve Young
Steve Young was Joe Montana’s replacement who played from 1985 through 1999. He became one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL as he would always go for an extra few yards of scrambling. He earned many concussions due to his fearlessness, but he remains a 49ers legend none the less.
Steve Young
Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell played in the late 1970’s until the early 1980’s for the Houston Oilers. The running back was ruthless and intimidating, combining speed and power to become an unstoppable force. His career ended rather early due to the injuries he accumulated but he is still an inspiration for many.
Earl Campbell
Gino Marchetti
Marchetti played for an incredible 14 seasons but really shined as a defensive end when he played for the Baltimore Colts in the 1950’s through the 1960’s. He was voted the greatest defensive end in professional football history in a 1969 vote.
Gino Marchetti
Hardy Brown
Hardy Brown had one of the most explosive careers in the history of football, but he often quite underrated. He played for five seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950’s. He was often referred to as one of the most fearless players in the league.
Hardy Brown
Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum was known for his ferocious playing style to the point where his nickname was “the Assassin.” Perhaps he was a bit too tough, as he was the player who paralyzed Darryl Stingley in 1978.
Jack Tatum
Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is one of the toughest players of modern NFL history. He has already played for 15 season in the NFL. Eight of the seasons he has played in have finished with over 100 tackles. He is certainly heading into Hall of Famer territory.
Ray Lewis
Tedy Bruschi
Not many professional athletes can say that they beat down a stroke only to come back to playing football and then winning a Super Bowl. But that’s exactly what New England Patriot Tedy Bruschi did. That certainly makes him one of the toughest linebackers out there.
Tedy Bruschi
Bruce Matthews
Bruce Matthews played as offensive guard, center, and tackle for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers between 1983 and 2001. He played more games than any other OL in the NFL’s history. Former teammate Warren Moon said: “Bruce was kind of a laid-back, quiet guy, but he was very, very competitive.”
Bruce Matthews
Walt Garrison
Walt Garrison played a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys between 1966 and 1974. He was known for his toughness, like the time he was injured during a game so badly he had to be carried off the field, and it turned out he had a sprained ankle and broken collar bone, yet he still managed to gain 121 total yards and score a touchdown. Just two weeks later, he led all rushes in Super Bowl V.
Walt Garrison
Larry Wilson
Larry Wilson was a safety for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1960 until 1972. His lack of fear and uncommon football sense led him to change the safety position forever, making the safety blitz a staple in the game. He had 52 career interceptions total.
Larry Wilson
Ernie Stautner
Ernie Stautner was a defensive tackle/end for the Pittsburgh Steeler between 1950 and 1963. He was known for his determination and savvy fast-paced playing. His former teammate Andy Russell recounted the time he noticed Stautner’s finger bone had pierced his skin, but Stautner kept on playing. Afterwards, he just said “gimmie some tape” and finished the game.
Ernie Stautner
Bob St. Clair
Bob St. Clair played as an offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers from 1953 until 1963. St. Clair was nicknamed “The Geek” after a movie character that was fed live animals in a cage, since he tended to eat raw meat. He was an especially talented kick blocker, having blocked 10 in the 1956 season, and several with his face. He once lost six teeth on just one blocked punt.
Bob St. Clair
Steve McNair
Steve McNair played as quarterback for the Tennessee Titans between 1995 through 2007. He had a total of 153 starts as QB even though he suffered from a separated right clavicle, a dislocated ring finger, a bone spur in his shoulder, a strained calf, hip pointer, ruptured disk, back spasms, strained rib cartilage, bruised ribs, sprained knee, sprained MCL, turf toe, cracked bone spur, a bone spur in his big toe, and a bruised sternum. Need any other convincing?
Steve McNair
Y.A. Tittle
Y.A. Tittle played as quarterback from 1948 until 1964 for the Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants. He’s known for “the blood picture,” where he was pictured following a sack as blood gushed down his head. He suffered from a cracked sternum and concussion, but lead the Giants to a win the following week. That’s probably why he was known as “Old Reliable.”
Y.A. Tittle
Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly was a defensive tackle/end for the Dallas Cowboys from 1961 until 1974. He was a part of the “Doomsday Defense,” and many teams targeted him specifically. Collisions tended to be violent, and he suffered from many injuries, including broken hands, a torn hamstring, ripped up knees, and fractured ribs. The Cowboys named a leadership award for him.
Bob Lilly
Reggie White
Reggie White played as a defensive end/tackle from 1985-98 and also 2000, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and the Carolina Panthers. He was known for his passionate and relentless playing and his nickname: “Minister of Defense.” He actually started in every game for 11 out of his 15 total seasons. Seriously impressive.
Reggie White
Jim Otto
Jim Otto played as center for the Oakland Raiders from 1960 until 1974. He played in every single game for all 15 seasons, and has battle scars to show for it. He managed to break his helmet, face mask, nose, cheekbone, zygomatic arch bone, and detached his retina all in one play. He said: “I was blind for six months in my left eye. It was really bad. It all swelled up, and I couldn’t see, but I kept playing. I never went out of the game.”
Jim Otto
Mel Blount
Mel Blount played as cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 until 1983. Blount was so intimidating that few ballcarriers could or even wanted to run around him. In 1977, competition committee members created the “Mel Blount Rule,” which ruled out contact with receivers beyond five yards of the scrimmage line.
Mel Blount
Bill Pellington
Bill Pellington played as a linebacker for the Baltimore Colts from 1953 until 1964. He was known for crossing the line at times and for being a physical run-stopper who was still agile. His specialties were forearm shivers and clothesline, which at the time were still allowed.
Bill Pellington
Kam Chancellor
Kam Chancellor has been playing as a safety for the Seattle Seahawks since 2010. Former Seahawks defensive coordinator said: “He’s an impactful guy on and off the field. He’s an excellent player, and as good a player as he is, he’s that and more as a teammate. There’s been a couple of guys who have stood out as leaders, and his toughness is what totally sets him apart.”
Kam Chancellor
Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski played asa fullback/linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1930-37 and also in 1943. Former Bears coach George Halas stated that Nagurski: “blasted through would-be tacklers as though they were a pair of old saloon doors.” After leaving football initially, he became a two-time wrestling champ in 1938. College football’s Defensive Player of the Year award is named after him.
Bronko Nagurski
Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka played as a fullback from 1968 until 1979 for the Miami Dolphins as well as the New York Giants. One of his signature career hits took place when he knocked out a defender on a blow to the head, which ended up costing him a 15 yard penalty. He broke his nose 10 times total!
Larry Csonka
Mel Hein
Mel Hein was a center/linebacker for the New York Giants from 1931 until 1945. He was known for being a ferocious player as well as a trusted special teams ball-snapper. He was nicknamed “Old Indestructible” and was the first and only lineman to be chosen as the league MVP in the 1938 season.
Mel Hein
Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood played as a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams from 1971 until 1984. In the playoff opener of the 1979 season, he injured his right ankle, cracking his fibula. After he was told the x-ray showed a broken bone, he insisted for it to be taped up so he could go back to playing, leading the team to victory.
Jack Youngblood
Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka played at the tight end position from 1961 until 1972, playing for the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. Former teammate Roger Staubach said: “Ditka was just a tough son of a gun. Nobody wanted to mess with Iron Mike.” He was known for being a leader and was the voice of inspiration to his teammates.
Mike Ditka
Ray Nitschke
Ray Nitschke played as a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 until 1972. He truly came to his own under coach Vince Lombardi, but he was always known for his meanness and hyper-aggressiveness. He said: “I’ve always learned that the best way to play the game is to hit your opponent a little harder than he hits you. It’s self-preservation.”
Ray Nitschke
Steve Atwater
Steve Atwater played as a safety from 1989 until 1999 for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. Atwater certainly helped the Denver Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl wins, especially Super Bowl XXXII, where he made half a dozen tackles, broke up two passes, and forced a fumble on a sack.
Steve Atwater
Hines Ward
Hines Ward played as a wide receiver from 1998 until 2011, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was known for his tough, no-complaints attitude as well as his reliability as a possession receiver. His plays were rough, with the NFL adopting the “Hines Ward Rule,” banning players from blowing up opponents on crack-back blocks to the head or neck area.
Hines Ward
Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Lynch is a running back who played from 2005 until 2015, and then returned in 2016. He played for the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks and currently plays for the Oakland Raiders. Known as “Beast Mode,” the Skittles-lover has scored 56 touchdowns, 23 of which were of three yards or less.
Marshawn Lynch
Mike Curtis
Mike Curtis was a linebacker from 1965 to 1978 for the Baltimore Colts and the Seattle Seahawks. His crucial interception led the Colts to their first-ever Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl V. He was named as the Colts’ Most Valuable Player in 1974.
Mike Curtis
Walter Payton
Walter Payton played as a running back for the Chicago Bears from 1975 until 1987. He ranks as the number 2 ground gainer in NFL history. He was known for his extremely tough training off the field, both off season and during. “Sweetness” was known for well timed-shoulders, stiff-arms, and helmet butts.
Walter Payton
Leo Nomellini
Leo Nomellini played as a defensive/offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers from 1950 until 1963. He was known as “The Lion” as he was quick with impressive upper body strength. He was an All-Pro offensive tackle for two seasons and also an All-Pro defensive tackle for four seasons. He started in all but 9 games over the 14 seasons that he played.
Leo Nomellini
Jack Lambert
Jack Lambert played as linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974 until 1984. Though he was not the bulkiest, he more than made up for it with toughness, which earned him the nickname “Count Dracula,” since his missing front teeth made him a scary sight.
Jack Lambert
James Harrison
James Harrison was a linebacker who played in 2002 and from 2004 until 2017. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, and the New England Patriots. He was known for his incredible skills which ended up paying off during Super Bowl XLII and defined his career.
James Harrison
Bob Brown
Bob Brown played as an offensive tackle from 1964 until 1973, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams. “The Boomer” was not known for playing with finesse but rather with brute force and quickness.
Bob Brown
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor played as linebacker for the New York Giants from 1981 until 1993. Teammate Harry Carson said of Taylor: “When he got angry, he got angry.” Taylor was not one to mess with, and was known for playing through injuries, including a detached pectoral muscle and torn shoulder ligaments, while still winning the game.
Lawrence Taylor
Sam Huff
Sam Huff played as linebacker from 1956 until 1967 and also in 1969. He played for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He was a very popular player, and even ended up on the cover of a 1959 Time magazine. He was quoted: “We try to hurt everybody. We hit each other as hard as we can. This is a man’s game.”
Sam Huff
Jim Taylor
Jim Taylor was a fullback from 1958 until 1967, playing for the Green Bay Packers as well as the New Orleans Saints. He led the league in rushing during his first nine seasons playing. He was known for not being intimidated by anyone, any place, or any weather.
Jim Taylor
Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik played as linebacker/center from 1949 until 1962 for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was known as “Concrete Charlie” and for good reason. His most famous tackle was when he brought down fullback Jim Taylor on the final play and then shouting: “this game is o-vah!”
Chuck Bednarik
Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott played as safety/cornerback from 1981 until 1994. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and the New York Jets. The extremely competitive Lott badly fractured his left pinkie in the final game of the 1985 season, and was faced with a choice between having a surgical procedure and sitting out the playoffs or amputating the finger and keep player. He almost went for the amputation!
Ronnie Lott
Night Train Lane
Night Train Lane played as defensive back from 1952 until 1965. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions. Longtime Baltimore Colts rival Raymond Berry described Night Train Lane as “Definitely, the best hitting corner(back) I’ve ever seen.”
Night Train Lane
Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones played as defensive end from 1961 until 1974. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins. After his retirement, he told the Los Angeles Time: “When I first came up, defensive linemen were dull as hell. Some were great performers, but nobody knew who they were. I set out to change that.”
Deacon Jones
Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas played as quarterback from 1956 until 1973 for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers. Hall of Fame Art Donovan was asked who was the toughest Colt of all, and he replied: “Unitas, because he took the most punishment — and never said a word about it.” He even played an entire season with fractured vertebra.
Johnny Unitas
Joe Greene
Joe Greene played as defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 until 1981. He was known as “Mean Joe,” and had the reputation for not being able to be blocked. His toughness led his team to Super Bowl championships two times.
Joe Greene
Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus played as linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1965 until 1973. If you want to know how tough Butkus was, here’s what he said on a CBS broadcast: “If a guy celebrated like that on me, I’d wait for the next series of downs and do a little celebration of my own on him. Then after he woke up — if he did — I’d say, ‘Well, want to dance some more, hot dog?’ ”
Dick Butkus
Jim Brown
Jim Brown played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 until 1965. Longtime New York Giants rival Sam Huff said: “Jim was smart. He’d psyche you. I would hit him and hit him, and he’d get up, pat me on the back and say, ‘That was a nice tackle, big Sam.'” Brown was known for being an indestructible force in the league.
Jim Brown
Brett Favre
Brett Favre played as quarterback from 1991 until 2010. He played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and the Minnesota Vikings. During his career, he touched the ball 11,298 times, and also attempted 10,169 passes, both league records. In an interview, he said: “I think my stubbornness, hardheadedness and stupidity is what has allowed me to play for 20 years.”
Brett Favre
Peyton Manning
Now retired quarterback Peyton Manning had a record breaking 18 seasons playing for the NFL. He played 14 season for the Indianapolis Colts and four more with the Denver Broncos. He is often regarded as one of the greatest QB’s of all time. He risked four career threatening neck surgeries only to come straight back to Pro Bowl form as a Bronco.
Peyton Manning
John Lynch
John Lynch played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1993 until 2003, the Denver Broncos from 2004 until 2007, and was an offseason member of the New England Patriots in 2008. He led the Bucs to victory in Super Bowl XXXVI and is currently the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. He was known for his love of running right over other players despite being a safety.
John Lynch
Rodney Harrison
Rodney Harrison played as a safety for the San Diego Chargers from 1992 until 2002 and the New England Patriots from 2003 through 2008. Towards the end of his NFL career, he experienced much success and even made a tackle with a broken arm during Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Rodney Harrison
Rocky Bleier
Rocky Bleier was a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1968 until 1980. He was wounded as a soldier while serving in Vietnam, so he was no stranger to toughness. After having part of his right foot blown off and badly injuring his left leg, Bleier still managed to play 11 seasons. He said: “I could have thrown in the towel, but I decided I wasn’t going to give up easily.”
Rocky Bleier
Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson is a running back who joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2007 and is still currently playing there. After injuring his left knee, many believed his career was over. But he worked on a comeback and had an incredible return season. He explained: “There were times when I had to brainwash myself because I was in so much pain. I was able to show people that when you remain resilient and dedicated you can accomplish anything.”
Adrian Peterson
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis played as a running back who played for the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nicknamed “The Bus,” he was known for one thing in particular: making contact. He always ran through opposition and never ran around them.
Jerome Bettis
Don Meredith
According to Bob Lilly, “Meredith was really tough. He got beat up so bad in his early years. His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. I saw Meredith’s nose broken so bad that it spread all over his face. Looked like a raccoon.” Certified tough in our book.
Don Meredith
Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann played as a wide receiver in an era when defensive contact rules were pretty loose to say the least. He suffered a severe concussion in an AFC title game only to go to to play in the Super Bowl anyway, going on to finish the game with 161 receiving yards and a Super Bowl MVP title.
Lynn Swann
John Riggins
John Riggins played in the NFL as a running back for the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins. Known as “the Diesel” he was known for sending linebackers flying as he zoomed passed them.
John Riggins
Mike Webster
Mike Webster played as a center for the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped cement their dynasty status. He was especially capable of playing through fatigue and pain. He also had a continuously long career, long after his contemporaries retired. He also later played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mike Webster
Roger Craig
Roger Craig played played as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, and the Minnesota Vikings. Not only was he known for keeping his “knees up” and being quite the hitter, he became the first NFL player to rush and receive for 1000 yards in one season.
Roger Craig
Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman played as a fullback for the San Francisco 49ers for the majority of his career while playing his last season as a Los Angeles Raider. He’s known for his tough abilities and his strength that the 49ers offense would often refer to as “finesse.”
Tom Rathman
Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins played as a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and his last few seasons with the Denver Broncos. He played in 9 Pro Bowls and was known for hitting opponents both when they had possession of the ball and when they didn’t as well.
Brian Dawkins
Randy White
Randy White played as a defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 until 1988. “The Manster” was known for man handling opponents and for being a part of the Doomsday Defense.
Randy White
Kellen Winslow, Sr.
Kellen Winslow, Sr. played as a tight end for the San Diego Chargers from 1979 until 1987. He is particularly known for his performance in the Chargers playoff showdown with the Dolphins in 1982. He helped bring his team to victory through dehydration, severe cramping, a pinched shoulder nerve, and three stitches in his lip.
Kellen Winslow, Sr.
Conrad Dobler
Conrad Dobler played as a guard for the St. Louis Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and the Buffalo Bills. He is known to be one of the dirtiest players in NFL history. He often employed unsportsmanlike tactics, something he was happy to openly admit.
Conrad Dobler
George Atkinson
George Atkinson played as a safety for the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos for his final season. He was called “the criminal element” by Steelers coach Chuck Knoll. Despite his smaller stature, he was able to become one of the most physical safeties to play in the league.
George Atkinson
Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer played as a guard for the Green Bay Packers from 1958 until 1968. He was best known for playing through fatigue and often performing better late in the game than in the first quarter. Even when he was injured, he would just keep playing.
Jerry Kramer
John Elway
John Elway played as a quarterback for the Denver Broncos from 1983 until 1998. He was known for his mental toughness, which is just as important as physical toughness when it comes to football. His best known run, “The Drive” is part of NFL lore, came at an AFC Championship game against the Cleveland Browns.
John Elway
Frank Gore
Frank Gore plays as a running back for the New York Jets. He previously played for the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and the Buffalo Bills. He is known for surpassing Barry Sanders and becoming the third all-time leading rusher. Some say he may even surpass Walter Payton by the end of his career.
Frank Gore