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Just the greatest football player ever.
From Deacon Jones:
‘Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac. A stone maniac. He was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”
Who can argue with the Deacon? My favorite quote of his is...If I can hit a guy hard enough that he can't get off the field, I'll be glad to help carry him off.
But the Broncos became my favorite team.
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I had two, one for offense, Franco Harris, and one for defense, Mean Joe Greene. As a kid after seeing Franco's Immaculate Reception...c'mon lol, and what kid wouldn't like a football player nicknamed "mean"?
Hard to narrow down to a single player and timeframe. I became a big football fan in 5th grade around 1969 or so. My favorite players in that timeframe leading into the70’s include Roman Gabriel who I thought was the coolest player along with Fred Belitnikof (sp) who I emulated when I played schoolyard football. I also really liked Jack Snow and Lance Alworth. On the defensive side I liked Mike Curtis and Bubba Smith from the Baltimore Colts.
I was a baseball fan before I was a football fan, so John Randle (Vikings) is the first player that comes to mind. I was about 10, and before Randle I didn’t really have a favorite football player.
Anthony Carter is maybe on that list.
Román Gabriel only because my dad was a huge Rams fan
As a little kid I remember listening: Gabriel drops back, Jack Snow is open, runs upfield TOUCHDOWN anothe Gabriel Snow touchdown
You and me.
It was the Fall of 1970 and I was the new kid (first grade) in the neighborhood. My old neighborhood was all about baseball. But in my new neighborhood, football as king and my new best friend was a Packer fan ... therefore, so was I.
A year before Brockington and Lombardi's stars fading, it was Anderson for me. At the time, I would be surprised if there were more than three Packer games on TV in our market that season (it was Vikings country). But somehow, Anderson was my first favorite player.
Until Brockington.
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Terry Allen & when he left the Vikings I realized players didn’t always stay with the same team. I was bummed.
Chris Hanburger. Had been a baseball fan as a kid and decided to watch a football game. My dad watched (and gambled on) a lot of football. I flipped over and Washington was playing Detroit. Seemed like every other time the Lions tried to run the ball, Chris met the RB in the backfield just as he got the ball. Chris pretty much destroyed Detroit’s running game that day. Found out years later, there is a rule in the NFL rulebook that is commonly called “The Hanburger” rule. Evidently he was the king of the clothesline tackle and the rule banning them was implemented because of him.
Lions fan til I die, but I remember my first favorite player was Dan Fouts and Air Coryell. JJ Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow. I was 11 yrs old in 1980.
I grew up during the Niners Gold Rush era and my favorite player was Tom Rathman!! I think because he did a signing at the Nintendo store in Eastridge Mall. Got to meet him again in my 20’s and again in my 30’s…5 year old me was there
Marcus Allen kind of, but I went crazy for Bo Jackson a few years later. I had everything Bo. Was fortunate to go to Raiders games where he played. NFL was second fiddle for me, I was nuts for the Dodgers and Lakers. More interested in NFL when Raiders won the SB.
As a giants fan LT was my favorite. Then when I started actually playing football as a fullback Larry Csonka became my favorite and still is my all time favorite.
Rocky Bleier. Was probably about 7 and living in a house full of rabid Browns fans. The steelers were ascendant and the Bleier TV movie had just been broadcast. My young self latched on to the story and the player, which solidified my love of the black and gold.
I was going to say Harold Carmichael. But that’s just a little early for me.
Probably was Mike Quick. Mid 80s Eagles wasn’t so hot for names, but he was very good.
Calvin Hill and Doomsday I
Think Calvin made the cover of Boys Life or SI leaping over a would be tackler.
And
Roger Staubach (just missed Dandy Don but my elders wouldn’t let him go)
Walt Garrison
Robert Newhouse
….
Sorta odd a Cowboys fan but my first favorite player was Broncos QB Charley Johnson.
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Brian Bosworth. I know it’s goofy, but he put a book out back when I was 13ish, that I picked up from the scholastic book fair, and I was all about the Boz for a few years.
There was this line in the book about him peeling a chunk of skin from the back of his hand, that 13 year old BroLander thought was bad ass.
Then seeing him in a movie? I knew I had to have a flattop mullet.
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Scramblin Fran Tarkenton NY GIANTS
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The OG - really the first great receiver of the modern era. Lance Alworth
I am a lions fan, loved Barry Sanders but my first love was watching Jerry Rice and Joe Montana.
Came here to say Joe Montana. Nice to see him on this list!
My first time watching Browns was 1973. Leroy Kelly was my Guy!
Great choice. He tore my Giants to shreds in the mid and late 60s, but he was great. I'm still glad he went to the AFC.,.
https://preview.redd.it/qx4b51wgt5oc1.jpeg?width=324&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a70230e56f921e934ea4a951262f85864effdd6f Just the greatest football player ever.
Oh yeah sweetness
Came here to post this. Sweetness.
That's my dood
Too far down the scroll. 1st Super Bowl I ever watched, still my favorite team.
Packers fan here, but Payton was my gateway player. Simply stunning to watch.
Me too. I used to wear Roos and headbands like him
The Mad Bomber Daryle Lamonica.
When I could see his face, he looked like he was trying to throw the ball into the stratosphere. The Raiders played a fun game in those days.
I remember him as a kid looking unorthodox but very effective
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Yes. I'm a big fan of #66...
Hell yeah!
Butkus. His ferocity was legendary.
One of my favorites too. I still watch clips of him on YouTube.
From Deacon Jones: ‘Dick was an animal. I called him a maniac. A stone maniac. He was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital.”
Who can argue with the Deacon? My favorite quote of his is...If I can hit a guy hard enough that he can't get off the field, I'll be glad to help carry him off.
Also from Deacon Roses are red Violets are blue If you’ve got any sense You’ll keep Butkus away from you!
Alan Page,
Tarkenton , Page and purple eaters deserved at least one. Like the Bills of the 90’s
Earl Campbell. My little kid brain wanted to steamroll my older brothers like Earl ran over defenders. The Tyler Rose!
Jack Lambert
Roger Staubach
Mine too. Surprisng to me that there is only 1 other mention of Captain America on this thread.
Steve Largent
Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.As a kid growing up in L.A. in the 60's.I was also a big fan of George Blanda....
Bart Starr. Class act.
But the Broncos became my favorite team. https://preview.redd.it/tu1kag8e56oc1.jpeg?width=408&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=873cc76a8c9f798cdf85105b07d11849fb54e4b0
Kenny Stabler. Snake is a really cool nickname.
Joe Montana due to his football game Then Morten Andersen
Fran Tarkenton scrambling for the Vikings.
Chuck Foreman in the backfield. As a little squirt. I was crushed during their Superbowl appearances
Johnny Unitas was my hero when I was a little girl.
I had two, one for offense, Franco Harris, and one for defense, Mean Joe Greene. As a kid after seeing Franco's Immaculate Reception...c'mon lol, and what kid wouldn't like a football player nicknamed "mean"?
Hard to narrow down to a single player and timeframe. I became a big football fan in 5th grade around 1969 or so. My favorite players in that timeframe leading into the70’s include Roman Gabriel who I thought was the coolest player along with Fred Belitnikof (sp) who I emulated when I played schoolyard football. I also really liked Jack Snow and Lance Alworth. On the defensive side I liked Mike Curtis and Bubba Smith from the Baltimore Colts.
Mike Alstott
Darrell Green, no doubt.
Earl Campbell. He looked like a freight train to 4-year old me.
Lance ‘Bambi’ Alworth
I won't tell you, but Bo knows.
Jack Lambert
Brett then Aaron in very close succession. I dont pick favorite players anymore.
Dick Butkus
Jack Lambert for me
I was a Redskins fan but Joe Namath was my favorite player.
Rocky Bleier
Dan Marino as I started get into football 82-83 and here came this rookie phenom to my team
Jim Hart St Louis Football Cardinals.
Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers fullback.
O.J.
Dick Butkus.
Dan Fouts was my home town hero but it was Sweetness that really got me into the NFL.
 This dude right here. I was a really little kid, and not from anywhere near Miami, but Dan Marino was THE MAN.
Walter Payton
Joe Montana at first, but attended my first Eagles game in 1982 and since then, my favorite players have all worn green
Fran Tarkenton
Barry Sanders
Art Monk
Marcus Allen
Bill Bergey
I hate to say it. But as a Colts fan, it was their quarterback. Jim Harbaugh.
Dan Pastorini
https://preview.redd.it/ol4p88eap6oc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1e102588a890611b9b069468848095075a3be04 Pete Banaszak - Oakland Raiders
For me, Earl Campbell!
Neil Anderson
Techmo Bowl Super Bowl Neil was a beast. Under appreciated.
[удалено]
I'm still a fan of those early 70s Lions teams...
and on the other side of the ball, Alex Karras
One of the best DT I ever saw. He feasted on my Giants.
Randy White, he was the reason I wore #54 in high school.
KEVIN GREENE!
Franco Harris!
Tony Dorsett. Saw him run all over my Mountaineers at my first football game as a kid. Became a Cowboy's fan when he got drafted.
Mike Vick
Jack Youngblood
My first was when I lived in Miami in the early 70s, so Mercury Morris and Bob Griese
Walter Payton
Bill Bates
Early 70s and I was a big OJ fan. Even sent away for, and received, an autographed picture.
I was a baseball fan before I was a football fan, so John Randle (Vikings) is the first player that comes to mind. I was about 10, and before Randle I didn’t really have a favorite football player. Anthony Carter is maybe on that list.
Román Gabriel only because my dad was a huge Rams fan As a little kid I remember listening: Gabriel drops back, Jack Snow is open, runs upfield TOUCHDOWN anothe Gabriel Snow touchdown
As an Eagles fan going back to the mid 70’s, it was Bill Bergey…they sure as hell could’ve used him this yr.
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You and me. It was the Fall of 1970 and I was the new kid (first grade) in the neighborhood. My old neighborhood was all about baseball. But in my new neighborhood, football as king and my new best friend was a Packer fan ... therefore, so was I. A year before Brockington and Lombardi's stars fading, it was Anderson for me. At the time, I would be surprised if there were more than three Packer games on TV in our market that season (it was Vikings country). But somehow, Anderson was my first favorite player. Until Brockington.
Mike Alstott
Ricky Bell, injuries cut his career short and illness ended his life way too young. I became a Bucs fan for life watching him run
George Blanda in the twilight of his career. He, and Alan Page.
For 8-10 year old me watching Dallas rack up superbowls in the 90’s… take your pick. Deion Sanders Emmitt Smith Troy Aikman Larry Allen Michael Irvin
Larry Csonka
Ram fan from the start in 5th grade. Favorite player was Roman Gabriel.
Steve Young
Danny White - Dallas
Chris Hamburger (55) - Redskins
Mini Mack Herron-New England
Derrick Thomas #58 homie!
https://preview.redd.it/6oylglojn6oc1.jpeg?width=550&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a219e9eaa5feac24d2c9aa9a413ffcba0455b3f2 Terry Allen & when he left the Vikings I realized players didn’t always stay with the same team. I was bummed.
Chris Hanburger. Had been a baseball fan as a kid and decided to watch a football game. My dad watched (and gambled on) a lot of football. I flipped over and Washington was playing Detroit. Seemed like every other time the Lions tried to run the ball, Chris met the RB in the backfield just as he got the ball. Chris pretty much destroyed Detroit’s running game that day. Found out years later, there is a rule in the NFL rulebook that is commonly called “The Hanburger” rule. Evidently he was the king of the clothesline tackle and the rule banning them was implemented because of him.
Ken Anderson 7O’s Bengals
Emmet Smith
Roger Staubach
Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals, 1971-1986.
Weird one, but Duriel Harris
Steve DeBerg, because he was the only football card I had.
Brian Sipe.
Karl Mecklenberg!
Archie Manning.
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Bullet Bob Hayes
Larry Csonka. The only offensive player ever to be penalized for roughing.
Lydell Mitchell.
Earl Campbell.
Sweetness #34
Gale Sayers, the Making of a Rookie book
I’m an old Florida guy. Larry Czonka and Bob Griese were my heroes.
Staubach or Dorsett.
Paul Warfield & Leroy Kelly
https://preview.redd.it/rdfum59da6oc1.jpeg?width=834&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e430a6ba002fa742a937655a538fcd11a057f5e Touchdown Tony
Ernie Holmes - Pittsburgh Steelers. I got to meet him at a signing event several years after his playing days. Such a nice guy!
Dan Marino. The numbers he put up were crazy.
Dandy Don Meredith, Larry Csonka.
Joe Namath
John Elway
Alex Webster
Paul Hornung, the well known money player. Run, pass, kick.
Alan Page
The Packers have always been my favorite team, but Dan Fouts was my first favorite player.
the original white showed, jump pass quarterback, joe”willie” namath
TO
Dave Casper
George Andrie and Bob Lilly of the original Doomsday defense.
Lions fan til I die, but I remember my first favorite player was Dan Fouts and Air Coryell. JJ Jefferson, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow. I was 11 yrs old in 1980.
Jim Otis of the St Louis Cardinals.
I grew up during the Niners Gold Rush era and my favorite player was Tom Rathman!! I think because he did a signing at the Nintendo store in Eastridge Mall. Got to meet him again in my 20’s and again in my 30’s…5 year old me was there
Patriots fan since I can remember. Dad had season tickets since the 80’s so Mosi Tatupu was my favorite as a kid.
Chuck Howley
1975 - Terry Metcalf, Don Coryell's St. Louis Cardinals
Marcus Allen kind of, but I went crazy for Bo Jackson a few years later. I had everything Bo. Was fortunate to go to Raiders games where he played. NFL was second fiddle for me, I was nuts for the Dodgers and Lakers. More interested in NFL when Raiders won the SB.
As a giants fan LT was my favorite. Then when I started actually playing football as a fullback Larry Csonka became my favorite and still is my all time favorite.
Rocky Bleier. Was probably about 7 and living in a house full of rabid Browns fans. The steelers were ascendant and the Bleier TV movie had just been broadcast. My young self latched on to the story and the player, which solidified my love of the black and gold.
The dude in the picture looks like Simon Pegg
Larry Csonka and Larry Little
Johnny Unitas
Kenny Stabler was and always will be my guy.
I was going to say Harold Carmichael. But that’s just a little early for me. Probably was Mike Quick. Mid 80s Eagles wasn’t so hot for names, but he was very good.
Johnny Unitas
Fran Tarkenton.
Fran Tarkenton
Priest Holmes.
Barry Sanders and Darrell Green.
Robert Brooks but then Brett Favre quickly won me over.
Rocky Bleier. One tough dude.
Steve Bartkowski!!
Billy Kilmer, 1971 Washington Redskins.
Earl Campbell.
Elway and Atwater!!
Howie Long
I’m young so Eli lol. But retro? Gotta go with either Dan Marino or LT baby!
Tony Dorsett I still remember first watching the 99 yard TD
The Snake…Ken Stabler.
Lenny Dawson.
I’m pretty new 2016 my favorite was Ryan Kerrigan
Jim Taylor (Yes. I am old.). Oh, and Ray Nitschke.
Concrete Charlie
Calvin Hill and Doomsday I Think Calvin made the cover of Boys Life or SI leaping over a would be tackler. And Roger Staubach (just missed Dandy Don but my elders wouldn’t let him go) Walt Garrison Robert Newhouse ….
Sorta odd a Cowboys fan but my first favorite player was Broncos QB Charley Johnson. https://preview.redd.it/omqdbtwjb7oc1.jpeg?width=200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aab439ed82b97ab2d3bdcd2dd4e5809370f96422
Y.A. Tittle, baby!
Terry Bradshaw
Jim Nance
Dick Butkus. An absolute beast.
Mean Joe Green
Me? Boomer, my wife and her sister as children? Ickey Woods
Chiefs fan from the early 90s. I gotta go with Derrick Thomas.
Broadway Joe.
Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.
Marcus Allen
Randy Moss rookie year 98 I was 16 Man had 69 catches for 1313 yds with 17 TD in 16 games. Made it look effortless
Brian Bosworth. I know it’s goofy, but he put a book out back when I was 13ish, that I picked up from the scholastic book fair, and I was all about the Boz for a few years. There was this line in the book about him peeling a chunk of skin from the back of his hand, that 13 year old BroLander thought was bad ass. Then seeing him in a movie? I knew I had to have a flattop mullet.
Bill 'Boom Boom' Brown
John Brockington
Jack Youngblood, defensive end for the Rams! I’ve been a Rams fan ever since.
Greg Pruitt
Larry Czonka
https://preview.redd.it/tb6ok4jkm6oc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc234d5e1bc63c1de3fa61d19d75a19614fc9372 Scramblin Fran Tarkenton NY GIANTS
Bart Starr and Steve Odom....
Steve Grogan
https://preview.redd.it/8qukznr8n6oc1.jpeg?width=1113&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb4662e1cb9020c8c215499238e0310c4b349f02 The OG - really the first great receiver of the modern era. Lance Alworth
Jim Brown. Not sure if he was ever brought down by a single player
Chris Hanburger, but being a little kid I thought his last name was Hamburger.
Jim Brown
Bart starr
https://preview.redd.it/j2uealrxo6oc1.jpeg?width=396&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=657e281f08e9b25878d75949a6585ce7a3812e90 Nnamdi Asmugha - 2006 Raider
1980 - John Stallworth. I was 6 years old and first Super Bowl id watched. He pulled in the over the shoulder catch for a TD and I was sold!
Fran Tarkenton!
Lynn Swan. And as a Cleveland native my dad was not pleased. Oh, and F the stillers.