As College Football Season Begins, These NFL Legends Still Inspire Today’s Players

Fans everywhere are buzzing about the return of the college football season. The passion for this particular sport at the college level has always spilled over into the professional ranks, where players are actual legends. As college football season begins, remembering the greats who set the standard for what football excellence looks like is a must.

The NFL has produced many players who redefined their positions and became household names. Some emerged from humble beginnings and college fields, and each left behind a legacy that fans still keep in mind whenever they watch a game. These stories inspire the athletes we'll see taking the field this season, beginning as college standouts and becoming NFL stars in the making.

247 Tempo brings you the football players who defined greatness in the NFL. As the college football season begins, it's the perfect time to look back at the legends who remind us why the sport captures so much of America's attention year after year. Let's hit the field!

This post was updated on August 16th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

• Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady went from being a sixth-round pick that few people thought would achieve greatness. He became (arguably) the greatest athlete ever. He won seven Super Bowls during his career and five Super Bowl MVPs. Brady selflessly took far less money than he was worth so that his General Managers could surround him with better players.

Fans look at his selflessness as the main reason he sustained success in the NFL for a long time. Brady took his last snap in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's a first-ballot Hall of Famer who quarterbacks will forever try to emulate.

• Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs

For a long time, Joe Montana was the quarterback other players aspired to be like. The leader of the San Francisco 49ers dynasty during the 1980s guided the team to four Super Bowl wins. He won three Super Bowl MVPs and two regular season MVPs. Like Brady, Montana wasn't a highly touted prospect coming out of college.

He was a third-round pick, who exceeded even the wildest expectations. After the 49ers decided to move on with Steve Young, Montana joined the Kansas City Chiefs. While he didn't win a Super Bowl with the team, he gave their fans memories that have lasted forever.

• Teams: Kansas City Chiefs

By the time his career is over, Patrick Mahomes might be labeled the greatest quarterback in game history. He has a tall hill to climb, though. Unlike the LeBron James versus Michael Jordan debate, fans actually witnessed Tom Brady beat Mahomes in the Super Bowl. Mahomes will have to eclipse Brady's seven rings to be considered the greatest ever.

As of the 2024 season, Mahomes has already won three titles with the Kansas City Chiefs. The key for Mahomes and the Chiefs is to draft quality players to replace their talent like the Patriots were able to do with Brady. Mahomes has already shown his name must be mentioned with the greatest but he's nowhere close to being done.

• Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos

When Peyton Manning was drafted, he was coined as the player who was going to save the Indianapolis Colts. He was able to accomplish that, and much more. During his career with the Colts, Manning won a Super Bowl, broke multiple records, and won four MVPs.

He signed with the Denver Broncos to end his career, where he'd win another Super Bowl and MVP. His time with the Broncos is remembered for breaking the regular season touchdown record with the 2013 team. The Manning versus Brady rivalry is talked about as one of the most intense between two players of any generation.

• Teams: Denver Broncos

When John Elway was drafted, he was going to play for the Baltimore Colts. He was one of the first athletes to use his power to dictate where he wanted to play. He ended up getting traded to the Denver Broncos where he had one of the best NFL careers of any player ever. He accomplished a lot, but a Super Bowl title evaded him for most of his time in Denver.

Elway then beat the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons in back-to-back Super Bowls to end his career, capping off his Hall of Fame time in the NFL. Elway then became in charge of the Denver Broncos. The team won another title in 2016 under his watch. Fans of the Denver Broncos can't think of the team without mentioning Elway.

• Teams: Detroit Lions

NFL running backs have tried to model their game after the legendary Barry Sanders. During his time with the Detroit Lions, Sanders became known for his quick moves and ability to make defenders miss easily. He's one of the few players to win NFL MVP while not being a quarterback.

Sanders led the NFL in rushing four separate times during his career. Even though he retired in 1998, Sanders is still talked about as the greatest running back to play the game.

• Teams: Cleveland Browns

Jim Brown has become loved in Cleveland among sports fans. He was part of the most recent championship team for the Cleveland Browns, which came during the 1950s. Brown won three MVPs during his career, was a nine-time Pro Bowler, and led the NFL in rushing eight separate times.

Fans can't understate how important Brown was to the progression of football and how running backs play the game. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retired.

• Teams: Chicago Bears

The NFL hasn't seen many players like Walter Payton. He was a Super Bowl champion, and NFL MVP, and went to nine Pro Bowls during his career. Payton also became known for his charitable efforts off the field. He became so engrained in the community that the NFL named the award for the most philanthropic player after him.

Payton spent his full career with the Chicago Bears. As of 2024, he still holds the record for the most consecutive starts by a running back in history with 170.

• Teams: Chicago Bears

Gale Sayers is another running back who made his name with the Chicago Bears. He only played from 1965 until 1971, but he made the most of his time with the team. During his rookie year, Sayers scored 22 touchdowns. That record is still held today as the highest mark by a rookie.

Sayers helped pave the way for players like Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Sayers was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retired from the sport.

• Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks

The NFL hasn't seen a wide receiver like Jerry Rice ever. He's unquestionably the gold standard when it comes to the position. During his career, he won three Super Bowls, a Super Bowl MVP, and two Offensive Player of the Year awards. Rice caught 197 touchdowns during his career, which is an NFL record.

He also owns the record for most receiving yards and receptions of any receiver who's ever played. No other receiver has gotten to the same levels as Rice has, even though they've all strived to at some point.

• Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers

When Randy Moss was coming out of college, fans knew he was going to be a talent. He was drafted to the Minnesota Vikings, where he teamed up with Cris Carter to create one of the most dynamic offenses ever. After his stint with the Vikings, Moss went to the New England Patriots in search of his first Super Bowl.

During the regular season, the Patriots went undefeated. However, the team fell short to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl that year, giving the team their only loss of the season. Moss had one of the greatest careers of any wide receiver in history. He led the league in receiving touchdowns five different times during his career and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Teams: Detroit Lions

Fans were convinced that Calvin Johnson was built in a special lab to mold him into an NFL player. His height, jumping ability, and speed are all reasons why he was given the nickname Megatron. During his career, Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards twice and was a First-Team All-Pro three seasons. He cut his career short because of injuries, which shocked fans at the time of the announcement.

• Teams: Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens

Before Sharpe, tight ends were used primarily as blockers only. But he created the modern tight-end position. Sharpe created great chemistry with John Elway and helped the position evolve into one where the players could catch touchdowns and be playmakers.

Sharpe won three Super Bowls in his career, two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. Since his retirement, Sharpe has become a popular voice on different morning sports talk shows.

• Teams: Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce has become the most trusted playmaker for Patrick Mahomes during their time together with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he's listed as a tight end, Kelce has the speed and skills most receivers do.

The reason he's able to play tight end is because his size is useful for blocking whenever he's not running routes. Kelce's won three Super Bowls during his career so far and has become one of the most dominant forces in the league.

• Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are another duo that had a great connection during their time together. Gronkowski used his height and strength to muscle his way to touchdowns and countless tight-end records. Gronkowski still holds the record for most touchdowns in a season by a tight end.

He won four Super Bowls and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to ever run onto the field. Fans also adore Gronkowski's fun-loving personality, something he shows during the NFL season on Fox.

• Teams: Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis dominated the game from the linebacker position unlike any other player. During his career, he won two Super Bowls with the Baltimore Ravens. He helped the team establish the persona of mean and nasty on the defensive side of the ball.

Lewis was known for his hard hits and willingness to run after the quarterback on every play. Since his retirement, Lewis can be seen on ESPN during the NFL season offering in-depth insight.

• Teams: St. Louis/ Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald tormented quarterbacks around the league until his retirement in 2024. Coming out of college, fans knew Donald was going to be a force on the inside. During his career, he won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Super Bowl, and was labeled the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Fans are waiting to see what Donald does in the future. Since he already lives in Los Angeles, transitioning to a television role seems like the natural next step for the former player.

• Teams: New York Giants

Taylor led the New York Giants defense in the 1980s and 90s. He became known for his all out effort and willingness to battle through every play to get to the opposing quarterback. He was so dominant that he ended up winning the MVP in 1986

That's something few defensive players have ever done in the NFL. He helped the Giants win two Super Bowls during his career. Taylor is unquestionably one of the greatest players on the defensive side of the ball.

• Teams: Memphis Showboats, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers

Getting to the quarterback with ease is what Reggie White did during his career. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice in his career, once with the Green Bay Packers and once with the Philadelphia Eagles.

White holds the record for consecutive seasons with 15 or more sacks, which he did five straight years. Players on the defensive line try to mold their game after White because of the success he had in making plays.

• Teams: Washington, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints

Having an elite cornerback in the NFL allows defensive lineups to do things most teams can't. Champ Bailey didn't allow opposing teams to have easy targets for their best wide receiver when they played against him. He holds the NFL record for most passes defended with 203.

He was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, another record for cornerbacks. While Bailey couldn't ever win a Super Bowl, he did everything he could to make it happen with his teams.