NFL
Top 5 NFL Offensive Linemen Ever + Fan Rankings
Create your own all-time rankings of the top 5 greatest Offensive Linemen in NFL history from Anthony Munoz to Larry Allen to Jim Otto
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As NFL fans celebrate Hall of Fame OL Bruce Matthews on his 61st birthday, it’s a great time to look at the top 5 greatest Offensive Linemen ever with him near the top of the list.
Despite the lack of credit that these players often receive, Offensive Linemen are the backbone of any team’s scoring attack. They are usually some of the toughest, most durable players on any squad, which is necessary due to the physically demanding nature of the position. Football fans may not pay much attention to the Offensive Line’s contributions because of the flashy nature of other players, but very few NFL teams have succeeded without quality line play.
Offensive Linemen are tasked with protecting their Quarterback to the ends of the Earth, as the signal-caller is usually the most important player on the team. They must create a pocket that the QB can safely maneuver within and have time to read the field and connect with open receivers. It is also their job to make sure Defensive players don’t get to hit their Quarterback, whether that be through sound blocking or physical punishment.
Additionally, Offensive Linemen are expected to open up running lanes for their Running Backs to utilize. A dominant ground game allows a team to win the time of possession battle, which can shift the advantage in a game. Offensive Lines work as a unit on complex blocking schemes that both protect their Quarterback, but also get their Running Backs into the second level of the defense.
This list has some of the greatest Offensive Linemen of all time from many different eras of football, whether it be the run-heavy style of the 1960s and 1970s or the more modernized passing game of the 2000s. Each player was dominant in his own way, but all of them were invaluable to their offensive units. Honorable mention includes: Forrest Gregg, John Hannah, Randall McDaniel, Will Shields, Willie Roaf.
Here are the top 5 greatest NFL Offensive Linemen of all time. Create your own rankings below!
– 11x Pro Bowl | 9x All-Pro 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
– 1980 PFWA All-Rookie Team | 1980s NFL All-Decade
– 75th & 100th Anniversary Teams | HOF Class of 1998
Drafted third overall in 1980, OT Anthony Munoz quickly acclimated to the NFL, using his huge frame and stunning athleticism to physically dominate D-Linemen and open up rushing holes. Munoz was one of the most consistent players in NFL history, providing high-level play for over a decade.
Anthony Munoz's NFL OT records:
– All-Pro 1st Teams (9)
– Career REC (7)
– Season REC TD (2)
– Games (7) of 1+ REC
– Retired with most Pro Bowls (11)
– T-most career REC TD (4) & Total TD (4)pic.twitter.com/ndepauRurz— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 30, 2022
– 14x Pro Bowl | 7x All-Pro 1st Team, 2x 2nd Team
– 1983 PFWA All-Rookie Team | 1990s NFL All-Decade
– NFL 100 All-Time Team | #74 retired by Titans/Oilers
One of the most dependable Linemen ever, Bruce Matthews reliably produced All-Pro level seasons for nearly two decades, only missing time during one season. Matthews’ ability to wreak havoc on defenses in the passing and running game endeared him to Houston and Tennessee fans forever.
Bruce Matthews' NFL records:
– Pro Bowls (14) by an OL
– GS (293) for 1 team
– All-Pro 1st Teams (7), Pro Bowls (14) & GP (296) by a #Titans playerpic.twitter.com/tT9bBepztL— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 8, 2022
– 11x Pro Bowl | 6x All-Pro 1st Team | Super Bowl 30 champ
– NFL 1990s/2000s All-Decade | 100th Anniversary Team
– Most DAL OL All-Pro 1st Team (6) | HOF Class of 2013
Perhaps the best player on the legendary Cowboys’ Offensive Lines of the 1990s, Larry Allen was a fearsome Lineman who defenses feared due to his intense physical play. Allen’s role in opening holes for Hall of Fame RB Emmitt Smith was instrumental in the Cowboys’ 1995 Super Bowl championship.
Larry Allen's #Cowboys OL records:
– All-Pro 1st Teams (6)
– Pro Bowls (10)
– Career GP (176) pic.twitter.com/ZZjgoq8191— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 8, 2022
– 3x Pro Bowl | 1970 All-Pro 1st Team, 1972 2nd Team
– NFL All-Time Team | 9x AFL All-Star | 1967 AFL Champ
– Most All-Pro 1st Team selections (10) by an OL
As the original great Offensive Lineman of the AFL and early NFL, Jim Otto laid the foundation for great O-Line play over 15 years in Oakland. Starting 210 consecutive games, Otto was one of the toughest players in NFL history.
Most All-Pro 1st Team selections by an OL in NFL history:
1. Jim Otto (10)
T2. Ron Mix & Anthony Munoz (9)
4. Jim Parker (8)
T5. Bruce Matthews, Bulldog Turner, John Hannah, & Randall McDaniel (7)https://t.co/uQmsSZ1qkM— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 7, 2022
– 11x Pro Bowl | 4x All-Pro 1st Team, 5x 2nd Team
– Super Bowl 35 Champ | 2000s NFL All-Decade
– NFL 100 All-Time Team | T-most Pro Bowls (11) by an OT
Standing at 6’9″, 345 pounds, Jonathan Ogden brought a unique style to the Offensive Line. He used sheer physical dominance and strength to overpower smaller Defensive Linemen and open up running lanes while protecting his Quarterback.
Jonathan Ogden's HOF resume:
– 11x Pro Bowl
– 4x All-Pro 1st Team, 5x 2nd Team
– Super Bowl 35 Champ
– 2000s NFL All-Decade
– NFL100 All-Time Team
– T-most Pro Bowls (11) by an OT in NFL history
pic.twitter.com/1tMNvMs3PE— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 8, 2022
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