Intelligence · Temporal Rankings

Who Was #1?

The best NFL performers for every season 1943–2025, era-adjusted across all positions. Compare dominant eras, trace careers, and settle "who was the best player in [year]" debates.

Rankings use within-position-group percentile so a 99th-pct QB season is compared equally to a 99th-pct WR season.

Most Seasons at #1

RBBarry Sanders5× #1(1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997)RBEric Dickerson4× #1(1983, 1984, 1986, 1988)RBEmmitt Smith3× #1(1992, 1993, 1995)ILZach Thomas3× #1(2003, 2004, 2005)TEDon Hutson2× #1(1943, 1944)FBJim Brown2× #1(1958, 1959)QBSonny Jurgensen2× #1(1961, 1967)QBNorm Van Brocklin1× #1(1951)

2025 Season Leaders

Blake Cashman

LB · Tackles

143 in 13G

Jordyn Brooks

LB · Tackles

180 in 17G

Puka Nacua

WR · Receiving Yards

1715 in 16G

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

WR · Receiving Yards

1793 in 17G

Jack Campbell

LB · Tackles

174 in 17G

Cedric Gray

LB · Tackles

161 in 16G

Devin White

Browse by Season

2025 · 15 players with qualifying seasons

1LB

Blake Cashman

143 Tackles in 13G#3 all-time at position

100%

position pct.

2LB

Jordyn Brooks

180 Tackles in 17G#5 all-time at position

100%

position pct.

3WR

Puka Nacua

1715 Receiving Yards in 16G

100%

position pct.

4WR

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

1793 Receiving Yards in 17G

100%

position pct.

5LB

Jack Campbell

174 Tackles in 17G

100%

position pct.

6LB

Cedric Gray

161 Tackles in 16G

100%

position pct.

7LB

Devin White

169 Tackles in 17G

100%

position pct.

8DE

Danielle Hunter

15 Sacks in 16G

99%

position pct.

9MLB

Bobby Wagner

158 Tackles in 17G

99%

position pct.

10LB

Carson Schwesinger

147 Tackles in 16G

99%

position pct.

11FS

Kevin Byard

7 Interceptions in 17G

99%

position pct.

12LB

Jamien Sherwood

151 Tackles in 17G

99%

position pct.

13LB

Quay Walker

124 Tackles in 14G

99%

position pct.

14LB

Nick Bolton

150 Tackles in 17G

98%

position pct.

15TE

Trey McBride

1239 Receiving Yards (TE) in 17G

98%

position pct.