r/AskAboutNFL • u/Ozzie-111 • 4d ago
If you could magically place one historic NFL legend in today’s game, fully in their prime, who breaks the league the most?
I am talking complete chaos. Does Randy Moss put up 2,500 yards in today’s pass heavy era? Does Lawrence Taylor get 30 sacks, or does he just get disqualified by the modern rules in the first quarter?Who ruins the modern NFL blueprint the fastest? Let’s settle this.
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u/Billy_Bonney_ 4d ago
Prime Jerry Rice with today's gloves and how today's rules? It's either he has 200 yards per game or 200 yards a game in dpi calls. Maybe both.
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u/ToddH2O 4d ago
past his prime jerry would be pretty damn good too
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u/Glittering_Year2045 4d ago
40 year old Jerry had 1,211 receiving yards in 2002. So insane to think about.
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u/ToddH2O 4d ago
He was also faster than his "reported" 4.71 40 time.
I was fortunate to get to see him in his prime, he was not "slow."
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u/Glittering_Year2045 3d ago
Me too. Jerry routinely ran away from defenders. I have watched almost every Niners game since 1987, starting with the playoff game in January 1987 when they got crushed by the Giants and Joe went out in an ambulance. For some reason, I still fell in love with the Niners lol.
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u/Glittering_Year2045 3d ago
The 4.71 was either bad reporting or was one of his slower runs during scouting. He was also timed at 4.5 seconds during the pre-draft process. However, he truly looked like a 4.3 guy on the field, or maybe it was his effective speed fooling us into thinking his top speed was faster than it was. Jerry Rice processed plays and reacted so quickly that it effectively made him play at a faster speed than guys with better 40 times. You see this today with players like Puka Nacua and Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who both have unimpressive 40 times. This video does a good job of explaining it at the 10 minute 18 second mark.
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u/TheMikeyMac13 3d ago
This is just a theory, but Jerry ran a sand hill quite a lot, and he was a fitness nut. So his speed in pads was the same as his speed in running shorts. His speed in the fourth quarter was the same as his speed in the first quarter.
So my suspicion is Jerry Rice became as fast or faster than others when they put on the pads and the helmet, and more so when they got tired.
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u/Glittering_Year2045 3d ago
I think that's a part of it too, but I think there is something to the theory that guys like Rice, Nacua, and Smith-Njigba have that mental processing and reaction time edge that makes them functionally faster. It's like that scene from The Matrix. They're seeing the game faster than other players.
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u/noladutch 3d ago
that is game speed. players that can go from top speed to their break without dropping much speed are king. that is what makes great player great.
modern players like jsn and olave run great routes yes but the smooth speed is what sets them apart.
if you have not watch some Chris olave that dude is a route master he is the next big time wr if the saints can figure out the rest of the equation
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u/GShumway123 3d ago
Scored a Super Bowl TD in three different decades. I doubt that will ever happen again.
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u/Manymarbles 3d ago
Oh boy. We are getting Jerry slander now as todays athletes are better then they were in the 80s, 90s, or 00's when Rice was in his 40s putting up 1000 yard seasons lol
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u/bonzai76 3d ago
The irony of all these comments is that Jerry slid in the draft to the niners because he wasn’t fast enough, wasn’t athletic enough, blah blah blah……
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u/Manymarbles 3d ago
All I know is that 20 years from now these kids will be arguing with new kids about the current generation and it will be funny
I dont remember saying this stuff about prior generations when i was younger
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u/bonzai76 3d ago
Yeah me either. When people brought up older guys, it wasn’t a “my current guy is better” it was more of “I really wanna learn more about this player”. I watched a lot of NFL films - just as much as I did the Sunday games. The Sabols were awesome.
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u/secretlyforeign 3d ago
He was so good at changing his speed during routes that he slowed down his combine 40 so he would drop to a team with Joe Montana.
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u/ISeeTheFnords 3d ago
A lot of that was true. They just didn't account for Jerry being perhaps the hardest-working player to ever play the game.
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u/burywmore 3d ago
There is almost no difference in the speed of the players from generations past to present. If Bob Hayes was transported from 1965 to right now he would be the fastest player in the league, and the fastest player anyone had ever seen.
Yeah, players have gotten much bigger than in the past, but they have not gotten faster. Jerry Rice would thrive in this league at least as well as he did in his prime.
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u/JohnnyC300 4d ago
Gale Sayers. In today's FAR less physical defensive environment, I think he's a or the GOAT at RB. His injuries would be helped with today's physio and sport science and sports medicine. His ability to run and catch and return at an extremely high level would absolutely fit into todays game like a glove. He's a modern RB who was stuck in the wrong era.
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u/vkolp 4d ago
Randy Moss would be a cheat code
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u/This-Drink6561 3d ago
Like Moss would excel in any era but wouldn’t it be harder nowadays with safeties playing deep? I probably have no clue what I’m talking about. I love Moss. He was a cheat code in his own time.
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u/4eyedbuzzard 4d ago
The reality? Nobody could break the league as it is today. The level in ability, fitness, and training has narrowed the difference between the elite and even the backups, and the rules are not conducive to how many played years ago. Jim Brown and Motley would still be great running backs, Butkus would still be a monster in the middle, LT would still be everywhere. But nobody is going to "break the league".
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u/WaltzLeft6749 3d ago
I agree for the most part. I think the quality of play across the board for every position except QB is higher than it was even 15 years ago. And that the gap between an all-pro and a JAG is getting narrower.
From a team building perspective I can see the advantages coming from coaching and program building more than finding marginally better players in the future.
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u/Badger-fan52 4d ago
Jim Brown - Greatest running back ever for the years he played.
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u/OlDirtyTriple 4d ago
He wouldn't dominate in the 1980s let alone the 2020s.
He played against 190 pound linebackers and 220 pound ends that ran a 5.4 40 and worked in car dealerships during the off-season.
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u/theunpossibledream 3d ago
With modern training, he’d be a bigger, faster, more athletic Derrick Henry. And we all know how he struggles.
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u/OlDirtyTriple 3d ago
Nah.
His tendency to beat women would not go overlooked. With modern training comes modern standards of behavior for off field conduct.
Jim Brown was a sack of shit and barely registers over OJ in his personal ethics.
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u/theunpossibledream 3d ago
If you can change the basic argument, so can I. So, in my suddenly made-up parameters, with modern training comes modern DV awareness, therapy, and anger management counselling, which, being a smarter than average dude, he willingly partakes of in order to address and change this behavior.
Back to the field: he had size and speed, and was one of the best athletes to ever play in the NFL. Not his fault he played against relative bums.
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u/OlDirtyTriple 3d ago
In this hypothetical he'd be the same guy in 2026 as he was in the 70s when he dated teenage girls and beat and strangled them.
It's a person, not a racehorse. The man cannot be rehabilitated. Jim Brown doesn't deserve the fawning hero worship, especially in a world where Walter Payton exists. He was objectively better in every way on and off the field.
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u/theunpossibledream 3d ago
Well, I say in this hypothetical, he'd be reformed. Either way, I was just answering the original question of who would excel in today's NFL, on the field, playing the game of football. If D Henry does, Brown would.
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u/tonesloe 4d ago
Dan Marino. Quick release, pin point accuracy, better rules to help his receivers.
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u/SeraphBlack19 3d ago
Absolutely no ability to scramble or avoid sacks from today's superior athletes. He'd be a flat footed statue that got destroyed before his quick release mattered
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u/RobZagnut2 7h ago
Ever watch a guy named Brady who was the slowest QB ever. Marino had the quickest release I’ve ever seen.
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u/SeraphBlack19 6h ago
Brady had more ability to move than Marino. Marino had 87 rushing yards, Brady had 1100. Even accounting for how the game changed in the latter half of Bradys career, that speaks to the difference in mobility. And it's not just about rushing, just anyone who watched both saw that Brady moved in the pocket and could extend plays much better than Marino who really relied on that quick release. But his quick release would also be neutered by today's defenses. He'd need seasons of study and practice to get used to the way defensive schemes disguise blitzes and rushes and don't just send 4 lineman up the field with far less disguised blitzes from lbs and dbs.
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u/RobZagnut2 3d ago
Came here to say Marino.
And Barry Sanders and Gaye Sayers. Would be fun to see these three in action in modern offenses with quality WR all around them and rules that help the offense and make the game more wide open.
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u/Ms_Anne-Thrope 3d ago
100% And you cant even take a swipe at him without incurring a 15 yarder. He would eat up todays defenses.
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u/moccasins_hockey_fan 3d ago
And Joe Montana. Marino and Montana would be phenomenal in todays game
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u/PerformanceOver8822 4d ago
A better question is what cosch from the past could adapt to todays game ?
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u/Piotr-Rasputin 3d ago
As a Giant fan Joe Gibbs comes to mind as the master of the halftime adjustment. Parcells became a better coach due to those chess matches
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u/azibuck 4d ago
Butkus. A bigger, meaner Luke Kuechly.
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u/droopyvato 4d ago
The problem is the meaner part. Even Ray Lewis would struggle with todays rules.
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u/Proper-Writing 3d ago
Even modern defensive players can't play defense with today's rules. Phantom flags come out on (what feels like) every play
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u/droopyvato 3d ago
True but its not as common. How often do you see defensive players aiming for helmet to helmet hits. How often do you see players pick up an opponent and slam them into the ground. These plays still happen but they are not as frequent in todays game as they were years ago.
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u/MoustacheApocalypse 4d ago
Maybe some decency bias because he recently passed away, but I think Ditka would have been hard to handle if people were throwing him the ball as often as Gronk or Gonzales.
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u/llamapapa13 4d ago
Bo Jackson
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u/DistantKarma 4d ago
I'm not even sure Bo got to be in his prime in the NFL before that hip injury.
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u/Rockhound665 4d ago
Why wouldn't he be? He had played 38 NFL games at the time of his injury. That's 2 1/2 seasons worth and he never played a full season.
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u/DefiantAd3269 4d ago
Barry Sanders.
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u/DetroitRedd 3d ago edited 11h ago
Barry Sanders retired because Bobby Ross wanted a fullback. At least that’s what his dad alluded to. Barry was made for offenses of today.
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u/ToddH2O 4d ago
Deacon Jones
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u/Rogue-Architect 4d ago
He wouldn't get the head slap and his size advantage has been negated.
There is a world where Deacon Jones looks absolutely pedestrian in todays game.
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u/ToddH2O 4d ago
No he wouldnt get the head slap. He's also have grown up in this different era and be much fitter and bigger.
I'd want to see what a beast he'd be. My bet is he'd be a monster. I'd love to find out.
I'd also like to see Otto Graham and Sonny Jurgensen
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u/Rogue-Architect 4d ago
He would be stronger and slightly faster but he was a freak compared to people back then where in today’s NFL, he wouldn’t stand out physically. Pair that with his best and extremely dirty move being disallowed and things are falling apart for him. I didn’t realize he was still a part of the no hands oline years as another commenter noted.
Yeah, there is a world where he actually sucks.
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u/the_madclown 4d ago
Adrian Peterson
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u/Sure-Wind-6429 4d ago
Put AD on a competent team against these lighter boxes, oh lord he would feast
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u/This-Drink6561 3d ago
This was my first thought. Pair him up with a good receiving core and he’d be unstoppable.
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u/RandolphCarter2112 4d ago
Dan Fouts or Fran Tarkenton on offense.
Alan Page or Reggie White on defense.
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u/Apprehensive-Fig3223 4d ago
Jim Thorpe, 3 way player that could be a huge threat for fake kicks and punts
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u/dmainor49 4d ago
I would love to see if Don Hutson could run with today's game, He was a legend in his time. The Alabama Antelope led the league in receiving yards in seven separate seasons and led the league in receiving touchdowns in nine seasons. I don't know if he'd "break the League" but would like to see him give it a go.
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u/mikemac412 4d ago
The #1 answer has to be Barry Sanders. I can understand folks going with Sayers. Those are the only two I think the league of today hasn't totally run away from
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u/DrHarryWolper 4d ago
Kinda sad I'm not seeing any mention of Walter Payton. He'd be incredible with RPOs and as a receiving weapon in addition to his rushing.
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u/Careful-Sea-2109 4d ago
I think bruisers like Jerome Bettis, Steven Jackson, Mike Alstott, Brandon Jacobs, and Peyton Hillis would all break the current NFL. Also MJD. Most defenses don’t sport players who can tackle those guys, based on size. It’s one of the contributing factors to Derrick Henry’s success - no one matches the size. As we saw with Darnell Washington as well - guys making business decisions rather than touching him. Most backers are hybrids now at ~ 225 pounds. It just doesn’t stand up against 250 punching you in the mouth all day. This would require a good gap scheme OC most likely though. Most modern OC’s are too married to zone and shotgun. You actually see a lot of success now with teams reverting to downhill running behind extra blockers, which proves the point further that bruisers would dominate right now
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u/agentb00th 4d ago
Cunningham, Moon straight outta college and Gronk... just because it's prime Gronk and the middle of the field would be his alone; fucking Bowers + Okoye. Oh, and add Okoye too.
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u/Rampage-count 4d ago
The only players I’m willing to entertain an argument like that is Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders. Jerry Rice is the GOAT of football and it’s not even close. I am convinced that he would break the league today, hell he played 80's and 90’s and still managed to sneak 2 1k yard seasons in the 21st century. The #1 answer is Jerry Rice and it’s not even close.
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u/DeFronsac 4d ago
This would have to be tweaked. Jim Brown was absolutely ridiculous in his day, but without the training and nutrition of today from the time he was a teenager, he might not be that dominant now. Then again, he was actually a good size even for today at 6'2" and over 200 pounds.
Another part of it is being used to the way the game is played, both official rules and unofficial things. Jerry Rice is another. He would be great and almost definitely an elite receiver, but would he break the game?
Like, the idea that one of them would come in and just break the whole league is based on the idea that the competition now is worse than it was in their day. Guys are bigger, stronger and faster than they were in the past.
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u/ConstantCampaign2984 4d ago
I would submit Ronnie Lott. It’s between him and Ray Lewis, but I’m a niners fan.
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u/Ok_Alternative7120 4d ago
Reddit loves to shit on him, but Namath would be as likely to break the game as Marino. Both would have to adjust to far more complex defenses, but both had high, quick releases. Namath's career was short due to multiple knee injuries in an era when OL couldn't even block with their hands, receivers could be mauled at any point on their routes, etc. He was also more mobile than Marino despite the bad knee that derailed his career. It took the NFL completely overhauling the passing rules AND adding 2 games for anyone to match Namath's 4k season record. He accomplished the feat with a lesser talented team and receivers running 3 routes on top of all the other disadvantages.
That said, I don't think either breaks the league. Mahomes, Brady, Manning, etc are all phenomenal, modern era guys who still aren't necessarily league breaking. Mahomes is matching the statistical dominance of Marino and SB dominance of Brady, and people still regularly shit on him lol. There's too much talent in today's NFL to just completely break the game.
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u/LocalWoodpecker700 3d ago
I don't know if he breaks the league or not, but I would have loved to see Jim Brown play in today's game.
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u/Creeplurkthrowaway 3d ago
Jim Otto. Never missed a game, All-AFL every year of its existence, All-NFL twice. Played his whole career before offensive linemen could block with open hands.
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u/West_Abroad1817 3d ago
I'd love to see John Riggins in today's game. He would be plowing through defensive lines!!
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u/Flashy_Gap_3015 3d ago
Breaks the game?
I don’t know.
But would sure love to see what happened if Bo never had that freak injury.
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u/Witty-Yard4674 3d ago
It’s either Jerry Rice or Warren Moon. It’s a passing league and refs will throw the flag on the defense with ease. Rice was still putting up Numbers in his late 30’s. Imagine prime Rice in today’s league. As for Moon, so many QBs throw for 4000 yards or more nowadays. Not to mention Moons ability to run.
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u/Jargif10 3d ago
Nobody would break the game. Players are faster, stronger, and better than ever before in the modern game. The better question is how many guys could come back and still play to their level in this league?
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u/GShumway123 3d ago
It's going to be a QB or WR since those are the positions that have become relatively easier over decades with regards to safety rules, rules on what the defense can do (DBs with their hands), and advances in offensive play design. Plus, I a have to assume the physical advances in O-lines has given QBs more time to throw and added years to their career. Any HOF QB or WR from the 70s or 80s would thrive today, so I'm curious about whose numbers would be even better than the HOF career they had. Steve Largent comes to mind...heck of a long career inspite of being undersized, brutal hits, and no noteworthy QB (though Dave Krieg was better than people may remember). In today's game, Largent probably averages 20 receptions more per year with a 15-year career, which is scary considering he's one of only three players to hold the three major career receiving records simultaneously (yards, receptions, receiving TDs). Hutson and Rice are the other two.
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u/fennis_dembo_taken 3d ago
Roger Staubach. When he retired, he had the highest career passer rating in the history of the league. Was very accurate, a much better runner than his peers who were known as running QBs and was an amazing leader who could drag his team to success when he had to.
He'd be Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes combined if he played today.
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u/No-Understanding-912 3d ago
I don't know that any of the greats would "break" the game. I'm sure many of them would still be greats, but I don't know that any would be significantly better now than they were then. I say that because the level of all players has risen to the point that there won't be as a big of a gap between the greats and everyone else. Now, if you say the greats get time to train like they do today, sure they would get better performance, but would it be enough to make them "break" the game, nah.
The ones with the best argument would be receivers that played in a time when receivers didn't get as many passes in general. Quarterbacks that where very accurate and quick with their passes. Then guys that were great while on bad teams - Barry Sanders. This would also depend a lot on where they ended up playing.
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u/THEUncleWilly50 3d ago
Dan Marino. He threw for 5000 yards in an era where receivers were actively held up at gunpoint 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and QBs were planted in the ground after the whistle blew. He's throwing for 6000 regularly in today's era
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u/pinniped90 3d ago
Jerry with today's rules would be absolutely gross.
Any competent QB could feed him 2000+ yds a year.
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u/itsjustdirt000 3d ago
Adrian Peterson is my favorite player of all time, that being said Ladainian Tomlinson on the right team would crush today’s league
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u/Dull-Programmer-4645 3d ago
Legend has it that Jim Brown was never tackled for a loss. He's my choice.
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u/Additional_Drag_3870 3d ago
Of the QBs I’d say Warren Moon, RB I’d go with Payton ,WR would be Rice, their play style would plug and play right into today. I don’t think any defender could plug and play due to rule changes
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u/regassert6 3d ago
Dan Marino. I think people discount how easily guys like Marino or Fouts would slice up defenses today if they couldn't grab and hold WR all the way down the field.
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u/eaglefan316 3d ago edited 3d ago
Marshall Faulk
1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in his day in 1 season.
Edited - put wrong name orig.
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u/Candle-Different 4d ago
Jerry rice would probably put up insane numbers
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u/ihatereddit999976780 4d ago
OJ and he gets a gun he can use once a game
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u/PulpFicti0n 4d ago
You mean knife, right?
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u/Notorious_MSB 4d ago
Andre Rison or Anthony Carter in the slot under post -2004 rules would be amazing
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u/AlaskaGreenTDI 4d ago
I appreciate the Andre Rison choice and my mind immediately goes to Left Eye burning his house down.
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u/Austin_Shaggin_Power 4d ago
Dan Marino