Latest news with #AllQuarterCentury
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL Quarter Century: Tom Brady, Aaron Donald, Randy Moss headline the all-2000s team
The NFL is entering its 2025 season, which means we're a quarter of the way through this century of football. All week long, Yahoo Sports Senior NFL Writer Frank Schwab will dive into the past 25 years in the league. In the first NFL Draft of the last quarter century, the first overall pick was Courtney Brown. A little later, toward the end of the sixth round, nobody knew the history of the league would change when Tom Brady was picked 199th overall. Spoiler alert: Brady is the quarterback and captain of our NFL's All-Quarter Century team, and some of Brady's teammates made the list as well. But a team of the best players from the past 25 years has plenty of memorable megastars, and some all-time great players who couldn't even make the starting lineup. The competition for spots was fierce. Here is our NFL All-Quarter Century team, with only a player's seasons from 2000-2024 considered. Offense Defense Special teams OFFENSE Quarterback: Tom Brady There have been other great quarterbacks in this era. Peyton Manning won five MVPs, Aaron Rodgers won four, Patrick Mahomes hasn't lost in the playoffs before overtime of the AFC championship game, and don't forget about Drew Brees either. But come on. This is an easy one. Biggest snubs: Manning, Rodgers, Mahomes, Brees Nobody defined the quarterback position this century — and probably the entire NFL — as much as Tom Brady. (Photo by) (Maddie Meyer via Getty Images) Running backs: LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson Tomlinson had no holes in his game. He won two rushing titles, was so good at the goal line he scored 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006 (his 31 total TDs is the NFL record) and also caught 100 passes one season. There have been other great running backs, but few had this diverse of a skill set. Peterson wasn't an easy call. There are plenty of great backs over the last 25 years. Frank Gore has the most yards in that span. Derrick Henry has more rushing yards per game than Peterson. Christian McCaffrey is a better all-around player. But Peterson's incredible prime won out. He's the last non-quarterback to win MVP, and might hold that title for a long time. Biggest snubs: Henry, Gore, McCaffrey, Marshawn Lynch, Clinton Portis Wide receivers: Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson, Terrell Owens Even though we can't count Moss' historic 1998 rookie season in this exercise, it was still no question. Moss' historic 2007 season did happen in this period, and it's Randy Moss. Not much more needs to be said. Johnson was the receiver you build on "Madden." His all-time great nickname of "Megatron" was well earned, and his 86.1 yards per game is tops in the last 25 years among receivers who have played at least 100 games. He retired early, but he was an unstoppable force for his nine seasons. Here's where it gets hard. How do you leave Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase off this team? Owens was divisive but he had eight 1,000-yard seasons in a nine-year stretch, and at age 37, he put up 983 yards in what would be his final NFL season. His five first-team All-Pro nods in the last 25 years are tied for the most among all receivers, along with Tyreek Hill. It's very, very close but T.O. gets the last spot. Biggest snubs: Fitzgerald, Brown, Jones, Jefferson, Chase, Hill Tight end: Rob Gronkowski Travis Kelce has some incredible numbers and plenty of team success, but nobody in NFL history can match Gronkowski's dual domination as a pass catcher and a blocker. Coming out of retirement to play a big role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2020 Super Bowl title run wasn't necessary for his legacy, but it finished the GOAT argument. Biggest snubs: Kelce, Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, George Kittle, Jason Witten Offensive tackles: Trent Williams, Walter Jones Williams made 11 straight Pro Bowls from 2012-23, and might still be the NFL's best left tackle as he enters his age-37 season. Joe Thomas and his six first-team All-Pro appearances had a great argument for the second tackle spot. Jones barely edged out Thomas due to his sheer physical domination, a 325-pounder who was an incredible athlete and buried defenders week after week. Biggest snubs: Thomas, Jason Peters, Jonathan Ogden, Tyron Smith, Lane Johnson, Orlando Pace Guards: Zack Martin, Alan Faneca Martin had the most All-Pro appearances (seven) among all offensive linemen the past 25 years. A consistent star for the Dallas Cowboys from Day 1 (he was first-team All-Pro as a rookie and remarkably finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race), he helped raise the value of guards across the league. From 2001-08, Faneca was a first-team All-Pro six times and second-team twice. He made nine straight Pro Bowls from 2001-09, was on the all-decade team of the 2000s and was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Biggest snubs: Marshal Yanda, Steve Hutchinson, Quenton Nelson Center: Jason Kelce Over the last 25 years, Kelce has been a first-team All-Pro six times. No other center made it more than twice. It's fair to wonder if Kelce's media presence played a small role in that, but Kelce's greatness is undeniable. Biggest snubs: Maurkice Pouncey, Nick Mangold, Kevin Mawae DEFENSE Defensive linemen: Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Warren Sapp Donald is perhaps the easiest pick on the entire team. Anyone arguing against Donald on this team is simply wrong. Watt was another easy pick. Watt, Donald and Lawrence Taylor are the only three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners in NFL history. At his peak, Watt could singlehandedly take over a game. Sapp is tough because he had three Pro Bowls and his only NFL Defensive Player of the Year award came before 2000, which is the time frame considered. But Sapp was still a three-time All-Pro after 2000 and was a key for a 2002 Buccaneers defense that is among the best ever. And he was more dominant than any other candidates for the final spot. Biggest snubs: Geno Atkins, Cameron Heyward, Calais Campbell, Kevin Williams, Ndamukong Suh Ring him again: Aaron Donald is one of the easiest choices for our NFL All-Quarter Century team. (Photo by) (Rob Carr via Getty Images) Edge rushers: Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt There are 22 players with 100 sacks over the last 25 years. All but two played at least 151 games. Garrett did it in 117 games, the fewest on the list. Garrett is working on a streak of seven straight seasons with at least 10 sacks. Julius Peppers has 20.5 more sacks than anyone else over the last 25 years (he had 159.5), but it took him 266 games. Watt has 108 in 121 games. He has also finished top four in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting five times in the past six seasons, winning once. His dominance made up for his relative lack of games. Biggest snubs: Peppers, Von Miller, Terrell Suggs, DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Jason Taylor Linebackers: Ray Lewis, Luke Kuechly Lewis is the only off-ball linebacker to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice in the last 25 years, and his 2000 season (with an all-time great Ravens defense) is historic. The Super Bowl XXXV MVP and 12-time Pro Bowler was an easy pick. Since 2005, one linebacker has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year. It was Kuechly in 2013. Concussions ended his career after just eight seasons, but he was first-team All-Pro in five of those seasons. The only time he wasn't first- or second-team All-Pro, he won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Biggest snubs: Patrick Willis, Bobby Wagner, NaVorro Bowman, Derrick Brooks, Brian Urlacher Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson "Revis Island" was a thing; opposing teams didn't bother throwing to Revis' side of the field in his prime. He was unbelievable in his first stint with the Jets, and as a topper he joined the Patriots for a single season in 2014 and was All-Pro and helped New England win a Super Bowl. Bailey made 12 Pro Bowls, three more than any other cornerback in NFL history. In his peak season of 2006 he had 10 interceptions even though teams rarely threw to his side. Woodson was a great cornerback who reinvented himself late in his career with Green Bay and became a versatile weapon from the secondary, and his overall disruptive abilities helped him win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. Biggest snubs: Ronde Barber, Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, Jalen Ramsey Teams rarely threw at Darrelle Revis, even when their best wide receiver was over there. (Photo by Rich Kane/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Safeties: Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu Bill Belichick doesn't give expansive answers on much, but all you have to do is ask him about Ed Reed, who he'll call the greatest free safety ever. Ray Lewis got more attention, but it's possible Reed was the best player on those great Ravens defenses. There aren't many safeties in NFL history who had a more ridiculous highlight reel than Polamalu. He was explosive, a tremendous hitter, once had seven interceptions in a season and was an NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. Biggest snubs: Brian Dawkins, Earl Thomas, John Lynch SPECIAL TEAMS K: Justin Tucker Tucker's ugly alleged transgressions off the field shouldn't be ignored. At the same time, his results on the field are hard to deny. He has the most Pro Bowls (seven) and All-Pro nods (five) among all kickers over the last 25 years. His 89.1% success rate on field goals is the best of this era among any kicker with at least 100 attempts. And his 66-yard field goal to beat the Detroit Lions is still the longest in NFL history. Adam Vinatieri had more high-profile, game-winning kicks, but Tucker was the best. Biggest snubs: Vinatieri, David Akers P: Shane Lechler Lechler was the all-decade punter for the 2000s and 2010s, making him an easy pick. Lechler, a six-time All-Pro, has a reasonable case to be the second punter inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Biggest snubs: Johnny Hekker KR: Devin Hester Putting anyone as a snub at this position would be disingenuous. There's no question that Hester was the greatest returner of the last 25 years. He has all the records and became the first primary returner to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was one of the most electrifying players of the era. Biggest snubs: None
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Legends Shine on ESPN's All-Quarter Century NFL Team
Eagles Legends Shine on ESPN's All-Quarter Century NFL Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. ESPN just dropped their All-Quarter Century NFL team, and Eagles fans have plenty to celebrate. Four Philadelphia legends made the cut for this elite 53-man roster spanning 2000–2024, proving once again that the Birds have consistently produced some of the league's most dominant players. Advertisement Jason Kelce was the obvious choice at center, and honestly, it wasn't even close. His six first-team All-Pro selections since 2000 are more than double what any other center achieved during that span. The man anchored the Super Bowl LII championship team and basically invented the tush push that every team now tries to copy. ESPN called picking him 'fairly straightforward,' which tells you everything about how dominant Kelce was at his position. His 193 career starts and that legendary Super Bowl speech cemented his place in Eagles lore forever. Lane Johnson earned his spot as one of the two right tackles selected, leading all players at his position with six Pro Bowl selections. The guy has been absolutely elite over the past few seasons — in 2023, he led all tackles in run block win rate while ranking ninth in pass blocking. Last season, he was fifth among tackles in both categories. Two Super Bowl wins and 158 career starts later, Johnson has proven he's one of the most reliable and dominant tackles of his generation. Brian Dawkins brought that signature Eagles intensity to the safety position, and his numbers are just ridiculous. During his time contributing to this 25-year span, Weapon X racked up 22.5 sacks, 29 forced fumbles and 25 interceptions. Among defensive backs since 2000, he's second in forced fumbles and third in sacks — numbers that show just how much chaos he created every Sunday. When Dawkins was patrolling the secondary from 2000–2008, the Eagles defense ranked third in the league in EPA allowed per dropback. The man was a game-changer in every sense of the word. Then there's Terrell Owens, whose brief but explosive Eagles tenure earned him recognition among the six wide receivers selected. T.O.'s overall numbers during the evaluation period are staggering: 12,627 receiving yards and 123 touchdowns across his career. He led the league in receiving touchdowns three times and had three second-place finishes in advanced metrics. But for Eagles fans, it's all about that Super Bowl XXXIX performance — 122 yards just seven weeks after breaking his leg. ESPN specifically mentioned that game when explaining why Owens made the team, noting he would 'play through any injury.' His 80.3 receiving yards per game ranks sixth among receivers with at least 50 games since 2000. Advertisement Another Eagles connection on the wide receiver list is Julio Jones, who had a brief stint in Philadelphia during the 2023 season. While his Eagles tenure was short and relatively quiet — coming at the tail end of his illustrious career — Jones absolutely deserved his spot on this All-Quarter Century team based on his dominant prime years. ESPN noted that when looking at the three best receiving seasons by yards, no receiver matched Jones' total of 5,141 yards — and he topped the list for five best seasons and seven best seasons too. Seeing these Eagles legends mentioned alongside Tom Brady, Aaron Donald and Ray Lewis validates what Eagles fans have always known in Philadelphia — this franchise knows how to develop elite talent. Related: Eagles Young Cornerback Remains Big Winner of Offseason Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
North Carolina Reacts to Bill Belichick Announcement
North Carolina Reacts to Bill Belichick Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's a lot of excitement surrounding the North Carolina Tar Heels, as head coach Bill Belichick is looking to come in and improve the program after it went 6-7 last year. He has not won a bowl game since 2019. Advertisement The expectations are high considering that during his time in the NFL, Belichick established himself as one of the greatest coaches in league history. Further, on Wednesday, he was named to ESPN's "NFL All Quarter Century team." It's certainly an impressive honor as the list comprises a total of 53 players and four coaches, all selected based on their production since 2000. It even drew a reaction from North Carolina, which commemorated the achievement with its own X post, captioned, "Congratulations to @Belichick_B on being selected as Head Coach of the @espn NFL All Quarter Century Team!" It's unsurprising to see Belichick chosen to represent the head coach spot, as he dominated in his 24 years with the New England Patriots (2000-2023), winning AP Coach of the Year three times. Advertisement During that time, he accumulated a 266-121 regular season record, went 30-12 in playoff matchups and helped guide the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six of them, which is the most for a head coach in NFL history. It also won't be the last time Belichick is recognized for his impact in the NFL, as he's eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, where he is likely to be a first-ballot selection. North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick.© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Now, it will remain to be seen if he can come in and make an immediate impact for North Carolina, as he and the Tar Heels are tied for the seventh-best odds (+3000) to win the ACC in 2025. Advertisement Related: Tennessee Reacts To Exciting Peyton Manning News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
ESPN's quarter century all-star team has a giant-sized mystery.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. No two NFL stars are the same though many share recognizable qualities and common ideas. It doesn't matter if they play for the New York Giants or someone else. All want to get paid. All hope they'll one day be remembered among the greats when their playing days are over. The 'alphas' often think about their legacy. How will they be remembered? Have they set their family up for financial success? How many more years of pain can they squeeze out of those weary and battered bodies? Michael Strahan, New York Giants (Photo by) Michael Strahan, New York Giants (Photo by) Photo byThose are the questions they ask themselves. That being said, you know what? Come to think of it, these guys may be more alike in their makeup than most may have thought. Must read: Abdul Carter Headlines a List of Giants Postseason Award Contenders They won't admit it, but they seek the approval and respect of their peers. And, they work their hind parts off for that respect because if their peers, opponents, and teammates respect them that's truly all that matters. All of that has been said to say this. It's easy to wonder what some of the Giants greats of the past quarter century think about this ESPN all-star team. The Giants are snubbed from ESPN's All Quarter Century Team (minus a practice team addition) It's hard to argue with the brilliance and creativity. ESPN dropped some quality content as Aaron Schatz and Seth Wilder cooked up one heck of a write-up in their NFL All Quarter Century team. There's only one problem. There are no New York Giants on the roster! That is, unless you include Michael Strahan's mention as a practice squad member. Okay, so it's been a rough go these past few seasons with Brian Daboll at the helm despite the postseason appearance his team produced in his first season as head coach. Truth be told, we can probably chalk that up to some bad moves by Joe Schoen and the front office. Must read: Kayvon Thibodeaux's Long-Held Promise Haunts in a Crucial Year The Giants can't get one guy on the list though? Not one? Sure, this team has been bad or mediocre more often than they have impressed us over the past quarter century, but this team has had some talent. What about Michael Strahan? Can we at least bump him up to the active roster? What about Eli Manning? He's 2-0 vs. the QB1, Tom Brady, on the Super Bowl stage. No one wants Eli on the squad, huh? Well, goodness gracious. You guys are a tough crowd and tough to please. Must read: A Giants Backup Role Might Not Fit Jaxson Dart's Grand Vision Here's something of note. Bill Belichick was named the team's head coach. Do we give the G-Men a nod because he was once Big Blue's defensive coordinator? No? You guys aren't rolling with that either, huh? Oh well... Maybe Abdul Carter and Malik Nabers can fight their way onto the 2025 all-star team. It will take another 25 years to get there, but at this point, Giants fans and the media have to hope for something.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wade Phillips reacts to making ESPN's All Quarter Century team as Defensive Coordinator
Wade Phillips reacts to making ESPN's All Quarter Century team as Defensive Coordinator ESPN released its All Quarter Century team this week with a 53-man roster of players, plus key coaching staff members. Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder picked the team, and former Denver Broncos coach Wade Phillips got the nod at defensive coordinator. "[H]e took the Broncos to No. 1 in defensive DVOA in both 2015 and 2016, with a Super Bowl championship," Schatz wrote of the team's former coordinator. Phillips, 77, reacted to the selection on his Twitter/X page. "So Honored to be picked as ESPN All Quarter Century Defensive Coordinator," Phillips tweeted. "Work your whole life and these kind of things make it worthwhile. Can't thank ESPN enough for including assistant coaches!Great players make the difference and I was lucky enough to coach so many." Congrats to Phillips on the well-deserved honor. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
