In the whirlwind of today’s sports media, where sensational takes and viral clips reign supreme, some truly exceptional NFL talents fade into the background, often due to unfortunate circumstances, poor timing, or simply playing in the shadow of more prominent figures. These players, who might not boast overflowing trophy cases or widely recognized Hall of Fame plaques, made profoundly significant and often foundational contributions to the game, leaving an indelible mark that deserves far more recognition than it currently receives.
To earn a spot on this exclusive roster of the underappreciated, a player needed more than just raw talent. They had to navigate a minefield of bad timing, bad luck, or the misfortune of playing the wrong position for the wrong team at the wrong moment. Our focus is on individuals who contributed significantly to winning efforts, even if their stats were misunderstood, subpar, or simply non-existent on the traditional ledger. Whether they toiled for teams so dominant their individual accomplishments faded, or carried utterly dreadful franchises on their backs, these athletes redefined what it means to be truly underrated. It’s time to pull back the curtain and celebrate some of the forgotten heroes of the gridiron.
We’re steering clear of Hall of Famers, recent finalists, and active players destined for immortality, like a Joe Thomas. Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers are also out, as even the least heralded among them receive ample recognition. You won’t find any ’60s Packers, ’70s Steelers, ’80s 49ers, ’90s Cowboys, or ’00s Patriots here; being part of an era-defining dynasty brings a baseline acclaim that our chosen few simply don’t possess. Instead, we’re focusing on just how underappreciated these players are, not just how great they were. Prepare to discover familiar Hall of Fame snubs, players snubbed from the snub lists, and even a few current guys who aren’t getting their due. Let’s dive in.
1. **Steven Jackson, RB, Rams**It’s a rare feat for a running back to genuinely fall into the “underrated” category. Even those who don’t light up the league typically manage a few 1,000-yard seasons and become staples in fantasy drafts, avoiding the kind of biases that often plague quarterbacks who “didn’t win the big game.” Even specialized players like third-down backs or gritty fullbacks often become local heroes, beloved by their fanbases – think Darren Sproles or Mike Tolbert. So, for a running back to truly earn a spot on this list, it takes an extraordinary run of hard luck and unfortunate circumstances.
Steven Jackson’s career serves as a poignant example of this unfortunate trend; he joined the St. Louis Rams just as their legendary “Greatest Show on Turf” offense began its rapid decline, transitioning into what many recall as a dismal period for the team. Despite delivering MVP-caliber performances early on, including a remarkable 2006 season where he amassed 1,528 rushing yards, 90 receptions, and 16 total touchdowns, his individual brilliance was frequently obscured by the team’s struggles, which saw the departure of key “Greatest Show” players and a drastic fall in their win-loss record, including seasons with just two or even one win.
His quest for team success continued to be thwarted by timing. After his tenure in St. Louis, Jackson moved to Atlanta, only to arrive just after the collapse of the Mike Smith playoff teams, and critically, before the emergence of the current Dan Quinn contenders. His career culminated in a move to the New England Patriots, signing on as a veteran role player during one of the few years the perennial Super Bowl contenders failed to reach the big game. It seemed wherever Jackson went, the clouds of misfortune followed, preventing his individual brilliance from translating into widespread team accolades.
Despite the constant churn of teams and unfortunate timing, Jackson’s career statistics are undeniably impressive, solidifying his place among the league’s all-time greats in terms of sheer production. He finished his professional journey with a remarkable 11,438 rushing yards, placing him 18th all-time, and an astounding 15,121 total scrimmage yards, good for 21st all-time. Furthermore, he stands as the Rams’ all-time leading rusher, boasting nearly 3,000 more yards for the franchise than legends like Marshall Faulk or Eric Dickerson. He made the playoffs only twice – as a rookie backup in 2004 and a 32-year-old backup in 2015 – with a full decade of playoff drought in between. While he might have helped you win a fantasy title or two, imagine how much more Jackson would be remembered if he hadn’t always found himself on the wrong team at the wrong time.
2. **Lomas Brown, OT, Lions**Left tackles are the unsung heroes of the offensive line, diligently protecting the quarterback’s blindside. Yet, even among this generally anonymous group, some achieve a measure of acclaim, particularly in recent decades. Lomas Brown, however, is a prime example of a player whose consistent, high-level performance was often overshadowed by team circumstances and evolving league narratives. Brown played left tackle for an impressive four Lions playoff teams, providing crucial protection and run-blocking that helped the legendary Barry Sanders secure two of his four rushing titles, a testament to the offensive line’s effectiveness during those years.
His role was made even more challenging by the offensive scheme he operated within for half a decade: the audacious run-‘n’-shoot offense. This system famously put its offensive linemen, especially the left tackle, on an island, forcing them into one-on-one matchups against the NFL’s premier pass-rushers on virtually every snap. There was no tight end flanking him, no blocking back behind him to offer chip help; Brown was truly isolated, a gladiatorial battle every Sunday. Despite these demanding circumstances, Brown’s individual brilliance shone through, earning him seven Pro Bowl berths and a well-deserved All-Pro selection, demonstrating his consistent dominance against the league’s best.
Unfortunately, the run-‘n’-shoot, while revolutionary, had its drawbacks, often taking away more than it provided in terms of consistent team success against top-tier defenses. The early 1990s Lions, for all their offensive fireworks, frequently found themselves obliterated by better defenses in the playoffs, preventing Brown’s stellar play from translating into deep postseason runs. As Brown was reaching the peak of his formidable powers, a new generation of superstar left tackles like Tony Boselli, Willie Roaf, Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden, and Walter Jones entered the league, transforming the blindside protector into an almost glamorous position and further pushing Brown out of the spotlight.
Brown spent the latter half of his career bouncing from team to team, continuing to deliver solid play but lacking the singular narrative that often elevates players to legendary status. Today, he is perhaps best known as a television personality, a role that has given him a different kind of public recognition. He also gained unfortunate notoriety for admitting on ESPN Radio that he once purposely allowed Packers defender Sean Jones to sack Scott Mitchell, hoping the struggling quarterback would be knocked out of the game. While this admission likely slams the door on his Hall of Fame hopes, it shouldn’t overshadow the reality: Lomas Brown was a unique and underappreciated player for over a decade on a team that nearly revolutionized the way football was played. He then went on to start at left tackle for the playoff-bound Cardinals and the 2000 NFC champion Giants, finally winning a Super Bowl ring as a backup for the Buccaneers. In 18 NFL seasons, Brown did one thing terribly wrong, but for his teams to achieve the success they did, he must have done an awful lot more right.
3. Speculation about NaVorro Bowman’s potential trade began circulating early in the offseason, only to be quickly dismissed by the 49ers’ new general manager, John Lynch, though the rumors weren’t entirely out of the blue. The 49ers had recently drafted promising linebacker Reuben Foster in the first round, Bowman was recovering from a severe Achilles tear sustained in 2016, and the team was undergoing a significant transformation with a new coaching system and a major roster overhaul, leading some to question the retention of a veteran player from previous coaching eras.
The answer, as any astute observer of the game would tell you, is unequivocally simple: because he is, quite plainly, one of the NFL’s best defensive players. Bowman is not merely a good player; he is a four-time All-Pro, a tremendous all-purpose linebacker whose versatility, tackling prowess, and coverage skills made him a true force across the field. He emerged as a stalwart leader for 49ers teams that, without his unwavering presence, might very well have packed it in before Labor Day, underscoring his immense value beyond just his stat sheet. He is precisely not the kind of player a wise, forward-thinking organization sheds simply to cut expenses.
Bowman’s story is particularly poignant because he possesses all the makings of a player who will be tragically underappreciated historically, despite his undeniable on-field dominance. He began his illustrious career at the tail end of Jim Harbaugh’s formidable defensive teams, a period of genuine contention for the franchise. However, his subsequent years have been a battle against both devastating injuries and the profound incompetence that characterized the Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly coaching experiments, periods marked by instability and losing records that obscured his individual brilliance. He now finds himself mired in a rebuilding cycle that could realistically take several more years to bear fruit, a timeframe that his body, or his tenure with the 49ers, might not withstand.
By the time the 49ers potentially recapture their past glory, Bowman may have moved on to another team or be in his early thirties, making his current situation even more uncertain. Ironically, his exceptional versatility, a hallmark of his talent, prevents him from accumulating the eye-catching sack totals or climbing specific all-time leaderboards that typically capture public attention and solidify a player’s legacy, making him a prime example of an underappreciated talent facing the prospect of being traded to accommodate a newer draft pick.
4. **John Hadl, QB, Chargers**If John Hadl is remembered at all by today’s casual NFL fan, it’s most likely for one of the most disastrous trades in the history of the league. In 1974, the Green Bay Packers, convinced they were a veteran quarterback away from a deep playoff run, made a move that would haunt them for years. Head coach/GM Dan Devine acquired the then-34-year-old Rams quarterback, surrendering a ransom of draft picks so egregious it would make even the most aggressive modern GMs do a spit take: two first-rounders, two second-rounders, and a third-rounder. Old-timers lovingly (or not so lovingly) dubbed it the “Lawrence Welk trade,” after a television bandleader of the era who would famously begin songs by counting off “A one, and a two, and a three…” Unsurprisingly, the trade unfolded precisely as one might expect a lopsided, midseason deal for an aging quarterback to go.
However, to truly understand Hadl’s inclusion on this list, one must consider *why* the Packers, or any team, would have believed he was worth such an astronomical haul of draft capital. That “something” was a career built on throwing for more than 29,000 yards, earning him four AFL All-Star Game selections and a Pro Bowl nod with the Chargers, and then leading the Rams to an impressive 12-2 record in 1973. This wasn’t a player picked off the scrap heap; Hadl had a legitimate pedigree of success and demonstrated ability to lead potent offenses. His resume before the infamous trade was far more illustrious than the trade itself suggests.
Hadl’s athletic journey was a fascinating one, beginning as a multi-talented athlete at the University of Kansas, where he played quarterback, halfback, defensive back, and even punter. The Detroit Lions initially drafted him as a running back, highlighting his versatile athleticism. However, Hadl chose to sign with the Chargers, a decision that would profoundly shape his career and, in many ways, the evolution of quarterbacking. Under the tutelage of visionary coach Sid Gillman, Hadl was meticulously built into the trigger man for an offense that served as a direct ancestor for all modern NFL offenses, showcasing innovations that were years ahead of their time. This converted all-purpose athlete became one of the unacknowledged fathers of modern quarterbacking, a true pioneer.
Despite his significant impact on the game, Hadl unfortunately became more known for trivia questions and “worst trade” lists than for his stellar play. The infamous Lawrence Welk trade overshadowed a far more significant transaction in his career: his 1973 acquisition by the Rams from the Chargers in exchange for Pro Bowl defensive end Coy Bacon, a rare and remarkable trade of two players who had both earned Pro Bowl honors the previous year, a feat not seen again in the NFL until the Champ Bailey-Clinton Portis trade in 2004, highlighting that teams actively sought him out and recognized his value.
We’ve shed light on some truly forgotten gridiron heroes, but our exploration into the realm of overlooked greatness is far from complete. As we continue to delve into historical game footage and statistical records, we uncover more extraordinary talents whose remarkable contributions somehow missed the spotlight of widespread recognition, players who innovated positions, introduced new strategies, or simply dominated despite adversity, only to remain consistently underrated in contemporary sports discussions.
5. **Neal Anderson, RB, Bears**Imagine stepping into the colossal cleats of a legend, inheriting the spotlight just as the team’s championship glow begins to dim. That was the unenviable task of Neal Anderson, who replaced the iconic Walter Payton as the Bears’ featured offensive weapon right after the euphoric Super Bowl Shuffle years. Because he wasn’t Payton, and the later-era Mike Ditka Bears couldn’t quite recapture the magic of 1985, Anderson’s impressive output often got reduced to a mere footnote in franchise history, a frustrating fate for such an extraordinary talent.
But make no mistake, Anderson was a complete back in every sense of the word. He possessed the blistering speed to turn the corner and outrace defenders down the sideline, the raw power to churn through tackles for tough yards, and an elusive quality that allowed him to make something out of nothing in the open field. Beyond his rushing prowess, Anderson was also a revelation as a receiver, demonstrating chops that could rival contemporaries like Roger Craig or Thurman Thomas, making him a true dual-threat weapon.
What truly amplifies Anderson’s accomplishments is the context of the offense he played in. His 1,000-yard seasons weren’t built in some sophisticated, modern passing attack; they came in a “primitive offense with a rudimentary passing game.” He was consistently the Bears’ primary rusher and, strikingly, often their best receiver in his prime, hauling in 40-50 passes per season from quarterbacks like Mike Tomczak or the young Jim Harbaugh. Many of these catches weren’t check-downs, but downfield plays, effectively making Anderson a de facto possession receiver in an era where that was rare for a running back.
The closest contemporary comparison might be someone like Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, a versatile back who can dominate both on the ground and through the air. However, Bell operates within a modern, dynamic offense that actively amplifies his production, whereas Anderson’s brilliance was often suppressed by his scheme. Add to that the immense shadow of Walter Payton, and it’s easy to see why Anderson, despite his Pro Bowls and undeniable skill, became a historical footnote. Those who witnessed his play, however, know he was far more than that – a dynamic force deserving of far greater praise.
6. **Jahri Evans, OG, Saints**When we talk about the most explosive offenses of the 21st century, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints immediately spring to mind. Their record-setting aerial attacks, precise passing, and Super Bowl victory are etched into NFL lore. But behind every legendary quarterback and every historic offensive output is an offensive line, and within that unit, one man often stood as the immovable anchor: Jahri Evans, the Saints’ Pro Bowl guard. His impact on New Orleans’ offensive supremacy during his prime cannot be overstated, yet it frequently is.
Consider his four consecutive All-Pro selections between 2009 and 2012; during this period, the Saints’ offense was an offensive powerhouse, consistently ranking among the top teams in the league for total yards, achieving first, sixth, first, and second place finishes respectively. Even more remarkably, with Drew Brees attempting over 650 passes annually, Evans’ elite protection unit allowed an average of merely 24 sacks per season during his All-Pro years, a testament to the sheer dominance and effectiveness of the offensive line he anchored, providing crucial support for the quarterback.
While Brees rightly garners the lion’s share of credit for the Saints’ offensive success, the truth is that a diminutive quarterback like Brees simply wouldn’t have been able to consistently deliver Super Bowl-caliber performances without a pristine pocket, especially directly in front of him. Evans, widely regarded as “the best pass-protecting guard of his era,” was the linchpin, tasked with ensuring that interior pass-rushers couldn’t get close enough to disrupt Brees’ throwing lanes, let alone sack him. His fundamental role was providing the stability that allowed the entire offensive symphony to play out.
It’s a harsh reality that offensive guards rarely make it into the Hall of Fame unless they collect multiple Super Bowl rings or play for an impossibly long time. Jahri Evans, despite still playing at a high level and attempting to do for Aaron Rodgers what he did for Brees, is unfortunately a long shot for Canton. That’s a genuine shame, because for a significant period, he wasn’t just a very good guard; he was arguably the most important one in the entire NFL, a cornerstone without whom one of the greatest offenses ever constructed would have crumbled.
