Greatest NFL Players Who Have Worn the Number 8 Jersey

While numbers like 12 and 80 are synonymous with singular legends, the number 8 holds a unique and diverse place in NFL history. It’s a jersey that has been worn by some of the most dynamic quarterbacks, record-breaking punters, and even a clutch kicker. From the Hall of Fame arm of Troy Aikman, who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl championships, to the revolutionary rushing ability of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, the number 8 has been defined by incredible talent. We can’t forget Steve Young, a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer in his own right, or Ray Guy, the first and only punter enshrined in Canton. This list ranks the best players ever to wear the number 8 and celebrates their lasting impact on the game.

List of Legendary number 8s

Steve Young

Steve Young

A Hall of Fame quarterback, Young revolutionized the position with his dual-threat ability, winning Super Bowl XXIX MVP and setting the record for the highest career passer rating upon his retirement.

Larry Wilson

A Hall of Fame safety for the Cardinals, Wilson earned 8 Pro Bowl selections and 5 First-team All-Pro nods, and is widely credited with pioneering the safety blitz.

Troy Aikman

The Hall of Fame quarterback and centerpiece of the Dallas Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, Aikman led the team to three Super Bowl victories, earning MVP honors in Super Bowl XXVII.

🏈 Troy Aikman: From UCLA Record-Setter to 3-Time Super Bowl Champion

Mark Brunell

A three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Brunell was instrumental in the rapid success of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, guiding them to two AFC Championship appearances in their first five seasons.

Lamar Jackson

A two-time NFL MVP, Jackson redefined the quarterback position with his exceptional rushing ability, becoming the first quarterback in league history to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in multiple seasons.

Aaron Rodgers

Known for his elite accuracy and improvisational skills, this four-time NFL MVP won Super Bowl XLV and cemented his legacy as one of the most statistically dominant and efficient quarterbacks in history.

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Kirk Cousins

A consistent, high-volume passer, Cousins is recognized for his exceptional accuracy and being one of the most financially successful quarterbacks in NFL history due to fully guaranteed contracts.

Matt Hasselbeck

A three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Hasselbeck was the steady leader who guided the Seattle Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance (XL) and provided a reliable presence for over a decade.

Archie Manning

Though his New Orleans Saints teams struggled, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback was admired for his incredible athleticism, scrambling ability, and enduring toughness while playing on losing rosters.

Sports Memorabilia Signed GearMcCaffrey 49ers Signed Mini-HelmetPerfect for any collection! Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers Autographed Riddell Speed Mini Helmet.Check out One of our Books!Pottsville Maroons StoryMarooned: The Rise, the Fall, and the Redemption of the NFL's Pottsville Maroons - The story of the Pottsville Maroons and their 1925 season has several variations. The NFL's official version says the team had its franchise revoked for violating the league's territorial rights rules and disobeying the league President's instruction not to play an exhibition game in Philadelphia.2026 Topps Football Trading CardsTopps 2026 Flagship Football Factory Sealed Fanatics Exclusive Value BoxIt has been almost 10 years but Topps Flagship Football returns with a fully licensed release, marking the return of one of the most iconic brands in The Hobby.Football Archaeology Series by Timothy BrownWhen Football Came To Pass: 1906-1915When Football Came To Pass covers why football legalized the forward pass, the rules and other constraints on its development, and how Eddie Cochems and other pioneers developed solutions that ultimately led to the forward pass revolutionizing the game.

More Great NFL 8s

Morten Andersen

Kicker – New Orleans Saints (1982–1994), Atlanta Falcons (1995–2000), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002–2003), Minnesota Vikings (2004), Atlanta Falcons (2006–2007) – 6 All-Pro selections, 7 Pro Bowl selections

Nick Lowery

Kicker – New England Patriots (1978), Kansas City Chiefs (1980–1993), New York Jets (1994–1996) – 2 All-Pro selections, 3 Pro Bowl selections

Ray Guy

Punter – Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders (1973–1986) – 6 All-Pro selections, 7 Pro Bowl selections

Matt Schaub

Quarterback – Atlanta Falcons (2004–2006), Houston Texans (2007–2013), Oakland Raiders (2014), Baltimore Ravens (2015), Atlanta Falcons (2016–2020) – 0 All-Pro selections, 2 Pro Bowl selections

Kyle Van Noy

Linebacker – Detroit Lions (2014–2016), New England Patriots (2016–2019), Miami Dolphins (2020), New England Patriots (2021), Los Angeles Chargers (2022), Baltimore Ravens (2023–2025) – 0 All-Pro selections, 1 Pro Bowl selection

Jeff Blake

Quarterback – New York Jets (1992-1993), Cincinnati Bengals (1994-1999), New Orleans Saints (2000-2001), Baltimore Ravens (2002), Arizona Cardinals (2003), Philadelphia Eagles (2004), Chicago Bears (2005) – 1 Pro Bowl

Ryan Longwell

Kicker – Green Bay Packers (1997-2005), Minnesota Vikings (2006-2011), Seattle Seahawks (2012) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Tommy McDonald

Wide Receiver – Philadelphia Eagles (1957-1963), Dallas Cowboys (1964), Los Angeles Rams (1965-1966), Atlanta Falcons (1967), Cleveland Browns (1968) – 6 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections

Tommy McDonald

Marcus Mariota

Quarterback – Tennessee Titans (2015–2019), Las Vegas Raiders (2020–2021), Atlanta Falcons (2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2023), Washington Commanders (2024–present) – 0 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pros

David Carr

Quarterback – Houston Texans (2002–2006), Carolina Panthers (2007), New York Giants (2008–2009), San Francisco 49ers (2010), New York Giants (2011–2012) – 0 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pros

Sam Bradford

Quarterback – St. Louis Rams (2010–2014), Philadelphia Eagles (2015), Minnesota Vikings (2016–2017), Arizona Cardinals (2018) – 0 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pros

Brian Moorman

Punter – Buffalo Bills (2001–2012), Dallas Cowboys (2012), Buffalo Bills (2013) – 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pros

Jon Kitna

Quarterback – Seattle Seahawks (1996–2000), Cincinnati Bengals (2001–2005), Detroit Lions (2006–2008), Dallas Cowboys (2009–2011, 2013) – 0 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pros

Rex Grossman

Chicago Bears (2003–2008), Houston Texans (2009), Washington Redskins (2010–2013) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Tommy Maddox

Quarterback – Denver Broncos (1992–1993), Los Angeles Rams (1994), New York Giants (1995), Pittsburgh Steelers (2001–2005) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Sean Salisbury

Quarterback – Indianapolis Colts (1987), Minnesota Vikings (1990–1994), Houston Oilers (1994), San Diego Chargers (1996) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Kyle Orton

Quarterback – Chicago Bears (2005–2008), Denver Broncos (2009–2011), Kansas City Chiefs (2011), Dallas Cowboys (2012–2013), Buffalo Bills (2014) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Greg Coleman

Punter – Cleveland Browns (1977), Minnesota Vikings (1978–1987), Washington Redskins (1988) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Chip Lohmiller

Placekicker – Washington Redskins (1988–1994), New Orleans Saints (1995), St. Louis Rams (1996) – 1 Pro Bowl selection, 1 All-Pro selection

Brandon McManus

Kicker – Denver Broncos (2014-2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2023), Green Bay Packers (2024-present) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections.

Vince Evans

Quarterback – Chicago Bears (1977-1983), Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders (1987-1995) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections.

Josh Jacobs

Running Back – Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders (2019-2023), Green Bay Packers (2024-present) – 1-time All-Pro, 3-time Pro Bowl selection

Daniel Jones

Quarterback – New York Giants (2019-2024), Minnesota Vikings (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2025-present) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections.

Paul McFadden

Kicker – Philadelphia Eagles (1984-1987), New York Giants (1988), Atlanta Falcons (1989) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Matt Moore

Quarterback – Carolina Panthers (2007-2010), Miami Dolphins (2011-2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2019) – 0Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Jason Campbell

Quarterback – Washington Redskins (2005-2009), Oakland Raiders (2010-2011), Chicago Bears (2012), Cleveland Browns (2013), Cincinnati Bengals (2014) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Mike Glennon

Quarterback – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2013-2016), Chicago Bears (2017), Arizona Cardinals (2018), Oakland Raiders (2019), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020), New York Giants (2021) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections

Conclusion

Big Thanks to the above-noted sources and to Pro-Football-Reference.com and Newspapers.com for helping fill in the blanks. Our goal is to keep making this page better, so if you feel we are missing someone you feel should be added, please let us know at Pi*************@***il.com.

Find more on our legends of the NFL jersey series here.

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