Greatest Players Who Wore the NFL Jersey 21

Prime Time vs. L.T.: Who Is the Best to Ever Wear No. 21?

The number 21 isn’t just a jersey; it’s a symbol of electrifying playmaking dominance in NFL history. This iconic number has been worn by some of the most dynamic, versatile, and talented players ever to grace the gridiron, often representing a true “triple-threat” talent—excelling in running, covering, and scoring.

From the lockdown coverage and flair of “Prime Time” Deion Sanders to the relentless, record-shattering scoring of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, No. 21 is reserved for legends. We break down the careers of these two Hall of Fame titans, along with other greats like defensive stalwart Charles Woodson and four-time All-Pro receiver Cliff Branch, to determine who truly wore it best and cemented No. 21 as one of the most celebrated numbers in the NFL.

List of Top NFL Number 21s

The following list provides verified, one-to-two sentence football career bios for players who have worn the number 21:

• Deion Sanders: A Pro Football Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion, “Prime Time” is widely considered the greatest man-to-man cover cornerback in NFL history and set a career record for non-offensive touchdowns (19) upon his retirement.
• Charles Woodson: The only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy, he later became the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won a Super Bowl with the Packers, and retired tied for fifth all-time with 65 career interceptions.
• LaDainian Tomlinson: A Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, he was the 2006 NFL MVP after setting single-season records for total touchdowns (31) and rushing touchdowns (28), finishing his career fifth on the all-time rushing yards list.
• Jim Thorpe: Considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was the inaugural president of the American Professional Football Association (which became the NFL) and a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Frank Gore: Known for his incredible durability, he is the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher and a five-time Pro Bowl selection who played 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers.
• Eric Allen: A six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he retired tied for third in NFL history with eight career interception returns for touchdowns and was named UPI’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.
• Cliff Branch: A speedy wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a critical part of three Super Bowl championship teams, leading the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns in 1974.
• Eddie Meador: A Los Angeles Rams defensive back who played 12 seasons, he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time First-team All-Pro, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.
• John Hadl: A six-time Pro Bowl quarterback who spent most of his career with the Chargers, he was the 1965 AFL Player of the Year and was named the 1973 UPI NFC Player of the Year while with the Rams.
• Danny Fortmann: A Hall of Fame guard for the Chicago Bears, he was a six-time First-team All-Pro and a central figure on the 1930s Bears powerhouse teams.
• Benny Friedman: A College and Pro Football Hall of Famer, he was one of the NFL’s first great passers, leading the league in passing touchdowns four times between 1927 and 1930.
• Tiki Barber: A three-time Pro Bowl running back for the New York Giants, he finished his career as the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards (10,449) and all-purpose yards (15,649).
• Patrick Peterson: An eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and is regarded as one of the best lockdown corners of his era.
• Rick Volk: A three-time Pro Bowl safety for the Baltimore Colts, he was a key defensive back in their Super Bowl V victory and was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor.
• James Brooks: A four-time Pro Bowl running back, he spent the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals and was a versatile threat who finished his career with over 13,000 all-purpose yards.
• Chuck Cherundolo: A two-time NFL All-Star center and linebacker for the Steelers, Rams, and Eagles in the 1930s and 1940s, he was later named to the Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team.
• Pete Tinsley: (Information is scarce and requires further verification to confidently establish a football career bio for a player named Pete Tinsley wearing number 21 in a major American league.)
• Nolan Cromwell: A four-time Pro Bowl safety for the Los Angeles Rams, he was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and held the Rams’ franchise record for career interception return yards upon retirement.
• Chris McAlister: A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens, he was a Super Bowl XXXV champion and once held the NFL record for the longest play by returning a missed field goal 107 yards for a touchdown.
• Eric Metcalf: A three-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the league’s most dangerous return specialists, he was named First-team All-Pro twice and led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 1990.
• Donnell Woolford: A Pro Bowl cornerback for the Chicago Bears, he was a 1988 Consensus All-American at Clemson and retired with 36 career NFL interceptions.
• Jim Kiick: A two-time Super Bowl champion running back for the Miami Dolphins, he was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and part of the famous “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” backfield with Larry Csonka.
• Bobby Taylor: A Pro Bowl cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles, he was a consensus All-American at Notre Dame and finished his 10-year NFL career with 19 interceptions.
• Eric Wright: A four-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers, he was a key member of four Super Bowl championship teams (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV).
• Earnest Byner: A two-time Pro Bowl running back, he won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins (XXVI) and retired with over 8,000 career rushing yards.
• Victor Green: A tough safety who played most of his career for the New York Jets, he was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and recorded 24 career interceptions.
• Nnamdi Asomugha: A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was named First-team All-Pro twice and became one of the NFL’s premier lockdown corners during his time with the Oakland Raiders.
• Terry Allen: A Pro Bowl running back who spent most of his career with the Washington Redskins, he rushed for over 1,000 yards three times and scored 73 career touchdowns.
• Ezekiel Elliott: A running back who spent seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, he is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who led the NFL in rushing yards twice in his first three seasons.
• Terry Metcalf: A three-time Pro Bowl running back and return specialist for the St. Louis Cardinals, he was named the 1974 UPI NFC Player of the Year and was famous for his versatility.
• Jerry Stovall: A three-time Pro Bowl defensive back and punter for the St. Louis Cardinals, he was a 1962 First-team All-Pro and later served as the head football coach for LSU.
• Samari Rolle: A Pro Bowl cornerback who won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens, he was a First-team All-Pro in 2000 after recording 33 career interceptions.
• Bruce Maher: A hard-hitting safety who was named Team MVP for both the Detroit Lions (1965) and the New York Giants (1968), retiring with 22 career interceptions.
• Bob Jeter: A two-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, he was a critical starter on Vince Lombardi’s final two NFL Championship teams (1966 and 1967) and Super Bowl I and II winners.
• Jerome Woods: A Pro Bowl safety who played his entire 12-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, he was a highly productive tackler and interceptor, recording 25 career interceptions.
• Aaron Beasley: A cornerback who led the NCAA in interceptions in 1994 at West Virginia, he was a defensive leader for the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording 24 career NFL interceptions and 4 defensive touchdowns.
• Donnie Abraham: A Pro Bowl cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded 38 career interceptions and was a member of the Buccaneers’ 50th Anniversary Team.
• Dalton Hilliard: A Pro Bowl running back for the New Orleans Saints, he holds the third-most rushing yards in franchise history and was instrumental in the team’s first winning seasons.
• Mike Garrett: The 1965 Heisman Trophy winner from USC, he was a Pro Bowl running back for the Kansas City Chiefs and a key member of their Super Bowl IV championship team.
• Joe Scarpati: A starting safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, he was most famous for being the holder for Tom Dempsey‘s then-NFL record 63-yard field goal in 1970.
• Aqib Talib: A five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos, he was a disruptive player who recorded 35 career interceptions.
• Lardarius Webb: A versatile defensive back for the Baltimore Ravens, he was a key component of the Super Bowl XLVII winning defense, finishing his career with 15 interceptions.
• Ken Lucas: A durable and consistent cornerback who had 23 career interceptions, playing key roles for the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions.
• Vontae Davis: A two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he retired with 22 interceptions and was known for his physical man coverage skills with the Dolphins and Colts.
• Malcolm Butler: An undrafted cornerback famous for his game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX for the Patriots, he was a Pro Bowl selection and Second-team All-Pro in 2016.
• Desmond Trufant: A Pro Bowl cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, he was a First-team All-Pac-12 selection at Washington and a 2013 PFWA All-Rookie Team member.
• Gene Mingo: One of the original Denver Broncos, he was a four-time AFL All-Star who was the first Black placekicker in professional football and retired as the AFL’s all-time leading scorer.
• Jimmy Carr: A defensive back and kick returner who played nine NFL seasons, he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 1960 NFL Championship team.

Conclusion

The legacy of the number 21 is one of undeniable dominance and versatility, representing some of the greatest two-way threats and defensive stalwarts in football history. From the defensive lockdown and sheer charisma of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders to the offensive record-shattering excellence of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the jersey signifies elite, game-changing talent. Whether worn by hard-hitting safeties like Nolan Cromwell and Eddie Meador or modern legends like Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson, No. 21 will forever be synonymous with players who didn’t just play the game—they redefined it, leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s history.

Check out more of our Greatest Players at each jersey number, including Number 20.