Greatest Players Who Wore the NFL Jersey 23

The number 23 may not boast the sheer volume of Hall of Famers as some other iconic jerseys, but the players who wore it were nothing short of exceptional. From the unparalleled athleticism of return man and Hall of Famer Devin Hester—who forever changed the way special teams were viewed—to the reliable, dominant defensive back play of Troy Vincent and Brig Owens, No. 23 symbolizes versatile excellence. Whether it was leading the early league like Guy Chamberlin or providing the workhorse stability of Paul Lowe, this number has been the badge of football players who left an undeniable mark on the field.

List of the Best NFL Number 23s

Here is a list of NFL players who wore the Number 23 jersey and had quite an impact! They are complete with football career bios for players who have worn the number 23:

• Guy Chamberlin: A five-time NFL champion as a player and coach in the 1920s, this Pro Football Hall of Famer was considered one of the greatest all-around ends and leaders of the league’s early era.
• Troy Vincent: A five-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was named First-team All-Pro in 2002 and was later recognized for his leadership, serving as the NFL’s Vice President of Football Operations after his playing career.
• Mike Wagner: A safety who spent his entire 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a key defensive starter on all four of the team’s Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1970s.
• Devin Hester: Widely regarded as the greatest return specialist in NFL history, this Hall of Famer holds the league record for most career return touchdowns (19) and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
• Dave Whitsell: A two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was a member of the Chicago Bears’ 1963 NFL Championship team and retired with 46 career interceptions.
• Goose Gonsoulin: A five-time Pro Bowl safety for the Denver Broncos, he was an original “Mile High” legend and was named to the inaugural AFL All-Star team in 1961.
• DeAngelo Hall: A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he is one of only two players in NFL history to record four interceptions in a single game, and he finished his career with 43 interceptions.
• Brig Owens: A hard-hitting safety who spent 13 seasons with the Washington Redskins, he was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and set the franchise record for career interceptions (36) upon his retirement.
• Joe Haden: A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was a lockdown defender for both the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers and finished his career with 29 interceptions.
• Patrick Surtain: A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, he was a staple of the Miami Dolphins’ secondary in the early 2000s and was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

More Jersey 23 legends

• Arian Foster
• Blaine Bishop
• Perry Williams
• Quentin Jammer
• Bobby Butler
• Marcus Trufant
• Shaun Gayle
• Ted Brown
• Marty Carter
• Paul Lowe
• Don McCauley
• Ron Hall
• Pierre Thomas
• Kyle Fuller
• Rodney McLeod
• Charlie Smith
• Sammy Winder
• Johnny Roland

Conclusion

The number 23 may not boast the sheer volume of Hall of Famers as some other iconic jerseys, but the players who wore it were nothing short of exceptional. From the unparalleled athleticism of return man and Hall of Famer Devin Hester—who forever changed the way special teams were viewed—to the reliable, dominant defensive back play of Troy Vincent and Brig Owens, No. 23 symbolizes versatile excellence. Whether it was leading the early league like Guy Chamberlin or providing the workhorse stability of Paul Lowe, this number has been the badge of football players who left an undeniable mark on the field.

For more on our Jersey number series, check out the number 10.