Greatest Players Who Wore the NFL Jersey 26

From Gridiron Immortals to Modern Workhorses: The Legacy of NFL Jersey Number 26

The number 26 boasts a uniquely rich history, featuring not one, but two Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive backs in Rod Woodson and Herb Adderley—legends who defined excellence and versatility in the secondary. Woodson, one of the greatest defensive players of all time, wore it for a decade during his prime in Pittsburgh. But the jersey’s prestige doesn’t stop with defense; it also marks the careers of modern rushing stars like Le’Veon Bell and the powerful Clinton Portis. Join us as we dissect the careers of these iconic running backs and defensive playmakers, settling the debate on who best represented the storied tradition of the No. 26 jersey.

List of the NFL Jersey 26 Legends

Football career bios for players who wore the number 26:

Rod Woodson

This Pro Football Hall of Famer was the 1993 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, and finished his career with 71 total interceptions, including a record 12 returned for touchdowns.

Defensive Back / Safety / Cornerback – Pittsburgh Steelers (1987–1996), San Francisco 49ers (1997), Baltimore Ravens (1998–2001), Oakland Raiders (2002–2003) – 17 selections (11 Pro Bowl, 6 All-Pro) – Wore Number 26 during the 1987–2003 seasons

Herb Adderley

A Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback, he won six NFL Championships and three Super Bowls during his career with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

Cornerback – Green Bay Packers (1961–1969), Dallas Cowboys (1970–1972) – 9 selections (5 Pro Bowl, 4 First-team All-Pro, plus 3 Second-team All-Pro selections) – Wore Number 26 during the 1961–1972 seasons

George Saimes

A five-time AFL All-Star safety for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, he won two AFL Championships with the Bills and was named to the AFL’s All-Time Team.

Defensive Back / Safety – Buffalo Bills (1963–1969), Denver Broncos (1970–1972) – 8 selections (5 AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl, 3 AFL All-Pro/All-AFL honors) – Wore Number 26 during the 1963–1972 seasons

Antoine Winfield

This physical, Jim Thorpe Award-winning cornerback was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and recorded 27 interceptions and over 1,000 career tackles during his 14 seasons with the Bills and Vikings.

Cornerback – Buffalo Bills (1999–2003), Minnesota Vikings (2004–2012) – 4 selections (3 Pro Bowl, 1 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 26 during the 1999–2012 seasons

Clinton Portis

A two-time Pro Bowl running back, he was the 2002 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and set an NFL record for the highest yards-per-carry average over a running back’s first two seasons (5.5).

Running Back – Denver Broncos (2002–2003), Washington Redskins (2004–2010) – 3 selections (2 Pro Bowl, 1 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 26 during the 2002–2010 seasons.

Raymond Clayborn

A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback and superb kick returner for the New England Patriots, he tied the Patriots’ franchise record with 36 career interceptions.

Cornerback – New England Patriots (1977–1989), Cleveland Browns (1990–1991) – 5 selections (3 Pro Bowl, 2 All-Pro / 5-time total All-Pro/All-AFC honors) – Wore Number 26 during the 1977–1989 seasons (wore #20 with Cleveland)

Wendell Tyler

A Pro Bowl running back, he won Super Bowl XIX with the San Francisco 49ers and totaled over 6,300 rushing yards during his 10-year career with the Rams and 49ers.

Running Back – Los Angeles Rams (1977–1982), San Francisco 49ers (1983–1986) – 1 selection (1 Pro Bowl) – Wore Number 26 during the 1977–1986 seasons

Le’Veon Bell

A three-time Pro Bowl running back, he earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2014 and was known for his patient running style and elite production as a dual-threat receiver.

Running Back – Pittsburgh Steelers (2013–2018), New York Jets (2019–2020), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Baltimore Ravens (2021), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021) – 5 selections (3 Pro Bowl, 2 First-team All-Pro, 1 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 26 during the 2013–2020 and 2021 seasons (also briefly wore other numbers like #17 and #6 with later teams)

Lydell Mitchell

This three-time Pro Bowl running back set multiple rushing records for the Baltimore Colts and twice led the entire NFL in receptions (1974, 1977).

Running Back – Baltimore Colts (1972–1978), San Diego Chargers (1978–1979), Los Angeles Rams (1980) – Selected to 3 Pro Bowls and 1 Second-team All-Pro – Wore Number 26 during the 1972–1979 seasons (with the Colts and Chargers)

Robert Smith

(Note: The most prominent NFL player named Robert Smith wore number 28 for the Vikings; the safety Robert Smith who wore 27 did not play in a regular season game.)

Running Back – Minnesota Vikings (1993–2000) – Selected to 2 Pro Bowls – Wore Number 26 during the 1994–2000 seasons

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Ty Law

This Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback wore No. 26 during his prime with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls and leading the league in interceptions in 1998.

Cornerback – New England Patriots (1995–2004), New York Jets (2005, 2008), Kansas City Chiefs (2006–2007), Denver Broncos (2009) – Selected to 5 Pro Bowls and 2 First-team All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 during the 2009 season

Paul Krause

A Pro Football Hall of Fame safety, he wore No. 26 early in his career with the Washington Redskins, leading the NFL with 12 interceptions as a rookie before moving to No. 25 with the Vikings.

Washington Redskins (1964–1967), Minnesota Vikings (1968–1979) – Selected to 8 Pro Bowls and 3 First-team All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 during the 1964–1967 seasons (with Washington)

Benny Friedman

This Hall of Fame quarterback, who played before the widespread use of jersey numbers, was one of the NFL’s first great passers, leading the league in touchdown passes for four consecutive years (1927–1930).

Quarterback / Passer – Cleveland Bulldogs (1927), Detroit Wolverines (1928), New York Giants (1929–1931), Brooklyn Dodgers (1932–1934) – Selected as a 4-time First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 26 early in his career during the pre-standardized numbering era with Washington/early professional stints

More Iconic Number 26 jersey wearers

Deuce McAllister

Running Back – New Orleans Saints (2001–2008) – Selected to 2 Pro Bowls – Wore Number 26 during the 2001–2008 seasons

Preston Pearson

Running Back / Wide Receiver / Kick Returner – Baltimore Colts (1967–1969), Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1974), Dallas Cowboys (1975–1980) – No Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 during the 1967–1980 seasons across all three of his NFL teams

Charles Romes

Cornerback – Buffalo Bills (1977–1986), San Diego Chargers (1987) – No Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 during the 1977–1986 seasons (with Buffalo)

Michael Downs

Safety – Dallas Cowboys (1981–1988), Phoenix Cardinals (1989) – Selected to 1 Second-team All-Pro – Wore Number 26 during the 1981–1989 seasons (his entire career)

Bennie McRae

Cornerback – Chicago Bears (1962–1970), New York Giants (1971) – 0-time Pro Bowl/All-Pro selections (Named Second-team All-Pro once in 1965, but no official consensus Pro Bowl/First-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 26 (1962–1970 with the Chicago Bears)

Gary Barbaro

Defensive Back – Kansas City Chiefs (1976–1983) – 3-time Pro Bowl selections (1980, 1981, 1982) and 1-time First-team All-Pro (1981) – Wore Number 26 (1976–1983 with the Kansas City Chiefs)

Vann McElroy

Safety – Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1990), Seattle Seahawks (1990) – 2-time Pro Bowl selections (1983, 1984) and 1-time First-team All-Pro (1983) – Wore Number 26 (1982–1990 with the Los Angeles Raiders)

Dawan Landry

Safety – Baltimore Ravens (2006–2010), Jacksonville Jaguars (2011–2012), New York Jets (2013–2014) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 (2006–2010 with the Baltimore Ravens; 2011–2012 with the Jacksonville Jaguars; 2013–2014 with the New York Jets)

Brady Keys

Defensive Back – Pittsburgh Steelers (1961–1967), Minnesota Vikings (1967) – 0-time Pro Bowl selections (Received All-Pro honors in 1967) – Wore Number 26 (1961–1967 with the Pittsburgh Steelers; 1967 with the Minnesota Vikings)

Jarvis Williams

Safety – Miami Dolphins (1988–1993), New York Giants (1994) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 26 (1988–1993 with the Miami Dolphins; 1994 with the New York Giants)

Kevin Smith

Cornerback – Dallas Cowboys (1992–2000) – 0-time Pro Bowl selections (Named Second-team All-Pro once in 1996) – Wore Number 26 (1992–2000 with the Dallas Cowboys)

Lamar Miller

Running Back – Miami Dolphins (2012–2015), Houston Texans (2016–2019), Chicago Bears (2020) – 1-time Pro Bowl selection (2018) – Wore Number 26 (2012–2015 with the Miami Dolphins; 2016–2019 with the Houston Texans; 2020 with the Chicago Bears)

Lito Sheppard

Cornerback – Philadelphia Eagles (2002–2008), New York Jets (2009), Minnesota Vikings (2010), Oakland Raiders (2011) – 1 First-team All-Pro, 2 Pro Bowls – Wore Number 26 (2002–2008)

Al Nelson

Cornerback – Philadelphia Eagles (1965–1973) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 26 (1965–1973)

Rob Carpenter

Running Back – Houston Oilers (1977–1981), New York Giants (1981–1985), Los Angeles Rams (1986) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 26 (1977–1985)

Ken Hamlin

Safety – Seattle Seahawks (2003–2006), Dallas Cowboys (2007–2009), Baltimore Ravens (2010), Indianapolis Colts (2010) – 1 Pro Bowl selection – Wore Number 26 (2003–2009)

Deshea Townsend

Cornerback – Pittsburgh Steelers (1998–2009), Indianapolis Colts (2010) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 26 (1998–2009)

Conclusion

The number 26 has a deep, dual-faceted history in the NFL, defined equally by shutdown defense and dynamic offensive threats. Multiple Pro Football Hall of Fame members—among them, Super Bowl-winning cornerback Herb Adderley and dominant, versatile defensive back Rod Woodson—cement its legacy as a symbol of excellence in the secondary. Complementing this defensive dominance are powerful running backs like the record-setting Clinton Portis and the highly productive dual-threat Le’Veon Bell. Whether a player wore it while securing championships or setting modern scrimmage records, the No. 26 jersey represents an extraordinary level of talent and versatility across the gridiron.