Greatest Players Who Wore the NFL Jersey 29

A Rushing King and Defensive Greats: Who Is the Best to Wear NFL Number 29?

The number 29 carries a prestige defined by players who mastered the art of speed and explosion. Anchoring this list is Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, the legendary running back who holds the seemingly unbreakable NFL single-season rushing record (2,105 yards). But the competition is intense! The number also belongs to Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston and a collection of elite defensive backs, including the fierce Earl Thomas and shutdown corners Sam Madison and Albert Lewis. This jersey has consistently been worn by athletes who were simply faster and tougher than the competition. Join us as we settle the debate and rank the top players who gave the No. 29 jersey its legendary status.

List of the Best NFL Players Who Wore the 29 Jersey

Football career bios for players who have worn the number 29:

Red Badgro

A Pro Football Hall of Fame end who played in the NFL’s early era, he was a versatile star who scored the first touchdown in the first-ever NFL Championship Game in 1933.

End – New York Yankees (1927–1928), New York Giants (1930–1935), Brooklyn Dodgers (1936) – 3-time First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 1927–1928

Ray Flaherty

This Pro Football Hall of Famer was a seven-time First-team All-Pro end for the New York Giants and later coached the Washington Redskins to two NFL Championships, receiving credit for inventing the screen pass.

End – Los Angeles Wildcats (1926), New York Yankees (1927–1928), New York Giants (1928–1935) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections (pre-date) – Wore Number 29: Did not wear number 29 in the NFL (wore numbers such as 1, 11, 17, and 20)

Eric Dickerson

A Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, he set the single-season NFL rushing record with 2,105 yards in 1984 and was the fastest player to reach the 10,000-yard rushing milestone (91 games).

Running Back – Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987), Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991), Los Angeles Raiders (1992), Atlanta Falcons (1993) – 5 First-team All-Pro selections and 6 Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 29: 1983–1993 (wore number 29 with the Rams, Colts, Raiders, and Falcons)

Ken Houston

This Pro Football Hall of Fame safety earned 12 consecutive Pro Bowl selections and set an NFL record with nine career interception returns for a touchdown (all while wearing No. 29 for the Oilers).

Safety – Houston Oilers (1967–1972), Washington Redskins (1973–1980) – 5 All-Pro selections (2 First-team, 3 consensus/official varied types alongside 7 Second-team selections; 12 total All-Pro/All-AFL nods) and 12 Pro Bowl / AFL All-Star selections – Wore Number 29: 1967–1980 (wore number 29 throughout his entire career with the Oilers and Redskins, aside from some brief sharing/number variations)

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Harold Jackson

A five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who played 16 NFL seasons, he led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns during his career with multiple teams.

Wide Receiver – Los Angeles Rams (1968, 1973–1977), Philadelphia Eagles (1969–1972), New England Patriots (1978–1981), Minnesota Vikings (1982), Seattle Seahawks (1983) – 3 All-Pro selections (1 First-team, 2 Second-team) and 5 Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 29: 1969–1981, 1983 (wore number 29 with the Eagles, Rams, Patriots, and Seahawks)

Earl Thomas

A seven-time Pro Bowl safety, he was the centerfielder of the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense and won Super Bowl XLVIII, earning a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

Safety – Seattle Seahawks (2010–2018), Baltimore Ravens (2019) – 5 First-team All-Pro selections and 7 Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 29: 2010–2019 (wore number 29 for his entire career with the Seahawks and Ravens)

Albert Lewis

A four-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Chiefs and Raiders, he was a tenacious defensive back who famously blocked an astonishing 11 kicks during his 11 seasons in Kansas City.

Cornerback – Kansas City Chiefs (1983–1993), Oakland Raiders / Los Angeles Raiders (1994–1998) – 4 All-Pro selections (2 First-team, 2 Second-team) and 4 Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 29: 1994–1998 (wore number 29 exclusively during his tenure with the Raiders) [Source]

Sam Madison

This four-time Pro Bowl cornerback won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants and retired with 31 interceptions during his nine productive seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

Cornerback – Miami Dolphins (1997–2005), New York Giants (2006–2008) – 4 All-Pro selections (2 First-team, 2 Second-team) and 4 Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 29: 2006–2008 (wore number 29 during his years with the New York Giants)

Sammy Knight

A Pro Bowl strong safety who played 12 NFL seasons, he amassed 42 career interceptions and was a consistent playmaker for five different teams.

Safety – New Orleans Saints (1997–2002), Miami Dolphins (2003–2005), Kansas City Chiefs (20067), Jacksonville Jaguars (2008), New York Giants (2008) – 1-time Pro Bowl, 1-time All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 1997–2002 (with New Orleans)

Eric Turner

The second overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, this Pro Bowl safety earned All-Pro honors in 1994 and totaled 30 interceptions during his nine-season career with the Browns, Ravens, and Raiders.

Safety – Cleveland Browns (1991–1995), Baltimore Ravens (1996), Oakland Raiders (1997–1999) – 2-time Pro Bowl, 1-time First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 1991–1993, 1995–1996, and 1999. [StatMuse]

Tommy McDonald

This Pro Football Hall of Fame flanker and wide receiver wore No. 29 for the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the 1960 NFL Championship and retiring with 84 career receiving touchdowns.

Flanker / Halfback / Wide Receiver – Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963), Dallas Cowboys (1964), Los Angeles Rams (1965–1966), Atlanta Falcons (1967), Cleveland Browns (1968) – 6-time Pro Bowl, 2-time First-team All-Pro, 3-time Second-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 1964 (with Dallas)

Hanford Dixon

A three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, he is credited with naming the team’s famous fan section, “The Dawg Pound.”

Cornerback – Cleveland Browns (1981–1989) – 3-time Pro Bowl, 2-time First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 1981–1989

Karl Kassulke

A Pro Bowl safety for the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” defense, he was a key defensive back on the team that won the 1969 NFL Championship.

Safety – Minnesota Vikings (1963–1972) – 1-time Pro Bowl – Wore Number 29 in 1963–1972. [StatMuse]

More Iconic NFL Players Who Wore the Number 29

Mario Clark

Cornerback – Buffalo Bills (1976–1983), San Francisco 49ers (1984) – Selected to NFL All-Rookie Team – Wore Number 29 in 1976–1983 (with Buffalo). [Source]

DeMarco Murray

Running Back – Dallas Cowboys (2011–2014), Philadelphia Eagles (2015), Tennessee Titans (2016–2017) – 3-time Pro Bowl, 1-time First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in 2011–2017

Don Griffin

Cornerback – San Francisco 49ers (1986–1993), Cleveland Browns (1994–1995), Philadelphia Eagles (1996) – None – Wore Number 29 in 1986–1993 (with San Francisco)

Jason Belser

Safety – Indianapolis Colts (1992–2000), Kansas City Chiefs (2001–2002) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1992 to 2002.

Leon Hall

Cornerback – Cincinnati Bengals (2007–2015), Detroit Lions (2016), New York Giants (2017), Oakland Raiders (2018) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 2007 to 2015 (and portions with other teams).

Myron Guyton

Safety – New York Giants (1989–1993), New England Patriots (1994) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1989 to 1994.

Eric Berry

Safety – Kansas City Chiefs (2010–2018) – Selected 5 times as a Pro Bowl player and 3 times as a First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 2010 to 2018.

Joseph Addai

Running Back – Indianapolis Colts (2006–2011) – Selected 1 time as a Pro Bowl player – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 2006 to 2011.

Mark Murphy

Safety – Green Bay Packers (1980–1991) – Selected 1 time as a Pro Bowl player and 1 time as a First-team All-Pro – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1980 to 1991.

Ricky Reynolds

Cornerback – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1993), New England Patriots (1994–1996) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1987 to 1996.

Mike McCoy

Cornerback – Green Bay Packers (1976–1983) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1976 to 1983.

Bruce McNorton

Cornerback – Detroit Lions (1982–1990), Miami Dolphins (1991) – 0 selections – Wore Number 29 in the NFL from 1982 to 1991.

Darryll Lewis

Cornerback – Houston / Tennessee Oilers (1991–1998), San Diego Chargers (1999–2000), Denver Broncos (2001) – 1 time (Pro Bowl) – Wore Number 29: 1991–1998 seasons

Xavier Rhodes

Cornerback – Minnesota Vikings (2013–2019), Indianapolis Colts (2020–2021), Buffalo Bills (2022), Dallas Cowboys (2022) – 4 times (3 Pro Bowls, 1 First-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 29: 2013–2019 and 2022 seasons

Chester Taylor

Running back – Baltimore Ravens (2002–2005), Minnesota Vikings (2006–2009), Chicago Bears (2010), Arizona Cardinals (2011) – 0 times – Wore Number 29: 2002–2011 seasons

Al Matthews

Safety / Defensive back – Green Bay Packers (1970–1975), Seattle Seahawks (1976), San Francisco 49ers (1977) – 0 times – Wore Number 29: 1970–1976 seasons

Dwayne Harper

Cornerback – Seattle Seahawks (1988–1993), San Diego Chargers (1994–1998), Detroit Lions (1999) – 0 times – Wore Number 29: 1988–1998 seasons

Walt Sumner

Defensive back / Safety – Cleveland Browns (1969–1974) – 0 times – Wore Number 29: 1969–1974 seasons

Mike Williams

Cornerback – San Diego Chargers (1975–1982), Los Angeles Rams (1983) – 0 times – Wore Number 29: 1977–1982 seasons

Conclusion

The number 29 holds a prestigious and diverse history, defined by players who excelled through sheer speed and athletic dominance. Its legacy is highlighted by the presence of three Pro Football Hall of Famers: Eric Dickerson, the running back who set the unbreakable single-season rushing record, the explosive safety Ken Houston (who wore it during his formative years with the Oilers), and the versatile early-era star Red Badgro and Ray Flaherty. The number’s defensive tradition continued with modern stars like the ferocious Earl Thomas and shutdown corners Sam Madison and Albert Lewis. Ultimately, the No. 29 jersey represents era-defining athleticism, whether worn by a running back outracing the entire defense or a safety covering the deep field with unmatched range.

Most of our information above comes from the folks we want to thank, including Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com, Newspapers.com, and StatMuse.com.

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