The number 42 holds a singular place in sports history, immediately evoking the courage and legacy of baseball’s Jackie Robinson. But on the gridiron, 42 carries its own weight, signaling players defined by grit, versatility, and sheer dominance.
The first star to truly elevate the number was arguably Paul Warfield, who wore 42 during his collegiate career at Ohio State and helped define the modern wide receiver position. However, few players embodied the toughness of the number like College Football Hall of Famer Pat Tillman. While at Arizona State, Tillman, though undersized for a linebacker, earned the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award in 1997, wearing number 42, before tragically giving up his NFL career to serve his country.
From the pioneering runners and receivers to the hard-hitting defensive stars, the history of jersey number 42 is packed with players who left indelible marks on their teams and the game itself. Ready to meet the best to wear the iconic digits?
Esteemed football author/historian Joe Ziemba helped us find the top players of jersey 42 back in this 2021 interview:
Top Players of NFL Jersey 42
Ronnie Lott
A four-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Lott was one of the most feared and versatile defensive backs in NFL history, earning All-Pro honors at both cornerback and safety during his dominant career with the San Francisco 49ers.
Safety – San Francisco 49ers (1981–1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991–1992), New York Jets (1993–1994) – 10 Pro Bowl selections and 8 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1981–1994 seasons.
Paul Warfield
An exceptional deep threat and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Warfield helped lead the Miami Dolphins to back-to-back Super Bowl titles, renowned for his grace, speed, and efficiency as a wide receiver in both Cleveland and Miami.
PAUL WARFIELD
Wide Receiver – Cleveland Browns (1964–1969, 1976–1977), Miami Dolphins (1970–1974) – 8 Pro Bowl selections and 5 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1964–1974 and 1976–1977 seasons.
Charley Taylor
A Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the Washington Redskins’ all-time greats, Taylor was the first NFL player to accumulate 1,000 career receptions, excelling early as a halfback and later as a dominant wide receiver.
Wide Receiver / Running Back – Washington Redskins (1964–1977) – 8 Pro Bowl selections and 6 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1964–1977 seasons.
Sid Luckman
The first great quarterback of the modern era and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Luckman revolutionized the passing game while leading the Chicago Bears to four NFL Championships, utilizing the T-formation offense with unmatched skill.
Quarterback – Chicago Bears (1939–1950) – 3 Pro Bowl selections and 7 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1939–1950 seasons.
John Brockington
A powerful running back, Brockington became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons (1971–1973) while playing for the Green Bay Packers.
Running Back – Green Bay Packers (1971–1977), Kansas City Chiefs (1977) – 3 Pro Bowl selections and 4 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1971–1977 seasons.
Gerald Riggs
A dominant power runner for the Washington Redskins, Riggs was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and set a franchise record for rushing yards in a season (1,347 in 1984), later earning a Super Bowl ring with Washington.
Running Back – Atlanta Falcons (1982–1988), Washington Redskins (1989–1991) – 3 Pro Bowl selections and 1 All-Pro selection – Wore Number 42 during the 1982–1988 seasons.
Johnny Robinson
A Pro Football Hall of Famer, Robinson was a hard-hitting, ball-hawking safety for the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs, earning seven Pro Bowl selections and leading the AFL in interceptions twice.
Safety / Halfback – Dallas Texans (1960–1962), Kansas City Chiefs (1963–1971) – 7 Pro Bowl selections and 8 All-Pro selections (6 First-Team, 2 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1960–1971 seasons.
Chris Warren
A physical running back, Warren anchored the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield during the mid-1990s, earning three consecutive Pro Bowl selections (1993–1995) after converting from linebacker.
Running Back – Seattle Seahawks (1990–1997), Dallas Cowboys (1998–2000), Philadelphia Eagles (2000) – 3 Pro Bowl selections and 2 All-Pro selections (0 First-Team, 2 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1990–2000 seasons.
Chuck Muncie
A powerful, three-time Pro Bowl running back, Muncie was the second overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft and compiled over 6,700 career rushing yards, highlighted by his time with the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers.
Running Back – New Orleans Saints (1976–1980), San Diego Chargers (1980–1984) – 3 Pro Bowl selections and 0 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1976–1980 seasons.
Darren Sharper
A five-time Pro Bowl safety, Sharper was an opportunistic playmaker known for generating turnovers, finishing his career with 63 interceptions and leading the New Orleans Saints to a Super Bowl XLIV victory.
Safety – Green Bay Packers (1997–2004), Minnesota Vikings (2005–2008), New Orleans Saints (2009–2010) – 5 Pro Bowl selections and 6 All-Pro selections (2 First-Team, 4 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1997–2010 seasons.
More NFL Number 42 Greats
Butch Byrd
Cornerback – Buffalo Bills (1964–1970), Denver Broncos (1971) – 5 Pro Bowl selections and 5 All-Pro selections (3 First-Team, 2 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1964–1971 seasons.
Mack Herron
Running Back – New England Patriots (1973–1975), Atlanta Falcons (1975) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1973–1975 seasons.
John Gilliam
Wide Receiver – New Orleans Saints (1967–1968, 1977), St. Louis Cardinals (1969–1971), Minnesota Vikings (1972–1975), Atlanta Falcons (1976), Chicago Bears (1977) – 4 Pro Bowl selections and 1 All-Pro selection (0 First-Team, 1 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1967–1968 and 1972–1976 seasons.
Dick Hoak
Running Back – Pittsburgh Steelers (1961–1970) – 1 Pro Bowl selection and 0 All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1961–1970 seasons.
Leo Nomellini
Defensive Tackle / Offensive Tackle – San Francisco 49ers (1950–1963) – 10 Pro Bowl selections and 9 All-Pro selections (6 First-Team, 3 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1950–1951 seasons.
Don Webb
Defensive Back – Boston / New England Patriots (1961–1971) – 1 Pro Bowl selection – Wore Number 42 during the 1961–1962 and 1964–1971 seasons.
Marcus Coleman
Defensive Back – New York Jets (1996–2001), Houston Texans (2002–2005), Dallas Cowboys (2006) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1996–2005 seasons.
Morgan Burnett
Safety – Green Bay Packers (2010–2017), Pittsburgh Steelers (2018), Cleveland Browns (2019) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 2010–2019 seasons.
Kwamie Lassiter
Safety – Arizona Cardinals (1995–2002), San Diego Chargers (2003), St. Louis Rams (2004) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1995–2004 seasons.
Dave Elmendorf
Safety – Los Angeles Rams (1971–1979) – 1 All-Pro selection (1 Second-Team) – Wore Number 42 during the 1971–1979 seasons.
Ronnie Lippett
Cornerback – New England Patriots (1983–1991) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1983–1988 and 1990–1991 seasons.
Billy Van Heusen
Wide Receiver / Punter – Denver Broncos (1968–1976) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1968–1976 seasons.
Barry Church
Safety – Dallas Cowboys (2010–2016), Jacksonville Jaguars (2017–2018) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 2010–2018 seasons.
Altie Taylor
Running Back – Detroit Lions (1969–1975), Houston Oilers (1976) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1969–1976 seasons.
Mike Fuller
Safety / Return Specialist – San Diego Chargers (1975–1980), Cincinnati Bengals (1981–1982) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1975–1982 seasons.
Bruce Harper
Running Back / Kick Returner – New York Jets (1977–1984) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1977–1984 seasons.
Keith Simpson
Cornerback / Safety – Seattle Seahawks (1978–1985) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1979–1985 seasons (wore number 48 during his rookie season in 1978).
Lyle Blackwood
Safety – Cincinnati Bengals (1973–1975), Washington Redskins (1976), Seattle Seahawks (1976), Baltimore Colts (1977–1980), Miami Dolphins (1981–1986) – 1 All-Pro selection (Second-Team in 1977) – Wore Number 42 during the 1977–1986 seasons.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Running Back – New England Patriots (2008–2011), Cincinnati Bengals (2012–2013) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 2008–2013 seasons.
Boobie Clark
Fullback / Running Back – Cincinnati Bengals (1973–1978), Houston Oilers (1979–1980) – 0 Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections – Wore Number 42 during the 1974–1980 seasons (wore number 35 during his rookie season in 1973).
The Enduring Legacy of Number 42
The players who wore number 42 defined excellence across multiple eras of football and positions. From the defensive terror of Ronnie Lott and the ball-hawking mastery of Johnny Robinson to the revolutionary passing of quarterback Sid Luckman and the graceful speed of wide receiver Paul Warfield, these athletes made number 42 synonymous with greatness. Whether it was Charley Taylor establishing a wide receiver milestone, John Brockington blazing a trail for 1,000-yard rushers, or the sheer power displayed by backs like Chuck Muncie and Gerald Riggs, the legacy of this iconic jersey number stands as a tribute to versatility, Hall of Fame talent, and game-changing performance.
We thank the sources we used to gather these facts, including Pro-Football-Reference.com, StatMuse.com, Newspapers.com, NFL.com, and Wikipedia.com.
