Best of Jersey 21

In the world of the NFL, jersey numbers transcend mere digits. They become emblems of on-field dominance, forever linked to the players who wore them with pride. Today, we're turning the spotlight on number 21, a jersey donned by some of the league's most electrifying and versatile stars.

From the legendary shutdown skills of cornerbacks to the explosive plays of running backs, number 21 boasts a rich history. This jersey has been a badge of honor for some of the most recognizable names in NFL history, players known for not only their talent, but also their swagger and impact on the game.

But who exactly are the NFL greats who rocked number 21? Dive into our list of the most famous players who wore this iconic number. We'll explore their careers, signature plays, and the lasting legacy they left behind. Get ready for a journey through NFL history, all centered around the storied number 21!

Our great friend of the show and fellow Sports History Network Partner Os Davis the host of the Truly the GOATs and SHN Showcase podcasts joins us once again to talk about the greatest players to wear a particular jersey number and in this discussion we will be coming up with the top ten best NFL players to wear the number 21. Os Davis Welcome back to the Pigpen.

The Hall of Fame gives us our starting point.

• Danny Fortmann
• Benny Friedman
• Charles Woodson
• Cliff Branch

Deion Sanders

Born August 9, 1967, in Fort Myers, Florida was Deion Sanders was a defensive back from Florida that is enshrined in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the NFL he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons then later played for the Cowboys, 49ers and Washington. Sanders flair and athleticism put him in the spotlight right out of the gate on his career and earned him the nickname "Primetime." He was not only a great coverage and ball hawking corner but his kick return skills made for an exciting play every time he touched the ball. He was so electric with his hands on the ball that the Cowboys often played him on the offensive side of the ball as well. Sanders combined on 513 tackles, 493 solo, one sack, 53 interceptions, 10 passes defended, 10 forced fumbles, 13 fumbles recovered, nine defensive touchdowns as well as 60 receptions for 784 yards and three touchdowns, 212 punt returns for 2,199 yards and six touchdowns, 155 kick returns for 3,523 yards and three touchdowns. After football, he went on to work for the NFL Network as a commentator on many of their shows. He has been a head coach at Jackson State and Colorado.

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LaDainian Tomlinson

Born June 23, 1979 - Rosebud, Texas - LaDainian Tomlinson, the premier Texas Christian University running back from 1997 through the 2000 season was born. According to the National Football Foundation, Tomlinson was voted as not only the 1999 WAC Offensive Player of the Year but was a unanimous First-Team All-American selection as a senior as well. Tomlinson led the nation in rushing in both 1999 with an outstanding 1,850 yards and in the 2000 season he even surpassed that adding 2,158 yards of Horned Frog ground yardage.  He finished fourth in the voting for the 2000 Heisman Trophy. The all-time leading rusher in both conference and school history, Tomlinson set NCAA records for most yards in a half  with 287 and most yards in a game 406 in a big TCU win against UTEP in 1999. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of LaDainian Tomlinson into their legendary museum in 2014. The NFF bio on LaDainian goes on to state that he was selected as the fifth overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. Tomlinson enjoyed a successful 11-year career with the Chargers and Jets. The 2006 NFL MVP twice led the league in rushing, and he finished his career fifth all-time in rushing yards with 13,684 and his 145 TD's ranked him second in career rushing scores. This five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro selection, was also named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2006.

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Jim Thorpe

Born May 28, 1887, near Prague, Indian Territory

(what is now Oklahoma), was College and Pro Football Hall of Fame player Jim Thorpe. Thorpe was an early NFL player and a Gold Medalist Olympian. What made all of these accomplishments even more impressive was that Thorpe was also breaking race barriers to do so as he was a Native American. Born on a reservation, he ended up playing football for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, under legendary Coach Pop Warner. Thorpe not only won the pentathlon and the decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games for the US and played football, but he was also successful at playing baseball and basketball. As a pro football player, Jim played for the Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians, Oorang Indians, Rock Island Independents, and the New York Giants. One season with the Rock Island Independents wore Number 1. He started playing in the NFL at 33 till he was 41. NFL Jersey 2. NFL Jersey 21. NFL Jersey 3. NFL Jersey 1.

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• Eric Allen
• John Hadl
• Eddie Meador
• Tiki Barber
• Patrick Peterson
• Frank Gore
• Rick Volk
• James Brooks
• Chuck Cherundolo
• Pete Tinsley
• Nolan Cromwell
• Chris McAlister
• Eric Metcalf
• Donnell Woolford
• Jim Kiick

1. Deion Sanders
2. Charles Woodson
3. LaDainian Tomlinson
4. Jim Thorpe
5. Frank Gore
6. Eric Allen
7. Cliff Branch
8. Eddie Meador
9. John Hadl
10. Danny Fortmann
11. Benny Friedman

Do you agree or disagree with our list? We would love to get your feedback, so email us at PigskinDispatch@gmail.com.

A speical thanks to the Pro Football Reference website for information they share on these great players. Check them out at Pro-Football-Reference.com

The Image used above is courtesy of Google Gemini and others from Wikimedia Commons. It is pleasing to see such vivid images of the jerseys that point out the uniform number and help us identify the legends that wore it.