Best of Jersey 23

In the NFL, jersey numbers transcend mere digits. They become emblems of on-field dominance, forever etched in the memories of fans. Today, we're setting our sights on number 23, a jersey donned by a fascinating mix of gridiron greats.

Have you ever wondered which NFL legends wore number 23? From lockdown cornerbacks who smothered opposing receivers to ferocious pass rushers terrorizing quarterbacks, this number boasts a rich history. This list isn't just about defense though! Number 23 has also been a badge of honor for some electrifying running backs with game-changing abilities.

Ready to discover the most famous NFL players who wore number 23? Dive into our exploration of their careers, signature plays, and the impact they left on the game.  This list will have you reliving iconic moments and learning why number 23 will forever hold a special place in NFL history!

We are pumped up 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 23. 

The Hall of Fame gives us our starting point.

The only player on our list that is listed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is Guy Chamberlin who played and coached in the earliest years of the National Football League when the only meaningful statistic kept was the teams' won-lost record. Winning was a category in which Chamberlin excelled. Of those coaches with 50 or more victories, Guy's 58-16-7 record and .759 winning percentage ranks among the best.

Guy Chamberlin

Born on January 16, 1894, in Blue Springs, Nebraska was Guy Chamberlin, the sensational back and end of Nebraska Wesleyan and University of Nebraska. In 1911 and 1912 Chamberlin starred at Wesleyan, he then transferred to play with the Cornhuskers of Nebraska and in 1914 the team was 7-0-1 in 1914 with Chamberlin at halfback scoring on runs of 90, 85, 70 and 58 yards per the NFF. After a transfer to end in 1915, he became an All-America selection and Nebraska went 8-0 on the season. The Cornhuskers had beaten Notre Dame 20-19. Knute Rockne, then a Notre Dame assistant coach, called Chamberlin "the key to Nebraska's victory." For his final college game, November 20, 1915, he moved back to halfback and scored five touchdowns in a 52-7 romp over Iowa. Guy Chamberlin’s stats and bio went into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962. After serving in World War I Guy played pro football for eight years. Bears legend, George Halas called him "the greatest two-way end in the history of the game." He was not only a good player but he was a great early coach in the NFL according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his six coaching seasons, five of which were spent as a player-coach, Chamberlin also won four NFL championships for the Canton Bulldogs in 1922 and 1923, the Cleveland Bulldogs in 1924, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Guy Chamberlin in 1965.

More Information

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• Number 23’s who are not yet in the Hall of Fame in Canton are:

• Christian McCaffrey
• Troy Vincent
• Mike Wagner
• Devin Hester
• Patrick Surtain
• Dave Whitsell
• DeAngelo Hall
• Brig Owens
• Goose Gonsoulin
• Blaine Bishop
• Perry Williams
• Joe Haden
• Quentin Jammer
• Bobby Butler
• Marcus Trufant
• Arian Foster
• Shaun Gayle
• Ted Brown
• Marty Carter
• Paul Lowe
• Don McCauley
• Ron Hall
• Pierre Thomas
• Kyle Fuller
• Rodney McLeod
• Charlie Smith
• Sammy Winder
• Johnny Roland
• Dunta Robinson
• Darius Slay

For our Top 10 selections either listen to the podcast or see them at:  Top 10 NFL 23s

1. Christian McCaffrey
2. Troy Vincent
3. Mike Wagner
4. Devin Hester
5. Dave Whitsell
6. Goose Gonsoulin
7. DeAngelo Hall
8. Brig Owens
9. Joe Haden
10. Patrick Surtain

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.