Greatest Players Who Wore the NFL Jersey 25

A Versatile History: The Greatest to Ever Don NFL Jersey Number 25

The number 25 boasts a surprisingly versatile lineage, worn by electrifying receivers, punishing running backs, and lockdown cornerbacks who defined their respective eras. At the top of the list sits Hall of Fame wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, whose sticky hands and clutch playoff performances secured him a Super Bowl MVP. But the competition is fierce! We analyze the explosive moves of running backs like LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles against the legendary toughness of Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald and the outspoken dominance of modern cornerback Richard Sherman. Dive in to discover which multi-talented superstar truly represents the history of the No. 25 jersey!

Who are the top players who have worn the Number 25 in NFL history?

Here is our list of candidates with the most significant impact who also wore the number 25 in an NFL game. The football career bios for players who have worn the number 25:

Fred Biletnikoff:

This Hall of Fame wide receiver played 14 seasons for the Oakland Raiders, caught 589 passes for 8,974 yards, and earned Super Bowl XI MVP honors.

Wide Receiver – Oakland Raiders (1965–1978) – 8 selections total (6 Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections) – Wore Number 25 from 1967 through 1978 (wore number 14 in 1965 and 1966).

Norm Van Brocklin

This Hall of Fame quarterback wore No. 25 with the Los Angeles Rams, led the Eagles to the 1960 NFL Championship, and still holds the NFL record for most passing yards in a single game (554).

Quarterback – Los Angeles Rams (1949–1957), Philadelphia Eagles (1958–1960) – 10 selections total (9 Pro Bowls, 1 First-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 25 during the 1950 and 1951 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (also wore number 11).

Tommy McDonald

A Hall of Fame flanker, he played on the Eagles’ 1960 NFL Championship team, earned six Pro Bowl selections, and retired with 84 receiving touchdowns.

Wide Receiver / Flanker / Halfback – Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963), Dallas Cowboys (1964), Los Angeles Rams (1965–1966), Atlanta Falcons (1967), Cleveland Browns (1968) – 8 selections total (6 Pro Bowls, 2 First-team All-Pro, 3 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 25 from 1957 to 1963 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Richard Sherman

A Super Bowl champion cornerback and three-time First-team All-Pro, he led the NFL in interceptions in 2013 and earned a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

Cornerback – Seattle Seahawks (2011–2017), San Francisco 49ers (2018–2020), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021) – 8 selections total (5 Pro Bowls, 3 First-team All-Pro, 2 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 25 from 2011 through 2021 across all of his NFL seasons.

LeSean McCoy

Known as “Shady,” he is the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher, a two-time First-team All-Pro, and led the NFL in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in 2013.

Running Back – Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2014), Buffalo Bills (2015–2018), Kansas City Chiefs (2019), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020) – 8 selections total (6 Pro Bowls, 2 First-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 25 during the 2015 through 2019 seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs (also wore number 29).

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Eric Davis

This Super Bowl XXIX champion cornerback made a game-changing interception return for a touchdown in the 1994 NFC Championship and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

Cornerback – San Francisco 49ers (1990–1995), Carolina Panthers (1996–2000), Denver Broncos (2001), Detroit Lions (2002) – 3 selections total (2 Pro Bowls, 1 First-team All-Pro, 1 Second-team All-Pro) – Wore Number 25 during his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers from 1990 to 1995 (also wore number 26).

Mark Collins

A durable cornerback, he won two Super Bowl championships (XXI, XXV) with the New York Giants and earned First-team All-Pro honors in 1989.

Cornerback – New York Giants (1986–1993), Kansas City Chiefs (1994–1996), Green Bay Packers (1997), Seattle Seahawks (1998) – 1× All-Pro – Wore Number 25 with the New York Giants (1986–1993)

Haven Moses

A wide receiver who spent 10 seasons with the Denver Broncos, he was a key target who led the team in receiving touchdowns and helped them reach their first Super Bowl (XII).

Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills (1968–1972), Denver Broncos (1972–1981) – 1× Pro Bowl (plus 1× AFL All-Star) – Wore Number 25 with the Buffalo Bills (1968–1972) and Denver Broncos (1972–1981)

Chris Harris Jr.

An undrafted free agent who became a Super Bowl 50 champion, this four-time Pro Bowl cornerback was named First-team All-Pro in 2016 and made the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.

Cornerback – Denver Broncos (2011–2019), Los Angeles Chargers (2020–2021), New Orleans Saints (2022) – 3× All-Pro and 4× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the Denver Broncos (2011–2019) and Los Angeles Chargers (2020–2021)

Jamaal Charles

This explosive running back is the NFL’s all-time career leader in rushing yards per carry (5.4) and retired as the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leading rusher.

Running Back – Kansas City Chiefs (2008–2017), Denver Broncos (2017), Jacksonville Jaguars (2018) – 3× All-Pro and 4× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the Kansas City Chiefs (2008–2017), Denver Broncos (2017), and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018)

Ryan Clark

A hard-hitting safety and Super Bowl XLIII champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2011 during his 13-year career.

Safety – New York Giants (2002–2003), Washington Redskins (2004–2005, 2014), Pittsburgh Steelers (2006–2013) – 1× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the New York Giants (2002–2003) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2006–2013)

Tim Foley

Defensive Back – Miami Dolphins (1970–1980) – 1× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the Miami Dolphins (1970–1980)

Jim Bakken

A four-time Pro Bowl placekicker, he holds the NFL record for most field goals in a single game (7) and was named the NFL Kicker of the Decade for the 1960s.

Kicker – St. Louis Cardinals (1962–1978) – 4× All-Pro and 4× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the St. Louis Cardinals (1962–1978)

Charlie Garner

Known as “Instant Offense,” this versatile Pro Bowl running back rushed for over 7,000 career yards and was known for excelling as an elite receiving back.

Running Back – Philadelphia Eagles (1994–1998), San Francisco 49ers (1999–2000), Oakland Raiders (2001–2003), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004) – 1× Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25 with the San Francisco 49ers (1999–2000) and Oakland Raiders (2001–2003)

Vencie Glenn

A safety who spent 10 seasons in the NFL, he recorded 35 career interceptions and set a then-San Diego Chargers record with a 103-yard interception return.

Safety – New England Patriots (1986), San Diego Chargers (1986–1990), New Orleans Saints (1991), Minnesota Vikings (1992–1994), New York Giants (1995) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 25 with the New England Patriots (1986), San Diego Chargers (1986–1990), New Orleans Saints (1991), Minnesota Vikings (1992–1994), and New York Giants (1995)

Billy Kinard

A defensive back and halfback in the late 1950s and early 1960s, he later became the head football coach at his alma mater, Ole Miss.

Defensive Back – Cleveland Browns (1956), Green Bay Packers (1957–1958), Buffalo Bills [AFL] (1960) – 0 All-Pro or Pro Bowl selections – Wore Number 25 with the Green Bay Packers (1957–1958)

Walt Kiesling

This Pro Football Hall of Fame guard played for five different NFL teams in the league’s early decades before embarking on a 34-year career as a player, coach, and assistant coach.

Guard / Tackle – Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927), Pottsville Maroons (1928), Chicago Cardinals (1929–1933), Chicago Bears (1934), Green Bay Packers (1935–1936), Pittsburgh Pirates (1937–1938) – 3× All-Pro – Wore Number 25 (worn during portions of his pioneering era career prior to modern fixed numbering standardization; recognized alongside other early greats by the Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Other top players wearing Jersey 25

Robert Blackmon

Safety – Seattle Seahawks (1990-1996), Indianapolis Colts (1997-1998) – 0-time All-Pro or Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 1990–1998

Jerry Gray

Cornerback – Los Angeles Rams (1985-1991), Houston Oilers (1992), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993) – 2-time Second-team All-Pro, 4-time Pro Bowl (1987-1990) – Wore Number 25: 1985–1992 (wore #20 in 1993)

Scott Case

Defensive Back/Safety – Atlanta Falcons (1984-1994), Dallas Cowboys (1995) – 1-time Pro Bowl (1988) – Wore Number 25: 1984–1994 (wore #47 in 1995 with Dallas)

Dorsey Levens

Running Back – Green Bay Packers (1994-2001), Philadelphia Eagles (2002-2003), New York Giants (2004) – 1-time First-team All-Pro, 1-time Pro Bowl (1997) – Wore Number 25: 1994–2003 (wore #21 in 2004 with New York)

Reggie Tongue

Defensive Back – Kansas City Chiefs (1996-2000), Seattle Seahawks (2000-2003), New York Jets (2004), Oakland Raiders (2005) – 0-time All-Pro or Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 1996–2003 (wore #26 with NYJ and #29 with OAK)

Will Allen

Safety – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-2009), Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-2012, 2013-2015), Dallas Cowboys (2013) – 0-time All-Pro or Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 2004–2009, 2010–2015 (wore #26 in Dallas)

Kerry Rhodes

Safety – New York Jets (2005-2009), Arizona Cardinals (2010-2012) – 1-time Second-team All-Pro, 0-time Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 2005–2012

Louis Oliver

Safety – Miami Dolphins (1989-1993, 1995-1996), Cincinnati Bengals (1994) – 1-time Second-team All-Pro (1992), 0-time Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 1989–1996

Nesby Glasgow

Defensive Back/Safety – Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts (1979-1987), Seattle Seahawks (1988-1992) – 0-time All-Pro or Pro Bowl – Wore Number 25: 1979–1992

Johnnie Poe

Cornerback – New Orleans Saints (1981–1987) – 0 selections (None) – Wore Number 25 (1981–1987)

Kareem Jackson

Safety / Defensive Back – Houston Texans (2010–2018, 2023), Denver Broncos (2019–2023), Buffalo Bills (2024) – 0 selections (None) – Wore Number 25 (2010–2018)

Conclusion

The number 25 may not have the singular star power of some other jerseys, but its history is defined by remarkable versatility and Hall of Fame excellence across multiple positions. It belongs to legendary receiver and Super Bowl MVP Fred Biletnikoff, dynamic running backs like LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles, and lockdown modern cornerbacks such as Richard Sherman and Chris Harris Jr. This jersey symbolizes a tradition of playmakers who were consistently reliable, game-changing threats, cementing No. 25 as a badge of honor for versatile stars throughout every era of the NFL.