Best of Jersey 37

While some NFL jersey numbers instantly conjure up images of iconic players (think #12 and Tom Brady!), others hold a more mysterious allure. Jersey number 37 falls into this category.  Who are the hidden gems, the ball-hawking defenders, or the record-breaking specialists who donned this number?

This article dives into the fascinating world of NFL players who wore number 37.  Prepare to be surprised by a diverse group of gridiron greats, from shutdown cornerbacks who dominated opposing offenses to electrifying special teams stars who changed the game with their kicking prowess.

We'll explore a range of eras, from the hard-hitting defenses of the 1970s to the high-powered offenses of today.  Discover the signature plays that etched these players' names in NFL history, the awards they accumulated, and the unique contributions they made to their respective teams.

On this edition of the Football  by Numbers series will be coming up with the top ten best NFL players to wear the number 37 and to help us Aron Harris of the Football Odyssey Podcast stops by the Pigpen! 

The Hall of Fame gives us our starting point with these gents...

Jimmy Johnson 49ers Cornerback

Jimmy Johnson is the Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback of the San Francisco 49ers. Born March 31, 1938. He is one of the top NFL players to have worn the Number 37 Jersey.

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Doak Walker

Born January 1, 1927, in Dallas, Texas, was Doak Walker the highly decorated Southern Methodist University halfback. The NFF site says that Doak was a 3-time All-America halfback for SMU. He won the Maxwell Award in 1947, won the Heisman in 1948, and was named Player of the Year by Collier's Magazine in 1949. Doak Walker found the doors to be open wide to welcome him into the College football Hall of Fame in 1959. Doak after college joined the Detroit Lions and spent 6 productive seasons with the franchise. In fact according to the ProFootballHOF.com site, he did almost everything for the Lions as he passed, ran returned punts and kicks but he also performed the punting and place kicks for the team as well. Walker was selected as All-NFL in 5 of his six seasons played in the League. Doak Walker was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

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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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The Substantial Players wearing 37 not yet in the Hall of Fame are:

• Pat Fischer
• Carnell Lake
• Rodney Harrison
• Lester Hayes
• Shaun Alexander
• Mark Murphy
• Tom Myers
• Nate Odomes
• Larry Centers
• Mike Reinfeldt
• Maurice Hurst
• Tommy Casanova
• Tyrone Williams
• Yeremiah Bell
• J.B. Brown
• Kenny Johnson
• Tom Woodeshick
• Chad Cota
• James Washington
• Willie Teal
• Chris Goode
• Domanick Williams
• Tony Parrish
• Jesse Campbell
• Robert Jackson
• Sam Shields
• Johnathan Cyprien

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

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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.