Best of Jersey 51

In Professional football, jersey numbers often hold hidden stories. Wide receivers might own the 80s, while linebackers establish dominance in the 50s. But number 51? It doesn't scream "star power" at first glance.  However, beneath this seemingly ordinary number lies a surprising legacy of talented players who defied expectations.

This article tackles the often-underrated world of number 51 in the NFL. Get ready to discover a diverse group of gridiron greats, from the bone-crushing tackles of Dick Butkus to the electrifying leadership of Sam Mills.  We'll explore their unique journeys, signature styles, and the ways they redefined their positions on the field.

On this edition of the Football  by Numbers series will be coming up with the top ten best NFL players to wear the number 51 and to help us Andrew and Dan Neumann of the Hello Old Sports Podcast stop by the Pigpen! 
 

The Hall of Fame gives us our starting point:

• Jim Ringo
• Dick Butkus
• Cal Hubbard
• Sam Mills

The Substantial Players wearing 51 not yet in the Hall Of Fame are:

• Randy Cross
• Takeo Spikes
• Ken Norton Jr.
• James Farrior
• Zak DeOssie
• Jim Ritcher
• Dominic Raiola
• Monte Coleman
• Jim Lynch
• Jonathan Vilma
• Alex Mack
• William Thomas
• Kevin Hardy
• Woodrow Lowe
• Ralph Baker
• Bryan Cox
• Paul Posluszny
• Terry Crews
• Carlos Emmons
• John Mobley
• Loren Toews
• Reggie Wilkes
• Ben Leber
• Jerod Mayo
• Bob Swenson
• Greg Buttle
• Mike Pouncey
• Lofa Tatupu
• Lance Johnstone
• Broderick Thomas
• Dave Manders
• Akin Ayodele
• Eddie Johnson
• Jim Hough
• Bruce Irvin
• John Yarno
• Dale Lindsey
• Barrett Ruud
• Mike Croel
• John Tracey
• Brian Williams
• Gerald Dixon
• Anthony Simmons
• Alshermond Singleton
• Todd Davis
• Carlos Jenkins
• Jim Morrissey
• Lonnie Marts
• Buzz Nutter

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.