Best of Jersey 86

The number 86 in the NFL has been a symbol of both defensive dominance and offensive fireworks. From lockdown cornerbacks blanketing opposing wideouts to pass-catching tight ends stretching the field, #86 boasts a rich history across the spectrum of the game.

But who truly wore #86 the best? Today, we're tackling this very question and honoring the legends who donned this iconic number! We'll unveil a list of the elite defensive backs and unstoppable tight ends who left their mark on the gridiron.

Get ready for a journey through NFL history, where we'll analyze the careers of these gridiron greats. We'll explore their signature plays, clutch interceptions, and championship runs, sparking friendly debates about who reigned supreme with number 86.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton gives us our starting point of the great players to wear this number.

• Buck Buchanan
• Dante Lavelli
• James Lofton

Here is a list of great players that have not made it in to the Hall of Fame as of the time of this writing:

• Hines Ward
• Stanley Morgan
• Boyd Dowler
• Gary Collins
• Antonio Freeman
• Cedrick Hardman
• Verlon Biggs
• Jake Reed
• Earl Faison
• Gerald Irons
• Marty Booker
• Marlin McKeever
• Darnay Scott
• Todd Heap
• Dennis Northcutt
• Zach Ertz
• Jim Mitchell
• Don Brumm
• Charle Young
• John Paluck
• Fred Barnett
• Brian Brennan
• Mervyn Fernandez
• Daniel Colchico
• Eric Green
• Lionel Manuel
• Marlin Briscoe
• Butch Johnson
• Brian Finneran
• Oronde Gadsden
• Mike Barber
• J T Smith
• Willie Green
• Ernie Jones
• David Patten
• Johnny Perkins
• Jordan Reed
• Jim Smith
• Karl Williams
• Steve Kreider
• Mark Nichols
• Leslie Shepherd
• Reggie Brown
• Freddie Solomon
• Ed West
• Jerramy Stevens
• Emile Harry

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.