Top 10 Cornerbacks of All Time

Cornerbacks are the defensive players who line up on the edges of the field and cover the opposing team’s wide receivers. They are often tasked with preventing big plays, creating turnovers, and tackling runners. Cornerbacks need to have speed, agility, awareness, and ball skills to excel at their position.

But who are the best cornerbacks of all time? This is a question that has sparked many debates among football fans and experts. There are many factors to consider, such as individual statistics, team success, longevity, awards, and impact on the game. In this article, we will try to rank the top 10 cornerbacks of all time based on these criteria. We will also provide some background information, highlights, and achievements for each player.

Top 10 Cornerbacks of All Time

Here are our picks for the top 10 cornerbacks of all time:

10. Champ Bailey

Champ Bailey was a dominant cornerback who played for the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos from 1999 to 2013. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time All-Pro, and a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He holds the record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a cornerback in NFL history. He also led the league in interceptions twice, with 10 in 2006 and seven in 2009. He was known for his exceptional coverage skills, physicality, and durability. He retired with 52 career interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns.

9. Darrelle Revis

Darrelle Revis was a lockdown cornerback who played for the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs from 2007 to 2017. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots in 2014. He earned the nickname “Revis Island” for his ability to shut down the best receivers in the game with his press-man coverage technique. He led the league in passes defended twice, with 31 in 2009 and 24 in 2011. He also had 29 career interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns.

8. Mel Blount

Mel Blount was a physical cornerback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 1983. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, and a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers in the 1970s. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975, when he led the league in interceptions with 11. He was so dominant that he forced the NFL to change its rules regarding contact between receivers and defenders after five yards from the line of scrimmage. He retired with 57 career interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

7. Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson was a versatile cornerback who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers from 1998 to 2015. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion with the Packers in 2010. He was also named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. He is one of two players in NFL history to win both awards, along with Lawrence Taylor. He is also one of three players in NFL history to record at least 50 interceptions and 20 sacks in his career, along with Ronde Barber and Ray Lewis. He retired with 65 career interceptions, 13 of which he returned for touchdowns.

6. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders was an electrifying cornerback who played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens from 1989 to 2005. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers in 1994 and the Cowboys in 1995. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, when he had six interceptions and three touchdowns. He was known for his speed, athleticism, swagger, and playmaking ability. He also played as a wide receiver and a return specialist at times. He retired with 53 career interceptions, nine of which he returned for touchdowns.

5. Rod Woodson

Rod Woodson was a versatile cornerback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders from 1987 to 2003. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler, a nine-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion with the Ravens in 2000. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, when he had eight interceptions and two touchdowns. He holds the record for the most interception return yards in NFL history with 1,483. He also holds the record for the most interception return touchdowns in NFL history with 12. He retired with 71 career interceptions, which ranks third all time.

4. Dick Lane

Dick Lane was a fearsome cornerback who played for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals, and Detroit Lions from 1952 to 1965. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a six-time All-Pro, and a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. He holds the record for the most interceptions in a single season with 14, which he achieved as a rookie in 1952. He was known for his hard-hitting style, which earned him the nickname “Night Train”. He retired with 68 career interceptions, which ranks fourth all time.

3. Mike Haynes

Mike Haynes was a shutdown cornerback who played for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Raiders from 1976 to 1989. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, a six-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion with the Raiders in 1983. He was also named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1976, when he had eight interceptions and two touchdowns. He was known for his speed, agility, and ball skills. He retired with 46 career interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

2. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders was an electrifying cornerback who played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens from 1989 to 2005. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers in 1994 and the Cowboys in 1995. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, when he had six interceptions and three touchdowns. He was known for his speed, athleticism, swagger, and playmaking ability. He also played as a wide receiver and a return specialist at times. He retired with 53 career interceptions, nine of which he returned for touchdowns.

1. Deion Sanders

Deion Sanders was an electrifying cornerback who played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Baltimore Ravens from 1989 to 2005. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, and a two-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers in 1994 and the Cowboys in 1995. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, when he had six interceptions and three touchdowns. He was known for his speed, athleticism, swagger, and playmaking ability. He also played as a wide receiver and a return specialist at times. He retired with 53 career interceptions, nine of which he returned for touchdowns.

He is widely regarded as the best cornerback of all time because of his unparalleled combination of talent, charisma, and impact on the game. He revolutionized the position with his ability to shut down any receiver he faced and create big plays on defense and special teams. He also transcended football with his dual-sport career in baseball and his entertainment ventures in music and television. He is a true icon of sports and culture.

Conclusion

These are our picks for the top 10 cornerbacks of all time. Of course, there are many other great cornerbacks who deserve recognition and respect for their achievements and contributions to the game. Some honorable mentions include Willie Brown, Herb Adderley, Aeneas Williams, Darrell Green, Charles Tillman, Richard Sherman, Stephon Gilmore, and Jalen Ramsey.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about these legendary players. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: What is a cornerback’s main responsibility?

A: A cornerback’s main responsibility is to cover the opposing team’s wide receivers and prevent them from catching passes or gaining yards after the catch.

Q: What are some skills that a cornerback needs to have?

A: Some skills that a cornerback needs to have are speed, agility, awareness, ball skills, tackling ability, footwork, and technique.

Q: What are some types of coverage that a cornerback can use?

A: Some types of coverage that a cornerback can use are man-to-man coverage, zone coverage, press coverage, off coverage, bail technique, and jam technique.

Q: What is man-to-man coverage?

A: Man-to-man coverage is when a cornerback follows a specific receiver wherever he goes on the field and tries to stay as close to him as possible.

Q: What is zone coverage?

A: Zone coverage is when a cornerback covers a specific area of the field rather than a specific receiver and reacts to the quarterback’s movements and throws.