The moniker of “the greatest” is challenging to designate in any discipline. One element is certain: top-level success must be consistent. The GOAT is not awarded to a flash-in-the-pan athlete who has experienced one or two seasons at the top of their profession.
This category is reserved for only the best performers of their time at their position over a considerable period who earned personal accolades and championships along the way.
Significant weight is placed upon professional careers, but collegiate and even high school endeavors must also be considered. You can’t be the greatest football player of all time if you were mid in college, can you?
Domination at every level of play is the criteria.
The Case For Marcus Allen
When examining Marcus Allen’s entire career, one constant is championship-level success. During his senior year of high school, he led his team to the state championship as their quarterback and safety. He was named Mr. Football for California in 1977, an award for the best football player in the state.
While at the University of Southern California, he was part of a loaded backfield during his freshman season. His Trojans won the national championship that year, and he later emerged as the top dog, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1981.
That season, he became the second player in NCAA history to rush for over 2,000 yards. His 12 games of 200 yards or more rushing is still an NCAA record he shares with Ricky Williams and Ron Dayne.
Allen was drafted 10th overall in 1982 by the Raiders, who had just moved from Oakland to Los Angeles. He became the Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named a first-team All-Pro.
During his second season in the NFL, Allen led his Raiders to a win in Super Bowl 18. His performance earned him a Super Bowl MVP. He ran for 191 yards on 20 carries, scoring twice. One of the TD runs was a 74-yard scamper where he should have been tackled in the backfield.
Only seven running backs have been named the Super Bowl’s MVP. The award is dominated by quarterbacks, who have won it over 50% of the time.
In 1985, Allen became the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player. That season, he set career bests for rushing yards (1,759) and yards-per-carry average (4.6), adding 555 receiving yards.
Raiders owner Al Davis had a contentious relationship with Allen that was further divided by the drafting of Bo Jackson in 1986. Allen endured, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993 and playing five more productive seasons.
He is enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame and ranks 14th in all-time rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns. One can only imagine what Allen’s total output would have been if his relationship with Al Davis had been better.
NFL Rushing Yards – All-Time Leaders
- Emmitt Smith 18,355
- Walter Payton 16,726
- Frank Gore 16,000
- Barry Sanders 15,269
- Adrian Peterson 14,918
- Curtis Martin 14,101
- LaDainian Tomlinson 13,684
- Jerome Bettis 13,662
- Eric Dickerson 13,259
- Tony Dorsett 12,739
- Jim Brown 12,312
- Marshall Faulk 12,279
- Edgerrin James 12,246
- Marcus Allen 12,243
All-Time Rushing Touchdowns
- Emmitt Smith 164
- LaDainian Tomlinson 145
- Marcus Allen 123
- Adrian Peterson 120
- Walter Payton 110
- Jim Brown 106
- John Riggins 104
- Derrick Henry 100
We’ve highlighted Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry because he has a background similar to Allen and is trailing him by 23 career touchdowns. Among the current batch of players in the league that have a Heisman and a National Championship, Henry has an outside shot of matching Allen’s superlatives.
Since moving to Baltimore this year, Henry has experienced a renaissance, totaling 946 yards and 9 touchdowns through eight games. Many are betting on the Ravens to make it to the Super Bowl this year, but even if they win, Lamar Jackson is a much more likely MVP candidate.
Active NFL Players With A Heisman And A National Championship
- Jameis Winston (FSU, Quarterback) – 2013 Heisman Trophy, 2013 National Championship, Currently With The Cleveland Browns
- Derrick Henry (Alabama, Running Back) – 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner, 2015 National Championship, Currently With The Baltimore Ravens
- Joe Burrow (LSU, Quarterback) – 2019 Heisman Trophy Winner, 2019 National Championship, Currently With The Cincinnati Bengals
- 2020 DeVonta Smith (Alabama, Wide Receiver) – 2020 Heisman Trophy Winner – 2017 & 2020 National Championships, Currently With The Philadelphia Eagles
- 2021 Bryce Young (Alabama, Quarterback) – 2021 Heisman Trophy Winner, 2020 National Championship, Currently With The Carolina Panthers
Given the number of years remaining in the careers of Joe Burrow and Bryce Young, they’re still GOAT contenders. There’s never been an NFL MVP who was a wide receiver, so the odds are stacked against DeVonta Smith.
Players That Came Close To Matching Allen
- Joe Namath (Alabama, Quarterback) – 1964 National Championship, 1968 AFL MVP*, Super Bowl III Champion, Super Bowl III MVP
- *Earl Morall Was The 1968 NFL MVP – The AFL And NFL Would Merge In 1970
- *Namath Was 11th In The 1964 Heisman Voting
- Cam Newton (Auburn, Quarterback) – 2010 Heisman Trophy Winner, 2010 National Championship, 2015 NFL MVP
- Lost Super Bowl 50