The best player ever to wear the #97 jersey in NFL history is still playing this season, meaning he can continue to extend his lead atop the list! With 97 days left until the 2024 NFL season, we will continue our countdown by going over the top five players to wear this jersey number. Follow along to keep track of how many days until the NFL season, and share who YOU think the best player to ever wear that jersey number is! Click here to see the best NFL players from yesterday.
With 97 days until the 2024 NFL season, we give you the best NFL players to wear #97. Of course, some great players are wearing this number this season. They have the ability to continue rising up the list! The official ranking of these players is based on the Approximate Value (AV) from Pro Football Reference.
Without further ado, here are the all-time best players to wear #97 in NFL history.
Best Players to Wear 97 in NFL History
1) Cameron Heyward, DL (2011-Present)
NFL Draft: 2011, Round 1, Pick 31 to the Pittsburgh Steelers
6x Pro Bowl | 3x All-Pro
Walter Payton Man of the Year (2023)
647 Tackles, 80.5 Sacks, 121 Tackles For Loss
2) Bryant Young, DL (1994-2007)
NFL Draft: 1994, Round 1, Pick 7 to the San Francisco 49ers
Hall of Fame
4x Pro Bowl | 1x All-Pro
Super Bowl Champion (XXIX)
627 Tackles, 89.5 Sacks, 93 Tackles for Loss
NFL Record for most safeties in a season (2).
3) La’Roi Glover, DT (1997-2008)
NFL Draft: 1996, Round 5, Pick 166 to the Oakland Raiders
6x Pro Bowl | 1x All-Pro
557 Tackles, 83.5 Sacks, 93 Tackles For Loss
4) Geno Atkins, DT (2010-20)
NFL Draft: 2010, Round 4, Pick 120 to the Cincinnati Bengals
8x Pro Bowl | 2x All-Pro
384 Tackles, 75.5 Sacks, 100 Tackles For Loss
5) Simeon Rice, DE (1997-2007)
NFL Draft: 1996, Round 1, Pick 3 to the Arizona Cardinals
3x Pro Bowl | 1x All-Pro
Super Bowl Champion (XXXVII)
483 Tackles, 122 Sacks, 93 Tackles For Loss, 28 Forced Fumbles
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