By the Numbers: Best #14 in NFL History

Nearly a year later, and we’re finally back with our latest number segment. In the last 358 odd days, a lot has happened—including a certain popular pro football website absconding with our idea. Of course, they actually pay their writers, so they’ve already made it quite a bit further (maybe even all the way) than we have with five numbers in three years…

Of course, our posts our still better. And the original.

Interestingly enough, when I Googled their site to see if I could find an example, the first one I came across just happened to be the same number that we randomly drew today—the number 14.

There have been a lot of famous players to wear #14 in the history of the NFL, including Hall of Famers (and the best #25 in NFL History) Fred Biletnikoff, who wore #14 for the first two years of his career, Curly Lambeau, who was better known as #1 (according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame) and as the Packers owner/coach than a player, and John “Blood” McNally who apparently wore whatever number he could find.

As for players who wore (or are wearing) #14 as their primary number, here’s the best:

Otto Graham – Graham wore 14 from 1952-56, after wearing #60 earlier in his career. The Browns played in 10 straight titles games and won four AAFC and three NFL Championships under Graham, and Graham finished his career with 5 Pro Bowl appearances and 7 All-Pro awards.

YA Tittle – Tittle’s jersey number bounced around a bit in his early career, but he wore 14 from 1952 to 1964, including in his famous photo. Tittle was a 7-time Pro Bowler and 3-time All-Pro.

Ken Anderson – Anderson wore 14 for his entire 16 year career with the Cincinnati Bengals, that featured 4 Pro Bowl seasons, 1 All-Pro award, and one Super Bowl appearance. He is considered by some to be one of the bigger Hall of Fame snubs.

Dan Fouts – Fouts was a contemporary of Anderson in many ways, and the two #14s battled head to head several times, including the famous Freezer Bowl in the 1981 AFC Championship Game. Fouts played 15 seasons, and played in six Pro Bowls, won 2 All-Pro awards, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Don Hutson – Hutson was the first star split end to play in the NFL. He was a four time Pro Bowler, and an 8-time All-Pro, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s initial class in 1963.

Steve Grogan – Another contemporary of Anderson and Fouts, Grogran wasn’t quite on the same level, but still managed to hang in the league for 16 seasons, starting 135 games and throwing for nearly 27,000 yards. He was never a Pro Bowler or All-Pro, in part due to Fouts and Anderson, but also due to playing on a Patriots team that was dismal for much of his career.

There are not a lot of stars wearing #14 currently in the NFL—the top two players we found were Andy Dalton and Sammy Watkins, who could possibly make it on the list above some day, but aren’t anywhere near that class yet.

Vote for the #14 you think is best below, and leave us a comment as to who and why you voted, or if you think we missed someone.

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