Part 10: Numbers 90-99
The Pug (Anthony Pugliese) takes a look at the best players in NFL history to wear every number from 0(00) up to 99. In the tenth part of a ten part series, The Pug tells you who the best players in NFL history to wear jersey numbers 90-99 were(or are).
If you missed the first nine parts, click the links below to see 0-89
0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89
#90: Julius Peppers, Defensive End, Outside Linebacker: Although Peppers has changed to number 56 following his move to the Green Bay Packers to honor Lawrence Taylor, Peppers still holds the honor of best player to sport the number 90. The number two overall selection in the 2002 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers wasted no time proving his worth to the Carolina Panthers. Peppers won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award after tallying 12 sacks in 12 games as a rookie. In fact, Peppers picked up 81 sacks in eight seasons with the Panthers before signing a big contract with the Chicago Bears. Peppers is the only player in NFL history to record at least 100 sacks and to return four interceptions for touchdowns, notching six overall touchdowns in his career. Practically a shoo-in to join the fellas in Canton, Peppers has notched 646 tackles, 136 sacks, and forced 59 turnovers in his career, and looks to add to those numbers this year in Green Bay. Honorable Mention: Neil Smith
#91: Kevin Greene, Defensive End, Linebacker: A fifth round pick by Los Angeles after being a walk-on for Auburn, Greene took three seasons in a reserve roll before proving to the Rams he was starting material. From that point on, Greene had double digit sacks in eight of his ten years as a starter for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers, and 49ers. Greene played the game from 1985-1999 where he accumulated five Pro Bowl appearances, three first-team All-Pro appearances, two different seasons leading the league in sacks, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and a Super Bowl championship(XLV). Kevin Greene ranks third on the NFL’s all-time sacks list with 160. Greene was finally enshrined into the Hall of Fame with the class of 2016 after being at least a semi-finalist to earn the honor from 2007-2015. Honorable Mention: Leslie O’Neal
#92: Reggie White, Defensive End: Two fantastic defensive end choices for the number 92, but Reggie is widely considered to be the best of all time. One of the most decorated pass rushers in NFL history, the ‘Minister of Defense’, as he was commonly called, played the first two years of his professional career with the USFL before they folded and he joined the Philadelphia Eagles. Reggie White had a phenomenal 1987 season with the Eagles recording 21 sacks in only 12 games because of a players’ strike. White finished with double digit sacks in 12 of his 15 years in the NFL, including nine consecutive season which is an NFL record. Reggie’s resume includes being elected to 13 Pro Bowl selections, ten first-team All-Pro selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Super Bowl championship(XXXI). The number 92 has been retired by both the Eagles and the Packers for his services to them, and he is currently the Eagles all-time sacks leader and second on the Packers. White had 198 sacks in his career which ranks second all-time in the NFL(two behind Bruce Smith), but has the most sacks in professional football including his USFL stats at 221.5. On top of being a member of the Eagles and Packers Hall of Fame, he became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. Sadly, Reggie White passed away December 26, 2004 after suffering from fatal cardiac arrhythmia. Honorable Mention: Michael Strahan
#93: John Randle, Defensive Tackle, Defensive End: One of the most dominant pass rushers in the 90’s, Randle’s production was especially impressive since he spent most of his career as an interior lineman. John went undrafted in 1990 before trying out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was sent away without a contract because they felt he was too small. Tampa’s loss was Minnesota’s gain, where he spent the first 11 years of his career. Widely known across the league for his face painting, feud with Brett Favre,and trash talking, Randle backed his talk up with 555 tackles and 137.5 sacks throughout his career with the Vikings and Seahawks. After seven Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro honors Randle went back to Minnesota to sign a one day contract with the team he started his career with, and retire a Viking. He was a member of the 2010 Hall of Fame Class and is also a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor. Honorable Mention: Dwight Freeney
#94: DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker: The second current player to make this week’s best to wear every jersey number list, Ware has put together quite an impressive career. Ware was drafted in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys where he spent the first nine years of his career before joining the Denver Broncos in 2014. Ware currently ranks 11th on the all-time NFL sacks list, with the ability to move up to 5th this season(needs 7 sacks to tie Michael Strahan for 5th all-time). As an integral part of the Denver Broncos defense, that helped carry the team to a Super Bowl 50 victory, Ware is still producing as he enters the twilight years of his career. During his career, Ware has made nine Pro Bowls, been selected to seven All-Pro teams, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 after a 20 sack season. Ware is in the last year of his three year contract he signed with the Broncos and may put up some numbers hoping to earn some money on a short contract before retirement. Honorable Mention: Charles Haley
#95: Richard Dent, Defensive End: A cog of the dominant defenses of the Chicago Bears dominant defenses in the 1980’s, Dent was a speedy pass rusher that give opposing offensive lines fits. A huge reason for the Bears Super Bowl XX victory in which he was named MVP for his efforts. Dent left Chicago following the 1993 season, spending a year with the 49ers before coming back to the Bears, leaving again and spending a year each with the Colts and Eagles. Dent finished his career with 677 tackles, 137.5 sacks, and 45 forced turnovers. Richard was a member of the 2011 Hall of Fame class. Dent will also be remember for publicly blaming Coach Mike Ditka for the Bears being unable to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Honorable Mention: Greg Lloyd
#96: Cortez Kennedy, Defensive Tackle: Although this number may be owned by Muhammad Wilkerson one day, Kennedy is currently the best player to ever wear the number 96. Kennedy was the number three overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks where he spent his entire 11 year career. Kennedy missed making the Pro Bowl only once out of the seasons he started for the entire year(8 times he made the Pro Bowl). Although career numbers don’t jump out at you, 668 tackles and 58 sacks from the defensive tackle position made him one of the better players to ever play tackle. Canton agreed, as Kennedy was remembered forever in the Hall of Fame with the 2012 class. His number 96 has since been retired by the Seattle Seahawks. Honorable Mention: Clyde Simmons
#97: Simeon Rice, Defensive End: Rice edges out a pair of defensive tackles that are more than deserving for the title of best player to wear number 97. Simeon started his career with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted him with the third overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. Rice wasted no time showing the Cardinals that it was the right move winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with 12.5 sacks and 52 tackles (he wore #79 that year). After numerous contract disputed throughout his time in Arizona, Rice was signed to a healthy contract by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rice was with the team from 2001-2006 (including Super Bowl XXXVII), where he only failed to reach double digit sacks one time, and that was because he spent the second half of the 2006 season on the IR. Rice played the following season with the Broncos and Colts before retiring from the NFL with 475 tackles, 122 sacks, and 33 forced turnovers. Simeon has kept busy in the entertainment industry following his retirement, including owning his own record label and directing movies. Honorable Mention: La’Roi Glover and Bryant Young
#98: Jessie Armstead, Linebacker: Number 98 doesn’t have the sexiest of names on the list, but Armstead edges out the honorable mention. Armstead was an eighth round pick by the New York Giants in 1993, where he played for nine seasons. Jessie was selected to five Pro Bowls, all of which were in succession (1997-2001) and with the Giants. Armstead finished out his 11 year career by playing for the Washington Redskins for two years. Deciding to hang up the cleats after a preseason injury in 2004, he finished his career with 967 tackles, 40 sacks, and 25 forced turnovers. Armstead is a member of the Giants Ring of Honor. Honorable Mention: Casey Hampton and Robert Mathis
#99: Warren Sapp, Defensive Tackle: Sapp better enjoy his time on top of the best players to wear number 99 while he can, because J.J. Watt is coming up strong. Sapp was a first round pick in the 1995 NFL draft, and spent the rest of his career wreaking havoc on opposing offenses from the trenches. Derrick Brooks was also taken in the first round of the 1995 draft by the Bucs, and together helped turn the franchise around, eventually leading them to their first and only championship in Super Bowl XXXVII. After the 2003 season, he left the Bucs to play for the team they beat, the Oakland Raiders, to finish out his career. His career numbers for a tackle are absolutely amazing. Sapp amassed 571 tackles, 96.5 sacks, and forced 23 turnovers. Sapp was selected to seven Pro Bowls, had six All-Pro selections, and was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1999. Not to be overlooked, Sapp also had two receiving touchdowns in 2003. The number 99 has been retired in Tampa and he is also a member of the Bucs Ring of Honor. Although he had character concerns throughout his playing career, and ran into trouble with the law following his retirement from the NFL, Warren was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Honorable Mention: Jason Taylor
