Best Athletes by Number: 66-99

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 25, 2009

Best Athletes by Number: 66-99

No. 66

He picked his number as a tribute to Wayne Gretzky (flip the numbers upside down), then put up numbers (1,723 points) the Great One would admire. His number was retired by the Penguins. Runner-up: Ray Nitschke.

No. 67

Part of Buffalo's famed "Electric Company" line that blocked for O.J. Simpson, McKenzie was a standout offensive lineman for 13 seasons for the Bills and Seahawks. Runner-up: Bob Kuechenberg. Worthy of consideration: Russell Maryland.

No. 68

Chose No. 68 in honor of 1968, the year of the Prague Spring and the Czechoslovakian freedom movement. He's worn it well for 17 years in the NHL: 621 goals, 907 assists, and two Stanley Cup rings. Runner-up: L.C. Greenwood. Worthy of consideration: Joe Delamielleure, Russ Grimm.

No. 69

Probably the weakest number in terms of candidates, though Krumrie was an underrated force on the defensive line for the Bengals during the `80s. He played in two Pro Bowls (1987, 1988). Runner-up: Mark Schlereth.

No. 70

Time Magazine once described Huff, who starred at linebacker for the Giants in the `50s, as a "smiling fighter fired with a devout desire to sink a thick shoulder into every ball carrier in the National Football League." He played in six title games and five Pro Bowls. Runner-up: Art Donovan. Worthy of consideration: Jim Marshall, Ernie Stautner.

No. 71

The fiesty lineman played 12 seasons for the Lions and was an All-Pro selection four times before retiring for a career in Hollywood and the immortal line, "Mongo only pawn in game of life." Runner-up: Tony Boselli. Worthy of consideration: Charles Mann.

No. 72

Reversed his jersey number when he came to the White Sox via trade in 1981. (His No. 27 was retired by the Red Sox in 2000.) Fisk owns the record for most games caught (2,226). Runner-up: Dan Dierdorf. Worthy of consideration: Ed "Too Tall" Jones.

No. 73

SI proclaimed him "The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time" on the cover of the Aug. 3, 1981 issue. Believe the hype. Hannah played 13 seasons for the Patriots and was named All-Pro 10 straight years from 1976 through 1985. Runner-up: Ron Yary. Worthy of consideration: Joe Klecko.

No. 74

Before he became an actor and commercial pitchman, Olsen terrorized quarterbacks during his 15-year-career with the Rams and played in 15 straight Pro Bowls. Runner-up: Bob Lilly. Worthy of consideration: Bruce Matthews.

No. 75

A sack-master before it became cool, the 6'5' defensive end teamed with tackle Merlin Olsen to give the Rams a "Fearsome" left side of the defensive line. Runner-up: Mean Joe Greene. Worthy of consideration: Forrest Gregg, Howie Long.

No. 76

You have to love a kicker who is nicknamed The Toe and wears a lineman's number. Groza played 21 seasons, mostly with the Browns, and led the NFL in field goals five times. Runner-up: Marion Motley Worthy of consideration: Rosey Grier, Orlando Pace.

No. 77

His is one of only two numbers retired by Illinois. Here's why: On October 28, 1924, Grange scored on runs of 95, 67, 56, and 45 yards -- in the first quarter. He scored a fifth touchdown in the third and passed for a sixth in the final quarter. As a pro with the Bears, his fame rivaled Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth. Runner-up: Ray Bourque.

No. 78

The dominant offensive tackle of his era, Munoz played 13 seasons for the Bengals (1980-92) and was elected to the Pro Bowl 11 straight times. Runner-up: Art Shell. Worthy of consideration: Bobby Bell, Bruce Smith, Jackie Slater.

No. 79

Ferocious pass-rushing defensive end was a four-time Pro Bowl pick and co-MVP of Super Bowl XII with tackle Randy White. His 114 career sacks remain tops among all Cowboy defenders. Runner-up: Bob St. Claire. Worthy of consideration: Roosevelt Brown.

No. 80

The NFL's career leader in receptions (1,549), yards (22,895) and touchdowns (208), Rice was a key member of four Super Bowl champions as a San Francisco 49er. Runner-up: Henry Ellard, Kellen Winslow.

No. 81

The Heisman Trophy-winner (1987) out of Notre Dame led the NFL in kick return yardage as a rookie with the Raiders. Brown wrapped up his 17-year career in 2004, ranked second all-time in receiving yardage (14, 934) and third in catches (1.094). Runner-up: Art Monk. Worthy of consideration: Dick "Night Train" Lane.

No. 82

Elusive, precise Hall of Fame wideout was Colts quarterback John Unitas' favorite target from 1956-67, leading the NFL in receptions four times. Set NFL title game records with 12 catches for 178 yards in 1958. Runner-up: John Stallworth. Worthy of consideration: Ozzie Newsome.

No. 83

Hall of Fame linebacker got the nickname Mad Stork for his gangly frame (6-7, 220-pounds). An eight-time Pro Bowl selection who blocked 25 field goals during his 15-season career with the Colts and Raiders, Hendricks played in 215 consecutive games and four Super Bowls. Runner-up: Mark Clayton. Worthy of consideration: John Jefferson, Andre Reed.

No. 84

Motor-mouthed member of the Broncos (12 seasons) and Ravens (two), Sharpe earned first-team NFL All-Decade honors for the 1990s. The eight-time Pro Bowl pick is the league's all-time leader in receptions (815), yards (10,060) and TDs (62) by a tight end. Runner-up: Sterling Sharpe. Worthy of consideration: Randy Moss.

No. 85

Hall of Fame defensive end was a seven-time Pro Bowl pick in 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (1971-84). Tough and durable, he played 201 straight games -- and all of Super Bowl XIV despite a broken left leg. Runner-up: Nick Buoniconti, Mark Duper

No. 86

The first player drafted by the AFL -- he went to the K.C. Chiefs in 1963 out of Grambling -- the fast, ferocious 6' 7", 270-pound Hall of Fame defensive tackle swatted down 16 passes in 1967 and later played in two Super Bowls. Runner-up: Hines Ward.

No. 87

Two-time Pro Bowl wideout hauled in 506 passes during his nine-seasons with the 49ers, none more memorable than The Catch -- his leaping end-zone grab with 51 seconds left that beat Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game. Runner-up: Dave Casper. Worthy of consideration: Sidney Crosby, Willie Davis, Lionel Taylor.

No. 88

Hall of Fame defensive tackle was a mainstay of the Vikings' feared Purple People Eaters defense. Page played in four Super Bowls and was the NFL MVP in 1971 as well the Defensive Player of Year in `71 and `73. Runner-up: Marvin Harrison. Worthy of consideration: Lynn Swann, Eric Lindros, Michael Irvin, Dale Jarrett.

No. 89

Hardnosed tight end helped revolutionize his position by making a then-record 75 receptions for the Bears in 1964. The five-time Pro Bowl pick was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Runner-up: Gino Marchetti.

No. 90

He and Chiefs teammate Derrick Thomas combined to form one of the most devastating pass rushing duos in NFL history. (Smith famously swung a baseball bat after the sacking the quarterback, a tribute to fellow Kansas city icon George Brett.) Late in his career he left for rival Denver, where he went on to win a pair of Super Bowl titles. He finished with 86.6 career sacks. Runner-up: Bob Kurland. Worthy of consideration: Jevon Kearse, George Webster.

No. 91

Lightning-fast and versatile (he can play center, wing and the backline), Federov was the leading Russian import of the `90s, scoring 30-plus goals 10 times and winning three Stanley Cups with Detroit, plus the Hart Trophy as 1993-94 MVP and the Selke twice as best defensive forward. Runner-up: Dennis Rodman.Worthy of consideration: Kevin Greene.

No. 92

The Minister of Defense was an ordained man of the cloth but a merciless pass-rusher. A two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1987, '98), he played in a record 13 straight Pro Bowls and retired in 2000 as the NFL's all-time sacks leader (198), a mark since broken. Runner-up: Michael Strahan

No. 93

A small, feisty defensive forward nicknamed "Killer" for his intensity, Gilmour scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for Calgary in 1989 and later pulled of the unusual feat of winning best defensive forward honors while scoring 127 points for Toronto in 1992-93. Runner-up: John Randle.

No. 94

The five-time Pro Bowl pick was a pass-rush force from the linebacker and defensive end spots from 1986-99 and is the only five-time Super Bowl-winner (three with Dallas, two with San Francisco). Runner-up: Dana Stubblefield.

No. 95

Dent was a central figure on the Bears' 46 defense (he played defensive end) that ate the NFL whole in 1985. That year he led the league with 17 sacks and earned Super Bowl XX MVP honors. Runner-up: Bubba Smith (Michigan State).

No. 96

A mountain of a man (6-3, 306) who could really motor, the seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle spent his entire 11-year career with the Seattle Seahawks, winning 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Runner-up: Pavel Bure. Worthy of consideration: Bill Voiselle.

No. 97

The speedy 6-5, 266-pound defensive end has been one of the NFL's elite pass-rushers since 1999. Rice has recorded 10 or more sacks in eight seasons and had an MVP-caliber performance for the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. Worthy of consideration: Cornelius Bennett, Jeremy Roenick.

No. 98

Nicknamed "Old 98" during his Michigan glory years, Harmon was the Wolverines' first Heisman-winner (1940). Drafted first overall by the Bears in 1941, he opted for an acting career and a stint in the Army Air Force. Son Mark (former UCLA quarterback) followed in both family businesses. Runner-up: Tony Siragusa.

No. 99

The Great One owns 61 NHL scoring records, among them career goals (1,016 including playoffs) and points (3,238), plus 10 scoring titles, nine Hart trophies (MVP) and four Stanley Cups. Convinced yet? Runner-up: George Mikan.Worthy of consideration: Warren Sapp, Rick Vaughn (Charlie Sheen in Major League).