What one player represents football?

Question

Michael Jordan is the one name that represents basketball to me. Babe Ruth is baseball and I believe his name would come up first for most people when thinking of baseball. What one name comes to you when you think of football, and why.

Answer 1

Their have been many great players in football history. But for me if i had to choose someone to represent the sport as a whole it would be Walter Payton. Walter is the greatest running back of all time. He ran the ball exceptionally well, but he also blocked extremely well. He is a true team player and did everything a coach asked him to do. HE had tremendous heart too.

He was also loved the fans. He always signed every autograph fans asked him to sign. I remember in Payton's autobiography (all details aren't 100% accurate but the main idea is) , he wrote about an incident when a public relations officer closed autograph session when Payton had to go and get something. Upon returning and seeing people leave, Payton called them back and continued to sign autographs. When he was finished Payton yelled at the PR man telling him never to keep him from the fans.

To me this a man who I would want to represent football.

Answer 2

first off football there isn't just one, but that is you question. their are a lot of good answers and a couple of bad ones. Rice, Farve, Montana are all good second choice answers.

Jordan is now thought of that way but really Russell use to be and still should be thought of first. with all those titles and as a player coach and against wilt and the O.

Jim Brown use too be thought of, for good reason. he was one of the best ever, but I gotta go with the most popular answer and say Walter Patton.

He was the first person to throw, catch and run a TD in the same game. He was as Tough as nails, and was "sweetness" because he had such heart. He played most of the time for a losing team, but still was a champion, before winning the super bowl on one of the best teams of all time. He didn't score in that game, and was in the twlight of his career but is guy you think of first from it. He played at a small college and became the greatest player. He did every thing ask of him and more.

I don't like going with the popular vote, but that is the first one I thought of and I couldn't take anyone over him.

Answer 3

I don't think there is every truly one player that represents any sport simply by himself. Just because there's always one name you might first assosciate with any sport doesn't mean that he was the only player to make SIGNIFICANTLY note-worthy contributions to the game.

To me football has been around far to long to give the title of "Mr. Football" to just one player. Especially when you consider all of the hall of fame players that have been with the NFL. Everyone from Johnny Unitas who helped to put football in prime-time popularity with his Baltimore Colts beating the New York Giants for the 1958 NFL championship, as well as Mike Singletary's 85 Bears. Or maybe it was Jerry Rice, or Brett Starr, or maybe it's Torry Holt, don't forget about Steve "air" McNair.

I think if you dig a bit deeper, you'll find that after the initial names that come to mind, that there is a whole lot more than just ONE player who represents football, baseball or any sport.

Answer 4

It's funny to really sit and think this one out. All time I'd say Montana, because of the legend. Possibly Unitas or Namath for the same reason. It changes too much with each generation. Modern times, I'd have to say Payton Manning or Ladanian Thomlinson. Both good guys who work really hard, are young(ish), and solidifying hall-of-fame careers. I think the reason that you have Major sports figures that exemplify their field in all but pro-football, has to do with football's need for total team-play. In nearly every other sport, you can have hall-of-fame stats without any help from anyone on your team (albeit difficult). In football, no matter what position you play, you can never rack up amazing stats without many "cogs" on your team working well. Gretzky, Ruth, Jordan, Pele... not sure about football.

Answer 5

When I think of football the first player i think of is Brian Urlacher. Football is a contact sport, he is one of the hardest hitting players in the game. Runs the best defence in the game. The smartest player at his position. He is the most important player on the team. He is what i would want in all my players if i was a coach. BUT football is a team sport. That is why you dont have a Michael Jordan or Babe Ruth.
Noone by themselves can dominate in football.

Also I HATE the bears.

Answer 6

There are several names that you could use. Butkus , Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Montana....... But the class of the the NFL is and always(I hate saying this being a vikings fan) will be Walter Payton!!! dedicated hard working, loyal and true to the game.

Answer 7

Brian Piccolo - His is one of the greatest stories ever lived. Part "Rudy", Part "Invincible" all heart. If you ever want to see a man cry, make him watch the original (1970) Brian's Song with Billy Dee Williams and James Caan. I'm fogging up just thinking about it. If you like football and don't know this story, get it now! The runner-up is Walter "Sweetness" Payton. Brian Urlacher third, and in fourth place, my beloved Jim McMahon, Bears anyone?
oh and Gayle Sayers might just be better than them all.
P.S. Great question!
More at the links below.

Answer 8

For me, it would be Emmitt Smith. He played like all players should...with heart, determination and grit. He always gave it 110%, and back in the early 90's when the Cowboys were truly "America's Team", he was the face of the NFL, especially since back then players didn't get penalties for removing their helmet on the field, which he did all the time after scoring...so his face became known by many.

Answer 9

Dick Butkis-scowl on face blood etc.
Johnny Unitas-Consistent champion
Jim Brown-opinionated great runner/cool for years.
Jim Thorpe-Canton Bulldogs-just the image of him/olympics too
Bart Starr -1st two Super Bowls-
Vince Lombardi-awesome coach
This is more than one,but football cant be summed up with just one guy.Lots of stellar players

Answer 10

Jim Brown! He won games for his team, he broke records, he won chamionships. He still holds records to this day. He was never tackled for a loss in his career. He is football. He walked away but its a hard sport and he was gettign his butt whooped, and before he had a life changing injury he walked away, Barry Sanders did that as well as Tiki Barber.
He is football!