The center is one of the most critical roles in football. The role is synonymous with the snapping back of the ball to the quarterback during plays and protecting them from tackles. Several players have perfected this role over the years. Today we break down the best NFL centers of all time.
Effective centers are highly sought after in the NFL. They hardly get as much praise as quarterbacks or offensive linesmen but can give the other players confidence to play their game without fear.
Who was the best center in NFL history?
Chuck Bednarik is considered one of the greatest NFL centers of all time. He played his whole career for the Philadelphia Eagles between 1949 and 1962, becoming a champion twice. He was well respected for his ability to play both offence and defence. He passed away in 2015.
Best Centers in the NFL in 2023
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According to Pro Football Focus, here are the best centers in the NFL in 2023:
| Player | Team |
| Creed Humphrey | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Jason Kelce | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Corey Linsey | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Frank Ragnow | Detroit Lions |
| Tyler Linderbaum | Baltimore Ravens |
| David Andrews | New England Patriots |
| Ethan Pocic | Cleveland Browns |
| Connor Williams | Miami Dolphins |
| Ted Karras | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Ryan Jensen | Tampa Bay Bucaneers |
| Cody Whitehair | Chicago Bears |
| Brian Allen | Los Angeles Rams |
| Drew Dalman | Atalanta Falcons |
| Mitch Morse | Buffalo Bills |
Where does Jason Kelce rank all-time amongst NFL centers?
Jason Kelce is one of the best NFL centers of all time. He was selected 191st overall in the 2011 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been a mainstay in the team winning the Superbowl in 2018 with them. He is ranked sixth all-time among NFL centers.
The best NFL centers of all time
The list consists of famous NFL centers who propelled their teams to greatness. Some of these players played in the NFL as far back as the early 20th century.
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20. Rodney Hudson
| Name | William Rodney Hudson |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (2011-2022) |
| Teams played for | Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals |
Rodney was a consistent top performer at center throughout his 11-year NFL career. He made the Pro Bowl 3 times.
19. Charley Brock
| Name | Charley Brock |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1939-1947) |
| Teams played for | Green Bay Packers |
Brock played for the Packers in the World War 2 era in the 40s. He was considered one of the greatest players of the early 20th century and gained plaudits for his ability to steal the ball from opponents. He passed away in 1971.
18. Dan Diedorf
| Name | Dan Diedorf |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1971-1983) |
| Teams played for | St Louis Cardinals |
Diedorf was one of the best offensive centers of all time in the NFL. He played in the Pro Bowl six times during his 12-year career. After his retirement, he worked as a TV colour commentator for college and NFL games.
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17. Olin Kreutz
| Name | Olin Kreutz |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1998-2011) |
| Teams played for | Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints |
Kreutz is considered one of the greatest modern offensive linesmen. He was named to the Pro Bowl 8 times during his 13-year career.
16. Kevin Mawae
| Name | Kevin James Mawae |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1994-2009) |
| Teams played for | Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans |
Mawae played 15 decades in the league and was named to the NFL's All decade team for the 2000s. He was known for his leadership skills and even led the players association. After his retirement, he successfully ventured into coaching.
15. Jim Ringo
| Name | James Stephen Ringo |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1953-1967) |
| Teams played for | Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles |
Ringo was part of the legendary Green Bay Packers team of the 50s and 60s that won two NFL championships. He later became a successful NFL coach for different franchises. He passed away after a short illness in 2007.
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14. Alex Mack
| Name | Alex Mack |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (2009-2021) |
| Teams played for | Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers |
Mack was a dominant force in the 2010s at center. He made the Pro Bowl 7 times, playing for three teams.
13. Randy Cross
| Name | Randall Laureat Cross |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1976-1988) |
| Teams played for | San Francisco 49ers |
Randy played his whole career with the 49ers, winning three Superbowl championships. After retiring, he embarked on a successful media career in both TV and radio.
12. Frank Gatski
| Name | Frank Gatski |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1946-1957) |
| Teams played for | Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions |
Nicknamed 'Gunner', Gatski was among the greatest NFL players of the 40s and 50s. He won the AAFC Championship four times and the NFL Championship four times. He passed away in 2005.
11. Dermontti Dawson
| Name | Dermontti Farra Dawson |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1988-2000) |
| Teams played for | Pittsburgh Steelers |
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Dermontti played his whole career for the Pittsburgh Steelers, making 7 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances between 1992 and 1998. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
10. Jim Langer
| Name | James John Langer |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1970-1981) |
| Teams played for | Miami Dolphins,Minnesota Vikings |
Starting off on the top ten best centers of all time, Jim was a dominant force in the 1970s. He won two Superbowl titles with the Miami Dolphins. He passed away in 2019.
9. Mel Hein
| Name | Melvin Jack Hein |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1931-1945) |
| Teams played for | New York Giants |
Mel is considered one of the best players of the 1930s. He was the NFL's most valuable player in 1938 and won two titles with the New York Giants. After retiring in 1945, he became a successful coach both in the NCAA and NFL. He passed away in 1992.
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8. George Trafton
| Name | George Trafton |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1920-1932) |
| Teams played for | Decateur Staleys, Chicago Staleys, Chicago Bears |
Trafton was arguably the best center of the 1920s. He won the NFL championship on two occasions as a player. He then embarked on a 30-year coaching and administration career with several teams. He passed away in 1971.
7. Clyde Turner
| Name | Clyde Douglas 'BullDog' Turner |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1940-1952) |
| Teams played for | Chicago Bears |
Bulldog Turner is another Chicago Bears legend on this list. He won 4 NFL championships in the Windy City. He passed away in 1998.
6. Jason Kelce
| Name | Jason Kelce |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (2011- ongoing) |
| Teams played for | Philadelphia Eagles |
Kelce has been one of the most dominant centers of the 2010s. He has won one Superbowl title and made the Pro Bowl six times. His younger brother Travis Kelce plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
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5. Dwight Stephenson
| Name | Dwight Stephenson |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1980-1987) |
| Teams played for | Miami Dolphins |
Dwight was a dominant force for the Dolphins over the 1980s. He was named to the Pro Bowl five times over his seven year career.
4. Jim Otto
| Name | James Edward Otto |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1960-1974) |
| Teams played for | Oakland Raiders |
Otto played his whole career with the Oakland Raiders, joining the team in 1960 when they were still playing in the AFL. He was an All-Star in the 13 of the 15 seasons he played professionally.
3. Mike Webster
| Name | Mike Webster |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1974-1990) |
| Teams played for | Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs |
Webster was a key component of the Steelers' side, winning four Superbowl titles in the 70s and 80s. He passed away in 2002 from a heart attack. He was the first former NFL player diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death, paving the way for a lawsuit that compelled the NFL to compensate players who received serious injuries during their playing careers.
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2. Travis Frederick
| Name | Travis Frederick |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (2013-2019) |
| Teams played for | Dallas Cowboys |
Travis was one of the most consistent centers over the 2010s. He made the Pro Bowl 5 times out of the seven seasons he played in the NFL before his eventual retirement in 2019.
1. Chuck Bednarik
| Name | Charles Phillip Bednarik |
| Nationality | American |
| Career period | (1949-1962) |
| Teams played for | Philadelphia Eagles |
Bednarik is widely regarded as the greatest center of all time. After serving with the Airforce in World War Two, he came back home to play for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won two NFL championships and made the Pro Bowl eight times. He passed away in 2015.
The center position may get less praise than quarterbacks and running backs. But the indisputable fact is that the best NFL centers of all time were all cornerstones of the franchises they played for.
Source: Legit.ng
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