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25 Best Cornerbacks in NFL History
As the NFL becomes more pass-heavy, cornerbacks become increasingly important to combat dynamic downfield threats. Star cornerbacks have been making an impact since well before the passing boom, though.
Take a look back at some of the most impactful players at the position in NFL history.
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25 Greatest Cornerbacks in NFL History
25. Troy Vincent
Miami 1992-95; Philadelphia 1992-2003; Buffalo 2004-06; Washington 2006
2-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Key Stats: 893 tackles
Vincent, who bounced around throughout his 15-year career, hit his peak in Philadelphia, where he made five straight Pro Bowls and led the league in interceptions in 1999 and passes defended in 2001.
24. Emmitt Thomas
Kansas City 1966-78
1-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl IV champion
Key Stats: 58 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2008
Thomas led the league in interceptions for the first time in 1969 and he added three more picks in the playoffs, including one in Kansas City’s first Super Bowl win.
Patrick Peterson
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
23. Patrick Peterson
Arizona 2011-2020; Minnesota 2021-2022; Pittsburgh 2023
3-time All-Pro, 8-time Pro Bowler
Key Stats: 652 tackles
Peterson, one of many star defensive backs to emerge from LSU, earned Pro Bowl honors the first eight years of his decorated career.
22. Aqib Talib
Tampa Bay 2008-2012; New England 2012-12; Denver 2014-17; Los Angeles Rams 2018-19
2-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl 50 champion
Key Stats: 10 INT return TDs
Only three players in NFL history have returned more interceptions for touchdowns than Talib. He didn’t earn any major accolades in the first five years of his career, but he was named a Pro Bowler for the next five and he starred on a dominant Denver defense in 2015 en route to a Super Bowl.
21. Jimmy Johnson
San Francisco 1961-76
5-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Key Stats: 47 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1994
Johnson spent 16 seasons in San Francisco and had a three-year run of consecutive All-Pro nods that coincided with the 49ers’ only playoff appearances while he was with the team.
20. Lem Barney
Detroit 1967-77
2-time All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler, 1967 DROY
Key Stats: 56 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1992
Barney began his career with 10 interceptions as a rookie, three of which he returned for touchdowns — he led the league in both categories. Barney had a knack for causing turnovers during his 11-year career in Detroit.
19. Aeneas Williams
Phoenix/Arizona 1991-2000; St. Louis Rams 2001-04
5-time All-Pro, 8-time Pro Bowler
Key Stats: 55 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2014
Williams had a standout career with the Cardinals, making six straight Pro Bowls and leading the league in interceptions in 1994. He made it to the Super Bowl in his first year with the Rams and picked off three passes in three playoff games.
18. Dick LeBeau
Detroit 1959-72
2-time All-Pro, 3-time Pro Bowler
Key stats: 62 INTs, 9 fumble recoveries
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010
LeBeau went on to a lengthy coaching career after his 13-year playing career in Detroit. The Lions only made the playoffs once while LeBeau was there, but he made three straight Pro Bowls in the 1960s.
17. Lester Hayes
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders 1977-86
2-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler, 1980 DPOY
Super Bowl XV, XVIII champion
Key stat: 39 INTs
Hayes came into his own in 1980, when he led the league in interceptions on his way to his first All-Pro nod and Defensive Player of the Year selection. He also picked off five passes in the playoffs that year and returned a touchdown en route to a Super Bowl.
Richard Sherman
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
16. Richard Sherman
Seattle 2011-17, San Francisco 2018-20, Tampa Bay 2021
5-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XLVIII champion (Seahawks)
Key stats: 495 tackles, 37 INTs
Sherman was a shutdown corner for the Legion of Boom Seahawks for the better part of a decade. He’ll forever be remembered for his tipped pass in the 2013 NFC Championship Game and his infamous post-game interview.
15. Darrelle Revis
New York Jets 2007-12, ‘15-16; Tampa Bay 2013; New England 2014, Kansas City Chiefs 2017
4-time All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XLIX champion (Patriots)
Key stats: 411 tackles, 29 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2023
Revis earned the nickname Revis Island for his ability to shut down opposing receivers. He was named Defensive Player of the Year runner up in 2009 when he defended a league-best 31 passes.
14. Ty Law
New England 1995-2004; New York Jets 2005, 2008; Kansas City 2006-07; Denver 2009
2-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX champion (Patriots)
Key stats: 849 tackles, 53 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019
Law starred on three Super Bowl-winning teams during his time in New England and led the league in interceptions twice during his 15-year career.
13. Ronde Barber
Tampa Bay 1997-2012
5-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XXXVII champion
Key Stats: 47 INTs, 197 PDs, 28 sacks
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2023
Barber was an Iron Man, making an NFL record 209 consecutive starts at cornerback. He’s also the only player ever with 45-plus interceptions and 25-plus sacks and he came up big during Tampa’s first Super Bowl.
12. Willie Brown
Denver 1963-66; Oakland 1967-78
9-time Pro Bowler, 5-time All-Pro
Super Bowl XI champion (Raiders)
Key Stats: 54 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1984
Brown made seven straight Pro Bowls after joining the Raiders and had a 75-yard pick-six in Super Bowl XI.
11. Mel Renfro
Dallas 1964-77
4-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl VI, XII champion
Key stat: 52 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1996
Renfro made the Pro Bowl the first 10 years of his career and helped the Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl victories.
10. Mike Haynes
New England 1976-82; Los Angeles Raiders 1983-89
8-time All-Pro, 9-time Pro Bowler, 1976 DROY
Super Bowl XVIII champion (Raiders)
Key stat: 46 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1997
Haynes earned All-Pro honors the first five years of his career and had an interception in Super Bowl XVIII.
Charles Woodson
9. Charles Woodson
Oakland 1998-2005, 2013-15; Green Bay 2006-12
8-time All-Pro, 9-time Pro Bowler, 1998 DROY, 2009 DPOY
Super Bowl XLV champion (Packers)
Key stats: 1,003 tackles, 20 sacks, 65 INTs, 13 defensive TDs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2021
Woodson was the last defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy, a feat that predated a decorated NFL career that included Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as an interception title.
8. Ronnie Lott
San Francisco 1981-90; Los Angeles Raiders 1991-92; New York Jets 1993-94
7-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV champion (49ers)
Key Stats: 63 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2000
Lott led the league with three interceptions returned for touchdowns as a rookie and took one more to the house in the playoffs en route to one of four rings he would win in San Francisco. Though he excelled later in his career as a safety, Lott enjoyed plenty of early success as a cornerback.
7. Herb Adderley
Green Bay 1961-69; Dallas 1970-72
7-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler
3-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965 Packers)
Super Bowl I, II (Packers) and VI (Cowboys) champion
Key stats: 48 INTs, 7 INT TDs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1980
Adderley won an NFL or Super Bowl championship in six of his 12 seasons in the league and returned an NFL-high three interceptions for touchdowns in 1965.
6. Champ Bailey
Washington 1999-2003; Denver 2004-13
7-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowler
Key stats: 931 tackles, 52 INTs, 203 PD
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2019
No player in NFL history defended more passes than Bailey, who spent the final decade of his decorated career in Denver.
5. Darrell Green
Washington 1983-2002
4-time All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler
Super Bowl XXII, XXVI champion
Key stat: 54 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2008
Green spent his entire two-decade Hall of Fame career in Washington, where he was a key contributor on two Super Bowl-winning teams. Green was also recognized throughout much of his career as being the “fastest man in the NFL.”
4. Mel Blount
Pittsburgh 1970-83
6-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler, 1975 DPOY
Key Stats: 57 INTs
Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV champion
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989
Blount spent his entire 14-year career in Pittsburgh, where he anchored the secondary for four Super-Bowl-winning Steelers teams.
3. Dick “Night Train” Lane
Los Angeles Rams 1952-53; Chicago Cardinals 1954-59; Detroit 1960-65
10-time All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler
Key stat: 68 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1974
Lane led the league in interceptions as a rookie with 14 in 12 games, which was a harbinger of his Hall of Fame career.
2. Deion Sanders
Atlanta 1989-93; San Francisco 1994; Dallas 1995-99; Washington 2000; Baltimore 2004-05
8-time All-Pro, 8-time Pro Bowler, 1994 DPOY
Super Bowl XXIX (49ers) and XXX (Cowboys) champion
Key stats: 512 tackles, 53 INTs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2011
Before he was Coach Prime, Sanders was Prime Time, a shutdown corner and multi-sport athlete who won back-to-back Super Bowls in the 1990s with the 49ers and Cowboys.
1. Rod Woodson
Pittsburgh 1987-96; San Francisco 1997; Baltimore 1998-2001; Oakland 2002-03
9-time All-Pro, 11-time Pro Bowler, 1993 DPOY
Super Bowl XXXV champion (Ravens)
Key stats: 1,158 tackles, 71 INTs, 12 INT TDs
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2009
Woodson set an NFL record with 12 interceptions returned for touchdowns over the course of his 17-year career.
More greatest NFL players by position:
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