Players Who Shaped the NFL into the Greatest American Sport

Nowadays, the NFL is a huge industry where the teams themselves divide $3.8 billion annually from the broadcast deals, merchandise, advertisements, and betting. NFL sportsbooks offer a unique opportunity for both the industry and its fans, and it’s easy to see the effect that the type of games and money that is involved in the NFL betting industry has on the sport. Many sportsbook also offer lucrative sportsbook promos, for which one can see details at various online comparison services.

Moreover, in viewership alone, 2021 saw a total consumption of 370 billion minutes throughout the entire season. This shift, however, wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts of some of the G.O.A.T.s in NFL history.

So, today, we'll pay tribute to some of the greatest ballers in the NFL and see how they have significantly molded the game of football into the greatest all-American sport of all time.

3 Underrated NFL Stars Who Shaped the Game

Wondering how the NFL became a popular phenomenon all over the world? Well, the unconventional stories of these three stars might give you some ideas.

Pete Gogolak

You're probably wondering why we’re beginning this journey down football memory lane with a kicker from the mid-1960s—Pete Gogolak. However, this unconventional legend helped revolutionize the field of football and shape it into the exciting sport we all know and love today.

Gogolak was instrumental in advancing the NFL in two pivotal ways. First, as a kicker for the Buffalo Bills, he pioneered the soccer-style kicking approach, which proved to be more accurate and powerful, allowing for longer field goals.

Before Gogolak, kickers employed a straight-on style, limiting their range and success. His innovative technique revolutionized the role of kickers in football. Following in his footsteps, a wave of soccer-style kickers emerged, becoming key scoring factors in the game.

The second way Gogolak shaped the NFL was by becoming one of the first players to jump leagues, violating the "gentleman's agreement" between the AFL and NFL to not sign each other's players. When the New York Giants desperately needed a kicker, they broke this agreement and signed Gogolak, intensifying the competition for players between the two leagues. This ultimately led to better pay and more high-caliber athletes in the sport.

Though Gogolak's contributions as a player were invaluable, his lasting legacy comes from the doors he opened that allowed football to develop into America's most popular sport. His bold moves as a pioneer shaped the NFL for decades to come. And that is why a 1960s kicker deserves to be first in this series of legends who've made the NFL great.

Joe Montana

Let's talk about Joe Montana––the legendary 49ers quarterback known for his miraculous comebacks and calm demeanor under pressure. Montana was an eight-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro, and four-time Super Bowl champion. He won three Super Bowl MVPs and two NFL MVPs over his illustrious career.

Montana engineered so many thrilling come-from-behind wins that "The Catch" and his 92-yard game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII have become the stuff of legends. No stage was too big for "Joe Cool." The higher the stakes, the better he performed. It's no wonder Montana was ranked the #1 clutch QB of all time by Sports Illustrated.

After football, Montana's fame endured. He was named one of the NFL's greatest players of all time and the 25th greatest athlete of the 20th century. Though now decades into retirement, Montana remains an enduring American icon and the gold standard of quarterbacks.

O.J. Simpson

Last but not least, let's pivot to another NFL legend whose legacy is more complicated and controversial—O.J. Simpson.

As a player, Simpson was a singular talent. In 1973, he became the first to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, a 14-game NFL record that stands to this day. He went to six Pro Bowls, held the record for most 200-yard games in a career, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985. Beyond football, Simpson also became a pop culture celebrity, starring in movies and as a commentator on Monday Night Football.

However, his post-retirement fame soon turned infamous with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in 1994 and his subsequent dramatic televised trial and acquittal. Simpson's tragic downfall has largely overshadowed his gridiron accomplishments. Though a key figure in NFL history, the darkness of his later life makes his legacy difficult to reconcile.

Like Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, did years of football-related head trauma contribute to Simpson's mental and behavioral decline? We'll never know for sure, but it remains a sobering question.