11 Best Centers of All Time

From snapping plays to anchoring the offensive line, the center position commands respect and responsibility in the NFL. In the heart of the trenches, they’re the silent quarterbacks, orchestrating plays, protecting their fellow linemen, and paving the way for legendary runs and game-winning throws. But who reigns supreme in this realm of snapping giants?

Joining us today is a quest to uncover NFL history’s most dominant, impactful, and celebrated centers. We’ll dive into their legacies, examining not just statistics and accolades but their leadership, versatility, and undeniable impact on the game to try and determine the highest NFL center rankings. Whether it’s the legendary leadership of Mike Webster or the sheer dominance of Jim Ringo, prepare to be transported through decades of gridiron battles as we uncover the actual dominant snap initiators and the best center of all time in the NFL.

How to Recognize the Best Centers in the NFL

The statistics and measurables for centers in the League are few and far between. After all, what these men in the trenches do goes almost unnoticed unless they do something wrong or blow an assignment. It is often a thankless job, but as the NFL has progressed over the years, the accolades for centers and offensive linemen, in general, have given us some tangible metrics to see the success of the center position and the men who have manned the position.

We will look at Pro Bowl selections, All-Pro counts, and Hall of Fame inductions as tangible evidence of the centers, along with Games Started and years played in the NFL at the position to help us along the way.

Most Snaps

Let’s start by looking at the men in the middle who played the most NFL plays at center. Longevity, endurance, and playing through some minor injuries lead to the consistent availability that these studs have shown.

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Kelce played his entire NFL career for the Philadelphia Eagles, thirteen years altogether. Jason was selected to seven Pro Bowls and is a six-time All-Pro as a center. This brilliant career includes playing in two Super Bowls and helping to bring home the Lombardi Trophy to the City of Brotherly Love in the 52nd edition of the Big Game. Even in what could be his final season in 2023, Jason was perhaps the best center in the NFL, anchoring the line that made the short-yardage Brotherly Shove one of the highest percentage plays in League history. The incredible 12002 Regular Season snaps for this player were done in a fantastic 193 games started, a testament to the ball control offense that Kelce and his teammates helped conduct over the years.

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Alex Mack is another player with many games started (196) in the NFL at center. This long-tenured star snapped the ball many times, 9848 times, while wearing the Atlanta, Cleveland, and San Francisco jerseys. Mack played at football’s highest level for a solid thirteen seasons. Alex was a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Most Pro Bowls and All-Pro Selections by a Center

How many times do writers, coaches, and fans choose a player as being the best in a season and get high marks in this exercise to find football’s best centers?

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Jay Hilgenberg had a remarkable career snapping the ball for the Bears, Browns, and Saints. Hilgy manned the trenches for thirteen years, mainly in Chicago, punching holes in defenses for Walter Payton to run through. Jay made the NFL Pro Bowl roster seven times, including two All-Pro years and a Super Bowl ring in the 20th edition of the game.

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During the late 1950s and 1960s, the top center in football had to be Jim Ringo. During his fifteen years in the League, this snapping stud was selected to ten Pro Bowls while playing for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Ringo was also recognized as an All-Pro at the position six times during that span. The guys in the middle don’t get much better than this Hall of Famer and two-time NFL Champion.

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Kevin Mawae is a name that is forever cemented in the position of the center as he set a high mark for future generations to be measured by. Mawae played the position for three franchises, starting in Seattle, moving to the Big Apple with the Jets, and then completing his Hall of Fame career with the Tennessee club. Kevin was part of eight Pro Bowl rosters and was recognized as an All-Pro center in three seasons.

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The AFL’s Boston Patriots struck gold in the 1964 entry draft by acquiring the services of Jon Morris out of Holy Cross. Morris developed into one of the game’s top centers during his career, stretching well into the following decade with New England. The All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler left the Pats in 1975 and later played with the Lions and Bears before calling it a career.

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When you see images of old double-zero in silver and black, the nostalgic feel of one of the NFL’s most significant centers ever comes to light in Jim Otto. It wasn’t just his unique and befitting jersey number that made Big Jim remembered but his steady and dominating play. Otto was in twelve Pro Bowls and was selected ten times as an All-Pro center. Jim played in all ten seasons of the American Football League Oakland Raiders existence and a handful more in the NFL version of the Raiders.

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When the New York Jets drafted Nick Mangold in the first round in 2006, they hoped for a steady hand at center for years. What they received may have exceeded expectations as the youngster earned a spot in seven Pro Bowls and All-Pro recognition twice. He played eleven seasons in the NFL, all with the J-E-T-S.

Steelin’ the Show At Center

 If there is one franchise that knows how to find legendary snappers, it has to be the Pittsburgh Steelers with these three studs.

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The Steelers were the most dominant team of the 1970s; one reason was their line play on both ball slides. The revered Hall of Fame Center Mike Webster directed the group on offense. Number 53 was selected to nine Pro Bowls and five All-Pro seasons during his seventeen-year career in the NFL, fifteen of those in the Steel City. The other two seasons were wearing the Kansas City Chiefs colors. Oh, and having four Super Bowl rings doesn’t hurt to make a standout career even sweeter.

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Pouncey was honored as an All-Pro twice and played in nine Pro Bowl games. The snapper out of Florida played the entirety of his career, a rock-solid ten years for the Steelers.

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Yet another All-Pro Hall of Fame player at the center position for the Black and Gold is Dermontti Dawson. Seven Pro Bowls and six All-Pro selections are part of the resume of this standout from the University of Kentucky. This legend’s career was completed when the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined him in 2012.

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Conclusion

As we conclude our exploration of the greatest centers in NFL history, it’s important to remember that greatness is subjective. Each era presents unique challenges and metrics for success, making direct comparisons across time difficult. However, the players highlighted here have all left an undeniable mark on the game, showcasing exceptional leadership, technique, and impact on their teams.

Ultimately, the center position, often called the “quarterback of the offensive line,” requires a unique blend of physicality, intelligence, and adaptability. These legendary players represent the pinnacle of those qualities, inspiring future generations and solidifying their places in the pantheon of NFL greats.

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 29th, 2024 at 11:33 am and is filed under Top Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.