Back in the day, Deion Sanders made a name as not only one of the NFL’s greatest cornerbacks ever but also as someone who was flamboyant and thought very highly of himself.
Lawrence Taylor, perhaps the greatest pass rusher in league history, recently ranked the top five greatest defensive players ever, and he had Sanders only fourth in that ranking.
But he made it clear that he thinks he’s the greatest defensive player in the history of the game.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. First of all I’m 1, let’s just get that straight.”
Deion Sanders does not agree at all with Lawrence Taylor’s Top 5 defensive players of all-time list 😂 pic.twitter.com/00edgx5Fip
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) February 9, 2023
Taylor had himself, former Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White, Deacon Jones, Sanders and San Francisco 49ers great Ronnie Lott on his list in that order.
Taylor certainly has an argument as the defensive GOAT, given his three Defensive Player of the Year awards, one regular season MVP, eight All-Pro first-team selections and two Super Bowl championships.
But Sanders was a terror pack in an era when defensive backs were allowed to do more to disrupt opposing wide receivers.
Drafted in 1989, he spent his first five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, and by 1992 he was garnering recognition as one of the premier defenders in the NFL.
He joined the 49ers in 1994 as part of a major overhaul of their defense following back-to-back NFC Championship Game losses to the Dallas Cowboys, and he helped them get over the hump and get revenge against Dallas in that year’s conference title game, which led to their fifth world championship.
The next year, Sanders moved on to the Cowboys of all teams and won another Super Bowl.
With eight Pro Bowl and six All-Pro first-team selections, plus a Defensive Player of the Year award, Sanders’ place in history is secure, and with the way the game is played now, some feel the league will never see another corner like him again.
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