Anthony Munoz Ranked Among The 100 Best Nfl Players Of All Time

There are dozens and dozens of not only great players, but phenomenal players in the history of the NFL. Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports recently published his list of the top 100 players in NFL history. Cincinnati Bengals great Anthony Munoz landed at No. 19, being proclaimed as the best left tackle in NFL history.

To understand how big of a feat that is, let’s take a look at some of the previous Bengals before and after Munoz, as well as other players Munoz landed in front of on the list.

On the Bengals side, you’re looking at players like Ken Anderson, Ken Riley, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, A.J. Green, Corey Dillon, James Brooks and Tim Krumrie, with a dozen more to list.

Now, league-wide, Munoz landed in front of Marcus Allen, Steve Van Buren, Troy Aikman, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg and Mike Ditka, to name a few.

Munoz, a Hall of Famer and Bengals Ring of Honor member, is considered one of the best linemen in NFL history. He was the third overall pick by the Bengals in the 1980 NFL Draft, though it was considered a risky move at the time with his injury history.

He became a starter during his rookie campaign and stayed in that spot for the next 13 seasons with the Bengals; he was a 9x All-Pro and 11x Pro Bowler. There have been fewer than 50 players to be selected to more than 10 Pro Bowls.

At the time of his retirement, he was tied with Tom Mack for most Pro Bowls for an offensive lineman in history. Munoz was a pivotal member of both Super Bowl teams led by Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason, also helping both players eventually win league MVPs.

Not too many know, but he was a versatile player. Not only was he a phenomenal pass blocker, but he tallied seven receptions and four touchdowns. He was Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1981 and 1988 (both Super Bowl years), along with NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year in ‘81, ‘85, ‘88, and ‘89 and NFL Alumni Association Offensive Lineman of the Year in ‘87, ‘89, ‘90, and ‘91.

Offensive linemen create and sustain their legacy by protecting the quarterback, especially the left tackle. Munoz went his entire 13-year career with just 14 holding penalties and 16 false starts.

In 1994, he was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and ranked 17th on the greatest players list in 1999. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor in 2021.

An all-time great, indeed.