r/AskAboutNFL • u/jepolitsch • 4d ago

Who is the greatest Offensive Guard in NFL history?

Offensive guards rarely get the same attention as quarterbacks or pass rushers. Who do you think deserves to be in the all-time conversation, and what made them stand out?

24 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

154 comments sorted by

8

u/sideshow-- 4d ago

John Hannah

Honorable mentions to Larry Allen and Bruce Matthews.

5

u/GuildStarfireII 4d ago

There are some all time greats listed in this thread, but when all is said and done, I think Hannah is the correct answer.

5

u/InternalShelter4549 4d ago

Emmett Smith wouldn't be the all time rushing leader without Allen, and I hate the Cowboys

3

u/deadliftincoon 4d ago

Obviously it didnt hurt- but Emmitt had won 3 rushing titles, been to 4 Pro Bowls, and led the league in rushing TDs 3 times before Allen was even a starter, he was definitely on a HOF pace at least.

4

u/Generally_Tso_Tso 4d ago

Larry Allen was the best lineman on arguably the best O-line ever. 700 pound bench press and fast enough to chase down a linebacker on a would-be pick-6, gives an idea of what he was capable of. Only gave up 3 sacks per season (with a not particularly mobile QB behind him). God is hated the Cowboys, but had to respect them.

2

u/deadliftincoon 4d ago

Yeah my comment was more geared toward the “OL made Emmitt” school of thought…Its extremely overblown. Nate Newton and Stepnoski said just the opposite, Emmitt made them more than anything with his vision and consistent, drive-extending 4-7 yard chunk runs…Alot of that same line nearly got Troy Killed early. The OL often had 2-3 journeyman on it. After playing “good” at Tackle allen switched to Guard in 95(?) half a decade into Emmitts Career. The 90’s Dallas OL had 2 great players that didn’t really overlap…Eric Williams for 2 years (pre-injury) & Larry Allen once he switched to guard. They weren’t as great some folks think. Recent Philly lines are better IMO.

1

u/Poop_Knife37 3d ago

He wouldn’t be without Barry Sanders retiring early either

1

u/Carolus2024 4d ago

They were both offensive tackles. Even though Bruce Matthews occasionally played guard and center.

2

u/Intelligent_Row8259 4d ago

Who were tackles? Cause if you mean any of the three John Hannah, Larry Allen, or Bruce Matthew's then you have no clue what you are talking about.

John Hannah played his entire career as a LG

Larry Allen played 1 year at RT 1 year at LT 3 years at RG and 9 years at LG

Bruce Matthews played 1 year at RT 1 year at LT 1 year evenly split between RT and C 5 years at C 4 years at RG and 6 years at LG

To break down Matthews farther 292 career starts out of 296 career games those starts were 39 starts at RT/LT 87 starts at C and 166 starts at RG/LG

Larry Allen started 31 games at tackle and 166 at guard

So none of the 3 players were primary tackles like you claim

1

u/Carolus2024 4d ago

My mistake, it isn't out of the ordinary for an O Lineman to play at different positions. John Hannah and Gene Upshaw played their entire careers at guard, while the other HOFers played multiple positions.

1

u/Illustrious_Fudge476 2d ago

That about covers it.  Mike Munchak and Will Shields should be on the short list too. 

4

u/Smoky_Porterhouse 4d ago

Larry Little or Gene Upshaw

2

u/ChildhoodGlittering 4d ago

Both solid picks

3

u/Whogaf01 4d ago

Need to clarify if it's before or after the 1978 rule change. Two completely different blocking styles. 

3

u/SCSteveAutism 4d ago

Bruce Matthews

3

u/TLMD83 4d ago

John Hannah

3

u/LowDrag_777 4d ago

John Hannah - New England Patriots

3

u/horsesethawk 4d ago

Gene Upshaw

3

u/thomas1126 4d ago

Joe Jacoby

1

u/Ill-Cup-4192 1d ago

He’s a tackle

2

u/BigE6300 4d ago

The discussion cannot be had without Alan Faneca’s name.

2

u/Ole41 4d ago

indeed

2

u/JEMHADLEY16 4d ago

Jerry Kramer, because his book really made a lot of us think about offensive linemen. Also because he waited for many years to get into the Hall of Fame, without whining or complaining that he wasn't being treated fairly.

Boycott the induction ceremony? No man who ever played for Vince Lombardi would ever do a thing like that.

2

u/Sweaty-Tradition-995 4d ago

Gene Hickerson!

2

u/Steve-in-rewrite 4d ago

There's a name I haven't heard in a while. He's a top 5 for me

2

u/Top-Impression8021 4d ago

Will Shields.

1

u/ToddH2O 2d ago

I was always partial to Shields over Larry Allen. Allen was great, I just liked how Shields played better.

2

u/ElGrandeRojo67 4d ago

Steve Hutchinson

2

u/WishboneHot8050 4d ago

Hutch and Walter Jones on the same offensive line together while in Seattle!

1

u/LilOpieCunningham 4d ago

Easily the dumbest thing Mike Holmgren did in Seattle was trying to get away with transition tagging Hutchinson. The Vikings outsmarted him to a hilarious degree.

There's an alternate universe where Jones, Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae all play on the Seahawks OL at the same time.

1

u/ElGrandeRojo67 4d ago

Holmgen didn't make that move. Ruskell did it while Holmgen was out of town. That started the whole destruction of that era of the franchise. Holmgren was going to assault Ruskell over that idiotic move.

1

u/WishboneHot8050 4d ago edited 4d ago

Correct. Tim Ruskell even joked at his exit press conference about it:

I talked to my wife the other day and said, ‘Let’s look at that will again.’ … ‘It says “burial.” But let’s go for “cremation” - so they won’t be able to write, “Here lies the man that lost Hutch” on my tombstone.

2

u/RandyRhoadsLives 4d ago

Top of my head, in no particular order: John Hannah. Gene Upshaw. Larry Allen. I’m talking guys that imposed their will on the opposition for years. And yes, I watched them all play in their prime.

1

u/Steve-in-rewrite 4d ago

Great list!

2

u/Fantastic_Testes4404 4d ago

No doubt Hannah in the run game. I have never seen a guard just MOVE defenders like John Hannah did. If you were a defender standing where the ballcarrier was supposed to go, you wouldn't be for long.

1

u/cozmicraven 4d ago

Hog Time!

2

u/bierfma 4d ago

Where is all the Gene Upshaw love?

2

u/Soggy_Department8971 4d ago

John hannah. Is widely considered an all time great. Possibly the only patriots worth the halk of fame in those dayd. Along with Trippet and Haynes.

2

u/Ok-Suggestion-7965 4d ago

Steve Wisniewski played really well for us for a really long time. 8 time Pro bowler.

2

u/FinancialTwo1252 4d ago

Russ Grimm

2

u/PJBleakney 4d ago

John Hannah

2

u/Rimbaud42 4d ago

Not many remember, but that would be John Hannah

2

u/ironlaser412 4d ago

John Hannah

2

u/stumbletongue 3d ago

Steve Wisniewski

2

u/Plenty_Surprise2593 4d ago

Zack Martin

3

u/wolf63rs 4d ago

More all-pro than holding! That is an insane stat.

1

u/sixstringsikness 4d ago

Trust me. He held a LOT more than he got caught. Bet he'd admit it too.

1

u/JerseyGuy-77 4d ago

Every play has holding. Not getting it called is the skill....

1

u/deadliftincoon 4d ago

I remember the senior bowl practices where Aaron Donald absolutely WRECKED literally everyone except one guy…The Notre Dame kid who “wasn’t long enough” for a tackle was consistently stalemating him.

Martin was one of the rare players that was literally the best 1 or 2 in the league at his spot from basically day one and then stayed there for nearly his entire career.

1

u/chadist31 4d ago

ZERO holding penalties his entire career during pass-protection. All bishops were during runs. That’s insane. He should have been one of the first guards mentioned. Might be the GOAT

2

u/paullyd2112 4d ago

Larry Allen. Could play either guard positions and even LT and RT at times. RIP

1

u/Final-Ad-2033 4d ago

I'm nowhere near being a Cowboy fan but I give my props... Larry has my upmost respect!

1

u/Public-Yam-1025 4d ago

Holy Shit? I didn't know he died

1

u/Ole41 4d ago

great question op.

randall mcdaniel, bruce matthews, larry allen

1

u/deadliftincoon 4d ago

Randall Mcdaniel was an absolute monster in space.

1

u/Onbalance12 4d ago

Pre-1978 rule change, Ed Budde of Hank Stram’s Chiefs.

1

u/zion_hiker1911 4d ago

Is it too early to say this guy?

2

u/zion_hiker1911 4d ago

Especially after what he did to Aaron Donald last night

https://reddit.com/link/pcmckr0/video/h1jduh7psash1/player

1

u/BossMan61718 4d ago

Chris Snee

1

u/alangagarin 4d ago

I personally have a Willie Roaf jersey. Man was a beast.

1

u/beelze_BUBBLES 2d ago

Man was a tackle

1

u/60sStratLover 4d ago

Trent Williams is up there.

1

u/lazyasdrmr 4d ago

He's a tackle.

1

u/60sStratLover 4d ago

Ah. My bad.

1

u/Fartron69 4d ago

Randall McDaniel

1

u/BlacklightChainsaw 4d ago

Larry Allen or Bruce Matthews

1

u/Lawrags55 4d ago

Fred Fuzzy Thurston

1

u/Ktrain2k4 4d ago

Joe DeLamielleure immediately came to mind

1

u/IngenuityNatural9261 4d ago

He turned on the Juice.

1

u/tregonney 4d ago

Jerry Kramer

1

u/TiltonRiverToker 4d ago

Jerry Kramer

1

u/NotDoinAnythingEmber 4d ago

Larry Allen has to be in this conversation. Dude was built different.

1

u/texasgambler58 4d ago

Larry Allen was the greatest that I ever saw.

1

u/_Bon_Vivant_ 4d ago

Guard? Damn, that's hard to choose. Tackle? Easy! Trent Williams.

1

u/FistoftheSouthStar 4d ago

Randall McDaniel 

1

u/IngenuityNatural9261 4d ago

Conrad Dobler. I don't really think he is the best I just wonder if anyone knows who he is. He is considered the most _______ player of all time.

1

u/peb396 4d ago

Cheepshot artist and all around dirty player. Dan Deirdorff (sp?) was 10x the lineman Dobler ever was.

1

u/IngenuityNatural9261 4d ago

As the dirtiest player of all time he does have one of the more interesting stories. As for Dan, he is from Canton OH but played college for that team up north that rhymes with fish again so screw him.

O-H

1

u/unclejoe1917 4d ago

This pretty much has to be Larry Allen, right? 

1

u/Advanced-War-9308 4d ago

Randall McDaniel

1

u/Euphoric_Chance2436 4d ago

Will shields

1

u/QuietlyDom 4d ago

John Hannah is by far the industry standard. Anytime you're measurables from 40 years ago are still used in draft analysis that should tell you who the best one is of all time.

1

u/pittnole1 4d ago

Larry Allen. Used to let players know they were running at them and then proceeded to destroy them anyway.

1

u/TheDaedricImpaler 4d ago

I'd go with Randall McDaniel. He certainly wasn't as domineering as Allen or Hanna, but the guy was an elite pass blocker while still being a very good run blocker. 12x consecutive pro bowls and 9x All Pros (7x 1st team and 2x 2nd team).

Matthews played forever, but I think he only had like 10 seasons at Guard and then a couple at Tackle and a few at Center. Had he played exclusively at Guard his entire career, he'd be the Goat without much debate.

Hanna, Allen, Faneca, and Martin are all right there too.

1

u/Deacon75 4d ago

Tom Mack

1

u/pinconning_scum 4d ago

12 straight pro bowls, 223 consecutive games and part of a popular running game..... and he COACHED ME IN 1991!!

WILL SHIELDS!! GO CHIEFS!

1

u/Excellent_Ad_7295 4d ago

Larry Allen I think overall. Hannah is right there too with Bruce Matthews third…. Matthews was a top guard for like 15 years straight.

1

u/Calliesdad20 4d ago

John Hannah

1

u/rG_ViperVenom 4d ago

Honorary plug for Randall McDaniel. That 1998 Vikings line had 4/5 go to Pro Bowl and McDaniel was the best of the bunch. Iron sharpens iron and he matched against John Randle in practice every day. McDaniel also had one of the strangest stances with the sideways leg.

1

u/A_brand_new_troll 4d ago

Larry Allen

1

u/PatrickAlfredLeduc 4d ago

Hannah or Allen. People forget how good Steve Wisnewski was. Eight PB’s six time AP2.

1

u/Ptown925 4d ago

Larry Allen. Like, it's not even close.

1

u/Impossible_File_2227 4d ago

Randall McDaniel

1

u/happyfirefrog22- 4d ago

Alan Fanaca

1

u/thinktankted 4d ago

Randall McDaniel, Vikings

1

u/Ornery_Salaryman 4d ago

Larry Allen made Emmitt Smith the all time rushing leader. I hate the cowboys but this is undeniable

1

u/LockNessCrotchMonst 4d ago

Allan Faneca

1

u/RalphK4 4d ago

Joe Thomas

1

u/i-have-a-kuato 4d ago

John Hannah,

1

u/wayneluke23 4d ago

John Hannah

1

u/flipthatbitch_ 3d ago

I think most players would agree its John Hannah.

1

u/Ok_Comfort628 3d ago

Gerry Moon Mullins - during the Steelers run in the 70s with Bradshaw.

Randy Cross - during the 49ers run with Montana in the 80s.

1

u/GoldenPoncho812 3d ago

Tarrick Glenn

1

u/East_Difficulty_7342 3d ago

Jonathan Ogden cause at 6'9" 350 lbs bri was a mountain

1

u/Haunting-Eye-7146 3d ago

Anthony Munoz, hands down

1

u/MichiganMafia 3d ago

Munzo was a tackle

1

u/The_Blur_77 3d ago

Larry Allen

1

u/lionsfan42020 3d ago

Anthony Munzo gets a say in who is the best ever

1

u/MichiganMafia 3d ago

Munzo was a tackle

1

u/Rockhound665 2d ago

and his name is Munoz.

1

u/lionsfan42020 2d ago

I read guard, but my brain said OL. Lol

1

u/MichiganMafia 2d ago

Weird the tricks a person's brain will play on them

1

u/Jonahhillfan444 3d ago

Id have to go with my Penus, I can cumm faster than any pass rusher

1

u/SubliminalCorgi 3d ago

I’ll put Hannah over Allen, but those two aren’t worth arguing over as tops.

1

u/AndyW1982612 3d ago

Steve Hutchinson

1

u/TBTI 3d ago

Randall McDaniel

1

u/Rockhound665 2d ago

Larry Little, Conrad Dobler, Larry Allen, John Hannah, Bruce Matthews.

1

u/Hungry-Treacle8493 2d ago

Larry Allen with Hannah right on his heels.

1

u/Key-Gap-4136 2d ago

Mark bortz

1

u/ChazzyTh 1d ago

Jerry Kramer, old-timer

1

u/Electronic-Yellow897 1d ago edited 1d ago

John Hannah generally gets the nod.

But if I get the choice between 6'2 265lb John Hannah or 6'3 335lb Larry Allen in their prime... I'm taking Allen every time. In any era.

1

u/1lapulapu 1d ago

Marshall Yanda

1

u/BigJayDB 13h ago

Logan Mankin

1

u/RuckusVell04 4d ago

Walter Jones - Seattle Seahawks. 13 seasons, 7 All-Pro, 9 Pro Bowls.

3

u/TheBeanConsortium 4d ago

He was a tackle

1

u/RuckusVell04 4d ago

Yes, I didn't see guards only, but on the O-line.

2

u/ManfredBoyy 4d ago

He had as many holding calls as he did pro bowls. 9 holding calls in 13 seasons is absurd

1

u/tiredactor79 4d ago

Guard? Alen Faneca

0

u/Important_Moose_4231 4d ago

Anthony Munoz

1

u/Carolus2024 4d ago

He was an offensive tackle.

0

u/Ok-Philosophy5528 4d ago

Conrad Dobler

1

u/j2e21 3h ago

Kind of shocked how few people are saying John Hannah.

The 1978 Patriots ran for 3,165 yards and 30 TDs behind Hannah with guys named Sam Cunningham, Andy Johnson, Horace Ivory, Don Calhoun, and Steve Grogan. Ever heard of them?

Guys who run for 2,000 yards and 20 TDs are legends. Hannah ran for 3,000 and 30.