The NFL has seen its fair share of divas, showboats, and players who just love to remind us how great they are. Some back it up with rings, others with stats, and a few… well, they just talk a big game.
Here’s our ranking of the 15 biggest egos to ever grace the gridiron.
15. Johnny Manziel
Johnny Football had the confidence of a Hall of Famer before he even threw an NFL pass. Between flashing money signs, partying like a rockstar, and acting like the Browns were lucky to have him (spoiler: they weren’t), Manziel’s ego far outweighed his actual career.
14. Jay Cutler
Cutler’s ego wasn’t loud—it was bored. The man had a perma-scowl and carried himself like he was reluctantly fulfilling his quarterback duties. Whether he was shrugging off teammates or saying he had a “stronger arm than John Elway,” Cutler exuded a different breed of egotism: total indifference.
13. Philip Rivers
Trash talker? Check. Unapologetic confidence? Check. The difference with Rivers? He did it with dad energy. Rivers never shied away from letting defenders know they sucked, all while maintaining a G-rated vocabulary. The man talked like he had a personal vendetta against defensive backs but still had to be home by curfew.
12. Richard Sherman
Remember the 2014 NFC Championship Game? “I’M THE BEST CORNER IN THE GAME.” Yeah, that. Sherman was never one to be humble, whether he was shutting down receivers or verbally dismantling Michael Crabtree on national TV. Love him or hate him, the man never lacked confidence.
11. Brett Favre
Favre played with a gunslinger’s mentality—both on the field and in how he handled retirement. His ego had him announcing (and un-announcing) retirements like it was a game of musical chairs. And when the Packers moved on? He made sure they regretted it (even if he had to suit up for the Vikings to do it).
10. Randy Moss
Straight cash, homie. Moss knew he was the best receiver on the field, and he made sure everyone else did too. He played when he wanted to play and celebrated however he wanted—including fake mooning a Lambeau Field crowd. His attitude got him shipped out of places, but when you’re as talented as he was, it hardly mattered.
9. Tom Brady
Brady’s ego is a different beast. He was fueled by a relentless need to prove everyone wrong (even after seven rings). The man would scream at teammates, break tablets on the sideline, and flex his avocado ice cream diet like it was a secret to immortality. And let’s be honest—he never let us forget he was the GOAT.
8. Michael Irvin
The Playmaker talked big and played even bigger. Whether he was hyping up himself or his Cowboys teammates, Irvin carried an ego as large as his on-field celebrations. His confidence (and off-field antics) made him larger than life, which was perfect for the ‘90s Cowboys.
7. Terrell Owens
T.O. could dominate a game and then tell you exactly how and why he dominated it. Between crying about his QB (“That’s my quarterback!”), doing sit-ups in his driveway for the media, and pulling Sharpies out of his sock for celebrations, Owens’ ego made sure he was always the main event.
6. Cam Newton
Superman himself. Newton’s MVP season was a masterclass in dominance and swagger—dabbing on defenders, handing out footballs to kids, and making sure everyone knew he was that guy. But when things went south, so did his charm, making his confidence look more like defiance.
5. Antonio Brown
Few players have self-destructed as spectacularly as AB. From freezing his feet in a cryo chamber to publicly blasting the Steelers to literally quitting on the Bucs mid-game, Brown’s ego had him convinced he could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And for a while, he was right.
4. Joe Namath
Broadway Joe set the standard for NFL ego. He guaranteed a Super Bowl win (and backed it up), rocked a fur coat on the sideline, and basically carried himself like the NFL’s first rockstar QB. If social media had existed in his prime, Namath would’ve been everywhere.
3. O.J. Simpson
Before his infamous off-the-field notoriety, O.J. was already in a league of his own when it came to ego. He didn’t just want to be a football star—he wanted to be a celebrity. From insisting he wasn’t just an athlete to making Hollywood his second home, Simpson was consumed with being larger than life. And, well… we all know how that turned out.
Read More: 20 NFL Players Who Bring Unmatched Swagger to the Field
2. Deion Sanders
Prime Time wasn’t just a nickname—it was a lifestyle. Deion talked trash, danced on defenders, and made sure all eyes were on him, whether he was shutting down receivers or flaunting his latest custom suits. His ego was so big that one sport couldn’t contain it—he went and played MLB too.
Read More: Ranking the 32 NFL Starting Quarterbacks by Pure Talent
1. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers’ ego isn’t the loud, in-your-face type—it’s the I’m-the-smartest-person-in-the-room kind. Whether he’s talking about his “immunization” stance, throwing shade at young receivers, or acting like he’s got football enlightenment that no one else understands, Rodgers has perfected the art of smugness.
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