By the Numbers: The Best #40 in NFL History

by Tony | Apr 1, 2025 | 40's, By the Numbers, Hall of Fame

We’re finally back with another Best Numbers in NFL History post…and another one that probably seems like a no brainer at first thought–but some people may have different opinions…

Much like the best #51 in NFL History, a Bears legend is at the top of most lists when it comes to #40–but not when it comes to the ProFootballReference.com Approximate Value calculations…in fact, the player that is #1 even in the book that inspired this series is #7 on the ProFootballReference list–behind four guys I’m not sure I’d even heard of, and two others that were solid, but not sure I would have put them on the list if PFR hadn’t.

Gale Sayers – The obvious name on this list, and I would be a little surprised if the overall vote goes in any other direction. I suspect that his place in the Approximate Value chart is likely the same reasoning that some didn’t want him in the Hall of Fame–he played in only 68 games over 7 seasons before injuries ended his career. Still, with five All-Pro awards, four Pro Bowls, a Rookie of the Year award, and four finishes in the top five for MVP, it’s hard to think of anyone else for #40.

Bobby Boyd – One of the most formidable defensive backs of his era playing for the Baltimore Colts from 1960 to 1968, Boyd sits in the #1 spot on the Approximate Value chart for players who wore #40. Originally drafted as a halfback, Boyd found his calling on the defensive side, transitioning to cornerback. His knack for reading the game and exceptional ball skills led him to amass 57 career interceptions, which still is tied for 13th most all-time. He was a three time All-Pro, a two time Pro Bowler, was a one-time NFL Champion, and was a member of the 1960’s All-Decade team–but the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton never came calling.

James Hasty – Next up on the Approximate Value chart, James Hasty likely ranks just below Boyd more due to longevity than just skill & impact–he was a solid player, but not someone I would have considered a Hall of Fame (or greatest to wear a number) level talent. He did wear #40 for 13 seasons playing for the Jets & Chiefs, before finishing up with one game wearing #34 for the Raiders in 2001. He was a two time Pro Bowler, and a one time All-Pro second team, finishing with 45 career interceptions, 24 fumble recoveries and 5 career defensive touchdowns.

Mike Haynes – I vaguely remember Haynes as a player–thanks to collecting football cards–but missed the early part of his career, when he wore #40 for the New England Patriots. In those seven seasons in New England he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, made six Pro Bowls and was 2nd team All-Pro six times (although the Pro Football Hall of Fame site gives him credit for a couple of All-Pro selections in this timeframe). He ended up with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983, and switched to #22, but added three more Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro selections–and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

Dick Anderson – To be totally honest, Anderson is not a player I was familiar with–he donned #40 for the Miami Dolphins from 1968 to 1977, winning two Super Bowls and being named to three Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro teams (and one second-team), and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1973–the year that they beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl. Like Haynes, he also was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he also made the Hall of Fame All-1970’s Team.

Joe Morrison – Like Anderson, Morrison is  a player I wasn’t familiar with. Unlike Anderson–and the others on the list that are ahead of Sayers on the Approximate Value chart–I’m struggling a bit to see where it is coming from. He played for 14 seasons for the New York Giants, listed in PFR as a HB-FL-RB. He only broke the 100 carry mark three times in his career, although he did amass 395 catches for almost 5,000 yards. With zero post season honors, though, I am guessing that the Approximate Value chart is the only listing you’d find him ahead of Sayers.

Ken Willard – Another running back from before I was born, Willard wore #40 for the San Francisco 49ers for the first nine years of his career, and did rack up four Pro Bowl appearances in the latter half of the 60’s. Still, aside form playing a few more years, hard to understand how his Approximate Value surpasses Sayers.

Mike Alstott – The one player from recent times I will include on the list, he currently sits two spots lower than Sayers on the Approximate Value list (with Bobby Joe Conrad between them), Alstott was a crowd favorite battering ram for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and made six Pro Bowls and was named to three first-team All-Pro teams, albeit during the decline of the Fullback position in the league. It may be largely due to recency bias, but I would suspect that a lot more recent fans would probably choose Alstott as the top #40 of all-time, unless they’ve studied enough of the history of the game to know of Sayers contributions.

Current Players wearing #40: Von Miller (Rams & Bills), Malik Harrison, Nik Needha – by all appearances, #40 isn’t a super popular number for modern players, with a lot of players only having gotten assigned it in the last year or two.

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