Tom Brady of Tampa Bay Buccaneers named No. 1 in 'Top 100 Players of 2022' countdown

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Tom Brady of Tampa Bay Buccaneers named No. 1 in 'Top 100 Players of 2022' countdown

Jim Reineking, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Aug 29, 2022 ·

5 min read

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was revealed Sunday night as the best player in the NFL as voted on by his peers in NFL Network's annual countdown of the league's top 100 players .

This is the fourth time that Brady has been named the NFL's top player in a vote by his peers. Brady, who turned 45 years old on Aug. 3, is entering his 23rd NFL season — third with the Buccaneers, who he led to victory in Super Bowl 55 .

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald , Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers , Rams receiver Cooper Kupp and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rounded out the top five.

Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time league MVP — also earned No. 1 honors in "Top 100" in 2011 — the first year of the NFL Network countdown show — and in 2017 and 2018. Last season, Brady led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43) as the Buccaneers finished 13-4.

Brady's season ultimately ended in the divisional playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl-champion Rams, who placed three players in the top 10 of the countdown.

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The 45-year-old Tom Brady is entering his 23rd NFL season.

Brady had initially announced his retirement following the 2021 season, but a month and a half later changed his mind .

"These past two months I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands," Brady wrote in a social media post on March 13. "That time will come. But it's not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG."

Patrick Mahomes was the No. 1-rated player last year , but was ranked No. 8 in this year's countdown. Lamar Jackson took top honors in 2020 , but landed at No. 36 in 2022 after finishing at No. 24 in 2021.

Complete list of 'Top 100 Players of 2022'

1. Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

4. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

5. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

6. T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Davante Adams , WR, Las Vegas Raiders

8. Patrick Mahomes , QB, Kansas City Chiefs

9. Jalen Ramsey , CB, Los Angeles Rams

10. Travis Kelce , TE, Kansas City Chiefs

11. Myles Garrett , DE, Cleveland Browns

12. Derrick Henry , RB, Tennessee Titans

13. Josh Allen , QB, Buffalo Bills

14. Trent Williams, OT, San Francisco 49ers

15. Tyreek Hill , WR, Miami Dolphins

16. Micah Parsons , LB, Dallas Cowboys

17. Justin Jefferson , WR, Minnesota Vikings

18. Shaquille Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts

19. Deebo Samuel , WR, San Francisco 49ers

20. J.C. Jackson , CB, Los Angeles Chargers

21. Joe Burrow , QB, Cincinnati Bengals

22. George Kittle , TE, San Francisco 49ers

23. Trevon Diggs , CB, Dallas Cowboys

24. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

25. Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers

26. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

27. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

28. Quenton Nelson, OL, Indianapolis Colts

29. Bobby Wagner, LB, Los Angeles Rams

30. Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers

31. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

32. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

33. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

34. Kevin Byard, S, Tennessee Titans

35. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

36. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

37. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

38. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

39. Chris Jones, DL, Kansas City Chiefs

40. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

41. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

42. Cameron Heyward, DL, Pittsburgh Steelers

43. Derwin James, S, Los Angeles Chargers

44. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

45. Jordan Poyer, S, Buffalo Bills

46. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

47. Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers

48. Robert Quinn, LB, Chicago Bears

49. De'Vondre Campbell, LB, Green Bay Packers

50. Micah Hyde, S, Buffalo Bills

51. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

52. Matt Judon, OLB, New England Patriots

53. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

54. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans

55. Joel Bitonio, OG, Cleveland Browns

56. Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins

57. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

58. Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

59. Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

60. Corey Linsley, C, Los Angeles Chargers

61. Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos

62. Chandler Jones, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

63. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

64. Devin White, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

65. Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

66. DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts

67. Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals

68. Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

69. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

70. Tyrann Mathieu, S, New Orleans Saints

71. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles

72. Quandre Diggs, S, Seattle Seahawks

73. Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

74. Demario Davis, OLB, New Orleans Saints

75. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

76. Brian Burns, DE, Carolina Panthers

77. Darius Slay, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

78. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

79. Rashawn Slater, OT, Los Angeles Chargers

80. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

81. Justin Simmons, S, Denver Broncos

82. Kenny Moore II, CB, Indianapolis Colts

83. Wyatt Teller, OG, Cleveland Browns

84. Roquan Smith, LB, Chicago Bears

85. Mac Jones, New England Patriots

86. Shaquil Barrett, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

87. Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns

88. Jonathan Allen, DE, Washington Commanders

89. Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints

90. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams

91. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

92. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

93. Von Miller, OLB, Buffalo Bills

94. Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens

95. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

96. Jimmie Ward, S, San Francisco 49ers

97. Leonard Williams, DE, New York Giants

98. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

99. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

100. Kyle Juszczyk, FB, San Francisco 49ers

Previous No.1-ranked players on NFL's 'Top 100'

2021: Patrick Mahomes

2020: Lamar Jackson

2019: Aaron Donald

2018: Tom Brady

2017: Tom Brady

2016: Cam Newton

2015: J.J. Watt

2014: Peyton Manning

2013: Adrian Peterson

2012: Aaron Rodgers

2011: Tom Brady

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Top 100 Players of 2022: Tom Brady is ranked No. 1

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