With NFL training camps starting back up, the NFL media is busy wrapping up their offseason rankings. Recently, analysts Greg Rosenthal and Bill Barnwell put the finishing touches on their 25 Players in 25 Years—a list of rankings comprised of the 25 best players to see the football field over the past quarter century. Unfortunately, a deserving Pittsburgh Steelers legend was snubbed from the list entirely.
On June 14, Rosenthal and Barnell completed the 25 Players in 25 Years list by ranking players three to one in reverse order. This ultimately wound up being Peyton Manning (No. 3), Patrick Mahomes (No. 2), and Tom Brady (No. 1). No surprises there.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that Troy Polamalu did not make the list.
NFL Daily’s Top 25 Players of the Last 25 Years 🏈 pic.twitter.com/uJnxHHEtHy
— NFL Podcasts (@NFL_Podcasts) July 14, 2025
This is ironic, considering fellow 2000s All-Pro safety Ed Reed was ranked 7th on the list. Instead, Polamalu falls off the list completely, missing out to players like Lamar Jackson, Walter Jones, Terrell Owens, Travis Kelce, and even Steelers future legend, T.J. Watt.
While each analyst is entitled to their own opinion, you don't have to look long and hard to see how much Polamalu just got blatantly disrespected.
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Troy Polamalu should have made the 25 Players in 25 Years list with flying colors
Troy Polamalu was considered the best strong safety in the NFL in nearly every year he was healthy. The four-time First-Team All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler played a full season just six times in his 12-year career, but was so good that it didn't impact his Hall of Fame status.
In his first year of eligibility, Polamalu earned his gold jacket, joining a short list of the greatest players in history to become First-Ballot Hall of Famers. The former 2010 Defensive Player of the Year was a two-time Super Bowl champion who routinely made the biggest plays in the most critical moments of the game.
By the end of his career, Polamalu racked up 783 tackles, 56 tackles for a loss, 14 forced fumbles, 107 passes defended, 32 interceptions, and five defensive touchdowns. When healthy, there was nobody better at his position. He was a transcendent player who changed the game in a way that nobody else could, thanks to his remarkable combination of instincts and athletic traits.
Despite being an effortless Hall of Famer and throwing his name in the discussion for the greatest strong safety in NFL history, Polamalu didn't even make the cut as one of the top 25 players of the past 25 years. No disrespect to Ed Reed, but seeing the former Baltimore Ravens star rank No. 7 and Polamalu missing the top 25 is disgraceful.
There's an argument to be made that Troy Polamalu is a top-five player on arguably the greatest franchise in pro football history. The fact that he's still not earning respect and recognition for his one-of-a-kind accomplishments and contributions in the NFL is wild.