Meet the 5 Greatest NFL Players Born on the 4th of July

The 4th of July is one of the most celebrated holidays in America. It’s also been a birth date for some of the all-time greatest NFL players.

As expected these men represent many of the best American attributes. They came from humble beginnings and succeeded thanks to hard work, perseverance and toughness. Above all they were upstanding citizens away from the game. People can ask of little else from men born on the birthday of the nation. So who were the absolute best ever to come around on this day?

#5:  Rosey Taylor

The Chicago Bears 1963 defense was and remains one of the best in NFL history. A key reason for their success was possessing one of the most overlooked safety tandems of all-time. On one side was perennial Pro Bowl Richie Petitbon. On the other was tone-setter Rosey Taylor. He was often the one who provided the extra physicality on the back. That didn’t stop him from making his fair share of plays. In ’63 alone he had nine interceptions.

Taylor wound up going to two Pro Bowls in his career, though in fairness it probably should’ve been three or four. He really wasn’t appreciated like he should’ve been. Still, he accomplished a lot in his career. He snagged 32 interceptions and a championship ring. So many players have done less. If that weren’t enough. He helped San Francisco to the NFC championship in 1970 and 1971 before ending his run by helping the Redskins to their first Super Bowl in 1972.