All-Time AFC East NFL Depth Chart

Some divisions talk legacy. The AFC East lives it. This is the home of Brady’s rings, Belichick’s brain, and defensive monsters like Bruce Smith and Jason Taylor. From the 1972 Dolphins’ perfection to the Patriots’ two-decade dynasty, no division boasts more eras of dominance.

We broke down the All-Time AFC East NFL Depth Chart, featuring not just the greatest starters at every position, but elite-level backups too. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s a fully loaded, two-deep roster built to line up and dominate in any era.

Whether you’re here to settle a bar debate or see where your favorite legend lands, here’s the most complete AFC East squad ever built.

Table of Contents

• Head Coaches
• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Fullbacks
• Wide Receivers
• Slot Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Left Tackles
• Left Guards
• Centers
• Right Guards
• Right Tackles
• Offensive Coaches
• Edge Rushers
• Nose Tackles
• Interior Defensive Linemen
• Outside Linebackers
• Middle Linebackers
• Slot Cornerbacks
• Cornerbacks
• Free Safeties
• Strong Safeties
• Defensive Coordinator

Head Coaches

Bill Belichick – New England Patriots

• 6× Super Bowl Champion
• 17 AFC East division titles
• 3× Coach of the Year

He didn’t just build a dynasty — he built a culture. Ruthless with preparation, unmatched in adjustments, and the brain behind the greatest run in NFL history.

Don Shula – Miami Dolphins

• 2× Super Bowl Champion
• NFL’s all-time winningest coach (347 wins)
• Perfect 17–0 season in 1972

The gold standard of coaching longevity and leadership. Shula didn’t just win — he defined winning.

Marv Levy – Buffalo Bills

• 4× AFC Champion (1990–1993)
• 112 wins with Buffalo
• Pro Football Hall of Famer

The poet-philosopher of the sideline. Levy got his teams to believe — and took Buffalo on a historic 4-year Super Bowl run.

Three legends. Three dynasties. Belichick gave us domination, Shula gave us perfection, and Levy gave us resilience. That’s a Mt. Rushmore of AFC East coaching greatness.

The greatest offensive players in AFC East history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time AFC East Offense

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady – New England Patriots

• 6× Super Bowl Champion with Patriots
• 3× NFL MVP, 14× Pro Bowl
• Most career wins, TDs, and passing yards in NFL history

The undisputed GOAT. Brady owned the AFC East for two decades and turned dominance into routine.

Dan Marino – Miami Dolphins

• 1984 NFL MVP
• 61,361 career passing yards, 420 TDs
• 9× Pro Bowl, Hall of Famer

Before the league got pass-happy, Marino was already throwing lasers and rewriting the record books.

Jim Kelly – Buffalo Bills

• 4× AFC Champion (1990–1993)
• 35,467 passing yards, 237 TDs
• Hall of Fame inductee

The general of the K-Gun offense, Kelly commanded Buffalo’s golden era with swagger and precision.

You’ve got rings, records, and revolutionary play here. Brady is the standard, Marino the artist, and Kelly the warrior. No other division can flex this much quarterback royalty.

Running Backs

O.J. Simpson – Buffalo Bills

• 1973 NFL MVP
• First player to rush for 2,000 yards in a 14-game season
• 5× First-Team All-Pro, Hall of Famer

The Juice was loose — and unstoppable. Simpson set the gold standard for explosive, record-shattering runners in the AFC East.

Thurman Thomas – Buffalo Bills

• 1991 NFL MVP
• 4 straight Super Bowl appearances
• 12,074 rushing yards, 4,000+ receiving yards

Thomas was the ultimate all-purpose weapon — just as dangerous catching a screen as running between the tackles.

Curtis Martin – New York Jets

• 14,101 career rushing yards (5th all-time)
• 7× 1,000-yard seasons with the Jets
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

Martin didn’t talk — he just got the job done. Year after year, he carried the Jets offense with elite vision and durability.

Speed, hands, power, consistency — this RB group has everything. Simpson and Thomas were highlight reels, while Martin quietly built one of the most consistent careers ever.

Fullbacks

Sam Gash – Buffalo Bills

• 2× Pro Bowl selection
• Key lead blocker for multiple 1,000-yard backs
• Known for toughness and reliability

A bruiser with no fear, Gash brought violence to every play. He paved the way and punished defenders like it was his job — because it was.

Jim Nance – New England Patriots

• 2× AFL Rushing Champion
• 1966 AFL MVP
• 45 career rushing touchdowns

Nance was built like a truck and ran like a storm. Before the merger, he was the AFL’s answer to Jim Brown.

Tony Richardson – New York Jets

• 3× Pro Bowler, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Played 16 seasons across 3 teams
• Elite blocker who helped multiple RBs reach 1,000 yards

Richardson wasn’t just a fullback — he was a career extender. Running backs loved him, and linebackers feared him.

Smashmouth legends. Gash set the tone, Nance set records, and Richardson set up everyone else’s success. This is the grittiest room on the roster.

Wide Receivers

Randy Moss – New England Patriots

• NFL-record 23 receiving TDs in a single season (2007)
• 3× Pro Bowler with Patriots
• 50 TDs in just 3 seasons with New England

Moss in Foxborough was like cheat codes in real life. Defenders knew it was coming — and still couldn’t stop it.

Andre Reed – Buffalo Bills

• 13,198 career receiving yards
• 7× Pro Bowl, 4× Super Bowl appearances
• Hall of Fame inductee (2014)

Reed was the heart of the Bills’ passing game — fearless over the middle and always there on third down.

Don Maynard – New York Jets

• 11,732 receiving yards, 88 touchdowns
• 4× AFL All-Star, Hall of Fame Class of 1987
• AFL Champion and Namath’s go-to weapon

Maynard was the original Jets WR legend — smooth, tough, and always clutch.

Stanley Morgan – New England Patriots

• 10,716 career yards, 72 touchdowns
• 4× Pro Bowl selection
• Patriots’ all-time leader in receiving TDs

Morgan was a burner with elite longevity — the Pats’ WR1 before it was trendy.

Eric Moulds – Buffalo Bills

• 9,096 receiving yards, 49 touchdowns
• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• One of the most underrated WRs of the 2000s

Moulds quietly dominated for years — a big, strong, consistent presence on the outside.

Stefon Diggs – Buffalo Bills

• 3× Pro Bowl with Buffalo
• Led NFL in receptions and yards in 2020
• Over 1,000 receiving yards in each season with Bills

Diggs brought alpha mentality and elite route running — Josh Allen’s WR1 from Day 1.

This WR group has it all — Moss’s dominance, Reed’s reliability, Maynard’s legacy, Morgan’s speed, Moulds’ strength, and Diggs’ swagger. Try covering all that.

Slot Receivers

Wes Welker – New England Patriots

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• 5 seasons with 100+ receptions
• Led the NFL in catches 3 times with New England

Intro: Welker was the gold standard for slot receivers — fearless, quick, and impossible to jam. Brady’s go-to guy on third down.

Julian Edelman – New England Patriots

• 3× Super Bowl champion
• 6,822 career receiving yards, 620 receptions
• Super Bowl LIII MVP

Intro: Edelman shined brightest in the playoffs — clutch, tough, and with an unmatched connection to Brady in big moments.

Cole Beasley – Buffalo Bills

• 82 catches, 967 yards in 2020 season with Buffalo
• Reliable option on third down and in the red zone
• Played key role during Josh Allen’s breakout seasons

Intro: Beasley was a crafty route technician, finding space in the middle and always giving Allen a safety valve.

Welker defined the role, Edelman made it legendary in the playoffs, and Beasley kept it alive for the modern Bills — a trio of slot assassins.

Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski – New England Patriots

• 5× Pro Bowl, 4× First-Team All-Pro
• 92 career receiving touchdowns
• 4× Super Bowl champion, all-time TD leader among Patriots tight ends

Intro: Gronk was a mismatch nightmare — combining brute strength with elite hands and big-play ability. The best TE of his generation.

Ben Coates – New England Patriots

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• 50 career touchdowns with New England
• Drew Bledsoe’s favorite target in the 1990s

Intro: Coates was Gronk before Gronk — a reliable weapon who dominated linebackers with size and soft hands.

Mickey Shuler – New York Jets

• 2× Pro Bowl selection
• 460 career receptions for 5,100+ yards
• Top 5 in Jets receiving history when he retired

Intro: Shuler gave the Jets steady production for over a decade — a dependable option across the middle with sneaky athleticism.

Gronk was the beast, Coates the foundation, and Shuler the underrated glue — this tight end room has everything from brute force to finesse.

Left Tackles

Leon Gray – New England Patriots

• 2× First-Team All-Pro, 4× Pro Bowl
• Key blocker for 2,000-yard rusher Earl Campbell in Houston
• Anchored the Patriots’ offensive line during their 1970s resurgence

Intro: Gray was a mauler with quick feet — he bullied defenders and paved the way for Hall of Fame rushers on two teams.

Richmond Webb – Miami Dolphins

• 7× Pro Bowl selection (1990–1996)
• Protected Dan Marino’s blind side for a decade
• Dolphins Honor Roll inductee

Intro: Webb was one of the most consistent left tackles of the 90s — keeping Marino upright while racking up accolades.

Bruce Armstrong – New England Patriots

• 6× Pro Bowl selection
• 212 career games — all with the Patriots
• One of the most durable linemen in NFL history

Intro: Armstrong was the ultimate ironman — a decade-plus of reliability at one of football’s toughest positions.

With Gray’s power, Webb’s footwork, and Armstrong’s durability, this trio locks down the left side like a fortress.

Left Guards

John Hannah – New England Patriots

• 9× First-Team All-Pro, 7× Pro Bowl
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1991)
• Named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Intro: Hannah wasn’t just elite — he was the gold standard. A dominant force who redefined what it meant to be an interior lineman.

Logan Mankins – New England Patriots

• 6× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• Started 130 games for New England (2005–2013)
• Core member of multiple AFC Champion teams

Intro: Mankins was a no-nonsense, all-effort mauler — a model of toughness and tenacity in the trenches.

Billy Shaw – Buffalo Bills

• 8× AFL All-Star, 5× First-Team All-AFL
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999)
• Helped lead Bills to back-to-back AFL Championships

Intro: Shaw was a cornerstone of the Bills’ 1960s dominance — fast, smart, and way ahead of his time.

From Hannah’s legendary dominance to Shaw’s AFL brilliance and Mankins’ grit, the AFC East left guard unit is pure muscle and history.

Centers

Nick Mangold – New York Jets

• 7× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Anchored the Jets’ offensive line for over a decade (2006–2016)
• Leader and ironman with 164 career starts

Intro: Mangold was the Jets’ heartbeat up front — smart, powerful, and always in command.

Dwight Stephenson – Miami Dolphins

• 5× Pro Bowl, 4× First-Team All-Pro
• Named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• Hall of Fame inductee (1998)

Intro: Stephenson was lightning quick off the snap — a revolutionary athlete at center who kept Marino upright and defenses frustrated.

Kevin Mawae – New York Jets

• 8× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Over 240 games played across 16 seasons
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2019)

Intro: Mawae blended brute force with brainpower — a technician who controlled the line of scrimmage like a chessboard.

Mangold the grinder, Stephenson the innovator, and Mawae the maestro — the AFC East’s center trio is as complete and decorated as it gets.

Right Guards

Larry Little – Miami Dolphins

• 5× Pro Bowl, 5× First-Team All-Pro
• Key blocker for the undefeated 1972 Dolphins
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1993)

Intro: Little was a steamroller in the run game — explosive, dominant, and the engine of Miami’s power offense.

Joe DeLamielleure – Buffalo Bills

• 6× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Member of the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
• Opened holes for O.J. Simpson’s historic 2,003-yard season

Intro: DeLamielleure was the heartbeat of Buffalo’s “Electric Company” — consistently clearing paths and setting the tone.

Bob Kuechenberg – Miami Dolphins

• 6× Pro Bowl selection
• Played in five Super Bowls with the Dolphins
• Versatile lineman with nearly 200 career starts

Intro: Kuechenberg was the glue of Miami’s offensive front — tough, reliable, and adaptable at multiple spots.

Little brought the power, Joe D brought the pop, and Kuechenberg brought the polish — this right guard group powered some of the best rushing attacks in NFL history.

Right Tackles

Marvin Powell – New York Jets

• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Anchored the Jets’ offensive line during the late 70s and early 80s
• Played 133 games, all with the Jets

Intro: Powell was a dominant pass protector with rare athleticism for a tackle — the blindside bodyguard who never blinked.

Norm Evans – Miami Dolphins

• 2× Super Bowl champion with the Dolphins
• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• Key part of Miami’s perfect 1972 season

Intro: Evans was a technician and tone-setter, protecting Griese and plowing paths during the Dolphins’ golden age.

Sebastian Vollmer – New England Patriots

• 2× Super Bowl champion with New England
• Started 80 career games, including 7 playoff contests
• Known for neutralizing elite edge rushers

Intro: Vollmer was the unsung hero of Brady’s protection unit — smart, steady, and always up for the biggest matchups.

Powell brought the power, Evans brought the pedigree, and Vollmer brought the clutch — this trio held it down on the right side like true professionals.

Offensive Coordinators

Josh McDaniels – New England Patriots

• Led Patriots’ offense to 3 Super Bowl titles as OC (2014, 2016, 2018)
• Oversaw Tom Brady’s historic 50-TD MVP season in 2007
• Known for adaptive game plans and situational mastery

Intro: McDaniels orchestrated one of the most efficient dynastic offenses in NFL history — always evolving, never predictable.

Brian Daboll – Buffalo Bills

• 2020 AP Assistant Coach of the Year
• Transformed Josh Allen into a superstar QB
• Known for explosive vertical passing concepts

Intro: Daboll blended analytics and aggression, turning Buffalo’s attack into a modern-day juggernaut.

Charlie Weis – New England Patriots

• OC for Patriots’ first 3 Super Bowl titles (2001, 2003, 2004)
• Mentored a young Tom Brady into an all-time great
• Master of the dink-and-dunk, no-mistake offense

Intro: Weis laid the foundation for New England’s dynasty, pairing precision with preparation like few others in the game.

From Weis’ structure to McDaniels’ creativity and Daboll’s flair — this OC lineup brought balance, innovation, and buckets of points.

The greatest defensive players in AFC East history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time AFC East Defense

Edge Rushers

Bruce Smith – Buffalo Bills

• NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200
• 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 11× Pro Bowl selection, Hall of Famer

Intro: Bruce Smith was a one-man wrecking crew on the edge — power, speed, and relentless motor all in one. Offensive tackles had nightmares about him.

Andre Tippett – New England Patriots

• 100 career sacks, 5× Pro Bowler
• 1985 NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up
• Hall of Fame inductee (2008)

Intro: Tippett brought brute strength and intensity off the edge, anchoring the Pats’ pass rush through the 80s.

Cameron Wake – Miami Dolphins

• 98 career sacks
• 5× Pro Bowl selection
• 2010 First-Team All-Pro

Intro: Wake was explosive off the line, a CFL-to-NFL success story who gave quarterbacks fits for a decade in Miami.

Jason Taylor – Miami Dolphins

• 139.5 career sacks, 7 defensive TDs
• 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 6× Pro Bowler, Hall of Fame inductee

Intro: Jason Taylor wasn’t just dominant — he was dangerous with the ball, too. Sack, strip, score — rinse and repeat.

Mark Gastineau – New York Jets

• 1982 Defensive Player of the Year finalist
• 100.5 career sacks
• Member of the “New York Sack Exchange”

Intro: Gastineau was all swagger and sacks. His celebrations were as fierce as his pass-rushing burst.

Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots

• 57 career sacks, 11 INTs, 10 TDs (including offense)
• 3× Super Bowl champion with Patriots
• Key defensive leader and versatile chess piece

Intro: Vrabel was a Swiss army knife — a linebacker who could rush the passer, cover, and even score in goal-line packages.

Bruce Smith brings the all-time sack record, Taylor brings flair and versatility, and the rest bring heat from all angles. No pocket is safe from this group.

Nose Tackles

Vince Wilfork – New England Patriots

• 2× Super Bowl champion
• 5× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• Anchored the Patriots’ defensive front for over a decade

Intro: Wilfork was the immovable object in New England’s 3–4 defense — a run-stuffing juggernaut who swallowed double-teams for breakfast.

Bob Baumhower – Miami Dolphins

• 5× Pro Bowl selection, 2× All-Pro
• Key piece of Miami’s “Killer B’s” defense in the 1980s
• AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1983)

Intro: Baumhower was a technician and a wall in the middle, leading one of the most feared units of its time.

Kyle Williams – Buffalo Bills

• 6× Pro Bowl selection
• 48.5 career sacks as an interior lineman
• Fan favorite and longtime Buffalo leader

Intro: Williams brought heart, hustle, and surprising pass-rushing ability — a Bills legend in every sense.

Wilfork brought the brawn, Baumhower brought the brains, and Williams brought the motor. No running game was safe with these three holding the middle.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Richard Seymour – New England Patriots

• 3× Super Bowl champion with the Patriots
• 7× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2022)

Intro: Seymour was a cornerstone of the Patriots dynasty — dominant against both the run and pass in multiple defensive schemes.

Joe Klecko – New York Jets

• 4× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Member of the legendary “New York Sack Exchange”
• One of only a few players to make the Pro Bowl at three different positions

Intro: Klecko was pure disruption — a unique force who could line up anywhere and still cause mayhem.

Fred Smerlas – Buffalo Bills

• 5× Pro Bowl selection (1979–1989)
• Anchored the middle of Buffalo’s defense during a transition era
• Consistently durable and reliable with 200+ games played

Intro: Smerlas was a lunch-pail warrior — tough, steady, and relentless in the trenches for over a decade.

Seymour had the accolades, Klecko had the versatility, and Smerlas had the grit. Together, this IDL trio brings power, pressure, and pride to the AFC East legacy.

Outside Linebackers

Cornelius Bennett – Buffalo Bills

• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Led the Bills’ defense during their four straight Super Bowl runs
• 71.5 career sacks, known for elite speed and pursuit

Intro: Bennett was a sideline-to-sideline menace and the heartbeat of Buffalo’s dominant early ‘90s defense.

Bryan Cox – Miami Dolphins

• 3× Pro Bowl selection (1992–1994)
• Known for intensity and leadership in the Dolphins’ front seven
• 27.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles in Miami

Intro: Cox brought fire and fury — a relentless edge defender who never took a play off and always brought the heat.

Larry Grantham – New York Jets

• 5× AFL All-Star, 2× AFL Champion
• Starter on Jets’ Super Bowl III team
• 24 career interceptions, known for football IQ

Intro: Grantham was brains and instincts in motion — the kind of linebacker who always found the ball.

Bennett had the athleticism, Cox had the rage, and Grantham had the brains. The AFC East’s OLB lineup is built on power, precision, and pure football savagery.

Inside Linebackers

Zach Thomas – Miami Dolphins

• 7× Pro Bowl, 5× First-Team All-Pro
• Over 1,700 career tackles and 17 interceptions
• 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

Intro: Thomas was the brain and heart of the Dolphins’ defense — a relentless tackler who played with controlled chaos.

Nick Buoniconti – Miami Dolphins

• 2× Super Bowl Champion, Hall of Famer
• 32 career interceptions — unheard of for a linebacker
• Anchor of the 1972 undefeated Dolphins defense

Intro: Buoniconti was a genius in pads, always a step ahead — the QB of Miami’s legendary No-Name Defense.

Tedy Bruschi – New England Patriots

• 3× Super Bowl Champion with New England
• 110 career starts, 1,110 tackles, and 12 INTs
• Leader of the early 2000s Patriots dynasty defense

Intro: Bruschi was the ultimate Patriot — tough, smart, and clutch when it mattered most.

Thomas brought fire, Buoniconti brought brains, and Bruschi brought rings. The AFC East’s ILB crew could lead, hit, and win with the best of them.

Slot Cornerbacks

Asante Samuel – New England Patriots

• 2× Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots
• 51 career interceptions — including 10 in 2006
• 4× Pro Bowl selection, 2× All-Pro

Intro: Samuel lived off QB mistakes. Jumped routes like a psychic and made pick-sixes look routine.

Tyrone Poole – New England Patriots

• Key contributor to back-to-back Super Bowl titles (2003, 2004)
• Played 13 NFL seasons across 5 teams
• Physical and reliable presence in the slot

Intro: Poole didn’t get the spotlight, but his gritty man coverage helped seal championships in New England.

Victor Green – New York Jets

• Over 950 career tackles, 25 takeaways
• Played 9 seasons with the Jets
• Hard-hitting safety converted to slot defender

Intro: Green was part-hybrid, part-hammer — punishing receivers who dared enter the middle.

This trio blends instincts, experience, and force. Samuel’s ball skills, Poole’s fundamentals, and Green’s toughness made the AFC East’s slot corner depth lethal.

Cornerbacks

Darrelle Revis – New York Jets

• 7× Pro Bowl, 4× First-team All-Pro
• 2009 AFC Defensive Player of the Year
• Island specialist who locked down elite WRs weekly

Revis made quarterbacks cry — just ask anyone who tried to throw to his side during his peak run in New York.

Ty Law – New England Patriots

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• 53 career interceptions
• Key piece of three Super Bowl–winning defenses

Law was physical, intelligent, and clutch — he always stepped up in the biggest moments.

Stephon Gilmore – Buffalo Bills / New England Patriots

• 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• Super Bowl champion (LIII)

Gilmore locked up WR1s in New England and Buffalo with elite press coverage and instincts.

Asante Samuel – New England Patriots

• 4× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• 51 career interceptions
• 2× Super Bowl champion

Samuel baited quarterbacks with savvy and hands — and made them pay for every misread.

Troy Vincent – Miami Dolphins / Buffalo Bills

• 5× Pro Bowl cornerback
• 47 career interceptions
• Known for his intelligence and shutdown play

Vincent brought a mix of leadership, versatility, and lockdown skills to every secondary he anchored.

Sam Madison – Miami Dolphins

• 4× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• 38 interceptions with the Dolphins
• Feared for his physical coverage and swagger

Madison’s physicality and nose for the football made him a staple of Miami’s top-tier defenses.

This CB unit has it all — Revis Island, Law’s big-game playmaking, Gilmore’s shutdown style, and elite depth in Samuel, Vincent, and Madison. Good luck throwing on this group.

Free Safeties

Jake Scott – Miami Dolphins

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• 1972 Super Bowl MVP for the undefeated Dolphins
• 35 career interceptions

Scott was the ballhawk in Miami’s legendary No-Name Defense, known for clutch picks and fearless play.

Devin McCourty – New England Patriots

• 3× Super Bowl champion, 2× Pro Bowl
• 35 career interceptions
• Led one of the NFL’s smartest, most disciplined secondaries

McCourty was the ultimate team-first safety, always in the right spot and rarely fooled.

Brock Marion – Miami Dolphins

• 3× Pro Bowl safety
• 31 career interceptions
• Multiple seasons with 100+ tackles

Marion quietly posted elite production in the Dolphins’ back end, patrolling deep zones with confidence.

Scott brought the hardware, McCourty brought the brains, and Marion brought the juice. This FS group is a complete package from top to bottom.

Strong Safeties

Rodney Harrison – New England Patriots

• 2× Super Bowl champion with the Patriots
• 30.5 career sacks — most by a defensive back in NFL history
• 34 career interceptions

Harrison was a ferocious enforcer who brought old-school violence and modern versatility to the safety position.

Dick Anderson – Miami Dolphins

• 3× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro
• 1973 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 34 career interceptions

Anderson was the cerebral anchor of Miami’s defense, equally dangerous in zone coverage and run support.

Tony Richardson – Buffalo Bills

• Played mostly as a fullback, but known for his toughness and leadership
• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• Over 700 rushing yards and 200+ games played

While listed as a strong safety here, Richardson made his name as a versatile veteran and locker-room presence.

This SS trio blends hard hits, smart instincts, and unshakeable leadership. Good luck throwing deep on these guys.

Defensive Coordinators

Romeo Crennel – New England Patriots

• Defensive coordinator for 3 Super Bowl–winning Patriots teams
• Over 50 years of coaching experience
• Master of multiple fronts and in-game adjustments

Crennel’s ability to disguise coverage and outwit opposing quarterbacks was crucial to New England’s early 2000s dynasty.

Bill Belichick – New York Jets (and Patriots)

• Legendary defensive architect before becoming head coach
• Coached the Giants’ historic defenses and helped Jets’ D flourish in the late ’90s
• Widely regarded as the greatest football mind of all time

Even before his head coaching glory, Belichick was shutting down Hall of Fame offenses and building elite defenses.

Brian Flores – New England Patriots

• Helped lead the Patriots to multiple Super Bowls
• Known for his aggressive, man-heavy defensive schemes
• Played a major role in stifling the Rams in Super Bowl LIII

Flores was a rising star in New England’s coaching tree, and his defensive fingerprints were all over their most recent championships.

With Crennel’s experience, Belichick’s brilliance, and Flores’ fire, this DC room is built for chess matches against elite offenses.

Conclusion

What do you get when you combine Tom Brady’s rings, Dan Marino’s arm, Bruce Smith’s dominance, and Revis Island? You get the All-Time AFC East team — a terrifying blend of dynasties, defenses, and damn-near perfection.

This lineup features Hall of Famers at nearly every position, from Gronk and Moss to Seymour and Thomas. And behind the scenes? Legends like Belichick, Shula, and Crennel pulling the strings.

Every player on this list left a permanent mark on the division. Some built dynasties, others carried franchises, but all of them earned a place on the ultimate AFC East roster.

FAQ: All-Time AFC East Depth Chart

Who is the quarterback on the all-time AFC East team?
Tom Brady is the clear starter, with Dan Marino and Jim Kelly backing him up. GOAT status plus rocket arms — no drop-off here.

Which team has the most players on the list?
The New England Patriots dominate in both numbers and rings, thanks to their two-decade run under Belichick and Brady.

Who are the top defensive players?
Bruce Smith, Jason Taylor, Darrelle Revis, and Zach Thomas lead a terrifying unit backed by legends like Vince Wilfork and Rodney Harrison.

How were players selected?
Selections were based solely on accomplishments while playing for an AFC East team. No borrowed resumes — just division greatness.

Is this the best all-time divisional team in the NFL?
Stack them against the NFC West, and it’s a legit debate. The AFC East has dynasties, elite QBs, iconic defenses, and coaching titans — they’re in the conversation, no doubt.

Explore Other All-Time NFL Division Depth Charts:

AFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time AFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart

NFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time NFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC West NFL Depth Chart

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