by Have you ever watched a quarterback throw a perfect touchdown pass?
Or seen a running back break through for a huge gain? Those amazing plays don’t happen without the big guys up front!
Right guards are the powerful protectors on the offensive line. They line up on the right side next to the center and tackle.
Their job is to keep defenders away from the quarterback and create holes for running backs to run through.
These players might not get as much attention as quarterbacks or receivers, but without them, offenses can’t work.
Top 10 Best NFL Right Guards of All Time
Today, we’re celebrating the best NFL right guards of all time — the legends who made their teams unstoppable!
Let’s meet the top 10!
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What Does a Right Guard Do?
Before we meet our legends, let’s understand what makes right guards so important.
Right guards are like bodyguards for the quarterback. When the QB drops back to pass, the right guard has to stop big, strong defensive tackles from breaking through.
They’re also like bulldozers on running plays. They push defenders out of the way to create paths for running backs. It takes incredible strength, quick feet, and smart thinking!
The best right guards can do both — protect the passer and dominate the run game. Now let’s see who was the best!
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Top 10 Greatest NFL Right Guards of All Time
1. Larry Allen — The Strongest Man in Football
Larry Allen wasn’t just great — he was legendary! This Dallas Cowboys powerhouse played from 1994 to 2007 and was absolutely unstoppable.
Allen earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and 7 All-Pro honors during his career. He helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX and opened running lanes for Emmitt Smith’s record-breaking career.
What made Larry special? He was freakishly strong — some say he was the strongest player in NFL history! He could bench press over 700 pounds and once chased down a linebacker from behind despite being over 300 pounds.
Career Highlights:
- 11× Pro Bowl
- 7× All-Pro
- Super Bowl XXX Champion
- Hall of Fame (2013)
- Named to both the 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams
2. Will Shields — Mr. Reliable
Will Shields played 14 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and never missed a game due to injury. That’s 223 straight games started!
He earned 12 Pro Bowl selections and was named First-Team All-Pro twice. Shields was so consistent that coaches always knew they could count on him every single Sunday.
Off the field, he was just as amazing. He won the 2003 Walter Payton Man of the Year award for helping his community. That’s the NFL’s highest honor for being a great person!
Career Highlights:
- 12× Pro Bowl
- 2× All-Pro
- Hall of Fame (2015)
- 2003 Walter Payton Man of the Year
- Never missed a game in 14 seasons
3. Bruce Matthews — The Swiss Army Knife
Bruce Matthews could play every position on the offensive line, but he was especially dominant at right guard. He played 19 seasons — that’s almost two decades!
Matthews earned 14 Pro Bowl selections (a record for offensive linemen at the time) and 7 All-Pro honors. He played for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans his entire career.
What made Bruce special was his football IQ. He understood defenses so well that he could outsmart anyone. Plus, his whole family was full of football stars!
Career Highlights:
- 14× Pro Bowl (most ever for an offensive lineman at the time)
- 7× All-Pro
- Hall of Fame (2007)
- Played 296 games over 19 seasons
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
4. Zack Martin — The Modern Marvel
Zack Martin is still playing for the Dallas Cowboys, and he’s already one of the greatest ever! Since 2014, he’s been absolutely dominant on the right side.
Martin has been selected to 9 Pro Bowls and earned 7 All-Pro honors. That’s incredible consistency! He’s equally great at run blocking and pass protection.
Scouts say Martin has perfect technique — his footwork, hand placement, and power are textbook. Among the best guards in NFL 2026, Martin continues to dominate even in his 30s.
Career Highlights:
- 9× Pro Bowl
- 7× All-Pro
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- Still playing at an elite level
- Considered the best right guard of his generation
5. Marshal Yanda — The Baltimore Brawler
Marshal Yanda spent his entire 13-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, becoming one of the most feared blockers in football.
He earned 8 Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro twice. Yanda helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII and was a key part of their powerful running game.
What made Marshal special? His nasty attitude! He played angry and physically, finishing blocks and dominating defenders. Opponents hated playing against him!
Career Highlights:
- 8× Pro Bowl
- 2× All-Pro
- Super Bowl XLVII Champion
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- Known for his fierce, physical style
6. Joe DeLamielleure — The Versatile Blocker
Joe DeLamielleure played in the 1970s and early 1980s, starring for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. He was a complete player who excelled at everything.
He earned 6 Pro Bowl selections and 3 All-Pro honors. DeLamielleure helped O.J. Simpson rush for 2,000 yards in a season — a historic achievement!
He was also a great pass protector, helping quarterback Brian Sipe throw for 4,000 yards when that was extremely rare. Talk about versatility!
Career Highlights:
- 6× Pro Bowl
- 3× All-Pro
- Hall of Fame (2003)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- Helped O.J. Simpson rush for 2,000 yards
7. Jahri Evans — The Super Bowl Champion
Jahri Evans spent most of his career with the New Orleans Saints, helping them win their first-ever Super Bowl in 2010!
He earned 6 Pro Bowl selections and 4 All-Pro honors. Evans was a cornerstone of the Saints’ offensive line during their most successful era.
What made Jahri special was his combination of power and athleticism. He could move defenders in the run game and had quick feet in pass protection.
Career Highlights:
- 6× Pro Bowl
- 4× All-Pro
- Super Bowl XLIV Champion
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- Key player in Saints’ championship run
8. Steve Wisniewski — The Raider Legend
Steve Wisniewski played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, becoming one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
He earned 8 Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro twice. Wisniewski was incredibly consistent, never missing a game in his career — he started all 206 games he played!
Raiders fans loved him because he embodied the team’s tough, physical style. He was a road-grader who dominated the line of scrimmage.
Career Highlights:
- 8× Pro Bowl
- 2× All-Pro
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
- Started all 206 career games
- Raiders team record for Pro Bowls (tied)
9. Walt Sweeney — The AFL Pioneer
Walt Sweeney played in the AFL and early NFL days, primarily for the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s and early 1970s.
He earned an incredible 9 Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro twice. Sweeney helped the Chargers win an AFL Championship in 1963.
In an era when offensive linemen didn’t get much attention, Sweeney stood out. He was strong, technical, and dominated his era.
Career Highlights:
- 9× Pro Bowl
- 2× All-Pro
- 1963 AFL Champion
- Played 13 seasons
- Dominated 1960s era football
10. David DeCastro — The Pittsburgh Powerhouse
David DeCastro was a first-round pick who lived up to the hype! He played 9 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming a fan favorite.
He earned 6 Pro Bowl selections and was named All-Pro twice. DeCastro was a road-grader in the run game and helped the Steelers consistently field strong offenses.
Scouts loved his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He was the complete package at right guard.
Career Highlights:
- 6× Pro Bowl
- 2× All-Pro
- First-round pick (2012)
- Athletic pass protector and dominant run blocker
- Anchored Steelers’ line for nearly a decade
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Honorable Mentions Worth Knowing
The top 20 best NFL right guards of all time include other legends like Ken Gray, who earned 6 Pro Bowls in the 1960s. These players just missed our top 10 but were still incredible!
Some fans wonder about the best left guard in NFL history — players like Gene Upshaw and John Hannah dominated the left side just like our right guards dominated the right side.
Looking at the greatest NFL guards of all time overall, you’d see legends at both positions. Guards on both sides need the same skills: strength, technique, and toughness!
How to Recognize Great Right Guards?
So what makes a right guard great? Let’s break it down simply!
- Strength: Right guards need to be incredibly strong to move 300-pound defensive tackles. They use their power to control the line.
- Quick Feet: Despite their size, great guards have fast feet. They need to move quickly to block different defenders on every play.
- Smart Play: The best guards understand defenses. They know who to block and can adjust on the fly when defenses change.
- Consistency: Great right guards show up every game. They don’t have many bad plays or blown assignments.
- Toughness: Playing in the trenches is brutal. Guards get hit on every single play. The best ones are tough mentally and physically.
- Teamwork: Guards must work with centers and tackles. Communication and coordination with teammates are crucial.
These skills separate good guards from the best NFL right guards of all time. It takes years of practice to master them all!
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What About Today’s Guards?
Wondering about the best guards in NFL currently? Players like Chris Lindstrom, Landon Dickerson, and Quinn Meinerz are dominating right now!
The best guards in NFL 2025 will continue this legacy. Young players learn from legends like Larry Allen and Zack Martin, carrying on the tradition of excellence.
Football keeps evolving, but the job of a right guard stays the same: protect the quarterback and open running lanes!
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Conclusion: Honoring the Big Guys Up Front
The best NFL right guards of all time might not get the flashy highlights, but they’re the foundation of winning teams.
Without these powerful protectors, quarterbacks can’t throw and running backs can’t run.
From Larry Allen’s incredible strength to Will Shields’ perfect reliability, each player on this list changed the game.
They dominated defenders, protected their quarterbacks, and opened massive holes for running backs.
These legends showed that offensive linemen can be superstars too! They earned Pro Bowls, All-Pro honors, Hall of Fame inductions, and Super Bowl rings.
Next time you watch a great offensive play, remember the right guard who made it possible. These unsung heroes deserve our respect and appreciation.
They might work in the trenches, but their impact reaches the end zone. That’s why they’re legends!
