The Most Iconic Athletes at Every Number (90-99)

Well, we’ve reached the end. The final 10 players to make the list range from #90-99. It’s been a lot of fun, but all good things must come to an end. Thank you for tuning into each edition of this list and giving your opinions on each selection (I still don’t know why I put Steve Young over Alex Ovechkin weeks before Ovi broke the goals record. I’m a Capitals fan too! I don’t know what I was thinking!). It’s the finale of WLTL’s most iconic athletes at every number.

#90 - Julius Peppers (Honorable Mentions: T.J. Watt and Ricky Rudd)

A legend of the Carolina Panthers and a standout in Green Bay and Chicago, Julius Peppers was drafted by the Panthers in 2002 after being a dual-sport athlete at the local North Carolina University. As a rookie, Pepper’s impact was immediately felt as the Panthers became the only NFL team since the 1970 merger to improve from the worst defense in the league to 2nd in a single season, taking home Defensive Rookie of the Year in the process. 2003 saw the team make a run to the Super Bowl, where they unfortunately fell to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in a thrilling game that was decided by a field goal. The appearance in the game made Julius Peppers the only person in history to play in an NCAA Men’s Final Four game and a Super Bowl (Donovan McNabb never played during his team’s Final Four game). He continued his dominance into 2004, running away with the Defensive Player of the Year award for the NFL and being named to his first Pro Bowl. 2005 saw Peppers break his hand in a game against the Detroit Lions, however, he would return to the game and play the next few weeks with a cast around his arm. He helped lead the team to the NFC Championship, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks. His play saw a falloff in 2007 due to injury, but he rebounded big time in 2008, recording a career high 14.5 sacks as the Panthers were unfortunately eliminated by the miracle run Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round. After the 2009 season, Peppers was left as a free agent, leading him to join the Chicago Bears. Though his numbers slipped, he was credited by players and sports writers as a dominant force on the defensive line, leading the Bears to the NFC Championship, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The following season saw him become the 28th player in league history to hit the 100 sack mark. After an underwhelming 2013 season, the Bears failed to find a willing trade partner, so Peppers was left a free agent as he signed with the Green Bay Packers. His maiden year would see him become the first player in NFL history to reach 100 sacks and 10 interceptions as the Packers lost in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. He remained a dominant presence in Green Bay as the team excelled in his time, however, they never reached the Super Bowl. He returned to Carolina in 2017, seeking to retire for his hometown team on a one-year contract. He would retire fourth all-time in sacks, with 9 Pro Bowls and 3 first-team All-Pro, and join Canton in 2024. Julius Peppers is the first player to be drafted by the Carolina Panthers into the Hall of Fame, and he is the greatest #90 of all time.

#91 - Dennis Rodman (Honorable Mentions: Sergei Fedorov and Steven Stamkos)

“The Worm” is one of the most infamous players in NBA history. Dennis Rodman was drafted 27th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He became a foundational member of the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” team, which made it to the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, where they lost a hard-fought 7 game series against Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. It was after this series that Rodman would engage in his first of several controversies when he claimed that the league had racial favoritism towards Larry Bird and the Celtics. Putting the controversy behind them, the team came back with a vengeance the following year, winning the 1989 NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers and following it up with against the same team in the 1990 Championship as well, dispatching a Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team along the way. As different pieces began to leave or fall off, Rodman continued to be the stalwart of the Pistons and led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to Jordan and the Bulls. He dealt with a bout of depression in 1993 following the departure of his coach and surrogate father, Chuck Daly, and the dissolving of his marriage, leading him to reinvent himself in San Antonio. While he was playing with an all-star cast, he frequently got into conflicts with the team and management, leading to him joining his former archrivals in 1995. He wanted to retain his #10, however, the Bulls had it retired for former star Bob Love, so Rodman instead used 91 because 9+1=10. He was an instrumental piece to the Bulls' 3-peat at the end of the decade, with his antics sometimes overshadowing his on-court play. His career, like many of the superstars from the Bulls team, was effectively over when the last championship was won, as Rodman piddled about the league and played internationally for a stint before retiring in 2006. Dennis Rodman is a legend of the league. Though he was at the crux of several controversial moments throughout his career, he is still a 5-time NBA Champion and league Hall-of-Famer with his #10 retired by Detroit, and his #91 remembered forever.

#92 - Reggie White (Honorable Mentions: Michael Strahan and Evgeny Kuznetsov)

A legend of Green Bay, Reggie White began his career in the original iteration of the USFL with the Memphis Showboats. When the league collapsed in 1985, White jumped ship to the Philadelphia Eagles. While many thought he was still an unproven talent, White would silence the naysayers with a dominant season, easily taking home the NFC Rookie of the Year award. He played with the Eagles for 8 seasons, becoming the franchise's all-time sack leader, including setting a franchise record 21 sacks in a single season (that season, 1987, was shortened to 12 games by the way). In 1993, White became a free agent, kicking off the era of player-requested free agency. He was swept up by Green Bay and became the third-highest-paid player in the league behind John Elway and Dan Marino. White played 6 seasons in Green Bay, becoming the team's all time sack leader (currently third for the franchise) and being an instrumental force in Super Bowl XXXI when the Packers defeated the Patriots to secure the Lombardi. Reggie White is considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, and his contributions as a dominant force on two franchises got his #92 into the rafters in Green Bay and Philadelphia, and it got him the honors as the greatest #92 in sports history.

#93 - Metta World Peace (Honorable Mentions: Dave Blaney and Dwight Freeney)

If “The Worm” was infamous, Metta World Peace was the scourge of the 21st-century NBA. Ron Artest was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls. He was an underwhelming player for the team, however, the Indiana Pacers saw promise in his play. Midway through the 2001 NBA season, he was traded in a multi-piece deal including former Pacers standout Jalen Rose to Indiana. Paired with stars Jermaine O’Neal and Reggie Miller, the team would achieve a league-best 61-win season in 2003. In that year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Pacers would match up against the Detroit Pistons, led by Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups. The Pistons would narrowly win the series in 6 games, with Game 6 nearly ending in a brawl after Artest committed a flagrant foul late into the game. The Pistons would go on to win the NBA Championship over the Lakers. Heading into the next season, the two teams would meet in November in Detroit. In an incident known as “The Malice at the Palace”, a light altercation started on the court after a foul was committed by Artest late in the game with the Pacers up large. While resting on the side, a Pistons fan named John Green threw a cup of beer, which landed on Artest. The resulting brawl saw Artest enter the stands, fans enter the court, and several close calls with catastrophe in what has been referred to as the darkest day in NBA history. Artest would receive an 86-game suspension, the largest in league history for an on-court incident. The fight ruined a championship roster, as the year would later end with Reggie Miller’s retirement. After playing 16 games the next year, Artest demanded a trade from the team, creating a rift between him and the organization. He made his way to Sacramento, taking on the #93. He brought new life to the Kings, helping them make the 2006 postseason, however, he would be suspended for elbowing San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginobili in the head, as the Kings would lose the series. He would briefly join the Houston Rockets in 2008 and then make his way to Los Angeles in 2009. Artest would be instrumental to the Lakers' 2010 NBA Championship, hitting the championship-winning shot and giving the now-iconic “Kobe passed me the ball!” interview. His years following in LA would be marred by injury and controversy, as the Lakers struggled to stage a strong playoff run, as younger teams would overtake them in the Western Conference. Artest, now legally named Metta World Peace, would hop around the basketball world, playing for the New York Knicks before venturing to China and Spain. He returned to the Lakers in 2015 and stayed with the team until he retired in 2017 after passing Ron Harper for 22nd all-time in league history in steals. Metta World Peace is considered one of the greatest defensive players of all time, and his infamy only adds to his allure, as he was our top choice for the most iconic #93 of all time.

#94 - Bill Elliott (Honorable Mentions: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Cam Jordan)

“Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” took a while to hit victory lane. After 115 starts since making his debut in 1976, he won his first race in 1983 at the Riverside Speedway road course in California. He was well-renowned for his consistency, as that victory at Riverside was his only in a year that saw him finish 3rd in the championship standings. Elliott’s big break would come in 1985, when the Winston Million was announced, giving a 1 million dollar bonus to any driver who managed to win 3 out of 4 of the series’ “crown jewel” races (The Daytona 500, Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the now defunct Winston 500). He would easily dominate the Daytona 500 to start the season and had one of the most memorable moments of his career at the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. After leading the race, Elliott went two laps down after having oil issues. Without the aid of any wrecks, Elliott managed to climb back up the leaderboard and passed every car on track 3 times en route to victory. After mechanical issues plagued his Coca-Cola 600, Elliott would secure the million with a triumph in the Southern 500. He would become even more famous in the years following due to his intense rivalry with Dale Earnhardt. In 1987, the pair would have their iconic “pass in the grass” at the All-Star Race in Charlotte, however, Elliott’s top accolade of the year would be his speed record at Talladega Superspeedway, as he set a qualifying record with an average speed of 212.809 miles per hour. The race that followed saw Bobby Allison, who also eclipsed 211 miles per hour during qualifying, take air and hit the catchfence, later leading NASCAR to implement the restrictor plate at every superspeedway race thereafter, meaning Elliott’s record will never be broken. He would win his first and only championship the next season in 1988. He would leave his longtime home at Melling Racing in 1992, swapping #9 for #11, and continue his dominance at Junior Johnson. In 1995, Elliott would attempt to own and drive for his team, taking on the #94 ride. The McDonald's #94 is one of the most iconic rides in NASCAR history, although it didn’t see much success during its 5 year run in the Cup Series. Elliott would end his full-time career driving for Evernham Racing from 2001 to 2003 in the premier #9, which saw Dodge reenter the sport. Bill Elliott is fondly remembered as one of the greatest drivers of NASCAR’s golden age, and his legacy in the sport is matched by very few drivers, not even his championship-winning son.

#95 - Richard Dent (Honorable Mentions: Cortez Kennedy and Matt Duchene)

At long last, we’ve hit our final player from the 1985 Chicago Bears. Richard Dent was drafted by Chicago in the 1983 NFL Draft. Under Buddy Ryan's aggressive defense, Dent was one of the spotlight players who tortured offenses with his brutal play. Most notoriously, his 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and blocked pass in the 1985 Super Bowl secured him the game's MVP as the Chicago Bears blew out the New England Patriots. Dent would remain with the team throughout the rest of the decade, even as the Bears would only tally a single playoff victory following their 1988 NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers. 1993 would be his final year with the team, as he joined San Francisco in 1994 and won the Lombardi as a rostered member of the team. He would hop around the league the following years, having one-year stints in Chicago again, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia before retiring in 1997. Richard Dent sits third all-time in sacks behind only Bruce Smith and the aforementioned Reggie White, and his place as not just a Bears legend, but an NFL legend, made the decision to include him on this list an easy one.

#96 - Tomas Holmstrom (Honorable Mentions: Bill Voiselle and Mikko Rantanen)

While Mikko Rantanen has been doing hard work to claim #96 in this year’s playoffs, the honor still belongs to Tomas Holmstrom. The Swedish left winger began his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1996 after being called up from their AHL affiliate team. Holmstrom became an immediate presence with the team, being a main contributor to the team’s run to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final, ending what was at the time the longest Stanley Cup drought in league history. Playing alongside legends of the sport like Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Federov, and Steve Yzerman, the team would go back-to-back in 1998 as they swept the Washington Capitals in the finals to clinch another championship. The Red Wings continued to be a dominant force in the West during Holmstrom’s tenure, as they eventually made it back to the Cup Finals in 2002, as they dispatched the Carolina Hurricanes in 5 games to clinch their first championship of the decade. As the core continued to age throughout the decade, Holmstrom would help lead the Swedish National team to a Gold Medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics. When it seemed the Stanley Cup window had closed for the team, the Red Wings made a run to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and came away with the victory. They attempted to repeat their 1997 and 1998 success with another pair of back-to-back championships, however, the Penguins got the better of them in the Finals rematch. In 2012, Holmstrom became the 272nd player in NHL history to play 1000 games, and following the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom, he was the final player remaining on the Detroit Red Wings roster from their back-to-back Championships in 1997 and 1998. He would retire later in the year and is remembered fondly by Red Wings fans. Tomas Holmstrom may not yet be in the Hall-of-Fame like many of his teammates, however, he was still an unforgettable member of one of the greatest units in NHL history, and his contributions to the Red Wings organization have made him a “must-know” for all Detroit sports fans.

#97 - Connor McDavid (Honorable Mentions: Kurt Busch and Simeon Rice)

The greatest talent currently in the league, Connor McDavid was a highly scouted prospect in his younger years. Many were already comparing him to “The Great One”, and the comparison was further exemplified when the Edmonton Oilers selected McDavid 1st overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. His rookie campaign would be tragically short, but it was still incredibly impactful. McDavid suffered a fractured left clavicle in his 13th NHL game. Nevertheless, he would return later in the season, and despite only playing 47 games, he would finish 4th in points among rookies. The following year, McDavid would become the youngest captain in NHL history for the Oilers, leading them to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. One constant for McDavid throughout his career has continued to be his team’s underperformance in the playoffs, as the Oilers would be a first-round exit in 2017 and then miss the playoffs entirely the following season. McDavid would continue to play at a high level, and this was only elevated when the Oilers brought in foundational pieces like Leon Draisaitl to play alongside him. In 2022, the team finally broke through their struggles, reaching the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the eventual Cup Champions, the Colorado Avalanche. The following season saw McDavid become the 6th fastest player to reach 700 points and the first Edmonton Oiler to win the Maurice Richard Trophy. He had the fourth-most points in a single season of all time, however, it wasn’t enough as the Oilers once again fell to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. After a disastrous start to the 2024 season, McDavid and the Oilers would rally to a Stanley Cup berth for the first time since 2006. While they almost completed the reverse sweep, the Oilers lost in 7 games to the Florida Panthers, with McDavid winning the Conn Smythe Trophy despite being on the losing team. The team is currently hunting for another trophy this season, and McDavid still seeks to add his name to the cup. Even if he never wins it, Connor McDavid is the most talented player in the NHL today, and his play has made him the de facto player for this generation to look up to.

#98 - Jalen Carter (Honorable Mentions: LeeRoy Yarbrough and Connor Bedard)

A dominant force in this past year’s Lombardi campaign, Jalen Carter’s college career was headlined by his role in the back-to-back national championship victories for the Georgia Bulldogs. Carter would be drafted 9th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Carter’s defensive play helped the Eagles reach the NFC Championship game, where they would fall to the San Francisco 49ers. For his efforts, Carter would be named to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team, and just barely lose out on the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors to Will Anderson Jr. Carter only added to his performances in his sophomore year, leading a dominant Eagles defense to the Super Bowl, where they crushed the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Eagles their 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history. His career is young, but Jalen Carter has much promise to become an all-time talent at the defensive tackle, and he is our choice for the greatest #98 of all time (until Connor Bedard gets a better team around him).

#99 - Wayne Gretzky (Honorable Mentions: JJ Watt and Aaron Judge)

What more is there to say? He’s “The Great One” and the inspiration behind the number choice for both of the honorable mentions. In his junior career, Gretzky originally wanted to wear #9 for his hero Gordie Howe; however, a teammate already had the number, so he settled on #99. While playing in the now-defunct WHA, the financial instability of his team, the Indianapolis Racers, prompted him to be traded to the rival Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky was a dominant force for the Oilers in the WHA until the league folded in 1979, and four teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the first Winnipeg Jets (Now the inactive but not defunct Arizona Coyotes, who are the 1996 Cleveland Browns of the current NHL), the Hartford Whalers (Carolina Hurricanes), and the Quebec Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche) were allowed to make the transition into the NHL. Despite critics arguing that he would struggle in the "tougher" NHL, Gretzky easily won the Hart Memorial Trophy and could've won the Calder Trophy had it not been for his previous WHA experience, meaning the award went to Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque. His second season would see him win his first of 7 straight Art Ross Trophies as the Oilers continued to have regular season success but failed to achieve the postseason success they had in the WHA. That all changed in 1983, when the team made their first run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were swept by the New York Islanders dynasty of the early 1980s, who won 4 straight Stanley Cups. In a revenge tour, the Oilers would take down the Islanders to secure their first Stanley Cup victory. The Oilers would win three more Stanley Cups with the core, including what was considered to be the greatest team in NHL history with the 1985 Edmonton Oilers. The team play of the Oilers revolutionized how teams viewed hockey, as Gretzky's combination of passing and shooting skill put a greater spotlight on team play than had previously been present in the NHL. In 1988, following another Stanley Cup victory, arguably the most important event in NHL history would take place. In what is known as "The Trade", Gretzky was traded out of Edmonton to the Los Angeles Kings, a team he ironically had a tricky history with due to "The Miracle on Manchester". Gretzky made an immediate impact, leading the team to the 1989 Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Calgary Flames. Gretzky's play in California is credited as starting the popularity of the NHL in the Sun Belt, as the years following his introduction in Los Angeles (which boosted ticket sales and team revenue tenfold) saw the introduction of several southern teams such as the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights, and Utah Mammoth. He would help the Kings reach their first Stanley Cup Finals in 1993, where they would fall to the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games. 1994 would see him finally break his idol's record of 801 goals, however, the Kings entered a slide and rebuilding phase. In 1996, Gretzky would make his way to St. Louis, where he would have a strong season alongside star Brett Hull. The team nearly made a run to the Western Conference Finals, however, they were defeated in a 7-game semi-final series by a goal from the offside line by Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings in overtime. The chemistry between Hull and Gretzky never developed, and Gretzky would be traded to the New York Rangers in the same calendar year. While the team never made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, they still fielded strong teams to end the decade as Gretzky continued to add to his ridiculous records. He would retire after the 1999 season, scoring a point in his final game on an assist to Brian Leetch. He was the second-to-last player from the WHA in the NHL, the only other player being his former teammate and longtime friend (who attended Gretzky's final game alongside many members of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty), Mark Messier. While his goals record has been surpased by "The Great 8", his records in consecutive 100 points seasons, single season goals, single season assists, single season points, Hart Trophies, Art Ross Trophies, career assists, and, most of all, career points will never be surpased by any player in league history. Wayne Gretzky earned his moniker through his hard work and revolutionary play, and his performance didn't just get him on our list, but it got his #99 retired league wide.