There was also an effort to include a diversity of rivalries, from respectful divisional opponents to trash-talking players with clear disdain for one another. There was an effort to include rivalries across decades, although there’s a recency bias that favors the 2010s. Rivalrous tensions can fade with time, as with Ed Reed and Hines Ward, while others remain bitter to the end.Ĭhoosing the 10 best rivalries between receivers and defensive backs is a subjective exercise for each fan of the game, but the following list was centered around certain criteria. Other rivalries are rooted in revenge, with players retaliating against perceived dirty hits with clotheslines and snatched chains. That was the sentiment in Peanut Tillman’s heartfelt retirement address given to Calvin Johnson, to which Johnson responded positively. Others approach the game with grace, considering it an honor to battle against a Hall of Fame talent. Sometimes players push against their physical limitations, such as a 5-foot-9 Pat Fischer when he lined up against a 6-foot-8 Harold Carmichael. Through that, some of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries are born. In mirroring each other, NFL wide receivers and defensive backs will always push their opponents to the limit.

The original Proverbs verse isn’t specific to football, but the notion is the same.

With the 2022 season wrapped up, here’s a look at ten of the best rivalries between wide receivers and defensive backs in NFL history.Īs iron sharpens iron, so wide receivers and defensive backs sharpen one another. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports Pittsburgh, PA, USA Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (86) and Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) argue during the third quarter of the 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Heinz Field.

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