In his young career, Russell Wilson is on his way to being one of the best postseason players in history. With a magnificent performance in last year's Super Bowl in which he methodically managed the Seattle Seahawks' offense, he finished the game with 206 yards passing with two touchdowns; his 88.1 QBR was impressive as well. While he has a ways to go, see which names he has to match up against on this list of the top 15 postseason performers.
15. Reggie Jackson
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15. Reggie Jackson
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It's hard to have a nickname like "Mr. October" and not be on this list. Reggie Jackson was king in the 1977 World Series in which he hit three home runs in Game 6 to help the New York Yankees win another title and his second MVP.
14. John Elway
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14. John Elway
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Ask Cleveland Browns fans if they feel John Elway should be listed here, and if they're honest, they would say yes. Elway had some of the most memorable playoff moments -- "The Drive" and his 14 wins 4,964 yards with 33 total touchdowns speaks to his greatness in the biggest of stages. He ended his career with two Super Bowl wins and the MVP against the Atlanta Falcons.
13. Shaquille O'Neal
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13. Shaquille O'Neal
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Shaquille O'Neal dominated his entire career, but when it came to the playoffs, he was that and more. He averaged 24.3 PPG and 11.6 RPG (which were decreased by his later appearances at an older age). He's also a four-time champion and three-time NBA Finals MVP.
12. Terry Bradshaw
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12. Terry Bradshaw
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Terry Bradshaw was the general behind the Pittsburgh Steelers' reign of the 70's and four Super Bowl titles. Bradshaw was in the Super Bowl XIII and XIV MVP.
11. Jerry Rice
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11. Jerry Rice
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Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and it manifested itself in the postseason when it mattered the most. Rice has 151 receptions, 2,245 yards and 22 touchdowns. He still holds the record for most touchdown catches in a Super Bowl with three.
10. Larry Bird
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10. Larry Bird
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The "Hick from French Lick" was a special player, and helping the Boston Celtics to win three NBA championships rested largely on his shoulders, as he was MVP for two of them (1984 and 1986). Bird was masterful in the postseason and averaged 23.8 PPG 10.3 RPG, and 6.5 APG.
9. Bob Gibson
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9. Bob Gibson
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With a 7-2 record in the World Series to go along with a 1.89 ERA, Bob Gibson proves worthy to be on this list. His 17 SO in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series is still a record. He was the 1964 and 1967 World Series MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals.
8. Tom Brady
Greg M. Cooper - USA Today
8. Tom Brady
Greg M. Cooper - USA Today
Tom Brady is 19-8 in the postseason. He has 46 touchdowns to go along with 6,791 yards. He helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls, and was an Eli Manning Hail Mary away from winning four in 2008. He's also a two-time Super Bowl MVP.
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabar
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7. Kareem Abdul-Jabar
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Kareem Abdul-Jabar was arguably the most dominant big man in the game in the 1970's, and he managed to take the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals and win in 1971, in which he was the MVP. He then went on to win five more with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning the MVP in 1985.
6. Magic Johnson
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6. Magic Johnson
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The NBA's greatest point guard was the ring leader of the Los Angeles Lakers' showtime basketball, and that didn't stop in the postseason, as Magic Johnson became just that by winning five NBA titles and three MVP's. One of his most memorable games was the sky hook he hit over Kevin McHale to win Game 4 of the 1987 Finals. Replays of this will be shown forever in Lakers and sports history.
5. Babe Ruth
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5. Babe Ruth
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The only reason Babe Ruth is listed here is because during his era, there were few games to be played in the postseason, yet he dominated in them. The Sultan of Swat amassed 15 home runs, 35 RBI's and a .326 BA during his postseason tenure. Not to mention he won seven World Series titles.
4. Bill Russell
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4. Bill Russell
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If only Bill Russell was born with a sixth finger, this picture would capture the amount of championships he achieved during his playing days. That's right, Russell retired with 11 NBA titles, and his dominance was well documented as he constantly shut down the great Wilt Chamberlain, as well as averaging 24.9 RPG his playoff career.
3. Joe Montana
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3. Joe Montana
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There may never be a better postseason quarterback than Joe Montana. In terms of rising to the occasion, Montana was the epitome of that. He finished his career with 16 wins in the postseason, along with 45 TD's to only 21 INT's. He managed to win four Super Bowl championships with three MVPs.
2. Wayne Gretzky
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2. Wayne Gretzky
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Wayne Gretzky is the NHL record holder in many categories. In the playoffs, he holds 15 records that may never be broken. With the Edmonton Oilers, he won four Stanley Cup titles, and his 122 goals and 260 assists are two records surely to stay in history for a long time.
1. Michael Jordan
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1. Michael Jordan
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Six NBA Finals appearances, six NBA championships, and six NBA Finals MVP's. Numbers like this may be the mark of the beast, but that's exactly what Michael Jordan was during the postseason, as he was literally unstoppable. Once he won his first title in 1991, there was no turning back. Jordan's career numbers of 33.4 PPG are a playoff record, and he has countless more. He's the unquestioned No. 1 all-time postseason player.
Brandon Williams is an Atlanta Braves writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter, @BfreshAlum4UA, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
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