Junior Seau

Seau's impact on the field has been and continues to be great—even with a Chargers team that finished the 1990s with a struggle. In the past few years the team has turned things around, acquiring quarterback Doug Flutie and, most recently, Drew Brees. In 2002, Seau's Chargers were in playoff contention up until the final game of the season. Playing in an extremely tough AFC West division, the team just missed the playoffs.

Junior Seau seems to have fun with life, taking the opportunities afforded him by football and turning them around. He told ESPN's The Life that his one weakness is buying sunglasses (he buys a new pair almost weekly). Other than that, he doesn't see the need to spend all of the money he earns on himself. Though he was one of the first NFL players to begin his own apparel line, the "Say-Ow" Gear, Seau's impact off the field is probably greatest in the area of philanthropy.

He started his Junior Seau Foundation in 1992, an organization developed to help out kids who, like Seau, don't always have the best opportunities growing up. The foundation's purpose, as it says on the foundation's Web site, is "to educate and empower young people through the support of child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, recreational opportunities, anti-juvenile delinquency efforts and complimentary educational programs."

Though he'll be one of the most passionate players on the field, Junior Seau's work off the field and the contributions he makes to his community put Seau at the top of the list of NFL players who give back.