For a team to make it all the way to the Super Bowl, they need someone like the general manager to construct a roster that has all the components for victory, but what if that general manager had the option to pick and choose from a group of some of Marvel's greatest superheroes and villains. Would you ride with Dr. Doom as your QB? Does Johnny Storm have the right touch to be wide receiver? Would the Punisher make a good leader on defense?
Well, behold the 2025 All-Marvel Football Team! 25 football roster spots filled with some of the most popular Marvel superheroes and villains. We will name the best Marvel quarterback, backfield and receivers; lineman on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, linebackers, and secondary. The special teams are even thrown in; like that would be necessary with a team like this!
...and to save the time for all of the true die-hard fans: legendary hero SuperPro did not make the cut on this year's team.
Quarterback: Captain America Steve Rogers
A few different Marvel characters could easily fill this roster spot; Cyclops and Dr. Doom to name a couple, but on this team, Steve Rogers is the surest bet to lead the team to a victory. Rogers's physical attributes from the super-soldier serum allow him to throw the ball a mile or stiff-arm a defender ten feet into the turf. Captain America's decades of experience as a battlefield leader makes him a natural for the gridiron and his unbreakable willpower makes him the perfect quarterback.
Backfield: Nightcrawler, Juggernaut
These two mutants are usually on opposing sides of each other but on the football field, Juggernaut and Nightcrawler form the perfect "thunder and lightning" tandem in the backfield. It’s almost a guaranteed TD once you get the ball into Nightcrawler’s hands. His ability to shift across the field is uncanny and defenders never have a confident grip even when they have Kurt Wagner wrapped up in a tackle. Juggernaut is the team’s cheat code on short-yardage and goal-line plays along with being a wall for the QB against any blitzing linebacker; though he might prove to be a liability if ever called upon to catch the ball.
Receivers: Falcon, Mr. Fantastic, Groot
The Marvel roster is deep with characters that would be great at catching a football so this decision was difficult. The Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson connection is tight and with Falcon's abilities, he is locked in at WR1 on this team. You might question Mr. Fantastic’s foot speed or his ability to get off the line but Reed Richards is smarter than any other player and his ability to STRETCH the field is unmatched.
It might not look like it but Groot could be the perfect Tight End prototype. Groot isn’t going to burn past any defender on the field, but their ability to wrap their limbs around any ball thrown in their direction is a football coach's dream. Plus, Groot's ability to get rooted in the blocking game makes him a huge asset.
Offensive Line: Beast, Rhino, Thing, Colossus, Emma Frost
This roster of offensive linemen would have NFL coaches salivating. Hank McCoy's intelligence and ferocious temperament makes him perfect in the Center role on the offensive line. Thing and Rhino as the two offensive guards provide a formidable test for opponents in both run and pass attack; while Colossus and Emma Frost use their abilities to change their bodies into organic steel and diamond, to become the sturdy bookends of this offensive line.
Defensive Line: Hulk, Sandman, Thor
A defensive front made up of the Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Sandman would be a nightmare for opposing offensives. Sandman is in the middle of the defensive line; clogging up the interior and making it hard for any offensive player to gain traction. If that’s not enough to cause havoc for opponents add two big threats coming from the edge with a raging Incredible Hulk and the God of Thunder, Thor.
Linebackers: Iron Man, Dr. Doom, Punisher, Dr. Octopus
This linebacker unit might be the most powerful on the team but ultimately could be the weakest group on the team and that's because you have to have a lot of faith that Tony Stark, Victor Von Doom, Frank Castle, and Doctor Otto Octavius can work together as a cohesive unit. If that does happen though, look out! Nothing could defeat the defensive strategies cooked up by Dr. Doom and the Punisher, while Iron Man provides massive firepower on the outside and the jets to keep up with any receiver and Doctor Octopus's metal tentacles will prove to be a menace for any ball thrown in that direction.
Secondary: Spider-Man, Daredevil, Storm, Wolverine
The secondary might be my favorite group out of the bunch. Storm, in the free safety role, uses her weather manipulation powers to provide blanket coverage on the entire field; allowing Wolverine, as the strong safety, to have free rein to attack opposing offenses, at will.
As one of the two cornerbacks on the field, Spider-Man can use his web-slinging abilities to always stay in the play while using his sticky fingers to snatch the ball away from any opposing receivers; plus, the web crawler has been in a match of high stakes football before. The other cornerback, Daredevil, might be the hidden gem on defense as his super-powered senses will allow him to detect where the ball is going to go even before the opposing team snaps the ball.
Special Teams: Hawkeye, Dr Strange, Quicksilver
The Marvel special team’s unit might be one of wasted potential when you consider the lack of action they might see on the field in support of this offensive and defensive lineup. Hawkeye tends to mainly use his upper body when in combat so, as the kicker on the team, the strength in his leg might be suspect but Clint Barton’s ability to hit the toughest shot in the most important moment makes him perfect for this team.
The punter role on the team might seem a little odd for someone like Dr. Stephen Strange but his skill with a sling ring and ability to open up a portal anywhere on the field to drop the ball will make up for his lack of physical ability. Hopefully, his hands don't fail him when it comes time to catch the snap.
If you are looking for speed when choosing a returner, then Quicksilver is your man. The kicking team would still be waiting to take their first steps while Pietro Maximoff is dancing in the end zone. Sadly, someone with Quicksilver's talents might only see the field a couple of times a game with a roster like this one.
The greatest team ever assembled?!
.@PatrickMahomes is Spider-Man in the new #GridironHeights (via @BleacherReport)pic.twitter.com/muesmwE6o2
— BBQ Sports (@RealBBQSports) January 30, 2020
So there you have it; probably the greatest team ever assembled (Sorry, Avenger fans). Now this team just needs to find a rival. Do you think you can create a team that could challenge this one? Let us know in the comments and be sure to stay tuned to FanSided and Bam Smack Pow for all of the up-to-date news on Super Bowl LIX and your favorite Marvel stories.