Image via Complex Original
The NFL undoubtedly has some of the most resilient, muscular, and chiseled males roaming the states. But as athletically gifted and hard working they may be, there will aways be that fragile bone mass a few inches away from the hamstring—some of you may know this bone as the ankle.You can't put muscle on that, and unless you're on some unsafe calcium diet, it's always going to be a liability. Running backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks know this, and they will exploit that ankle to either comedic or shocking effect.
What's one of the best ways to do so? The good ole juke. The twitch, step, or fake that leaves the defender sorely misdirected or crumbling to the ground in cartoonish fashion. You have your fans of the old fashioned Xs and Os, but we can pretty much agree a well executed juke is a beautiful thing. It's the tool that helped turn practitioners like Barry Sanders and Walter Payton into legends and give today's stars a quick route to the highlight reel. The juke has been in use for decades, but we've colllected the 25 Most Badass Juke Moves in NFL HIstory in GIFs here. A moment of silence for all the ankles lost.
25. Brady Gives Urlacher That Work
Date: 11/26/2006
Game: Chicago Bears @ New England Patriots
Juke by: Tom Brady
It's a shock Brian Urlacher didn't just retire after this one.
24. Crruuuuuzzzz!
Date: 12/24/2011
Game: New York Giants @ New York Jets
Juke by: Victor Cruz
This 99-yard touchdown play essentially put Victor Cruz on the map. Salsa, young man, salsa.
23. Almost Had Him There
Date: 9/16/2012
Game: Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Juke by: Maurice Jones-Drew
22. Arian Foster Has Them Reaching
Date: 9/19/2010
Game: Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Juke by: Arian Foster
You can totally picture the defender on his knees screaming "ARIIAAANNN" while shaking his fist at the sky.
21. DeSean Jackson, Timestopper
Date: 11/5/2012
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Juke by: DeSean Jackson
It's so serious when you have a move that can leave someone frozen in time.
20. AP is a Cyborg
Date: 12/2/2007
Game: Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Juke by: Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson's high willpower will inspire anybody who watches him. Except if you're defending him, because if you are, that's just tough shit.
19. Two Birds With One...
Date: 1/16/2009
Game: Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints
Juke by: Reggie Bush
If only Reggie Bush could've pulled this shit that one time against the Eagles.
18. Irony
Date: 10/12/2012
Game: Tennessee Titans @ Minnesota Vikings
Juke by: Percy Harvin
As if stricken by some invisible football karma god, Percy Harvin would severely sprain his own ankle (literally) that season after snapping a few here.
17. Welcome to the NFL
Date: 8/8/2013
Game: Washington Redskins @ Tennessee Titans
Juke by: Chris Johnson
This is Bacarri Rambo's rookie season, so this wasn't even fair. You wrong for that, C.J.
16. Champ Gets T.O.'d
Date: 10/30/2005
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Terrell Owens
As bad as this looked, this was nowhere near as painful as that time Champ got popped right by the endzone while returning an interception.
15. Panthers Fail Again
Date: 8/15/2013
Game: Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Juke by: LeSean McCoy
C'mon guys, act like you've played defense before.
14. Shake and Break
Date: 9/28/1998
Game: Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Juke by: Barry Sanders
The GOAT says FOH.
13. Fooled Me Once...
Date: 11/6/2011
Game: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Juke by: Antonio Brown
We guess he didn't look like a complete fool since the defender did manage to catch him.
12. Hit 'Em With the Sweetness
Date: N/A
Game: Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
Juke by: Walter Payton
Juke stepping his way into greatness and his defender out of his cleats.
11. Blown Return Coverage
Date: 9/4/1994
Game: Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Juke by: Eric Metcalf
Could you imagine being the guy looking back as Metcalf returns the kickoff for six? Talk about feeling sick.
10. Big Man, Quick Legs
Date: 8/22/2011
Game: Chicago Bears @ New York Giants
Juke by: Brandon Jacobs
It's either he got ran over or his ankles broke, and the latter hurts a lot less.
9. Jim Brown Doing Jim Brown Things
Date: N/A
Game: Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns
Juke by: Jim Brown
Jim Brown is the greatest running back of all time. Those defenders shouldn't be ashamed of themselves for getting caught this badly.
8. Dude, I'm on Your Team!
Date: 10/23/2011
Game: Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Juke by: Matt Forte
Forte's running down the field thinking, "Who raised these fools?"
7. This Ain't No Video Game
Date: N/A
Game: Detroit Lions @ Indianapolis Colts
Juke by: Barry Sanders
Juke King Barry flicked the shit out of that right analog stick.
7. Packed and Sent
Date: 1990s
Game: Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers
Juke by: Emmittt Smith
The man went so far in he opposite direction you'd think gravity itself has shifted or something.
5. Brown Down
Date: 10/24/1999
Game: Cleveland Browns @ St. Louis Rams
Juke by: Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk had fallen defenders looking up at him like he was the second coming back in the day.
4. Cunningham Shuffle
Date: 9/28/1986
Game: Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders
Juke by: Randall Cunningham
Cunningham taught these mobile QBs how to do it.
3. Respect the King
Date: N/A
Game: Dallas Cowboys @ Detroit Lions
Juke by: Barry Sanders
Four words: Un. Touch. A. Ble.
2. Running With the Night
Date: Super Bowl XVIII (1/22/1984)
Game: Oakland Raiders vs. Washinton Redskins
Juke by: Marcus Allen
Unfortunately, this was the only juke move to have such great commentary to go with it. Marcus Allen's 74-yard touchdown was accompanied by the great John Facenda's "Here comes Marcus Allen, running with the night."
1. Two for One
Date: 12/15/2002
Game: Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Juke by: Dante Hall
If you're gettting got like this you can't go around with your name on the back of your jersey.
