Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Andre Tippett. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time - NFL.com Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. No. He knew how to make big plays. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. No. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. James Harrison. Ham had outstanding speed. No. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Thats an amazing number as well. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. But Mills did much more than that. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. . The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. No. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Seau was the definition of consistency. Wilson doesnt have the career numbers because his career was so short, but theres no doubt when he was playing he was the most feared player on the field. First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl w/Raiders (1991) NFL interceptions leader w/Raiders (1991) Ronnie Lott is best known for being arguably the best safety in football history. The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. Urlacher was the leader of those great Bears defenses of the 2000s, including when they got to the Super Bowl only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . In this Article . Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 10. Gambling Problem? O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . Wright, Seattle Seahawks. Joe Schmidt. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Over the course of his career he racked up over 1,000 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and 14 INTs, all of which are very good numbers. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. Cox was also a vocal leader of the teams he played for, directing his defenses to success. 1970 1979 America Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. In 2006, he had an amazing season and won defensive MVP, which is a very high honor that most players on this list never achieved. No. 25 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History - AthlonSports.com Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 27. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Bill Parcells considered Carson the best all-around linebacker he ever coached, which is very high praise from someone who has coached a ton of linebackers in his day. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. No. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. #NFL100 - Top 6 Outside Linebackers Ham had arguably the most successful NFL career out of any of the names on this list as he was a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? He made five straight Pro Bowls, but the reason he doesnt rank higher on this list is because he was never a feared player like his teammate Michael Strahan was, and his stats just arent good enough. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Republican Rep. James Comer suggested during a right-wing podcast earlier this week that President Joe Biden's deceased son Beau Biden should have been investigated in connection with a long-settled case on "campaign donations" from a backer who was eventually indicted. No. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Who are the Packers' greatest defenders of all time? - Green Bay Packers Taylor changed the way football is played today. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. . Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Chicago 1981-92. All Rights Reserved. 10. 11, Kevin Greene (Rams/Steelers/Panthers/49ers), (1985-1999) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lewis most notable accomplishment may be starting the Tom Brady era by knocking out Drew Bledsoe on a roll out, giving Tom Brady his first ever NFL action. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. . Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. Penn State football all-time defense | Who are the greatest defensive Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. Zachary Petrizzo. He was one of the most feared players in the game. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. 100th NFL Anniversary team. He was said to have the fastest 10 yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and runningback Franco Harris. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk No. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. The Best Las Vegas Raiders Linebackers of All Time - Ranker He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. . Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 gets a hold of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields #1 during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium . And he's still going. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary by Ben Watanabe. Bergey became one of the NFL's best linebackers in Philly, where he made five consecutive All-Pro teams and was the foundation for the "Gang Green" defense that made the playoffs in each of his last three seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 1980. . Franchise Encyclopedia. Here's a list of the Packers' top 10 all-time defensive players since 1950, when unlimited substitution was restored to the NFL, paving the way for two-platoon football. Among linebackers, that would include two-way stars George Svendsen (1935-41), Bud Svendsen (1937, 1939) and Charley Brock (1939-47), along with Bill Forester (1953-63), Tom Bettis (1955-61) and Roger Zatkoff (1953-56). Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. 10 Tom Jackson. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. LaVar Arrington. Neal Olkewicz. The leader of the Dome Patrol comes in at No. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. Super Bowl winner. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. 1953-65, Detroit Lions. [3] 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron, 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan, The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History, The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . List of All Buffalo Bills Linebackers, Ranked Best to Worst Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. Defensive MVP in 2002. No. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. No. Romanowski might be overrated because of his name, but theres no doubt he was one of the most memorable and feared linebackers of the modern era. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Ill take into account Pro Bowls, All-Pros (1st and 2nd team), stats, team success, players success, intimidation factor, and reputation, along with many other factors to make this list. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . [1][2] The squad consists of first- and second-team offensive, defensive, and special teams units, as well as a first- and second-team head coaches. T&Cs apply. Jack Ham, Linebacker. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . You decide: Ohio State football's all-decade linebackers 1970 NFC Champion. No. Super Bowl XX champion. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Notre Dame, Mike Brey and the awkward goodbye - The Athletic 21. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Pat Swilling was an outstanding pass rusher in his career, totaling up 107 sacks in his career and 101.5 sacks in a 10 year period throwing out his rookie year and last season of his career. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: No. 5-1 - Saturday Down South In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. No. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. Over his nine-year career, he had 2,049 tackles, although this number is solo and assisted because he played before solo tackles were an official stat. He has already had three 100 tackle seasons in his first three years, and also has already forced 10 turnovers (four INTs, six forced fumbles). 7. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). In his final two seasons with the Bengals, Williams was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket. He knew how to make big plays. Mike Singletary. 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Ham had outstanding speed. 1970s A 1-13 record in 1969 gave the Steelers the first overall choice in the 1970 draft, with which Noll addressed the offense by selecting quarterback Terry Bradshaw, another Hall of Famer, after the Steelers won the first selection by winning a coin toss with the Chicago Bears. Also note that an asterisk (*) by the players name means they are still active today. 5.) Paul Naumoff. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History (Updated) The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. No. Top 9 Most Underrated Running Backs in NFL History, QB Derek Carr to visit Jets on Saturday after leaving Raiders, Top 9 Worst Draft Picks in Bengals History, Super Bowl XIX: Montana and Walsh establish dominance, The 5 Greatest Quarterbacks Who Never Won a Championship, Top 11 Single Game Performances in NCAA Football History, Top 10 College football's greatest true freshman seasons of all time, Top 10 Two Year Runs in College Football History, where do the Georgia Bulldogs rank, NCAA FB Championship TCU vs Georgia: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/09/23, Georgia vs. TCU National Championship: Preview & Prediction, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh facing possible suspension from the NCAA, The night Cassius Clay shook up the world, Boxing Paul vs Fury: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/26/23, Matias vs. Ponce: Cant Miss Scrap Brings Heat To Chilly Minneapolis. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. 1970 Robert E. Lee Generals (13-0) Jim Chafin's team allowed just seven points a game and held 10 of its 13 opponents to 10 points or less. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers.
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