Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Nine All-Pros. In this Article . Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. He even made the Pro Bowl in a year that he only started eight games and also a year in which he only started nine games. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Both . But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. 2. Anything you asked him to do, he would do. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. 1970 Dallas Cowboys Roster & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. How NFL Players Have Evolved. The transition from college football to the NFL . Born April 20 . Defensive MVP in 2002. 38, Chad Brown (Steelers/Seahawks/Patriots) (1993-2007) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. No. No. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . 10 Best Linebackers in Steelers History (+Honorable Mentions) Top 10 Washington Football Team LBs of All Time - Sports Articles No. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. After being labeled a bust by many after his first four seasons with the Jets, Farrior broke out with the Steelers and became one of the most consistent players in the league. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. But Mills did much more than that. No. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Penn State football all-time defense | Who are the greatest defensive Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. During the five year stretch from 1991-1995 where he made five consecutive Pro Bowls, Lloyd was one of, if not the, most dominating linebackers in the NFL. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. Ham had outstanding speed. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. No. 25. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. 6 - Carl McAdams. 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. NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. 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. 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He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine 10. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Wright has been one of the most reliable linebackers in the NFL since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State . 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more 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. [3] A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. Andre Tippett. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. No. 3 hours ago. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. 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. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. No. List of All Buffalo Bills Linebackers, Ranked Best to Worst No. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Chicago Bears: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history - NFL Spin Zone His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. No. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. [3] Zachary Petrizzo. The 15 Greatest NFL Linebackers of All Time - Sportscasting Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. No. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. Eddie Johnson. 25 Greatest Defensive Linemen in NFL History - AthlonSports.com The longtime backup led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), set the Seahawks' single-season passing yards record (4,282) and ranked in the top five in the entire league in both passing . Of the five LBs chosen to the 1950s All-Decade Team the others were Bednarik, Fortunato, George, and Huff Schmidt made the most Pro Bowls (nine) and the most all-pro teams (seven first-team, nine altogether). O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. 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. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Holdovers from the National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team were Bob Lilly, Dick Butkus, Merlin Olsen, Larry Wilson, and Jim Bakken, which made them the first players to make multiple All-Decade teams in NFL history. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. The 70s were a rough decade for the Browns, but the 1980s were getting off to a great start with the franchise returning to the playoffs, despite the tragedy of " Red Right 88 " in 1981. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. by Ben Watanabe. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Beason has only been in the league for three years now. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. 10. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. He was effective as a pass rushing OLB, tallying up 14 sacks in one season with the Dolphins, and as an inside run stopping linebacker with the Jets. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Super Bowl winner. Nine All-Pros. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Notre Dame, Mike Brey and the awkward goodbye - The Athletic He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . Porter is mostly known as a sack master. 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Georgia's top players by position: Linebackers - ajc Thats amazing consistency. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. As part of the Steelers Blitzburgh defense in the 90s, Greg Lloyd was a speedy, undersized pass rusher.Sometimes, he would use his size to his advantage to disguise where he was coming from. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. By 1995, he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. AP. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Minnesota Vikings reporter suggests All-Pro defender a likely 2023 cap HELLO, PANDORA. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. Jack Ham had the whole package as a 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. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. 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 running back Franco Harris. . He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. The Greatest Linebackers of All Time - SportsUnfold Here's 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). Despite the bad taste he left when leaving the team, James Harrison belongs on the upper half of the top ten linebackers in Steelers history. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. More from Green Bay Packers. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. No. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Boulware gets overlooked a lot playing because of playing with Ray Lewis, but he was a key component in that dominating Ravens defense of the early 2000s. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Still, its an amazing number. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage.