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It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. Zachary Petrizzo. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. He knew how to make big plays. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. and 2000s. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. How NFL Players Have Evolved | Stadium Talk Defensive MVP in 2002. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. No. #NFL100 - Top 6 Outside Linebackers The NFL started in 1920 and commemorated its 100th season in 2019 with a season-long celebration of "NFL 100." The game has come a long way in 100 years. You decide: Ohio State football's all-decade linebackers Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. 5. The 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history - ESPN.com 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jan 25, 1981; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders players Mickey Marvin (65), Willie Jones (90), Rod Martin (53), Ted Hendricks (83) and Raymond Chester (88) on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV at the Superdome. The forgotten members of the legendary 1970's Steelers team Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. 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. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . No. Please play responsibly. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. . His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. 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. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. No. Thats amazing consistency. 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. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. No. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. Steelers all-time 53-man roster: '70s legends, 'Killer Bs' headline Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. K.J. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans Who are the Packers' greatest defenders of all time? - Green Bay Packers Seau was the definition of consistency. No. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. 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. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Still, its an amazing number. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. 2022 - SportsUnfold. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. Andre Tippett. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. 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. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 23. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 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. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. 1970 Dallas Cowboys Roster & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-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. Super Bowl winner. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Sam Huff. No. Baltimore, with 2,038 rushing yards through its first 10 games of the season, is the seventh team since 1970 and first since the 1978 New England Patriots (2,029 rushing yards) with at least 2,000 . 2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Let me start out by saying that yes, I know that he was only a linebacker for half his career and DE the other half. No. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. Neal Olkewicz. 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. . He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Featuring 2018-2019 Raiders and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Raiders LBs include Ted Hendricks, Khalil Mack, Rod Martin, Sam Wiliams, and Greg Biekert. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was 73. 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. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. 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. by Ben Watanabe. 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 . Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. 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. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Franchise Encyclopedia. And he's still going. Marshall wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker though, he also racked up 1,020 tackles during his 11 year NFL career, along with 24 forced fumbles. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. Beason has only been in the league for three years now. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Of course, prior to 1970, there was only one captain chosen; since 1970, we've had as many as four chosen in a single season. 9. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. No. In that game, the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first downs and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards, despite losing 27-17 in large part due to two key interceptions thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil ODonnell. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. In his three years at Clemson (1995-'97) Simmons recorded 486 tackles, only 29 off the school record Bubba Brown recorded in four years from 1976-'79. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. 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. Rickey Jackson could do it all. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. No. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. 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? Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Top 50 Minnesota Vikings Players of All-Time - Sports Articles His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more 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. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. No. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . Chicago Bears: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history - NFL Spin Zone He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. No. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. Joe Schmidt. He could do it all. Tribute to Elvis He is most known for the neck plate he wore behind his head, but dont let that distract you from his great play on the field. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. 10. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Robert Brazile. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. St. Gambling Problem? The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on him, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. Perfect Seahawks NFL Draft 2023 plan: Select C.J. Stroud if there at No Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. 7. No. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. (Pro Football Weekly 1975 Defensive Player of the Year, 1970s All-Decade Team, 1994 75th anniversary team), and also the team success (4 Super Bowls). Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. The Greatest Linebackers of All Time - SportsUnfold Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. 14, Hardy Nickerson (Steelers/Bucs/Jaguars/Packers) (1987-2002) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 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. 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. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). 1970 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Ralph Baker - Years with Jets: 11 (1964-74) Baker played in 142 games with the Jets in his 11 seasons, which is tied with Marvin Jones for the 4 th most by a linebacker. Nine All-Pros. Thats amazing consistency. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. 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 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. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. 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. No. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central 100th NFL Anniversary team. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. 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. 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. . Eleven Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. He was always around the ball. [3] *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . 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 . O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. No. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. 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. He could do it all. A truly great linebacker must be able to read the offense, set the defensive scheme, play the run with cat-like instincts and defend the pass with the utmost precision. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Andre Tippett may have been outshined by Lawrence Taylor playing basically the same position at the same time frame, but theres no mistaking what Tippett did on the field.