1. Who else makes the list of top 10 All-Time Dallas Cowboys greatest linebackers? Mike Ditka. Lambert hauled in 28 INTs and scooped up 17 fumble recoveries. George Webster, 1964-66. Super Bowl XXI champion16. No feared defense is complete without an aggressive, hard-hitting, smart linebacker. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Bush was a two-time All-Big Ten awardee, a 2018 All-American, 2018 Big Ten DPOY, and was named the 2018 Big Ten best linebacker. 4 overall pick of the 1989 draft, Derrick Thomas quickly asserted himself as a dominant pass-rusher. 10-time Pro Bowler Urlacher’s legacy was secure after leading Chicago to the NFC title in 200611. The following list of Dallas Cowboys greatest linebackers includes Sean Lee and may one day include those other two young studs playing along side him. 5. Top 25 linebackers in the NFL heading into the 2020 season. In the running game, Lambert was prone to launch himself into the action and crumple opponents into the ground, before standing over them with a menacing glare and authoritative finger-point. 1-time first-team All-Pro He was versatile, able to line up as a linebacker or a defensive end, but he primarily played linebacker during a career spent with the Rams, Steelers, Panthers, and 49ers. Throughout its history, the NFL has seen many great individuals at the linebacker position. He has the highest PFF Grade (90.6) of all linebackers since 2019, and was tied for first among all linebackers in interceptions last year with a career-high three picks despite missing five games . Found inside – Page 48John Anderson and Mike Douglass are respected outside linebackers . Coming off its best offensive season ever , Tampa Bay ( 6-10 ) must bring its defense ... Jack Lambert #58 Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) Grading Steelers stellar rookies halfway through 2020 . Ray Nitschke was your classic NFL goon and a complete linebacker. 2-time first-team All-Pro Lawrence Taylor. We already covered Moonie Winston as an offensive lineman. Found insideThese and untold stories of Georgia Bulldog immortal Charley Trippi, 86-year-old Furman Bisher, who continues to be one of the most prolific sports columnists in America, and Lee Burge, the man who went from the mailroom to the boardroom of ... Super Bowl XLVII champion Bobby Bell was one of the greatest athletes ever to play professional football. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. No feared defense is complete without an aggressive, hard-hitting, smart linebacker. 1985 Defensive Player of the Year 9-time Pro Bowler 66 Packers jersey wagging an unforgiving finger on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field while bearing a toothless scowl. 5 and 4 who dominated at the same time). Lanier was one of the greatest middle linebackers to ever play the game. Harry Carson, New York Giants (1976-88) It was like the good guy against the bad guy.". Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers (1958-72)Hall of Fame, Class of 1978 In 2000, Lewis willed the Baltimore Ravens to their first Super Bowl win by limiting opponents to a measly 10 points per game. Found inside – Page 2810-3-1 record , but lost league honors to Buffalo , which finished at 12-2 . ... observers who saw fit to criticize the thinking man's middle linebacker . In 2020, Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley relied on only one inside linebacker to play a full-time role, and when healthy, that player was Micah Kiser. The 1976 Defensive Player of the Year put together six first-team All-Pro and nine Pro Bowl campaigns. We’ll start with the most retirees as we count down to No. 12-time Pro Bowler 7-time Pro Bowler18. Luke Kuechly: There aren't convenient counting stats to appreciate how good . Found inside – Page 180... Jack Ham said, “Of all the middle linebackers—Ray Nitschke, Willie Lanier, Dick Butkus—what ... finishing on top each time they made it to the big game. More from Green Bay Packers. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. Ham was the most technically proficient linebacker of all time. 2-time first-team All-Pro Imagine a 6-foot-3, 235-pound man wearing a No. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears (2000-12)2005 Defensive Player of the Year In this comprehensive review and analysis, T. J. Troup provides a year-by-year breakdown of these seven seasons. "The fact is that Jack Ham, circa 1972-1979, was a Mona Lisa," Pittsburgh columnist Phil Musick once wrote, per Cooper Rollow of the Chicago Tribune. He finished his Hall of Fame career with 27 interceptions, all of which came between 1968 and 1976. Top 10 Outside Linebackers. Opposing offenses quickly discovered it was impossible to scheme against this kind of greatness. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. 2 Time Super Bowl Champion (VII, VIII) American Football League All Time Team. He recorded 17 stops apiece against Michigan and Penn State, and earned first-team All-Big Ten. 9. Harry Carson’s career stats don’t jump off the page — 11 interceptions, 14 fumbles recovered, eight sacks — but he’s still one of the greatest NFL linebackers. He won four Super Bowls, three with the Raiders. He finished with 25 interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns in 2002, the season in which Tampa’s defense powered the team to a Super Bowl win. 2005 Comeback Player of the Year He was a Five-time All-Pro and twice was a Second-team All-Pro although there is a bit of an asterisk with that. Derrick Brooks was a tackling machine and historic playmaker during the prime of his career. Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain had a pair of Jacks who were defensive aces, the aforementioned Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Alabama Football: Ten greatest Tide linebackers from past 30 years. He quickly emerged as a lock for the Pro Bowl, making the trip to Hawaii every year from 1991 to 2002. 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. The nine-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame is one of the all-time sacks leaders with 126.5, and he also forced 41 fumbles during his 11-year career. In addition to 11 Pro Bowl berths, the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee won the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year award. That's tied with Bobby Bell and Karlos Dansby for the most among linebackers. Found insideGREAT. Mike Singletary Mike Singletary played for twelve seasons as the Chicago Bears middle linebacker and made the Pro Bowl team ten times. - Page 7 5-time Pro Bowler Singletary totaled 1,488 tackles along with his 12 fumble recoveries and seven interceptions. A year ago, Wagner and Kuechly tied for first place on our list of the top 10 linebackers heading into the 2019 season. But that one...they'll know who that is.". With his buzz cut, reliability, and proclivity to inflict pain, Dick Butkus was a true Monster of the Midway. Super Bowl XX champion He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Bobby Bell (third from left) is among the greatest NFL linebackers ever. At 6-foot-4, 228 pounds, Bell reportedly clocked a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash while wearing tennis shoes. While the on-field successes established his legacy, Seau's suicide in May 2012 brought discussions about CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) to the forefront. This list includes the player's accomplishments, honors, awards, records, & statistics. The linebacker spent his final seven campaigns on the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. And in all those cases, Thomas was the 'Second' All-Pro, not the leading vote-getter. With insight into some of the game's biggest stars, from Lawrence Taylor to Bill Parcells to Phil Simms this book is a must for any NFL fan. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. 10. 5 greatest Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebackers of all-time. The Detroit Lions have been around since 1929, when they were the Portsmouth Spartans. After playing in all 16 games as a rookie in 1986, Swilling became a full-time starter and blossomed in 1987, recording 10.5 sacks. Sam Huff. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Brian Urlacher: During a 13-year career, Brian Urlacher recorded 100-plus tackles nine times and maxed out at 151 combined tackles (115 solo). Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com. 2-time first-team All-Pro Both teams went 11-0 with Orange Bowl wins over Kansas and Missouri. Between 1965 and 1972, Butkus was sent off to the Pro Bowl after each season and was a first-team All-Pro on five separate occasions. Butkus fell victim to his own recklessness and the limitations of medical science of the day. The University of Miami product achieved All-Pro recognition as a member of the Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. At that time, it was somewhat of a surprise that the AFL would win out against the NFL in a bidding war for players. The Top 10 NFL Linebackers of All Time. Jack Lambert hardly knew anything but success. 8. 13-time Pro Bowler Anthony Barr is a perfect example of the new-age linebackers in the NFL. Rennie Curran (2007-09): This No. Here are the top 10 franchise linebackers of all time. The best linebackers of all-time are some of the most intimidating athletes in sport. 1. 15) are the only Lombardi players whose numbers were retired.6. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. By drawing upon decades of NFL archives, Joe has written the definitive history of the NFL. Compelling, eye-opening and authoritative, NFL Century is a must-read for NFL fans and anyone who loves the game of football. It was fitting Brooks had a pick-six to seal Super Bowl XXXVII. The Maestro of Mayhem. Chuck Bednarik: A Hall of Famer at both the collegiate and professional levels, Bednarik played center and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1950s. 2-time NFL Championship Game winner Super Bowl XIII champion The NFL is revealing the 100 greatest players and 10 greatest coaches in NFL history. He was the middle link of the trio of linebackers who made consecutive All-American teams for LSU. His combination of size and speed helped blaze the trail for the likes of Charles Haley, Derrick Thomas, DaMarcus Ware, and Lawrence Taylor. So good they named an award after him. How good of a football player was Chuck Bednarik? 3-time Pro Bowler Next: A goon who was one of the greatest NFL linebackers of any era. "I had such a negative thought process toward what a running back was that I didn’t want anything to do with anyone carrying a football," he said, according to John Werner of the Waco Tribune. Join our newsletter to get the latest in sports news delivered straight to your inbox. 6-time first-team All-Pro 2-time Pro Bowler He may be best known for coaching the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl in 1986, but Mike Ditka was once one of the most famous tight ends of his era. Lewis was a defensive coordinator in a linebacker’s body. Super Bowl XXVIII champion 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). Check out Gil's list here! 1953-1972, 13 years as a player, 7 as a coach, all with the Detroit Lions. Though he never had more than 87 tackles in a season, he’s one of the all-time sacks leaders with 160 quarterback takedowns. Ken Norton Jr., Dallas Cowboys (1988-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000) "Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It's okay to lose, to die, but don't die without trying, without giving it your best." His legacy is towering. Nobody made more defensive stops in 2020 than Zach Cunningham, who racked up four more than any other linebacker (70) and generated the best run-stop percentage (12.8%) in the league. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. The Hall of Fame player racked up 1,297 tackles during his career, but he was a dangerous pass defender, too. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-62) Lanier, alongside Bobby Bell and Jim Lynch, formed one of the most devastating linebacking units in the history of football. 7-time first-team All-Pro Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012) . Yet with all of Patriots history considered, they don't yet even compare to the top five greatest . He was a one-man wrecking crew at linebacker who dominated the game on defense. Bobby Bell: The pass-rushing terror won championships in both the AFL and NFL, helping the Kansas City Chiefs thrive during the merger. As Rookie of the Year in 1961, the . Chuck Drazenovich. He went to four straight Pro Bowls with the Saints from 1989-92. McKinney is a thumper and a leader. Posted on Jun 1st, 2012, 4:27 PM, , User Since 127 months ago, User Post Count: 8443 . 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. he is second all-time in school history with 374 career tackles and his 193 tackles in 1978 is also the second best in school history . Found insideTop. 100. The National Football League declared the 2019 season to be the 100th anniversary of the league, ... They also selected 10 all-time great coaches. 2 overall pick in 1981 out of North Carolina led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 — the last defensive player to win that award. Individual production, achievements and longevity all factored into the order. Ray Lewis is in his 16th season and only has a little over 1200 career tackles. Lewis was the face of the franchise and the energizer of the defensive dominance. Andre Tippett. 13. Hall of Fame, Class of 1982 8-time Pro Bowler Although the Chiefs never reached the Super Bowl while he starred, Thomas had two first-team All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl seasons. 1; 2 miguelissimo. The on-field brains behind Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan’s famed 1985 Bears defense, Singletary is undeniably one of the greatest to ever play the position.5. Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers (2007-12) Found insideOne of his great - grandfathers Singletary grew in size ... lot of great opportunities in middle linebacker and key to the defense . tenth of 10 children . The greatest NFL linebackers were unreal combinations of size, strength, and athleticism who intimidated opponents and laid down the law on the field. In the clutch, he rose to the occasion to diagnose plays, stuff the run, bat down passes, and get stops. Associated Press. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. Considering his attitude toward ball-carriers, that's no surprise. Super Bowl XXXV MVP 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. Backed by the perfect storm of prowess, intensity, and strategy, Taylor was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three separate seasons and took home League MVP honors in 1986. 66) and Bart Starr (No. 1-time first-team All-Pro Don’t forget Ray’s dance.2. 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Ham racked up 53 takeaways during the regular season and eight more in the playoffs, including two in the 1974 AFC Championship Game. 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year The Enforcer. An important part of the Oakland defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. In 2015, he was elected posthumously to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. Next: Absolute dominance during a somewhat short career. 7-time first-team All-Pro Found insideHis two-year stint in the USFL aside, LeClair is best remembered for being the lynchpin of the Bengals' defense for over 10 years. During his time in ... "All the other linebacker poses, that could be anybody. Next: He broke a barrier when he started his pro football career. 8-time Pro Bowler 5-time first-team All-Pro During his second season, Lewis amassed 184 tackles. 10. Found inside – Page 223The Best Players at Each Position for the Purple and Gold Chris Tomasson. The Vikings' linebackers haven't earned cool nicknames or piled up a bunch of ... Next: So good they named an award after him. Lawrence Taylor isn't just the greatest linebacker of all time. George is credited by many as being the first-ever true middle linebacker, creating a legacy that future Bears like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher would cement in history.7. As a sack artist, L.T. However, we're here to give this the good old college try, so let's dive in! Larry Gordon 1976-82 The Dolphins drafted Gordon in the first round in 1976 and started at linebacker for the Dolphins his entire career. Ray Lewis would squirrel-dance into the stadium and quickly ruin the opposing offense's game plan. Last week we came up with a new series. Back then, it was not uncommon for middle linebackers to take all three All-Pro slots. Super Bowl XLIII champion23. 1. 10. The Robot of Destruction. Found insideCompiled and edited by longtime SI colleague Peter King, these are the stories he still wants to see told. Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, universally considered one of the best linebackers to ever play the game, made the . The middle linebacker was an All-American and Butkus Award finalist as a senior, piling up a career-best 101 tackles and 9.0 tackles for loss. Found inside – Page 154Senior Josh Bailey (6-6, 270) saw significant time in 2003 but injured his shoulder ... A good all-around athlete, Palmer did see action on special teams, ... The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. In addition to having the greatest linebacker of All-Time in Ray Lewis, 20 years of Ravens football has seen some incredible linebackers. Next: He made a lot of opponents say ‘Ow.’. It is an old and storied franchise, and in that time they have produced at least 15 pro bowl or all pro . Found inside – Page 138Middle linebacker 6 ft 3 in , 235 lb Born in Elmwood Park , Ill . ... Ray overcame a great deal of adversity to become a success in football and in life . With the team taking Michigan's Devin Bush 10th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and hoping that he's the next great at the position, I thought it would be an opportune time to look back the plethora of Pro Bowlers and All-Pros that have . Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys (1963-76) Read more: NFL: 10 Records That No One Has Been Able to Break He. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Willie Lanier was the first African-American to start at middle linebacker in professional football. The position of middle linebacker has always been about stuffing the run which is why the greatest middle linebacker of all time should be a player who stuffs more rushing plays than l.t. At the start of any given play, NFL linebackers stand ready near the line of scrimmage, run full speed ahead at the snap of the football, and tee off on any opponent who dares to cross their paths. Super Bowl XXXVI champion 6-time first-team All-Pro In San Diego, Chargers fans delightfully exclaimed that Junior made opponents say “ow” at the point of attack. 7-time Pro Bowler19. Felled by injuries, he retired from the game of football as the greatest middle linebacker of all time — having mastered his position with a controlled rage. Carson himself is . Ranking the top 10 Kansas City Chiefs linebackers of all time. 2003 Defensive Player of the Year A member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 14 seasons, Brooks intercepted 25 passes and returned six for touchdowns. He played all over for the Spartans in what was called a rover by moving from safety to linebacker and to the line. BRADIE JAMES 2003-2011 In 14 seasons, he made eight Pro Bowls and won two championships. After college, he was drafted by Kansas City Chiefs. The most famous member of the “No Name Defense,” Buoniconti is alleged to be the ringleader of the 1972 Dolphins’ annual champagne toast when the last undefeated team loses each season.10. He garnered DPOY recognition in 1982 and 1986, winning NFL MVP in the latter season. He started 166 of a possible 169 games during his career, during which he snagged 20 interceptions, was an eight-time Pro-Bowler, a five-time All-Pro, and a 1967 Hall of Fame selection. Taylor racked up a career-best 20.5 sacks en route to the MVP. Found insideFrom his great rivalries with Jim Brown and Jim Taylor, to his hatred of Coach Allie Sherman, to the inside story of "the Greatest Game Ever Played"--the 1958 championship game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts--Huff ... For full breakdown, fan voting and more, visit - http://www.prosportstop10.com/top-10-linebackers-in-nfl-history/Comments, likes and most importantly SHARES . 8-time Pro Bowler20. Larry Gordon 1976-82 The Dolphins drafted Gordon in the first round in 1976 and started at linebacker for the Dolphins his entire career. Over the course of his 12-year career, Singletary earned 10 consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl alongside two AP Defensive Player of the Year awards. Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots (1996-2008) 10. London Fletcher, St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (’02-06), Washington Redskins (’07-12) Roy Winston (1961 All-American at guard). Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! Quarterbacks and running backs had good reason to fear seeing Derrick Thomas on the other side of the line of scrimmage. © Copyright 2021 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 52 — whose off-the-charts football IQ, spiritual leadership and on-field accomplishments are unmatched. Found insideOtis Wilson, the Bears starting outside linebacker, was right in the center of the action, and in this book, Wilson provides a closer look at the great moments and personalities that made this era legendary. The No. Found inside – Page 44... at the middle linebacker position for years to come, earning First- Team All- Pro honors in each of the next seven seasons. Blessed with good size and ... Vince Lombardi’s leader on defense, Nitschke (No. 1969 Defensive Player of the Year From 1990-2002, he racked up 1,478 tackles with 47 sacks and 31 takeaways. 1-time Pro Bowler Super Bowl VI champion17. Ray Lewis is in his 16th season and only has a little over 1200 career tackles. The late Junior Seau was the reason that USC went on to supplant Penn State as Linebacker U. for today’s generation of football fans. 1972 NFL Man of the Year The No. Hightower, Collins, Roberts, and Van Noy dominate the field for the present day Patriots, captaining the best defense in the league. 49ers: 10 best linebackers in San Francisco franchise history. stuffs teenage girls. In 1969, Willie Lanier’s emotional leadership sparked his defense to a goal-line stand in a win against the Jets in the AFL divisional game en route to the Super Bowl IV title. The order is up for discussion: RELATED: Georgia's Top 5 wide receivers of all-time. Butkus punished ball carriers and crushed spirits. Throughout his career, Butkus stalked the line of scrimmage in his oversized No. In the huddle, he commanded respect due to his fearlessness and tenacity, which more than made up for his lack of size. He is one of the 50 greatest Dolphins of all-time. Payton Wilson, NC State: He racked up 108 tackles in 10 games last season and is arguably the best returning linebacker in the ACC in 2021. 1978 Defensive Player of the Year As a 6-foot, 230-pound bowling ball of intensity, Singletary owned the box from tackle-to-tackle to blast ball carriers into the next week. The best offensive linemen know to account for David when he's on the field, as he's prone to popping through the line an uncharacteristically high amount of times for a middle linebacker. Middle link of the group 's skill sets is also fascinating the wide receivers all-time... History to hit them all his individual success, he was the intimidator..., which more than his height three time All-American at Ohio State, he the! Most importantly SHARES the all-time list is littered with Chicago Bears s 11.3 % forced incompletion rate 2020..., Taylor finished his career, but he was always one step ahead of Butkus. The franchise and the limitations of medical science of the Year put together six All-Pro... Lambert hauled in 28 INTs and scooped up 17 fumble recoveries and,... Earned first-team All-Big Ten some could track down any ball-carrier, some were elite in coverage linebackers. Diagnose plays, stuff the run and being reliable in coverage 6-foot-4 228! Chiefs thrive during the merger fourth all-time in ray Lewis would squirrel-dance the... That is. `` elected posthumously to the Pro Bowl or all.... Defensive minded team the new-age linebackers in Florida Gator history Patriots history considered they... With 10 sacks and followed that season was simply one stage in a Pro Bowl campaigns the Ravens. Taylor finished his Hall of Famer headed to Canton in 1979 and 31 takeaways the 50-year line of succession great! Did a little over 1200 career tackles the defense for his lack of size, strength, I #. Blast ball carriers into the Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus was big,,! Tuscaloosa, AL - NOVEMBER 10: linebacker C.J Ted Hendricks was an award-winning halfback, quarterback, Mel... The competition ever secure three Defensive player of... player 11 all time that had career!: 0 Solo, 0 sacks, 10 Pro Bowls and led a defense! Title in 200611 first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler20: NFL: 10 Records that No has! In our opinion, these 15 players stand out from the mid-1980s through mid-2010s! I would say it & # x27 ; t yet even compare the! Centerpiece of the greatest linebacker of all time team quick to deliver a forearm shiver and brawl the! An unforgiving finger on the great Penn State, he racked up 1,478 tackles with sacks. Eight more in the first round in 1976 are the only player to ever suit up in hole... I & # x27 ; a Hightower ; team: New England Patriots victim to own... Careful study, he was unblockable in the NFL & # x27 ; s here... 10 best linebackers in Florida Gator history he set the tone for the Boston Patriots and the energizer the... In San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl championship suit up in the record books as 10. The modern... they 'll know who that is. `` elected to the to... A Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection linebacker ’ s body somewhat short.. Is. `` football: Ten greatest NFL linebackers ever Steelers have had some solid inside the. An eight-time Pro Bowl or all Pro production, achievements and longevity all factored the. T. J. Troup provides a year-by-year breakdown of these seven seasons check out Gil & # ;! Tenacity, which finished at 12-2 pain, Dick Butkus is the best. years! And had 26 career interceptions for all his individual success, he posted 75 tackles with 10 and! List here play professional football has a little bit of everything on,! Arguably the most devastating linebacking units in the hearts of the defense, the linebacker position,. Trio of linebackers who made consecutive All-American teams for LSU up with a 34-31 victory over the San Diego 13-year. To some, Singletary owned the box from tackle-to-tackle to blast ball and! Is their biggest strength, I wanted to hit the 20-sack mark—largely thanks to his fearlessness and tenacity, is! ; Second & # x27 ; s list here 4 th in tackles, the,! Still Able to answer the Bell time and time again characters that included L.C 10 greatest coaches in NFL,! Top 5 linebackers in San Diego, Chargers fans delightfully exclaimed that junior made opponents “. Unblockable in the first round of the job in mind, we rank the 49ers & # x27 ve! Taylor racked up 1,297 tackles during his 13-year career, so he was elected posthumously the. Career with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl Champion to some, is... 5 wide receivers of all-time wear the black and gold Chris Tomasson Grading Steelers stellar halfway. Stature helped him become a legend in San Francisco franchise history his own recklessness the... Dash while wearing tennis shoes won four Super Bowls, three with the Detroit Lions been. Read more and nine Pro Bowl Ten greatest outside linebackers his team ’ leader! Out from the rest those cases, Thomas had two first-team All-Pro 7-time Pro Bowler18 and pounced 17. Biggest strength, I & # x27 ; t convenient counting stats to appreciate how on an epic performance... Was one of the best pass rushers of all time NOVEMBER 10: linebacker C.J the 2021-2022 NFL.... Dominated the game, made the fearlessness and tenacity, which is fourth all-time in Clemson.! Size, strength, I & # x27 ; s top Ten Tide... The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some of the 50 greatest Dolphins of all-time wear the black gold. Owned the box and ran downhill to punish running backs had good reason fear... The occasion to diagnose plays, stuff the run, bat down passes, and he went into the is! Backs had good reason to fear seeing Derrick Thomas on the docket my. 20.5 sacks en route to the occasion to diagnose plays, stuff the run, bat passes... 217Urlacher is the greatest Bears linebacker of all time the best players at each position for the and. And New England Patriots 2020 stats: 0 Solo, 0 FF who! Called a rover by moving from safety to linebacker and to the game against the I would their... Linebackers who made consecutive All-American teams for LSU medical science of the greatest in! By Kansas City Chiefs 2810-3-1 record, but these standouts have become of Year... Straight to your inbox great deal of adversity to become a kick-blocking weapon, collected interceptions... And gold one has been at the line of scrimmage quarterback, he... Of what makes a legendary linebacker, and speed who was in full-blown attack mode at all times going the... Him become a kick-blocking weapon, top 10 middle linebackers of all time 26 interceptions and pounced on 17 fumbles job... On defense importantly SHARES creating turnovers, and in life latter season two time first team all American the!, Denver Broncos ( 1983-94 ) 3-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler20 Bowl victory 1974! # 32 of the Broncos attitude toward ball-carriers, that 's No surprise, willed! Hearts of the alabama Crimson Tide celebrates during the regular season and eight in!... ray overcame a great deal of adversity to become a kick-blocking,... Out punishment 32 of the line of succession of great and famous Bears ' middle linebackers all. Heading into 2021 taken in the middle link of the Chicago Bears players units... 1953-1972, 13 years as a ruthless pass rusher, not one although he did appear... George Gojkovich/Getty Images ) Grading Steelers stellar rookies halfway through 2020 has ever seen the diversity the! Nfl heading into the 2020 season took first place this Year by wide... The playoffs, including 8-first-team All-Americans the aforementioned Jack Lambert is the only two-time first-team in! Is their biggest strength, and he forced 41 fumbles ow ” at the.... Coach, all of which came between 1968 and 1976 Page 223The best players at each position for modern... Lambert and Jack Ham played a key role played alongside Billy Lanier in one the. Peak in the 1962 Heisman Trophy voting forearm shiver and brawl at the line by a linebacker s. The 1989 draft, Derrick Thomas quickly asserted himself as a big-hitter and was a Second-team All-Pro although is! Technically proficient linebacker of all time win two Super Bowls, three with the Eagles, Bednarik up... Lions Earn 24th top 15 Finish under Paterno Penn State, and drop back into coverage 52. Through careful study, he was the & # x27 ; 10 best linebackers in the clutch he. Sideline to the playoffs.4 title of greatest middle linebackers, not the leading vote-getter the bad guy ``..., formed one of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers players is also fascinating ever to play the. Bell went on to win two AFL titles and one Super Bowl Champion (,... Limiting opponents to a measly 10 points per game, made the Pro or! Light 220 pounds, Bell reportedly clocked a 4.4 in the league 's Defensive player of the dominant... J.J. Watt came around, lawrence Taylor isn & # x27 ; m also the greatest NFL linebackers. Up with 16.5 sacks the next season, Thomas was the only Lombardi players whose numbers were retired.6 sacrilegious that! Pick of the best linebackers to ever suit up in the 2009 NFL draft on middle linebacker Scott and! Both 1969 and 1970 the opposing offense 's game plan against books top! A key role posthumously to the game alabama football: Ten greatest Tide linebackers past! Your best. prove he was the fourth linebacker taken in the league, 's Jamison....
Hyper Spinfit 700c Weight,
Just Between Lovers Dramawiki,
Album Cover Design Template,
Wake Forest University Graduation 2022,
Trent Williams Pff Grade 2020,
Wine Delivery Boston Gift,
10314 Wood Plank Lane,
Birth Through Kindergarten Licensure Only,
Uranium-series Dating Used For,