A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. No. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. 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). No. 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. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. 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. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. No. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. 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 started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. 5.) Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Eleven Pro Bowls. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. The only reason Brooks isnt higher up on this list is because he had a fantastic surrounding cast which includes, most notably, Warren Sapp taking up blockers on the line. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Robert Brazile. Call 1-800-522-4700. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. 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. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. He was the only good player (other than Albert Haynesworth, but even he was only good for 2-3 years) on a generally bad defense and team. Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. 10. 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. 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. No. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. 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. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. The transition from college football to the NFL . He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. 8. He was always around the ball. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Anything you asked him to do, he would do. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. (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). He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. 9. The versatile middle linebacker played a significant role in helping the Steelers win four Super Bowls in a span of six years in the 1970s. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Are you ready for some football history? Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Thats an amazing number as well. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. 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 had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. . Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Joey Porter. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 5. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. James Harrison. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. 25. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Chuck Drazenovich. A late 12th round pick Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. 1. No. Joe Schmidt. 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. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Some of you will say hes too low. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. FCK Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Hamilton vs Arbroath Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Paderborn vs FC St. Pauli Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live, Andorra vs Las Palmas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, AGF vs Horsens Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Southend Utd vs Barnet Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Kawasaki vs Shonan Bellmare Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live. Baker recorded 19 . If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! 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 . No. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. 9. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. LaVar Arrington. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. Paul Naumoff. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 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. Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. 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, The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into The Grueling Truth sports shows, Where the legends speak. 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 . No. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. No. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. He should be in the Hall of Fame. 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. 10 Tom Jackson. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Super Bowl winner. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. 3 hours ago. Zachary Petrizzo. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. [3] Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Eddie Johnson. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. He left everything he had on the field of play, and even though he was a tenacious player on the field, he was one of the most genuine and nice guys off the field. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . He did everything. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. But Mills did much more than that. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. 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. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. May 24, 2022. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. 10. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. No. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Nine All-Pros. He could do it all. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Mike Kolen 1970-77. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. T&Cs apply. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. 23. 37, Wilber Marshall (Bears/Redskins/Oilers/Cardinals/Jets) (1984-1995) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. 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. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Ham had outstanding speed. 2. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. No. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. He knew how to make big plays. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 27. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. 7. With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. . He also ranks third all . He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. He just goes out every week and hustles. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. 25, Karl Mecklenburg (Broncos) (1983-1994) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro Karl "The Albino Rhino" Mecklenburg was the definition of a blue collar player. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 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? Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. Rickey Jackson could do it all. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. 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. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. Thats amazing consistency. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 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. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. 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. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. No. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. 10. The National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team is a list of National Football League (NFL) players selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? No. Still, its an amazing number. When Indiana travels to San Antonio, it will MLB Rule Changes | Can F1 Compete With NASCAR | Froggy Talkin Sports #MLB #indianahoosiers #nascar, Indiana Basketball Postgame W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Iowa Recap and more, Must be 21+. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. credit : - yahoo. No. Super Bowl winner. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. 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 . The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era.
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