Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. 21. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. and Jack Ham played as . He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. 12 sacks and three picks. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Ham had outstanding speed. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. 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 wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Still, its an amazing number. No. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Nine All-Pros. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. Eleven Pro Bowls. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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). Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. 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 also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Paul Naumoff. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. 100th NFL Anniversary team. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. Mike Singletary. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. Sam Huff. He just goes out every week and hustles. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . He could do it all. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. Bet with your head, not over it. 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. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. 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. 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. He knew how to make big plays. Gambling Problem? His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. He was a good pass rusher, having at least 5.5 sacks in 10 straight years, but he was also good against the run and in coverage. As a pass rusher, Greene would be top 5 at least, his ability to be an every-down linebacker hurts him overall, he was not great against the run. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. No. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. Ranking Explanation . The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 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. . Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. 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. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. by Ben Watanabe. For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. He did everything. 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. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. 27. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. No. . Porter is mostly known as a sack master. 10. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Thats right, seven. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. More Team Info. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. 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. More from Green Bay Packers. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Rickey Jackson could do it all. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. 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 . . Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) At New Mexico State, the once-treasured men's basketball program has been suspended for the season due to a fatal shooting and a gruesome allegation of locker-room . Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. No. Defensive MVP in 2002. Pat Swilling. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. 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. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. 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. 1970 Defensive Player of the Year 5-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of . The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. 6 - Carl McAdams. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. 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? No. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. He was 73. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 3 hours ago. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. 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. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . AP. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. 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. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Thats an outstanding number. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. In 2006, he had an amazing season and won defensive MVP, which is a very high honor that most players on this list never achieved. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. 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. Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . No. Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Thats an amazing number as well. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. 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. 36, Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles/Redskins/Bucs) (1999-2007 & 2009) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. 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. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. 5. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. 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. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. 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 finished his career with 132.5 sacks. Butkus nasty disposition and ability to blow up anyone standing in his path, made him one of the most feared players in the history of the game. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. . Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. Ham had outstanding . Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. Tribute to Elvis How NFL Players Have Evolved. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Dick Butkus: one of the fiercest and best linebackers the NFL has ever seen, Butkus was a Pro Bowler every year except his final season while also garnering five All-Pro selections for the Bears. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. No. He has already had three 100 tackle seasons in his first three years, and also has already forced 10 turnovers (four INTs, six forced fumbles). With time to spare in the NFL offseason, I’ll take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Controversial Nights: Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez, Top 11 Big Ten Basketball Teams, since 1960, Top 12 Guards in Big Ten Basketball history, NBA Pacers vs Spurs: Odds, Tips and predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Purdue vs Wisconsin: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Xavier vs Providence: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/01/23, Top 20 Big Ten Basketball players of all time, Framer Fran McCaffery takes his sideshow and crybaby antics to play Indiana, NCAA Basketball Arkansas vs Tennessee: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/28/23, The Hypocrisy of Major League Baseball, Gambling, Steroids, and Why it's Time to Put Pete Rose in the Hall. 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 . Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. No. 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . No. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. 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. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. 9. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. No. 7. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron, 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan, The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History, The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. 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 . Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Nine All-Pros. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player.
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