Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. 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. No. Michigan Football Position Greats 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. No. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC 1970 Robert E. Lee Generals (13-0) Jim Chafin's team allowed just seven points a game and held 10 of its 13 opponents to 10 points or less. Franchise Encyclopedia. No. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Romanowski might be overrated because of his name, but theres no doubt he was one of the most memorable and feared linebackers of the modern era. Paul Naumoff. 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. No. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. Please play responsibly. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. . Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Call 1-800-522-4700. No. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. How NFL Players Have Evolved. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. James Harrison. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Eleven Pro Bowls. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. Super Bowl XX champion. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. 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. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. No. News Briefs: The latest updates in the Uptown and Downtown 20 greatest linebackers in NFL history - Franchise Sports Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. 5. No. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. 7. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 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. In this Article . No. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. No. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Still, its an amazing number. No. Defensive MVP in 2002. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. No. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Who are the Packers' greatest defenders of all time? - Green Bay Packers NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press No. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. 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 . Collect, curate and comment on your files. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans 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. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. That is just unheard of. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. No. L.T. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. 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. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. 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. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Super Bowl winner. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Eleven Pro Bowls. Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora 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. No. Thats right, seven. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. He was said to have the fastest 10-yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and running back Franco Harris. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Mike Singletary. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Ham had outstanding speed. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. Thats amazing consistency. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season 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. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. AP. and 2000s. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Both . He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 2022 - SportsUnfold. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. He also ranks third all . He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. 5.) More Team Info. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 12. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . But Mills did much more than that. No. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Top 10 Washington Football Team LBs of All Time - Sports Articles May 24, 2022. He was always around the ball. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. Ranking Explanation . Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. 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 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. He was 73. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. 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. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. Sam Huff. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. 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. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. 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). He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . credit : - yahoo. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! Bet with your head, not over it. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. St. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. 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. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. He could do it all. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. 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. 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. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The . His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. That is just unheard of. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. Neal Olkewicz. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". From his time at USC, Lott . 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. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. Reese, GM of Titans' Super Bowl team, dies at 73 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. . He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. No. Some of you will say hes too low. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. The leader of the Dome Patrol comes in at No. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL.
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