He could play zone and man. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Eleven Pro Bowls. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Baker recorded 19 . He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. 3 hours ago. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . 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 very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. 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. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Still, its an amazing number. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. Mike Singletary. Call 1-800-522-4700. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. 1. 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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. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. [1][2] The squad consists of first- and second-team offensive, defensive, and special teams units, as well as a first- and second-team head coaches. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. No. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Thats an outstanding number. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Hes been amazing. No. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . Robert Brazile. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. He is most known for the neck plate he wore behind his head, but dont let that distract you from his great play on the field. by Ben Watanabe. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. No. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. 7. No. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. 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. Some of you will say hes too low. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Mike Singletary had the whole package. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Ham had outstanding speed. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. 11, Kevin Greene (Rams/Steelers/Panthers/49ers), (1985-1999) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. L.T. 7. Bergey became one of the NFL's best linebackers in Philly, where he made five consecutive All-Pro teams and was the foundation for the "Gang Green" defense that made the playoffs in each of his last three seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 1980. . Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. No. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. 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. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . 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. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). No. 8. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). 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 . 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 . LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. [3] Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. No. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. Ham had outstanding speed. 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. . Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. 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. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Chuck Drazenovich. 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. 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. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. From his time at USC, Lott . The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. No. 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. 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. McAdams was a two-time All-American . His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Known as quite possibly the most sound tackler in school history, Ham was an extremely fundamental linebacker who was the captain of the 1970 Penn State defense. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. All Rights Reserved. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. But Mills did much more than that. He was one of the most feared players in the game. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. 10. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. No. Nine All-Pros. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. 10. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. No. 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 . 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. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Top 9 Greatest World Series Upsets of All Time, 2021 NBA Finals Phoenix Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks: Series Preview and Prediction, Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89), NFL Draft 2021: Sam Teets top 100 prospects big board, Sam Teets two-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 with Kyle the Commish, Every NFL teams best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame- NFC East, Top 100 remaining 2021 NFL free agents after Day 1, Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes, Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season, Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason, Notable Pro Football Senior Committee Hall of Fame candidates for 2020, Active NFL players in 2019 who will make the Hall of Fame- AFC North, Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. . 5. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History.
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