He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. No. 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. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. 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. Tribute to Elvis 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 . 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). Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. No. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Some of you will say hes too low. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . 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. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL HistoryPenn State football all-time defense | Who are the greatest defensive Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . Thats an amazing number as well. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . He was 73. No. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. By 1995, he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. No. Minnesota Vikings reporter suggests All-Pro defender a likely 2023 cap But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Franchise Encyclopedia. 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 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. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Here's a list of the Packers' top 10 all-time defensive players since 1950, when unlimited substitution was restored to the NFL, paving the way for two-platoon football. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. 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). AP. Seau was the definition of consistency. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Defensive MVP in 2002. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . No. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. The Best Las Vegas Raiders Linebackers of All Time - Ranker 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. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. No. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. No. 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. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). List of All Buffalo Bills Linebackers, Ranked Best to Worst Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 5.) Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. 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. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. 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. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. 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. No. Hes been amazing. White House Livid Over Republican's Attack on Biden's Dead Son Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. 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. [3] Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. . To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Baker recorded 19 . He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. Nine All-Pros. Super Bowl XX champion. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on him, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. 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 . Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Buffalo Bills starting LBs and backup LBs are Lorenzo Alexander, Deon Lacey, Matt Milano, and Tanner Vallejo. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. . 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. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history That suggestion from the newly appointed House . That is just unheard of. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. 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. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. That is just unheard of. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. 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. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. 10. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Mike Singletary had the whole package. The leader of the Dome Patrol comes in at No. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. 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. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 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. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Ham had outstanding . They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL Since 1970 - The Grueling Truth Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. 1970 1979 America Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Lewis, playing alongside Bryan Cox, led a very good Jets team to the closest theyve been to a Super Bowl since they won Super Bowl III. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. 10. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Are you ready for some football history? 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. He also ranks third all . With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. #NFL100 - Top 6 Outside Linebackers Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Ham had outstanding speed. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team Super Bowl winner. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. 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. 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. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. No. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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 . He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . 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. He was always around the ball. Mike Kolen 1970-77. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. and 2000s. He was one of the most feared players in the game. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. Steelers by the decade: 1970s - Pittsburgh Steelers That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press 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. 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. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Best of the Packers: Top 10 linebackers since 1960 - Dairyland Express He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. No. How NFL Players Have Evolved. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. . He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. 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.
