He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. 1970 NFC Champion. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. 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. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 10. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. 10 Tom Jackson. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Both . He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. (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 was always around the ball. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Mike Singletary had the whole package. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. 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. No. 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. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. No. 7. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 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. Neal Olkewicz. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. Zachary Petrizzo. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . 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. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. 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. 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 . by Ben Watanabe. K.J. 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 could play zone and man. No. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. But Mills did much more than that. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. 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 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][4]. No. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Robert Brazile. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. 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. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. [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. From his time at USC, Lott . No. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. [3] 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. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. 10. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. 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. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. 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. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . NFL Defensive Rookie of the . He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. The transition from college football to the NFL . Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. But Mills did much more than that. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. 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. McAdams was a two-time All-American . Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Zach Thomas. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . 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+. 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. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Hes been amazing. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. Thats right, seven. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 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An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. Paul Naumoff. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. No. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. L.T. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. 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 racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. In this Article . The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. He knew how to make big plays. 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. 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 . He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. No. More from Green Bay Packers. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Joe Schmidt. No. 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. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. No. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. 1970s All-decade team. Eddie Johnson. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . Still, its an amazing number. 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. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. No. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. 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. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. . 5.) Gambling Problem? He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. Thats right, seven. 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. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. No. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. Franchise Encyclopedia. No. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . 10. He may have actually been crazy. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Atlante vs Raya2 Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time, Date, Team News, lineup news, Odds, Stats, Betting Tips Trends, Where To Watch Live Score Mexican Liga de Expansin MX 2023 Telecast Today Match Details March 3, Club Tijuana vs Atlas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Wydad AC vs Vita Club Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, U Cluj vs Farul Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Top 10 Best Football Agents In The World | 2023 Updates, Top 10 Most Successful Retired Soccer Players 2023, FC Magdeburg vs 1. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. No. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. Next: A dangerous combination. 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! Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. More Team Info. 2. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. 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. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Super Bowl winner. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. 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. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. No. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. 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. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Coverage was definitely Bullucks claim to fame, but he was also good at other things. No. Eleven Pro Bowls. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an .
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