Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. No. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Defensive MVP in 2002. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Ranking Explanation . Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. by Ben Watanabe. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. 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. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. Cox was also a vocal leader of the teams he played for, directing his defenses to success. But Mills did much more than that. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. No. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl w/Raiders (1991) NFL interceptions leader w/Raiders (1991) Ronnie Lott is best known for being arguably the best safety in football history. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team is a list of National Football League (NFL) players selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. 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. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . 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. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. He also took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. 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 Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. He was 73. During the five year stretch from 1991-1995 where he made five consecutive Pro Bowls, Lloyd was one of, if not the, most dominating linebackers in the NFL. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 23. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. He came one tackle short from having five consecutive 100 tackle seasons in 2004, which is saying a lot, since he was the guy taking up blockers most of the time as well. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . 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? Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. 1. T&Cs apply. 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. And he's still going. No. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 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. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. No. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thats right, seven. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Eleven Pro Bowls. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. No. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. No. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Next: A dangerous combination. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. Mike Singletary. Pat Swilling. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. . LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He could do it all. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. More from Green Bay Packers. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. No. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Robert Brazile. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. 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. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. 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. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. 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 . Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. No. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. The nine-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame is one of the all-time sacks leaders with 126.5, and he also forced 41 fumbles during his 11-year career. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Chicago 1981-92. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Super Bowl winner. No. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Super Bowl winner. He should be in the Hall of Fame. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. But Mills did much more than that. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. Seau was the definition of consistency. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. No. 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. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. 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. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker 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 . No. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. 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. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. From his time at USC, Lott . His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. 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. No. 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. 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. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. credit : - yahoo. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. 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. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. Chuck Drazenovich. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. . His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Thats amazing consistency. 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. 2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-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. Marshall wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker though, he also racked up 1,020 tackles during his 11 year NFL career, along with 24 forced fumbles. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Nine All-Pros. Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. No. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . Still, its an amazing number. Lawrence Taylor. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Hes been amazing. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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 . Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. No. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. He knew how to make big plays. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. 3 hours ago. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. 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.