Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. Thats an outstanding number. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Zach Thomas. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. 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. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. 9. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career.
Top 50 Minnesota Vikings Players of All-Time - Sports Articles Seau was the definition of consistency. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. 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. 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. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player.
LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. No. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. 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). A five-time pro bowler, Wilson was one of the best linebackers in the league during the early 2000s. Gambling Problem? Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record). Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. No. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. No. . James Harrison. [a][4].
Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora 25. Ham had outstanding speed. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Super Bowl XX champion. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. How NFL Players Have Evolved. 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. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 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. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. . Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Also note that an asterisk (*) by the players name means they are still active today. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. 8. That is just unheard of. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . 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. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list.
NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL Since 1970 - The Grueling Truth St. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. 5.) Ham had outstanding speed. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. and 2000s. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era.
Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com 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.
Georgia's top players by position: Linebackers - ajc 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. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker.
The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. No. AP. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Thats right, seven. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. 10. 7. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. Bet with your head, not over it. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. 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. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro.
PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk No. No. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. 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. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 12:30 a.m. EST 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. 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). Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. 10. No. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Next: A dangerous combination. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns.
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST | National | wdrb.com Ham had outstanding . Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . 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. 1953-65, Detroit Lions. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. 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 .
National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team - Wikipedia Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens.
Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time - NFL.com Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. 5. Top 9 Most Underrated Running Backs in NFL History, QB Derek Carr to visit Jets on Saturday after leaving Raiders, Top 9 Worst Draft Picks in Bengals History, Super Bowl XIX: Montana and Walsh establish dominance, The 5 Greatest Quarterbacks Who Never Won a Championship, Top 11 Single Game Performances in NCAA Football History, Top 10 College football's greatest true freshman seasons of all time, Top 10 Two Year Runs in College Football History, where do the Georgia Bulldogs rank, NCAA FB Championship TCU vs Georgia: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/09/23, Georgia vs. TCU National Championship: Preview & Prediction, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh facing possible suspension from the NCAA, The night Cassius Clay shook up the world, Boxing Paul vs Fury: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/26/23, Matias vs. Ponce: Cant Miss Scrap Brings Heat To Chilly Minneapolis. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example.
Notre Dame, Mike Brey and the awkward goodbye - The Athletic Nine All-Pros. Wilson doesnt have the career numbers because his career was so short, but theres no doubt when he was playing he was the most feared player on the field. No. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. Eleven Pro Bowls. Eleven Pro Bowls. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . He was the only good player (other than Albert Haynesworth, but even he was only good for 2-3 years) on a generally bad defense and team.
The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era.
The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s - AinsworthSports.com Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. [3] Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first .
Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers Hes been amazing. K.J. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. I have combined outside and inside linebackers on the list and factored in the players ability to stop the run, drop into coverage and leadership. 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). Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play.
What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. 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 . No.
The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central 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. Robert Brazile. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. Ranking Explanation . He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. No. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. 1970s All-decade team. But Mills did much more than that. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. More from Green Bay Packers. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson .
Steelers all-time 53-man roster: '70s legends, 'Killer Bs' headline As also playing DE should tell you, he was very versatile and could play many different positions. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. Taylor changed the way football is played today. 2022 - SportsUnfold. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 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. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. 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. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 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. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. 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 . That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. 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. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. 10, Junior Seau (Chargers/Dolphins/Patriots) (1990-2009) *Twelve-time Pro Bowler *Six-time All-Pro 1st Team *Three-time All-Pro 2nd Team. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. He could do it all. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. T&Cs apply. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times.