Edmunds will have to clean up the missed tackles and improve in coverage to rise toward where most slot him currently a top-10 linebacker on this list next season. Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. 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. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. No. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. After being labeled a bust by many after his first four seasons with the Jets, Farrior broke out with the Steelers and became one of the most consistent players in the league. 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. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Ranking Explanation . Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. 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 . He should be in the Hall of Fame. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. Thats an outstanding number. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. Thats right, seven. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. 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. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. 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). But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. The transition from college football to the NFL . Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. 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. 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. 1953-65, Detroit Lions. But Mills did much more than that. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 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. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. 9. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. No. 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. Born April 20 . 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. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Ham had outstanding speed. 12. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. 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). I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. But Mills did much more than that. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. by Ben Watanabe. No. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. No. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Defensive MVP in 2002. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. No. Eleven Pro Bowls. The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . No. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. 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. Joe Schmidt. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Seau was the definition of consistency. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. 2022 - SportsUnfold. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. He also took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Chuck Drazenovich. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. Franchise Encyclopedia. Super Bowl winner. And he's still going. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. 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. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 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. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. 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 . That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. 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. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. 27. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Ham had outstanding speed. 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. 9. Are you ready for some football history? The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. No. No. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. The . 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. No. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 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. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 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Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. No. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Zach Thomas. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. No. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. In this Article . Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. Next: A dangerous combination. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jan 25, 1981; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders players Mickey Marvin (65), Willie Jones (90), Rod Martin (53), Ted Hendricks (83) and Raymond Chester (88) on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV at the Superdome. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. 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. 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 was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. . 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. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. No. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. May 24, 2022. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 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. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Super Bowl winner. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. Andre Tippett. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. 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. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Thats right, seven. 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. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Mike Singletary had the whole package. No. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. No. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. 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. 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 . Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. 5.) Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. He may have actually been crazy. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. No. He was one of the most feared players in the game. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. No. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. Zachary Petrizzo. 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. 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. 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