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He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. 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. No. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. No. Over the course of his career he racked up over 1,000 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and 14 INTs, all of which are very good numbers. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. No. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. 20 greatest linebackers in NFL history - Franchise Sports Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. He may have actually been crazy. No. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. . He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. 25 Greatest Defensive Linemen in NFL History - AthlonSports.com No. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Taylor changed the way football is played today. Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. All Rights Reserved. Lawrence Taylor. Some of you will say hes too low. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. No. Thats an outstanding number. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Mike Singletary. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Andre Tippett may have been outshined by Lawrence Taylor playing basically the same position at the same time frame, but theres no mistaking what Tippett did on the field. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Ham had outstanding speed. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. He just goes out every week and hustles. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. St. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. Mike Kolen 1970-77. 10. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The NFL's Top 50 Linebackers of the Modern Era - Bleacher Report Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. Defensive MVP in 2002. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. No. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 10. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. 27. 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 . Franchise Encyclopedia. No. Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. No. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. 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. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. Michigan Football Position Greats Gambling Problem? Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. List of All Buffalo Bills Linebackers, Ranked Best to Worst No. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. 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 played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. The 15 Greatest NFL Linebackers of All Time - Sportscasting Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Sam Huff. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. T&Cs apply. 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. 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. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers 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. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. Chicago Bears: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history - NFL Spin Zone He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. News Briefs: The latest updates in the Uptown and Downtown This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. 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Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com 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. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. 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. Thats amazing consistency. He was one of the most feared players in the game. No. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. 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. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. 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. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 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 also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best defensive backs of all-time - Just Blog Baby Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. HELLO, PANDORA. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s - AinsworthSports.com He was always around the ball. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. [a][4]. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Neal Olkewicz. 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. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. From his time at USC, Lott . He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. No. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. He should be in the Hall of Fame. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. . Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. 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. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. No. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. 10. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 25. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Hes been amazing. The transition from college football to the NFL . 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. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Chicago 1981-92. [3] 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. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. No. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Bergey became one of the NFL's best linebackers in Philly, where he made five consecutive All-Pro teams and was the foundation for the "Gang Green" defense that made the playoffs in each of his last three seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 1980. . Pat Swilling. 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. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Seau was the definition of consistency. No. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. The . 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Zachary Petrizzo. 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. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. by Ben Watanabe. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. 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. 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. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. 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His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. As also playing DE should tell you, he was very versatile and could play many different positions. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. 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. No. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. No. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . 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 could play zone and 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. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 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 . The Greatest Linebackers of All Time - SportsUnfold 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. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time.