Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . 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. . Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Reese, GM of Titans' Super Bowl team, dies at 73 No. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The 15 Greatest NFL Linebackers of All Time - Sportscasting He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. HELLO, PANDORA. (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). No. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Super Bowl winner. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. 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. 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). 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. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Collect, curate and comment on your files. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. No. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. 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. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. 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. Born April 20 . In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 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 . Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . 8. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). 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. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. 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. He could play zone and man. Also note that an asterisk (*) by the players name means they are still active today. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. 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. No. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. More Team Info. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. He is most known for the neck plate he wore behind his head, but dont let that distract you from his great play on the field. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. 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. AP. Top 10 Linebackers in Miami Dolphins history - Phin Phanatic Top 10 Washington Football Team LBs of All Time - Sports Articles If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Power Ranking the 5 Greatest Linebackers in Minnesota Vikings History No. Eddie Johnson. But Mills did much more than that. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Thats right, seven. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. Hes been amazing. No. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. 2. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. 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. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. 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. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. Eleven Pro Bowls. 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. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. And he's still going. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. No. He knew how to make big plays. Bill Parcells considered Carson the best all-around linebacker he ever coached, which is very high praise from someone who has coached a ton of linebackers in his day. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Michigan Football Position Greats He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. No. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 5. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. 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. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. 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. He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. T&Cs apply. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. 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. 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. 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. Ranking Explanation . 1970 1979 America Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. 5.) Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Still, its an amazing number. The art of the interview: Terry Fontenot provides a look inside the Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. 25 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History - AthlonSports.com 27. He may have actually been crazy. 1970 NFC Champion. No. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or 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. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. No. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. No. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. The transition from college football to the NFL . The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 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 . Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. 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. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. No. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time FCK Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Hamilton vs Arbroath Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Paderborn vs FC St. Pauli Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live, Andorra vs Las Palmas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, AGF vs Horsens Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Southend Utd vs Barnet Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Kawasaki vs Shonan Bellmare Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. 25. [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. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 12:30 a.m. EST 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.