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Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Rickey Jackson could do it all. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. No. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. 10. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Still, its an amazing number. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. That is just unheard of. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 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No. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. 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. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. 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. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. 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. No. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. Thats an outstanding number. 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 took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Taylor changed the way football is played today. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. 5. 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. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. K.J. No. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . 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. . Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. Baker recorded 19 . Franchise Encyclopedia. 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. No. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. No. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . 5.) 3 hours ago. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. 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. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. 10. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Nine All-Pros. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. [a][4]. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. He could do it all. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. The leader of the Dome Patrol comes in at No. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Seau was the definition of consistency. No. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. No. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. (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). Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. 12. 9. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. 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Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Super Bowl XX champion. No. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 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 . Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. . 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. Mike Singletary had the whole package. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. 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. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. No. 2022 - SportsUnfold. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. Defensive MVP in 2002. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. He was one of the most feared players in the game. 21. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. No. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Tribute to Elvis Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. No. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. No. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Thats amazing consistency. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. 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. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Nine All-Pros. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. by Ben Watanabe. 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. . Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. 2. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Jack Ham, Linebacker. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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? The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Andre Tippett. Eddie Johnson. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. 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. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. 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. 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). and Jack Ham played as . Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Ham had outstanding speed. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. . His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. No. No. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? It will be interesting to see how he can recover. No. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Beason has only been in the league for three years now. He could do it all. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. 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.