In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. 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. How NFL Players Have Evolved. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. 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. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. No. National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team - Wikipedia Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. 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. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. 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. 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 had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. 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. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. 25. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. 6 - Carl McAdams. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. And he's still going. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. James Harrison. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) At New Mexico State, the once-treasured men's basketball program has been suspended for the season due to a fatal shooting and a gruesome allegation of locker-room . In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. From his time at USC, Lott . Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History (Updated) . Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. No. Chuck Drazenovich. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series 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. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. The art of the interview: Terry Fontenot provides a look inside the Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. . 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. Lawrence Taylor. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. Sam Huff. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. 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. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . He knew how to make big plays. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Mike Singletary had the whole package. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. 1970 NFC Champion. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. No. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 21. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. 10. Zach Thomas. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. But Mills did much more than that. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense 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. 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. 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. Next: A dangerous combination. No. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. 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. . Eleven Pro Bowls. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . 1953-65, Detroit Lions. Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. No. 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. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. McAdams was a two-time All-American . When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: No. 5-1 - Saturday Down South 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. . No. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time - NFL.com This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. In that game, the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first downs and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards, despite losing 27-17 in large part due to two key interceptions thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil ODonnell. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Here's a list of the Packers' top 10 all-time defensive players since 1950, when unlimited substitution was restored to the NFL, paving the way for two-platoon football. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. No. 20 greatest linebackers in NFL history - Franchise Sports The 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history - ESPN.com 5. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He also is the only linebacker to ever win a Super Bowl MVP and be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (2000). He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. 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. L.T. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! That is just unheard of. No. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. 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 . Eddie Johnson. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora 10 Tom Jackson. Defensive MVP in 2002. 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. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. 100th NFL Anniversary team. 1. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. 23. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Boulware gets overlooked a lot playing because of playing with Ray Lewis, but he was a key component in that dominating Ravens defense of the early 2000s. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. 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. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. Notre Dame, Mike Brey and the awkward goodbye - The Athletic