Born: April 16, 1982 (Coral Gables, Florida), High school: Coral Gables Senior High School (Coral Gables, Florida), Teams: New York Jets (2004-07), New Orleans Saints (2008-13), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2009), three-time Pro Bowl (2005, 2009, 2010), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2004). High school: East Coweta High School (Sharpsburg, Georgia), Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1998-2008), Dallas Cowboys (2009-11), Denver Broncos (2012), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (2001-05), two-time All-Pro (2002, 2004). April 19, 2023 5 PM PT. Born: Feb. 4, 1959 (Williamsburg, Virginia), High school: Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl Champion (1986, 1990), NFL Most Valuable Player (1986), 10-time Pro Bowl (1981-90), 10-time All-Pro (1981-90), three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999). 6-time first-team All-Pro 2 overall pick in 1981 out of North Carolina led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 the last defensive player to win that award. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Born: June 17, 1940 (Shelby, North Carolina), High school: Cleveland High School (Shelby, North Carolina), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two-time All-Pro (1970, 1971), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983). On the field, Butkus recorded 22 career interceptions to go along with 27 fumble recoveries. If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen. The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of arguably the greatest linebacker possibly the best defensive player to ever put on a helmet. That would end up being an anomaly in Dansby's career. Starters: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo. Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. On paper, Gradishar's resume was much better than Mecklenburg's career accolades. The on-field brains behind Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryans famed 1985 Bears defense, Singletary is undeniably one of the greatest to ever play the position.5. One thing Spikes never did? Born into abject poverty in rural Tennessee, he was working full-time in the cotton fields by the time he was 10 years old and had to flee his home with his sisters at 17 to get away from his violent, alcoholic father. 5-time Pro Bowler15. The former Green Bay Packers middle linebacker was a key member of the team and the leader on the defensive side of the football that helped the Packers win five NFL Championships and Super Bowl I and II Championships. His production on the field helped earn Seau one Defensive Player of the Year award while being selected to the Pro Bowl team in 12 straight seasons. Jack . By Eddie Brown. The 1976 Defensive Player of the Year helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV). With the third-most sacks in NFL history, there's no question Kevin Greene belongs among the best linebackers of all-time. He also was a defensive captain in two of those seasons. This stroke of genius created not only the middle linebacker position, but the 4-3 defense. For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. Bobby Bell could do it all. High school: White Deer High School (Pampa, Texas), Teams: Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (2008), Career highlights: Seven-time All-Pro (1998-99, 2001-03, 2005, 2006), seven-time Pro Bowl (1999-2003, 2005, 2006), AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears (1981-92)Hall of Fame, Class of 1998 ranked by. 7-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. His 10 All-Pro selections are tied for the NFL career record alongside Lawrence Taylor. David cashed in with a Super Bowl victory following the 2020 season. Lambert is a member of the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, and the league's 100th Anniversary Team. Robinson's name has been somewhat lost to history because he played next to the great Ray Nitschke, on Nitschke's left side. Mecklenburg anchored Denver's defense with safety Steve Atwater and helped lead Denver to three AFC titles, but the Broncos lost all three of those Super Bowls. Will Levis lands with the Tennessee Titans: Will Levis' slide ends early on Day 2, with the Titans trading up to Pick 33 to grab the signal-caller. Arizona had until May 2 to make a final . At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, his combination of speed and athleticism would make the Hall of Famer even more valuable in today's league than he was in his era. Despite a 101-year history, the Cardinals haven't produced a Hall of Famer at linebackerbut they've still had plenty of . Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. Drew Sanders, Arkansas. 16 on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1981-1993 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro eight times Recorded 132.5 career sacks, which ranks No. Bill George, Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (66)Hall of Fame, Class of 1974 A little-known fact about Talley: He's the cousin of Baseball Hall of Famer and Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter. Be the first one to comment on this story. The first Hall of Famer to go in as a player primarily for the Saints, Rickey Jackson was the leader of the famed "Doom Patrol" linebacker corps in New Orleans and is one of the toughest players in NFL history. Ray Lewis For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). Super Bowl XL champion 1988 Defensive Player of the Year Born: July 12, 1970 (Pasadena, California), High school: John Muir High School (Pasadena, California), Teams:Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-96, 2006), Seattle Seahawks (1997-2004), New England Patriots (2005, 2007), Career highlights: Three-time Pro Bowl (1996, 1998, 1999), two-time NFL All-Pro (1996, 1998), Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team. Willis, who the 49ers selected during the 2007 NFL draft was as good as any middle linebacker to play the position and one that was gifted with all the athletic abilities to stop the run, cover running backs and tight ends in passing situations and one that could get to the quarterback. 10. Norton's famous nod to his famous father was hitting the goal post pads like a punching bag, similar to how he treated opponents as the star linebacker for two of the best franchises in football for over a decade. Born: Nov. 12, 1980 (Los Angeles, California), High school: Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove, California), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (2005, 2006, 2009), seven-time Pro Bowl (2005-11). Joyner capped his career off by winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in his final season. 8-time Pro Bowler14. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler. Over his career, Bednarick helped guide the Eagles to two NFL Championships while being named to eight Pro Bowl teams and selected eight times as a First Team All-Pro.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); When considering great middle linebackers it is hard to look past another Chicago Bear All-Pro who racked up a pretty solid NFL career. Born: Nov. 18, 1964 (Spring Valley, New York), High school: Spring Valley High School (Spring Valley, New York), Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1986-93), Arizona Cardinals (1994-96), Green Bay Packers (1997), Denver Broncos (1998), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1998), three-time Pro Bowl (1991, 1993, 1994), three-time All-Pro (1991-93). Over his career, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl championships while being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP. Veteran A.J. Two players of the four players with more tackles, Ray Lewis and Junior Seau, are in the Hall of Fame. Fortunato also is the only player on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1950s that was not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg. Lanier collected three All-Pro mentions and eight spots in a Pro Bowl,. Harry Carson, New York Giants (1976-88) 5-time first-team All-Pro 1985 Defensive Player of the Year The last 60-minute man in NFL history, Chuck Bednarik dominated on both sides of the ball for the Philadelphia Eagles. He only played six games in his final season before retiring because of a nagging toe injury. 8-time Pro Bowler 5-time first-team All-Pro Sam Huff almost left his rookie training camp with the New York Giants when coaches couldn't find a position for him. Robinson won three consecutive state championships in high school, then repeated a version of that feat in the NFL, winning three consecutive championships with one NFL title and two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. 5-time Pro Bowler Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time Photos Home 100 Greatest Photos Game Galleries Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time NFL.com senior analyst and personnel. In the NFL, he was a model of consistency for 14 seasons and earned postseason honors in 10 of 11 seasons and started 135 consecutive games at one point. The six-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Bears in 2018 was the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. The 13-time. By the time Tommy Nobis left the University of Texas, he was as famous as any player in the NFL, having already appeared on the cover of Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines for his accomplishments. Born: Feb. 9, 1945 (South Dayton, New York), High school: South Dayton High School (South Dayton, New York), Teams:Cincinnati Bengals (1969-73), Philadelphia Eagles (1974-80), Career highlights:Five-time Pro Bowl (1969, 1974, 1976-78), five-time All-Pro (1974-78). If Dolphins fans felt like they were having flashbacks when Zach Thomas came along to play middle linebacker in the mid-1990s, it's because it wasn't the first time they'd seen an undersized, dominant player leading their defense. According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old. Urlcaher was the leader of the Bears defense from 2000 to 2012 while winning the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year award. Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was the top pick for Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew, left, and . 13-time Pro Bowler Continue with Recommended Cookies, Ranking the best Middle Linebackers in the history of the NFL such as Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, and many more, By Fan Rankings | October 23, 2021 - 07:34 PM. 1972 NFL Man of the Year Hall of Fame, Class of 1986 He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. With this responsibility and how important the game has evolved, the MLB position has produced many great players over the years. That was the first of five consecutive seasons with at least 120 tackles. Off the field, Lewis' career was almost over before it started. He had five INT's in a season twice in his career. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, who he played for during each of his 13 NFL seasons. He led the league in combined tackles in 2016 and 2019, and in solo tackles in 2017. Those bad teams likely cost him any shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was the second title in franchise history for the Bucs, and the three-time NFL All-Pro doesn't seem to be slowing down even in his 10th season. Analysis: Nothing against this group of . How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? Lambert was a legendary cornerstone piece of the "Steel Curtain" defense in Pittsburgh for 11 seasons (1974-1984). Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever. His production would not slow as he helped from the Steelers Steel Curtain defense and helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl Championships. Hall of Fame, Class of 1973 London Fletcher represents one of the great underdog stories in NFL history. Born: June 3, 1959 (Neptune City, New Jersey), Died: April 18, 2005 (age 45, Charlotte, North Carolina), High school: Long Branch High School (Long Branch, New Jersey), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-94), Carolina Panthers (1995-97), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996), three-time All-Pro (1991, 1992, 1996). To his teammates, his eyes stood for leadership. Once drafted, Buoniconti became one of the teams best defensive players despite his lack of size. High school: Waco High School (Waco, Texas), Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2005-17), Oakland Raiders (2018), Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2011, 2015), four-time Pro Bowl (2011-13, 2015). Over the last few years, the Bears have featured names like Lance Briggs and Khalil Mack. The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker, Bill George is the one single man that is known for creating the middle linebacker position. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. His play at the position earned him five selections as a First Team All-Pro and helped him win the 1969 and 1970 Defensive Player of the Year awards. 1976 Defensive Player of the Year Poll : Are these the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All-Time? Quite simply, if you saw No. High school: Champion High School (Champion Township, Ohio), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1975, 1977-79, 1981-83), six-time All-Pro (1977-81, 1983), seven-time All-AFC (1976-79, 1981-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978). Joyner was unbelievably productive in different aspects of the game, with over 1,000 career tackles and 52 career sacks, and he was a standout on the great Philly defenses of the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside Reggie White under head coach Buddy Ryan. Super Bowl VIII champion Donnie Edwards was an undersized linebacker who made plays all over the field during a 13-year career in the NFL, first for the Kansas City Chiefs, then for his hometown San Diego Chargers. He was 74 years old. He led the University of Minnesota to a national title in 1960, then won two AFL championships and a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. . He's been nothing but consistent since those days of Seahawks dominance in the league. New York native and former Syracuse star Keith Bulluck helped define the early years of the Tennessee Titans as part of the team that came within one yard of winning a Super Bowl. Super Bowl XX champion Over his career, Bednarick helped guide the Eagles to two NFL Championships while being named to eight Pro Bowl teams and selected eight times as a First Team All-Pro. Analysis by Sam Fortier. They play fast from sideline to sideline. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Willis played just eight seasons in the NFL, but that's kind of misleading. He returned to play the rest of the season with a specially made helmet because his jaw was wired shut. Renowned for his elite combination of size and speed, Tippett was scary coming off the edge and racked up 100 career sacks, which is still the Patriots' franchise record. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the New York Jets, and it was long enough ago that the Jets were actually pretty good. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb. Nick Buoniconti was just 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds but destroyed opponents with sheer will and ferocity, helping lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl wins and the only undefeated season in NFL history in 1972. Over his career, George was an eight time Pro Bowler and eight time First Team All-Pro. Bill Forester is one of the greatest examples of Vince Lombardi's genius as a coach. It is hard to look past Jack Lambert as one of the Top 10 Middle Linebackers All-Time based on his career resume and his play on the football field. If you want to know where the modern concept of an outside linebacker came from, start with George Connor. Marshall wasn't just a pass coverage linebacker though,. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Born: April 18, 1962 (Titusville, Florida), High school: Astronaut High School (Titusville, Florida), Teams: Chicago Bears (1984-87), Washington Football Team (1988-92), Houston Oilers (1993), Arizona Cardinals (1994), New York Jets (1995), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1986, 1991), three-time Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1992), three-time All-Pro (1986, 1991, 1992), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992). Super Bowl XXIX champion22. He's also the greatest defensive player of all time. Born: Aug. 13, 1941 (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), High school: Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia), Team: Washington Football Team (formerly Washington Redskins), Career highlights: Nine-time Pro Bowl (1966-69, 1972-76), six-time All-Pro (1969, 1972-76), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011). Mike Singletary was the player at the heart of perhaps the greatest defense of all time the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went 15-1 in the regular season and blew out the New England Patriots, 46-10, in the Super Bowl. Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-84)Hall of Fame, Class of 1990 In addition to having the greatest linebacker of All-Time in Ray Lewis, 20 years of Ravens football has seen some incredible linebackers. Other than having one of the coolest names in NFL history, Takeo Spikes was also one of the most durable linebackers of all time. Born: Oct. 27, 1929 (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania), Died: Sept. 30, 1982 (Rockford, Illinois), High School: Central High School (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania), Teams: Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (1966), Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), eight-time All-Pro (1955-61, 1963), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1974). Fortunato, who was named one of the Bears 100 Greatest Players, did accomplish one thing that Butkus never would. Fans of the Dallas Cowboys feel the same way about him after he helped lead them to their first Super Bowl win in 1971, the same year he set a team record with 21 tackles. The Arizona Cardinals have declined to pick up linebacker Isaiah Simmons' fifth-year contract option, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Tiania Baul "Junior" Seau was a football unicorn a linebacker who played 20 seasons in the NFL and dominated almost every step of the way. His 53 takeaways are still the most in NFL history by a non-defensive back. Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Richter was the valedictorian of his class at Cal, then went and served two years in the Army and fought in the Korean War before starting his NFL career. Ranking the top linebackers to ever suit up in the National Football League is far from easy. 1 Ray Lewis Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time. High school: Vigor High School (Pritchard, Alabama), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1976-82), six-time All-Pro (1976-81), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018). 9-time Pro Bowler Only a handful of players can say they truly defined their positions in NFL history. Born: Dec. 27, 1959 (Birmingham, Alabama), High school: Barringer High School (Newark, New Jersey), NFL career: 11 seasons (1982-88, 1990-93), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985), four-time All-Pro (1985-88), five-time Pro Bowl (1984-88), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2008). Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles (1949-62)Hall of Fame, Class of 1967 From the likes of Mike Singletary to Nick Bouniconti to Chuck Bednarik to Ray Lewis, the middle linebacker position is loaded with talent making the top choice a difficult selection. Fletcher carved out a 16-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl win with the Rams in his second season. Who are the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All Time? 5-time first-team All-Pro The Ravens have always been known as a defensive minded team. In addition, Willis was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, led the NFL in tackles in two different seasons, was a seven time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro. One of our representatives will be in touch shortly. Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator. Dont forget Rays dance.2. Nobis played in relative anonymity for his entire NFL career but still put up monster numbers on some really bad teams. After leaving Chicago, Marshall proved he was elite by winning a Super Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Washington Football Team (then known as the Redskins). The duo even led the team to the Super Bowl in 2006, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. A name that may have been slotted inside of the top five on the list of middle linebackers if his career was longer is the former San Francisco 49ers great Patrick Willis. London Fletcher, St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (02-06), Washington Redskins (07-12) Te'o didn't come out of nowhere as a senior. He also finished his career with 25 interceptions and 24 sacks. 2-time first-team All-Pro Sadly, Mecklenburg's post-football life has been defined by his battle with brain injuries sustained playing football, and he's part of several concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL. 2020 Stats: 69 Solo, 0 Sacks, 0 FF, 3 INT. Willis' career was cut short due to injuries but his legacy on the field is known. 29) Bryce Paup. owley missed the rest of 1959 and all of 1960 before attempting a comeback in 1961 with the Cowboys, where he became a six-time Pro Bowler and the only player to win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors while playing on the losing team. The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker, Bill George is the one single man that is known for creating the middle linebacker position. Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Few players in NFL history have captured the public's imagination like Green Bay Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke, who won three NFL championships and two Super Bowl trophies. 3-time first-team All-Pro Fletcher, 5-foot-11 and 242 pounds, ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine coming out of NCAA Division III John Carroll University, but he still went undrafted. Porter's 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks. Bernard is physically similar to Williams at 6-foot-1, 228 pounds and played outside linebacker in 4-3 looks and was off-the-ball when he subbed in for Matt Milano at times last season. High school: Stephens County High School (Toccoa, Georgia), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-92), Detroit Lions (1993-94), Oakland Raiders (1995-96, 1998), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1989-93), four-time All-Pro (1989-92), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1991). We'll find out in 2024, when he'll be on the ballot for the first time. 1-time Pro Bowler 45:47. 4 with 1,501, despite making just one Pro Bowl in his career. The Greatest Steelers Linebackers of All Time The Steelers are known for hard-hitting, relentless defense. Super Bowl XXXV champion But it was his leadership in four Super Bowl wins that moves Lambert ahead of Dick Butkus as sacrilegious as that may seem.3. Urlachers legacy was secure after leading Chicago to the NFC title in 200611. 1-time Pro Bowler He was an 8-time All-Pro and 9-time Pro-Bowler. We know this. High school: Crestwood High School (Mantua, Ohio), Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), nine-time Pro Bowl (1975-83), eight-time All-Pro (1975, 1976, 1978-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1990). How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? Singletary recorded 1,488 career tackles to go along with seven interceptions and 19 sacks over his career. The former North Carolina Tar Heel is both a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 100th Anniversary Team. He was in The Monkees' cult-favorite film "Head" and also in the original "The Longest Yard" starring Burt Reynolds. High school: Woodlawn High School (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2004-09, 2013, 2017), Miami Dolphins (2010-12), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Cincinnati Bengals (2016). If the Professional Football Hall of Fame and its esteemed members and voters would like to actually live up to its name, then those parties should think of a way to add Sam Mills to their brethren. Nickerson had his best years with the Steelers and with the Buccaneers right before those teams started to make deep, consistent playoff runs, but he was a feared player and at his best playing in a 4-3 scheme defense. George racked up 18 career interceptions over his career while helping lead the Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship. Behind Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett was the most dominant NFL linebacker in the 1980s. 45:47. Super Bowl XXXVI champion Howley fixed that one minor blip in his resume when he helped lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory in 1970. If Bobby Wagner continues a few more years having the career he's had through his first nine seasons, you can start to make some very concrete arguments for him one day being a Hall of Famer. With the combination of speed and power, he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play in NFL history. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Nobis was the first overall pick in the 1966 NFL draft and the first player picked by the expansion Atlanta Falcons. After being selected with the third overall pick, Butkus would go on to make eight Pro Bowl teams during his nine year career. It is fair to say that Taylor is perhaps the greatest defensive player ever. He's also already made six All-Pro teams, six Pro Bowls and banked almost $100 million in career earnings. Along with his overflowing trophy case, Lewis posted 41.5 sacks, 31 INTs returned for 503 yards and three TDs, 19 forced fumbles, 20 fumble recoveries and one safety in the regular season; and six forced fumbles, two INTs returned for 54 yards and one TD, and two sacks in the playoffs. High school: Maggie L. Walker (Richmond, Virginia), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), six-time Pro Bowl (1970-75), eight-time All-Pro (1968-75), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986). These all-time greats have electrified crowds with their energy and leadership and delivered on the field as some of the NFL's best defensive players ever. Jackson retired in the top three in NFL history for sacks (128) and fumble recoveries (28). During his playing days he helped lead the Chiefs to win Super Bowl IV 23-7 over the Minnesota Vikings in a game that many gave the Chiefs zero chance of winning. Born: Sept. 20, 1943 (San Antonio, Texas), Died: Dec. 13, 2017 (age 74, Marietta, Georgia), High school: Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas), Career highlights: NFL Rookie of the Year (1966), five-time Pro Bowl (1966-68, 1970, 1972), two-time All-Pro (1967, 1968), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. Wagner, who first turned heads by running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the Utah State pro day, helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win in 2013, won another NFC title two years later and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990's. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Master Your Draft Strategy With Our Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator. During his AFL career, Buoniconti earned six AFL All-Star honors and five First Team All-AFL. Nick Buoniconti, Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (69-76)Hall of Fame, Class of 2001 2-time NFL Championship Game winner After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13th round selection. A post shared by Juan Diaz (@juandiaz0620).
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