Brown was a very versatile linebacker. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. 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. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. T&Cs apply. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. Robert Brazile. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. AP. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. Thats amazing consistency. Super Bowl XX champion. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Atlante vs Raya2 Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time, Date, Team News, lineup news, Odds, Stats, Betting Tips Trends, Where To Watch Live Score Mexican Liga de Expansin MX 2023 Telecast Today Match Details March 3, Club Tijuana vs Atlas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Wydad AC vs Vita Club Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, U Cluj vs Farul Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Top 10 Best Football Agents In The World | 2023 Updates, Top 10 Most Successful Retired Soccer Players 2023, FC Magdeburg vs 1. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. [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. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . No. 1970 Defensive Player of the Year 5-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of . Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. 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. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . Franchise Encyclopedia. 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. Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Chuck Drazenovich. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Joe Schmidt. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Defensive MVP in 2002. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. He was effective as a pass rushing OLB, tallying up 14 sacks in one season with the Dolphins, and as an inside run stopping linebacker with the Jets. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. Call 1-800-522-4700. 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com He was always around the ball. 5.) Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. 3 hours ago. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 38, Chad Brown (Steelers/Seahawks/Patriots) (1993-2007) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). Mike Singletary had the whole package. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. Known as quite possibly the most sound tackler in school history, Ham was an extremely fundamental linebacker who was the captain of the 1970 Penn State defense. He left everything he had on the field of play, and even though he was a tenacious player on the field, he was one of the most genuine and nice guys off the field. . 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. But Mills did much more than that. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. The best linebackers in Minnesota Vikings history Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. . (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary That is just unheard of. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. And he's still going. No. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. No. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. He did everything. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. No. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. 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. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. No. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . 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 . Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. When Indiana travels to San Antonio, it will MLB Rule Changes | Can F1 Compete With NASCAR | Froggy Talkin Sports #MLB #indianahoosiers #nascar, Indiana Basketball Postgame W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Iowa Recap and more, Must be 21+. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. 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). Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. 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. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. 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. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. The 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history - ESPN.com 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Zach Thomas. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. 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. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Wilson doesnt have the career numbers because his career was so short, but theres no doubt when he was playing he was the most feared player on the field. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Bet with your head, not over it. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Top 50 Minnesota Vikings Players of All-Time - Sports Articles Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. 1970 1979 America Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. 7. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History Tribute to Elvis Please play responsibly. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. 10. . Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. and 2000s. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. 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. 25, Karl Mecklenburg (Broncos) (1983-1994) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro Karl "The Albino Rhino" Mecklenburg was the definition of a blue collar player. 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. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. 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. 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. 1. No. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. 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. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. 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. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. 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. No. LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL Since 1970 - The Grueling Truth Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: No. 5-1 - Saturday Down South 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. He could do it all. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans
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