Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. 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. 1. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History (Updated) Thats right, seven. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. He was 73. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. 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. . I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. 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. He also ranks third all . Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL Since 1970 - The Grueling Truth A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Rickey Jackson could do it all. The forgotten members of the legendary 1970's Steelers team Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. No. No. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He just goes out every week and hustles. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. He has already had three 100 tackle seasons in his first three years, and also has already forced 10 turnovers (four INTs, six forced fumbles). 23. 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. Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. T&Cs apply. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. No. Are you ready for some football history? He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time - NFL.com No. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 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. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. 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. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans (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). The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s 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). Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary 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. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Hes been amazing. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. That is just unheard of. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. [3] Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Baltimore, with 2,038 rushing yards through its first 10 games of the season, is the seventh team since 1970 and first since the 1978 New England Patriots (2,029 rushing yards) with at least 2,000 . Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. and Jack Ham played as . If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. 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. Seau was the definition of consistency. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. 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. 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+. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. . He could do it all. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. 10. Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Top 5 Tennessee linebackers of all-time - Saturday Down South He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. 100th NFL Anniversary team. He did everything. . Call 1-800-522-4700. Super Bowl XX champion. Steelers by the decade: 1970s - Pittsburgh Steelers 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. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. No. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. 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For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. By 1995, he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report LaVar Arrington. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. No. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Top 50 Minnesota Vikings Players of All-Time - Sports Articles Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. . No. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. 25. [3] Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. . Of the five LBs chosen to the 1950s All-Decade Team the others were Bednarik, Fortunato, George, and Huff Schmidt made the most Pro Bowls (nine) and the most all-pro teams (seven first-team, nine altogether). Despite the bad taste he left when leaving the team, James Harrison belongs on the upper half of the top ten linebackers in Steelers history. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. and 2000s. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. He may have actually been crazy. Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine 14, Hardy Nickerson (Steelers/Bucs/Jaguars/Packers) (1987-2002) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 36, Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles/Redskins/Bucs) (1999-2007 & 2009) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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 . Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. A truly great linebacker must be able to read the offense, set the defensive scheme, play the run with cat-like instincts and defend the pass with the utmost precision. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team 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. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. He should be in the Hall of Fame. 5.) Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. He made five straight Pro Bowls, but the reason he doesnt rank higher on this list is because he was never a feared player like his teammate Michael Strahan was, and his stats just arent good enough. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Chicago Bears: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history - NFL Spin Zone No. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker 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. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Top 10 Washington Football Team LBs of All Time - Sports Articles It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . 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. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. No. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Defensive MVP in 2002. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. But Mills did much more than that. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. 12. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. Nine All-Pros. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. 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. 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. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Power Ranking the 5 Greatest Linebackers in Minnesota Vikings History 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. No. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . You decide: Ohio State football's all-decade linebackers AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Taylor changed the way football is played today. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. No. 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 won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. 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. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 2. Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. 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. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 21. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. 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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. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Chicago 1981-92. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. . 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? He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Still, its an amazing number. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. [a][4]. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. No. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on him, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block.