No. How NFL Players Have Evolved. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. 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 . A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. 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. Lawrence Taylor. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Jack Ham, Linebacker. No. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. Thats right, seven. Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Featuring 2018-2019 Raiders and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Raiders LBs include Ted Hendricks, Khalil Mack, Rod Martin, Sam Wiliams, and Greg Biekert. 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. 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, The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into The Grueling Truth sports shows, Where the legends speak. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Tribute to Elvis Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Jack Lambert played middle linebacker. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. No. 2022 - SportsUnfold. No. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 10 Tom Jackson. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Neal Olkewicz. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Eleven Pro Bowls. No. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. The only reason Brooks isnt higher up on this list is because he had a fantastic surrounding cast which includes, most notably, Warren Sapp taking up blockers on the line. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. 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. He knew how to make big plays. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. 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. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Joey Porter. Eddie Johnson. He just goes out every week and hustles. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? In this Article . All Rights Reserved. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. No. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 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. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. The transition from college football to the NFL . He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. 10. 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. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. No. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. Thats amazing consistency. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. Of course, prior to 1970, there was only one captain chosen; since 1970, we've had as many as four chosen in a single season. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 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. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. No. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. 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. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. No. 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). You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. 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. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . 38, Chad Brown (Steelers/Seahawks/Patriots) (1993-2007) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. 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. 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 . 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. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. 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). 1970s A 1-13 record in 1969 gave the Steelers the first overall choice in the 1970 draft, with which Noll addressed the offense by selecting quarterback Terry Bradshaw, another Hall of Famer, after the Steelers won the first selection by winning a coin toss with the Chicago Bears. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. No. Mike Singletary had the whole package. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. No. Edmunds will have to clean up the missed tackles and improve in coverage to rise toward where most slot him currently a top-10 linebacker on this list next season. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. AP. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. and 2000s. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. 1970 Robert E. Lee Generals (13-0) Jim Chafin's team allowed just seven points a game and held 10 of its 13 opponents to 10 points or less. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. 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. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. 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. 37, Wilber Marshall (Bears/Redskins/Oilers/Cardinals/Jets) (1984-1995) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. 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. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. 11, Kevin Greene (Rams/Steelers/Panthers/49ers), (1985-1999) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 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. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Thats amazing consistency. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. No. 10. 3 hours ago. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. [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. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. best oysters in the world france,
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