best linebackers of the 1970ssamantha wallace and dj self
Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. He also took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. 5.) 1970 NFC Champion. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. 12 sacks and three picks. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. 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. Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Ranking Explanation . Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. No. From his time at USC, Lott . 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. In this Article . Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? 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. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Next: A dangerous combination. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . 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. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. credit : - yahoo. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. 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. 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. No. 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. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. . All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Dick Butkus: one of the fiercest and best linebackers the NFL has ever seen, Butkus was a Pro Bowler every year except his final season while also garnering five All-Pro selections for the Bears. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 27. Thats right, seven. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. 1970s All-decade team. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. Born April 20 . No. 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. He just goes out every week and hustles. 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. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. 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. Tribute to Elvis Brown was a very versatile linebacker. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. 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. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. 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. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. He knew how to make big plays. by Ben Watanabe. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. 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. No. No. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. 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. No. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. St. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. 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. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. I have combined outside and inside linebackers on the list and factored in the players ability to stop the run, drop into coverage and leadership. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. He was always around the ball. Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. More from Green Bay Packers. Here's a list of the Packers' top 10 all-time defensive players since 1950, when unlimited substitution was restored to the NFL, paving the way for two-platoon football. Seau was the definition of consistency. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. 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. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. 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. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. No. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record). These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. 100th NFL Anniversary team. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. 9. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. 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. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. He also ranks third all . Both . Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. All Rights Reserved. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Bill Parcells considered Carson the best all-around linebacker he ever coached, which is very high praise from someone who has coached a ton of linebackers in his day. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. A five-time pro bowler, Wilson was one of the best linebackers in the league during the early 2000s. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. 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. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. 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). Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lewis most notable accomplishment may be starting the Tom Brady era by knocking out Drew Bledsoe on a roll out, giving Tom Brady his first ever NFL action. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. He could do it all. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. No. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. (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). Andre Tippett. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. 10, Junior Seau (Chargers/Dolphins/Patriots) (1990-2009) *Twelve-time Pro Bowler *Six-time All-Pro 1st Team *Three-time All-Pro 2nd Team. He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. . Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. He came one tackle short from having five consecutive 100 tackle seasons in 2004, which is saying a lot, since he was the guy taking up blockers most of the time as well. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Some of you will say hes too low. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Super Bowl XX champion. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . He may have actually been crazy. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. No. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ham had outstanding . But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. No. Thats an outstanding number. 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. No. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. 12. 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. NFL Strength Of Schedule Rankings 2022-2023, NFL 2022 season finisher picture, standings: Chargers can secure billet on Monday, Packers stay alive for trump card, Cardinals versus Marauders score, focal points: Tom Brady directs late rebound as Tampa Sound moves beyond Arizona in OT, NFL would need to pay a robust $12MILLION to switch all its counterfeit fields over completely to grass as association faces developing commotion from players to switch all arenas to normal surfaces, NFL takes action against utilization of electronic gadgets during games, Packers versus Lions score: Detroit plays spoiler, closes Green Straights offered for postseason compartment, Top 10 Hottest NFL Wives In 2023 | NFL WAGs, The Best Quarterbacks In The NFL Right Now, The Coolest Players in the NFL Right Now, Ranked, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 88), 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1967, 83). 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . 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 . Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well.