greatest middle linebackers of all time

The former North Carolina Tar Heel is both a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 100th Anniversary Team. 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. Super Bowl X champion 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. They often are the quarterbacks of the defense, and many of them possess physical talents few have ever seen on a football field. It's hard to claim that anyone other than the great Lawrence Taylor is the best linebacker ever. Like Lewis, Lawrence Taylor is also one of the most feared defenders in NFL history. 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. This list explores these reasons by looking at the three greatest middle linebackers of all time. High school: Vocational High School (Chicago), Career highlights: Eight-time Pro Bowl (1965-72), eight-time All-Pro (1965-72), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969, 1970), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983). Born: Jan. 25, 1985 (Bruceton, Tennessee), High school: Central High School (Bruceton, Tennessee), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (2007-13), six-time All-Pro (2007-12), NFL 2010s All-Decade team, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2007). Brooking was incredibly consistent throughout his career. First, he went to junior college in Fort Scott, Kansas. Manage Settings 8-time Pro Bowler He was a second team All-American in 2011 when he racked up career highs with 13.5 tackles for loss and five sacks to go with 128 tackles. He beat a double-murder charge before the 2000 season following the stabbing deaths of two men in a fight after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta. Dick Butkus No. Devine was the worst. Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers (1958-72)Hall of Fame, Class of 1978 Lance Briggs did one thing that's highly unusual for an NFL linebacker in the modern era he played his entire career for the same team. George is credited by many as being the first-ever true middle linebacker, creating a legacy that future Bears like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher would cement in history.7. 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. 6-time first-team All-Pro Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus is one of those. One other cool thing about Robinson was what he said about Green Bay Packers coach Dan Devine when he left the team after the 1972 season to play for Washington: "Lombardi was the best coach I ever had. Ray Lewis For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). Introduction 66) and Bart Starr (No. But it's worth pointing out that he was much more than a football player. It's on Sean McDermott & Co. to coach up whoever mans the middle. 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). 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). Ken Norton Jr., Dallas Cowboys (1988-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000) George was known for his ability to play the defensive line as well as dropping back disrupting the passing lanes of opposing quarterbacks. 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. His talent has already made him a rich, rich man. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . No, Sensei Tippett! ranked by. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Karl Mecklenburg was a throwaway pick by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft and ended up being one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history and definitely the greatest pure inside linebacker. 5-time Pro Bowler Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator. 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). 2-time Pro Bowler 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. 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. 7-time Pro Bowler19. Bennett was convicted of rape in 1997 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, but still allowed to play in the NFL for four more seasons. Please logout and login again. 12-time Pro Bowler Super Bowl XXVII champion Born: Sept. 1, 1960 (Seattle, Washington), High school: Edina West High School (Edina, Minnesota), Career highlights: Six-time Pro Bowl (1985-87, 1989, 1991, 1993), four-time All-Pro (1985-87, 1989). Here are my top 10 linebackers: 1. Greatest Linebackers in NFL History By Tony Adame, updated on October 21, 2022 AP Photo Generations of linebackers have played in the NFL and defined the game. Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. During his AFL career, Buoniconti earned six AFL All-Star honors and five First Team All-AFL. High school: East Cleveland Shaw High School (Cleveland, Ohio), Teams: Buffalo Bills (1983-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995), Minnesota Vikings (1996), Career highlights: Four-time AFC champion (1990-93), two-time Pro Bowl (1990, 1991), two-time All-Pro (1990, 1993). Poll : Are these the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All-Time? Forester died in 2007 after a long illness. Bednarik, who the Philadelphia Eagles selected with the first overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft, helped build the Eagles into a defensive power house. 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. 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. 7-time first-team All-Pro Taylor's dominance changed the way football is played on every level, from how offensive lines block to the way teams teach how to rush the quarterback. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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. 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). Bill Bergey went from being a star at Arkansas State to a star with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL until owner Paul Brown leveraged him for a pair of first-round draft picks and a second-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles. 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. James Farrior, New York Jets (1997-2001), Pittsburgh Steelers (02-11) 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. Starters: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo. Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions (1953-65) Super Bowl XXXV MVP But he'll always be best known for his role on the Bears' Super Bowl-winning team of 1985 that featured arguably the best defense in NFL history. Nitschke died of a massive heart attack in Florida in 1998, when he was 61 years old. 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. 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jack Lambert played 11 seasons all for the Steelers and won four Super Bowls as the starting linebacker and heart of the "Steel Curtain" defense with fellow Hall of Famers Mean Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham and Donnie Shell. Ray Lewis's impact on the game back then still influences today's middle linebackers. He only played six games in his final season before retiring because of a nagging toe injury. Those bad teams likely cost him any shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Your login session has expired. Edwards' name jumps off the page when you look at the NFL career leaders list for tackles, where he clocks in at No. Its hard to argue with No. Lawrence Taylor isn't just the greatest linebacker of all time. The former Miami Hurricane is a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team. Born: Sept. 1, 1965 (Compton, California), High school: Verbum Dei High School (Los Angeles), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-92), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-99), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-01), Green Bay Packers (2002), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1996-99), four-time All-Pro (1993, 1996, 1997, 1999), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. Not many linebackers can boast the athleticism of Urlacher, who set the single-season Bears record with 153 tackles in 2002 and owns the team's career tackles record with 1,361. The race for the best linebacker in NFL history can be narrowed down to five people: the aforementioned Butkus, Lewis, and Singletary, along with Jack Lambert and Willie Lanier. 1. Lambert was a legendary cornerstone piece of the "Steel Curtain" defense in Pittsburgh for 11 seasons (1974-1984). Richter didn't miss a game in nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and made seven All-Pro teams. Other than having one of the coolest names in NFL history, Takeo Spikes was also one of the most durable linebackers of all time. 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. Take a look at some of the best photos of Aaron Rodgers from throughout the years! Both players led their team to a Super Bowl, and for Gradishar, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, the year the Broncos won an AFC title. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. The duo even led the team to the Super Bowl in 2006, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. An all-time great Packer/NFL player. Bednarik, who the Philadelphia Eagles selected with the first overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft, helped build the Eagles into a defensive power house. 7-time Pro Bowler18. The two-time Super Bowl champ is one of the greatest overall defenders in NFL history. Nick Buoniconti Nick Buoniconti played for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Born: May 1, 1925 (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Died: March 21, 2015 (age 89, Richland, Pennsylvania), High school: Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: Two-time NFL champion (1949, 1960), eight-time Pro Bowl (1950-54, 1956, 1957, 1960), 10-time All-Pro (1950-57, 1960, 1961), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967). He also was a defensive captain in two of those seasons. Tippett had his most dominant season in 1985, when he led the Patriots to their first AFC title and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson only missed two games in his 13 seasons with the Saints in 1989 because of a car accident. Bear Bryant called him one of the best players he ever coached at Alabama, where Jordan won a national title in 1961. Kevin Greene. 8-time Pro Bowler14. That includes Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012, with the latter coming in Lewis' final game. 3-time first-team All-Pro However, we're here to give this the good old college try, so let's dive in! We know this. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb. 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. And he is the only middle linebacker to win multiple Super Bowls and multiple Defensive Player . 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. Once drafted, Buoniconti became one of the teams best defensive players despite his lack of size. He was 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. If you could build a middle linebacker from scratch, you'd probably come up with a player that looked a lot like Derrick Brooks. Super Bowl XXVIII champion Chuck Bednarik Chuck Bednarik wasn't just one of the best Eagles linebackers he was THE BEST linebacker and one of the best players of all time. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Harry Carson's career stats don't jump off the page 11 interceptions, 14 fumbles recovered, eight sacks but he's still one of the greatest NFL linebackers. Bednarik is most famous for his 1960 tackle of Giants running back Frank Gifford, who was knocked unconscious on the play and out of football for almost two years. There's a lot of reasons to love the way Dave Robinson played football mainly because he was a winner. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Junior Seau was one of the best players of his generation and one of the best middle linebackers to play the game. Almost 50 years after he retired, Bell's nine defensive touchdowns are still tied for the most in NFL history for a linebacker alongside fellow Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever. If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen. It's fitting that Khalil Mack now plays for the Chicago Bears. 8-time first-team All-Pro Super Bowl II champion High School: Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas), Career highlights: Four-time Pro Bowl (1959-62), five-time All-Pro (1959-63), two-time NFL champion (1961, 1962). The former Miami Hurricanes star was known for his ability to read defenses and his off the field preparation including studying game film to learn about his opponents. The six-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Bears in 2018 was the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. However, it is often looked past how important the middle linebacker position is to the defensive side of the ball with many teams using this position to help command the defense. When most football fans think of the Steelers' defense, they think about. Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick that the Lions weren't even sure would be able to make their roster. Tales of Butkus' exploits would make you think he played several decades in the NFL, but his career was just nine seasons. He's also the greatest defensive player of all time. Butkus punished ball carriers and crushed spirits. High school: Pahokee High School (Pahokee, Florida), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1981-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-95), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1994), six-time Pro Bowl (1983-86, 1992, 1993), five-time All-Pro (1984-86, 1992, 1993), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010). 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). Here are five of the top undrafted free-agent signings since the draft ended: Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Minnesota Vikings Linebacker was a key position of need for the Vikings but they didn't use any . Huff became the first rookie middle linebacker to start an NFL championship game, leading the Giants to the title in 1956 and led them to four more NFL championship games, losing each time. The No. Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-84)Hall of Fame, Class of 1990 1-time Pro Bowler 15 on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Eagles, 1949-1962 Two-time NFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 1981-1992 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Green Bay Packers, 1963-1972; Washington Redskins 1973-1974 Three-time NFL champion Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Diego Chargers, 1990-2002; Miami Dolphins, 2003-2005; New England Patriots, 2006-2009 Voted to 12 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Recorded 56.5 career sacks and 1,522 career tackles Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Rams, 1985-1992; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1993-1995; Carolina Panthers, 1996, 1998-1999; San Francisco 49ers, 1997 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Recorded 160 career sacks, which ranks No. Brian Urlacher Brian Urlacher played for the Chicago Bears from 2000 to 2012. Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles (1949-62)Hall of Fame, Class of 1967 He also finished his career with 25 interceptions and 24 sacks. 15) are the only Lombardi players whose numbers were retired.6. The 2023 NFL Draft has arrived! Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old. A little-known fact about Talley: He's the cousin of Baseball Hall of Famer and Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter. He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. 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. The last 60-minute man in NFL history, Chuck Bednarik dominated on both sides of the ball for the Philadelphia Eagles. 8-time first-team All-Pro James Harrison Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017 4-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler Super Bowl. The Greatest Steelers Linebackers of All Time The Steelers are known for hard-hitting, relentless defense. During his AFL career, Buoniconti earned six AFL All-Star honors and five First Team All-AFL. 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. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler. 1-time first-team All-Pro 2-time NFL Championship Game winner Playing defensive tackle/end for the first two seasons of his NFL career, Connor became a linebacker when Bears head coach George Halas wanted to try and find a way to neutralize Philadelphia running back Steve Van Buren, so he had Connor stand up outside of the tight end to check Van Buren. Seau recorded 1,849 career tackles over his career to go along with 56.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 18 interceptions. April 19, 2023 5 PM PT. One thing Spikes never did? For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode, After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13. round selection. 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. 8-time Pro Bowler They have the ability to rush the passer while also stepping back into coverage and shutting down passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks. 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. "Dr. Doom" terrorized opposing offenses for 10 NFL seasons and was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012)2000 Defensive Player of the Year Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-77) On the football field Chuck Bednarik was one of the toughest players to play the game and possibly the best tackler to set forth on a football field. He finished his career with 458 tackles, 65.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, nine . His 53 takeaways are still the most in NFL history by a non-defensive back. The No. 5-time first-team All-Pro The 13-time Pro-Bowler holds the record for most career solo tackles (1,568) and the record for most tackles in a season (156). After being selected during the 1967 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Morgan State, Willie Lanier helped solidify the Kansas City Chiefs defense in route to becoming one of the best middle linebackers to play the position. Ham, with the size of a free safety, was as quick as any running back or wide receiver in the 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and recorded a gaudy 32 interceptions and 53 takeaways in his career while helping the Steelers win four Super Bowl. 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. For the Tar Heels, Hanburger played both ways and earned most of his accolades at center, not on defense. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Running Backs of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Wide Receivers of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Tight Ends of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Outside Linebackers of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Strong Safeties of All Time Rankings. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. The most famous member of the No Name Defense, Buoniconti is alleged to be the ringleader of the 1972 Dolphins annual champagne toast when the last undefeated team loses each season.10. After being selected with the third overall pick, Butkus would go on to make eight Pro Bowl teams during his nine year career. While some of the linebackers on this list probably wouldn't even get a second look in today's NFL because of their size, Wilcox (who's the father of Cal head coach Justin Wilcox) is actually the opposite. Tragically, Seau took his own life in 2012, at 43 years old. 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. Cornelius Bennett forced a trade from the Colts to the Bills after being drafted in 1987 and was one of the best linebackers in the NFL for the next decade-plus. Take a look at the best photos from the red carpet. #NBCSports #NFL #ProFootballTalk Subscribe to NBC Sports: https://www.youtube.c. 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. High school: St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013), seven-time Pro Bowl (2013-19), seven-time All-Pro (2013-19), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. 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).

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