best linebackers of the 1970s

He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. . 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. No. by Ben Watanabe. 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 . He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. 20 greatest linebackers in NFL history - Franchise Sports 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. The forgotten members of the legendary 1970's Steelers team 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. No. Ill take into account Pro Bowls, All-Pros (1st and 2nd team), stats, team success, players success, intimidation factor, and reputation, along with many other factors to make this list. No. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. Robert Brazile. That is just unheard of. No. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. He was 73. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. No. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. . [a][4]. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. 1970 NFC Champion. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . 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. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. No. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. 25 Greatest Defensive Linemen in NFL History - AthlonSports.com No. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. 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. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. and Jack Ham played as . LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof No. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Reese, GM of Titans' Super Bowl team, dies at 73 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). NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. 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. Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. In this Article . He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. 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. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Boulware gets overlooked a lot playing because of playing with Ray Lewis, but he was a key component in that dominating Ravens defense of the early 2000s. No. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. K.J. Andre Tippett. #NFL100 - Top 6 Outside Linebackers Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 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Still, its an amazing number. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Still, its an amazing number. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Thats amazing consistency. He was one of the most feared players in the game. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. 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. 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. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series 10. Nine All-Pros. The 15 Greatest NFL Linebackers of All Time - Sportscasting The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. 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Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. 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 has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. . The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. 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. 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+. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 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. No. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. 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. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. 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. Joey Porter. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Las Vegas Raiders: 15 best defensive backs of all-time - Just Blog Baby Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. 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. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Defensive MVP in 2002. 2. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time 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. 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. Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s - AinsworthSports.com He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Chuck Drazenovich. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. Eleven Pro Bowls. No. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. No. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. 21. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. 10. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. Rickey Jackson could do it all. Joe Schmidt. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. 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. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. 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 Taylor changed the way football is played today. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. 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. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He also took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. No. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. 27. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. 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. Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 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. . Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. But Mills did much more than that. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. As also playing DE should tell you, he was very versatile and could play many different positions. No. 10. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Thats amazing consistency. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team No. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. No. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Perfect Seahawks NFL Draft 2023 plan: Select C.J. Stroud if there at No The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. 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. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Tribute to Elvis Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. That is just unheard of. The . Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. 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. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. Top 10 Linebackers in Miami Dolphins history - Phin Phanatic May 24, 2022. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Gambling Problem? Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Thats right, seven. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. 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. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. 10. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. How NFL Players Have Evolved | Stadium Talk In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. No. 7. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell .