Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. He just goes out every week and hustles. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Chicago 1981-92. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. The NFL's Top 50 Linebackers of the Modern Era - Bleacher Report Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. [3] On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He knew how to make big plays. 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. Tribute to Elvis Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. 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 . 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. 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. . Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Some of you will say hes too low. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Mike Singletary had the whole package. 5.) Ranking Explanation . Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thats right, seven. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. 1970s All-decade team. 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. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Top 10 Washington Football Team LBs of All Time - Sports Articles The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s - AinsworthSports.com 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? 9. 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. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC Beason has only been in the league for three years now. 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. Still, its an amazing number. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. 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. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. 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. . But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. No. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 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? It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. . Butkus nasty disposition and ability to blow up anyone standing in his path, made him one of the most feared players in the history of the game. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. No. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-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. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. No. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History He could play zone and man. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. 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. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. He did everything. 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. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. by Ben Watanabe. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. 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. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Seau was the definition of consistency. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. 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. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. T&Cs apply. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. During the five year stretch from 1991-1995 where he made five consecutive Pro Bowls, Lloyd was one of, if not the, most dominating linebackers in the NFL. [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. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. Steelers by the decade: 1970s - Pittsburgh Steelers Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. 1970 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. 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. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. LaVar Arrington. Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. No. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com He could do it all. 10. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. 25. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. Reese, GM of Titans' Super Bowl team, dies at 73 You decide: Ohio State football's all-decade linebackers Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. 8. 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.