best linebackers of the 1970s

. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. K.J. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. The NFL started in 1920 and commemorated its 100th season in 2019 with a season-long celebration of "NFL 100." The game has come a long way in 100 years. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 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. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Controversial Nights: Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez, Top 11 Big Ten Basketball Teams, since 1960, Top 12 Guards in Big Ten Basketball history, NBA Pacers vs Spurs: Odds, Tips and predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Purdue vs Wisconsin: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Xavier vs Providence: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/01/23, Top 20 Big Ten Basketball players of all time, Framer Fran McCaffery takes his sideshow and crybaby antics to play Indiana, NCAA Basketball Arkansas vs Tennessee: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/28/23, The Hypocrisy of Major League Baseball, Gambling, Steroids, and Why it's Time to Put Pete Rose in the Hall. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. 14, Hardy Nickerson (Steelers/Bucs/Jaguars/Packers) (1987-2002) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thats amazing consistency. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. Let me start out by saying that yes, I know that he was only a linebacker for half his career and DE the other half. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . 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. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Beason has only been in the league for three years now. by Ben Watanabe. No. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. No. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. 10. L.T. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. Coverage was definitely Bullucks claim to fame, but he was also good at other things. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. 2022 - SportsUnfold. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. And he's still going. 1. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. Thats right, seven. Anything you asked him to do, he would do. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Tribute to Elvis That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. 1953-65, Detroit Lions. and Jack Ham played as . Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. 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. [3] No. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. 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. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. No. 10. Ranking Explanation . Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. No. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. The transition from college football to the NFL . Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. He even made the Pro Bowl in a year that he only started eight games and also a year in which he only started nine games. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. In his three years at Clemson (1995-'97) Simmons recorded 486 tackles, only 29 off the school record Bubba Brown recorded in four years from 1976-'79. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. 12 sacks and three picks. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. . In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. No. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 9. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. 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. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 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. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. 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. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. A five-time pro bowler, Wilson was one of the best linebackers in the league during the early 2000s. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. No. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. 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. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. No. 10. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. No. In 2006, he had an amazing season and won defensive MVP, which is a very high honor that most players on this list never achieved. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. But Mills did much more than that. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 30, Matt Blair (Vikings) (1974-1985) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . 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. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. More Team Info. 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. 23. A truly great linebacker must be able to read the offense, set the defensive scheme, play the run with cat-like instincts and defend the pass with the utmost precision. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. He was the only good player (other than Albert Haynesworth, but even he was only good for 2-3 years) on a generally bad defense and team. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. 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. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. Mike Singletary. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. 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. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. That is just unheard of. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. . 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. Thats right, seven. 6 - Carl McAdams. He knew how to make big plays. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. No. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. Ham had outstanding speed. He could play zone and man. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. No. AP. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. credit : - yahoo. The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. 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. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. 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. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. No. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. Some of you will say hes too low. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 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 played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. Ranking Explanation . In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 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. Lewis, playing alongside Bryan Cox, led a very good Jets team to the closest theyve been to a Super Bowl since they won Super Bowl III. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. Robert Brazile. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. The National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team is a list of National Football League (NFL) players selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. 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? Seau was the definition of consistency. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. 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. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record). He even made the Pro Bowl in a year that he only started eight games and also a year in which he only started nine games. 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). Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. Andre Tippett may have been outshined by Lawrence Taylor playing basically the same position at the same time frame, but theres no mistaking what Tippett did on the field. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Joe Schmidt. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. 7. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. Are you ready for some football history? He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Romanowski might be overrated because of his name, but theres no doubt he was one of the most memorable and feared linebackers of the modern era. No. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. No. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Mike Kolen 1970-77. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. 100th NFL Anniversary team. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. No. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 10. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. 21. HELLO, PANDORA. No. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Pat Swilling. 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. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. . Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . 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. . Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Ham had outstanding speed. Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 gets a hold of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields #1 during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium . 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 . The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. 1. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . In 2006, he had an amazing season and won defensive MVP, which is a very high honor that most players on this list never achieved. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections.

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best linebackers of the 1970s