Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. Bill George, Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (66)Hall of Fame, Class of 1974 The middle linebacker position is the equivalent of the quarterback position on defense. 6-time first-team All-Pro Ranking 49ers' undrafted rookies, who are led by do-everything Jack Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-77) He won an NFL championship for Chicago in 1963. George died in a car accident in 1982, at 53 years old. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Lanier collected three All-Pro mentions and eight spots in a Pro Bowl,. For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg. 1-time first-team All-Pro Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. Born: June 28, 1936 (Wheeling, West Virginia), High school: Warwood High School (Wheeling, West Virginia), NFL career: 15 seasons (1958-60, 1961-73), Teams: Chicago Bears (1958-59), Dallas Cowboys (1961-73), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (1970), six-time Pro Bowl (1965-69, 1971), six-time Pro Bowl (1966-71). Hall of Fame, Class of 2011 Super Bowl XIV championThe foreman of the Steel Curtain defense, Lambert expanded the job description of the middle backer dropping into pass coverage as smooth as a safety while remaining the sledgehammer enforcer of an old-school middle man. Featuring NO Saints and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Saints LBs include Rickey Jackson, Joe Federspiel, Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle, and Scott Fujita. Ranking the top linebackers to ever suit up in the National Football League is far from easy. You could say he was as close to a Lawrence Taylor version of a linebacker the NFL ever had before we got the real thing. 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. His play on the field was filled with passion and talent that helped him become one of the best to play the game. A two-way player who also played center on offense, Bednarik was in the middle of the action on both sides of the ball ask Frank Gifford.9. "I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold," was the start of his "Super Bowl Shuffle" verse. That year was the first of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards for Singletary, who won again in 1988. 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. Perhaps the most dominant defensive player of his generation, like so many other great linebackers on this list, Khalil Mack has had the misfortune of playing on some truly horrendous teams throughout the early portion of his career with the Raiders and the Bears. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time Vince Lombardis leader on defense, Nitschke (No. He helped lead Florida State to its first national title in 1993 and a decade later put together his greatest NFL seasons, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Buccaneers to their only Super Bowl win in 2002. That didn't matter. We'll find out in 2024, when he'll be on the ballot for the first time. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. 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. 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. James Harrison Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017 4-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler Super Bowl. There's a lot of reasons to love the way Dave Robinson played football mainly because he was a winner. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Once drafted, Buoniconti became one of the teams best defensive players despite his lack of size. 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. Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-84)Hall of Fame, Class of 1990 Super Bowl XXXV MVP That is the highest among all linebackers. 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. How deep was Nitschke in pop culture during his career? Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. To his teammates, his eyes stood for leadership. Despite a 101-year history, the Cardinals haven't produced a Hall of Famer at linebackerbut they've still had plenty of . They often are the quarterbacks of the defense, and many of them possess physical talents few have ever seen on a football field. Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (03-05), New England Patriots (06-09)1992 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Buoniconti, Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (69-76)Hall of Fame, Class of 2001 In one of the greatest single rounds for any team in NFL draft history, the Rams used their two 1971 first-round picks on Robertson and NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Jack Youngblood. Top 10 NFL Middle Linebackers of All Time Rankings Spikes is one of just seven linebackers in NFL history to register over 200 career starts, and he never had less than 70 tackles in 15 NFL seasons. Ray Lewis For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history On offense, he played center, and on defense, he was a linebacker, where he earned a reputation as one of the most devastating tacklers of all time. Over his career, Urlacher was an eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro while racking up 1,086 tackles, 41.5 sacks and 22 interceptions. 16 on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1981-1993 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro eight times Recorded 132.5 career sacks, which ranks No. George was known for his ability to play the defensive line as well as dropping back disrupting the passing lanes of opposing quarterbacks. Take a look at the best photos from the red carpet. After leaving Chicago, Marshall proved he was elite by winning a Super Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Washington Football Team (then known as the Redskins). Hall of Fame, Class of 1986 The league's top prospects stepped into the NFL Photo studio for Draft portraits. 5-time first-team All-Pro Bulluck played mainly on special teams his first two seasons with the Titans before a breakout season in 2002. Super Bowl XXXVIII champion Poll : Are these the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All-Time? By the time Tommy Nobis left the University of Texas, he was as famous as any player in the NFL, having already appeared on the cover of Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines for his accomplishments. Karl Mecklenburg, Denver Broncos (1983-94) If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Super Bowl XX champion However, we're here to give this the good old college try, so let's dive in! Top 10 Middle Linebackers in NFL 2021 Rankings After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13th round selection. Who are the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All Time? 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. Bear Bryant called him one of the best players he ever coached at Alabama, where Jordan won a national title in 1961. His NFL career was punctuated by big hits and big wins, including three consecutive Super Bowl wins with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in the early 1990s. It didn't slow Mills' production, and he made three Pro Bowls and five Pro Bowls despite spending his first five seasons elsewhere. 12-time Pro Bowler 6-time first-team All-Pro Kuechly made seven Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro teams, and in 2012, he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. 10-time Pro Bowler After being selected with the third overall pick, Butkus would go on to make eight Pro Bowl teams during his nine year career. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. A post shared by Juan Diaz (@juandiaz0620). Featuring 2018-2019 SF 49ers and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best 49ers LBs include Mike Walter, Dave Wilcox, Keena Turner, Willie Harper, and Julian Peterson. The Packers were an unstoppable force on both sides of the ball with the defensive playing a key role in the teams success. Top 10 Best NFL Linebackers of All Time - TheTopTens was tough and imposed his physical will on opponents. He was extremely productive from his rookie season in 1981 to his final season in 1993. Something else inside of Lambert, best defined by the toothless, screaming pictures of him during games when he took out his dentures, made him the toughest. Chris Hanburger's path to NFL stardom as an outside linebacker was as unusual as any ever taken. Your login session has expired. One thing Spikes never did? Before the turn of the century, two of the best middle linebackers of all time were Lawrence Taylor andJack Lambert. Not bad for a former third-round draft pick out of Arizona. Owen Pappoe, Auburn. 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). Darryl Talley was a physical and athletic marvel during his playing career, and his consistency was truly something to behold. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler. 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. Butkus punished ball carriers and crushed spirits. His 160 sacks is the most among linebackers. Super Bowl XXXVI champion - http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000816217. Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos (1974-83) 2023 NFL Draft: Top Linebackers - The San Diego Union-Tribune Hall of Fame, Class of 2006 How tough was the "City Champ"? 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. 2-time NFL Championship Game winner13. He led the University of Minnesota to a national title in 1960, then won two AFL championships and a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year 7-time first-team All-Pro Born: July 12, 1970 (Pasadena, California), High school: John Muir High School (Pasadena, California), Teams:Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-96, 2006), Seattle Seahawks (1997-2004), New England Patriots (2005, 2007), Career highlights: Three-time Pro Bowl (1996, 1998, 1999), two-time NFL All-Pro (1996, 1998), Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team. Inducted into the Hall of Fame as recently as 2016, Greene's career was arguably underrated. Sanders could have the highest ceiling of all the middle linebacker . If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen. Te'o didn't come out of nowhere as a senior. 5-time Pro Bowler Middle linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense, the nerve center of a stop-unit. Tragically, Seau took his own life in 2012, at 43 years old. Seth Joyner's career was a story in resilience. Super Bowl XLIII champion23. Fletcher, 5-foot-11 and 242 pounds, ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine coming out of NCAA Division III John Carroll University, but he still went undrafted. Best Eagles Linebackers: Top 10 All-Time in Franchise History Pat Swilling was part of perhaps the finest assembly of linebackers in NFL history the New Orleans Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" of the late 1980s and early 1990s. 8-time Pro Bowler14. Levis has supreme arm talent and an ultra . Bills draft Dorian Williams: Does Tulane product give Buffalo what it Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-62) Backups: Luke Masterson, Curtis Bolton. Born: June 3, 1959 (Neptune City, New Jersey), Died: April 18, 2005 (age 45, Charlotte, North Carolina), High school: Long Branch High School (Long Branch, New Jersey), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-94), Carolina Panthers (1995-97), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996), three-time All-Pro (1991, 1992, 1996). Who are the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All Time? - Sportskeeda "Dr. Doom" terrorized opposing offenses for 10 NFL seasons and was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Born: March 28, 1930 (Mingo Junction, Ohio), Died: Nov. 6, 2017 (age 87, Natchez, Mississippi), High school: Mingo High School (Mingo, Ohio), Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), six-time All-Pro (1958, 1963-66), five-time Pro Bowl (1958, 1962-65), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, PFR 1960s All-Decade Team. Injuries cut Luke Kuechly's career short, like they did with quite a few great linebackers. 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. 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). 2-time Pro Bowler Over his career, Bednarick helped guide the Eagles to two NFL Championships while being named to eight Pro Bowl teams and selected eight times as a First Team All-Pro. 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. 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. Isaiah Simmons' 5th-year option declined by Arizona Cardinals, per report Lewis recorded 2,059 career tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions and forced 17 fumbles.
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