He also was a defensive captain in two of those seasons. Eight of those he made the All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl, with back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1969 and 1970. Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was the top pick for Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew, left, and . 2009 NFL Butkus Award winner 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). Play in a Super Bowl. After the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans have four Alabama linebackers - Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris, DeMeco Ryans and Henry To'oTo'o - except Ryans is the head coach and . NFL Draft best available players for Buffalo Bills: Drew Sanders 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. 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. That would end up being an anomaly in Dansby's career. Mills, who died of cancer in 2005, is one of the most beloved players in the history of both the Saints and the Panthers. "I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold," was the start of his "Super Bowl Shuffle" verse. Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. Lambert was a legendary cornerstone piece of the "Steel Curtain" defense in Pittsburgh for 11 seasons (1974-1984). Mike Singletary was the best of the bunch. Related:NFL Teams With Most Hall of Famers. 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). Born into abject poverty in rural Tennessee, he was working full-time in the cotton fields by the time he was 10 years old and had to flee his home with his sisters at 17 to get away from his violent, alcoholic father. 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. 1994 Walter Payton Man of the Year ranked by. 6-time first-team All-Pro 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. Jackson retired in the top three in NFL history for sacks (128) and fumble recoveries (28). 1 Ray Lewis Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time. Super Bowl XXVII champion 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. 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. Vince Lombardis leader on defense, Nitschke (No. Kendricks has graded at 91.7 over the last two years according to PFF. Much like Chicago Bears linebacker Joe Fortunato, Randy Gradishar doesn't have the legacy he should be because of the player he directly preceded. He only played on teams with winning records three times in his career and only made two playoff appearances. It worked, and Connor never put his hand in the dirt again during a Hall of Fame career. 1-time first-team All-Pro Junior Seau was one of the best players of his generation and one of the best middle linebackers to play the game. The Best Buffalo Bills Linebackers of All Time - Ranker Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Jack . 8-time Pro Bowler Those bad teams likely cost him any shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ken Norton Jr., Dallas Cowboys (1988-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000) 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 . Mar 23. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Hall of Fame, Class of 1986 Lambert averaged 146 tackles through his first 10 seasons, but only played a handful of games in his 11th season because of a toe injury that led to his retirement. 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. Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions (1953-65) The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of arguably the greatest linebacker possibly the best defensive player to ever put on a helmet. 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. The first Hall of Famer to go in as a player primarily for the Saints, Rickey Jackson was the leader of the famed "Doom Patrol" linebacker corps in New Orleans and is one of the toughest players in NFL history. Mecklenburg anchored Denver's defense with safety Steve Atwater and helped lead Denver to three AFC titles, but the Broncos lost all three of those Super Bowls. The Top Ten Greatest NFL Middle Linebackers of all Time Super Bowl XXXV champion 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). NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. And he is the only middle linebacker to win multiple Super Bowls and multiple Defensive Player . Super Bowl XXXVI champion Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990's. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Willie Lanier: For eight seasons, Bell played alongside Billy Lanier in one of the NFL's most legendary linebacking corps. 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. Born: Feb. 4, 1959 (Williamsburg, Virginia), High school: Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl Champion (1986, 1990), NFL Most Valuable Player (1986), 10-time Pro Bowl (1981-90), 10-time All-Pro (1981-90), three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999). His talent has already made him a rich, rich man. 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. He registered a league-leading 20.5 sacks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year, NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXI. 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.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); When considering great middle linebackers it is hard to look past another Chicago Bear All-Pro who racked up a pretty solid NFL career. That includes Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012, with the latter coming in Lewis' final game. Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-77) High school: Kathleen High School (Lakeland, Florida), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (2000, 2012), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (2000), 13-time Pro Bowl (1997-2001, 2003, 2004, 2006-11), 10-time All-Pro (1997-2001, 2003, 2004, 2008-10), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018). He doesn't have overwhelming traits, but he has filled in capably as a . In Forester's final five seasons, he made all four of his Pro Bowls, all five of his All-Pro teams and helped lead Green Bay to its first two NFL titles under Lombardi. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Donnie Edwards was an undersized linebacker who made plays all over the field during a 13-year career in the NFL, first for the Kansas City Chiefs, then for his hometown San Diego Chargers. Hall of Fame, Class of 2006 Bobby Wagner has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL for almost a decade at this point, winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013. His production would not slow as he helped from the Steelers Steel Curtain defense and helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl Championships. With the third-most sacks in NFL history, there's no question Kevin Greene belongs among the best linebackers of all-time. He finished his career with over 2,000 tackles (2,039), which is second on the NFL's all-time list, and set the NFL record for linebackers with 215 consecutive starts. Their versatility sets them apart from any other position player in the sport. 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). The two-time Super Bowl champ is one of the greatest overall defenders in NFL history. Super Bowl XXIX champion22. 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. Karlos Dansby was tall for an NFL inside linebacker at 6-foot-4, and he made plays all over the field. Chris Simms and Mike Florio draft their top middle linebackers of all time. Tiania Baul "Junior" Seau was a football unicorn a linebacker who played 20 seasons in the NFL and dominated almost every step of the way. Others to know: Rashee Rice (SMU), Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss), A.T. Perry (Wake Forest) Linebacker. 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. pic.twitter.com/wy2S8g98pb. Bear Bryant called him one of the best players he ever coached at Alabama, where Jordan won a national title in 1961. Modern football fans might be seeing the name Hardy Nickerson for the first time, but the old heads know him as one of the more dominant linebackers of his era who had the misfortune of playing most of his career with mediocre teams. 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). Injuries cut Luke Kuechly's career short, like they did with quite a few great linebackers. But it was his leadership in four Super Bowl wins that moves Lambert ahead of Dick Butkus as sacrilegious as that may seem.3. In the NFL, he was a model of consistency for 14 seasons and earned postseason honors in 10 of 11 seasons and started 135 consecutive games at one point. 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. He led the league in combined tackles in 2016 and 2019, and in solo tackles in 2017. Kuechly made seven Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro teams, and in 2012, he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. 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. 3-time Pro Bowler With this responsibility and how important the game has evolved, the MLB position has produced many great players over the years. Be the first one to comment on this story. How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? High school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (Cleveland, Ohio), Teams: St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (2002-06), Washington Football Team (2007-13), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1999), four-time Pro Bowl (2009-12), two-time All-Pro (2011, 2012). 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. 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). He was a two-time NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player, led the Detroit Lions to two NFL championships and made both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams every year for 10 consecutive years from 1954 to 1963. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever. Urlachers legacy was secure after leading Chicago to the NFC title in 200611. Super Bowl VI champion17. 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. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. An all-time great Packer/NFL player. He posted nine straight seasons with at least 100 tackles and played in all 16 regular-season games for the last 12 seasons of his career. Its hard to argue with No. Here is every player who has ever held the position of New Orleans Saints starting linebacker. Born: Dec. 29, 1936 (Elmwood Park, Illinois), Died: March 8, 1998 (age 61, Venice, Florida), High school: Proviso East High School (Mayfield, Illinois), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 1967), three-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965), Pro Bowl (1964), seven-time All-Pro (1962-67, 1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1978). Your login session has expired. Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old. Ray Lewis's impact on the game back then still influences today's middle linebackers. Porter's 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks. Nitschke died of a massive heart attack in Florida in 1998, when he was 61 years old. Few stories rival that of former NFL star Patrick Willis. But it's worth pointing out that he was much more than a football player. They play fast from sideline to sideline. How deep was Nitschke in pop culture during his career? His ability to diagnose plays and shut them down wasn't matched by many. With the combination of speed and power, he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play in NFL history. Arguably USCs most notable No. 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. 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. 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). 1-time first-team All-Pro In his short time in the league, Willis made seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and banked over $50 million in career earnings. The Best San Francisco 49ers Linebackers of All Time - Ranker He was one of the most feared players in the sport in his prime. 4 with 1,501, despite making just one Pro Bowl in his career. Super Bowl VII champion 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. During his AFL career, Buoniconti earned six AFL All-Star honors and five First Team All-AFL. It was the second title in franchise history for the Bucs, and the three-time NFL All-Pro doesn't seem to be slowing down even in his 10th season. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, who he played for during each of his 13 NFL seasons. Chicago Bears: 15 greatest linebackers of all time - Da Windy City How tough was the "City Champ"? 10. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler. Backups: Luke Masterson, Curtis Bolton. Briggs ended up making approximately $52.2 million in career earnings. 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. 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. In a testament to the influence that karate had in the U.S. in the 1980s and what a freak of nature Tippett is he's also a sixth-degree black belt. 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). George was known for his ability to play the defensive line as well as dropping back disrupting the passing lanes of opposing quarterbacks. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012)2000 Defensive Player of the Year Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-62) 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. Brooks, like so many players on this list, played his entire career with just one team. According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. Take a look at how all 47 of his selections stack up. 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. He was so well regarded by those around him that when the Giants faced the Broncos in the Super Bowl, Carson walked out to face nine Broncos captains thinking he was one of three, but head coach Bill Parcells and his teammates decided to send Carson out by himself as a show of respect. Willis played just eight seasons in the NFL, but that's kind of misleading. Super Bowl XXVIII champion In addition, Willis was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, led the NFL in tackles in two different seasons, was a seven time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro. Lambert, who the Pittsburgh Steelers selected with the 46th pick during the 1974 NFL draft, showcased his abilities during his rookie season in route to helping solidify the Steelers defense and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Houston Texans loaded with linebackers from Alabama - al.com April 30, 2023 at 5:05 p.m. EDT. The Arizona Cardinals have declined to pick up linebacker Isaiah Simmons' fifth-year contract option, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 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. 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. 1-time first-team All-Pro 5-time Pro Bowler 13 on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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