NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. And he's still going. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. Defensive MVP in 2002. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Robert Brazile. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. No. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) At New Mexico State, the once-treasured men's basketball program has been suspended for the season due to a fatal shooting and a gruesome allegation of locker-room . Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. No. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. He was 73. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. . He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. 23. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. 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. AP. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. 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. 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. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Dick Butkus: one of the fiercest and best linebackers the NFL has ever seen, Butkus was a Pro Bowler every year except his final season while also garnering five All-Pro selections for the Bears. Still, its an amazing number. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. 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. No. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. 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 tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. 6 - Carl McAdams. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. . No. No. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. 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. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. No. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. 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. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. 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. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Super Bowl winner. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. No. No. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. 25. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. No. No. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. 9. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *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 took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. and Jack Ham played as . Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. 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. No. Chuck Drazenovich. 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 was said to have the fastest 10-yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and running back Franco Harris. . Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Super Bowl XX champion. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? 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. 27. No. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Zachary Petrizzo. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jack Ham, Linebacker. No. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. He also ranks third all . Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. Cox was also a vocal leader of the teams he played for, directing his defenses to success. Ham had outstanding speed. No. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. 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. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. K.J. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. 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. No. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. No. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 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. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Ranking Explanation . Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Joe Schmidt. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. Eddie Johnson. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. No. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. He could do it all. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Baker recorded 19 . He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. He just goes out every week and hustles. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. [3] Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. 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 . 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. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. 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. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. May 24, 2022. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. [a][4]. Rickey Jackson could do it all. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. 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. Ham had outstanding . 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. 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. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. In this Article . 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. He was one of the most feared players in the game. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Buffalo Bills starting LBs and backup LBs are Lorenzo Alexander, Deon Lacey, Matt Milano, and Tanner Vallejo. 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. 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. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . 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. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. 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 . Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. 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. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. McAdams was a two-time All-American . Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Baltimore, with 2,038 rushing yards through its first 10 games of the season, is the seventh team since 1970 and first since the 1978 New England Patriots (2,029 rushing yards) with at least 2,000 . He knew how to make big plays. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 100th NFL Anniversary team. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Nine All-Pros. Are you ready for some football history? He should be in the Hall of Fame. 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. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. 1970 NFC Champion. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Next: A dangerous combination. 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. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Super Bowl winner. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. 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. Atlante vs Raya2 Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time, Date, Team News, lineup news, Odds, Stats, Betting Tips Trends, Where To Watch Live Score Mexican Liga de Expansin MX 2023 Telecast Today Match Details March 3, Club Tijuana vs Atlas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Wydad AC vs Vita Club Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, U Cluj vs Farul Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Top 10 Best Football Agents In The World | 2023 Updates, Top 10 Most Successful Retired Soccer Players 2023, FC Magdeburg vs 1. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. 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). He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. No. Bet with your head, not over it. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. Andre Tippett. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. More from Green Bay Packers. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. Gambling Problem? 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. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. 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. Chicago 1981-92. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Ham had arguably the most successful NFL career out of any of the names on this list as he was a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. . Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). . Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. 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.