Robinson won three consecutive state championships in high school, then repeated a version of that feat in the NFL, winning three consecutive championships with one NFL title and two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year He only played on teams with winning records three times in his career and only made two playoff appearances. In his short time in the league, Willis made seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and banked over $50 million in career earnings. Born: Sept. 1, 1965 (Compton, California), High school: Verbum Dei High School (Los Angeles), Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-92), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-99), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-01), Green Bay Packers (2002), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1996-99), four-time All-Pro (1993, 1996, 1997, 1999), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. Being the son of a former heavyweight boxing champion might be a burden for some, but Ken Norton Jr. embraced it. We asked 50 experts to vote for the NFL's all-time greatest edge rusher, cornerback and kicker. April 30, 2023 at 5:05 p.m. EDT. His 10 All-Pro selections are tied for the NFL career record alongside Lawrence Taylor. Analysis: Nothing against this group of . 8-time Pro Bowler If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen. He returned to play the rest of the season with a specially made helmet because his jaw was wired shut. 2-time NFL Championship Game winner 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). Brazile is often credited for being the first outside linebacker to define how the game was played in a 3-4 defense while rushing the passer, although sacks weren't an official NFL statistic until his last three seasons. 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. That includes Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012, with the latter coming in Lewis' final game. He led the league in combined tackles in 2016 and 2019, and in solo tackles in 2017. But for all his individual success, he never made the playoffs.4. Born: April 18, 1962 (Titusville, Florida), High school: Astronaut High School (Titusville, Florida), Teams: Chicago Bears (1984-87), Washington Football Team (1988-92), Houston Oilers (1993), Arizona Cardinals (1994), New York Jets (1995), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1986, 1991), three-time Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1992), three-time All-Pro (1986, 1991, 1992), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992). 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 Arizona Cardinals have declined to pick up linebacker Isaiah Simmons' fifth-year contract option, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Be the first one to comment on this story. That's what linebackers do. His style of play is strikingly similar to Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who preceded him by a generation in the Windy City. Others to know: Rashee Rice (SMU), Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss), A.T. Perry (Wake Forest) Linebacker. Lanier collected three All-Pro mentions and eight spots in a Pro Bowl,. Once drafted, Buoniconti became one of the teams best defensive players despite his lack of size. Super Bowl XX champion 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. Super Bowl XLVII champion They have the ability to rush the passer while also stepping back into coverage and shutting down passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks. 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. 13-time Pro Bowler With the third-most sacks in NFL history, there's no question Kevin Greene belongs among the best linebackers of all-time. Here is every player who has ever held the position of New Orleans Saints starting linebacker. Fletcher carved out a 16-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl win with the Rams in his second season. Over his career, Lanier made a name for himself for his aggressive tackling abilities earning him the nickname Contact. 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. Over his career Willis racked up 865 tackles to go with 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eight interceptions. Forester was a nondescript linebacker for his first six seasons with the Packers, until Lombardi was hired in 1959 and the SMU product's career took off. Forester died in 2007 after a long illness. Lambert's size and speed and ability to control a game from the middle linebacker position made him one of the greatest players 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. 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). Super Bowl XXVIII champion George was known for his ability to play the defensive line as well as dropping back disrupting the passing lanes of opposing quarterbacks. Other than having one of the coolest names in NFL history, Takeo Spikes was also one of the most durable linebackers of all time. Super Bowl II champion The 1990 Pro Football Hall of Famer was so elite throughout his career that he was a member of four of the most prestigious all-time teams in NFL history. 5-time first-team All-Pro Super Bowl XXVII champion Lambert is a member of the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, and the league's 100th Anniversary Team. Your login session has expired. His talent has already made him a rich, rich man. Willie Lanier played in an era of football best defined by his hitting style which mainly consisted of him trying to put the crown of his helmet through your sternum. 8-time first-team All-Pro Super Bowl VI champion17. ", High school: Miami Northwestern High School (Miami, Florida), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2021), three-time NFL All-Pro (2013, 2016, 2020), Pro Bowl (2015), NFL All-Rookie Team (2012). Inducted into the Hall of Fame as recently as 2016, Greene's career was arguably underrated. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. George realized this allowed the quarterback to easily drop passes right over his head, so he began to try and read the play and react, dropping into coverage at times when he realized it was a pass play. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. High school: White Deer High School (Pampa, Texas), Teams: Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (2008), Career highlights: Seven-time All-Pro (1998-99, 2001-03, 2005, 2006), seven-time Pro Bowl (1999-2003, 2005, 2006), AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. Brown played on two teams that came up just short of winning a Super Bowl, with the Pittsburgh Steelers losing in the big game following the 1995 season and the New England Patriots following the 2007 season. It was a good fit. Others: Darien Butler, Amari Burney, Kana'i Mauga , Drake Thomas. Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old. Many of the games greatest players have been the man in the middle who called the shots in the huddle before turning into tackling machines and splash-playmakers from sideline-to-sideline once the ball was snapped. 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. First, he went to junior college in Fort Scott, Kansas. 1-time first-team All-Pro Since debates about who is the best linebacker in Bears history are fun, frequent and never-ending, we . 8 on the all-time list, Atlanta Falcons, 1966-1976 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time, Houston Oilers, 1975-1984 Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1975) NFL 1970s All-Decade Team member Finished career with 48 sacks, 1,281 tackles, and 13 interceptions, Kansas City Chiefs, 1967-1977 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Carolina Panthers 2012-present Voted to Pro Bowl five times, four-time First Team All-Pro NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013) NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) 818 career tackles, 10.5 sacks, 15 interceptions, Buffalo Bills, 1987-1995; Atlanta Falcons, 1996-1998; Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2000 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro once Recorded 71.5 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1964-1974 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro twice Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974-1984 Four-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears, 2000-2012 Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Recorded 41.5 career sacks and 1,040 career tackles, New Orleans Saints, 1981-1993; San Francisco 49ers 1994-1995 One-time NFL champion Voted to six Pro Bowls Recorded 128 career sacks, which ranks No. Like Lewis, Lawrence Taylor is also one of the most feared defenders in NFL history. Great middle linebackers are the captains of the defense. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, who he played for during each of his 13 NFL seasons. Bill Forester is one of the greatest examples of Vince Lombardi's genius as a coach. 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. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, his combination of speed and athleticism would make the Hall of Famer even more valuable in today's league than he was in his era. High school: Lovington High School (Lovington, New Mexico), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), five-time All-Pro (2001, 2002. 8-time Pro Bowler20. 3-time first-team All-Pro 2-time first-team All-Pro He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. 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. 2-time NFL Championship Game winner13. The race for the best linebacker in NFL history can be narrowed down to five people: the aforementioned Butkus, Lewis, and Singletary, along with Jack Lambert and Willie Lanier. 10-time Pro Bowler Nick Buoniconti was just 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds but destroyed opponents with sheer will and ferocity, helping lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl wins and the only undefeated season in NFL history in 1972. 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. Bill George, Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (66)Hall of Fame, Class of 1974 Super Bowl XLIII champion23. The Arizona Cardinals have declined to pick up linebacker Isaiah Simmons' fifth-year contract option, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He took his skills as a free agent to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won two Super Bowls. Those are both more than Mecklenburg's career totals, and Gradishar played two fewer seasons. 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). He was 74 years old. 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 IX champion He registered a league-leading 20.5 sacks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year, NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXI. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Check out Gil's list here! This article explores the franchise's top 10 linebackers of all time. This list explores these reasons by looking at the three greatest middle linebackers of all time. Starters: Robert Spillane, Divine Deablo. The latest in an historic line of Hall of Fame caliber Bears middle linebackers, Urlacher has produced 41.5 sacks, 22 INTs returned for 324 yards and two TDs, 11 forced fumbles and 15 fumble recoveries returned for 177 yards and one TD during his career. This is the eighth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 29) Bryce Paup. 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 . Willie Lanier: For eight seasons, Bell played alongside Billy Lanier in one of the NFL's most legendary linebacking corps. Kendricks has graded at 91.7 over the last two years according to PFF. Few defensive players in New Orleans Saints history are as beloved as Jonathan Vilma, who led the team to its only Super Bowl win following the 2009 season. Their versatility sets them apart from any other position player in the sport. 1-time first-team All-Pro When most football fans think of the Steelers' defense, they think about. Ken Norton Jr., Dallas Cowboys (1988-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000) Super Bowl XXXVIII champion 1 Ray Lewis Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest middle linebackers of all time. 8-time Pro Bowler He started all 26 games at middle linebacker the last two seasons. Who are the best linebackers in New Orleans Saints history? Super Bowl XIII champion That was the first of five consecutive seasons with at least 120 tackles. His production continued in the NFL where he was a two time Pro Bowler and two time Super Bowl Champion with the Miami Dolphins while earning the Dolphins team MVP award in three different seasons. Mills, just 5-foot-9, played in the Canadian Football League and then was one of the USFL's greatest players before making the leap to the NFL. Its hard to argue with No. He played with an amazing amount of fire and determination without bringing much attention to himself. Bell was as much of a winner as anyone who ever played the sport. The quarterback position is long known to be the field general on the offensive side of the ball and the one position that handles the play calling duties. You may have never heard of Joe Schmidt, but he was the single most dominant NFL linebacker through the 1950s and the early part of the 1960s. 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. James Farrior, New York Jets (1997-2001), Pittsburgh Steelers (02-11) Super Bowl XXXV MVP Karl Mecklenburg, Denver Broncos (1983-94) The Packers were an unstoppable force on both sides of the ball with the defensive playing a key role in the teams success. We know this. Hall of Fame, Class of 1986 Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. 2 overall pick in 1981 out of North Carolina led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 the last defensive player to win that award. Posted 8 Days Ago 1. Born: Dec. 23, 1948 (Johnstown, Pennsylvania), High school: Bishop McCourt High School (Johnstown, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), eight-time Pro Bowl (1973-80), eight-time All-Pro (1973-80), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1975), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988). 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. Staff writer. Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys (1963-76) High school: De La Salle High School (Chicago), Career highlights: Five-time All-Pro (1950-53, 1955), four-time Pro Bowl (1950-53), NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1975). Born: Jan. 9, 1969 (Oceanside, California), Died: May 2, 2012 (age 43, Oceanside, California), High school: Oceanside High School (Oceanside, California), Teams: San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (2003-05), New England Patriots (2006-09), Career highlights: 12-time Pro Bowl (1991-2002), 10-time All-Pro (1991-2000), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2015). Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears (2000-12)2005 Defensive Player of the Year Urclacher recorded at least 100 tackles nine times over his career including a career high 153 during the 2002 NFL season. 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. 10. . Chris Simms and Mike Florio draft their top middle linebackers of all time. Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (03-05), New England Patriots (06-09)1992 Defensive Player of the Year The two Bears greats played together for Fortunato's final two seasons, which meant Butkus broke all of Fortunato's records just years after he set them. Not many linebackers can boast the athleticism of Urlacher, who set the single-season Bears record with 153 tackles in 2002 and owns the team's career tackles record with 1,361. George is credited by many as being the first-ever true middle linebacker, creating a legacy that future Bears like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher would cement in history.7. The six-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Bears in 2018 was the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. High school: Excel High School (Excel, Alabama), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1973), five-time Pro Bowl (1967-69, 1973, 1974), two-time All-Pro (1969, 1973). Marshall wasn't just a pass coverage linebacker though,. High school: Champion High School (Champion Township, Ohio), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1975, 1977-79, 1981-83), six-time All-Pro (1977-81, 1983), seven-time All-AFC (1976-79, 1981-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978). With Singletary, all it took was one look into his eyes to understand why. Briggs ended up making approximately $52.2 million in career earnings. 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. He finished his career with 458 tackles, 65.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, nine . Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. On the field, Butkus recorded 22 career interceptions to go along with 27 fumble recoveries. Lavonte David's football career took him across the United States after growing up in Miami, Florida. Williams was the seventh-best linebacker by Brugler and was not on his Top 100. How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? No questions asked. Willis played just eight seasons in the NFL, but that's kind of misleading. 6. One thing Spikes never did? 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year But it was his leadership in four Super Bowl wins that moves Lambert ahead of Dick Butkus as sacrilegious as that may seem.3. But in his eight seasons, Kuechly accomplished almost everything an NFL linebacker could, including being perhaps the best coverage linebacker in the history of the game. 66) and Bart Starr (No. 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. 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. 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. Not bad for a former third-round draft pick out of Arizona. Mike Singletary was the best of the bunch. Richter, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2010, had a lengthy career in motorsports after his football career was over and is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame. 5-time Pro Bowler They paled in comparison but were great players in their own right most notably Wilber Marshall. Lewis recorded 2,059 career tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions and forced 17 fumbles. He's also already made six All-Pro teams, six Pro Bowls and banked almost $100 million in career earnings. 6-time first-team All-Pro Devine was the worst. 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. Here are my top 10 linebackers: 1. 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). 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). Super Bowl XXIX champion22. 3-time Pro Bowler High school: Clarkstown High School North (New City, New York), Teams: Tennessee Titans (2000-09), New York Giants (2010), Career highlights:Three-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2007), Pro Bowl (2003). Keith Brooking was an understated, dominant player for two teams, the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. Born: Aug. 13, 1941 (Fort Bragg, North Carolina), High school: Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia), Team: Washington Football Team (formerly Washington Redskins), Career highlights: Nine-time Pro Bowl (1966-69, 1972-76), six-time All-Pro (1969, 1972-76), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011). 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). No player has been as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, start to finish, as Ray Lewis was in his 17 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. Take a look at how all 47 of his selections stack up. For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg. He was in The Monkees' cult-favorite film "Head" and also in the original "The Longest Yard" starring Burt Reynolds. 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. Taylor's dominance changed the way football is played on every level, from how offensive lines block to the way teams teach how to rush the quarterback. Lewis was the face of the franchise and the energizer of the defensive dominance. Klein was signed as the insurance policy. When it comes to which linebacker should be at the top of the Top 10 Middle Linebackers All-Time, Mike Singletary is well worth consideration for the slot. It's hard to claim that anyone other than the great Lawrence Taylor is the best linebacker ever. Kuechly made seven Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro teams, and in 2012, he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 1976 Defensive Player of the Year helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV). 12-time Pro Bowler 7-time Pro Bowler18. 2020 Stats: 69 Solo, 0 Sacks, 0 FF, 3 INT. In 11 seasons, Bell earned postseason honors eight times and helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win in 1969. 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. He had five INT's in a season twice in his career. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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). Vince Lombardis leader on defense, Nitschke (No. Nitscke's style of play was pure dominance in the middle of the field He was known for his ability to dole out hard hits, but his athleticism was always underestimated, and he ended his career with 25 interceptions. NFL Championship Game MVP (1962) High school: Stephens County High School (Toccoa, Georgia), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-92), Detroit Lions (1993-94), Oakland Raiders (1995-96, 1998), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1989-93), four-time All-Pro (1989-92), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1991). Here's a crazy thing about James Farrior. Chad Brown was the type of player who could do almost anything on the defensive front. High school: Washington County High School (Sandersville, Georgia), Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2002), Buffalo Bills (2003-06), Philadelphia Eagles (2007), San Francisco 49ers (2008-10), San Diego Chargers (2011-12), Career highlights: Two-time Pro Bowl (2003, 2004), NFL All-Pro (2004). Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick that the Lions weren't even sure would be able to make their roster. His 53 takeaways are still the most in NFL history by a non-defensive back. "I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold," was the start of his "Super Bowl Shuffle" verse. Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears (1981-92)Hall of Fame, Class of 1998 Over his career Nitschke would rack up 25 career interceptions while being named First Team All-Pro in 11 different seasons. This stroke of genius created not only the middle linebacker position, but the 4-3 defense.
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greatest middle linebackers of all time 2023