He's also already made six All-Pro teams, six Pro Bowls and banked almost $100 million in career earnings. 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. Over his career Nitschke would rack up 25 career interceptions while being named First Team All-Pro in 11 different seasons. Top 10 Linebackers in Arizona Cardinals History 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. High school: Lovington High School (Lovington, New Mexico), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), five-time All-Pro (2001, 2002. That includes Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012, with the latter coming in Lewis' final game. Great middle linebackers are the captains of the defense. Sanders could have the highest ceiling of all the middle linebacker . Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was the top pick for Commanders General Manager Martin Mayhew, left, and . Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Norton's famous nod to his famous father was hitting the goal post pads like a punching bag, similar to how he treated opponents as the star linebacker for two of the best franchises in football for over a decade. There is a reason why he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018. 8-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.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. The Best New Orleans Saints Linebackers of All Time - Ranker One of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history, Swilling finished his career with 107.5 sacks but no playoff wins. 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. 3-time first-team All-Pro 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. Lawrence Taylor isn't just the greatest linebacker of all time. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Running Backs of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Wide Receivers of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Tight Ends of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Outside Linebackers of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Strong Safeties of All Time Rankings. Chicago Bears: 15 greatest linebackers of all time - Da Windy City How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? The middle linebacker position is the equivalent of the quarterback position on defense. Super Bowl XXXVIII champion Sam Huff almost left his rookie training camp with the New York Giants when coaches couldn't find a position for him. This list explores these reasons by looking at the three greatest middle linebackers of all time. 1974 Defensive Rookie of the Year He doesn't have overwhelming traits, but he has filled in capably as a . Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Lewis recorded 2,059 career tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions and forced 17 fumbles. NFL: Ranking the 10 Best Middle Linebackers - Bleacher Report 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. "Dr. Doom" terrorized opposing offenses for 10 NFL seasons and was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Karl Mecklenburg was a throwaway pick by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft and ended up being one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history and definitely the greatest pure inside linebacker. Born: Nov. 26, 1953 (Florence, South Carolina), High school: Wilson High School (Florence, South Carolina), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1986), nine-time Pro Bowl (1978, 1979, 1981-87), six-time All-Pro (1978, 1981, 1982, 1984-86), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2006). Born: Sept. 20, 1943 (San Antonio, Texas), Died: Dec. 13, 2017 (age 74, Marietta, Georgia), High school: Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas), Career highlights: NFL Rookie of the Year (1966), five-time Pro Bowl (1966-68, 1970, 1972), two-time All-Pro (1967, 1968), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. He played for the Baltimore Ravens for 17 seasons and recorded 2,061 tackles and 41.5 sacks in his. High school: Woodlawn High School (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2004-09, 2013, 2017), Miami Dolphins (2010-12), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Cincinnati Bengals (2016). High school: Farmington High School (Farmington, West Virginia), Teams: New York Giants (1956-63), Washington Football Team (1964-67, 1969), Career highlights: NFL champion (1956), six-time All-Pro (1957-61, 1963), five-time Pro Bowl (1958-61, 1964), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1982). 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). 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. The big-play machine from Waco, Texas, was one of the greatest linebackers in Longhorns program history. Over his career, George was an eight time Pro Bowler and eight time First Team All-Pro. If you could build a middle linebacker from scratch, you'd probably come up with a player that looked a lot like Derrick Brooks. Super Bowl XLIII champion23. He registered a league-leading 20.5 sacks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year, NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXI. Report: Cardinals decline to pick up Isaiah Simmons' 5th-year option If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen. James Harrison Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017 4-time All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler Super Bowl. 2-time first-team All-Pro Born: April 6, 1973 (San Diego, California), High school: Chula Vista High School (Chula Vista, California), Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1996-2001, 2007-08), San Diego Chargers (2002-06), Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2004), Pro Bowl (2002). For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg. James Farrior, New York Jets (1997-2001), Pittsburgh Steelers (02-11) Owen Pappoe, Auburn. 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). Middle linebackers are the quarterbacks of the defense, the nerve center of a stop-unit. Super Bowl VIII champion 52 whose off-the-charts football IQ, spiritual leadership and on-field accomplishments are unmatched. 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. Behind Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett was the most dominant NFL linebacker in the 1980s. 7-time Pro Bowler19. NFL's best players ever at every defensive position - ESPN Over his career Willis racked up 865 tackles to go with 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and eight interceptions. Jackson retired in the top three in NFL history for sacks (128) and fumble recoveries (28). Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History - Sports Illustrated 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). 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. A study of his brain revealed he had a severe case of CTE, which can cause rage, amnesia and severe depression. For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). 7-time Pro Bowler18. Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears (1981-92)Hall of Fame, Class of 1998 Onus on Bills' coaches, McDermott at middle linebacker draft Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. 2-time NFL Championship Game winner The Top 10 NFL Linebackers of All Time - Bleacher Report The NFL's Top 50 Linebackers of the Modern Era High school: Pahokee High School (Pahokee, Florida), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1981-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-95), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1994), six-time Pro Bowl (1983-86, 1992, 1993), five-time All-Pro (1984-86, 1992, 1993), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010). He only played on teams with winning records three times in his career and only made two playoff appearances. After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13th round selection. 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. Vilma, who also won a national championship at the University of Miami in 2001, also is well-known for taking the NFL to court following a yearlong suspension in "Bountygate. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. In 1986, he had one of the most dominant NFL seasons ever. Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator. All Rights Reserved. Super Bowl XIII champion In addition, Seau was named First Team All-Pro in six different seasons including three straight from 1992 to 1994. 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. Super Bowl XXVIII champion We'll find out in 2024, when he'll be on the ballot for the first time. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever. 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. Tedy Bruschi, New England Patriots (1996-2008) 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. Bulluck played mainly on special teams his first two seasons with the Titans before a breakout season in 2002. David cashed in with a Super Bowl victory following the 2020 season. The last 60-minute man in NFL history, Chuck Bednarik dominated on both sides of the ball for the Philadelphia Eagles. Brooks, like so many players on this list, played his entire career with just one team. The 10-time All-Pro earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards in six seasons (1981-1982, 1986). Super Bowl XXIX champion22. According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. He finished his career with 458 tackles, 65.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, nine . 5-time first-team All-Pro An eighth-round pick by the Eagles in 1986 out of UTEP, he was actually cut during his first training camp before being resigned during the season. Bobby Bell could do it all. Les Richter was an amazing football player and had size and speed that could have landed him on NFL rosters in any era. Over the last few years, the Bears have featured names like Lance Briggs and Khalil Mack. 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.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-box-4','ezslot_5',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-box-4-0'); The Chicago Bears middle linebacker is just one of many great middle linebackers that have played in the NFL and for the team. From the likes of Mike Singletary to Nick Bouniconti to Chuck Bednarik to Ray Lewis, the middle linebacker position is loaded with talent making the top choice a difficult selection. 10. 1978 Defensive Player of the Year 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk Be the first one to comment on this story. Bill Bergey went from being a star at Arkansas State to a star with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL until owner Paul Brown leveraged him for a pair of first-round draft picks and a second-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles. Sadly, Mecklenburg's post-football life has been defined by his battle with brain injuries sustained playing football, and he's part of several concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL. Best Linebackers in the NFL | List of Top NFL Linebackers - Ranker Arizona had until May 2 to make a final . 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. Lanier collected three All-Pro mentions and eight spots in a Pro Bowl,. 13 on the all-time list Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These are the greatest linebackers in NFL history. Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. It's actually confounding why more of a Hall of Fame case hasn't been made for Thomas. 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. Houston Texans loaded with linebackers from Alabama - al.com High school: Matoaca High School (Chesterfield, Virginia), Teams:New York Jets (1997-2001), Pittsburgh Steelers (2002-11), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (2005, 2008), two-time Pro Bowl (2004, 2008), two-time NFL All-Pro (2004, 2008). Mike Singletary was the player at the heart of perhaps the greatest defense of all time the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went 15-1 in the regular season and blew out the New England Patriots, 46-10, in the Super Bowl. 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. 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. Born: Sept. 29, 1966 (Jacksonville, Illinois), High school: Westchester High School (Los Angeles), Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1988-93) San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000), Career highlights: Three-time Super Bowl champion (1992-94), three-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1995, 1997), two-time All-Pro (1993, 1995). Join the contest by ranking below. How would you rank the greatest Middle Linebackers in history? Tales of Butkus' exploits would make you think he played several decades in the NFL, but his career was just nine seasons. Those bad teams likely cost him any shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How tough was the "City Champ"? They often are the quarterbacks of the defense, and many of them possess physical talents few have ever seen on a football field. Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-62) Singletary recorded 1,488 career tackles to go along with seven interceptions and 19 sacks over his career. 5-time Pro Bowler He was extremely productive from his rookie season in 1981 to his final season in 1993. 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. 55, Seau went on to become a legend in San Diego. 5-time Pro Bowler24. 7-time first-team All-Pro His 0-6 record in the postseason is an NFL record for most playoff games without a win. He led the league in combined tackles in 2016 and 2019, and in solo tackles in 2017. 29) Bryce Paup. 8-time Pro Bowler20. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 8-time Pro Bowler Quite simply, if you saw No. 10-time Pro Bowler In four seasons, Willis has 594 total tackles, 15 sacks, made the Pro Bowl every year, and three times has been named a first-team All-Pro linebacker. In 11 seasons, Bell earned postseason honors eight times and helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win in 1969. High school: Colony High School (Ontario, California), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2013), six-time Pro Bowl (2014-19), six-time All-Pro (2014-19), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. The No. But what sets the great ones apart from the rest of the pack? 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. George racked up 18 career interceptions over his career while helping lead the Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship. The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. April 30, 2023 at 5:05 p.m. EDT. Jack . 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. Porter's 40% forced incompletion rate in 2022 led all Power Five cornerbacks. 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. Zach Thomas brought a certain attitude to defenses as a middle linebacker, both in college at Texas Tech and in the NFL, that was evident from the moment he stepped on the field. 5-time Pro Bowler15. 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. 1-time first-team All-Pro 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. Knowing what we know now about concussions, which forced Kuechly's retirement, should players who accomplish what he did and have their careers shortened be in the Hall of Fame? They paled in comparison but were great players in their own right most notably Wilber Marshall. In a 16-season career, he recorded an incredible 1,586 tackles. Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old. 2-time first-team All-Pro Bergey became one of the NFL's best linebackers in Philly, where he made five consecutive All-Pro teams and was the foundation for the "Gang Green" defense that made the playoffs in each of his last three seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 1980. 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. His talent has already made him a rich, rich man. Before Bill George came along, the way the linebacker position was taught kept football in the stone ages every snap, they hit the center or guard right away. ", Died: June 12, 2010 (age 79, Riverside, California), High school: Fresno High School (Fresno, California), Career highlights: Eight-time Pro Bowl (1954-61), seven-time All-Pro (1955-60), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011). They spoke of intensity, determination, and an undying will. 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. 12 on the NFL's all-time list. 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). Bell was as much of a winner as anyone who ever played the sport. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. Samurai Mike had crazy eyes that struck fear into an opposing offense even before he laid the smack down. Born: Nov. 18, 1964 (Spring Valley, New York), High school: Spring Valley High School (Spring Valley, New York), Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1986-93), Arizona Cardinals (1994-96), Green Bay Packers (1997), Denver Broncos (1998), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1998), three-time Pro Bowl (1991, 1993, 1994), three-time All-Pro (1991-93). Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (1967-77) Nobis played in relative anonymity for his entire NFL career but still put up monster numbers on some really bad teams. 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). Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. Bill Forester is one of the greatest examples of Vince Lombardi's genius as a coach. The former North Carolina Tar Heel is both a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 100th Anniversary Team.