If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. The only reason Brooks isnt higher up on this list is because he had a fantastic surrounding cast which includes, most notably, Warren Sapp taking up blockers on the line. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. No. Ill take into account Pro Bowls, All-Pros (1st and 2nd team), stats, team success, players success, intimidation factor, and reputation, along with many other factors to make this list. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. 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. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. [1][2] The squad consists of first- and second-team offensive, defensive, and special teams units, as well as a first- and second-team head coaches. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. No. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. 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. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. 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. 37, Wilber Marshall (Bears/Redskins/Oilers/Cardinals/Jets) (1984-1995) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. . 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. 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 has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. Mike Singletary had the whole package. No. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. And he's still going. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . Collect, curate and comment on your files. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 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 . 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. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . No. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. 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. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. I’m only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. 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. 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. 2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. 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 . Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. Thats an outstanding number. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. He just goes out every week and hustles. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. No. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. But Mills did much more than that. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. 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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. Thats right, seven. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Nine All-Pros. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. 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 .