best linebackers of the 1970s
Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Baker recorded 19 . The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History Over the course of his career he racked up over 1,000 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and 14 INTs, all of which are very good numbers. No. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. No. 25. Georgia's top players by position: Linebackers - ajc His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. 1970 NFC Champion. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. 27. Still, he was a very solid MLB for many years. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. 6 - Carl McAdams. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. No. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. 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). Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. The nine-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame is one of the all-time sacks leaders with 126.5, and he also forced 41 fumbles during his 11-year career. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. Michigan Football Position Greats 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. 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 . As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. Top 10 LB's in OU history - 247sports.com . Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Nine All-Pros. Steel Curtain - Wikipedia Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. 9. What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. 7. Next: A dangerous combination. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. 25, Karl Mecklenburg (Broncos) (1983-1994) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro Karl "The Albino Rhino" Mecklenburg was the definition of a blue collar player. He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. 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 runningback Franco Harris. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. May 24, 2022. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He could do it all. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. I have combined outside and inside linebackers on the list and factored in the players ability to stop the run, drop into coverage and leadership. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. 1970s A 1-13 record in 1969 gave the Steelers the first overall choice in the 1970 draft, with which Noll addressed the offense by selecting quarterback Terry Bradshaw, another Hall of Famer, after the Steelers won the first selection by winning a coin toss with the Chicago Bears. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Super Bowl winner. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. 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. A five-time pro bowler, Wilson was one of the best linebackers in the league during the early 2000s. The Best Las Vegas Raiders Linebackers of All Time - Ranker Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. Still, its an amazing number. T&Cs apply. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 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. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Andre Tippett. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-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. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Steelers all-time 53-man roster: '70s legends, 'Killer Bs' headline Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. He came one tackle short from having five consecutive 100 tackle seasons in 2004, which is saying a lot, since he was the guy taking up blockers most of the time as well. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. 10. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). 3 hours ago. 7. No. *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. Collect, curate and comment on your files. The transition from college football to the NFL . Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. 5.) No. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season No. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. . In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. . Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl w/Raiders (1991) NFL interceptions leader w/Raiders (1991) Ronnie Lott is best known for being arguably the best safety in football history. 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. 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. Ham had outstanding . He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. 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. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. Of the five LBs chosen to the 1950s All-Decade Team the others were Bednarik, Fortunato, George, and Huff Schmidt made the most Pro Bowls (nine) and the most all-pro teams (seven first-team, nine altogether). For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. No. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. . Thats fine, he played enough linebacker to be considered this high. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s - AinsworthSports.com Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. But Mills did much more than that. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. More from Green Bay Packers. 11, Kevin Greene (Rams/Steelers/Panthers/49ers), (1985-1999) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. More Team Info. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. The 15 Greatest NFL Linebackers of All Time - Sportscasting Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. No. HELLO, PANDORA. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. No. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. He could do it all. That is just unheard of. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. Gambling Problem? Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. . NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof Mike Singletary. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. The longtime backup led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), set the Seahawks' single-season passing yards record (4,282) and ranked in the top five in the entire league in both passing . Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. 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. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. Taylor changed the way football is played today. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Bill Parcells considered Carson the best all-around linebacker he ever coached, which is very high praise from someone who has coached a ton of linebackers in his day. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on him, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! 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. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Notre Dame, Mike Brey and the awkward goodbye - The Athletic Wright has been one of the most reliable linebackers in the NFL since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State . Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. In that game, the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first downs and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards, despite losing 27-17 in large part due to two key interceptions thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil ODonnell.