The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. Tribute to Elvis He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 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. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. 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. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. 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. [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. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Still, its an amazing number. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. 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. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. PFF Rankings: The NFL's top 25 linebackers ahead of the 2020 NFL season Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. St. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. How NFL Players Have Evolved. 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. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). The leader of the Dome Patrol comes in at No. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora 6 - Carl McAdams. Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers 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. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Joe Schmidt. 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 1. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. No. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. In his final two seasons with the Bengals, Williams was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. 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. Chicago 1981-92. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. Rickey Jackson could do it all. The former college basketball star is considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. 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. (Pro Football Weekly 1975 Defensive Player of the Year, 1970s All-Decade Team, 1994 75th anniversary team), and also the team success (4 Super Bowls). In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. 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. A truly great linebacker must be able to read the offense, set the defensive scheme, play the run with cat-like instincts and defend the pass with the utmost precision. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. Penn State football all-time defense | Who are the greatest defensive Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. 5. 8. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. But Mills did much more than that. 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. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. 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). The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s - AinsworthSports.com Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. No. Pat Swilling. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. He also ranks third all . He was always around the ball. Marshall wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker though, he also racked up 1,020 tackles during his 11 year NFL career, along with 24 forced fumbles. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Ranking Explanation . No. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 9. Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! No. T&Cs apply. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions.
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