best linebackers of the 1970s

If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. Thats an outstanding number. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. 5. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? . The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). 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. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Coverage was definitely Bullucks claim to fame, but he was also good at other things. 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. He could play zone and man. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. No. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. No. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Kolen was drafted by the Dolphins in the 12 th round . He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Paul Naumoff. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. A late 12th round pick Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. No. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. by Ben Watanabe. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Eleven Pro Bowls. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. More Team Info. 27. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Mike Singletary had the whole package. He made five straight Pro Bowls, but the reason he doesnt rank higher on this list is because he was never a feared player like his teammate Michael Strahan was, and his stats just arent good enough. 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. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Buffalo Bills starting LBs and backup LBs are Lorenzo Alexander, Deon Lacey, Matt Milano, and Tanner Vallejo. No. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. No. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. 2. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Eleven Pro Bowls. 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. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. But Mills did much more than that. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. 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. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Still, its an amazing number. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . He did everything. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. He was the type of player that you would want your kids to look up to. 12. . Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. No. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. 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. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. No. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Still, its an amazing number. . As part of the Steelers Blitzburgh defense in the 90s, Greg Lloyd was a speedy, undersized pass rusher.Sometimes, he would use his size to his advantage to disguise where he was coming from. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. No. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. That is just unheard of. No. 10. 23. 12 sacks and three picks. More from Green Bay Packers. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. Please play responsibly. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 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. . Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. No. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. 10. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. . 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. When you think of Singletary, the first thing that comes to mind is intense focus. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. He also ranks third all . He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. No. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Pat Swilling was an outstanding pass rusher in his career, totaling up 107 sacks in his career and 101.5 sacks in a 10 year period throwing out his rookie year and last season of his career. He also is the only linebacker to ever win a Super Bowl MVP and be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (2000). 1970s All-decade team. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). Neal Olkewicz. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. Joey Porter. Atlante vs Raya2 Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time, Date, Team News, lineup news, Odds, Stats, Betting Tips Trends, Where To Watch Live Score Mexican Liga de Expansin MX 2023 Telecast Today Match Details March 3, Club Tijuana vs Atlas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Wydad AC vs Vita Club Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, U Cluj vs Farul Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Top 10 Best Football Agents In The World | 2023 Updates, Top 10 Most Successful Retired Soccer Players 2023, FC Magdeburg vs 1. All Rights Reserved. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. 10 Tom Jackson. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. 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That suggestion from the newly appointed House . 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, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. L.T. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Taylor changed the way football is played today. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. No. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. 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. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. 1. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . 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. 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. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Hes also had at least 83 tackles in every year other than his rookie season. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. Of course, prior to 1970, there was only one captain chosen; since 1970, we've had as many as four chosen in a single season. AP. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, I’ll take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Defensive MVP in 2002. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Defensive MVP in 2002. No. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Mike Kolen 1970-77. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. He should be in the Hall of Fame. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Boulware gets overlooked a lot playing because of playing with Ray Lewis, but he was a key component in that dominating Ravens defense of the early 2000s. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. That is just unheard of. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. Super Bowl winner. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game.

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