best linebackers of the 1970s

He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Call 1-800-522-4700. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. Here's 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize That is just unheard of. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. No. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. L.T. That game and his outstanding 1996 season earned Kirkland his first trip to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors after the 1996 season. 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 . You decide: Ohio State football's all-decade linebackers Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. T&Cs apply. 100th NFL Anniversary team. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Super Bowl winner. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . Best players in Clemson history: Linebackers LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. 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 running back Franco Harris. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. 7. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. Wilber Marshall had the whole package. He was 73. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. 7. He was always around the ball. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary Steel Curtain - Wikipedia Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. . He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. Hardy Nickerson may not have the name recognition as many of the other linebackers on this list, but he deserves to be this high. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. No. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History (Updated) He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. 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 . 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. No. Thats right, seven. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. FCK Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Hamilton vs Arbroath Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Paderborn vs FC St. Pauli Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live, Andorra vs Las Palmas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, AGF vs Horsens Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Southend Utd vs Barnet Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Kawasaki vs Shonan Bellmare Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live. Beason has only been in the league for three years now. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Best of the Packers: Top 10 linebackers since 1960 - Dairyland Express He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . How NFL Players Have Evolved | Stadium Talk 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. Hes been amazing. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. No. 1970 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. 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 had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12-year career, which is outstanding. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Seau was the definition of consistency. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. No. Pat Swilling. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. 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. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. Who are the Packers' greatest defenders of all time? - Green Bay Packers 10. No. No. He could play zone and man. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. No. In this Article . Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. No. He was effective as a pass rushing OLB, tallying up 14 sacks in one season with the Dolphins, and as an inside run stopping linebacker with the Jets. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. The . Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Thats amazing consistency. No. 1970 Robert E. Lee Generals (13-0) Jim Chafin's team allowed just seven points a game and held 10 of its 13 opponents to 10 points or less. He just goes out every week and hustles. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. #NFL100 - Top 6 Outside Linebackers Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. 12. No. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Cox was also a vocal leader of the teams he played for, directing his defenses to success. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. 36, Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles/Redskins/Bucs) (1999-2007 & 2009) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. How NFL Players Have Evolved. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Mike Singletary had the whole package. He could do it all. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. Top 10 Linebackers in Miami Dolphins history - Phin Phanatic What Terry Fontenot said about Marcus Mariota release, the quarterback 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. (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). 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. He was always around the ball. Top 5 Tennessee linebackers of all-time - Saturday Down South During the late 1970s and early 80s, he was the best linebacker the NFL had. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. No. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. No. [3] 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. Joe Schmidt. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. NY Jets: Top 10 linebackers of all-time - The Jet Press He became a starter at inside linebacker for the Steelers in his second season, 1993, replacing Pro Bowler David Little. credit : - yahoo. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. 8. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Taylor changed the way football is played today. 10. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Mike Singletary had the whole package. Shawne Lights Out Merriman was the face of NFL linebackers for a three year stretch. No. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Jan 25, 1981; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders players Mickey Marvin (65), Willie Jones (90), Rod Martin (53), Ted Hendricks (83) and Raymond Chester (88) on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV at the Superdome. Zach Thomas. No. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. Andre Tippett may have been outshined by Lawrence Taylor playing basically the same position at the same time frame, but theres no mistaking what Tippett did on the field.

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best linebackers of the 1970s

best linebackers of the 1970s