High school: Woodlawn High School (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2004-09, 2013, 2017), Miami Dolphins (2010-12), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Cincinnati Bengals (2016). Junior Seau was one of the best players of his generation and one of the best middle linebackers to play the game. Knowing what we know now about concussions, which forced Kuechly's retirement, should players who accomplish what he did and have their careers shortened be in the Hall of Fame? To his teammates, his eyes stood for leadership. He was extremely productive from his rookie season in 1981 to his final season in 1993. For the Tar Heels, Hanburger played both ways and earned most of his accolades at center, not on defense. Nitschke died of a massive heart attack in Florida in 1998, when he was 61 years old. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. He finished his career with 458 tackles, 65.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, nine . Veteran A.J. Top 10 Best NFL Linebackers of All Time - TheTopTens Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History - Sports Illustrated High school: Washington County High School (Sandersville, Georgia), Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2002), Buffalo Bills (2003-06), Philadelphia Eagles (2007), San Francisco 49ers (2008-10), San Diego Chargers (2011-12), Career highlights: Two-time Pro Bowl (2003, 2004), NFL All-Pro (2004). He led the NFL in tackles three times (1997, 1999, 2001) during his 17 years in Baltimore. The 1976 Defensive Player of the Year helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV). Norton's famous nod to his famous father was hitting the goal post pads like a punching bag, similar to how he treated opponents as the star linebacker for two of the best franchises in football for over a decade. It is hard to look past Jack Lambert as one of the Top 10 Middle Linebackers All-Time based on his career resume and his play on the football field. Born into abject poverty in rural Tennessee, he was working full-time in the cotton fields by the time he was 10 years old and had to flee his home with his sisters at 17 to get away from his violent, alcoholic father. Over his career, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl championships while being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP. Born: Dec. 29, 1936 (Elmwood Park, Illinois), Died: March 8, 1998 (age 61, Venice, Florida), High school: Proviso East High School (Mayfield, Illinois), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 1967), three-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965), Pro Bowl (1964), seven-time All-Pro (1962-67, 1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1978). 2023 NFL Draft: Top Linebackers - The San Diego Union-Tribune Nitscke's style of play was pure dominance in the middle of the field He was known for his ability to dole out hard hits, but his athleticism was always underestimated, and he ended his career with 25 interceptions. If Willis can keep it going and avoid. Super Bowl XIII champion Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears (1965-73)Hall of Fame, Class of 1979 Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it? 25 Greatest Middle Linebackers in NFL History The 13-time Pro-Bowler holds the record for most career solo tackles (1,568) and the record for most tackles in a season (156). Marshall wasn't just a pass coverage linebacker though,. Tiania Baul "Junior" Seau was a football unicorn a linebacker who played 20 seasons in the NFL and dominated almost every step of the way. If Bobby Wagner continues a few more years having the career he's had through his first nine seasons, you can start to make some very concrete arguments for him one day being a Hall of Famer. Top 10 NFL linebackers of all time | The TwinSpires Edge While some of the linebackers on this list probably wouldn't even get a second look in today's NFL because of their size, Wilcox (who's the father of Cal head coach Justin Wilcox) is actually the opposite. Bills middle linebacker race hinges upon where third-round pick Dorian Edwards' name jumps off the page when you look at the NFL career leaders list for tackles, where he clocks in at No. Since debates about who is the best linebacker in Bears history are fun, frequent and never-ending, we . The big-play machine from Waco, Texas, was one of the greatest linebackers in Longhorns program history. Chris Hanburger's path to NFL stardom as an outside linebacker was as unusual as any ever taken. Over his career Nitschke would rack up 25 career interceptions while being named First Team All-Pro in 11 different seasons. They changed the way football is played on every level. Injuries cut Luke Kuechly's career short, like they did with quite a few great linebackers. In addition to having the greatest linebacker of All-Time in Ray Lewis, 20 years of Ravens football has seen some incredible linebackers. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012)2000 Defensive Player of the Year New York native and former Syracuse star Keith Bulluck helped define the early years of the Tennessee Titans as part of the team that came within one yard of winning a Super Bowl. Tippett had his most dominant season in 1985, when he led the Patriots to their first AFC title and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Super Bowl XXVIII champion An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. In his short time in the league, Willis made seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and banked over $50 million in career earnings. One other cool thing about Robinson was what he said about Green Bay Packers coach Dan Devine when he left the team after the 1972 season to play for Washington: "Lombardi was the best coach I ever had. If Dolphins fans felt like they were having flashbacks when Zach Thomas came along to play middle linebacker in the mid-1990s, it's because it wasn't the first time they'd seen an undersized, dominant player leading their defense. Super Bowl XLIII champion23. Arguably USCs most notable No. Few stories rival that of former NFL star Patrick Willis. 1-time first-team All-Pro He only played on teams with winning records three times in his career and only made two playoff appearances. The Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams middle linebacker, Bill George is the one single man that is known for creating the middle linebacker position. In Forester's final five seasons, he made all four of his Pro Bowls, all five of his All-Pro teams and helped lead Green Bay to its first two NFL titles under Lombardi. 5-time Pro Bowler15. Chicago Bears: 15 greatest linebackers of all time - Da Windy City How deep was Nitschke in pop culture during his career? Bulluck played mainly on special teams his first two seasons with the Titans before a breakout season in 2002. He won an NFL championship for Chicago in 1963. ranked by. 8-time Pro Bowler That year was the first of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards for Singletary, who won again in 1988. Urlachers legacy was secure after leading Chicago to the NFC title in 200611. Buoniconti, who was also a practicing attorney, died in 2019 at 78 years old. Born: April 16, 1982 (Coral Gables, Florida), High school: Coral Gables Senior High School (Coral Gables, Florida), Teams: New York Jets (2004-07), New Orleans Saints (2008-13), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2009), three-time Pro Bowl (2005, 2009, 2010), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2004). 2-time Pro Bowler High school: East Cleveland Shaw High School (Cleveland, Ohio), Teams: Buffalo Bills (1983-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995), Minnesota Vikings (1996), Career highlights: Four-time AFC champion (1990-93), two-time Pro Bowl (1990, 1991), two-time All-Pro (1990, 1993). Top 10 NFL Middle Linebackers of All Time Rankings According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. Willie Lanier: For eight seasons, Bell played alongside Billy Lanier in one of the NFL's most legendary linebacking corps. Eight of those he made the All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl, with back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1969 and 1970. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL Since 1970 - The Grueling Truth Willie Lanier played in an era of football best defined by his hitting style which mainly consisted of him trying to put the crown of his helmet through your sternum. By Eddie Brown. Something else inside of Lambert, best defined by the toothless, screaming pictures of him during games when he took out his dentures, made him the toughest. Who are the best linebackers in San Francisco 49ers history? 3-time first-team All-Pro Kevin Greene. Nickerson had his best years with the Steelers and with the Buccaneers right before those teams started to make deep, consistent playoff runs, but he was a feared player and at his best playing in a 4-3 scheme defense. He posted nine straight seasons with at least 100 tackles and played in all 16 regular-season games for the last 12 seasons of his career. Super Bowl XXI champion16. Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. Others to know: Rashee Rice (SMU), Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss), A.T. Perry (Wake Forest) Linebacker. He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. Top 10 Middle Linebackers in NFL 2021 Rankings The Ravens have always been known as a defensive minded team. Urclacher recorded at least 100 tackles nine times over his career including a career high 153 during the 2002 NFL season. Bobby Wagner has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL for almost a decade at this point, winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013. Born: April 6, 1973 (San Diego, California), High school: Chula Vista High School (Chula Vista, California), Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1996-2001, 2007-08), San Diego Chargers (2002-06), Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2004), Pro Bowl (2002).
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