Born: Jan. 25, 1985 (Bruceton, Tennessee), High school: Central High School (Bruceton, Tennessee), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (2007-13), six-time All-Pro (2007-12), NFL 2010s All-Decade team, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2007). 3-time first-team All-Pro Analysis: Nothing against this group of . From the likes of Mike Singletary to Nick Bouniconti to Chuck Bednarik to Ray Lewis, the middle linebacker position is loaded with talent making the top choice a difficult selection. Not many linebackers can boast the athleticism of Urlacher, who set the single-season Bears record with 153 tackles in 2002 and owns the team's career tackles record with 1,361. 3-time Pro Bowler Once drafted, Buoniconti became one of the teams best defensive players despite his lack of size. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler. The latest in an historic line of Hall of Fame caliber Bears middle linebackers, Urlacher has produced 41.5 sacks, 22 INTs returned for 324 yards and two TDs, 11 forced fumbles and 15 fumble recoveries returned for 177 yards and one TD during his career. The two Bears greats played together for Fortunato's final two seasons, which meant Butkus broke all of Fortunato's records just years after he set them. No questions asked. Sori-Marin is more of a traditional two-down middle linebacker with good size 6-2, 236 pounds for the position. Hall of Fame, Class of 1986 Willis' career was cut short due to injuries but his legacy on the field is known. In one of the greatest single rounds for any team in NFL draft history, the Rams used their two 1971 first-round picks on Robertson and NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Jack Youngblood. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. One of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history, Swilling finished his career with 107.5 sacks but no playoff wins. Being the son of a former heavyweight boxing champion might be a burden for some, but Ken Norton Jr. embraced it. 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. Bednarik is most famous for his 1960 tackle of Giants running back Frank Gifford, who was knocked unconscious on the play and out of football for almost two years. It's fitting that Khalil Mack now plays for the Chicago Bears. Lambert averaged 146 tackles through his first 10 seasons, but only played a handful of games in his 11th season because of a toe injury that led to his retirement. A study of his brain revealed he had a severe case of CTE, which can cause rage, amnesia and severe depression. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, who he played for during each of his 13 NFL seasons. Robertson's size, speed and athleticism often made the difference in games for the Rams. 4 with 1,501, despite making just one Pro Bowl in his career. Mills, just 5-foot-9, played in the Canadian Football League and then was one of the USFL's greatest players before making the leap to the NFL. Take a look at some of the best photos of Aaron Rodgers from throughout the years! 1970 Defensive Player of the Year High school: St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013), seven-time Pro Bowl (2013-19), seven-time All-Pro (2013-19), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Born: Oct. 27, 1929 (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania), Died: Sept. 30, 1982 (Rockford, Illinois), High School: Central High School (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania), Teams: Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (1966), Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), eight-time All-Pro (1955-61, 1963), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1974). Lambert, who the Pittsburgh Steelers selected with the 46. pick during the 1974 NFL draft, showcased his abilities during his rookie season in route to helping solidify the Steelers defense and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year award. No player has been as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, start to finish, as Ray Lewis was in his 17 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. Greatest Linebackers in NFL History By Tony Adame, updated on October 21, 2022 AP Photo Generations of linebackers have played in the NFL and defined the game. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. Born: Sept. 1, 1960 (Seattle, Washington), High school: Edina West High School (Edina, Minnesota), Career highlights: Six-time Pro Bowl (1985-87, 1989, 1991, 1993), four-time All-Pro (1985-87, 1989). Related:NFL Teams With Most Hall of Famers. He had five INT's in a season twice in his career. London Fletcher represents one of the great underdog stories in NFL history. Who are the best linebackers in New Orleans Saints history? Karl Mecklenburg was a throwaway pick by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft and ended up being one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history and definitely the greatest pure inside linebacker. Staff writer. Arizona had until May 2 to make a final . During that time Kendricks has broken up 40 passes as a linebacker which is tops in the NFL. High school: Vigor High School (Pritchard, Alabama), Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1976-82), six-time All-Pro (1976-81), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018). 8-time Pro Bowler That would end up being an anomaly in Dansby's career. The 37 sacks he collected in kelly green puts Joyner atop that list of Eagles' linebackers 1. Urlcaher was the leader of the Bears defense from 2000 to 2012 while winning the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year award and the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year award. When most football fans think of the Steelers' defense, they think about. Harry Carson is perhaps the most respected defensive player and teammate in the history of the NFL. Few defensive players in New Orleans Saints history are as beloved as Jonathan Vilma, who led the team to its only Super Bowl win following the 2009 season. High School: Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas), Career highlights: Four-time Pro Bowl (1959-62), five-time All-Pro (1959-63), two-time NFL champion (1961, 1962). 6-time first-team All-Pro Briggs made seven consecutive Pro Bowls while playing for the Chicago Bears alongside another great linebacker, Brian Urlacher. After the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans have four Alabama linebackers - Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris, DeMeco Ryans and Henry To'oTo'o - except Ryans is the head coach and . He was selected to the 1990s All-Decade team. Its hard to argue with No. 8-time Pro Bowler20. 52 whose off-the-charts football IQ, spiritual leadership and on-field accomplishments are unmatched. 45:47. The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. This stroke of genius created not only the middle linebacker position, but the 4-3 defense. Bill Forester is one of the greatest examples of Vince Lombardi's genius as a coach. Buoniconti would go on to register 32 interceptions over his career between the AFL and NFL. 6. 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. Today, all four men are enshrined in the Pro. There's a lot of reasons to love the way Dave Robinson played football mainly because he was a winner. He's a rangy, sideline-to-sideline tackler, and though he lacks size and . Cornelius Bennett forced a trade from the Colts to the Bills after being drafted in 1987 and was one of the best linebackers in the NFL for the next decade-plus. owley missed the rest of 1959 and all of 1960 before attempting a comeback in 1961 with the Cowboys, where he became a six-time Pro Bowler and the only player to win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors while playing on the losing team. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Perhaps the most dominant defensive player of his generation, like so many other great linebackers on this list, Khalil Mack has had the misfortune of playing on some truly horrendous teams throughout the early portion of his career with the Raiders and the Bears. Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. No NFL team has the linebacker tradition of the Bears, who boast Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Urlacher and Mack, a future Hall of Famer, among their all-time greats. Poll : Are these the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All-Time? Here's a crazy thing about James Farrior. They spoke of intensity, determination, and an undying will. By the time Tommy Nobis left the University of Texas, he was as famous as any player in the NFL, having already appeared on the cover of Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines for his accomplishments. If you're ever asked what the perfect size, speed and level of skill you would create for an NFL linebacker, Derrick Johnson should come to mind. Hall of Fame, Class of 1973 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. Lance Briggs did one thing that's highly unusual for an NFL linebacker in the modern era he played his entire career for the same team. 2005 Comeback Player of the Year Born: Nov. 12, 1980 (Los Angeles, California), High school: Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove, California), Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (2005, 2006, 2009), seven-time Pro Bowl (2005-11). Bernard is physically similar to Williams at 6-foot-1, 228 pounds and played outside linebacker in 4-3 looks and was off-the-ball when he subbed in for Matt Milano at times last season. 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. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . He played for the Baltimore Ravens for 17 seasons and recorded 2,061 tackles and 41.5 sacks in his. We asked 50 experts to vote for the NFL's all-time greatest edge rusher, cornerback and kicker. He played with an amazing amount of fire and determination without bringing much attention to himself. High school: Waco High School (Waco, Texas), Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2005-17), Oakland Raiders (2018), Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2011, 2015), four-time Pro Bowl (2011-13, 2015).