best linebackers of the 1970s

Taylor changed the way football is played today. He also took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. . [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. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. No. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. No. 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. 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. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. 16, Robert Brazile (Oilers) (1975-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He knew how to make big plays. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Neal Olkewicz. No. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . You might be thinking Top 10 already? But look at his numbers. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. No. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Romanowski might be overrated because of his name, but theres no doubt he was one of the most memorable and feared linebackers of the modern era. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Baker recorded 19 . Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. 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This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. . Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. No. It will be interesting to see how he can recover. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. No. 21. No. 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. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. No. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. He may have actually been crazy. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. 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. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. No. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. Seau was the definition of consistency. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. . Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. How NFL Players Have Evolved. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Please play responsibly. 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 was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . 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). and Jack Ham played as . Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. [3] Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1970s Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. He was a tackling machine for the majority of his career. Bet with your head, not over it. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. 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 was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. No. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. That is just unheard of. and 2000s. James Harrison. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? No. He did everything. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. 9. K.J. 10. 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. Sam Huff. Super Bowl XX champion. 8. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. Mike Singletary. 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Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. 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 . . 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Robert Brazile. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Franchise Encyclopedia. James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. 10. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. . He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. 6 - Carl McAdams. . Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. 38, Chad Brown (Steelers/Seahawks/Patriots) (1993-2007) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. T&Cs apply. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. Defensive MVP in 2002. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. 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. Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was the only good player (other than Albert Haynesworth, but even he was only good for 2-3 years) on a generally bad defense and team. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. When Indiana travels to San Antonio, it will MLB Rule Changes | Can F1 Compete With NASCAR | Froggy Talkin Sports #MLB #indianahoosiers #nascar, Indiana Basketball Postgame W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Iowa Recap and more, Must be 21+. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Joey Porter. 7. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. The transition from college football to the NFL . He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. Floyd Reese, the general manager who assembled the roster for the Tennessee Titans' lone Super Bowl appearance, died Saturday. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. 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. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. All Rights Reserved. 14, Hardy Nickerson (Steelers/Bucs/Jaguars/Packers) (1987-2002) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. Mike Singletary had the whole package. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Super Bowl winner. In that career he played both 4-3 OLB and 3-4 ILB. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Jack Ham, Linebacker. Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. 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. 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. Willis could potentially end up in the top 10, or even top five of this list by the time his career is over. L.T. He was just a great all-around player who could do it all. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 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. Dick Butkus: one of the fiercest and best linebackers the NFL has ever seen, Butkus was a Pro Bowler every year except his final season while also garnering five All-Pro selections for the Bears. Lewis most notable accomplishment may be starting the Tom Brady era by knocking out Drew Bledsoe on a roll out, giving Tom Brady his first ever NFL action. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates.

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