best linebackers of the 1970s

The only reason Brooks isnt higher up on this list is because he had a fantastic surrounding cast which includes, most notably, Warren Sapp taking up blockers on the line. Defensive MVP in 2002. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. No. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. Mike Singletary had the whole package. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. No. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. He has already had three 100 tackle seasons in his first three years, and also has already forced 10 turnovers (four INTs, six forced fumbles). His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. No. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. He could do it all. Rickey Jackson could do it all. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. Defensive MVP in 2002. . 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. 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. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. Sam Huff. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. Joe Schmidt. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 10-6. The next year at the Pro Bowl, Thomas remembered him by name. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. 6 - Carl McAdams. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. Bet with your head, not over it. The player that gives Butkus the most competition in that category would be Mike Singletary. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. No. 1970 Defensive Player of the Year 5-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of . Mike Kolen 1970-77. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Let me start out by saying that yes, I know that he was only a linebacker for half his career and DE the other half. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. (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). Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. [3] Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Eleven Pro Bowls. He could do it all. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . 10 Tom Jackson. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. Hes been amazing. No. 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. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. 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He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 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). 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. 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. He should be in the Hall of Fame. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. Next: A dangerous combination. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. 10. They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. L.T. No. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. And he's still going. 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. From his time at USC, Lott . 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. . More Team Info. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. He left everything he had on the field of play, and even though he was a tenacious player on the field, he was one of the most genuine and nice guys off the field. 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 did it in 2000 and again in 2003. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 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. Chicago 1981-92. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. 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. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. The . Joey Porter. With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. No. Anything you asked him to do, he would do. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. Paul Naumoff. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. 34, Julian Peterson* (49ers/Seahawks/Lions) (2000-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Thats amazing consistency. 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. Steve Kiner (1966-69): Tennessee fans didn't have to wait long after Emanuel left to find the next superstar linebacker. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. Both . Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. In this Article . Super Bowl XX champion. No. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Tribute to Elvis A truly great linebacker must be able to read the offense, set the defensive scheme, play the run with cat-like instincts and defend the pass with the utmost precision. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. He led some of the greatest defenses in NFL history in both performance and spirit. Gambling Problem? 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. The 70s were a rough decade for the Browns, but the 1980s were getting off to a great start with the franchise returning to the playoffs, despite the tragedy of " Red Right 88 " in 1981. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. No. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. No. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. The nine-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame is one of the all-time sacks leaders with 126.5, and he also forced 41 fumbles during his 11-year career. Julian Peterson has had a very well-rounded NFL career to this point, and its still going on. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. Greene led the way in the pass rushing department. He did everything. Call 1-800-522-4700. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) At New Mexico State, the once-treasured men's basketball program has been suspended for the season due to a fatal shooting and a gruesome allegation of locker-room . He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record). His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. 12. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. He just goes out every week and hustles. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Blair was also one of the greatest special teams players of all-time! No. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. by Ben Watanabe. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . No. 5. Wright, Seattle Seahawks. 10, Junior Seau (Chargers/Dolphins/Patriots) (1990-2009) *Twelve-time Pro Bowler *Six-time All-Pro 1st Team *Three-time All-Pro 2nd Team. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Ham had outstanding speed. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. 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. K.J. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. LaVar Arrington. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. 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+. 10. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Are you ready for some football history? Wilber Marshall had the whole package. No. Mike Singletary. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. NFLs Merchants of Menace Andre Tippett. 10. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Thats amazing consistency. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). Jack Ham, Linebacker. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Urlacher was the leader of those great Bears defenses of the 2000s, including when they got to the Super Bowl only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. 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. No. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. He knew how to make big plays. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. No. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. Thats right, seven. 8. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. 100th NFL Anniversary team. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. Holdovers from the National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team were Bob Lilly, Dick Butkus, Merlin Olsen, Larry Wilson, and Jim Bakken, which made them the first players to make multiple All-Decade teams in NFL history. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . 9. More from Green Bay Packers. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Seau is one of the Chargers' all-time great players, and will go to Canton five years after he retires like he should. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . *Ty Anderson, Thomasville: Anderson (6-0, 210) has been an all-state player since he was a sophomore Region 1-2A defensive co . No. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. 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. In his final two seasons with the Bengals, Williams was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket. 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. No. As also playing DE should tell you, he was very versatile and could play many different positions. 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 runningback Franco Harris. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Thats an amazing number as well. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. No. Wilson recorded 560 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a member of the Broncos. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. Fredd Young went a little under the radar due to his short seven year career. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNzd9Xd0who, No. 1970s All-decade team. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 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 . Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Franchise Encyclopedia. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 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. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. credit : - yahoo. Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. No. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Cox was also a vocal leader of the teams he played for, directing his defenses to success. The two-time All-American helped the Cornhuskers win back-to-back national titles in 1970 and '71 . Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Lewis, playing alongside Bryan Cox, led a very good Jets team to the closest theyve been to a Super Bowl since they won Super Bowl III. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 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