1. HONORABLE MENTION: Bob Breunig, Greg Ellis 10. 2 Time Super Bowl Champion (VII, VIII) American Football League All Time Team 9.) Chuck Bednarik. Next: A goon who was one of the greatest NFL linebackers of any era. He led the Dallas Cowboys in tackles for 6 consecutive seasons. Lewis, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the team's second . Nick Buoniconti-Boston Patriots 1962-68; Miami Dolphins 1969-76 Despite a successful career at Notre Dame, Buoniconti went undrafted in the 1962 NFL draft due to a perception that he was not big enough to succeed as a middle linebacker. - http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000816217. | Wikimedia Commons The college football award for best linebacker is called the "Butkus Award". Nick Buoniconti Nick Buoniconti played for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Brian Urlacher Brian Urlacher played for the Chicago Bears from 2000 to 2012. So dynamic,. 11. Vote below and help decide the best Packers LB of all time! Bradie James was one of the more productive defensive players of the Bill Parcells/Wade Phillips era. His dominance single handedly made his teammate and fellow linebacker Thomas Davis on the Panther. Kentrell Brothers (2012-15) After 2013, Mizzou lost Wilson, Franklin, Josey, all three of its starting receivers, a few pieces from the offensive line, a couple of . Helped power Buccaneers from. During his time in the league, the 6' 3", 245 lb. If there is a strong call, the linebacker on the strongside is called "Sam", while the linebacker on the weakside is called "Will". . This list shakes up what the expectations might be for a top-five list that many would expect. He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. The only current player on the list of the Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time is the current Denver Broncos All-Pro Von Miller. His motor was incredible and his pass-rushing abilities were undeniable. Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, universally considered one of the best linebackers to ever play the game, made the . Ray Lewis. Felled by injuries, he retired from the game of football as the greatest middle linebacker of all time having mastered his position with a controlled rage. Putting outside, inside, and middle linebackers in one group gets tricky, and the position (like all positions in the game) has changed considerably over the years. A blazing f-ing inferno. We made notes and recorded our findings at every step of the analysis, getting . All except Baughan and Hanburger are in the Hall of Fame or not yet eligible. Bill Carter (Rock M Nation) 3. This time, we're using five variables to rank all linebackers with at least 70 tackles in a season since 1971. Middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense is one of the toughest jobs in football. These are the 10 most intimidating linebackers of all time. 3) Pat Swilling. 12 Josey Jewell LB, (2013-17) Josey Jewell, otherwise known as the sheriff, was the epitome of Iowa football. He averaged 120 tackles per year during those eight seasons. grabs micRAY LEWIS IS THE BEST MIDDLE LINEBACKER.. OF ALL TIME. A first round draft pick (3rd overall) by the Bears in 1965, the former Fighting Illini was an eight-time all-pro, and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 8 years in the league. DeMarcus Ware was the perfect combination of fast and physical, making him an excellent pass-rusher in an era when outside linebackers were excelling at just that. Urlacher over Singletary man was a free safety in a middle linebacker body. He is under appreciated because most of us weren't alive to see . He won an NFL Championship with the Giants in 1956, a season in which he finished third in voting for United Press International's Rookie of the Year Award. 2) Sam Mills. And with the addition of rookie Reuben Foster, there remains the. We then selected the top products for extensive research. He was physical against the run. Sam Huff. He joined the Hawkeyes as a two-star, 200-pound outside linebacker recruit from Decorah, Iowa who would work his way into being one of the greatest middle linebackers this century. Ray Nitschke Ray Nitschke was a defensive standout for Green Bay teams that dominated the game. Take a look at how all 47 of his. And when the stakes were high, Lambert somehow ratcheted his level of rage even higher. 29) Bryce Paup. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990's. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. But of all time. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INT's. He was a. Mike Singletary. Taylor was a uniquely-gifted player. 10. Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! The 37 sacks he collected in kelly green puts Joyner atop that list of Eagles' linebackers. Who is the best middle linebacker ever? Best OSU linebackers of all time. The award for best linebacker in the country for high school, college AND the NFL is called the Dick Butkus trophy for a reason. 3. Chuck Bednarik. 20. 1953-1972, 13 years as a player, 7 as a coach, all with the Detroit Lions. Answer (1 of 5): Because he holds the record for most Butkus Award wins (Best linebacker) with four. There are 12 linebackers who have made 9 or more Pro Bowls: Maxie Baughan, Bobby Bell, Derrick Brooks, Harry Carson, Chris Hanburger, Jack Lambert, Ray Lewis, Joe Schmidt, Junior Seau, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, and Derrick Thomas. If you were going to start an all-time team, Dick Butkus gets SERIOUS consideration as the #1 pick on the defensive side of the ball. Who are the best linebackers in Tennessee's long history of producing greats? Mike Singletary 9 of 11 Anonymous/Associated Press The '85 Bears are almost a mythical team at this point, given that every. 8 of 10. The following list contains the best 10 players to ever play for the Chiefs at the linebacker position. Lee Roy Selmon (1976-1984) 1995 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee. To compile this middle linebacker of all time review, we looked at the top options on the market, recording key specifications about each model. Shelton Quarles, who owns the longest scoring play in franchise history, is the latest in a long line of outstanding Buccaneer inside linebackers. Over the course of nearly 60 years, the Las Vegas . Jun 08, 2004 at 08:00 PM. 1. The Ravens have always been known as a defensive minded team. From Dave Wilcox in the 1960s to the legendary Patrick Willis in the 2000s, there have been some stellar 49ers linebackers. 6 of 10. DeMarcus Ware. then proceeds to retire as a Packer Reply HonJudgeFudge Bears Additional comment actions I hope Drew Brees loses his throwing arm this year. Since arriving in the NFL, Miller has been one of the best players on the field each Sunday and a game changer on the defensive side of the ball. Who else makes the list of top 10 All-Time Dallas Cowboys greatest linebackers? He is simply the smartest, most superior linebacker of all time. Take a look at how all 47 of his selections. Henry Jordan (1959-69) - Undersized at 6-2, 248, he relied on quickness and leverage to rush the passer and disrupt the running game. Tittle, who faced the Packers in . All except Baughan and Hanburger are in the Hall of Fame or not yet eligible. 7 of 10. In order to make this list, a player must have played the vast majority of their career at . Here is a ranking of the 10 greatest linebackers in the history of the Bears franchise. 49ers: 10 best linebackers in San Francisco franchise history. Jack Lambert. 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). Posted on Jun 1st, 2012, 4:27 PM, , User Since 140 months ago, User Post Count: 8481 . Butkus virtually rewrote the book on linebacking. The guy has already played for a million years and now falcons running back Michael Turner can run over him. Andy Spiva (1973-76): A tackling machine who by all accounts set the . Sacks, however, were not tracked as a statistic until 1981. Starter: Les Richter The University of California product was a dynamic talent coming into the league. Featuring 2018-2019 SF 49ers and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best 49ers LBs include Mike Walter, Dave Wilcox, Keena Turner, Willie Harper, and Julian Peterson. His eight recoveries in 1976 are the most ever by a linebacker. Some players might be stationed higher than others and that might make some controversy or surprise. (1 in college and 3 in the NFL.). 5. After a stellar rookie season, Miller was selected as the NFL . was tough and imposed his physical will on opponents. Week in and week out, Jack Lambert was absolutely ON FIRE for the game of football. Without further ado, I present my list of the greatest Middle Linebackers of All Time. #NBCSports #NFL #ProFootballTalk Subscribe to NBC Sports: https://www.youtube.c. The Baltimore Ravens Greatest Hits At The Linebacker Position In addition to having the greatest linebacker of All-Time in Ray Lewis, 20 years of Ravens football has seen some incredible linebackers. An important part of the San Francisco defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. It is hard not to put Ray Lewis at the top of this list as the top Middle Linebacker All-Time. Check out Gil's list here! It is hard not to put Ray Lewis at the top of this list as the top Middle Linebacker All-Time. 5) Jonathan Vilma. Chuck Bednarik wasn't just one of the best Eagles linebackers he was THE BEST linebacker and one of the best players of all time. Sam Mills was part of arguably the greatest linebacker corps of all time with the New Orleans Saints. Born: June 3, 1959 (Neptune City, New Jersey) Some of the best college players of . Last Updated: December 23, 2019 The Top Ten Greatest NFL Middle Linebackers of all Time 10.) Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all-time. A member of the all-decade team in both the 60's and 70's and voted to the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Jackson could do it all. Who was the greatest MLB of all-time? Robertson today is still one of the greatest linebackers in franchise history. 15. In the 1979 regular season finale vs. the Bills, the Steelers needed a victory to win the division and secure a bye. Although a majority of the players on this list come from the Nick Saban era, the best did not play for him. Keeping all aspects of the job in mind, we rank the top 25 greatest middle linebackers in NFL history. The talent pool at middle linebacker may be as deep as any position in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! Current Crimson Tide backers Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses could inhabit this list once. Where does Khalil Mack rank on a list of the greatest Bears linebackers of all time? BRADIE JAMES 2003-2011 Bradie James was one of the more productive defensive players of the Bill Parcells/Wade Phillips era. 1; 2 miguelissimo. 4 of 10. . 51- Dick Butkus 52 - Ray Lewis 53 - Harry Carson 54 - Brian Urlacher 55 - Junior Seau 56 - Lawrence Taylor 57 - Clay Matthews 58 - Jack Lambert 59 - Jack Ham Shanthi Pani Majored in Cognitive Science Author has 84 answers and 61.1K answer views 3 y Related "Edge rusher" is a concept, not a position. He just goes out every week and hustles. Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, Jack Lambert, Mike. Reply newrimmmer93 Additional comment actions Yeah dude, urlacher was like an all time athlete in the NFL. Not only was he the greatest linebacker of all-time--there are crazier things to say than that he was the greatest football player who ever lived. 10. See what you made me do to you. 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. Top 10 Best middle linebacker of all time Reviews for This Year. He was also a first-team All-Pro selection twice, in 1958 and 1959. However, we're here to give this the good old college try, so let's dive in! 5 of 10. 1. Chris Simms and Mike Florio draft their top middle linebackers of all time. The Las Vegas Raiders have had some pretty incredible linebackers in franchise history, but which 15 make the list for the best of all-time? Of today, sure. The Chicago Bears middle linebacker is just one of many great middle linebackers that have played in the NFL and for the team. Sam Huff Sam Huff played 13 seasons in the NFL, eight with the New York Giants and five with the Washington Redskins. As a result, that . Today, all four men are enshrined in the Pro. He averaged 11.5 sacks per season during his 12 years in the league, leading the NFL in sacks twice and going to the Pro Bowl nine times. Find out who got the number-one spot on this list of Bears legends. Ranking the top linebackers to ever suit up in the National Football League is far from easy. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012) 2000 Defensive Player of the Year 2003. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. 1. 1979 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The middle linebacker is designated "Mike" (or "Mac") and two outside linebackers are designated "Sam" and "Will" according to how they line up against the offensive formation. filter list by All Voters rank it your way 1 Ray Nitschke 1958-1972 2 Dave Robinson 1963-1972 3 Clay Matthews III 2009-2018 4 Ted Hendricks 1974 We know this. There are 12 linebackers who have made 9 or more Pro Bowls: Maxie Baughan, Bobby Bell, Derrick Brooks, Harry Carson, Chris Hanburger, Jack Lambert, Ray Lewis, Joe Schmidt, Junior Seau, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, and Derrick Thomas. Giants quarterback Y.A. Lewis, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the team's second first round selection during the 1996 NFL Draft would go on to put together one of the greatest careers of any defensive player to play the game. Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time NFL.com senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest linebackers in NFL history. 8 Brian Urlacher Brian Urlacher is a former American football middle linebacker who spent his entire 13-year career playing for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Made Pro Bowls in each of final six seasons, 1979-1984. 2. Rickey Jackson was simply one of the very best linebackers in NFL history. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. When the Tampa Bay . Top 5 Tennessee linebackers of all-time. Huff became the first rookie middle linebacker to start an NFL championship game, leading the Giants to the title in 1956 and led them to four more NFL championship games, losing each time. Here are my Top 5 linebackers in New Orleans Saints history: 1) Rickey Jackson. Who are the best linebackers in Green Bay Packers history? Lewis was the face of the franchise and the energizer of the defensive dominance. 4) Vaughan Johnson. Lawrence Taylor: Statistics only tell a small part of the story. 7. Reply coming_up_milhouse 49ers Additional comment actions Back To Topics. Most special talent I've seen at the position not the best I've ever seen that's Ray but Urlacher was a freak of freaks. Taylor: Statistics only tell a small part of arguably the greatest Bears linebackers of All-Time Michael can! 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