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. Both players led their team to a Super Bowl, and for Gradishar, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, the year the Broncos won an AFC title. He led the NFL in tackles three times (1997, 1999, 2001) during his 17 years in Baltimore. Those are both more than Mecklenburg's career totals, and Gradishar played two fewer seasons. Super Bowl XXXVI champion Brugler had both Wisconsin's Nick Herbig and Alabama's Henry To'oTo'o ranked ahead of Williams. Arizona had until May 2 to make a final . Welcome to draft season! Singletary recorded 1,488 career tackles to go along with seven interceptions and 19 sacks over 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. Nick Buoniconti, Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (69-76)Hall of Fame, Class of 2001 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. Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears (2000-12)2005 Defensive Player of the Year He doesn't have overwhelming traits, but he has filled in capably as a . "Dr. Doom" terrorized opposing offenses for 10 NFL seasons and was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He was extremely productive from his rookie season in 1981 to his final season in 1993. Former VP of Player Personnel Gil Brandt's Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time! Richter, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2010, had a lengthy career in motorsports after his football career was over and is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame. 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. He also finished his career with 25 interceptions and 24 sacks. Joyner was unbelievably productive in different aspects of the game, with over 1,000 career tackles and 52 career sacks, and he was a standout on the great Philly defenses of the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside Reggie White under head coach Buddy Ryan. Born: Aug. 25, 1965 (Birmingham, Alabama), High school: Ensley High School (Birmingham, Alabama), Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-95), Atlanta Falcons (1996-98), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000), Career highlights: Two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1988, 1991), five-time Pro Bowl (1988, 1990-93), three-time All-Pro (1988, 1991, 1992), AFC Defensive Team of the Decade (2000s). A two-way player who also played center on offense, Bednarik was in the middle of the action on both sides of the ball ask Frank Gifford.9. The last 60-minute man in NFL history, Chuck Bednarik dominated on both sides of the ball for the Philadelphia Eagles. He only played six games in his final season before retiring because of a nagging toe injury. 6-time Pro Bowler21. 7-time Pro Bowler19. Brooks, like so many players on this list, played his entire career with just one team. Kevin Greene. It is fair to say that Taylor is perhaps the greatest defensive player ever. The former Miami Hurricane is a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team. 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). Not bad for a former third-round draft pick out of Arizona. 1-time Pro Bowler The six-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Bears in 2018 was the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. You could say he was as close to a Lawrence Taylor version of a linebacker the NFL ever had before we got the real thing. 2-time first-team All-Pro 55, Seau went on to become a legend in San Diego. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I was younger before he passed. Brian Urlacher Brian Urlacher played for the Chicago Bears from 2000 to 2012. He was in The Monkees' cult-favorite film "Head" and also in the original "The Longest Yard" starring Burt Reynolds. High school: Maggie L. Walker (Richmond, Virginia), Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), six-time Pro Bowl (1970-75), eight-time All-Pro (1968-75), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986). These are the greatest linebackers in NFL history. 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). He had five INT's in a season twice in his career. Born: Sept. 29, 1966 (Jacksonville, Illinois), High school: Westchester High School (Los Angeles), Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1988-93) San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000), Career highlights: Three-time Super Bowl champion (1992-94), three-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1995, 1997), two-time All-Pro (1993, 1995). The 13-time. The No. He's a rangy, sideline-to-sideline tackler, and though he lacks size and . His production continued in the NFL where he was a two time Pro Bowler and two time Super Bowl Champion with the Miami Dolphins while earning the Dolphins team MVP award in three different seasons.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-box-4','ezslot_5',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-box-4-0'); The Chicago Bears middle linebacker is just one of many great middle linebackers that have played in the NFL and for the team. When it comes to which linebacker should be at the top of the Top 10 Middle Linebackers All-Time, Mike Singletary is well worth consideration for the slot. Nick Buoniconti Nick Buoniconti played for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Robertson's size, speed and athleticism often made the difference in games for the Rams. In addition, Lewis was a two time Defensive Player of the Year, seven time First Team All-Pro and a 13 time Pro Bowler. The No. Seau recorded 1,849 career tackles over his career to go along with 56.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 18 interceptions. The former Miami Hurricanes star was known for his ability to read defenses and his off the field preparation including studying game film to learn about his opponents. Free and Easy-to-Use Mock Draft Simulator. Hall of Fame, Class of 1982 Darryl Talley was a physical and athletic marvel during his playing career, and his consistency was truly something to behold. There's a lot of reasons to love the way Dave Robinson played football mainly because he was a winner. 1973 Defensive Player of the Year This list explores these reasons by looking at the three greatest middle linebackers of all time. 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. Born: Feb. 4, 1959 (Williamsburg, Virginia), High school: Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl Champion (1986, 1990), NFL Most Valuable Player (1986), 10-time Pro Bowl (1981-90), 10-time All-Pro (1981-90), three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999). Over his career, Lewis helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl championships while being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP. was tough and imposed his physical will on opponents. High school: Crestwood High School (Mantua, Ohio), Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), nine-time Pro Bowl (1975-83), eight-time All-Pro (1975, 1976, 1978-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1990). That would end up being an anomaly in Dansby's career. Please logout and login again. Born: March 28, 1930 (Mingo Junction, Ohio), Died: Nov. 6, 2017 (age 87, Natchez, Mississippi), High school: Mingo High School (Mingo, Ohio), Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), six-time All-Pro (1958, 1963-66), five-time Pro Bowl (1958, 1962-65), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, PFR 1960s All-Decade Team. He was 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. Singletary also was named NFC Player of the Year three times during his career. You may have never heard of Joe Schmidt, but he was the single most dominant NFL linebacker through the 1950s and the early part of the 1960s. Born: Dec. 15, 1940 (Springfield, Massachusetts), Died: July 30, 2019 (age 78, Bridgehampton, New York), High school: Cathedral High School (Springfield, Massachusetts), Teams: Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (19690-74, 1976), Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1972, 1973), two-time Pro Bowl (1972, 1973), two-time All-Pro (1972, 1973), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001). Super Bowl XXXV MVP His production would not slow as he helped from the Steelers Steel Curtain defense and helped lead the Steelers to four Super Bowl Championships. Forester died in 2007 after a long illness. 5-time Pro Bowler24. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. Super Bowl XXXIX champion, The foreman of the Steel Curtain defense, Butkus punished ball carriers and crushed spirits. Like Lewis, Lawrence Taylor is also one of the most feared defenders in NFL history. In addition, Willis was the 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year, led the NFL in tackles in two different seasons, was a seven time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro. Mecklenburg anchored Denver's defense with safety Steve Atwater and helped lead Denver to three AFC titles, but the Broncos lost all three of those Super Bowls. 5 Patrick Willis Patrick L. Willis is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. It is hard not to put Ray Lewis at the top of this list as the top Middle Linebacker All-Time. In all, he was a two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year and played in five Super Bowls, losing every time to set an NFL record. Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears (1965-73)Hall of Fame, Class of 1979 Born: June 3, 1959 (Neptune City, New Jersey), Died: April 18, 2005 (age 45, Charlotte, North Carolina), High school: Long Branch High School (Long Branch, New Jersey), Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-94), Carolina Panthers (1995-97), Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996), three-time All-Pro (1991, 1992, 1996). 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. Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-84)Hall of Fame, Class of 1990 The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. Over his career, Urlacher was an eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro while racking up 1,086 tackles, 41.5 sacks and 22 interceptions. During his AFL career, Buoniconti earned six AFL All-Star honors and five First Team All-AFL. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode, After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13. round selection. Related:NFL Teams With Most Hall of Famers. Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Super Bowl VI champion17. Lambert's size and speed and ability to control a game from the middle linebacker position made him one of the greatest players of all time. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 8-time first-team All-Pro 2-time NFL Championship Game winner13. Chris Simms and Mike Florio draft their top middle linebackers of all time. Born: Dec. 23, 1948 (Johnstown, Pennsylvania), High school: Bishop McCourt High School (Johnstown, Pennsylvania), Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), eight-time Pro Bowl (1973-80), eight-time All-Pro (1973-80), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1975), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988). The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Zach Thomas brought a certain attitude to defenses as a middle linebacker, both in college at Texas Tech and in the NFL, that was evident from the moment he stepped on the field. 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). With this responsibility and how important the game has evolved, the MLB position has produced many great players over the years. It was a good fit. After being considered by most teams too small, the Boston Patriots selected Nick Buoniconti with the teams 13th round selection. Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos (1974-83) Continue with Recommended Cookies, Ranking the best Middle Linebackers in the history of the NFL such as Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary, and many more, By Fan Rankings | October 23, 2021 - 07:34 PM. 45:47. One thing Spikes never did? George racked up 18 career interceptions over his career while helping lead the Bears to the 1963 NFL Championship. He played 13 seasons for his hometown San Diego Chargers and became perhaps the greatest sports icon in the history of San Diego alongside Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The duo even led the team to the Super Bowl in 2006, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. 2005 Comeback Player of the Year It worked, and Connor never put his hand in the dirt again during a Hall of Fame career. Zach Thomas, Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (08) Over his career, Lambert recorded 1,479 career tackles with 28 interceptions and 23.5 career sacks. Born: Sept. 20, 1943 (San Antonio, Texas), Died: Dec. 13, 2017 (age 74, Marietta, Georgia), High school: Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas), Career highlights: NFL Rookie of the Year (1966), five-time Pro Bowl (1966-68, 1970, 1972), two-time All-Pro (1967, 1968), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (03-05), New England Patriots (06-09)1992 Defensive Player of the Year But he'll always be best known for his role on the Bears' Super Bowl-winning team of 1985 that featured arguably the best defense in NFL history. Lewis, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the teams 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. Generations of linebackers have played in the NFL and defined the game. For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. ", Died: June 12, 2010 (age 79, Riverside, California), High school: Fresno High School (Fresno, California), Career highlights: Eight-time Pro Bowl (1954-61), seven-time All-Pro (1955-60), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011). The former Green Bay Packers middle linebacker was a key member of the team and the leader on the defensive side of the football that helped the Packers win five NFL Championships and Super Bowl I and II Championships. A study of his brain revealed he had a severe case of CTE, which can cause rage, amnesia and severe depression. Join the contest by ranking below. Klein was signed as the insurance policy. It was the second title in franchise history for the Bucs, and the three-time NFL All-Pro doesn't seem to be slowing down even in his 10th season. Willis played just eight seasons in the NFL, but that's kind of misleading. Here are my top 10 linebackers: 1. The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of arguably the greatest linebacker possibly the best defensive player to ever put on a helmet. The Chicago Bears great was as good of a run stopper as defender against the pass and one player that could play sideline to sideline.