best linebackers of the 1970s

Its too bad Fredd Youngs career had to end prematurely due to injuries. Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. 9. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all-time. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. The 2008 season was his best sack season with 17.5. 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. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Defensive MVP in 2002. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. Hes been amazing. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. Taylor changed the way football is played today. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl winning Ravens team. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. Dennis Onkotz was a two time first team All American on the great Penn State teams of 1968 and 1969. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all-time, recording 160 sacks in his career. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. No. 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 did everything. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Eddie Johnson. HELLO, PANDORA. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. He even made the Pro Bowl in a year that he only started eight games and also a year in which he only started nine games. Neal Olkewicz. 10. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. Eleven Pro Bowls. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Coverage was definitely Bullucks claim to fame, but he was also good at other things. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. He made five straight Pro Bowls, but the reason he doesnt rank higher on this list is because he was never a feared player like his teammate Michael Strahan was, and his stats just arent good enough. In this Article . Both . The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. McAdams was a two-time All-American . 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. But Mills did much more than that. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. Keith Brooking has been one of the most consistent linebackers of all-time. Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. He should be in the Hall of Fame. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. 10. He was unstoppable in goal-line situations especially. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Lawrence Taylor. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron, 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan, The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History, The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History, The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans, If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into The Grueling Truth sports shows, Where the legends speak. More from Green Bay Packers. 5. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Jack Ham, Linebacker. The Steelers began their 1976 season 1-4 and lost their quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.For the nine games remaining in the season, the Steelers . The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. Super Bowl winner. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. He was always around the ball. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. No. 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). But, theres no doubt that hes been one of the top linebackers in the NFL, and still is today. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. 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. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. No. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all time. Ranking Explanation . Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Cornelius Bennett was just a great all-around player. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. Ray Lewis is the top MLB of the modern era and is easily the linebacker of the 2000s. No. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. That is the reason you will not find Butkus, Huff, Nitschke etc in these rankings. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. Ranking Explanation . 2022 - SportsUnfold. Nine All-Pros. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. 21. Paul Naumoff. 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 . Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. 1. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. No. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. He was one of the most feared players in the game. 7, Rickey Jackson (Saints/49ers) (1981-1995) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 2nd Team All-Pro. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. No. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. Pat Swilling was an outstanding pass rusher in his career, totaling up 107 sacks in his career and 101.5 sacks in a 10 year period throwing out his rookie year and last season of his career. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. No. Bill Parcells considered Carson the best all-around linebacker he ever coached, which is very high praise from someone who has coached a ton of linebackers in his day. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. 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 took over Lloyds role in pass coverage as the only linebacker in the Steelers nickel defense. 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. 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. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. May 24, 2022. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Thats an amazing number as well. He was 73. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. No. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The . 2. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. When you see a list of greatest linebackers, Isiah Robertson very rarely even gets brought into the discussion. Seau was the definition of consistency. He could do it all. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. No. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. A late 12th round pick Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in 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. All Rights Reserved. No. Bryce Paup was an outstanding pass rusher in the 1990s. 1970 NFC Champion. 11, Kevin Greene (Rams/Steelers/Panthers/49ers), (1985-1999) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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 . Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. Eleven Pro Bowls. It seemed like he knew where the ball was going at all times. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. He wasnt great at one aspect but was equally as good at everything he did. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. He took them to the AFC Championship game in 1998, where they fell victim to John Elways Super Bowl winning Broncos. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). Over the course of his career he racked up over 1,000 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and 14 INTs, all of which are very good numbers. From his time at USC, Lott . Robert Brazile. 12 sacks and three picks. Ham had arguably the most successful NFL career out of any of the names on this list as he was a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Mike Singletary had the whole package. 7. 39, Peter Boulware (Ravens) (1997-2005) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. No. No. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. 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+. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Simpson in 1973 or Terry Bradshaw's two Super Bowl MVP performances. He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. Sam Huff. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The most obvious change from 1920 to today is the size of players, but there also have been many changes in the schemes . LaVar Arrington. Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, '88) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1989. Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Ill take into account Pro Bowls, All-Pros (1st and 2nd team), stats, team success, players success, intimidation factor, and reputation, along with many other factors to make this list. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. [3] 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. 10 Tom Jackson. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Seau was the definition of consistency. He also ranks third all . During his career Williams amassed 62.5 sacks, which is the second most in Bengals history. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Ralph Baker - Years with Jets: 11 (1964-74) Baker played in 142 games with the Jets in his 11 seasons, which is tied with Marvin Jones for the 4 th most by a linebacker. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . They surrendered only 20 points in that game, and seven of them were off a blocked punt. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. In his three years at Clemson (1995-'97) Simmons recorded 486 tackles, only 29 off the school record Bubba Brown recorded in four years from 1976-'79. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. Lloyd had 54.5 sacks and 11 INTs in his career, but the most remarkable number was his 35 forced fumbles. There was a story of someone meeting Thomas at the Pro Bowl for no longer than 10 minutes. We started off with a rough one the wide receivers. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. No. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. 1. Mike Singletary. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. 41, Mo Lewis (Jets) (1991-2003) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. As a pass rusher, Greene would be top 5 at least, his ability to be an every-down linebacker hurts him overall, he was not great against the run. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. Super Bowl XX champion. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. No. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. Featuring 2018-2019 Raiders and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Raiders LBs include Ted Hendricks, Khalil Mack, Rod Martin, Sam Wiliams, and Greg Biekert. And he's still going. The transition from college football to the NFL . He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. No. K.J. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. Rickey Jackson could do it all. could hit like a freight train, but it was his finesse and high football IQ that helped him revolutionize the linebacker position. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. But Mills did much more than that. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. Ware has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has had three consecutive All-Pro seasons. No. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. 1970s A 1-13 record in 1969 gave the Steelers the first overall choice in the 1970 draft, with which Noll addressed the offense by selecting quarterback Terry Bradshaw, another Hall of Famer, after the Steelers won the first selection by winning a coin toss with the Chicago Bears. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. 25, Karl Mecklenburg (Broncos) (1983-1994) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro Karl "The Albino Rhino" Mecklenburg was the definition of a blue collar player. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . and 2000s. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. He came one tackle short from having five consecutive 100 tackle seasons in 2004, which is saying a lot, since he was the guy taking up blockers most of the time as well. 1970s All-decade team. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 32, John Offerdahl (Dolphins) (1986-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. 2) Jeff Siemon: A key player as the middle linebacker on the team's top defenses in the mid-1970's, Siemon played in 156 games, starting 123, and was selected to four Pro Bowls during his eleven year career with the Vikings. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. (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). 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. 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.

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best linebackers of the 1970s