It’s no secret that NFL followers gush extra for offensive gamers, however the perfect defensive gamers in NFL historical past additionally deserve somewhat credit score.
In any case, these are the gamers who’re tasked with stopping the nice offensive gamers within the recreation. Plus, there’s the entire mantra of protection wins championships, which is why the best NFL defenders are simply as essential because the league’s high offensive playmakers.
Greatest defensive gamers in NFL historical past
After all, rating the perfect NFL defenders from any technology is not any straightforward job. There are all the time a number of gamers who stand out, to not point out completely different positions on protection should be judged in numerous methods.
Nevertheless, we have been wanting to provide you with a listing of the highest NFL defenders of all time. Everybody included is definitely worthy of inclusion among the many biggest NFL defenders in league historical past. However we additionally wished to make particular point out of the perfect of the perfect, so right here is our rating of the top-25 finest defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
25. Jack Ham
Along with having probably the greatest names in NFL historical past, Jack Ham was probably the greatest defensive gamers ever. He was integral to the Steelers profitable 4 Tremendous Bowls throughout his profession as a member of “The Metal Curtain” protection.
Whereas considerably undersized for a linebacker, Ham made the Professional Bowl in eight straight seasons and was a First-Group All-Professional in six straight years throughout the prime of his Corridor of Fame profession.
24. Leo Nomellini
Most followers received’t acknowledge the identify, however Leo Nomellini’s resume certainly places him among the many biggest defensive gamers ever. The defensive lineman was additionally a wrestling champ in faculty and spent his offseasons working as a professional wrestler, so it’s not a shock that he dominated the trenches throughout the Nineteen Fifties.
Nomellini performed his whole profession for the 49ers, going to 10 Professional Bowls and being named a First-Group All-Professional six instances. He’s a Corridor of Famer who was an distinctive athlete, which is why he deserves to be talked about among the many biggest NFL defenders ever.
23. Mel Blount
It’d be debatable whether or not Mel Blount would excel in at present’s recreation due to his bodily nature. However throughout the days of “The Metal Curtain” in Pittsburgh, he was the perfect cornerback the Steelers had.
Blount was a part of 4 groups that received the Tremendous Bowl and was a five-time Professional Bowler. He had a Corridor of Fame profession and continues to be thought of probably the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the sport, even profitable Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors in 1975, the identical season the Steelers received their second of 4 Tremendous Bowls within the 70s.
22. Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas has a tragic story, as each his life and profession got here to a sudden finish following a automobile accident when he was nonetheless an lively participant. However the 11 seasons he spent within the NFL have been greater than sufficient for him to be thought of probably the greatest of all time.
He received Defensive Rookie of the 12 months honors and went to 9 straight Professional Bowls beginning together with his rookie yr. Thomas additionally led the league in pressured fumbles twice and nonetheless holds the NFL report for seven sacks in a single recreation. He not often missed a recreation throughout his 11 seasons and had at the least seven sacks in every season, clearly making him one of many 25 finest defensive gamers ever.
21. Chuck Bednarik
The award for the perfect defensive participant in faculty soccer is the Chuck Bednarik Award for a purpose. After a fantastic faculty profession at Penn, the Pennsylvania native performed 14 seasons for the Eagles and have become probably the greatest linebackers in NFL historical past.
Whereas he was solely a Professional Bowler eight instances, Bednarik was a First-Group All-Professional 10 instances. He additionally performed heart, however Bednarik is finest often called one of the hard-nosed tacklers to ever play the sport. He was powerful, bodily, and the whole lot you’ll need from a defensive participant.
20. Mike Singletary
Simply the identify Mike Singletary has been lengthy related to nice protection. He was one of many elite linebackers throughout the Eighties and the center of the nice Chicago defenses of that period. Over his 12 seasons within the league, Singletary was a Professional Bowler in all however his first two seasons.
He was named a First-Group All-Professional seven instances and received Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors twice. Singletary may do the whole lot you can need in a center linebacker and extra, actually standing out, even among the many better of all time.
19. Bob Lilly
Throughout the Nineteen Sixties, there weren’t many defensive tackles like Bob Lilly. He was a dominant participant on the line of scrimmage and an enormous a part of the nice Dallas defenses of that period. However Lilly wasn’t the standard behemoth who performed on the line of scrimmage.
He was sturdy however nonetheless had spectacular pace and agility, permitting him to run from sideline to sideline and make performs. It’s that talent set that made him stand out and make 11 Professional Bowls throughout his 14-year profession. Evidently, Lilly didn’t decelerate a lot late in his profession, as his longevity can be what makes him stand out as one of many high defensive linemen in NFL historical past.
18. J.J. Watt
Lengthy earlier than his profession was over, we knew J.J. Watt was going to finish up being probably the greatest defensive gamers ever. That’s what occurs once you win Defensive Participant of the 12 months thrice in a four-year span, all inside the first 5 years of his profession.
Accidents could have slowed him down at instances, however he’s led the league in sacks twice and had two seasons with over 20 sacks. There aren’t many gamers who can declare to have reached these feats or been extra disruptive on the line of scrimmage, placing Watt in uncommon firm.
17. Ed Reed
The time period “ball hawk” was created particularly for gamers like Ed Reed. When it comes to patrolling the secondary and luring quarterbacks into throwing interceptions to him, no person was higher than Reed. He led the NFL in interceptions thrice, one thing just one different participant has achieved.
Reed nonetheless has a share of the all-time report for postseason interceptions, to not point out probably the most interception return yards in NFL historical past. His mixture of talent and instincts not solely made Reed a nine-time Professional Bowler and eight-time All-Professional but additionally a Corridor of Famer. He’s additionally one of many few safeties who’s concerned within the dialog when speaking about the perfect defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
16. Darrell Inexperienced
Being somewhat undersized by no means stopped Darrell Green from turning into probably the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the sport. Whereas he didn’t have the dimensions to match up with greater receivers, Inexperienced has the quickest 40-time in league historical past, which meant that he may sustain with anybody.
Even late in his profession, Inexperienced may nonetheless run just like the wind, which explains why he was capable of play 20 seasons within the NFL. In these 20 years, he made the Professional Bowl seven instances and picked off 54 passes, returning them for six touchdowns. Inexperienced additionally owns a report that will by no means be damaged with 19 consecutive video games with an interception.
15. Rod Woodson
Amongst defensive backs, Rod Woodson is undoubtedly among the many finest to ever play the sport. No defensive participant in NFL historical past has recovered extra fumbles or returned extra interceptions for touchdowns. Woodson all the time discovered a solution to be in the suitable place on the proper time to be part of all of these turnovers, main the league in interceptions twice.
Early in his profession, he was an elite security after which made a easy transition to security late in his profession. That’s what allowed him to play 17 seasons, making the Professional Bowl in 11 of these seasons and profitable Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors in 1983. These accomplishments made him a no-doubt Corridor of Famer and probably the greatest defensive backs to ever play the sport.
14. Gino Marchetti
Trendy followers could not know Gino Marchetti, however simply because he performed in a special period doesn’t imply he’s not among the many finest defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
Earlier than defensive ends have been considered completely as move rushers, Marchetti excelled at enjoying towards each the run and the move. He was chosen to 11 straight Professional Bowls and was a First-Group All-Professional in 9 straight seasons. Whereas he comes from one other period, Marchetti was undoubtedly the perfect defensive participant of that period.
13. Junior Seau
Sadly, Junior Seau had a tragic finish after his enjoying profession was over. But when we have a look at what he did on the sector, he was probably the greatest defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
There are few gamers who introduced the identical energy and keenness to the linebacker place that he did. Throughout his 13 seasons with the Chargers, Seau was a Professional Bowler in all however his rookie yr, incomes All-Professional honors 9 instances in his profession.
Even after he left the Chargers, Seau performed seven extra seasons, totaling 20 seasons within the NFL. Between his longevity, work ethic, and expertise, Seau was probably the greatest gamers of his period and in addition one of the revered, so he deserves to be listed among the many all-time greats.
12. Aaron Donald
Within the twenty first century, there was maybe no participant extra dominant than Aaron Donald. Definitely, amongst defensive linemen, he was the gold normal all through his profession.
Donald was considered somewhat undersized popping out of faculty. However he received Rookie of the 12 months in 2014 and proceeded to make the Professional Bowl in every of his first eight seasons (and counting). Throughout the prime of his profession, Donald received Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors thrice in 4 years. There’s no query he ought to be thought of probably the greatest defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
11. Merlin Olsen
Anyone who can play 15 seasons within the NFL as a defensive sort out is one thing particular. Not solely did Merlin Olsen try this however he was additionally chosen to the Professional Bowl in 14 of these seasons. Solely Tom Brady has been chosen to extra Professional Bowls than that.
Olsen was an elite participant from the primary time he stepped on the sector. He received Rookie of the 12 months honors and put collectively a Corridor of Fame profession that put him on two separate All-Decade Groups. There’s no query he deserves to be talked about among the many biggest NFL defenders of all time.
10. Alan Web page
Alan Page is a crucial determine in NFL historical past as the primary defensive participant to win MVP honors. He was one of many leaders of the “Purple Individuals Eaters” in Minnesota, serving to the Vikings get to 4 Tremendous Bowls regardless of falling quick all 4 instances.
Over his 16 seasons, he performed in 218 straight video games, staying wholesome and productive for a very long time. There are few defensive tackles in league historical past who excelled at attending to the quarterback as a lot as Web page, making him a trailblazing determine for inside linemen.
Not solely did he win MVP in 1971 and Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors twice however Web page was additionally a nine-time All-Professional and went to 9 straight Professional Bowls throughout the prime of his profession on his solution to the Corridor of Fame.
9. Ray Lewis
Amongst those that performed most of their profession within the twenty first century, Ray Lewis is clearly one of many biggest NFL defenders. It’d be a problem to discover a higher inside linebacker in league historical past. He was the chief of two Baltimore defenses that helped the Ravens win the Tremendous Bowl and received Tremendous Bowl MVP honors the primary time.
Lewis made the Professional Bowl 13 instances and All-Professional honors 10 instances whereas additionally main the NFL in tackles on three events.
His accolades go on and on, together with Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors twice. However seeing as how he’s the NFL’s all-time main tackler and one of many fiercest linebackers to ever patrol the center of the sector, it’s apparent that he belongs on a listing with a number of the finest defensive gamers in NFL historical past.
8. Bruce Smith
If you wish to discover the participant with extra sacks than anybody else in NFL historical past, look no additional than Bruce Smith. Granted, he had 19 seasons to gather 200 profession sacks, however that additionally means he averaged 10.5 sacks per season over almost 20 years.
For somebody who performs within the trenches, that’s a very long time, particularly for somebody who carried out at such a excessive stage.
Smith recorded at the least 10 sacks in 13 of his 19 seasons. If he hadn’t been restricted to only 5 video games in 1991, Smith would have had at the least 10 sacks in 12 consecutive seasons, which is nearly mind-boggling to consider. His resume additionally contains 11 Professional Bowl and 9 All-Professional Choices, in addition to twice profitable Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors.
7. Deion Sanders
Overlook simply the NFL, Deion Sanders is likely one of the finest athletes in professional sports activities historical past. He had careers in each MLB and the NFL, excelling in each sports activities and sometimes enjoying the 2 concurrently.
There’s additionally an argument to be made that he’s the perfect cornerback to ever play the sport. He may stick to only about each huge receiver within the recreation and all the time had the angle that he may cease anybody.
Throughout the prime of Prime Time’s profession, he was chosen to eight Professional Bowls in 9 years and was a First-Group All-Professional six instances in seven years. He even helped two completely different groups win the Tremendous Bowl in back-to-back years, which isn’t one thing that almost all gamers can say.
6. Dick Butkus
His identify and his face alone painting Dick Butkus as probably the greatest defensive gamers in NFL historical past as a result of he was a fierce, hard-nosed participant. The trouble he put into each play was relentless, and his want to hit individuals as onerous as doable on each play was second-to-none.
Many years later, he’s nonetheless thought of one of the feared tackles in NFL historical past. Butkus doesn’t have the longevity of another gamers, enjoying simply 9 seasons. However that was lengthy sufficient for him to make eight Professional Bowls and win Defensive Participant of the 12 months honors twice. Even in simply 9 seasons, Butkus is on the NFL All-Many years Group in 20 years, which says the whole lot it’s essential to learn about his affect on the sport.
5. Imply Joe Greene
Among the many biggest NFL defenders in league historical past, good luck discovering one with a greater identify than Imply Joe Greene.
He was undoubtedly the perfect participant on the Pittsburgh defenses that earned the nickname of “The Metal Curtain” and dominated the NFL throughout the Nineteen Seventies. The Steelers received 4 Tremendous Bowls throughout Greene’s time in Pittsburgh, and he was an enormous purpose why every time.
Regardless of his nickname, Greene was a pleasant man by all accounts. He merely performed the sport like a imply individual, maybe as a result of he was stronger than everybody else, dominating offensive linemen within the trenches. Along with being Defensive Participant of the 12 months twice, Greene made the Professional Bowl in 10 of his first 11 seasons.
4. Ronnie Lott
All the biggest NFL defenders have a powerful want to compete and play, giving the whole lot they should the sport. That’s one thing individuals may by no means doubt in Ronnie Lott, who’s arguably the perfect security in league historical past.
We all know as a result of he performed most of his profession after having the tip of his pinky amputated. He would hit onerous and sacrifice his physique for the group, however Lott would additionally break up passes and seize interceptions. He led the league in interceptions twice, amassing as least 5 in seven of his 14 seasons. Lott was an elite defensive participant for many of these 14 years, being named a First-Group All-Professional eight instances and a Professional Bowler 10 instances. He was additionally a part of 4 groups with the 49ers that received the Tremendous Bowl.
3. Reggie White
As a move rusher, Reggie White was one thing particular. How else do you make it on the NFL All-Many years Group in two completely different many years?
Generally known as the Minister of Protection, his finest years have been early in his profession, amassing 70 sacks in his first 4 seasons within the league. The truth is, he began his profession with 9 straight seasons with double-digit sacks.
White ended his profession with at the least 11 sacks in 12 of his 15 seasons, together with 16 sacks in his penultimate season on the age of 36. Amongst move rushers, they don’t get a lot better than him, explaining White’s 13 consecutive Professional Bowl inclusions and his two Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards 11 years aside.
2. Deacon Jones
They don’t get a lot better than the man who truly coined the time period sack. After all, since Deacon Jones coined the time period, sacks weren’t an official stat throughout his profession. Unofficially, he led the NFL in sacks 5 instances throughout his 14 seasons. He recorded double-digit sacks in eight of these 14 seasons, amassing over 20 thrice and amassing at the least 15 sacks in six consecutive years from 1964 to 1969.
With a lot emphasis on sacking the quarterback in at present’s recreation, Jones was nothing in need of a revolutionary defensive finish who was forward of his time with regard to his potential to get after the quarterback. That not solely makes him probably the greatest defensive gamers in NFL historical past but additionally one of the essential and influential gamers of all time.
1. Lawrence Taylor
It’s probably that Lawrence Taylor will perpetually be probably the most dominating and bodily imposing defensive participant in NFL historical past. The controversial elements of his life and profession apart, Taylor was a behemoth on the soccer discipline. He went to the Professional Bowl within the first 10 seasons of his profession and simply received Defensive Rookie of the 12 months honors in 1981.
That was adopted by three Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards and MVP honors in 1986. Take note no defensive participant has received MVP honors since Taylor did.
Oddly sufficient, he solely led the league in sacks as soon as, doing so in his MVP season when he racked up 20.5 sacks. Within the seven years from 1984 to 1990, Taylor had double-digit sacks, averaging 14 sacks per season throughout that point. However greater than anything, he was undoubtedly probably the most feared defensive participant within the NFL all through the Eighties and the simple choose for the perfect of all time.
Who’s the best defensive participant in NFL historical past?
Lawrence Taylor tops our rankings as the best defensive participant in NFL historical past. Deacon Jones, Reggie White, and Ronnie Lott narrowly miss out on high spot.
Has a group ever been primary in protection and offense?
Sure, a number of groups have achieved this feat. The San Diego Chargers have been the newest to take action in 2010. The Inexperienced Bay Packers additionally had the top-ranked protection and offense in 1996.
Is LT the best defensive participant ever?
There is a component of subjectivity when discussing the best defensive participant ever, however there’s no query Lawrence Taylor has a compelling case.
Who’s the perfect defensive rookie ever?
Statistically, Mark Provider had probably the most outstanding defensive rookie season of all-time. Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, Ronnie Lott, and Sauce Gardner have additionally had historic defensive campaigns as rookies.
Why did the 46 protection die out?
The 46 protection was glorious towards the run. Getting strain on the quarterback is the scheme’s major approach of defending towards the move. If the quarterback manages to get the ball out shortly, defenses are left in hassle as they’re sitting in cowl 3 with the free security left to defend a large space of the sector.
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