As literally the last line of defense (hence the name “safety”), an intimidating safety can not only keep points off the board, but can also instill a sense of fear in the opposing team’s offensive players. During the 2000s, a number of great safeties roamed the NFL’s defensive backfields (Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, etc.), including a pair of hard hitters in Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles and John Lynch of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both defensive stalwarts were known for bone-crushing tackles, as well as intensity and leadership on the field, thus embodying the proverbial “heart-and-soul” type player any team would be lucky to have. The career parallels run even deeper, as Dawkins and Lynch both coincidentally concluded their NFL playing days with the Denver Broncos – thus, let us look at these two great safeties of the early 21st century and ask:
Who was better – Brian Dawkins or John Lynch?
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