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Who are the top linebackers in NFL history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Derrick Brooks: the perfect linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ “Cover 2” defense, Brooks was a model of consistency and excellence, never missing a game in his career while earning 11 Pro Bowl and five All-Pro selections, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and leading the team to its first Super Bowl title.
9. Ted Hendricks: a member of both the 1970s and 1980s All-Decade Teams at outside linebacker, Hendricks made eight Pro Bowl and four All-Pro Teams while being a part of four Super Bowl-winning teams (1x Baltimore Colts, 3x Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders).
8. Derrick Thomas: with an NFL-record seven sacks in one game, Thomas assumed the mantle from Lawrence Taylor as the league’s best pass-rushing outside linebacker and had seven double-digit sack seasons, including a career-high 20.0 in 1990, en route to 126.5 career sacks.
7. Junior Seau: arguably the best linebacker of the 1990s, Seau spent most of his career as the heart and soul of the San Diego Chargers, racking up a dozen straight Pro Bowl selections along with six All-Pro nods.
6. Jack Ham: an 8x Pro Bowl and 6x All-Pro selection, Ham played on all four 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers championship teams and holds the NFL record for linebackers with 53 career takeaways (32 interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries).
5. Jack Lambert: the tough middle linebacker for Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain”, Lambert played on four Super Bowl-winning teams and racked up nine straight Pro Bowl nods to go with six All-Pro selections and 1976 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
4. Mike Singletary: the middle linebacker and leader of the Chicago Bears’ “Monsters of the Midway” defense in the 1980s, Singletary was a 10x Pro Bowler, 7x All-Pro and 2x Defensive Player of the Year who helped guide the team to a Super Bowl XX victory.
3. Ray Lewis: the vocal leader of the Baltimore Ravens’ ferocious defense throughout his entire career, Lewis was a 13x Pro Bowler (most-ever for a middle/inside linebacker), 7x All-Pro, and 2x Defensive Player of the Year who led the Ravens to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
2. Dick Butkus: one of the fiercest and best linebackers the NFL has ever seen, Butkus was a Pro Bowler every year except his final season while also garnering five All-Pro selections for the Bears.
1. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position – an MVP and 3x Defensive Player of the Year, he had seven straight double-digit sack seasons, including a career-high 20.5 in his 1986 MVP season, en route to 132.5 career sacks, 10 Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro selections, and a pair of Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 118: Top 10 Sixth Men in NBA History
