Tag Archives: best linebackers in NFL history

H2H 86: Derrick Brooks vs. Junior Seau – Who was Better?

When it comes to NFL franchise faces, quarterbacks are often the first players that come to mind, e.g. Tom Brady with the New England Patriots or Brett Favre with the Green Bay Packers.  However, for the San Diego Chargers in the 1990s and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2000s, these teams were best epitomized by linebackers Junior Seau and Derrick Brooks, respectively.  Each a native son, Seau and Brooks were both the heart and soul of their team for well over a decade; moreover, they were perennial Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebackers who can each stake a claim to being a top-five player in franchise history.  Looking back on the long and storied careers of these two Hall of Fame linebackers naturally brings about the question:

Who was better – Derrick Brooks or Junior Seau?

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H2H 71: Luke Kuechly vs. Patrick Willis – Who was Better?

In January 2020, linebacker Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers surprisingly announced his retirement from the NFL at the relatively young age of 28; in just eight NFL seasons, he established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive players, earning Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and Defensive Player of the Year honors.  In many ways, his short, but accomplished career mirrors that of another Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker, Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, who likewise retired after just eight seasons – given the similarities between their careers, both in duration and impact, it is only natural to ask:

Who was better – Luke Kuechly or Patrick Willis?

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H2H 48: Ray Lewis vs. Brian Urlacher – Who was Better?

Much like quarterbacks are the field generals and beating hearts of a football team’s offense, middle linebackers are very much the quarterbacks and heart and soul of a defense.  From their position in the center of the defensive formation, they are often at the center of the action, whether it be swooping in for a tackle, rushing after the quarterback, or dropping back in coverage.  In the 21st century, two of the outstanding linebackers of this generation have been Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens and Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears, who were both centerpieces of dominating defensive teams.  Given their overlapping careers and subsequent elections into the Hall of Fame, it is natural to compare the two players and ask:

Who was better – Ray Lewis or Brian Urlacher?

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