Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Franchise Encyclopedia. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. He is the only linebacker to ever take the honor. Defensive MVP in 2002. 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. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . He should be in the Hall of Fame. By 1995, he was recognized as one of the top inside linebackers in the league and had a stellar performance in Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the season. Williams recorded 16 interceptions and 23 fumble recoveries (a franchise record). The offense, meanwhile, scored 29 points a game. 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. Sam Huff. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record 41 forced fumbles. Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. He totaled 28 INTs in his career while he also racked up 1,045 tackles. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. 10. . He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. K.J. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. May 24, 2022. Edmunds will have to clean up the missed tackles and improve in coverage to rise toward where most slot him currently a top-10 linebacker on this list next season. Bulluck was an outstanding tackler, and was great at run support too. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. AP. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. Jackson was not just a coverage linebacker, he was also a good pass rusher and a very hard worker off the field. Trotter was a complete, all-around linebacker. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Urlacher was the leader of those great Bears defenses of the 2000s, including when they got to the Super Bowl only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. 1970 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees Spielman was a great leader and intense player who always gave everything he had. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. 2022 - SportsUnfold. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. You could stick him on any TE in the league, even some slot receivers, and he would take them out of the game. Mills was more of the tackler of the bunch, racking up 1,142 tackles in his career. 10 Tom Jackson. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. He was also the first player to have a TE or RB used for chip blocking on him, and overall changed the way offensive lineman block. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST | National | wdrb.com 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 20 greatest linebackers in NFL history - Franchise Sports 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Briggs should only continue to move up this list, as he takes over as the star linebacker spot in Chicago. T&Cs apply. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile is another one of those underrated linebackers. Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Hes been amazing. Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History Thats amazing consistency. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. Also note that an asterisk (*) by the players name means they are still active today. Atlante vs Raya2 Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time, Date, Team News, lineup news, Odds, Stats, Betting Tips Trends, Where To Watch Live Score Mexican Liga de Expansin MX 2023 Telecast Today Match Details March 3, Club Tijuana vs Atlas Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, Wydad AC vs Vita Club Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream, U Cluj vs Farul Prediction, Head-To-Head, Live Stream Time,, Top 10 Best Football Agents In The World | 2023 Updates, Top 10 Most Successful Retired Soccer Players 2023, FC Magdeburg vs 1. Ham had outstanding speed. Baltimore, with 2,038 rushing yards through its first 10 games of the season, is the seventh team since 1970 and first since the 1978 New England Patriots (2,029 rushing yards) with at least 2,000 . In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. He did everything. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. No. No. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Chicago Bears: Top 10 linebackers in franchise history - NFL Spin Zone No. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Lambert is said by many to be the best inside linebacker of all-time. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. No. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. credit : - yahoo. 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. He was also a good pass rusher, and a good coverage man as well. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. The-greatest-linebackers-in-Denver-Broncos-history-series Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Paul Krause | S. The NFL's all-time leader in interceptions spent 12 of his 16 years in Minnesota. 40, Bryce Paup (Packers/Bills/Jaguars/Vikings) (1990-2000) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Of course, prior to 1970, there was only one captain chosen; since 1970, we've had as many as four chosen in a single season. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. Mike Singletary had the whole package. 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. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. The transition from college football to the NFL . 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Opponents thought Kirkland would not be as adept in pass coverage as the fast Lloyd, but they quickly found out that Kirkland was just as fast and quick. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. That is just unheard of. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. Jackson was the vocal leader of that defense. 7. Thomas was the best linebacker of the 1990s, and one of the best pass rushers of all-time. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. 25 Greatest Defensive Linemen in NFL History - AthlonSports.com No. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. 1. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. No. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. The second member of the Dome Patrol comes off the board at No. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. Gary Reasons (1984-91) Gary Reasons, a fourth-round draft pick from Northwestern State, was a key . 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. No. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. Steelers all-time 53-man roster: '70s legends, 'Killer Bs' headline Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more Andre Tippett may have been outshined by Lawrence Taylor playing basically the same position at the same time frame, but theres no mistaking what Tippett did on the field. 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. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Seau was the definition of consistency. No. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Robertson was one of the NFLs most athletic linebackers. Collect, curate and comment on your files. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. Ranking the 10 best linebackers in Raiders history 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. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Even now, you can tell what kind of person he is by his charity work with the REACH Foundation that he started. In 1993 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers middle linebacker, Nickerson piled up an astounding 214 tackles. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Mike Singletary was the leader of the most dominating defense the NFL has ever seenthe 1985 Bears. In 2006, he had an amazing season and won defensive MVP, which is a very high honor that most players on this list never achieved. 10. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. Marshall wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker though, he also racked up 1,020 tackles during his 11 year NFL career, along with 24 forced fumbles. Gambling Problem? James Farrior* (Jets/Steelers): Two-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro, one-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Swilling was the best pass rusher of the Dome Patrol, but he also forced 36 fumbles to go along with all the sacks. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Here's 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize The art of the interview: Terry Fontenot provides a look inside the Over his nine-year career, he had 2,049 tackles, although this number is solo and assisted because he played before solo tackles were an official stat. No. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. 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. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. Best of the Packers: Top 10 linebackers since 1960 - Dairyland Express Mills was more of a complete player than Swilling, although the two are too close to separate one from the other. 35, Lance Briggs* (Bears) (2003-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. The Best Linebackers of All-Time - Sports Central 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. Most known for his antics like spitting in other players faces, Romanowskis play sometimes gets overshadowed. The nine-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and Hall of Fame is one of the all-time sacks leaders with 126.5, and he also forced 41 fumbles during his 11-year career. 100th NFL Anniversary team. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Michigan Football Position Greats Bulluck was one of the best pass coverage linebackers in NFL history. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. He just goes out every week and hustles. 25. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. How NFL Players Have Evolved. National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team - Wikipedia When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. He left everything he had on the field of play, and even though he was a tenacious player on the field, he was one of the most genuine and nice guys off the field. The Greatest Penn State Linebackers of All Time The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. Thats right, seven. 12. That is just unheard of. Discuss this article along with many other quality articles, discussions, and much more at: http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=54444. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. Ranking Explanation . Thats over 10 sacks per season, which is outstanding. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . 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. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. That truly shows what kind of person he was off the field. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: 15-11. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. He is most known for the neck plate he wore behind his head, but dont let that distract you from his great play on the field. I have combined outside and inside linebackers on the list and factored in the players ability to stop the run, drop into coverage and leadership. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. 3 hours ago. With rule changes being what they have been, I decided to rank the linebackers that have played since 1970. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. 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 . He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Here's a list of the Packers' top 10 all-time defensive players since 1950, when unlimited substitution was restored to the NFL, paving the way for two-platoon football. Steel Curtain - Wikipedia No. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . He had eight seasons with 10+ sacks. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. As also playing DE should tell you, he was very versatile and could play many different positions. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1974 and Defensive Player of the Year two years later. Detroit Lions History: Top 5 Linebackers - SideLion Report Lloyd will always be remembered as the lightning quick pass rusher from the Blitzburgh days. Linebacker is one of the most important and demanding positions in football. The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. The Best of Tommy Brady at Michigan . He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. No. A five-time pro bowler, Wilson was one of the best linebackers in the league during the early 2000s. (Photo: David Boss, Getty) Historians will tell you that McAdams is one of the best linebackers to ever play at The University of Oklahoma. The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. No. He tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. . Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Chicago 1981-92. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. Controversial Nights: Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez, Top 11 Big Ten Basketball Teams, since 1960, Top 12 Guards in Big Ten Basketball history, NBA Pacers vs Spurs: Odds, Tips and predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Purdue vs Wisconsin: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/02/23, NCAA Basketball Xavier vs Providence: Odds, Tips and Predictions 03/01/23, Top 20 Big Ten Basketball players of all time, Framer Fran McCaffery takes his sideshow and crybaby antics to play Indiana, NCAA Basketball Arkansas vs Tennessee: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/28/23, The Hypocrisy of Major League Baseball, Gambling, Steroids, and Why it's Time to Put Pete Rose in the Hall. Seau was the definition of consistency. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. In that game, the Steelers defense held the Cowboys to just 15 first downs and Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys powerful running attack to just 56 yards, despite losing 27-17 in large part due to two key interceptions thrown by Steelers quarterback Neil ODonnell. 23. 50, Bryan Cox (Dolphins/Bears/Jets/Patriots/Saints) (1991-2003). These were the players who were great players, but not quite good enough to be placed inside the top 50. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. [a][4]. Wilson doesnt have the career numbers because his career was so short, but theres no doubt when he was playing he was the most feared player on the field. After being labeled a bust by many after his first four seasons with the Jets, Farrior broke out with the Steelers and became one of the most consistent players in the league. Taylor changed the way football is played today. No. Pat Swilling. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. 2. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: No. 5-1 - Saturday Down South He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Both . 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Tribute to Elvis I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Lawrence Taylor. 17, Brian Urlacher* (Bears) (2000-Present) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Four-time 1st Team All-Pro. Gradishar was the silent assassin of the team. 1970s All-decade team. Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks. No. Urlacher was the leader of those great Bears defenses of the 2000s, including when they got to the Super Bowl only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. They had traded stalwart linebacker Sam Huff in the offseason. How NFL Players Have Evolved | Stadium Talk 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. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. He was said to have the fastest 10 yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and runningback Franco Harris. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 8, Demarcus Ware* (Cowboys) (2005-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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.