best linebackers of the 1970s
Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. NFL Defensive Rookie of the . Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Thats right, seven. 1970 Dallas Cowboys Roster & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com He knew how to make big plays. The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. 6 - Carl McAdams. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Lost Super Bowl 13-16 vs. Baltimore Colts. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Doc's TML: Lock out the MLB owners, players. No TV, radio, fans 10, Junior Seau (Chargers/Dolphins/Patriots) (1990-2009) *Twelve-time Pro Bowler *Six-time All-Pro 1st Team *Three-time All-Pro 2nd Team. Butkus nasty disposition and ability to blow up anyone standing in his path, made him one of the most feared players in the history of the game. He was a hard worker, good tackler, and had great hands. 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. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. No. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . 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. Top 25 SEC LBs of all-time: No. 5-1 - Saturday Down South Lofa Tatupu* (Seahawks) : Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 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. 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, 19 undeniable Lies in Disney's Remember the Titans. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. 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 running back Franco Harris. 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. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Top 30 Linebackers in the NFL since 1970! No. Romanowski might be overrated because of his name, but theres no doubt he was one of the most memorable and feared linebackers of the modern era. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Jackson was the vocal leader of the orange crush defense. I think thats largely due to the NFL not keeping sacks and tackles numbers during his career. No. 1970s All-decade team. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. Linebacker finalists announced for NFL 100 All-Time Team The 1970s Were the L.A. Rams' Most Dramatic Decade - Los Angeles Magazine Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. Chicago 1981-92. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Find 1970 1979 America stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. He was a good pass rusher, having at least 5.5 sacks in 10 straight years, but he was also good against the run and in coverage. 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. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE - pfhof 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. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. 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 also had 1,173 tackles in his career. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST | National | wdrb.com He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Williams has received numerous honors, including selection to the NFL All-Rookie Team (1976), the Byron Whizzer White Award for Humanitarian Service (1985), the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1986), and Sports Illustrateds Co-Sportsman of the Year (1987). The 'Skins historically have had some solid inside linebackers capable of both stopping the run and being reliable in coverage. 10 Best Linebackers in Steelers History (+Honorable Mentions) Andy Russell 7x Pro Bowl, 4x All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion Linebacker '63, 1966-1976 Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. Hes been amazing. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. No. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. He was 73. He knew how to make big plays. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. No. Lambert was a Pro Bowler in all but his rookie season and his final pro season, totaling nine selections. 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. Who knows how many he wouldve had if he played in the entire 16? He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. He was never the most athletic player on the field, but he was always the hardest working. Linebacker U Penn State Tradition Jack Ham as a Steeler. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. For a four-year span with Seattle, Young was arguably the best Seahawks linebacker of all-time. Anything you asked him to do, he would do. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. Baltimore Ravens ground game rules in NFL Week 11 and more 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 . Rickey Jackson could do it all. 14, Hardy Nickerson (Steelers/Bucs/Jaguars/Packers) (1987-2002) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. Schmidt stood out in an era of great middle linebackers. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. No. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . and Jack Ham played as . He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Who are the Packers' greatest defenders of all time? - Green Bay Packers The NFL started in 1920 and commemorated its 100th season in 2019 with a season-long celebration of "NFL 100." The game has come a long way in 100 years. Chuck Drazenovich. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. Chris Spielman was a tackle machine during his 10 years in the NFL. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. AP. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Here's 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. He already has 57.5 sacks in his short career, along with 16 forced fumbles. He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. The Pittsburgh Steelers are second with all-time players in four decades. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s - AinsworthSports.com Power Ranking the 5 Greatest Linebackers in Minnesota Vikings History Wagers only accepted in CO. For full terms and conditions, click here. 24, Leslie ONeal (Chargers/Rams/Chiefs) (1986-1999) *Six-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No. Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. No. No. 12. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. How NFL Players Have Evolved. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. Pat Swilling. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. [3] That is just unheard of. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 2, Ray Lewis* (Ravens) (1996-Present) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. He may be one of the most hated players, but man can he play football. As a pass rusher, Greene would be top 5 at least, his ability to be an every-down linebacker hurts him overall, he was not great against the run. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. No. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. Jan 25, 1981; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders players Mickey Marvin (65), Willie Jones (90), Rod Martin (53), Ted Hendricks (83) and Raymond Chester (88) on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XV at the Superdome. From his time at USC, Lott . Harry Carson was an outstanding linebacker who played alongside Lawrence Taylor. LT finished his career with 142 sacks, averaging nearly 11 sacks per season. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Ham had outstanding speed. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. He was a dominating force in the NFL during that stretch of time. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. 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. Thats nearly 13 sacks per season. Jack Ham had the whole package as a linebacker. 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. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. Porter is mostly known as a sack master. 7. Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two . He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. He always tried to better himself and did it effectively. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. He came one tackle short from having five consecutive 100 tackle seasons in 2004, which is saying a lot, since he was the guy taking up blockers most of the time as well. Top 10 Best Linebackers In Cleveland Browns History. No. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. 46, Jon Beason* (Panthers) (2007-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. 5. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Randy Gradishar Joins The Speer Wealth Team. But it was his style of play that made his career so short. Boulware gets overlooked a lot playing because of playing with Ray Lewis, but he was a key component in that dominating Ravens defense of the early 2000s. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. . 25 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History - AthlonSports.com 1. The only thing that could match his signature stare was the stellar play of Samurai Mike on the field. 60 Greatest Linebackers in NFL History | Stadium Talk He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. 29, Joey Porter* (Steelers/Dolphins/Cardinals) (1999-Present) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. Call 1-800-522-4700. Jack Ham, Linebacker. 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. No. No. Both . The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. Patrick Willis has made the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro team every single year hes been in the NFL. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. . Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. Still, its an amazing number. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Derrick Brooks may be the most accomplished linebacker on this list. Thats amazing consistency. Top ten linebackers in Steelers history: Version two - Steelers Sanctuary He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. That Steelers linebacking core could easily be the best of all-time, and it was led by Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. Robert Brazile. Top 10 Linebackers in Miami Dolphins history - Phin Phanatic Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. Interview with Former Steeler Great levon kirkland. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. The 70s were a rough decade for the Browns, but the 1980s were getting off to a great start with the franchise returning to the playoffs, despite the tragedy of " Red Right 88 " in 1981. No. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. 1970, slow dancing in Mark Wooldridge's basement with my first girlfriend, Karen Frey, who wore white high-top . He has done it all for the Bears with his pass coverage, run support, and blitzing. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. No. Gambling Problem? The Steelers had lost their emotional leader, outside linebacker Greg Lloyd, at the start of the season to a knee injury, but Kirkland took over the mantle of leadership. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Cornerback Mel Blount was added in the . That is just unheard of. Ralph Baker - Years with Jets: 11 (1964-74) Baker played in 142 games with the Jets in his 11 seasons, which is tied with Marvin Jones for the 4 th most by a linebacker. Top 10 Draft Picks in Broncos History | No. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Although he only played three full seasons, he made five Pro Bowls. LSU women's basketball makes it rain in rout of Georgia in SEC 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. Ham had outstanding speed. A two-time All-American and a three-year starter for the Vols, Kiner . A late 12th round pick Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. The best linebackers in Minnesota Vikings history 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. More from Green Bay Packers. Who were the linebackers for the Steel Curtain defense? - Quora and 2000s. No. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. An important part of the Las Vegas defense, the LB position includes middle or inside linebackers and outside (strong side or weakside) linebackers. 25. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. The NFL's Top 50 Linebackers of the Modern Era - Bleacher Report Singletary was a leader, not only vocally, but by example. 2011 Butkus Award winner for nation s best linebacker at Boston College. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. Lamberts signature toothless snarl struck fear into the hearts of the opposition and lends credence to his legendary status as one of the toughest players all-time. He has been one of the most intimidating players in the NFL his entire career. 2013 MAC Hall of Fame Inductee: Western Michigans John Offerdahl. More Team Info. He did everything. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. No. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back-to-back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. Matt Blair was a very intimidating linebacker, and helped the Vikings get to two Super Bowls in his career. He was blue collar player who was a great leader on defense and could do everything well on a football field. Zach Thomas is exactly what you want in a player and a linebacker. Who is the best high school football team in Alabama history (poll) Siemon was always a good player, but never a great player. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Ranking Explanation . He also is the only linebacker to ever win a Super Bowl MVP and be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (2000). Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. The 150 greatest players in college football's 150-year history - ESPN.com Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Mills, along with Swilling, was another member of that Dome Patrol defense. 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. 12 sacks and three picks. He was Lawrence Taylor before Taylor was. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. . He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. He was effective as a pass rushing OLB, tallying up 14 sacks in one season with the Dolphins, and as an inside run stopping linebacker with the Jets. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Reese, GM of Titans' Super Bowl team, dies at 73 Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. He could do it all. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. 1970 NFC Champion. 1. The versatile middle linebacker played a significant role in helping the Steelers win four Super Bowls in a span of six years in the 1970s. 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. Here is my ranking of the top 10 Giants linebackers, along with some honorable mentions. . 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. Kirkland had great speed and agility for a big man. No. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). 3 hours ago. No. Top 10 Linebackers in New York Giants History Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . Eddie Johnson. Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 gets a hold of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields #1 during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium . His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. Mike Singletary had the whole package. 10. 26, Cornelius Bennett (Bills/Falcons/Colts) (1987-2000) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. 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. Featuring 2018-2019 Raiders and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Raiders LBs include Ted Hendricks, Khalil Mack, Rod Martin, Sam Wiliams, and Greg Biekert. Ranking Explanation . His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Urlacher was an all-around great linebacker who flew around the field with reckless abandon. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. No. Known as quite possibly the most sound tackler in school history, Ham was an extremely fundamental linebacker who was the captain of the 1970 Penn State defense. That truly shows what kind of person he was off 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 tried to get in your head before you even took a step on the field of play. Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all time. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. During the five year stretch from 1991-1995 where he made five consecutive Pro Bowls, Lloyd was one of, if not the, most dominating linebackers in the NFL. That suggestion from the newly appointed House . 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro.
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