It's finally time for the linebackers to get a little recognition. These guys have, arguably, the most important role on the field and they never get enough love for doing what they do. Here is a list of the all-time greatest linebackers to step foot on the gridiron.
James Harrison
Harrison ran the line for the Steelers from 2002 to 2012 (aside from a short break he took from 2003-04). He brought them two Super Bowl wins, most vitally when he made a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown during Super Bowl XLIII. This feat still is the longest defensive play in the history of the sport, and the fact that it happened during the Super Bowl makes it even more impressive.
Bobby Bell
Bobby Bell wasn’t just a good linebacker, he was a fantastic football player as a whole. This well-rounded linebacker played for the Kansas City Chiefs, was a three-time Pro Bowler, and played a key role in upsetting the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV. Bell was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983, 11 years after his retirement.
Sam Huff
Huff was the first football player of all time to be featured on the cover of Time magazine, in addition to being the first football player to be given a television show. He was a 6-time All-Pro player and a 5-time Pro Bowler, as well as the 1956 NFL champion. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982 after his television show “The Violent World of Sam Huff” was in full swing.
Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas was a relatively small man, for someone who was a legendary linebacker. At 5’11 and 242 pounds, Thomas commanded the line with his speed, creativity, and intuition. He was named the AFC Defensive Rookie of the year when he started on the Miami Dolphins in 1996 and was named an All-Pro five times before the end of the career.
Terrell Suggs
Suggs is one of the longest tenure linebackers of all time. He’s been on the Baltimore Ravens since 2003, and he’s still there. Although he is currently a free agent, he brought the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVII with fervor. In recent history, his performance on the line has been overshadowed by Ray Lewis, but Suggs still has the 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year award, the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year award, and a 2011 Butkus award.
Greg Lloyd
Lloyd was grabbed by the Steelers in 1987. At 6’2. 228 pounds, Lloyd had a little learning curve that he had to get over before he cemented himself as one of the greatest linebackers of all time. This man retired with 54.5 sacks, 24 forced fumbles, and 11 picks, 5 Pro Bowl invited, and 3 All-Pro nominations. He was inducted into the Steeler’s All-Time Team in 2007
Patrick Willis
Willis is one of the newer additions to this list, and for good reason. Patrick Wilis held the line for the 49’ers from 2007-14, and even though his time was short, every game he was in changed because of his presence. This man couldn’t miss a tackle if he tried, it’s almost as if he knew exactly where the ball was going to be 10 seconds before it even got there. Willis is going to be on the list of inductees for the 2020 induction to NFL Hall of Fame, and he’s got a pretty good shot at making it into that list.
NaVarro Bowman
Bowman stepped down in 2017 following the continuation of a catastrophic leg injury he sustained at the end of his 2014 career. However, in 2014, he led the NFL as a statistically solid linebacker with good intuition and technique. In 2014 he was tied with Patrick Willis for the linebacker of the year award.
Rickey Jackson
Jackson has been called the most underrated linebacker of all time more than anyone else that has ever stepped foot on the field. The now Hall of Famer is considered to be one of the greatest pass rushers in history, and his 128 career sacks place him in the 16th all-time sack record position. Jackson’s short tenure in the NFL was coupled with an explosive career that made him as an extremely exciting player to watch, he burned bright and died out quickly, leaving his impact on the field faster than a ton of other icons.
Ted Hendricks
Hendricks was an absolute behemoth on the field. At 6’7 and 220 pounds, “The Mad Stork” earned himself into eight Pro Bowls and four All-Pro nominations. From 1969 to 1983, Hendricks was a force to be reckoned with both on and off the field. Teddie was aggressive and passionate on the line, but he quickly shifted into a quiet, respectful, kind and philanthropic gentleman when the cleats came off.
Kevin Greene
Greene has the most sacks out of anyone’s NFL career (160) in history, in addition to being the oldest player to ever lead the league in sacks, with 14.5 sacks in 1996 at the age of 34. Kevin Greene was indicated to the Hall of Fame in 2016 with five Pro Bowls under his belt, as well as three All-Pro nominations. Greene hung up his jersey in 1999 after a 15 year-long career in the big leagues.
Cornelius Bennett
Bennett was insanely explosive on the field. So much so, that he suffered several injuries while playing, which he pushed through and only told personnel about after the plays were made. In fact, Bennett had 1,190 tackles, 71.5 sacks, seven interceptions, and 31 forced fumbles over the course of only 206 games, if his methods were sustainable, he might have been, statistically, the greatest linebacker of all time. However, longevity is a leading trait for the greatest football players, which Bennett did not exhibit.
Harry Carson
Carson toed the line for the New York Giants from 1976 to 1988. He is a 6-time All-Pro, he’s been to the Pro Bowl 9 times, and he has one Super Bowl under his belt. Carson served as a force to be reckoned with Lawrence Taylor, together, these individuals were one of the most recognizable and effective linebacker duos of all time. Carson, however, was held in the highest regard. Many analysts still consider him to be one of the best linebackers in NFL history.
Nick Buoniconti
Buoniconti almost didn’t make it to the NFL, but miraculously, he was picked up by the Boston Patriots in 1962. This 5’11, 220-pound, Notre Dame graduate felt the need to prove himself to the naysayers by immediately excelling with his unpredictable playstyle. Buoniconti brought the Dolphins to two back-to-back Super Bowls and is credited as the main reason they won. Buoniconti was offered a place in the Hall of Fame in August of 2001, as a reminder to never count out the underdog.
Joe Schmidt
Schmidt was named the 65th greatest football player of all time in 2007 by “The Sporting News.” Schmidt was known for how tough he was, how many hits he could take and still get up, and the sheer grit and blood he shed for his sport. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 1973, seven years after he played his final game.
Pat Swilling
The Saints were lucky to have this 6’3, 245-pound giant on their line. Just like Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling made his impact in New Orleans by making his backline completely untouchable. Swilling was invited to the Pro Bowl five times and was given the All-Pro title twice. Swilling was named the Defensive Player of the year in 1991, has been inducted into the Saints’ Hall of Fame, but has yet to get inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
DeMarcus Ware
From 2005-16, DeMarcus Ware was a sacking legend from Dallas to Denver. Ranked eighth on the all-time sack list, only being usurped by Kevin Greene as a linebacker, ware truly left his impact on the field. He helped lead the Denver Broncos to their unexpected Super Bowl win in 2016, right before he decided to retire. By the way, he was a 9-time Pro Bowler, was voted All-Pro seven times, and was awarded NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
Bill George
From 1950 on, the Bears churned out killer linebackers like nobody’s business, Bill George is one of the most memorable. Bill was a big boy, and he only got bigger and more impressive after he was picked up by the Bears in 1951. George covered 18 picks in over 173 contests, and he helped the Bears demolish the Giants during their 1963 NFL Championship game when they came in as underdogs. George was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Ray Nitschke
Nitschke was there for the essential conception of modern football. As the Super Bowl I, and II champions, Nitschke worked closely with Vince Lombardi and the rest of the Packers to help build the essential formula for traditional defense. Additionally, Ray won the 1962 Championship Game MVP award, was a 7-time All-Pro recipient, and was an NFL champion 5 times (thanks, Lombardi). Nitschke was inducted into the hall of fame in 1978.
Brian Urlacher
Urlacher might just be the most famous Bears player to ever put on the jersey. From 2000-12, Brian Urlacher amassed 1,353 tackles, 41.5 sacks, and 34 turnovers. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, after receiving the Rookie of the Year award in 2000. He was inducted into the pro football hall of fame in 2018.
Chuck Bednarik
Iron Man Chuck held the line for the Eagles in 1949-62. He was an All-Pro 10-times, in the Pro Bowl 8-times, and was a 2-time NFL Champion with his fellow birds. Bednarik was one of the absolute best linebackers of all time, especially since he played football during a time that players were using goose down to stuff their pads at the beginning of the game. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1967, and he even has an award named after himself for the most outstanding defensive player in the college circuit.
Ray Lewis
Although there is some controversy regarding Lewis’ actions outside of the field, it is undeniable how insanely good he was in between the lines of the gridiron. Without Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens would have never touched their Super Bowl rings in 2000 and 2012. Lewis was awarded seven All-Pro nominations, 11 Pro Bowl invites and was given the Defensive Player of the Year award twice in his career. In 2018, Ray Lewis was inducted into the hall of fame, and his jersey number 52 was retired for the Ravens.
Jack Ham
Jack Ham came out of Penn State a little wet behind the ears, but he started showing his stripes a couple of years into his contract with the Steelers. This 6time All-Pro captured 4 Vince Lombardi trophies by the end of his short 162 game career. Within that time, Ham captured 32 picks and was inducted into the hall of fame in 1988.
Willy Lanier
They didn’t call Lanier “Contact” for nothing. Lanier hurt people, and he was laser accurate with his tackling. He caused 27 interceptions over the course of his career, he always managed to be in the perfect spot at all times. Over the course of his 10-year career, Lanier was given 8 All-Pro nominations, was a 6-time Pro Bowl player, was 2-time AFL All-Star, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
Derrick Brooks
Brooks played for Tampa Bay in 1995, and he stayed there until the end of his career in 2008. With one Super Bowl win under his belt, 9 All-Pro nominations, and 11 Pro Bowl invites, Brooks deserved his induction to the Hall of Fame when it happened in 2014. He hit over 1,700 tackles in his career, and he caused 49 turnovers in the 13 years he stood on the gridiron.
Junior Seau
Seau had a 20-year tenure in the NFL. He bounced between the Chargers, Dolphins, and the Patriots after he was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992. After retiring in 2010 with 1,849 tackles, 56.5 sacks, and 18 interceptions, Seau lived without football for two years and then committed suicide, presumably due to complications from concussive injuries that were never addressed. Seau was tearfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
Mike Singletary
Singletary was the scariest member of the Chicago Bears’ 1980s lineup, also known as “The Monsters of the Midway.” This 10-time Pro Bowler, 8-time All-Pro winner, and 2-time Defensive Player of the Year left his mark on the NFL when he made sure the Bears beat out the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Singletary retired from football in 1992 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jack Lambert
Lambert played for the Steelers in their 1970s-80s golden years. Lambert was probably the most recognizable football player of the decade, his toothless grin struck fear in the hearts of the opposing team’s offensive line. He was the chief of the “Steel Curtain,” a nickname for the Steelers defensive line when they were completely unstoppable. With 4 Super Bowl wins and many other accomplishments under his belt, Lambert saw his entry into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Dick Butkus
“The Enforcer” carried the Bears through 8 years of serious football. Although his name was an unfortunate unlucky circumstance, his presence on the field almost seemed like he was blowing off steam from the lifetime of constant insults he was subjected to. Butkus entered the Hall of Fame in 1978, and he was granted the Butkus Award, which is an honorary award given to the most elite linebackers over all walks of football in America.
Paris Lenon
Lenon entered his 2013 season at the age of 35, his dominance on the field capped that year and he retired immediately afterward, but while reflecting on his career, it’s undeniable the impact he had on the teams he played for. After 12 seasons, his time as a confident linebacker was over, but his multiple awards and consistent playtime and praise cemented him as one of the greats.
London Fletcher
Fletcher also retired in 2013, after a nearly 20-year career as a linebacker. Unfortunately for him, his knees stopped working as well as they used to later on in his contracted career, but his first 10 years on the field put him in a position to be considered a remarkable linebacker. Fletcher is on the smaller side, so he had to use his intuition and intelligence to move around the line and attack the proper targets, he did this much better than anyone else for a long, long time.
David Hawthorne
This legendary run-stopping linebacker played for the Saints until 2015 when he unofficially retired due to injury in 2016. Although he wasn’t as consistent as some of the other linebackers on this list, his explosive, intuitive playstyle helped him stay on top of the game. Unfortunately, towards the end of his career, he just got too slow, and he couldn’t keep up with the rest of the pack.
A.J. Hawk
Hawk is a veteran with a track record that he doesn’t get enough recognition for. In his 8 years on the Packers, Hawk solidified his place in the football echelon as one of the greatest greats. Although he hasn’t been given any major awards for his skills, he does have a Super Bowl ring, and a Lombardi award from when he was in college at Ohio State.
Luke Kuechly
The Panthers haven’t really been showing up too much this year, but thanks to their middle linebacker, they haven’t been getting completely decimated. Kuechly is, bar none, one of the best coverage linebackers to stand on the field. After the 2013 season, he took home the NFL Best Defensive Player of the Year award, and he is still pushing to make his team better every game.
Derrick Johnson
Johnson can’t keep his hands off the ball. It’s almost like he’s magnetically attracted to it. He unfortunately just stopped playing football after one season with the Oakland Raiders, but his time with the Kansas City chiefs solidified him as an outstanding and memorable linebacker. In his career, he had a star-studded portfolio with awesome stats and accomplishments to boot.
Andy Russel
Russel is arguably the greatest football player to not be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was invited to the Pro Bowl every single year since his career started in 1968, and he was part of the beginning of the Steelers’ legendary defensive line. Russel started on the line when the Steelers went to their first Super Bowl, and he retired right before he re-signed his contract in 1976.
Brandon Spikes
Spikes has the power to back his name. He is one of the most talented tacklers in the league and his ability to lock the ball down is practically unparalleled. His final season was in 2016 with the Buffalo Bills, and since then he has been quiet to the media. He isn’t the most heavily praised linebacker of all time, but he is definitely one of the best modern line players.
Kiko Alonso
Also hailing from the Bills, when Alonso walked onto the NFL, he started changing some things around pretty quickly. Although he wasn’t on top of every single play, his speed and risky maneuvers helped him develop an unpredictable playstyle that terrified other team’s offensive lines. When Alonso could get in on an angle, it was over for the opposing team’s quarterback.
Stephen Tulloch
After Tulloch chose to forgo his senior season of college football and went into the NFL draft, he was picked up by the Titans and the rest is history. After a few unremarkable years with them, he was traded to the Detroit Lions. Tulloch tore his ACL in the first quarter of a Week 3 game after sacking Tim Tebow, he was let go from the Lions at the end of that season and played one year for the Philadelphia Eagles. Tulloch was a dominant linebacker during his brief stay in the NFL, although his career was tumultuous, it was overtly remarkable.
Sean Lee
Lee has been on the Cowboys since the beginning of his career. This Penn State grad betrayed his home team (the Eagles) and went to their arch-nemesis, but it’s all cool. So far, Lee has been given two Pro Bowl invites, was awarded first-team All-Pro in 2016 and has carried the ball farther than any other Dallas linebacker in history. Lee was even voted team captain two years in a row.
Karlos Dansby
Although Dansby’s career ended in 2017, he is still considered to be one of the best linebackers of this decade. He was traded 5 times after his 5-year tenure with the Arizona Cardinals. He was known for his unwavering ability to stand the line. Nobody ever got past him, well sometimes they did, but when he was in position, that was a rarity.
Brian Cushing
Cushing was an outstanding linebacker when he was on the field. After 8 years playing the field for the Houston Texans, he was transferred to be the assistant strength and conditioning coach. Regardless, his impact on the Texans was unmistakable, until he started getting hurt. He injured himself three times after he healed his first two injuries, making the decision to move him to be part of the coaching staff even wiser.
Bobby Wagner
This Super Bowl champion, 5-time Pro Bowl nominee, and 4-time All-Pro has been playing with the Seahawks since the beginning of his career in 2012. He has a lot of future ahead of him, but getting a Super Bowl win under his belt inspired him to step up and take after Ray Lewis in controlling the line. Wagner was a surprisingly agile linebacker, which helped him break through offensive lines, making him a constant threat to the opposing quarterback.
Nigel Bradham
This Florida State grad (go Seminoles) had a brief stint with the Bills and was traded to the Eagles in 2016, where he currently resides (Go Birds). Bradham had a hand in the Eagles’ first Super Bowl win. Bradham was voted the 9th best linebacker in the league in 2016, coupled with a Super Bowl win and two sacks in 15 games, this man is a force to be reckoned with and will continue to be a threat until the end of his career.
Akeem Jordan
From 2007-12, Jordan commanded the line with the Eagles’ legendary defense. After his time with the Eagles, he was traded to the Chiefs, and then he was traded to the Redskins a year later. He took a small break between 2014 and 2017 to recover from injuries, and he stepped back into the spotlight with the Toronto Argonauts, commanding their defensive line just as powerfully as he did when he started with the ‘Gulls. Last year was his final season, but his career was supremely notable.
Daryl Smith
This 6’2, 248-pound giant was never too quick on his feet, but what he lacked in speed, he made up for with consistency. Smith’s turning and ability to run a seam is what really shines about his play. He was purely a finesse player towards the end of his career, which was just unsustainable for an older player. Smith retired from the Buccaneers after his 2016 season.
Daryl Washington
Washington retired from the Cardinals after a 6 year run with them. Unfortunately, his career was only 6 years long, so there wasn’t too much information to work off of, aside from the fact that he was a commanding player on the field. Washington’s ferocity and agility stuck out more than the rest of the Cardinals’ line, and by the end of his stay in Arizona, Washington was offered two $10 million bonuses, a Pro Bowl nomination, and a burned bridge when he argued for higher pay that did not coincide with the quality of his play.
Wesley Woodyard
This current Titan, former Bronco, has a crazy amount of sacks under his belt for someone who has only been playing since 2008. With 28 sacks into the 15th week of this season, a total of 942 tackles, and 30 pass deflections, Woodyard is worth the money the Titans pay him to stick around. In week 7 of this current season, Woodyard packed 6 tackles and a forced fumble to win 23-20 over the Chargers, a legendary game for him and a huge win for the Titans.
Josh Bynes
Bynes’ career started in Baltimore, and now he’s back playing in Baltimore after several years of bouncing around. Over the years of him moving about, Bynes refined his ability to command a line on his own, and he became an extremely valuable player, compared to his initial $1.4 million contract with the Ravens. Although his record isn’t the best so far this year, we should expect some positive action from Bynes in the near future.
Erin Henderson
Henderson never necessarily shined in any particular category, but he was a consistent, solid, and dependable linebacker that will not let his team down. He started his career with a 5 year period on the Vikings and then moved to the NY Jets for two years before he eventually put the ball down. However, he is still active in the game right now, he is the acting coach for the Avila Eagles, a private college team located in St. Louis.
Vincent Rey
Rey toed the line for the Bengals from 2010 until 2018. This Duke graduate went undrafted but was offered a $731,000 contract by the Bengals the day after the draft concluded. His career was flying high until 2013 when he suffered an injury that put him back an entire season. However, despite his injury, he proved himself to be an extremely strong linebacker in any position, and he had leadership skills that no other player possessed.
D’Qwell Jackson
Jackson concluded his career in 2016 after a long stretch on the Cleveland Browns, and a short period playing with the Indianapolis Colts. Jackson started his NFL tenure as the second-highest rated linebacker of 2006. He covered extremely well, but his sprint was a little slow. This did not prevent him from being a confident and dominant player for the better part of 10 years, he fell off sharply after that period and ended his career when he was falling on his downswing.
Jon Beason
Beason played for the Panthers from 2007-13 and then got traded to the Giants in 2013. He stuck around in the NFL until 2015, and his performance was remarkable enough to land himself a spot on this list. Although some might disagree, Beason was considered to be one of the best linebackers on the field from 2009-13, his commanding presence uplifted lines as well. He worked best with other people, which was ideal for him since he was a linebacker.
Spencer Paysinger
Paysinger shined as a newcomer to the NY Giants when he hit the scene in 2011. By 2014, he had been injured twice and he never really showed the same confidence on the line. After that, he moved to the Dolphins, and then to the Jets, finally ending his career with the Panthers in 2017. Paysinger stopped showing up after 2014, but his first years were so remarkably good that it was undeniable the effect he had on the game.
David Harris
Harris played for the Jets from 2007-16, and he commanded the line with authority. He was known for being the toughest, most vocal, yet most effective leader in the team’s history. Although his career ended in 2017, Harris left his impact on the field, cementing himself as an unforgettable linebacker, and arguably one of the greats.
Reggie Walker
Walker’s time with the Cardinals was pretty insignificant, but when he was drafted to the Chargers, he really started to show his true colors. In just 16 games, Walker started 6 and collected 36 tackles, 3 sacks, and a pass deflection. Unfortunately, a knee injury plagued him through the back end of his career, which ended in 2015 when he was released from the Broncos during the preseason.
Jameel McClain
This Super Bowl Winner didn’t get enough credit in the Ravens’ win. Although he was surrounded by some of the best linebackers in the business at the time, McClain commanded his own end of the line, to a fault. After taking too many hits, McClain suffered some brain damage and had to stop playing football in 2014. This was not because of his brain injuries specifically, he was just cut from the Giants because of his performance.
Curtis Lofton
Lofton showed up when he was drafted to the Falcons in 2008. His best years were between 2008-11 when he played on the defensive line on the, then dominant, Atlanta Falcons. After Falcon Fever died down, he was traded to the Saints, and then finally the Raiders. In 2015, Lofton was cut, but his defensive play as a rookie solidified his place in NFL history.
Jerrell Freeman
Freeman had a hard time finding his way to the NFL, but when he finally did join an NFL team in 2012, he made his impact known. Although he had a rough start, Freeman was always the unsung hero on his teams, and that boosted him up to “hero” status after long years on the gridiron. Freeman stopped playing football in 2017 when his contract ended with the Chicago Bears, but he is still involved in coaching his hometown high school team in Waco, Texas.
Lawrence Taylor
Taylor played for the New York Giants from 1981-1993. He’s a 10-time All-Pro recipient and a 10-time Pro Bowler, he has two Super Bowl wins under his belt, was rookie of the year in 81’, and won the NFL MVP title in 1986. L.T. was huge, scary even while facing another line, he had finesse and his technique and quick movement backed his size. He has been named the greatest linebacker of all time, as well as one of the greatest football players of all time.