Nine All-Pros. He would give it his all on every single down of every single play. He was always good enough for Pro Bowls, but was never an All-Pro Player. The Chicago Bears have the most all-time great linebackers. 9, Derrick Brooks (Bucs) (1995-2008) *Eleven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Four-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Taylor changed the way football is played today. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. 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Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Thats an amazing number as well. But Mills did much more than that. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. But we would be remiss to not acknowledge some of the top performers from that earlier era. LaVar Arrington. He started all but one game in his last eight seasons, which is very impressive for a linebacker. No. Williams was the heart and soul of two Super Bowl defenses. No. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. 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. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. All Rights Reserved. He also had at least 99 tackles in seven years of his 12 year career, which is outstanding. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. No. Bill Romanowski (49ers, Eagles, Broncos, Raiders) : Two-time Pro Bowler. Use Isiah Robertsons name in a talk of most underrated players of all time, and youll impress your fellow football fans. Voted to seven Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro five times. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Thats the type of player you want on your team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Tribute to Elvis He was very athletic, a great tackler, and he could cover. Undersized height wise, but an overabundance of heart made him more than a handful to deal with. When you ask who is the greatest MLB of all-time is, many people jump straight to Dick Butkus. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a single NFL game with seven, against the Seattle Seahawks in 1990. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. I know, how can I rate Kirkland over Greene? Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. In his time in the NFL, he intercepted 25 passes and returned six of them for touchdowns with three of those in 2002 alone. Zach Thomas. He racked up a staggering 1,181 tackles, and 1,131 of them in his first nine seasons. It was tied for the best of the day with linebacker Owen Pappoe, of Auburn, and was the second-fastest time from an . No. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. No. Young was a fierce hitter, and would always stick his nose in the middle of the play. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. Jessie Armstead was one of the most consistent linebackers on this list. Despite the bad taste he left when leaving the team, James Harrison belongs on the upper half of the top ten linebackers in Steelers history. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. Spielman had seven straight 100 tackle seasons, and did it eight out of nine years. If you take away his last three seasons, where he was slowing down, he averaged 12.4 sacks per season, which is just remarkable. 9. Jackson tallied up 128 sacks in his career, but even thats not his most impressive number. Among linebackers, that would include two-way stars George Svendsen (1935-41), Bud Svendsen (1937, 1939) and Charley Brock (1939-47), along with Bill Forester (1953-63), Tom Bettis (1955-61) and Roger Zatkoff (1953-56). In only 11 seasons, Thomas had 126.5 sacks, and an NFL record of 41 forced fumbles. Chip Banks was another linebacker that was solid at everything, but not great at anything. He was one of the most feared players in the game. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). Although still early in his career, Demarcus Ware deserves to be this high on the list. Thomas' remarkable personality was also recognized by being awarded the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award in 1993. 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 had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. No. Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. No. Offensive Coordinator: Jim Myers. 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. 47, Fredd Young (Seahawks/Colts) (1984-1990) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. Are you ready for some football history? Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. He knew how to make big plays. . In 2007, he racked up a remarkable 17 sacks in only 12 games. He could do it all. Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Houston Oilers, 1975-1984. 27. He did anything the Bears asked of him, especially stuffing the run. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. He was a tackle machine and a very big hitter. He is ninth in team history with 14 forced fumbles; he recovered 11, had 6 QB sacks, and 11 interceptions. Ham is the only linebacker other than Tom Jackson to have seven INTs in a single season. He was very solid in coverage, good against the run, and had no real weaknesses. . He was the notorious leader of one of the greatest defenses to ever make its way onto a football field Pittsburghs famed Steel Curtain.. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. With rule changes being what they have been, The number one pick was obvious. Mar 3, 2023 Updated 4 min ago. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. 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. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. No. He played for a bad team with not much of a surrounding cast, but still excelled. He has played the role of pass rusher and coverage linebacker in his career, and has excelled at both. Collect, curate and comment on your files. HELLO, PANDORA. His best days were with the Bears and Redskins, but he had an impact everywhere he went. Lewis stats at this point of his career are 1,349 tackles, 36.5 sacks, and 28 INTs. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. He could do it all. No. 23, Isiah Robertson (Rams/Bills) (1971-1982) *Six-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . 10. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. 21, Patrick Willis* (49ers) (2006-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Running back Larry Csonka of the Miami Dolphins is brought down by linebacker Henry Davis of . Lance Briggs may be overshadowed by Brian Urlacher, but dont forget how great of a player Briggs has been for the Bears. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. A tall order to say the least, and these 5 players did it better than anyone in the history of the NFL. Elected to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2018. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. 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. Beason may be the most controversial player on this list. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. 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. Thats amazing consistency. He had ten seasons with 10+ sacks. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. In his final two seasons with the Bengals, Williams was appointed to an open seat on the Cincinnati City Council in 1988 and was elected for a second term in 1989 on the Charter Party ticket. As an outside linebacker, he put a lot of pressure on opponents' quarterbacks. Mo Lewis was another very consistent and solid player. Robertson is one of the most underrated players in NFL history. 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). Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. During the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, Lee posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among . Those are remarkable numbers, especially when he is still going strong. 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. Depending on the day, you might view Ham as the best player on the Steel Curtain defense or the 4th best, and it's . Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. Andre Tippett. No. 2. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. 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. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. This team was widely regarded as having one of the best defenses of all time. These are the newest members of GHSF Daily's Georgia Power 100. Behind the Purple People Eaters of the 70s was one of the best safeties the league has ever seen. No. Merriman still has the potential to be a great player again. He may have been undersized, but he made up for it with his mind and his hustle. 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. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. 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. In 2008, Suggs even had two INTs, both of which he returned for touchdowns. The Steel Curtain was the defensive line of the 1970s American football team Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro. He was also the fastest linebacker of the bunch and excelled in pass coverage. Playing 20 seasons in the NFL is amazing at any position. This season marked the end for Tittle and fellow Canton-bound star Frank Gifford. 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. The middle linebacker also recorded 52 tackles for loss, which is fourth all-time in Clemson history. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. 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. Brazile might not get the credit because of the team he played for, but he was an outstanding player. Here Are 8 Ways NBA Has Changed That Modern Fans Don't Realize. No. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated. No. A true enforcer in every sense of the word, Lewis intensity was unmatched by any player of his era. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . He should be in the Hall of Fame. Jalen Carter, top NFL prospect, posts bond in fatal crash. Hes also great against the run and is a turnover forcing monster. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. The only reason Brooks isnt higher up on this list is because he had a fantastic surrounding cast which includes, most notably, Warren Sapp taking up blockers on the line. Kevin Greene was a mad man in a football uniform. He also played a big role in one of the most dominant performances by a defense in Super Bowl history. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Mike Singletary is one of three players on this list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. 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. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was also a big hitter and very intimidating on the field of play. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. Jul 07, 2014 at 11:02 PM. 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. 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. No. and Jack Ham played as . He was the quintessential linebacker and easily the greatest of his era. His sacks are the main reason hes this high, but he was also a great all-around player. No. 15, Zach Thomas (Dolphins/Cowboys) (1996-2008) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Five-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. 42, Chip Banks (Browns/Chargers/Colts) (1982-1992) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st team All-Pro. No. 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. The longtime backup led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%), set the Seahawks' single-season passing yards record (4,282) and ranked in the top five in the entire league in both passing . He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. NFLs Merchants of Menace Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith. Their greats span the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s. There is a reason the award given to the best linebacker in high school, college and the NFL each year is named after Butkus. SRS: 6.97 (5th of 26), SOS: 1.40. But before you come to a conclusion, let's take a look at the facts. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. 25. He just goes out every week and hustles. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all-around linebacker. He could play zone and man. Pittsburgh 2002, '04-12, '14-17; Cincinnati 2013; New England 2017. Jackson was most notable for being a pass rusher, but he really did it all. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Greene and Greg Lloyd made one of the best pass rushing duos in NFL history with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And he's still going. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. He is still active, and is a starter, but he might be on his way out of San Diego. 8. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. 1. Pat Swilling. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. No. 22, Chris Spielman (Lions/Bills) (1988-1997) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Ray Lewis is another one of the three players on the list to win Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career. Robert Brazile- Tums all time neutralizer. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. 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. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. He should still improve this season with Ndamukong Suh in front of him to help free him up. Thats right, seven. He was selected late in the 12th Round, and nobody expected much out of him. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. 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. Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round . Also note that an asterisk (*) by the players name means they are still active today. Joey Porter. Hardy Nickerson makes it this high on the list mainly because of one ridiculous season he had. Mike Singletary had the whole package. Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Lewis most notable accomplishment may be starting the Tom Brady era by knocking out Drew Bledsoe on a roll out, giving Tom Brady his first ever NFL action. His swinging the axe celebration sums up his style of play and tenacity on the field. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. Bryan Cox was an all-around package at linebacker. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 4, Derrick Thomas (Chiefs) (1989-1999) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He did it once in 1985 and again in 1988. Taylor changed the way football is played today. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. That is just unheard of. 13, Greg Lloyd (Steelers/Panthers) (1988-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro. 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. Rickey Jackson doesnt always get the credit he deserves, but hes a top 10 linebacker of the modern era. Hes been amazing. 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. No. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. He was close to averaging a sack per game, which is an amazing number. No. He recently missed most of last season with surgery. 1. Brian Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers of this decade. That is just unheard of. Eleven Pro Bowls. 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. The entire enterprise of Notre Dame basketball, gone strange. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. This brings us to the first night of March and a not-quite-full Purcell . Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Al Wilson was an outstanding MLB for the Broncos. 10. 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. His 32 career INTs lead the way for linebackers. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Gambling Problem? The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Chad Brown played a very long NFL career, especially for a linebacker. Blair was outstanding in coverage, along with being a great tackler. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. and 2000s. Lofa Tatupu didnt take any time breaking into the NFL, making the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. He did everything. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. Other Links > Football > Player Rankings by Position > Top Ranked Linebackers . Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . And here are the 25 greatest linebackers in NFL history: 25. Gildon was most known for his pass rushing ability, picking up 54 sacks in a 5 year span. His best season was his first year with the Bills where he had 17.5 sacks, 70 tackles, two INTs, and three forced fumbles. Featuring some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Bills LBs include Sam Rogers, Keith Ellison, Shane Conlan, and John Holecek. No. Brooks was the leader of that defense, but his surrounding cast was just too good to rank him higher. No. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. Paul Naumoff played for 12 seasons from 1967-1978. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . 5. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Mike Kolen 1970-77. As part of the Steelers Blitzburgh defense in the 90s, Greg Lloyd was a speedy, undersized pass rusher.Sometimes, he would use his size to his advantage to disguise where he was coming from. Eleven Pro Bowls. 28b, Sam Mills (Saints/Panthers) (1986-1997) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 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. 49, Vaughn Johnson (Saints/Eagles) (1986-1994) *Four-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jack Lambert was the teammate of Jack Ham who took the inside linebacker duties. Lambert wasnt just great on the inside, he was an outstanding coverage linebacker. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. From canvas high-tops to social media dominance, the NBA has come a long way. The line was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, and XIV) in six years.. Over the course of his two-year Ohio State career, Lee accumulated 147 tackles. 43, Keith Brooking* (Falcons/Cowboys) (1998-Present) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 45, Shawne Merriman* (Chargers) (2005-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Isiah Robertson, nicknamed The Playmaker, was known for coming up with the big plays in the biggest games. 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.