Greatest Linebackers in NFL History

They changed the way football is played on every level.

Greatest Linebackers in NFL History

Chicago Bears linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.

Generations of linebackers have played in the NFL and defined the game. They often are the quarterbacks of the defense, and many of them possess physical talents few have ever seen on a football field.

While quarterbacks have their hands on every play on offense to lead their teams to victory, it's much tougher for players to control the game by sheer force of will. That's what linebackers do.

These are the greatest linebackers in NFL history.

60. Karlos Dansby

Born: Nov. 3, 1981 (Birmingham, Alabama)

High school: Woodlawn High School (Birmingham, Alabama)

College: Auburn

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (2004-17)

Teams: Arizona Cardinals (2004-09, 2013, 2017), Miami Dolphins (2010-12), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Cincinnati Bengals (2016)

Career highlights: NFL All-Pro (2013)

Bottom Line: Karlos Dansby

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby — Karlos Dansby finished his career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Karlos Dansby was tall for an NFL inside linebacker at 6-foot-4, and he made plays all over the field. His best season was in 2008, when he had over 100 tackles and helped lead the Arizona Cardinals to an NFC championship and into the Super Bowl.

That would end up being an anomaly in Dansby's career. He only played on teams with winning records three times in his career and only made two playoff appearances.

His 1,077 career tackles put him in the NFL's top 10 career list.

59. James Farrior

Born: Jan. 6, 1975 (Ettrick, Virginia)

High school: Matoaca High School (Chesterfield, Virginia)

College: Virginia

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 243 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1997-2011)

Teams: New York Jets (1997-2001), Pittsburgh Steelers (2002-11)

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (2005, 2008), two-time Pro Bowl (2004, 2008), two-time NFL All-Pro (2004, 2008)

Bottom Line: James Farrior

Mark Sanchez and James Farrior — James Farrior was a two-time Pro Bowler.

Here's a crazy thing about James Farrior. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the New York Jets, and it was long enough ago that the Jets were actually pretty good.

And Farrior, nicknamed "The Ultimate Farrior" by fans, was a huge part of that. He took his skills as a free agent to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won two Super Bowls.

58. Takeo Spikes

Born: Dec. 17, 1976 (Augusta, Georgia)

High school: Washington County High School (Sandersville, Georgia)

College: Auburn

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 242 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1998-2012)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2002), Buffalo Bills (2003-06), Philadelphia Eagles (2007), San Francisco 49ers (2008-10), San Diego Chargers (2011-12)

Career highlights: Two-time Pro Bowl (2003, 2004), NFL All-Pro (2004)

Bottom Line: Takeo Spikes

San Francisco 49ers linebackers Takeo Spikes — Takeo Spikes ran a 4.58 forty.

Other than having one of the coolest names in NFL history, Takeo Spikes was also one of the most durable linebackers of all time.

Spikes is one of just seven linebackers in NFL history to register over 200 career starts, and he never had less than 70 tackles in 15 NFL seasons. His 1,018 career tackles are No. 12 on the NFL's all-time list.

One thing Spikes never did? Play in a Super Bowl.

57. Lance Briggs

Born: Nov. 12, 1980 (Los Angeles, California)

High school: Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove, California)

College: Arizona

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 244 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (2003-14)

Teams: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (2005, 2006, 2009), seven-time Pro Bowl (2005-11)

Bottom Line: Lance Briggs

Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher — Lance Briggs was a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Lance Briggs did one thing that's highly unusual for an NFL linebacker in the modern era — he played his entire career for the same team.

Briggs made seven consecutive Pro Bowls while playing for the Chicago Bears alongside another great linebacker, Brian Urlacher. The duo even led the team to the Super Bowl in 2006, where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts.

Briggs ended up making approximately $52.2 million in career earnings. Not bad for a former third-round draft pick out of Arizona.

56. Chad Brown

Born: July 12, 1970 (Pasadena, California)

High school: John Muir High School (Pasadena, California)

College: Colorado

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 245 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1993-2007)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1993-96, 2006), Seattle Seahawks (1997-2004), New England Patriots (2005, 2007)

Career highlights: Three-time Pro Bowl (1996, 1998, 1999), two-time NFL All-Pro (1996, 1998), Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team

Bottom Line: Chad Brown

NFL All-Pro Chad Brown — Chad Brown was tough to block.

Chad Brown was the type of player who could do almost anything on the defensive front.

The four-year starter for the University of Colorado became a star in the NFL as well, first for the Pittsburgh Steelers, then for the Seattle Seahawks.

Brown played on two teams that came up just short of winning a Super Bowl, with the Pittsburgh Steelers losing in the big game following the 1995 season and the New England Patriots following the 2007 season.

55. Keith Bulluck

Keith Bulluck and Eric Johnson — Keith Bulluck played his college ball at Syracuse.

Born: April 4, 1977 (Suffern, New York)

High school: Clarkstown High School North (New City, New York)

College: Syracuse

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

NFL career: 10 seasons (2000-09)

Teams: Tennessee Titans (2000-09), New York Giants (2010)

Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2003, 2007), Pro Bowl (2003)

Bottom Line: Keith Bulluck

NFL All-Pro Keith Bulluck — Keith Bulluck was a three-time All-Pro.

New York native and former Syracuse star Keith Bulluck helped define the early years of the Tennessee Titans as part of the team that came within one yard of winning a Super Bowl.

Bulluck played mainly on special teams his first two seasons with the Titans before a breakout season in 2002. That was the first of five consecutive seasons with at least 120 tackles.

54. Derrick Johnson

Born: Nov. 22, 1982 (Waco, Texas)

High school: Waco High School (Waco, Texas)

College: Texas

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 242 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (2005-18)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2005-17), Oakland Raiders (2018)

Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2011, 2015), four-time Pro Bowl (2011-13, 2015)

Bottom Line: Derrick Johnson

Brock Osweiler and Derrick Johnson — Derrick Johnson

If you're ever asked what the perfect size, speed and level of skill you would create for an NFL linebacker, Derrick Johnson should come to mind.

Johnson, at 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, was a high school star in Central Texas at Waco High before becoming an All-American at the University of Texas and an NFL All-Pro.

53. Donnie Edwards

Donnie Edwards and Earnest Graham — Donnie Edwards went to UCLA.

Born: April 6, 1973 (San Diego, California)

High school: Chula Vista High School (Chula Vista, California)

College: UCLA

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 227 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1996-2008)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs (1996-2001, 2007-08), San Diego Chargers (2002-06)

Career highlights: Two-time NFL All-Pro (2002, 2004), Pro Bowl (2002)

Bottom Line: Donnie Edwards

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards — Donnie Edwards was a two-time All-Pro.

Donnie Edwards was an undersized linebacker who made plays all over the field during a 13-year career in the NFL, first for the Kansas City Chiefs, then for his hometown San Diego Chargers.

Edwards' name jumps off the page when you look at the NFL career leaders list for tackles, where he clocks in at No. 4 with 1,501, despite making just one Pro Bowl in his career.

52. Jonathan Vilma

Jonathan Vilma and Marion Barber — Jonathan Vilma was a beast on the field.

Born: April 16, 1982 (Coral Gables, Florida)

High school: Coral Gables Senior High School (Coral Gables, Florida)

College: Miami

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 230 pounds

NFL career: 10 seasons (2004-13)

Teams: New York Jets (2004-07), New Orleans Saints (2008-13)

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2009), three-time Pro Bowl (2005, 2009, 2010), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2004)

Bottom Line: Jonathan Vilma

Jonathan Vima and Joe Vitt — Jonathan Vima helped the Saints win a Super Bowl in 2010.

Few defensive players in New Orleans Saints history are as beloved as Jonathan Vilma, who led the team to its only Super Bowl win following the 2009 season.

Vilma, who also won a national championship at the University of Miami in 2001, also is well-known for taking the NFL to court following a yearlong suspension in "Bountygate."

He won and was allowed to play.

51. Lavonte David

Born: Jan. 23, 1990 (Miami, Florida)

High school: Miami Northwestern High School (Miami, Florida)

College: Nebraska

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 233 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (2012-present)

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2021), three-time NFL All-Pro (2013, 2016, 2020), Pro Bowl (2015), NFL All-Rookie Team (2012)

Bottom Line: Lavonte David

Lavonte David's football career took him across the United States after growing up in Miami, Florida.

First, he went to junior college in Fort Scott, Kansas. Then, he starred at the University of Nebraska, before returning to Florida, where he's been one of the best linebackers in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last decade.

David cashed in with a Super Bowl victory following the 2020 season. It was the second title in franchise history for the Bucs, and the three-time NFL All-Pro doesn't seem to be slowing down even in his 10th season.

50. Keith Brooking

Born: Oct. 30, 1975 (Senoia, Georgia)

High school: East Coweta High School (Sharpsburg, Georgia)

College: Georgia Tech

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 240 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1998-2012)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons (1998-2008), Dallas Cowboys (2009-11), Denver Broncos (2012)

Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (2001-05), two-time All-Pro (2002, 2004)

Bottom Line: Keith Brooking

Keith Brooking was an understated, dominant player for two teams, the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. He played with an amazing amount of fire and determination without bringing much attention to himself.

Brooking was incredibly consistent throughout his career. He posted nine straight seasons with at least 100 tackles and played in all 16 regular-season games for the last 12 seasons of his career.

He's not someone who is up for Hall of Fame consideration but his contribution to the game kept defenses afloat on playoff teams for an extended period of time.

49. Seth Joyner

Born: Nov. 18, 1964 (Spring Valley, New York)

High school: Spring Valley High School (Spring Valley, New York)

College: University of Texas-El Paso

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 241 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1986-98)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (1986-93), Arizona Cardinals (1994-96), Green Bay Packers (1997), Denver Broncos (1998)

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1998), three-time Pro Bowl (1991, 1993, 1994), three-time All-Pro (1991-93)

Bottom Line: Seth Joyner

Seth Joyner's career was a story in resilience. An eighth-round pick by the Eagles in 1986 out of UTEP, he was actually cut during his first training camp before being resigned during the season.

Joyner was unbelievably productive in different aspects of the game, with over 1,000 career tackles and 52 career sacks, and he was a standout on the great Philly defenses of the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside Reggie White under head coach Buddy Ryan.

Joyner capped his career off by winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in his final season.

48. Bill Bergey

Born: Feb. 9, 1945 (South Dayton, New York)

High school: South Dayton High School (South Dayton, New York)

College: Arkansas State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 243 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1969-80)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals (1969-73), Philadelphia Eagles (1974-80)

Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1969, 1974, 1976-78), five-time All-Pro (1974-78)

Bottom Line: Bill Bergey

Bill Bergey went from being a star at Arkansas State to a star with the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL until owner Paul Brown leveraged him for a pair of first-round draft picks and a second-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bergey became one of the NFL's best linebackers in Philly, where he made five consecutive All-Pro teams and was the foundation for the "Gang Green" defense that made the playoffs in each of his last three seasons, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 1980.

Bergey retired with 27 interceptions.

47. George Connor

Born: Jan. 21, 1925 (Chicago, Illinois)

Died: March 31, 2005 (age 78, Chicago)

High school: De La Salle High School (Chicago)

College: Notre Dame

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds

NFL career: 8 seasons (1948-55)

Team: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: Five-time All-Pro (1950-53, 1955), four-time Pro Bowl (1950-53), NFL 1940s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1975)

Bottom Line: George Connor

If you want to know where the modern concept of an outside linebacker came from, start with George Connor.

Playing defensive tackle/end for the first two seasons of his NFL career, Connor became a linebacker when Bears head coach George Halas wanted to try and find a way to neutralize Philadelphia running back Steve Van Buren, so he had Connor stand up outside of the tight end to check Van Buren.

It worked, and Connor never put his hand in the dirt again during a Hall of Fame career.

46. Lee Roy Jordan

Born: April 27, 1941 (Excel, Alabama)

High school: Excel High School (Excel, Alabama)

College: University of Alabama

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 221 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1963-76)

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1973), five-time Pro Bowl (1967-69, 1973, 1974), two-time All-Pro (1969, 1973)

Bottom Line: Lee Roy Jordan

Lee Roy Jordan was undersized, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, but made up for it in talent and drive. Bear Bryant called him one of the best players he ever coached at Alabama, where Jordan won a national title in 1961.

Fans of the Dallas Cowboys feel the same way about him after he helped lead them to their first Super Bowl win in 1971, the same year he set a team record with 21 tackles.

Jordan had one of the signature moments in Cowboys history when he picked off Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson three times in one quarter, all within five minutes, and returned one of those 31 yards for a touchdown.

45. Ken Norton Jr.

Born: Sept. 29, 1966 (Jacksonville, Illinois)

High school: Westchester High School (Los Angeles)

College: UCLA

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 254 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1988-2000)

Teams: Dallas Cowboys (1988-93) San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000)

Career highlights: Three-time Super Bowl champion (1992-94), three-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1995, 1997), two-time All-Pro (1993, 1995)

Bottom Line: Ken Norton Jr.

Being the son of a former heavyweight boxing champion might be a burden for some, but Ken Norton Jr. embraced it.

His NFL career was punctuated by big hits and big wins, including three consecutive Super Bowl wins with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers in the early 1990s.

Norton's famous nod to his famous father was hitting the goal post pads like a punching bag, similar to how he treated opponents as the star linebacker for two of the best franchises in football for over a decade.

44. Chris Hanburger

Born: Aug. 13, 1941 (Fort Bragg, North Carolina)

High school: Hampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)

College: University of North Carolina

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 218 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1965-78)

Team: Washington Football Team (formerly Washington Redskins)

Career highlights: Nine-time Pro Bowl (1966-69, 1972-76), six-time All-Pro (1969, 1972-76), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011)

Bottom Line: Chris Hanburger

Chris Hanburger's path to NFL stardom as an outside linebacker was as unusual as any ever taken.

He joined the military for two years out of high school before going to play football for the University of North Carolina. For the Tar Heels, Hanburger played both ways and earned most of his accolades at center, not on defense.

In the NFL, he was a model of consistency for 14 seasons and earned postseason honors in 10 of 11 seasons and started 135 consecutive games at one point.

43. Bill Forester

Born: Aug. 9, 1932 (Dallas, Texas)

Died: April 27, 2007 (age 74, Dallas)

High School: Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas)

College: Southern Methodist University

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1953-63)

Team: Green Bay Packers

Career highlights: Four-time Pro Bowl (1959-62), five-time All-Pro (1959-63), two-time NFL champion (1961, 1962)

Bottom Line: Bill Forester

Bill Forester is one of the greatest examples of Vince Lombardi's genius as a coach. Forester was a nondescript linebacker for his first six seasons with the Packers, until Lombardi was hired in 1959 and the SMU product's career took off.

In Forester's final five seasons, he made all four of his Pro Bowls, all five of his All-Pro teams and helped lead Green Bay to its first two NFL titles under Lombardi. He also was a defensive captain in two of those seasons.

Forester died in 2007 after a long illness. He was 74 years old.

42. Dave Robinson

Born: May 3, 1941 (Mount Holly, New Jersey)

High school: Moorestown High School (Moorestown, New Jersey)

College: Penn State

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1963-74)

Teams: Green Bay Packers (1963-72), Washington Redskins (1973-74)

Career highlights: Three-time NFL champion (1965-67), two-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 1967), three-time Pro Bowl (1966, 1967, 1969), three-time All-Pro (1967-69), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2013)

Bottom Line: Dave Robinson

There's a lot of reasons to love the way Dave Robinson played football — mainly because he was a winner. Robinson won three consecutive state championships in high school, then repeated a version of that feat in the NFL, winning three consecutive championships with one NFL title and two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers.

Robinson's name has been somewhat lost to history because he played next to the great Ray Nitschke, on Nitschke's left side. One other cool thing about Robinson was what he said about Green Bay Packers coach Dan Devine when he left the team after the 1972 season to play for Washington: "Lombardi was the best coach I ever had. Devine was the worst."

True that.

41. Les Richter

Born: Oct. 26, 1930 (Fresno, California)

Died: June 12, 2010 (age 79, Riverside, California)

High school: Fresno High School (Fresno, California)

College: Cal

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 238 pounds

NFL career: 9 seasons (1954-62)

Team: Los Angeles Rams

Career highlights: Eight-time Pro Bowl (1954-61), seven-time All-Pro (1955-60), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011)

Bottom Line: Les Richter

Les Richter was an amazing football player and had size and speed that could have landed him on NFL rosters in any era.

But it's worth pointing out that he was much more than a football player. Richter was the valedictorian of his class at Cal, then went and served two years in the Army and fought in the Korean War before starting his NFL career. Richter didn't miss a game in nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and made seven All-Pro teams.

Richter, who died of a brain aneurysm in 2010, had a lengthy career in motorsports after his football career was over and is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

40. Robert Brazile

Born: Feb. 7, 1953 (Mobile, Alabama)

High school: Vigor High School (Pritchard, Alabama)

College: Jackson State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 241 pounds

NFL career: 10 seasons (1975-84)

Teams: Houston Oilers

Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1976-82), six-time All-Pro (1976-81), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)

Bottom Line: Robert Brazile

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, Robert Brazile dominated on the field and had one of the greatest nicknames ever.

"Dr. Doom" terrorized opposing offenses for 10 NFL seasons and was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

Brazile is often credited for being the first outside linebacker to define how the game was played in a 3-4 defense while rushing the passer, although sacks weren't an official NFL statistic until his last three seasons.

39. Isiah Robertson

Born: Aug. 17, 1949 (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Died: Dec. 6, 2018 (age 69, Dallas, Texas)

High school: Covington High School (Covington, Louisiana)

College: Southern University

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1971-82)

Teams: Los Angeles Rams (1971-78), Buffalo Bills (1979-82)

Career highlights: Six-time Pro Bowl (1971-77), six-time All-Pro (1971, 1973-77), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1971)

Bottom Line: Isiah Robertson

Isiah Robertson was one of the stars on the Los Angeles Rams' defenses that won six consecutive NFC West titles. In one of the greatest single rounds for any team in NFL draft history, the Rams used their two 1971 first-round picks on Robertson and NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Jack Youngblood.

Robertson's size, speed and athleticism often made the difference in games for the Rams. He was 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

He also finished his career with 25 interceptions and 24 sacks. Robertson died in a car accident in 2018, at 69 years old.

38. Darryl Talley

Born: July 10, 1960 (Cleveland, Ohio)

High school: East Cleveland Shaw High School (Cleveland, Ohio)

College: West Virginia University

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1983-96)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1983-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995), Minnesota Vikings (1996)

Career highlights: Four-time AFC champion (1990-93), two-time Pro Bowl (1990, 1991), two-time All-Pro (1990, 1993)

Bottom Line: Darryl Talley

Darryl Talley was a physical and athletic marvel during his playing career, and his consistency was truly something to behold.

Talley was on all four of Buffalo’s AFC title teams that lost in the Super Bowl and finished his career with 1,252 tackles, 38.5 sacks and 29 takeaways. He also is the Bills' career leading tackler.

A little-known fact about Talley: He's the cousin of Baseball Hall of Famer and Miami Marlins owner Derek Jeter.

37. Willie Lanier

Born: Aug. 21, 1945 (Clover, Virginia)

High school: Maggie L. Walker (Richmond, Virginia)

College: Morgan State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 245 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1967-77)

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), six-time Pro Bowl (1970-75), eight-time All-Pro (1968-75), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986)

Bottom Line: Willie Lanier

Willie Lanier played in an era of football best defined by his hitting style — which mainly consisted of him trying to put the crown of his helmet through your sternum.

Lanier was one of two Hall of Famers in the Kansas City linebacker corps during his era, alongside Bobby Bell, but it was Lanier who led the defense from his middle linebacker spot.

In 11 seasons, Bell earned postseason honors eight times and helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win in 1969.

36. Randy Gradishar

Born: March 3, 1952 (Warren, Ohio)

High school: Champion High School (Champion Township, Ohio)

College: Ohio State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 233 pounds

NFL career: 10 seasons (1974-83)

Team: Denver Broncos

Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (1975, 1977-79, 1981-83), six-time All-Pro (1977-81, 1983), seven-time All-AFC (1976-79, 1981-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1978)

Bottom Line: Randy Gradishar

Much like Chicago Bears linebacker Joe Fortunato, Randy Gradishar doesn't have the legacy he should be because of the player he directly preceded. For Fortunato, it was Dick Butkus, and for Gradishar, it was Karl Mecklenburg.

On paper, Gradishar's resume was much better than Mecklenburg's career accolades. Both players led their team to a Super Bowl, and for Gradishar, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, the year the Broncos won an AFC title.

Gradishar also was a six-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. Those are both more than Mecklenburg's career totals, and Gradishar played two fewer seasons.

35. Harry Carson

Born: Nov. 26, 1953 (Florence, South Carolina)

High school: Wilson High School (Florence, South Carolina)

College: South Carolina State

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1976-88)

Team: New York Giants

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1986), nine-time Pro Bowl (1978, 1979, 1981-87), six-time All-Pro (1978, 1981, 1982, 1984-86), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2006)

Bottom Line: Harry Carson

Harry Carson is perhaps the most respected defensive player and teammate in the history of the NFL.

He was so well regarded by those around him that when the Giants faced the Broncos in the Super Bowl, Carson walked out to face nine Broncos captains thinking he was one of three, but head coach Bill Parcells and his teammates decided to send Carson out by himself as a show of respect.

If Lawrence Taylor is the Michael Jordan of NFL linebackers, Carson was his Scottie Pippen.

34. Hardy Nickerson

Born: Sept. 1, 1965 (Compton, California)

High school: Verbum Dei High School (Los Angeles)

College: Cal

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds

NFL career: 16 seasons (1987-2002)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987-92), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-99), Jacksonville Jaguars (2000-01), Green Bay Packers (2002)

Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1993, 1996-99), four-time All-Pro (1993, 1996, 1997, 1999), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Hardy Nickerson

Modern football fans might be seeing the name Hardy Nickerson for the first time, but the old heads know him as one of the more dominant linebackers of his era who had the misfortune of playing most of his career with mediocre teams.

Nickerson had his best years with the Steelers and with the Buccaneers right before those teams started to make deep, consistent playoff runs, but he was a feared player and at his best playing in a 4-3 scheme defense.

In a 16-season career, he recorded an incredible 1,586 tackles.

33. Joe Fortunato

Born: March 28, 1930 (Mingo Junction, Ohio)

Died: Nov. 6, 2017 (age 87, Natchez, Mississippi)

High school: Mingo High School (Mingo, Ohio)

College: Mississippi State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1955-66)

Team: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), six-time All-Pro (1958, 1963-66), five-time Pro Bowl (1958, 1962-65), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, PFR 1960s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Joe Fortunato

Joe Fortunato's greatest teammate, fellow linebacker Dick Butkus, also became perhaps the greatest impediment to Fortunato's long-term legacy. The two Bears greats played together for Fortunato's final two seasons, which meant Butkus broke all of Fortunato's records just years after he set them.

Fortunato, who was named one of the Bears 100 Greatest Players, did accomplish one thing that Butkus never would. He won an NFL championship for Chicago in 1963.

Fortunato also is the only player on the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1950s that was not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

32. Chuck Howley

Born: June 28, 1936 (Wheeling, West Virginia)

High school: Warwood High School (Wheeling, West Virginia)

College: West Virginia University

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 228 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1958-60, 1961-73)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1958-59), Dallas Cowboys (1961-73)

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1971), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (1970), six-time Pro Bowl (1965-69, 1971), six-time Pro Bowl (1966-71)

Bottom Line: Chuck Howley

Chuck Howley thought his career was over due to a devastating knee injury just three games into the 1959 season with the Chicago Bears.

owley missed the rest of 1959 and all of 1960 before attempting a comeback in 1961 with the Cowboys, where he became a six-time Pro Bowler and the only player to win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honors while playing on the losing team.

Howley fixed that one minor blip in his resume when he helped lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory in 1970.

31. Karl Mecklenburg

Born: Sept. 1, 1960 (Seattle, Washington)

High school: Edina West High School (Edina, Minnesota)

College: University of Minnesota

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1983-94)

Team: Denver Broncos

Career highlights: Six-time Pro Bowl (1985-87, 1989, 1991, 1993), four-time All-Pro (1985-87, 1989)

Bottom Line: Karl Mecklenburg

Karl Mecklenburg was a throwaway pick by the Broncos in the 12th round of the 1983 NFL draft and ended up being one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history — and definitely the greatest pure inside linebacker.

Mecklenburg anchored Denver's defense with safety Steve Atwater and helped lead Denver to three AFC titles, but the Broncos lost all three of those Super Bowls.

Sadly, Mecklenburg's post-football life has been defined by his battle with brain injuries sustained playing football, and he's part of several concussion-related lawsuits against the NFL.

30. Pat Swilling

Born: Oct. 25, 1964 (Toccoa, Georgia)

High school: Stephens County High School (Toccoa, Georgia)

College: Georgia Tech

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1986-96, 1998)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-92), Detroit Lions (1993-94), Oakland Raiders (1995-96, 1998)

Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1989-93), four-time All-Pro (1989-92), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1991)

Bottom Line: Pat Swilling

Pat Swilling was part of perhaps the finest assembly of linebackers in NFL history — the New Orleans Saints' famous "Dome Patrol" of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alongside Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills and Vaughan Johnson, Swilling wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.

One of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history, Swilling finished his career with 107.5 sacks but no playoff wins. His 0-6 record in the postseason is an NFL record for most playoff games without a win.

29. Zach Thomas

Lynne Sladky — Zach Thomas won the starting middle linebacker job with the Miami Dolphins as a rookie.

Born: Sept. 1, 1973 (Pampa, Texas)

High school: White Deer High School (Pampa, Texas)

College: Texas Tech

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 228 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1996-2008)

Teams: Miami Dolphins (1996-2007), Dallas Cowboys (2008)

Career highlights: Seven-time All-Pro (1998-99, 2001-03, 2005, 2006), seven-time Pro Bowl (1999-2003, 2005, 2006), AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year (1996), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Zach Thomas

Zach Thomas brought a certain attitude to defenses as a middle linebacker, both in college at Texas Tech and in the NFL, that was evident from the moment he stepped on the field. Quite simply, if you saw No. 54 out there, you knew the team at least had a chance to win because of him.

It's actually confounding why more of a Hall of Fame case hasn't been made for Thomas. He's fifth on the NFL career list with 1,734 tackles to go with 17 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries.

Two players of the four players with more tackles, Ray Lewis and Junior Seau, are in the Hall of Fame.

28. London Fletcher

Born: May 19, 1975 (Cleveland, Ohio)

High school: Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (Cleveland, Ohio)

College: John Carroll University

Height/weight: 5-foot-10, 242 pounds

NFL career: 16 seasons (1998-2013)

Teams: St. Louis Rams (1998-2001), Buffalo Bills (2002-06), Washington Football Team (2007-13)

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1999), four-time Pro Bowl (2009-12), two-time All-Pro (2011, 2012)

Bottom Line: London Fletcher

London Fletcher represents one of the great underdog stories in NFL history.

Fletcher, 5-foot-11 and 242 pounds, ran a blazing 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine coming out of NCAA Division III John Carroll University, but he still went undrafted. That didn't matter. Fletcher carved out a 16-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl win with the Rams in his second season.

He finished his career with over 2,000 tackles (2,039), which is second on the NFL's all-time list, and set the NFL record for linebackers with 215 consecutive starts.

27. Cornelius Bennett

Born: Aug. 25, 1965 (Birmingham, Alabama)

High school: Ensley High School (Birmingham, Alabama)

College: University of Alabama

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1997-2000)

Teams: Buffalo Bills (1987-95), Atlanta Falcons (1996-98), Indianapolis Colts (1999-2000)

Career highlights: Two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1988, 1991), five-time Pro Bowl (1988, 1990-93), three-time All-Pro (1988, 1991, 1992), AFC Defensive Team of the Decade (2000s)

Bottom Line: Cornelius Bennett

Cornelius Bennett forced a trade from the Colts to the Bills after being drafted in 1987 and was one of the best linebackers in the NFL for the next decade-plus.

In all, he was a two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Year and played in five Super Bowls, losing every time to set an NFL record.

Bennett was convicted of rape in 1997 and sentenced to 60 days in jail, but still allowed to play in the NFL for four more seasons.

26. Bobby Wagner

Born: June 27, 1990 (Los Angeles)

High school: Colony High School (Ontario, California)

College: Utah State

Height/weight: 6-foot, 242 pounds

NFL career: 9 seasons (2012-present)

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2013), six-time Pro Bowl (2014-19), six-time All-Pro (2014-19), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Bobby Wagner

If Bobby Wagner continues a few more years having the career he's had through his first nine seasons, you can start to make some very concrete arguments for him one day being a Hall of Famer.

Wagner, who first turned heads by running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the Utah State pro day, helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win in 2013, won another NFC title two years later and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

He's also already made six All-Pro teams, six Pro Bowls and banked almost $100 million in career earnings.

25. Nick Buoniconti

Born: Dec. 15, 1940 (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Died: July 30, 2019 (age 78, Bridgehampton, New York)

High school: Cathedral High School (Springfield, Massachusetts)

College: Notre Dame

Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1962-74, 1976)

Teams: Boston Patriots (1962-68), Miami Dolphins (19690-74, 1976)

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1972, 1973), two-time Pro Bowl (1972, 1973), two-time All-Pro (1972, 1973), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001)

Bottom Line: Nick Buoniconti

If Dolphins fans felt like they were having flashbacks when Zach Thomas came along to play middle linebacker in the mid-1990s, it's because it wasn't the first time they'd seen an undersized, dominant player leading their defense.

Nick Buoniconti was just 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds but destroyed opponents with sheer will and ferocity, helping lead the Dolphins to two Super Bowl wins and the only undefeated season in NFL history in 1972.

Buoniconti, who was also a practicing attorney, died in 2019 at 78 years old.

24. Patrick Willis

Born: Jan. 25, 1985 (Bruceton, Tennessee)

High school: Central High School (Bruceton, Tennessee)

College: University of Mississippi

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 242 pounds

NFL career: 8 seasons (2007-14)

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl (2007-13), six-time All-Pro (2007-12), NFL 2010s All-Decade team, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2007)

Bottom Line: Patrick Willis

Few stories rival that of former NFL star Patrick Willis. Born into abject poverty in rural Tennessee, he was working full-time in the cotton fields by the time he was 10 years old and had to flee his home with his sisters at 17 to get away from his violent, alcoholic father.

Willis played just eight seasons in the NFL, but that's kind of misleading. He only played six games in his final season before retiring because of a nagging toe injury.

In his short time in the league, Willis made seven Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and banked over $50 million in career earnings.

23. Sam Huff

Born: Oct. 4, 1934 (Edna, West Virginia)

High school: Farmington High School (Farmington, West Virginia)

College: West Virginia University

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 230 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1956-67, 1969)

Teams: New York Giants (1956-63), Washington Football Team (1964-67, 1969)

Career highlights: NFL champion (1956), six-time All-Pro (1957-61, 1963), five-time Pro Bowl (1958-61, 1964), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1982)

Bottom Line: Sam Huff

Sam Huff almost left his rookie training camp with the New York Giants when coaches couldn't find a position for him.

But assistant coach Vince Lombardi tracked him down at the airport and convinced him to come back, and defensive coordinator Tom Landry made the decision to move him to middle linebacker. It was a good fit.

Huff became the first rookie middle linebacker to start an NFL championship game, leading the Giants to the title in 1956 and led them to four more NFL championship games, losing each time.

22. Wilber Marshall

Born: April 18, 1962 (Titusville, Florida)

High school: Astronaut High School (Titusville, Florida)

College: University of Florida

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 231 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1984-95)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1984-87), Washington Football Team (1988-92), Houston Oilers (1993), Arizona Cardinals (1994), New York Jets (1995)

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1986, 1991), three-time Pro Bowl (1986, 1987, 1992), three-time All-Pro (1986, 1991, 1992), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992)

Bottom Line: Wilber Marshall

There were a lot of strong defensive players that played next to Mike Singletary with the Bears. They paled in comparison but were great players in their own right — most notably Wilber Marshall.

After leaving Chicago, Marshall proved he was elite by winning a Super Bowl and NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Washington Football Team (then known as the Redskins).

But he'll always be best known for his role on the Bears' Super Bowl-winning team of 1985 that featured arguably the best defense in NFL history.

21. Tommy Nobis

Born: Sept. 20, 1943 (San Antonio, Texas)

Died: Dec. 13, 2017 (age 74, Marietta, Georgia)

High school: Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, Texas)

College: University of Texas

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 240 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1966-76)

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Career highlights: NFL Rookie of the Year (1966), five-time Pro Bowl (1966-68, 1970, 1972), two-time All-Pro (1967, 1968), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Tommy Nobis

By the time Tommy Nobis left the University of Texas, he was as famous as any player in the NFL, having already appeared on the cover of Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines for his accomplishments.

Nobis was the first overall pick in the 1966 NFL draft and the first player picked by the expansion Atlanta Falcons. Nobis played in relative anonymity for his entire NFL career but still put up monster numbers on some really bad teams.

Those bad teams likely cost him any shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

20. Sam Mills

Born: June 3, 1959 (Neptune City, New Jersey)

Died: April 18, 2005 (age 45, Charlotte, North Carolina)

High school: Long Branch High School (Long Branch, New Jersey)

College: Montclair State University

Height/weight: 5-foot-9, 229 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1986-97)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1986-94), Carolina Panthers (1995-97)

Career highlights: Five-time Pro Bowl (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996), three-time All-Pro (1991, 1992, 1996)

Bottom Line: Sam Mills

If the Professional Football Hall of Fame and its esteemed members and voters would like to actually live up to its name, then those parties should think of a way to add Sam Mills to their brethren.

Mills, just 5-foot-9, played in the Canadian Football League and then was one of the USFL's greatest players before making the leap to the NFL. It didn't slow Mills' production, and he made three Pro Bowls and five Pro Bowls despite spending his first five seasons elsewhere.

Mills, who died of cancer in 2005, is one of the most beloved players in the history of both the Saints and the Panthers.

19. Bill George

Born: Oct. 27, 1929 (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)

Died: Sept. 30, 1982 (Rockford, Illinois)

High School: Central High School (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)

College: Wake Forest

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 237 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1952-66)

Teams: Chicago Bears (1952-65), Los Angeles Rams (1966)

Career highlights: NFL champion (1963), eight-time All-Pro (1955-61, 1963), NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1974)

Bottom Line: Bill George

Before Bill George came along, the way the linebacker position was taught kept football in the stone ages — every snap, they hit the center or guard right away. No questions asked.

George realized this allowed the quarterback to easily drop passes right over his head, so he began to try and read the play and react, dropping into coverage at times when he realized it was a pass play. This stroke of genius created not only the middle linebacker position, but the 4-3 defense.

George died in a car accident in 1982, at 53 years old.

18. Jack Ham

Born: Dec. 23, 1948 (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)

High school: Bishop McCourt High School (Johnstown, Pennsylvania)

College: Penn State

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 225 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1971-82)

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), eight-time Pro Bowl (1973-80), eight-time All-Pro (1973-80), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1975), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988)

Bottom Line: Jack Ham

Jack Ham was one of the smartest players to ever take a snap in the NFL, on offense or defense, and had a reputation for never being out of position, never being fooled by offensive trickery and making huge plays.

Ham, with the size of a free safety, was as quick as any running back or wide receiver in the 10 yards from the line of scrimmage and recorded a gaudy 32 interceptions and 53 takeaways in his career while helping the Steelers win four Super Bowl.

His 53 takeaways are still the most in NFL history by a non-defensive back.

17. Dave Wilcox

Born: Sept. 29, 1942 (Ontario, Oregon)

High school: Vale High School (Vale, Oregon)

College: University of Oregon

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 241 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1964-74)

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Career highlights: Four-time All-Pro (1967, 1971-73), seven-time Pro Bowl (1966, 1968-73), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000)

Bottom Line: Dave Wilcox

In 11 dominant NFL seasons, Dave Wilcox only missed one game due to injury and confounded opposing offenses with his ability to elude blocks at the most basic level.

While some of the linebackers on this list probably wouldn't even get a second look in today's NFL because of their size, Wilcox (who's the father of Cal head coach Justin Wilcox) is actually the opposite.

At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, his combination of speed and athleticism would make the Hall of Famer even more valuable in today's league than he was in his era.

16. Luke Kuechly

Born: April 20, 1991 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

High school: St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)

College: Boston College

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 238 pounds

NFL career: 8 seasons (2012-19)

Team: Carolina Panthers

Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2013), seven-time Pro Bowl (2013-19), seven-time All-Pro (2013-19), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Luke Kuechly

Injuries cut Luke Kuechly's career short, like they did with quite a few great linebackers. But in his eight seasons, Kuechly accomplished almost everything an NFL linebacker could, including being perhaps the best coverage linebacker in the history of the game.

Kuechly made seven Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro teams, and in 2012, he was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Knowing what we know now about concussions, which forced Kuechly's retirement, should players who accomplish what he did and have their careers shortened be in the Hall of Fame?

We'll find out in 2024, when he'll be on the ballot for the first time.

15. Bobby Bell

Born: June 17, 1940 (Shelby, North Carolina)

High school: Cleveland High School (Shelby, North Carolina)

College: University of Minnesota

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 228 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1963-74)

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1969), three-time Pro Bowl (1970-72), two-time All-Pro (1970, 1971), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983)

Bottom Line: Bobby Bell

Bobby Bell could do it all. You could say he was as close to a Lawrence Taylor version of a linebacker the NFL ever had before we got the real thing.

Bell was as much of a winner as anyone who ever played the sport. He led the University of Minnesota to a national title in 1960, then won two AFL championships and a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Almost 50 years after he retired, Bell's nine defensive touchdowns are still tied for the most in NFL history for a linebacker alongside fellow Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks.

14. Joe Schmidt

Born: Jan. 19, 1932 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

High school: Brentwood High School (Brentwood, Pennsylvania)

College: University of Pittsburgh

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 220 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1953-65)

Team: Detroit Lions

Career highlights: Two-time NFL champion (1953, 1957), 10-time All-Pro (1954-63), 10-time Pro Bowl (1954-63), NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player (1960, 1963), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1973)

Bottom Line: Joe Schmidt

You may have never heard of Joe Schmidt, but he was the single most dominant NFL linebacker through the 1950s and the early part of the 1960s.

He was a two-time NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player, led the Detroit Lions to two NFL championships and made both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams every year for 10 consecutive years from 1954 to 1963.

Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick that the Lions weren't even sure would be able to make their roster.

13. Brian Urlacher

Born: May 25, 1978 (Pasco, Washington)

High school: Lovington High School (Lovington, New Mexico)

College: University of New Mexico

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 258 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (2000-12)

Team: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2005), five-time All-Pro (2001, 2002. 2005, 2006, 2010), eight-time Pro Bowl (2000-03, 2005, 2006, 2010, 20110, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2000), NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)

Bottom Line: Brian Urlacher

It's fitting that Khalil Mack now plays for the Chicago Bears. His style of play is strikingly similar to Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, who preceded him by a generation in the Windy City.

Not many linebackers can boast the athleticism of Urlacher, who set the single-season Bears record with 153 tackles in 2002 and owns the team's career tackles record with 1,361.

No NFL team has the linebacker tradition of the Bears, who boast Hall of Famers Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Urlacher and Mack, a future Hall of Famer, among their all-time greats.

12. Andre Tippett

Born: Dec. 27, 1959 (Birmingham, Alabama)

High school: Barringer High School (Newark, New Jersey)

College: University of Iowa

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1982-88, 1990-93)

Team: New England Patriots

Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985), four-time All-Pro (1985-88), five-time Pro Bowl (1984-88), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2008)

Bottom Line: Andre Tippett

Behind Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett was the most dominant NFL linebacker in the 1980s. Renowned for his elite combination of size and speed, Tippett was scary coming off the edge and racked up 100 career sacks, which is still the Patriots' franchise record.

Tippett had his most dominant season in 1985, when he led the Patriots to their first AFC title and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In a testament to the influence that karate had in the U.S. in the 1980s — and what a freak of nature Tippett is — he's also a sixth-degree black belt.

Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it? No, Sensei Tippett!

11. Chuck Bednarik

Born: May 1, 1925 (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Died: March 21, 2015 (age 89, Richland, Pennsylvania)

High school: Liberty High School (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)

College: University of Pennsylvania

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 233 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1949-62)

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Career highlights: Two-time NFL champion (1949, 1960), eight-time Pro Bowl (1950-54, 1956, 1957, 1960), 10-time All-Pro (1950-57, 1960, 1961), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967)

Bottom Line: Chuck Bednarik

The last 60-minute man in NFL history, Chuck Bednarik dominated on both sides of the ball for the Philadelphia Eagles. On offense, he played center, and on defense, he was a linebacker, where he earned a reputation as one of the most devastating tacklers of all time.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 1949 NFL draft, Bednarik led the Eagles to a championship in 1949 and in 1960, where he made the game-saving tackle as time ran out.

Bednarik is most famous for his 1960 tackle of Giants running back Frank Gifford, who was knocked unconscious on the play and out of football for almost two years.

10. Khalil Mack

Born: Feb. 22, 1991 (Fort Pierce, Florida)

High school: Westwood High School (Fort Pierce, Florida)

College: University of Buffalo

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 269 pounds

NFL career: 10 seasons (2014-present)

Teams: Oakland Raiders (2014-17), Chicago Bears (2018-21) , Los Angeles Chargers (2022-present)

Career highlights: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2016), three-time All-Pro (2015, 2016, 2018), five-time Pro Bowl (2014-19), NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Bottom Line: Khalil Mack

Perhaps the most dominant defensive player of his generation, like so many other great linebackers on this list, Khalil Mack has had the misfortune of playing on some truly horrendous teams throughout the early portion of his career with the Raiders and the Bears.

Mack, who holds the NCAA records for forced fumbles and tackles for loss, became the first player in NFL history to make All-Pro at two different positions in 2015 when he was a first-team defensive end and outside linebacker.

His talent has already made him a rich, rich man. The six-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Bears in 2018 was the largest contract for a defensive player in NFL history.

9. Rickey Jackson

Born: March 20, 1958 (Pahokee, Florida)

High school: Pahokee High School (Pahokee, Florida)

College: University of Pittsburgh

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 243 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1981-95)

Teams: New Orleans Saints (1981-93), San Francisco 49ers (1994-95)

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1994), six-time Pro Bowl (1983-86, 1992, 1993), five-time All-Pro (1984-86, 1992, 1993), Pro Football Hall of Fame (2010)

Bottom Line: Rickey Jackson

The first Hall of Famer to go in as a player primarily for the Saints, Rickey Jackson was the leader of the famed "Doom Patrol" linebacker corps in New Orleans and is one of the toughest players in NFL history.

How tough was the "City Champ"? Jackson only missed two games in his 13 seasons with the Saints — in 1989 because of a car accident.

He returned to play the rest of the season with a specially made helmet because his jaw was wired shut. Jackson retired in the top three in NFL history for sacks (128) and fumble recoveries (28).

8. Mike Singletary

Born: Oct. 9, 1958 (Houston)

High school: Worthing High School (Houston)

College: Baylor University

Height/weight: 6-foot, 230 pounds

NFL career: 12 seasons (1981-92)

Team: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (1985), 10-time Pro Bowl (1983-82), nine-time All-Pro (1983-91), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988), three-time NFC Player of the Year (1984, 1985, 1988), NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1998)

Bottom Line: Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary was the player at the heart of perhaps the greatest defense of all time — the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went 15-1 in the regular season and blew out the New England Patriots, 46-10, in the Super Bowl.

That year was the first of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards for Singletary, who won again in 1988. Singletary also was named NFC Player of the Year three times during his career.

"I'm Samurai Mike, I stop 'em cold," was the start of his "Super Bowl Shuffle" verse. And, yeah, he really did.

7. Derrick Brooks

Born: April 18, 1973 (Pensacola, Florida)

High school: Booker T. Washington High School (Pensacola, Florida)

College: Florida State University

Height/weight: 6-foot, 230 pounds

NFL career: 14 seasons (1995-2008)

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Career highlights: Super Bowl champion (2002), nine-time All-Pro (1997-2005), 11-time Pro Bowl (1997-2006, 2008), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2002), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2014)

Bottom Line: Derrick Brooks

If you could build a middle linebacker from scratch, you'd probably come up with a player that looked a lot like Derrick Brooks.

He helped lead Florida State to its first national title in 1993 and a decade later put together his greatest NFL seasons, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and leading the Buccaneers to their only Super Bowl win in 2002.

Brooks, like so many players on this list, played his entire career with just one team.

6. Dick Butkus

Born: Dec. 9, 1942 (Chicago)

Died: Oct. 5, 2023, 80 years old (Chicago)

High school: Vocational High School (Chicago)

College: University of Illinois

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds

NFL career: 9 seasons (1965-73)

Team: Chicago Bears

Career highlights: Eight-time Pro Bowl (1965-72), eight-time All-Pro (1965-72), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1969, 1970), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1983)

Bottom Line: Dick Butkus

Only a handful of players can say they truly defined their positions in NFL history. Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus is one of those.

Tales of Butkus' exploits would make you think he played several decades in the NFL, but his career was just nine seasons. Eight of those he made the All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl, with back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1969 and 1970.

He might have been the most intimidating human being to ever step on a football field.

5. Ray Nitschke

Born: Dec. 29, 1936 (Elmwood Park, Illinois)

Died: March 8, 1998 (61 years old, Venice, Florida)

High school: Proviso East High School (Mayfield, Illinois)

College: University of Illinois

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

NFL career: 15 seasons (1958-72)

Team: Green Bay Packers

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (1966, 1967), three-time NFL champion (1961, 1962, 1965), Pro Bowl (1964), seven-time All-Pro (1962-67, 1969), NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1978)

Bottom Line: Ray Nitschke

Few players in NFL history have captured the public's imagination like Green Bay Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke, who won three NFL championships and two Super Bowl trophies.

Nitscke's style of play was pure dominance in the middle of the field He was known for his ability to dole out hard hits, but his athleticism was always underestimated, and he ended his career with 25 interceptions.

How deep was Nitschke in pop culture during his career? He was in The Monkees' cult-favorite film "Head" and also in the original "The Longest Yard" starring Burt Reynolds.

Nitschke died of a massive heart attack in Florida in 1998, when he was 61 years old.

4. Junior Seau

Born: Jan. 9, 1969 (Oceanside, California)

Died: May 2, 2012 (43 years old, Oceanside, California)

High school: Oceanside High School (Oceanside, California)

College: USC

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds

NFL career: 20 seasons (1990-2009)

Teams: San Diego Chargers (1990-2002), Miami Dolphins (2003-05), New England Patriots (2006-09)

Career highlights: 12-time Pro Bowl (1991-2002), 10-time All-Pro (1991-2000), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1992), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2015)

Bottom Line: Junior Seau

Tiania Baul "Junior" Seau was a football unicorn — a linebacker who played 20 seasons in the NFL and dominated almost every step of the way.

He played 13 seasons for his hometown San Diego Chargers and became perhaps the greatest sports icon in the history of San Diego alongside Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.

Tragically, Seau took his own life in 2012, at 43 years old. A study of his brain revealed he had a severe case of CTE, which can cause rage, amnesia and severe depression.

3. Ray Lewis

Born: May 15, 1975 (Bartow, Florida)

High school: Kathleen High School (Lakeland, Florida)

College: University of Miami

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 240 pounds

NFL career: 17 seasons (1996-2012)

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl champion (2000, 2012), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (2000), 13-time Pro Bowl (1997-2001, 2003, 2004, 2006-11), 10-time All-Pro (1997-2001, 2003, 2004, 2008-10), two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2018)

Bottom Line: Ray Lewis

No player has been as consistent on the defensive side of the ball, start to finish, as Ray Lewis was in his 17 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. That includes Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012, with the latter coming in Lewis' final game.

His 10 All-Pro selections are tied for the NFL career record alongside Lawrence Taylor.

Off the field, Lewis' career was almost over before it started. He beat a double-murder charge before the 2000 season following the stabbing deaths of two men in a fight after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta.

2. Jack Lambert

Born: July 8, 1952 (Mantua, Ohio)

High school: Crestwood High School (Mantua, Ohio)

College: Kent State University

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds

NFL career: 11 seasons (1974-84)

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979), nine-time Pro Bowl (1975-83), eight-time All-Pro (1975, 1976, 1978-83), NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1976), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1974), NFL 100th Anniversary Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1990)

Bottom Line: Jack Lambert

Jack Lambert played 11 seasons — all for the Steelers — and won four Super Bowls as the starting linebacker and heart of the "Steel Curtain" defense with fellow Hall of Famers Mean Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham and Donnie Shell.

Lambert averaged 146 tackles through his first 10 seasons, but only played a handful of games in his 11th season because of a toe injury that led to his retirement.

Lambert's size and speed and ability to control a game from the middle linebacker position made him one of the greatest players of all time.

Something else inside of Lambert, best defined by the toothless, screaming pictures of him during games when he took out his dentures, made him the toughest.

1. Lawrence Taylor

Born: Feb. 4, 1959 (Williamsburg, Virginia)

High school: Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)

College: University of North Carolina

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

NFL career: 13 seasons (1981-93)

Team: New York Giants

Career highlights: Two-time Super Bowl Champion (1986, 1990), NFL Most Valuable Player (1986), 10-time Pro Bowl (1981-90), 10-time All-Pro (1981-90), three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999)

Bottom Line: Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Taylor isn't just the greatest linebacker of all time. He's also the greatest defensive player of all time.

The No. 2 overall pick in 1981 out of North Carolina led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, was a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1986 — the last defensive player to win that award.

Taylor's dominance changed the way football is played on every level, from how offensive lines block to the way teams teach how to rush the quarterback.