NFL - Best Linebacker of All Time

The position of Linebacker in the NFL requires the player to have very special talents. They must have the physical stamina and toughness to take on the full back head to head. They must posses the speed and agility to cover a tight end or running back down field. They must have a nose for the ball and are traditionally the leaders of the defensive unit and a symbol of toughness. Many consider the linebacker position to be the toughest in the game and with good reason.

The position of linebacker has been played by many great athletes, legends of the game, but which among them deserves to be called the best linebacker ever. When discussing great linebackers, the names Lambert, Lewis, Butkus, Brooks, Thomas, Seau and Taylor are among the first mentioned. In compiling a list of the ten best ever linebackers, all of these made the list, but some less likely candidates also entered the spotlight.

Naming the best linebacker based on lifetime statistics is, in my opinion, unfair. Longevity can allow a player to attain statistics, but is not necessarily a representation of their true talent level. For that reason lifetime records were not considered. Unfortunately, neither were sacks. Quarterback sacks were not recorded by the NFL as a statistic until 1982. Since many of the nominees played before this time, the records for their sacks are incomplete or non-existent.

A great linebacker has a nose for the football. They know instinctively where the play is going and is always around the ball carrier. One of the best, and unquestionably toughest linebackers ever to play the game was Dick Butkus. Many say he could not play in the modern game because he lacked the speed to cover pass receivers. This is odd since Butkus had 22 interceptions in his career and was third on our list of nominees for interceptions per game. In may surprise many that the number one linebacker in the area of interceptions per game played was Jack Ham. Ham had 32 interceptions in his career which lasted for 162 games. Ham was also second in fumble recovers per game. Second only to Dick Butkus. These two men obviously had a nose for the ball and were in the right place at the right time.

Of the ten men on the list, as great as they all were, only three recorded a tackle/sack for a safety. Dick Butkus and Ray Lewis both recorded a safety in their career. Derrick Thomas however, recorded three safety's in his career.

The list of the ten best NFL Linebackers of all time;

10. Derrick Thomas - a great linebacker that spent a great deal of time in the opponents backfield but was more one dimensional as reflected by the fact he had only 1 interception in his career.

9. Mike Singletary - a fierce competitor and team leader, Singletary was an intense linebacker, but his ability to come up with the turnover was limited.

8. Lawrence Taylor - A good all around linebacker, Taylor's true specialty was in the pass rush. Taylor played much of his career more as a roaming defensive lineman than a true linebacker. One of the best players to ever take the field, but he did not play the true role of linebacker in most games.

7. Derrick Brooks - elected to 11 pro-bowls Brooks played both the run and the pass and was able to corral 25 interceptions in his career, three times more than Taylor.

6. Junior Seau - with 18 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries, Seau new how to collect the turnover. He also knew how to play with intensity and was elected to 12 pro bowls, more than any other linebacker on this list.

5. Ray Nitschke - a true old school linebacker who had unquestioned toughness and knew where to find the ball carrier and to relieve him of the ball. Nitschke had 25 interceptions while playing in a run oriented league.

4. Ray Lewis - a team motivator and a fearless linebacker more than capable of backing up his pre-game rhetoric. Lewis was the heart and soul of a team which won a Super Bowl with only an average offense but one of the best shut-down defenses of all time.

3. Jack Ham - an eight time pro-bowler, Ham played on four Super Bowl champion teams and had the most interceptions of any linebacker on the list and second in fumble recoveries. Ham was said to have perfect mechanics and was a member of what considered the best defensive unit of all time.

2. Jack Lambert - played with Ham on those four Super Bowl wins and lead the team not only in spirit, but in action. Originally considered too small for the position of Middle Line Backer, Lambert was named rookie of the year, then was elected to eight pro-bowls. Always around the ball, and always willing to deliver a crushing blow, Lambert was second to only one.

1. Dick Butkus - epitomized the old school linebacker. No one could ever question his toughness, his competitiveness, or his ability to not only make the tackle, but to punish the opponent. Many of the linebackers on this list caused opponents to fear coming over the middle, but none more so than Butkus. While he played in the fewest number of games of any linebacker on this list, Dick Butkus played ever game with an intensity and fierceness which made him a legend, and in the opinion of many, the best linebacker ever to play the game.