Super Bowl winner. From his time at USC, Lott . 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. He was unstoppable in goal line situations especially. So while there were outstanding linebackers in previous years, like Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke, they will not be on this list. The 1970s had many great moments by individual players such as the NFL's first 2,000-yard season by O.J. 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. 10. and 2000s. More from Green Bay Packers. Lewis, playing alongside Bryan Cox, led a very good Jets team to the closest theyve been to a Super Bowl since they won Super Bowl III. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. In 1985, a trophy awarded to the best linebacker in college football was named in his honor. Kevin Greene will always be known as one of the craziest and talented pass rushers in NFL history. In 1976, Jackson had seven INTs. Brooks is most known for his coverage ability in the Bucs cover-two scheme. 23. Earl Campbell called Williams the toughest linebacker he ever played against. 10. 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). He just goes out every week and hustles. Suggs will only continue to climb this list the longer he plays, since hes in the middle of his prime right now. 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. No. He was Terrell Suggs before Suggs got to Baltimore. He led the Eagles in tackles in his time with the team. 5, Jack Lambert (Steelers) (1974-1984) *Nine-time Pro Bowlers *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Banks was a player that any coach would want on their team. Please click on "Comments" and make sure to vote in the poll. Lambert won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 gets a hold of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields #1 during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium . Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. Bet with your head, not over it. The . Keith Bulluck WAS the Titans defense, and has been every year hes been there. As a pass rusher, Greene would be top 5 at least, his ability to be an every-down linebacker hurts him overall, he was not great against the run. 1, Lawrence Taylor (Giants) (1981-1993) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Eight-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. LaVar Arrington. Ray Lewis is the highest-ranked active player on this list, and the top middle linebacker on it. Jeremiah The Axeman Trotter has been a very recognizable name over the past decade. Well have to see how he does, but he could either climb up or fall off this list based on his performance in 2010. During the five year stretch from 1991-1995 where he made five consecutive Pro Bowls, Lloyd was one of, if not the, most dominating linebackers in the NFL. Patrick Willis is everything you look for in a linebacker. Teamwork and Leadership from Karl Mecklenburg NFL Motivational Keynote Speaker. 1. . He played in 10 playoff games and had two INTs and three fumble recoveries in them. . I think hell climb up this list further in the near future. The NFL is back in L.A. for the first time since 1995, as the Rams return to the Coliseum. Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. The Top Ranked Linebackers of the 1960s Brooks wasnt just a pass coverage linebacker, but he also played the run well. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Ranking Explanation . I personally think football before 1970 and after 1970 can be seen as two completely different games, in terms of its evolution. The thing about Derrick Thomas that is the most remarkable was how nice of a person he was off the field. 5. Top 10, however, is not only a sure thing but easy as it was very tough for me to keep Levy out of the top 5 over the guy that made it. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Leslie ONeal was a sack machine in his career. All while being tasked with avoiding blocks and keeping tabs on the opposing quarterback. Zachary Petrizzo. In the 2017-18 NFL season, the current Buffalo Bills starting LBs and backup LBs are Lorenzo Alexander, Deon Lacey, Matt Milano, and Tanner Vallejo. 21. LT was the most intimidating player ever to put on an NFL uniform. Official list of the NFL's best players in the 1970s, National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team, National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team, https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/06/tom-brady-is-first-qb-to-make-two-all-decade-teams/, National Football League All-Decade Teams, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Football_League_1970s_All-Decade_Team&oldid=1132426489, National Football League records and achievements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 20:52. Won Conference Championship 17-10 vs. San Francisco 49ers. Since Donnie Shell finally cracked the Hall of Fame, I would say the . Lamberts best season was in 1976, where he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. 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. He could play zone and man. Eddie Johnson arrived in Cleveland at exactly the right time. Jason Gildon (Steelers/Jaguars): - Three-time Pro Bowler, one-time 1st Team All-Pro. He could do it all. 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. 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. The Steelers went 6-10 in his first season, but along with players like Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca . Outside linebacker Joey Porter came to Pittsburgh in 1999. Wright has been one of the most reliable linebackers in the NFL since entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State . 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. Over the past 50 years, the Steelers have tallied 36 winning seasons . Answer: Two of the three were constants for all four Super Bowls and ended up in the Hall of Fame. Next up on the docket for my top Redskins players series are the linebackers. To stoke the nostalgia, we talked to some of the key players from the team's winningest, most . Mecklenburg finished his career with 79 sacks, which is great for an ILB, and also ranks 2nd all-time in Broncos history. NFL WAGS: 10 Hottest NFL Wives & Girlfriends 2023. Theres not much Brooks doesnt have. Zach Thomas would be the perfect linebacker, no matter what style of defense you play. 2. Any coach would be lucky to have a player like Karl Mecklenburg on their roster. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. It may be a bit early to put Jon Beason on this list, but I think his play warrants the selection. The exhibit features the Fleet's classic collection set in five themed galleries representing the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. No. Lawrence Taylor: one of the greatest defensive players ever, Taylor was a pass-rushing force who revolutionized the outside linebacker position . Most people know Tom Jackson as the commentator working with Chris Berman. No. Lewis wasnt as vocal as Cox, but his play was a little better, and lasted for a longer period of time. Offerdahl was a blue collar type of player who was an even better person off the field. He ran a 4.6 40 yard dash, which is outstanding for a linebacker, especially at that time period. Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 gets a hold of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields #1 during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium . Thomas never had less than seven sacks in a season in his entire career, and only had less than eight sacks in one season. Randy Gradishar played along with Tom Jackson in the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. Johnson was most known for his days with the Saints. He was 73. He took up blockers and threw his body around a lot. Regardless, he definitely deserves the respect for what he accomplished on the field. Ray Lewis came into the league and dominated right away. 28a, Pat Swilling (Saints/Lions/Raiders) (1986-1998) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. . Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has returned to the NFL . Urlacher was the leader of those great Bears defenses of the 2000s, including when they got to the Super Bowl only to lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts. Less of a nod goes to pass rushers, linebackers and safeties. Overlooked because he played alongside Lawrence Taylor, Carson did most of the dirty work in that linebacking core. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. Demarcus Ware has only played five seasons in the NFL, but already hes one of the best of this era. Mike Singletary. He also is the only linebacker to ever win a Super Bowl MVP and be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (2000). Peter Boulware was the pass rusher alongside Ray Lewis. He is not only the greatest linebacker in NFL history, hes one of the games greatest players period. 18, Andre Tippett (Patriots) (1982-1993) *Five-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Two-time 2nd Team All-Pro. No NFL team has enjoyed the consistent level of success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed since the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. Super Bowl winner. A shot of Jameson for Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. Paul Naumoff. No. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Hes had 92 sacks and 23 forced fumbles so far in his career. Randy Gradishar may be the single-most deserving player of a spot in Canton. Check out the 1970 Minnesota Vikings Roster, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports and more on Pro-Football-Reference.com. No. . 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. But he proved them wrong and was a key piece on the Broncos Super Bowl winning team. No. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. He had over 1,000 tackles, over 70 sacks, and over 30 forced fumbles in his career. For most other franchises, a resume like this would make Jack Ham the greatest linebacker in thier history by a wide margin. Thomas is also third all-time in safeties and fumble returns for touchdowns. He had less than seven sacks in a season only once. Singletary was one of the key leaders of the famous 85 Bears defense, arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL. He finished his career with 1,106 tackles and 627 assisted tackles as well. 3 hours ago. He was one of a kind and will always be remembered as one of the best linebackers of all time. Next up, we look at a much better-rated unit in the linebackers. He had four interceptions that season, a high number for an inside linebacker, to go along with four sacks and 114 tackles. But, if you didnt know, Jackson was once an outstanding linebacker for the Denver Broncos Orange Crush defense. NFL Strength Of Schedule Rankings 2022-2023, NFL 2022 season finisher picture, standings: Chargers can secure billet on Monday, Packers stay alive for trump card, Cardinals versus Marauders score, focal points: Tom Brady directs late rebound as Tampa Sound moves beyond Arizona in OT, NFL would need to pay a robust $12MILLION to switch all its counterfeit fields over completely to grass as association faces developing commotion from players to switch all arenas to normal surfaces, NFL takes action against utilization of electronic gadgets during games, Packers versus Lions score: Detroit plays spoiler, closes Green Straights offered for postseason compartment, Top 10 Hottest NFL Wives In 2023 | NFL WAGs, The Best Quarterbacks In The NFL Right Now, The Coolest Players in the NFL Right Now, Ranked, 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 88), 2-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1967, 83). Joey Porter may be the most vocal linebacker on this list. Ware is not just an outstanding pass rusher though. The best LB in the NFL today comes in at No. Over his career, Brooking has racked up 962 tackles and 12 INTs. He was said to have the fastest 10-yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and running back Franco Harris. And he's still going. Peppers' 159.5 career sacks rank fourth on the all-time list. Being a linebacker makes that feat that much more impressive. Neal Olkewicz. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. Hes on pace to not only break, but shatter the NFL record of 41. Mills racked up 1,142 tackles in his career. Sacks and tackles werent recorded until late in his career, but he was a great pass rusher and all round linebacker. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. 25. Edmunds will have to clean up the missed tackles and improve in coverage to rise toward where most slot him currently a top-10 linebacker on this list next season. Porter will try to continue his success in Arizona and continue to climb up this list. Johnson wasnt very flashy, but he was very solid all-around, which is why he sneaks onto the list. 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. LSU ENDS REGULAR SEASON 27-1LSU women's basketball ties program-best season . Not only did he change the way defenses are run, but he changed the way offensive schemes are run as well. 9. Anthony Simmons (1995-'97) is the only two-time First-Team All-American in Clemson . Select from premium 1970 1979 America of the highest quality. He started his career out with the Packers, if they would have used him correctly he would have been higher on this list. Taylor changed the way football is played today. 33, Al Wilson (Broncos) (1999-2006) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. 48, Terrell Suggs* (Ravens) (2003-Present) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He also played two different positions, playing ILB and OLB for the Vikings in his career. Over his career, he totaled 1,271 tackles, 12 INTs, and 19 forced fumbles. Still, its an amazing number. He wasnt great at just one aspect he was equally great at everything he did. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports. He had an outstanding attitude and would do anything to get his team a win. Suggs is a pass rushing monster with the Ravens. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? No. Two years later, the Giants sunk to 1-12-1. Robert Brazile. If you havnt guessed it by now, Lawrence LT Taylor is my top linebacker of the modern era. Those would be accomplishments by themselves, let alone all together. He could do it all. Armstead didnt particularly stand out at anywhere, but he wasnt a weak link anywhere either. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. He was said to have the fastest 10 yard burst of any player on the team, and that included receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, and runningback Franco Harris. McAdams was a two-time All-American . The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. Peterson is another versatile linebacker who has played both inside and outside linebacker. 19, Harry Carson (Giants) (1976-1988) *Nine-time Pro Bowler *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He has speed, size, toughness, instincts, vision, patience, and football smarts. Lewis was the leader of the 2000 Super Bowl-winning Ravens team. He had 885 career solo tackles, which is impressive on a defense filled with swarming the ball, shown by his 1,488 career tackles. 9-time All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler. Known as quite possibly the most sound tackler in school history, Ham was an extremely fundamental linebacker who was the captain of the 1970 Penn State defense. He was a very solid 3-4 ILB playing on one of the best LB Cores of all-time, the Dome Patrol. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. He would always be found around the ball, and around the play. He also finished his career with 17 INTs. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. 2022 - SportsUnfold. Zach Thomas. Wilson doesnt have the career numbers because his career was so short, but theres no doubt when he was playing he was the most feared player on the field. He had 1,301 tackles and 25 forced fumbles in his career. 12, Randy Gradishar (Broncos) (1974-1984) *Seven-time Pro Bowler *Two-time 1st Team All-Pro *Three-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He led the team in tackles five of the 11 season he played for them. 1970 NFC Champion. In 1984 and 1985, Tippett put up two of the best back to back seasons recording 18.5 and 16.5 sacks in them. AP Sports SummaryBrief at 7:03 a.m. EST. Brooking was the face of the Falcons defense for nearly a decade, and is a well-rounded player. 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. Named to NFL's All-Decade Team for 1970s and 1980s. If you dont believe me, watch the film, as they say, the film doesnt lie! Super Bowl XX champion. Ill take into account Pro Bowls, All-Pros (1st and 2nd team), stats, team success, players success, intimidation factor, and reputation, along with many other factors to make this list. Boulware had at least seven sacks every year he played other than his last season in the NFL. Tippett was a big reason to why so many teams value pass rushing OLBs in todays game. ONeal should get more recognition as one of the best pass rushers to play the game. Briggs has made five straight Pro Bowls for the Bears, and that streak still continues. Brazile was drafted out of Jackson State and revolutionized linebacker play in the NFL. He did it in 2000 and again in 2003. His 1989 rookie season was one of the best the NFL has ever seen. Jack Ham might be the best coverage linebacker of all-time. 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. In this Article . No. Ralph Baker - Years with Jets: 11 (1964-74) Baker played in 142 games with the Jets in his 11 seasons, which is tied with Marvin Jones for the 4 th most by a linebacker. 6, Jack Ham (Steelers) (1971-1982) *Eight-time Pro Bowler *Six-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Woodrow Lowe, Alabama (1972-75) Respected as college football's top linebacker in the early 1970s, Lowe was the first . 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. Wilber Marshall was one of the greatest pass coverage linebackers of the modern era. He had five INTs in a season twice in his career. Many of you will say that Keith Bulluck is way too high. John Offerdahl may have had the shortest NFL career on this list, but he made the most of it. Rickey Jackson was one of the fastest linebackers in the game, but he was also one of the hardest hitters. No. 20, Keith Bulluck* (Titans) (2000-Present) *One-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Jeff Siemon (Vikings) : Four-time Pro Bowler. Ranking Explanation . No. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. Featuring 2018-2019 Raiders and some of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, the best Raiders LBs include Ted Hendricks, Khalil Mack, Rod Martin, Sam Wiliams, and Greg Biekert. Eleven Pro Bowls. 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 . Comic-Con Museum named best pop culture museum by USA Today. Paup was a complete linebacker, who was especially great at rushing the passer. 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. Junior Seau finished his career with 1,524 tackles, the highest total on this list. 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. Taylor is one of only two defensive players (DT Alan Page, 1971) in the history of the NFL to be named NFL MVP. . Im only going to be looking at players drafted in 1970 or later. Derrick Thomas was on pace to absolutely shatter NFL records before his tragic death in 2000. Call it foreshadowing, but you will see some of his teammates higher up on this list. His high sack number was 15 in 2001, a year that he didnt even get voted into the Pro Bowl. 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). 7. But in those three years, hes racked up 328 tackles and seven INTs, all while starting every game of his career. Coverage was definitely Bullucks claim to fame, but he was also good at other things. Lawrence Taylor of course, is regarded as the best 3-4 linebacker ever, . 3, Mike Singletary (Bears) (1981-1992) *Ten-time Pro Bowler *Seven-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. The next year, he followed it up with four more interceptions. The defense was ranked right up there along with the 1985 Bears, and Steelers teams of the 1970s. Chuck Drazenovich. After a very bad injury in 2008, Shawne Merriman hasnt been the same. (Pro Football Weekly 1975 Defensive Player of the Year, 1970s All-Decade Team, 1994 75th anniversary team), and also the team success (4 Super Bowls). 31, Tom Jackson (Broncos) (1973-1986) *Three-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. He was the only good player (other than Albert Haynesworth, but even he was only good for 2-3 years) on a generally bad defense and team. 1970 Defensive Player of the Year 5-time first-team All-Pro 8-time Pro Bowler The best high school, college and NFL linebackers are annually presented with the Butkus Award, named in honor of . No. Briggs does a lot of pass coverage with the Bears, and has had 53 passes deflected already in his career. Hes going into his first healthy season again in three years. Don Moorehead, Dennis Franklin, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Tom Brady, Forest Evashevski, Benny Friedman and John Navarre were all elected Captains by their teammates. He produced 32 sacks over the 3 seasons. Jackson had 40 forced fumbles, just one short of the NFL record. He wasnt very vocal, but his play did all the talking for him. The versatile middle linebacker played a significant role in helping the Steelers win four Super Bowls in a span of six years in the 1970s. Thomas was one of the most instinctive linebackers of all-time. He also had 20 INTs, three of which he returned for touchdowns. No. 44, Jessie Armstead (Giants/Redskins) (1993-2003) *Five-time Pro Bowler *One-time 1st Team All-Pro *One-time 2nd Team All-Pro. Quinto was a regular at both inside and outside linebacker for head coach Ron Gladnick's Saints. He also had 1,173 tackles in his career. In only five seasons, Wares already totaled up 64.5 sacks, including 20 in 2008. With time to spare in the NFL offseason, Ill take a look at the top 50 linebackers in the NFL in the modern era. Playoffs: Won Divisional Round 5-0 vs. Detroit Lions. No. Brown was a very versatile linebacker. Mecklenburg was never a cocky player, but just a guy who would show up on Sundays. Lambert and Ham also won four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the 1970s playing in the Steel Curtain. 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. Kirkland had 10 tackles and a key sack of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman. If Bulluck played on a better team, I believe his stats would be much better and his accomplishments would be a lot more. Thomas did everything you asked out of a linebacker. Nickerson wasnt just a one hit wonder though. No. Greene was one of the best pass rushers of all time, recording 160 sacks in his career. But perhaps more than the star players, the decade was dominated by dynasty teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and . Already in his career, Ware has forced 23 fumbles. Dennis Onkotz 1967 - 1969. In the words of Vikings' head coaching legend Bud Grant, "Paul personified the term free safety.". Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Ham had outstanding speed. No. Kirkland was an all-around better linebacker, he was a 300lb linebacker whose coverage skills were vastly underrated.