Best NFL Linebackers of All Time

aman28

Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is the definition of a linebacker. He is the quarterback of the defense and takes charge, and he is inspirational, AND he will light you up if you even get near him. BEAST
Ray defends everything. If you check his achievements they are very similar to LT's The difference is ray didn't need chemical assistance to achieve his greatness and he was a student who also was a masterful teacher and leader. He was faster than Butkus, more team oriented than LT, and had just as much or more desire than M. Singletary whom I feel are the other elite LB's who played the game.
Like he say, and I quote "they praise QB's for the legacy on how they been able to keep offenses consistent for so long, how long has the Ravens defense been in the top 5 and they left one thing here, 52, the most consistent thing the Ravens has ever had!
 More comments about Ray Lewis

2Lawrence Taylor
Ray Lewis & LT played different positions, but no way is Ray #1 on any list over LT. LT was so dominating coaches like Joe Gibbs had to change his offense. I would put Ray Lewis on the All Time team beside Butkus & Singletary.
Greatest of all time... period!
Only 1 of 2 defensive players to win NFL MVP. 2 Superbowl championships...

Lewis is condidered "greatest" because he is still a current player.
Lawrence Taylor was ranked Number 3 in the NFL Top! 00 All Time player list behind only jim brown and jerry rice

RAY LEWIS IS RANKED 16 you guys make no sense
 More comments about Lawrence Taylor

3Dick Butkus
Dick Butkus defined the position and is still the standard of what a linebacker should be. Smart, Hard hitting, and absolutely feared.
everybody feared Butkus, the MONSTER OF THE MIDWAY.
He did'nt need self promotion like Lewis to ad to his reputation. Butkus was an "All Earth Linebacker" no one is better.
 More comments about Dick Butkus

4Jack Lambert

Jack lambert was way better than singletary you don't see singletary in the most feared tacklers list do you?

don't mess around with jack splat. he'll come at you with a fury like no other

madcowsarecrazy

5Mike Singletary

I think he should be the best linebacker of all time because on the field he would ask his guys what they should do and it worked and when the play was made 9/10 it would work. Of the field he was a nice guy like Merlin Olsen.

6Brian Urlacher

Of today, sure. But of all time. The guy has already played for a million years and now falcons running back Michael Turner can run over him. The guy is really slowing down and Lance Briggs is moving ahead of him

7Ray Nitchske

Ray, was definitely a monster of the day. Anyone that played againest him will tell you that!

8Junior Seau

9Elvis Dumervil

15 sacks and counting as a linebacker? that is amazing

Puppy_Dawgie

10Patrick Willis
With the combination of speed and power, he is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play in NFL history. Even though he is still in his early years of his career he has the stats to prove how great of a player he is. With the speed of an average NFL running back at line backer gives him the talent to chase down many fast running backs and receivers, which makes him versatile in pass coverage and run game
Making it to the pro bowl every single year he's been in the nfl, that says something.
Sf best defense in football

falconrock17

 More comments about Patrick Willis

The Contenders

11Derrick Thomas

Fast, Smart, was a serious problem for any offence. RIP

With nine Pro-Bowl selections and 1990s all decade selection as just a couple of his accomplishments. He should definitely be hire on this list. RIP.

12Terrell Suggs

13London Fletcher

14Jack Ham

By far the most technically sound linebacker ever. He is very underrated playing in the same corps as Lambert. The best defense of all time (70's Steelers) had 10 starting Pro Bowlers, Ham included. No linebacker was better in pass coverage than Ham, a great compliment to the tenacious Lambert.

15Tedy Bruschi

16Harry Carson

17Sam Huff

18Nick Buoniconti

19Demarcus Ware

Most consistent pass rush threat in the NFL, second fastest to 100 sacks

20Andre Tippett

21Chuck Bednarik

22Aldon Smith

19.5 sacks this season and counting!

23Bill Romanowski

24Derrick Brooks

25Clay Mathews

Comments About This List
Featured Lists
Popular Lists
New Lists

      Blog Posts About This List

      Be the first to add a post about this list

      Top Remixers of This List

      whitewolf777

      Wopwop

      List Info

      This list was created 4 years, 133 days ago and has been voted on over 700 times. This top ten list has been remixed 2 times.

      Updated Thursday, May 23, 2013

      List Error Reporting

      See an item on this list that's mispelled, duplicated, or doesn't belong? Let us know. Click here to report the error.

      All Lists
      Newest
      Add List
      Stats
      Chat
      Newest: Top Ten Most Overrated Simpsons Characters