Who are the 3 Greatest Middle Linebackers of All Time?
The middle linebacker position is the equivalent of the quarterback position on defense. Great middle linebackers are the captains of the defense. They play fast from sideline to sideline. They have the ability to rush the passer while also stepping back into coverage and shutting down passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks.
Their versatility sets them apart from any other position player in the sport.
But what sets the great ones apart from the rest of the pack? This list explores these reasons by looking at the three greatest middle linebackers of all time.
Ray Lewis
For starters, Lewis has the most combined tackles in NFL history (2,059). The 13-time Pro-Bowler holds the record for most career solo tackles (1,568) and the record for most tackles in a season (156).
He led the NFL in tackles three times (1997, 1999, 2001) during his 17 years in Baltimore. The former Miami Hurricane is a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team.
The two-time Super Bowl champ is one of the greatest overall defenders in NFL history. His ability to diagnose plays and shut them down wasn't matched by many. He was one of the most feared players in the sport in his prime.
There is a reason why he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2018. Ray Lewis's impact on the game back then still influences today's middle linebackers.
Lawrence Taylor
Like Lewis, Lawrence Taylor is also one of the most feared defenders in NFL history. He was a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, who he played for during each of his 13 NFL seasons.
According to Pro Football Reference, Taylor recorded either a fumble recovery, an interception, or double-digit sacks each season of his career. He was extremely productive from his rookie season in 1981 to his final season in 1993.
The 10-time All-Pro earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards in six seasons (1981-1982, 1986). The former North Carolina Tar Heel is both a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the 100th Anniversary Team.
In 1986, he had one of the most dominant NFL seasons ever. He registered a league-leading 20.5 sacks en route to winning Defensive Player of the Year, NFL MVP, and Super Bowl XXI. It is fair to say that Taylor is perhaps the greatest defensive player ever.
Jack Lambert
Before the turn of the century, two of the best middle linebackers of all time were Lawrence Taylor and...Jack Lambert. Lambert was a legendary cornerstone piece of the "Steel Curtain" defense in Pittsburgh for 11 seasons (1974-1984). The 1976 Defensive Player of the Year helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII, XIV). He was an 8-time All-Pro and 9-time Pro-Bowler.
The 1990 Pro Football Hall of Famer was so elite throughout his career that he was a member of four of the most prestigious all-time teams in NFL history. Lambert is a member of the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team, the 1980s All-Decade Team, the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, and the league's 100th Anniversary Team.