Like any other sport that involve two or more people forming a team, American football equally ushered the importance of team spirit, by which many players hold different post to ensure that their them win the match and eventually silverware at the end of the campaign.
However, unlike any other position in football, linebacker holds one of the greatest, if not the greatest position in the game because a good linebacker but be able to read and translate the opposition attacking advances, in order to aid the team in setting a perfect defensive response.
Linebacker beyond their defensive nuance and intelligence, must be able to run the play with sharper instinct and absolute precision. While being saddled with negating blocks and ensuring that the opposition quarterback in kept at arm length makes the job of the linebacker in the foot a team more dining than normal.
Though there are many good linebacker that have share the grace of the National Football League’s grass for many years in the rich history the game, but there are only fee who have the pedigree to be remembered as one of the greats in the game.
Over the years, there has been tremendous change in the role of linebacker as the game evolve to this modern tenacious one, which reflects while the linebacker position stood as one of the most difficult position to gauge.
Moreover, there are many factors to consider, choosing the best linebacker in the rich history of NFL, from the instance of personal achievement, down to the contribution of the linebacker to their team performance, achievement and domination.
More importantly, the beauty of linebacker in a team is the fact that the position is relish of an aggressive, swift-hitting and intelligent player with whom the team attack and defense is based.
There is no absolute criteria of what makes one linebacker greater than other, but there are some player that define era and some other redefined the essence of the linebacker position to which many other player reference.
Some other player are fascinating ball carrier, while some others are elite turnover creator, some other transcend the importance of defense and some other could easily transformed a defensive pattern to an attack outlet for their team and irrespective of their stance while some of them might even be consider as the greatest player of all time, vying to rival the likes of Tom Brady who is renowned as one of the most decorated NFL and one of the water who predefined the games in modern era, which is only rival by one of the greatest quarterbacks in modern era, Patrick Mahomes
For instance, Kansas City Chiefs has always been one of the Super Bowl favourite since the acquisition of the MLB superstar’s son, Patrick Mahomes Kansas is touted as the second-favourites with +500 odds behind the Buffalo Bills as the strongest contender with +375 odds to win the 2023 Super Bowl according to the Super the Bowl betting and pundits
Below are the top linebackers that the NFL has ever seen:
John Harold Lambert “Jack”
Jack Lambert is one of the few players to define an era and redefined the role of the linebacker in the NFL as his versatility, animal instinct and creativity ensure that Pittsburgh Steelers enjoy a memorable Super Bowl spell amidst his eleven years stay with the Steelers.
One of the most feared linebacker of his era. Looking at his face is enough intimidation, as he was one of the most scariest player in the game, come with his intelligence and his adaptability, Jack Lambert take one of the greatest linebacker spot.
Beyond his ingenuity and austerity in the game, Lambert was a glorious leader of one of the best defense in the entire history of the game and with this is the reason his defensive unit was nicknamed “Steele Curtain”
Under Lambert’s watch Pittsburgh Steelers enjoy the spell of success winning four Super Bowl within the context of confinement of 1970s, while his signature snarl sent creeping sensation to the heart of many opponents with his legendary status as one of the toughest, yet greatest linebacker of all time was cemented.
He went ahead to win 1974 rookie of the year, 2-time NFL defensive player of the year, NFL 100 All-time team, 8 time all pro and 9 times Pro Bowler, coupled with his Professional Football hall of fame in 1990. Ta he Ohio born surely enjoy a successful spell in his NFL career.
Dick Butkus
With insanely 1020 tackles over nine NFL career years, in which he found a way to attack his opponent violently per game, Dick Butkus remains one of the most feared, yet one of the most respected linebackers in the rich history of the game.
He was by no ordinary a simple player and yet he was not the hardest player but he is certainly one of the most brazen linebackers that ever graced the game with nuance and elegance. Butkus irrespective of the criteria will always be among the greatest linebackers with short career so sweet and elegant, yet resonated majesty, leader, bully, and warm hearted personality.
His career transcend the need to give the award of best linebacker in high school, college and NFL in the name of Butkus. He was unreal and a hero of his era. He might not have won the Super Bowl, but his resonance of his game is enough to make among the greatest linebacker and on most occasion only behind Lawrence Taylor.
Burke’s went on to win NFL defensive player of the year twice, 8 time Pro Bowler, 8 time All-Pro, NFL 100 All-Time them, and Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.
Lawrence Taylor
A stance like a train, coupled with a football IQ and finesse, Taylor became the symbol of linebacker revolution. Lawrence Taylor with his footballing ingenuity, not only became the greatest linebacker, but one of the greatest NFL players. His agility, accessibility, and availability makes him one of the only two defensive player to only won the NFL MVP and the only linebacker to have the prestigious award.
There is no defensive record that the Virginia-born linebacker is not a leader with three defensive player of the year, two Super Bowls, NFL defensive rookie of the year, NFL 100 All-Time team, 10-time pro bowler, 10-time All-Pro, among many other accolades that follow the glittering career.
A true genius and one of the most feared on-field linebackers throughout his career with his ability to read the game excellently and he is equally revered as he was feared.
