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Lists to get you through all the long, boring, miserable, non-football hours until kickoff.

Football

Oilers Trade Steve Largent to the Seahawks

The NFL is not known for outlandish trades. Superstar trades are usually more reserved for the NBA and MLB. But over time, there have been many well-known names that have been moved in the NFL. Often times, the players are moved for draft picks as everyone is always trying to get younger in a league that is filled with injuries. When trading someone like Steve Young, Jerome Bettis, or Randy Moss you better know what you're doing. Extra draft picks may not be worth the risk of losing a future Hall of Fame player. On the flip side, trading all your draft picks to move up in the Draft to select what you think is a sure thing can also be a drastic mistake. Everyone remembers the Chargers moving up to grab Ryan Leaf with the second overall pick, but the Chargers aren't the only team to make that mistake. Here is a list of the 15 worst trades in NFL history. Vote up which ones you think teams regret the most. &nbsp;

Albert Haynesworth

The dirtiest NFL players of all time are some of the meanest and most hated men to ever play professional football. Some of these players are among the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-hated-current-nfl-players/pedro-cerrano" target="_blank">most hated NFL players today</a>. You probably won&#39;t see these current and former National Football League players earning any sportsmanship awards anytime soon but there&#39;s a good chance their names will be in the news for bone-crushing hits, injuries and losing their tempers on the football field.

Each year several sports media outlets asks the NFL players themselves which current player they see as the dirtiest. In recent years, names like longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong &quot;Donkey Kong&quot; Suh have been selected by their peers as the dirtiest. With both players having nasty on-and-off-field incidents to their credit, the selections are not undeserved.

But dirty play is nothing new in the NFL. In fact, many of the dirtiest NFL players of all time are from many decades ago. Conrad Dobler, an offensive lineman who played from 1972 to 1981, bit, hit, kicked and spit on opposing players, including an incident where he punched fellow tough guy and one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-defenders-in-nfl-history" target="_blank">greatest defenders in NFL history</a> Mean Joe Greene. Johnny Sample is another long retired player who earned the reputation for dirty play. The defensive back in the 1950s and 60s even named his autobiography &quot;Confessions of a Dirty Ballplayer.&quot;

While professional football is and will probably always be a violent sport, these dirty NFL players took that to another scary level. Vote for the NFL players you think are the dirtiest below or add any that are missing. Think these guys are bad? Check out the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-most-shocking-nfl-scandals/sportsyeah" target="_blank">most shocking NFL scandals</a> too.

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-football-players-ever?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best NFL players</a> of the 2010s all dominated the sport in different ways. Offensive talents like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, and Julio Jones led their teams with incredible stats and awards. Defensive standouts like J.J. Watt, Von Miller, and Aaron Donald proved that defense could impact the game with positive results and hard work.&nbsp;

All the best NFL players of the decade will be featured here along with a hit list of their biggest accomplishments in the decade. Teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-green-bay-packers-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Green Bay Packers</a> had the biggest impact by&nbsp;going to the Super Bowl multiple times, and all featured superstars who would be major factors on any list like this. Given how hard it is to have a long career in the NFL, these talents all deserve to be appreciated for their success.&nbsp;

Vote up for the best overall players to shine in the decade and&nbsp;help decide which <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nfl-players-from-texas/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top NFL players</a> of the decade deserve to be ranked the highest on the list.

Every No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft is a potentially franchise-changing player. Sometimes that player leads his team to multiple Super Bowls like Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman, two of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time" target="_blank">the best quarterbacks in NFL history</a>.

Other times, he leads another franchise to multiple Super Bowls like John Elway and Eli Manning, neither of whom played a snap for the team that drafted them.

Nine Hall of Famers have gone been the top overall pick in the NFL draft and five league MVPs.

But who has been the best No. 1 overall draft pick for his franchise. Stats below reflect only a player&#39;s time with the team that drafted him, unless otherwise noted, and that&#39;s how these players should be ranked. How much did they help the team that spent a No. 1 pick on them?

poll

Ryan Tannehill

One of the hottest debates in all of sports is over who is the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best quarterback</a> in the NFL right now. It&#39;s an argument that will rage on as long as there are NFL teams. Over the last decade, the question of the best current quarterback in pro football came down to two players: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Both of them have dominated the league, but there&#39;s a new breed of quarterbacks who can stake their claim to being the best in the league.

Would you argue with Aaron Rodgers as the best quarterback right now? The Green Bay quarterback is a guy who was won a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/super-bowl?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">Super Bowl</a> and&nbsp; an MVP, after all. How about Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger, both whom have won two Super Bowls. You can even throw Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan into the mix.

This is your chance to weigh in on who is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. The key here is right now. We aren&#39;t interested in the greatest quarterback in NFL history, only the best in the current season. This is the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-ultimate-dream-garage?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Ultimate List</a> of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League right now, so pick who you think is the most worthy contender for that title and vote him up.

New York Giants

The greatest NFL teams are those professional football teams beloved by fans and often hated by rivals. These teams are often Super Bowl champions and filled with all-star players young and old. Most fans who follow the National Football League have a favorite team, and that&#39;s totally cool, but these teams are the best of the best. Deciding on the <a href="/list/greatest-pro-football-teams-of-all-time/mathayus" target="_blank">greatest pro football teams of all time</a> is often a matter of what the criteria is.

Few fans would select a team other than the one they root for as the best, but if you&#39;re looking at it in terms of Super Bowl wins, the Pittsburgh Steelers lead all other with their six titles. The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers come in right behind with five, but neither have won the championship in nearly two decades. More recently, teams like the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-new-england-patriots-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New England Patriots</a> and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-new-york-giants-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New York Giants</a> have dominated the championships and battled one another in the title game in recent years.

So how do you select which NFL team is best? Titles and wins or simply which team you root for over those which are bitter rivals? However you select the top NFL teams, do so below by voting and re-ranking this list of the greatest NFL teams!

Jarvis Landry

In order to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, players must learn their routes, lose their defenders, and most importantly, not drop the ball. Also known as the fastest and most agile players in the league, these are the best wide receivers in the NFL right now. &nbsp;

When fans discuss the best wide receivers in football, players like the Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins&nbsp;are usually in the mix. In recent years, stars like Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, and Mike Evans have all made a name for themselves with their stellar play on the field.&nbsp;

Vote for who you think are the best current NFL wide receivers. Even if the player is a rookie or a veteran, just vote up the WRs who are currently playing well in the league. Feel free to add other great wide receivers&nbsp;missing from the list.

Ken Anderson

A list of the most underrated quarterbacks of all time. Despite the gargantuan scouting staffs that NFL teams employ, there are still plenty of players who fly under the radar or in some cases, don't even play in the league at all. This list includes players who were successful in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as well, after all, there are number of great players on here who never could become the apple of the NFL's eye. There are a bunch of players, even some Hall of Famers and some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time">greatest quarterbacks of all time</a>, who are on here. You'll be surprised to learn that these guys slipped through the cracks, especially players like Super Bowl winners like Kurt Warner and Joe Theismann on here, along with one of the best pure passing quarterbacks in Warren Moon. Somehow, these guys were overlooked, yet after honing their craft in the CFL or even the Arena League, these guys got their chance at the big time. Though some of these guys became NFL afterthoughts, and some, didn't even have a chance to show how good they were, they are still supremely underrated compared to other quarterbacks that did get a chance to play in the pros. You may be surprised to see some other big names on here, but when push comes to shove, this is the reason why these guys are underrated. This is your chance to have your say on who is the most underrated pro quarterback of all time. Vote whether or not you agree with the status of these players on this Ultimate List.

Football is one of the most dangerous sports for players and one of the hardest on atheltes&#39; bodies, meaning the list of NFL players whose careers ended too soon is long and unfortunate. While some players made their mark in the short time they had before injuries or tragedy took them out of the game, some were not around in the league long enough to showcase the full extent of their talents.

Perhaps the most famous NFL player to have his career cut short is Pat Tillman, who famously left the NFL after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to join the military and died as a result of friendly fire. Other popular players like Troy Aikman and Gale Sayers, while they did not suffer the same tragic end as Tillman, were forced to retire after multiple injuries made the game impossible to play.

So check out this list of the top&nbsp;football players whose short careers left fans wondering what might have been if not for injuries or tragedies or just not wanting to put their bodies through the pain anymore. Vote up the players <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-wish-you-were-better-at/lauren-slocum?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">you wish you</a> could have seen take another snap and the ones you think retired too early.

Terrance West

Using a combination of speed, strength, and agility, NFL running backs must carry the&nbsp;football through elite defenses. During the&nbsp;rush to a touchdown, they must avoid getting tackled and fumbling the ball, which sounds easier than it is. Only the most athletic halfbacks, tailbacks, and fullbacks&nbsp;are able to juke and spin their way&nbsp;onto this list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best running backs</a> in the NFL right now. Some of whom might even end up among&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time">the greatest running backs in football history</a>.

In his rookie year, Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott lead the league in yards rushed and first downs rushed. However, New England Patriot LeGarrette Blount&nbsp;lead&nbsp;other RBs with 18 rushing&nbsp;touchdowns. Other notable&nbsp;running backs include Chicago Bear Jordan Howard, Tennessee Titan DeMarco Murray, and Pittsburgh Steeler Le&#39;Veon Bell.&nbsp;

Vote up the athletes you think are the best running backs in the NFL right now. Even if the player is a rookie or a veteran, just vote up the halfbacks, tailbacks, and fullbacks who are currently playing well in the league. Feel free to add other great running backs&nbsp;missing from the list.&nbsp;If you&#39;re a fantasy football player, head over and help decide the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/2019-fantasy-football-running-backs/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best fantasy football RBs of 2019</a>.

Current NFL

NFL fans love to argue over what team has the best uniform in the league. While to non-football fans this may seems like a trivial detail, a team's uniform and colors are important to projecting an image that is vital to a team and its fans. The best uniforms can also be some of the league's most basic and simple. For many years, the Oakland Raiders' intimidating silver and black uniform has been considered one of the best in the NFL due its menacing color combination. Traditionalists love uniforms of classic teams like the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. These uniforms have barely changed over the years.In 2012, Nike became the official outfitter of the NFL. A few teams have updated their uniforms since then. The Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins changed their uniforms, hoping that a snazzy new look will help them vault into the upper echelon of the best uniforms in the NFL. Has it helped? Some people now think that they have the worst NFL uniforms. Who knows! What we can know is which are the coolest NFL jerseys. Which ones would you sport while tailgating a big game? Or wear to a party? Is there a NFL uniforms so cool that you'd even wear it to your wedding? If so, it's going to be on this definitive ranking of the top football jerseys.Vote on what you consider to be the best uniforms in the NFL in these NFL uniform rankings. There's no rhyme or reason to the list; just vote for the team you think has the best uniform, that way we can find out which are the coolest and which are the ugliest in the league! The title of the team with the best uniform in the NFL is in your hands!

NFL football <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10354114/harris-poll-nfl-most-popular-mlb-2nd">is the most popular sport in America</a>, but that doesn't mean there aren't things about it that suck. Every Sunday, Americans are glued to their TVs watching football, but unless you're watching NFL RedZone, which costs a fortune, you're probably watching a commercial or footage of a bunch of guys in uniform standing around waiting. That's because in a&nbsp;football game, there are <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406">only 11 minutes of action</a>. Even the biggest football fans can agree there are plenty of reasons the NFL sucks.For starters, commissioner Roger Goodell makes more than&nbsp;$30 million a year in salary. That seems a tad high for someone who seems to never do anything right. The rules are probably the least clear of any of the major sports, and it's certainly the most dangerous sport in the US. And these are just a few of the NFL complaints every football fan has.&nbsp;Here are things about the NFL that suck. Vote up the ones you think suck the hardest (and not in a good way).&nbsp;

Are you ready for some football? Okay, well&nbsp;how about some NFL&nbsp;memes and&nbsp;jokes instead? The NFL, to put it lightly, is an obsession for many, which is why&nbsp;NFL memes,&nbsp;the modern day version of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/nfl-game-day-signs/ranker-nfl">NFL Game Day&nbsp;signs</a>, are so popular.&nbsp;Combining sports mania with the zest of Internet humor, NFL memes add a whole new level to the fun of football. From the endless array of Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions jokes, to making fun of one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time">best quarterbacks of all time</a>, these are the funniest NFL memes of all time.

Georgia Dome

The best NFL stadiums are those beautiful and historic homes of everyone's <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-pro-football-teams-of-all-time/mathayus" target="_blank">favorite National Football League teams</a>. Scattered across America, these stadiums welcome millions of fans annually all pumped up to cheer for their home teams. While each NFL stadium has a bit of charm, there are a few stadiums that stand above and beyond the rest with technological advancements, beautiful scenery and enough fan spirit to carry a team to a Super Bowl.Picking the best NFL stadiums is often a matter of preference with fans of a certain team favoring their home stadium as the top pick. That said, some stadiums, mainly those which are newer or iconic, do stand out as among the best. Few can deny that the new Cowboys Stadium, home to the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas, is not a masterpiece complete with ginormous video screens that stretch from one 20-yard line to the other. Similarly, Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin, is one of the oldest in the league having been built in 1957 but remains as a favorite with decades of history--plus some 21st century updates--to its name.On the opposite end of the spectrum, many NFL stadiums leave fans a bit underwhelmed. Candlestick Park for instance, home to the San Francisco 49ers, has been the site of numerous historical events since it opened in 1960 yet is in desperate need of modern updates. The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome would be another that falls in the lower rankings and is actually set to be demolished and replaced by 2016.What do you think are the best football stadiums in the NFL? Show your stadium love by voting for those you like best or re-ranking this list of the best NFL stadiums below. Now a fan of these cities' stadiums? Vote for the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cities-that-should-have-a-football-team/the-round-mound" target="_blank">cities that should have a football team</a> instead.

Cities / Towns

San Jose

&nbsp;

Of course big cities like New York and Miami have NFL teams, but there are plenty of other cities that should have a football team! The places on this list are the populous and thriving cities across the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/tags/united-states?ref=internalCrossLinking_tag">United States</a> that are deserving of a home National Football League team. Many of these cities have nearby teams or hosted teams in the past but none currently have an NFL team to call their own.

For years, Los Angeles was the biggest city without its own NFL team. In 2016, however, the Rams&nbsp;moved back to LA, and in no time, the Chargers announced a move from San Diego to the City of Angels. With that, Los Angeles became&nbsp;easily one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/cities-with-the-best-sports-teams/sportsyeah " target="_blank">best sports cities in the US</a>. Which other burgs around America deserve to enjoy a similar&nbsp;NFL renaissance?

After all, it&#39;s not just Southern California that constantly made the list of places that deserve an NFL team. Las Vegas&nbsp;was a popular pick for where fans would like to see a pro football franchise spring up until the Raiders moved there in 2020. Other major&nbsp;Southwest cities like San Antonio, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, are in the conversation as well.

Adding or moving NFL franchises is a highly debated topic on which not everyone will ever agree. Some want to see more action and closer but others argue that expansion means only more <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-teams-to-ever-make-nfl-playoffs/the-round-mound" target="_blank">bad teams in the NFL</a>. But what fun would sports be if fans didn&#39;t argue all the time? Which cities and states without NFL teams do you think should be on top of the list? Make your voice heard here!

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From breaking up passes to making tackles on receivers, the top NFL&nbsp;cornerbacks&nbsp;play an important role on the field. They&#39;ve got to be quick, powerful, and fearsome&mdash;and all the players on this list of NFL cornerbacks&nbsp;are just that. Whether they&#39;re a part of an impenetrable duo or are simply known as one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-defenders-in-nfl-history" target="_blank">best defenders in football</a>, who do you think are&nbsp;the best cornerbacks in the NFL right now?

When it comes to current cornerbacks, few hold down the CB&nbsp;position better than players like Jalen Ramsey, Xavier Rhodes, and Casey Hayward. However, you&#39;ve also got to consider guys like Patrick Peterson, who may be one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-arizona-cardinals-of-all-time/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best Arizona Cardinals</a>, not to mention Darius Slay, A.J. Bouye, and Josh Norman, among others. In short, there are plenty of killer corners&nbsp;out there going up against the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nfl-wide-receiver/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best wide receivers</a>,&nbsp;but only one can be considered the very best. What would your rankings look like?

Check out the list of current cornerbacks below and give votes to the players you think are at the top of their class. While you&#39;re at it, cast a vote for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-linebackers-in-nfl-right-now/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best linebackers in the NFL today</a>.

Scandals

&nbsp;

The most shocking NFL scandals tell tales of professional football players or complete National Football League teams who have committed <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-accused-of-horrible-crimes/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">horrible crimes</a>, been caught breaking zero-tolerance NFL rules or simply (literally) caught with their pants down. These NFL players, quarterbacks, coaches and owners may have been welcomed back in the league after their various incidents but their legacies will forever be tainted with the dirty details of these dramatic NFL scandals.

For many of these scandals, the resulting discipline came directly from the National Football League. Coaches have been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars, like New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick after the Spygate scandal, and suspended for entire seasons, like New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Peyton after the Bountygate scandal. Players have been suspended, such as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-pittsburgh-steelers-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback</a> Ben Roethlisberger following allegations of sexual assault and former <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-green-bay-packers-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Green Bay Packers quarterback</a> Brett Favre after his incident with a female field reporter.

In other extreme cases, players, owners and other organization members saw law enforcement get involved which resulted in felony charges and long prison terms. The world tuned in when former <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-heisman-trophy-winners-of-all-time/ranker-college-football?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">Heisman Trophy</a> winner OJ Simpson led police on a chase in his white Bronco before the highly publicized murder trial. Fans protested again when former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick went to prison for running a dogfighting ring, and staged boycotts later when he was reinstated and praised for his comeback.

What are the biggest NFL scandals ever recorded? Whatever these NFL teams, NFL players and NFL coaches did to earn their place among the biggest NFL scandals--even if it was just getting drunk and trying to kiss a female sideline reporter, like &quot;Broadway Joe&quot; Namath did with Suzy Kolber--each of these scandals show us that while people in the NFL are rich and famous, they&#39;re also human, just like us.

&nbsp;

Memes

Football is great. Sports are the best. But do you know what's even better than just regular football? Incredibly awkward NFL photos and and NFL memes. Honestly, it just enhances the game. They may be gladiators on the field, but that doesn't make them immune to embarrassing&nbsp;moments.&nbsp;These are some of the weirdest moments in NFL football history ever captured on camera which is basically a nice way of saying there are a lot of personal fouls and illegal touching going on here.&nbsp;

The worst teams to ever make the NFL Playoffs are not just okay teams, they are simply bad teams that somehow managed to qualify for the National Football League postseason following a really crappy season. We're not talking about the borderline 9-7 teams that somehow squeak into the playoffs, we're talking a handful of teams that had losing seasons and still managed to win their division and earn that automatic playoff spot. The process for selecting teams for the NFL Playoffs is pretty simple. The winners in each of the six divisions automatically qualify along with two wild card teams from each of the two conferences based on their regular season win-loss record. Usually this means the best teams in the league compete for the chance to play in the Super Bowl but as these teams prove, that logic is not always flawless. With the exception of the shortened 1982 NFL season in which both the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns entered the playoffs with 4-5 records, never has a team with a losing record in a 16-game season qualified for the playoffs until the 2010 season. The Seattle Seahawks managed to win the beyond weak NFC West with a losing 7-9 record and earn the automatic bid into the postseason. Meanwhile, a 10-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the competitive NFC South sat home and watched with their 10-6 record getting them nowhere. Seattle was pretty bad during the year, allowing 407 points compared to scoring 310, but managed to shock everyone in the first round of the 2010 NFL Playoffs by upsetting the defending-champion New Orleans Saints. Only slightly better than teams with a losing record that qualified for the NFL Playoffs are teams that went an even .500 on the year and still reached the postseason. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 through 2010, 10 teams have qualified for the playoffs with an even 8-8 record. Many argued that allowing these sub-par teams into the playoffs was a travesty, especially in cases where other teams with much better records sat home, such as the case of the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots who went 11-5 in 2008 and spent their winter on vacation, not competing to play in the Super Bowl. Hmm, sounds like they may have a point.What are the worst teams to make the playoffs? There are some really bad teams on this list, some might have even had the worst record in NFL history, and there are plenty options to vote for so choose wisely.

Curses

Richard Sherman (2015)

Even if you’re not a particularly superstitious person, there are some peculiar happenings that really can’t be denied when it comes the cover image of this particular video game franchise. The Madden Curse is the stuff of legend. The history of those who are featured on Madden covers is undeniably unsettling. Being featured on the game doesn’t gaurantee anything (except for more money), but there are certainly cases that make it seem like being the Madden cover athlete is the equivalent of making a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-to-sell-your-soul-to-the-devil/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">deal with the devil</a>. These are the worst cases of the Madden Curse.

Are You Ready for Some NFL?

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This list of the greatest defenders in NFL history is here to decide definitively who is the best defender in NFL history. These are beasts of men who played for some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-sports-franchises-of-all-time">best sports franchises ever</a> and were (or are) among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-25-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time/hardtack">best NFL players of all time</a>. These NFL legends are all here, in one place, so you can vote on the best NFL defender to ever play football.Some of these exceptional NFL players include the legendary Dick Butkus, &quot;Mean&quot; Joe Greene, and hard hitter-turned-coach Mike Singletary. Whatever it is that you factor into the skills of the best NFL defenders (speed, aggression, determination, stamina), these NFL players are the best at what they do from a defensive player standpoint. What makes a great NFL defender? Who are the best NFL defenders of all time? Who is the top NFL defender in history? You decide! Vote for the NFL players you think make the biggest impact as defensive players and vote them up to the top of this list of the greatest defenders in NFL history. If you don't see your favorite NFL defender on this top NFL defenders list, make sure to add him so others can revel in his athletic glory. So who are the best defensive players in NFL history? Vote!Check out more lists like the<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-25-greatest-nfl-players-of-all-time/hardtack">&nbsp;best NFL players in history</a>, the<a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-quarterbacks-of-all-time"> top quarterbacks</a>, and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-greatest-linebackers-of-all-time">the greatest linebackers of all time</a>.&nbsp;

Best NFL Defensive Players in History, Ranked

The Greatest Defenders in NFL History

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FREEFORM

Lawrence Taylor

Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T.", is an American former football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants (1981–1993) in the National Football League (NFL). He is considered one of the greatest players in the history of American football, and has been ranked as the greatest defensive player in league history by former players, coaches, media members, and news outlets such as the NFL Network and Sporting News.After an All-American career at the University of North Carolina (UNC) (1978–1981), Taylor was drafted by the Giants as the second overall selection in the 1981 NFL Draft. Although controversy surrounded the selection due to Taylor's contract demands, the two sides quickly resolved the issue. Taylor won several defensive awards after his rookie season. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Taylor was a disruptive force at outside linebacker, and is credited with changing the pass rushing schemes, offensive line play, and offensive formations used in the NFL. Taylor produced double-digit sacks each season from 1984 through 1990, including a career-high of 20.5 in 1986. He also won a record three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his performance during the 1986 season. Taylor is one of only two defensive players in the history of the NFL to have ever won the NFL MVP award (the other one being Alan Page in 1971) and no defensive player has won since him. He was named First-team All-Pro in each of his first nine seasons, including the 1983 season when he became the first player in NFL History selected First Team All-Pro at two positions as an outside linebacker and inside linebacker. Taylor was a key member of the Giants' defense, nicknamed "The Big Blue Wrecking Crew", that led New York to victories in Super Bowls XXI and XXV. During the 1980s, Taylor, fellow linebackers Carl Banks, Gary Reasons, Brad Van Pelt, Brian Kelley, Pepper Johnson, and Hall of Famer Harry Carson gave the Giants linebacking corps a reputation as one of the best in the NFL.
Taylor has lived a controversial lifestyle, during and after his playing career. He admitted to using drugs such as cocaine as early as his second year in the NFL, and was suspended several times by the league for failing drug tests. His drug abuse escalated after his retirement, and he was jailed three times for attempted drug possession. From 1998 to 2009, Taylor lived a sober, drug-free life. He worked as a color commentator on sporting events after his retirement, and pursued a career as an actor. His personal life came under public scrutiny in 2011 when he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct involving a 16-year-old girl. After Taylor was put on trial, he was registered as a low-risk sex offender.

Ed Reed

Edward Earl Reed Jr. (born September 11, 1978) is a former American football safety who spent the majority of his career with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Miami, where he was a two-time consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft and played eleven seasons for Baltimore before playing with the Houston Texans and New York Jets in 2013.
During his playing career, Reed was selected to nine total Pro Bowls, was the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and has an NFL record for the two longest interception returns (106 yards in 2004 and 107 yards in 2008). He also holds the all-time NFL record for interception return yards, with 1,590, and postseason interceptions (9, tied with three other players).  His 64 regular season interceptions ranked him 6th on the NFL's all-time leader list at the time of his retirement.  Reed is considered to be one of the greatest safeties in NFL history, and was often referred to as a "ball hawk" during his prime. Reed was known for studying film to memorize opposing teams' tendencies, as well as his ability to lure quarterbacks into throwing interceptions. Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Deion Sanders

Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (; born August 9, 1967), nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a retired American football player, baseball player and sports analyst who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. During his football career, he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers,  Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and the Baltimore Ravens. He also had a part-time career as a baseball outfielder for nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), where he played professionally for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants. Sanders won two Super Bowl titles and made one World Series appearance in 1992, making him the only individual to appear in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
Sanders attended Florida State University, where he was recognized as a two-time All-American in football, and also played baseball and ran track. He was drafted by the Falcons in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft and played football primarily at cornerback, but also as a kick returner, punt returner, and occasionally wide receiver. During his career, he was named to nine Pro Bowls and made consecutive Super Bowl appearances in XXIX with the 49ers and XXX with the Cowboys, winning both. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Following the conclusion of his athletic career, Sanders currently works as an analyst for CBS Sports and the NFL Network. He is also the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill high school, which his sons attend. Sanders founded the Prime Prep Academy charter school in 2012 where he coached until the school closed in 2015 due to financial insolvency.  Additionally, he starred in the show Deion Family Playbook which debuted in 2014.

Reggie White

Reginald Howard White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was recognized as an All-American. After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded players in NFL history.
The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowl, and 13-time All-Pro selection holds second place all-time among career sack leaders with 198 (behind Bruce Smith's 200 career sacks) and was selected to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL 1990s All-Decade Team, and the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. During his professional career, he was also known for his Christian ministry as an ordained Evangelical minister, leading to his nickname, "the Minister of Defense". White is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Deacon Jones

David D. "Deacon" Jones (December 9, 1938 – June 3, 2013) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
Jones specialized in quarterback "sacks" stats, a term which he coined. Nicknamed "the Secretary of Defense", Jones is considered one of the greatest defensive players ever.  The Los Angeles Times called Jones "most valuable Ram of all time," and former Rams head coach George Allen called him the "greatest defensive end of modern football".

Joe Greene

Charles Edward Greene (born September 5, 1946), better known as "Mean" Joe Greene, is a former American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 1981. A recipient of two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, five first-team All-Pro selections, and ten Pro Bowl appearances, Greene is widely considered to be the one of the greatest defensive linemen to play in the NFL. He was noted for his leadership, fierce competitiveness, and intimidating style of play for which he earned his nickname.
Born and raised in Temple, Texas, Greene attended North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), where he earned consensus All-America honors as a senior playing for the North Texas State Mean Green football team. He was drafted by the Steelers fourth overall in the 1969 NFL Draft and made an immediate impact with the team, as he was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. Greene is credited with providing the foundation upon which Steelers coach Chuck Noll turned the dismal franchise into a sports dynasty. He was the centerpiece of the "Steel Curtain" defense that led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships in a six-year span.
Throughout his career, Greene was one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL, able to overpower opposing offensive linemen with ease and disrupt blocking. Former teammate Andy Russell called Greene "unquestionably the NFL's best player in the seventies." He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, and his number 75 jersey is one of only two retired by the Steelers. Greene is also well known for his appearance in the "Hey Kid, Catch!" Coca-Cola commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XIV and solidified his reputation as a "tough football player who's a nice guy."

Ray Lewis

Raymond Anthony Lewis Jr. (born May 15, 1975) is a former American football linebacker who played all of his 17-year professional career for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football for the University of Miami, and earned All-America honors. Lewis was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and upon his retirement following the 2012 season, was the last remaining active player from the team's inaugural season.
Lewis played middle linebacker his entire career and is considered to be one of the greatest ever to play the position. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a 10-time All-Pro, and one of the few players in NFL history to play in a Pro Bowl in three different decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s). He is also considered to be the greatest Baltimore Raven of all time.Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing deaths of two men in 2000. The following season, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and led the Ravens' record-setting defense to victory in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis also became the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, and the first to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team. Lewis won his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003, becoming the sixth player to win the award multiple times. After a triceps tear that sidelined him for most of the 2012–13 season, Lewis returned for the Ravens' playoff run and earned his second Super Bowl victory in his final NFL game. On February 3, 2018, the fifth anniversary of his final game, Lewis was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Troy Polamalu

Troy Aumua Polamalu (; born Troy Aumua; April 19, 1981) is a former American football strong safety who played his entire twelve-year career for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC) and earned consensus All-American honors. He was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was a member of two of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. Polamalu is an eight time Pro-Bowler and a six time All-Pro selection. He was also the Head of Player Relations of the Alliance of American Football.

Ronnie Lott

Ronald Mandel Lott (born May 8, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons during the 1980s and 1990s.
Lott played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and was honored as a consensus All-American.  A first-round pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, he played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Lott was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, and is widely considered to be one of the best of all time at the safety position in NFL history and one of the best players in NFL history.

Charles Woodson

Charles Cameron Woodson (born October 7, 1976) is a former American football player. He played college football for Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a share of the national championship in 1997. Woodson, a "two-way player" who played both offense and defense, won the Heisman Trophy in the same year. To date, he is the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman, and he is the most recent player to win the Heisman who was not either a running back or quarterback. Woodson went on to accomplish a storied career professionally with one of the most decorated professional football resumes of all time, considered by many of his peers to be one of the greatest defensive players to have ever played. 
Woodson was drafted by the Oakland Raiders fourth overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. In his first season with Oakland, Woodson was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro recognition three consecutive times (1999–2001).  In a 2002 AFC playoff match against the New England Patriots, Woodson seemed to have clinched the game by forcing a fumble by sacking quarterback (and former Michigan teammate) Tom Brady, but the ruling was overturned. Woodson later battled several nagging injuries in consecutive seasons in Oakland, leading to his departure after the 2005 NFL season via free agency.On April 26, 2006, Woodson signed a seven-year, $52 million contract with the Green Bay Packers. He would later win Super Bowl XLV with the team over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first season in Green Bay, Woodson was the team's punt returner and led the National Football Conference with eight interceptions, surpassing his previous career high of five, in his rookie year. In his second season in Green Bay, the injury problems returned and Woodson was forced to sit out two games. He was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2009 NFL season. He returned to the Raiders in 2013, playing three more seasons and once more being voted to the Pro Bowl. Woodson is one of the few players in NFL history to play in a Pro Bowl in three different decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s). He is currently tied for fifth on the all time interceptions list with 65, and is tied with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper for most career defensive touchdowns with 13. He also is second all time in interceptions returned for touchdowns, with 11.
After he retired in 2015, he signed with ESPN in 2016.

Bruce Smith

Bruce Bernard Smith (born June 18, 1963) is a former American football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was a member of the Buffalo Bills teams that played in four consecutive Super Bowls as AFC champions.  The holder of the NFL career record for quarterback sacks with 200, Smith was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009, his first year of eligibility. Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dick Butkus

Richard Marvin Butkus (born December 9, 1942) is an American former football player, sports commentator, and actor. He played professional football as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. Through those nine seasons he was invited to eight Pro Bowls, named a first-team All-Pro six times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played, Butkus is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in pro football history.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Butkus played his entire football career in his home state, which began at Chicago Vocational High School. As a college football player at the University of Illinois, he was a linebacker and center for the Fighting Illini. A two-time consensus All-American, he led the Illini to a Rose Bowl victory in 1963 and was deemed the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference, and in 1964 he was named college football's Lineman of the Year by United Press International (UPI). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
Butkus was drafted by the Bears as the third overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft. He soon established himself as a ball hawk with his penchant for forcing turnovers. In his NFL career, he intercepted 22 passes, recovered 27 fumbles (a record when he retired), and was responsible for causing many more fumbles with his jarring tackles. His tackling ability earned him both admiration and trepidation from opposing players. According to Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones, Butkus "was a well-conditioned animal, and every time he hit you, he tried to put you in the cemetery, not the hospital." In 2009, the NFL Network named Butkus the most feared tackler of all time.
Butkus is credited with having defined the middle linebacker position, and is still viewed as the "gold standard by which other middle linebackers are measured." He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, and his No. 51 jersey is retired by the Bears. Following his playing career, Butkus began careers in acting, sports commentary, and celebrity endorsement. He is active in philanthropy through the Butkus Foundation, which manages various charitable causes.

Dick Lane

Richard Lane (April 16, 1928 – January 29, 2002), commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American football player.  A native of Austin, Texas, he played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 years as a defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953), Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), and Detroit Lions (1960–1965).
As a rookie in 1952, Lane had 14 interceptions, a mark that remains an NFL record more than 65 years later.  He played in the Pro Bowl seven times and was selected as a first-team All-NFL player seven times between 1956 and 1963.  His 68 career interceptions ranked second in NFL history at the time of his retirement and still ranks fourth in NFL history. He was also known as one of the most ferocious tacklers in NFL history and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. He was also named to the NFL's all-time All-Pro team in 1969 and its 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1994. In 1999, he was ranked number 20 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
After retiring from professional football, Lane worked for the Detroit Lions in various administrative positions from 1966 to 1972 and then held assistant coaching positions at Southern University (1972) and Central State University (1973). For 17 years from 1975 to 1992, he was in charge of Detroit's Police Athletic League.

J. J. Watt

Justin James "J. J." Watt (born March 22, 1989) is an American football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Texans with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played college football at Wisconsin.
Watt received the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times in his first five seasons. Although primarily a defensive end, he occasionally shifts to defensive tackle in some situations. He has also taken snaps on offense, catching three touchdown passes during the 2014 season. In 2014, Watt became the first player in NFL history to record two 20+ sack seasons in a career. He holds the Texans' franchise records for both sacks and forced fumbles. In 2017, Sports Illustrated named Watt its Sportsperson of the Year.

Brian Urlacher

Brian Urlacher (; born May 25, 1978) is a former American football linebacker who spent his entire 13-year career playing for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for The University of New Mexico, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American and became one of the school's most decorated athletes.
The Bears selected Urlacher with the ninth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Urlacher quickly  established himself as one of the NFL's most productive defensive players. After winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2000, he was elected to eight Pro Bowls, and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005. His playing style, accomplishments and reputation have made him one of the team's most popular players.  After retiring from professional football, he was briefly an analyst for Fox Sports 1. He was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility on February 3, 2018.

Rod Woodson

Roderick Kevin Woodson (born March 10, 1965) is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He had a 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was a key member of the Baltimore Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV championship team that beat the New York Giants. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, wearing the jersey number 26 throughout his career. He holds the NFL record for fumble recoveries (32) by a defensive player, and interceptions returned for touchdown (12), and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. His 71 career interceptions is the third-most in NFL history. He was an inductee of the Class of 2009 of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on August 8, 2009. Woodson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Rod played most of his career as a cornerback then switched to safety during the later part of his career.
From his retirement in 2003 to February 2011, Woodson worked as an analyst for the NFL Network (on NFL Total Access and Thursday Night Football) and for the Big Ten Network. He spent the 2011 season as the Raiders' cornerbacks coach. He then returned to broadcasting, working for Westwood One as an analyst on college football (2012) and the NFL (2013) before resuming his coaching career in 2014.

Jack Lambert

John Harold Lambert  (born July 8, 1952) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). Recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 as "the premier linebacker of his era," Lambert was the starting middle linebacker for four Super Bowl-winning teams during an 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brian Dawkins

Brian Patrick Dawkins Sr. (born October 13, 1973) is a former American football safety who played 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft, whom he was a member of for 13 seasons. In his last three seasons, he played for the Denver Broncos.
Regarded as one of the greatest safeties of all time, Dawkins was viewed as the leader of the Eagles' defense, named to nine Pro Bowls, and a five-time first-team All-Pro during his career. He also made one Super Bowl appearance with the Eagles in XXXIX, which was played in his home city of Jacksonville, Florida. Dawkins was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.In addition to his playing career, Dawkins served the Eagles as an executive of football operations for player development from 2016 to 2018 and was with the organization when they won Super Bowl LII.

Von Miller

Vonnie B'Vsean Miller Jr. (born March 26, 1989) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and was awarded the Butkus Award as the most outstanding college linebacker in the nation. He was drafted by the Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. Considered among the best defenders in the league, he is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, receiving first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie. At the conclusion of the 2015 NFL season, Miller was named Super Bowl MVP after the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.  Following his Super Bowl victory, he appeared on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars.

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John Randle

John Anthony Randle (born December 12, 1967) is a former American football defensive tackle who played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). On February 6, 2010, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Born in Mumford, Texas, Randle was raised poor and worked odd jobs when he was young. His brother Ervin Randle played as a linebacker for eight years. Randle played high school football in Hearne, Texas. He started his college playing career at Trinity Valley Community College, before transferring to Texas A&M University–Kingsville.

Mike Singletary

Michael Singletary (born October 9, 1958) is an American football coach and former professional football player. After playing college football for Baylor University, Singletary was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2nd round of the 1981 NFL Draft and was known as "The Heart of the Defense" for the Chicago Bears' Monsters of the Midway in the mid-1980s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, the same year he coached Kirk Cousins in youth flag football.
Singletary later pursued a career as a coach, first as a linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens, then as the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2008, the 49ers promoted Singletary to the head coaching position after previous head coach Mike Nolan was fired during the season, and he remained in that position until he was fired after the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention with one game remaining in the 2010 season.

Howie Long

Howard Matthew Moses Long (born January 6, 1960) is an American former National Football League (NFL) defensive end, actor, and current sports analyst. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and spent his entire career with the Raiders franchise, in Oakland during his rookie campaign in 1981 and in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1993. During his tenure as a player, Long was named to eight Pro Bowls and helped the Los Angeles Raiders win a championship in Super Bowl XVIII in 1984. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
After retiring, Long pursued a career in acting and broadcasting. He currently serves as a studio analyst for Fox Sports' NFL coverage.

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Ray Nitschke

Raymond Ernest Nitschke (December 29, 1936 – March 8, 1998) was a professional American football middle linebacker who spent his entire 15-year National Football League (NFL) career with the Green Bay Packers. Enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978, he was the anchor of the defense for head coach Vince Lombardi in the 1960s, leading the Packers to five NFL championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls.

Alan Page

Alan Cedric Page (born August 7, 1945) is a retired jurist and former professional American football player.
He gained national recognition as a defensive tackle in the National Football League during 15 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, and then embarked on a legal career. Page earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1967 and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978. He served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1993 until he reached the court's mandatory retirement age of 70 in 2015. Page was the first defensive player to win the MVP Award and only Lawrence Taylor has done it since. He is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame (1993) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988), and is considered one of the greatest defensive linemen ever to play the game. In 2018, President Donald Trump awarded Page the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Champ Bailey

Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. (born June 22, 1978) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL).  He played college football for Georgia, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He is the brother of former NFL linebacker Boss Bailey.
In 2004, Bailey was traded to the Denver Broncos, who released him in early 2014, following their Super Bowl XLVIII loss. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints shortly afterward, but was released before the start of the regular season. In October 2014, Bailey announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 seasons. He was selected to 12 Pro Bowls in his career, the most ever for a cornerback. He holds the current NFL record for most passes defended, with 203. In 2019, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

SheaPablo

This list of the greatest defenders in NFL history is here to decide definitively who is the best defender in NFL history. These are beasts of men who played ...