The key to a winning football games is winning the battle in the trenches. For a defense, the unsung hero down fighting in the frontlines is a defensive tackle. These big, burly guys are the anchor of the defense. Without a great defensive tackle, other pieces of the defense may not be able to function as crisply without these important players. For the most part, only diehard football fans recognize the contributions of defensive tackles and defensive linemen. These guys may not put up the biggest numbers, but often times they can occupy several offensive linemen, clearing the way for their teammates to make a big play.
There are a number of familiar names on this list of the greatest defensive tackles. "Mean" Joe Greene, Bruce Smith and Howie Long are some of the most popular players in Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders history. Many of these defensive tackles have taken their place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, proving how valuable they were to their team's successes. This list starts with the greatest players of all time and ends with the players who are prett
Vote for who you think should be considered the greatest defensive tackle of all time on this Ultimate List. There are plenty of great players on this list so you really can't go wrong with who you choose.1
2,061612Charles Edward Greene (born September 5, 1946), better known as "Mean" Joe Greene, is a former... more2
1,272662John Anthony Randle (born December 12, 1967) is a former American football defensive tackle... more3
1,321690Alan Cedric Page (born August 7, 1945) is a retired jurist and former professional American... more4
1,234262Reginald Howard White (December 19, 1961 – December 26, 2004) was an American professional... more5
946210Aaron Charles Donald is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the... more6
872461Merlin Jay Olsen (; September 15, 1940 – March 11, 2010) was an American football player,... more7
999539Robert Lewis Lilly (born July 26, 1939), nicknamed "Mr. Cowboy", is a former American football... more8
1,208691Warren Carlos Sapp (born December 19, 1972) is a former American football defensive tackle. A... more9
1,095639Randall Lee White (born January 15, 1953) is a former American football defensive tackle. He... more10
708176David D. "Deacon" Jones (December 9, 1938 – June 3, 2013) was an American football defensive... more11
326191Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) was an American football player,... more12
266116Roosevelt Grier (born July 14, 1932) is an American actor, singer, Protestant minister, and... more13
310194Arthur James Donovan Jr. (June 5, 1924 – August 4, 2013), nicknamed the Bulldog, was an... more14
260134Carl Eller (born January 25, 1942) is a former professional American football player in the... more15
460317Junious "Buck" Buchanan (September 10, 1940 – July 16, 1992) was a professional American... more16
884667Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is a former American football nose tackle who... more17
531392Cortez Kennedy
Cortez Kennedy (August 23, 1968 – May 23, 2017) was an American football defensive tackle who... more18
453344Jerome Brown
Willie Jerome Brown III (February 4, 1965 – June 25, 1992) was an American football defensive... more19
480384Daniel Oliver Hampton also known as "Danimal" (born September 19, 1957) is a retired Hall of... more20
243149Joe Klecko
Joe Klecko (born October 15, 1953 in Chester, Pennsylvania) is a former American football... more21
245175Steve McMichael
New England Patriots, Green Bay PackersPosition: Defensive tackle, Defensive lineman
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, United States of America
Age: 58
Stephen Douglas "Mongo" McMichael (born October 17, 1957) is a former American college and... more22
349209Gene "Geno" Reynard Atkins Jr. (born March 28, 1988) is an American football defensive tackle... more23
233139Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox is an American football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National... more24
465404Etuini Haloti Ngata (Tongan pronunciation: [ˈŋata]; born January 21, 1984) is a former... more25
191118Willie D. Davis (born July 24, 1934) is a former American football defensive end for the... more
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