His nine consecutive seasons (1985–1993) with at least 10 sacks remain an NFL record. He was named an All-Pro for 13 of his 15 seasons, including eight as a first-team selection. Reggie White is considered by many to be one of the best defensive players in NFL history.
Who is considered the greatest defensive football player of all time?
1) Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants. Taylor revolutionized the position of outside linebacker in the NFL. He was drafted by the Giants in 1981 and he immediately had an impact, leading the Giants to the playoffs in his rookie season. Thanks for reading The Top-20 Defensive Players in NFL History!
Who is the greatest defensive tackle of all time?
The four best defensive tackles in league history probably are, in alphabetic order, Joe Greene (Steelers, 1969-1981), Bob Lilly (Cowboys, 1961-1974), Merlin Olsen (1962-1976), and Alan Page (Vikings, Bears, 1967-1981). All are, of course, Hall of Famers and perennial All-Pros. All but Olsen is a Super Bowl champion.
Is Aaron Donald greatest defensive player ever?
Donald is the only player in the Super Bowl era with seven straight first-team All-Pro selections. He has won Defensive Player of the Year three times. He could win it every year and it would be deserved. He's been named to the Pro Bowl in all eight of his seasons.
Who is better Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White?
There were few players more fearsome than Taylor in his prime. Reggie White on the other hand, racked up 198 sacks over 15 years in the NFL with the Eagles, Packers, and Panthers. He played in 232 games versus Taylor's 184, which gave him an average of 0.85 sacks per game.
29 related questions foundHow good was Reggie White?
His sacks were split among bull rushes, swim moves, speed rushes, stunts and coverage sacks. White was a 13-time Pro Bowler. You could argue that White was the most complete pass rusher in league history. You don't even have to argue that White was the NFL's best defensive end against the run.
Is Lawrence Taylor the greatest defensive player of all time?
Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T.", is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants (1981–1993) in the National Football League (NFL). Taylor is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player of all-time.
Who is the best middle linebacker of all time?
Ray Lewis
He holds the NFL record for the most Pro Bowl selections by a middle linebacker (13). He also is the only linebacker to ever win a Super Bowl MVP and be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the same season (2000). Love him or hate him, Lewis has earned the title of greatest middle linebacker of all-time.
Who is the best linebacker of all time?
Gil Brandt's greatest NFL linebackers of all time
- 1 / 47. Sam Mills. New Orleans Saints, 1986-1994; Carolina Panthers, 1995-1997. ...
- 6 / 47. Les Richter. Los Angeles Rams, 1954-1962. ...
- 11 / 47. Chris Hanburger. ...
- 16 / 47. Hugh Green. ...
- 21 / 47. DeMarcus Ware. ...
- 26 / 47. Cornelius Bennett. ...
- 31 / 47. Chuck Bednarik. ...
- 36 / 47. Ray Lewis.
Was Reggie White better than Bruce Smith?
By looking at their respective decades of dominance, which in part normalizes for Smith's greater number of games played, White emerges as the more dominant player, with 21.0 more sacks in six additional games (0.98 sacks per game vs. 0.88 sacks per game), as well as more tackles and the same number of forced fumbles.
Did Reggie White ever play defensive tackle?
In 1987, White recorded one of the finest seasons ever posted by a defensive lineman.
How strong is Reggie White?
White: 6-foot-5, 300 pounds. Ran 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds in his prime. Incredibly strong, especially in upper body.
Is Reggie White an eagle or packer?
Reggie White played for the Eagles for eight seasons. During that time, he became the Eagles' all-time sack leader with 124. Amazingly, White had more sacks than games played in Philadelphia: 121 games and 124 sacks. His best season was easily 1987, a season that was limited to 12 games.
Did Reggie White go into Hall of Fame as an Eagle?
Reggie White is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Packers' Hall of Fame, Eagles' Hall of Fame, a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, First-Team All-Decade in the 1980s and 1990s, and his jersey retired by both Philadelphia and Green Bay.
What is the most sacks in a season?
Sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Michael Strahan of the New York Giants and T. J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers hold the record with 22.5, which Strahan had during the 2001 season, and Watt during the 2021 season.
Did Bruce Smith ever lead the league in sacks?
He played college football at Virginia Tech, where he was a two-time All-American, and was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1985 NFL Draft. Considered one of the greatest defensive ends of all time, Smith is the NFL's all-time career leader in quarterback sacks.
Who did Bruce Smith sack the most?
Ken O'Brien of the Jets holds the dubious distinction for being Smith's most frequent sack victim: 17.5 times. Former Bill Drew Bledsoe is second on that list with 12.5 sacks by Smith, followed by Marino (sacked 9.5 times).
How many Super Bowls did Reggie White play in?
He helped the Packers to two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. That victory was the only championship White ever shared in at any level. In 1998, White was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Who has the most sacks in one game?
Derrick Thomas has the most sacks in a game, with 7 sacks against the Seahawks on November 11, 1990.
What did Bruce Smith do 19 times a year?
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Drew Bledsoe was a 21-year-old rookie when he made his professional debut with the New England Patriots on Sept. 5, 1993, against the Buffalo Bills.
