best nose tackles of all time

From there Peko is able to frequently split double teams and spearhead the Bengals run defense. But Ball did it. At 6-1 330 (350?) Gil Brandt's greatest NFL defensive tackles of all time NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. Theyre some of the hardest-working players that are almost always double-teamed, if not triple-teamed, when on the field. Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. He was a Second-team All-Pro in 1977 and that was the only season he received post-season honors. Instead, they line up head-to-head with the offensive guards. The type of reliable-backup career you just don't see much anymore. pounds, Wilfork was the anchor of the Patriots defensive line for more than a decade making First-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro four times and five Pro Bowls in his 13 seasons and earned himself two rings. Pro Football Network analyst Matt Valdovinos ranks the top 25 offensive tackles in the NFL. The nose guard, however, lines up in the middle of the defensive line in a 5-2 defense. Pat Williams is a perfect example that nose tackles are selfless and dedicated to the teams benefits. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. An extremely aggressive player, Garay is one of the few 3-4 nose tackles who is at his best when threatening the quarterback. With that said, the nose tackle position is highly respected by their teammates and is most likely going to be the defensive coordinators favorite player when things are going well. He is one of few nose tackles that play on all three downs. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Nonetheless, he was an inside, power player whose job it was to stop the inside running game and he did that well. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. Jump Around This Article Click to show. There have been many legendary nose tackles in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. 89 retired in New England, is forming a one-two punch with Wilfork is simply lethal. Well.it's more that it goes through cycles. With that said, most nose tackles in the league are anywhere from 60 to 63 and weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds. He had the ability, strength, and quickness to be one of the top defensive backs in the tournament. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. When you think of the Steelers' 3-4, you think of a couple names: it starts with Casey Hampton, the best true nose tackle the team has ever had. Defensive nose tackles do not have flashy statistics or bouquets of trophies on their accolades; rather, they silently distribute for the teams wins. Peko plays with intensity, but his technique is smart and precise. They have a similar role, but the defensive schemes are very different. He's likely best known for a gruesome broken leg in the Super Bowl versus the 49ers but he came back from that in 1989 and had a couple solid seasons after that. It seems unfair to rank him above more versatile players like Ratliff and Wilfork, but from a purist point of view, Casey Hampton is the finest nose tackle in the game. Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1968-1982 Voted to eight Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro two times Two-time Super Bowl champion Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1967 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro four times Four-time NFL champion Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Buffalo Bills 2004-2008; Philadelphia Eagles 2009-present One-time Super Bowl champion (LII) Voted to Pro Bowl nine times, First Team All-Pro twice Has started 166 of 176 career games Has two career receiving touchdowns, Dallas Cowboys 2011-present Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro twice Voted No. I like Davis' chances of having a productive rookie season behind Payne and the rest of this defensive line. New England is one of the greatest sports franchises of the last 20 years. But the tenacious and resourcefulfourth-year prois a significant member of the Bears defensive line rotation. 13. Dan Saleaumua was like a rolling ball of butcher knives, moving around all the time, always seemingly around the ball. Ive played and watched sports all my life and have coached them as well for the last few years. 16. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. Hell, I bet JJ Watt would be the best nose in the league if they lined him up there. Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. Concerns about his every down durability have persisted in recent seasons, but Ratliff is still the best pure athlete to play nose tackle in the NFL. He was an eight-time First-team All-League selection and was a Second-team selection one additional time and was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame team All-1940s Team and the owner of five championship rings. Its okay for a nose tackle to be smaller or bigger than the average nose tackle, so long as that player is good at taking up space and freeing up room for the rest of the defense to do what they do best. The one season he filled in for an injured 3-tech (Keith Millard) he did will, recording 8.5 sacks and 7.5 stuffs and 82 tackles. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Some of these positions are universal to whatever scheme youre playing, while others are only specific to one scheme such as a nose tackle. Who is the best New York Jets defensive tackle ever? Is Pedro Pascal Related To Burt Reynolds? And my man Smerlas getting his due love it! Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. What does that make the 5-technique? He was drafted into the NFL in 1987 and remained active till 2000. An odd-numbered technique must line up over the shoulder of the offensive line. Thomas was great at tackling and arguably the best among all nose tackles. He received a Hall of Fame induction from the New England Patriots soon after his retirement in 2017. 3-4 Defences have only become really popular around the nfl in the last 15 years so there hasn't been that many Nose Tackles in the last 40-50 years in comparison to other positions. Tom LaMarre. In fact, he ended his career with 53 sacks with highs in 9 in 1977, 8 in 1980 and 6 in 1976. Is The NBA Star Tyrese Maxey & Lavender Briggs In A Christian Bale Lost Five Roles to Leonardo DiCaprio in the 90s, The Legend of Maula Jatt: A Pakistani Movie Breaking Records. The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. They are often referred to as the anchor of the defense because their sole responsibility is to limit the amount of space an offense has down the middle of the line of scrimmage. My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. started his career with the Detroit Lions in 1987 and later played in three more teams, including Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings. They need to have a big body, but they also need to have some speed and strength to make them quicker and stronger than a center and offensive guard. He was All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro once and an All-AFC pick twice and voted to four Pro Bowls. I also thought Jamal Williams was excellent for a few years at his peak. Of course, it leaves some space right up the middle. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Johnsons primary duty was to stop the run, and he did it so well. Chicago Bears, 1985-1993; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-1994 One-time Super Bowl champion Recorded 29.5 sacks in 138 NFL games, Oakland Raiders, 1996; New Orleans Saints, 1997-2001; Dallas Cowboys, 2002-2005; St. Louis Rams 2006-2008 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 2000s All-Decade Team 2000 NFC Defensive Player of the Year 2000 NFL sacks leader (17.5) Finished career with 433 tackles, 83.5 sacks and 16 forced fumbles, San Francisco 49ers, 1994-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 89.5 sacks and 618 tackles in 208 career games, Cleveland Browns, 1946-1953 One-time NFL champion Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1940s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 2006-2014; Detroit Lions, 2015-Present One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Started 160 of 162 NFL games Has 29.5 sacks, 491 tackles, 6 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in 11 NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens, 2013-Present One of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in NFL today Became highest-paid nose tackle in the NFl by signing a five-year, $54 million deal with Ravens in March Has 4.5 sacks and 101 tackles in 55 career games, Cincinnati Bengals, 1983-1994 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time Recorded 34.5 sacks and 1,017 career tackles Missed only four games (out of 192) in 12-year career, Detroit Lions, 1958-1970 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 1960s All-Decade Team Missed only one game in 12-year career, New England Patriots, 2001-2008; Oakland Raiders, 2009-2012 Three-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Logged 57.5 sacks and recorded 496 career tackles, Minnesota Vikings, 1985-1990; Green Bay Packers, 1992; Seattle Seahawks, 1992; Philadelphia Eagles, 1993 Voted to two Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1989 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Holds NFL record for most sacks by DT in single season (18) Three double-digit sack seasons Recorded 58 career sacks, Houston Oilers, 1985-1995; Dallas Cowboys, 1996 Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time NFL-record three fumble recoveries in single game Recorded 76.5 sacks, 861 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles in 12-year NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1950-1963 Two-time Super Bowl champion Voted to nine Pro Bowls (1957 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro once NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded 23 fumble recoveries and at time of retirement was the all-time career safeties leader with three Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, San Francisco 49ers, 1950-1963 Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team 49ers' first-ever draft pick Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1950; New York Yanks, 1951; Dallas Texans, 1952; Baltimore Colts, 1953-1961 Two-time NFLchampion Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1950s All-Decade Team Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns, 1957-1958; Green Bay Packers, 1959-1969 Two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls (1961 Pro Bowl MVP), First Team All-Pro five times 21 career fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Chicago Bears 1979-1990 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Made All-Pro as both defensive end and defensive tackle Officially credited with 57 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Jets, 1977-1987; Indianapolis Colts, 1989 Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 1981 AFC Player of the Year Started 145 of 155 NFL games 24 career sacks, 9 fumble recoveries in 10 NFL seasons Anthony Munoz called Klecko "the strongest guy I ever faced. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. The Steelers have had some of the best nose tackles of all time and when that position is thought of, often the Steelers come to mind. By its nature, nose tackle is one of the most unheralded and selfless positions in the NFL. The defensive tackle is largely used in the 4-3 defensive scheme as well as the 5-2 defensive scheme. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. Lets see why these players are considered the best nose tackles of all time. Another excellent piece of work by you Mr. Turney. The way he singlehandedly collapsed the pocket and allows fellow Tampa pass rushers to torture Patrick Mahomes all day night long. Joe Klecko (89%, 59 Votes) Kris Jenkins (8%, 5 Votes) Jason Ferguson (3%, 2 Votes) Sione Pouha (0%, 0 Votes) Abdul Salaam (0%, 0 Votes). We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. A high-motor, hustle type. So I discount guys like Ngata who may have played in the middle of a 3 man line on occasions but were never 2 gap players. Well, a player needs to have the mentality to sacrifice himself for the teams achievement. James P. Burt (born June 7, 1959 in Orchard Park, New York) is a former American football player who played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Here is a ranking of the 10 best nose tackles in the game today. Maryland totaled 279 tackles, with 25 for loss, and 20.5 sacks in his four dominant years for Miami. They try to take up as much space as possible down the middle of the line of scrimmage, which often means taking on the center and one or both of the offensive guards. He was active, fast, and really stood out on film. Bob Baumhower Baumhower was a unique player, tall (6-5) for a nose tackle and may have been better suited as a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end. Team (s): Seattle Seahawks. 25. Till 1949, The Browns were playing in the AAFC, and then the team joined the NFL. This would make them more responsible for the B-gap (in-between the tackle and guard). These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. Bills, in his career, became a total of a three-time pro bowler and a four times all-pro. Alexander Boris Johnsons Net Worth vs Jeremy Bernard Corbyns Net Worth: Who is richer? Occupying multiple blockers and creating lanes of pursuit for fellow defenders is the weekly requirement of a nose tackle, regardless of system. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. As Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group . Nose tackles dont receive a lot of glamour in modern football. The six-time pro bowler is also an AFL and Super Bowl champion. An excellent athlete for the position, Sharrif Floyd (6'3", 305 lbs, one season) has lateral quickness and moves well both along the line of scrimmage and heading upfield to make tackles. profootballjournal@gmail.com. Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans. Wilfork played more than 100 games for the Patriots and is considered the best player in the nose tackle position for the Patriots. I swear every time there is a discussion about nose tackles Ngata is mentioned, and Ravens fans go berserk because he doesn't play nose tackle. Pro Football Hall of Fame/Associated Press, Al Messerschmidt Archive/Associated Press. Email us at: From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive linchpin Kyle Williams didn't make the list. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. Then in 1986-87 he was still the starter but played less in passing situations and recorded just one sack in 1987 and five in 1988. Kyle Williams and Others Who Missed the Cut 1 of 11 A long injury layoff is the only reason that Buffalo Bills defensive. Nose Tackles typically don't stuff the stat sheet so it can be hard to measure their greatness unless you're watching tape but I would say that any 3-4 team with a great NT had good numbers v the run, I find your lack of Casey Hampton disturbing. Carter played nine seasons, 121 games with 97 starts. 2022 The News Titan - All Rights Reserved, The 10 Best Nose Tackles of All Time in the NFL, The 10 Best Defensive Ends of All Time in the NFL. He was First-team All-Pro twice and a Second-teamer three other seasons and went to five Pro Bowls as a nose tackle (tied with Fred Smerlas for the most-ever by a 3-4 nose). In this technique, the defensive player must line up over the outside shoulder of the offensive line. As with any list there is room for debate here and there but he's ranked about right.Let me guess, you are a Steeler's fan? He has been an all-pro or pro bowler more than any other nose tackle. Whether youre playing in a 3-4 defensive scheme or 4-3 defensive scheme, two defensive ends line up by the offensive tackle. A nose tackle has to occupy multiple blockers to create a lane of pursuit for fellow defenders. It reached peak popularity with the Bill Parcells style in the mid 80's. Then he was signed by the Buffalo Bills, but it was with Minnesota Vikings where he shined and reached his full potential. A couple of years ago, Jay Ratliff would have comfortably toppeda list of this kind. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. Moving former defensive end Isaac Sopoaga to nose tackle has made an already stout 49ers run defense even more formidable. Joe Nash is a glaring omission. Defensive techniques serve two major purposes they tell the defenders where they need to line up for that specific play and they tell the defenders what their role is when on the field. Domato Peko is the fulcrum of the Cincinnati Bengals aggressive 4-3 defense. From his 121 games, he recorded 121 sacks. Nose tackles are found in the middle of the defensive line when running a 3-4 defensive scheme. He could even muster some pass rushfrom 2010-2012 he had a total over 15.5 sacks, averaging just over 5 a season which is very good considering his positional responsibilities. That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Tim Krumrie was a very active-type nose tackle, all hustle all the time. One name that is well worth mentioning among the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time list is the former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Football Hall of Famer strong safety Kenny Easley. as a nose tackle, mostly a backup or part-time player. Houston Texans starter Shaun Cody has adapted well to the rigours of Wade Phillips' 1-gap 3-4. He was All-Pro in 1990 then made a Pro Bowl in 1995. edit* Hampton was a beast don't know how I didn't think of him! He was a true 2 gap run stuffer. Early on it was mostly the more experimental AFC teams, including the perfect Dolphins, and was part of why the AFC dominated the NFC in the 70's. Sometimes even experts fail to recognize talent. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He had great strength, along with skills and techniques. . The likes of Vince Wilfork, Jamal William, Haloti Ngata, Ted Williams are some of the best ever. Relying on awesome strength and excellent leverage, Garay is able to create a powerful forward push, few centers can deal with. The change of league did not have much impact on the team as the team continued to dominate, and in 19450, they became the NFL champion. Smerlas was among the first bigger nose tackles, weighing about 290 (though often listed as less) and he also was among the first to crowd the center. Many people refer to a nose tackle as a nose guard, but theyre two completely different positions in football. Hopefully, Whitworth and the rest of Los Angeles can have a bounce-back year as they will look to contend in a very competitive NFC West. 17. 8. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. The creative direction of Super Bowl LVII was inspired by the beauty of Arizona's natural landscapes - from its grand rock formations to its vast rainbow skies. Take a look at how they stack up. This allows the defensive ends to cover the outside of the offensive line and frees up the middle linebackers to find the quarterback or running back. Such is life. [Family Ethnicity & Religion], Bruce Wills And Demi Moores Divorce History & Their Kids. NFL players are large in size. Lets take a look at some of those specific nose tackles: Its unclear if well ever see any nose tackles in the future that live up to the names listed above, but theres no doubt that these players are some of the least-recognized superstars of their time. With Hampton occluding the middle of an opposing blocking scheme, ball carriers are consistentlyforced sideways. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. And as was normal, Long would play the three-technique in passing situations. One of his best assets is his quick first step, giving him an excellent takeoff at the snap. Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is a former American football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. Art Shell, 1968-1982. He possessed a freakish combo of power and speed for someone of his size. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. 1. It all depends on the game situation. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? By Matthew Valdovinos. The dynamic 6ft 2 inches tall and 210 pounder middle and noseguard was the key player in the defensive back for the browns. Pat Williams was a top nose for a long time, playing 14 seasons and was a starter in his last 10. Jamal Williams was the monster in the middle. The Complete Guide, How Much Do NHL Refs Make? Some NFL players are just physical freaks in terms of taking a pounding and lasting and lasting. Now we are getting into the run-stopping specialists, though very good at that specialty. The Broncos used some 3-4 for years prior to 1976 when they finally committed to it full time. The nose tackle is largely used in the 3-4 defensive scheme as well as a 5-2 defensive scheme. Besides, he had been a part of the 49ers three super bowl winning teams and a three-time first-team all-pro and three-time pro bowler. With that said, Im happy to have you on the site and hope I can help you out in achieving your goals! Take a look at the photographs that served as the artistic blueprint for Super Bowl LVII, and see how they were incorporated into the numerous event spaces throughout the state. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Michael Carter Career Highlights: Super Bowl champion: 3 times (XIX, XXIII, XXIV) First-team All-Pro: 3 times (1986, 1987, 1988) Pro Bowl: 3 times (1985, 1987, 1988) Career stats of Henry Thomas: 6. Ted Washington always amazed me. Pro Bowl: 4 times (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001). Take a look at the photographs that served as the artistic blueprint for Super Bowl LVII, and see how they were incorporated into the numerous event spaces throughout the state. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 3-4 had been around for years but no one committed to it on an every-down basis like the Patriots in 1974. Tim Goad is a very good player from start. Again, these are two completely different positions in the game of football and have entirely different roles in defensive schemes. Instead of going head-to-head with the center, theyll line up on the outside shoulder of the center, either on the left or right. Most of Ratliff's reputation is built on his pass rushing ability. 18 in NFL Network's Top 100 Players list in 2017 Has started all 105 career games played, Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers, 1960-1969; Oakland Raiders 1971 Voted to eight AFL all-star games, First Team All-AFL eight times Appeared in five AFL title games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1986-1992; Denver Broncos, 1993-1997 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One-time Super Bowl champion Made 169 consecutive starts Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995-2001 Voted to five Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times Drafted with the Jaguars' first-ever pick, New Orleans Saints, 1993-2001; Kansas City Chiefs 2002-2005 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro three times One of 13 players to be named to multiple all-decades team (90s and 2000s) Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Giants, 1953-1965 Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro six times One-time NFL champion Named NFL's Lineman of Year, 1956 Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Eagles, 1964-1968; Los Angeles Rams, 1969-1970; Oakland Raiders, 1971-1973 Voted to six Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro five times Selected to All-Decade Team of the 1960s Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles/St.