Who are the ten biggest cornerbacks in NFL historical past?

There is one one who prevents a large receiver from making his approach down the sphere: a lockdown cornerback.

While having high quality defenders has all the time been important, it’s much more vital within the fashionable NFL, as defenses make use of extra dime protection to fight multi-faceted passing performs.

But there are nonetheless good cornerbacks, and there are Great cornerback.

Here are the ten biggest cornerbacks in NFL historical past.

10. Darrell Green

Few gamers have a extra storied profession in Washington than Green, who spent his total 20-year profession in Washington (1983-2002). Part of two of Washington’s three Super Bowl groups, Green – who was drafted after Super Bowl XVII – was a seven-time Pro Bowler and recipient of the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He is the primary in Washington historical past with 54 whole interceptions and likewise essentially the most beginning participant in franchise historical past.

9. Darrelle Revis

The extensive receivers went to “Revis Island” with no assure of a return flight. An expert punter in 4 of his first 5 seasons, Revis averaged 4.7 interceptions per season in his first three years and was the face of the New York Jets’ elite protection within the second half of his time with the Gang Green (performed for the Jets from 2007-12). After an injury-plagued 2012 season, Revis was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after which signed with the Patriots the next offseason, with whom he gained Super Bowl XLIX. Revis, a four-time All-Pro, returned to the Jets in 2015, recording 5 interceptions, however completed his profession with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.

8. Mel Blont

Let’s be blunt about it (insert cringe right here): Blount is without doubt one of the greatest gamers to suit for a franchise that’s tied for the NFL document with six Super Bowls, particularly the Steelers. After a believable begin to his profession, Blount hit the bottom operating in 1975, when he led the NFL with 11 interceptions, adopted by a pair of six-pick seasons. Blount, who spent his total 14-year profession in Pittsburgh (1970-83), was a part of 4 Steelers Super Bowl groups and is first in franchise historical past with 57 profession interceptions.

7. Mel Renfro

Renfro, who spent his total profession in Dallas (1964-77), is without doubt one of the greatest gamers to ever put on a Cowboys uniform. In Renfro’s rookie season, he recorded seven interceptions and had 10 extra in 1969. A Pro Bowl in every of his first 10 seasons, Renfro was a part of two Dallas Super Bowl groups, together with his closing season. He is first in Cowboys historical past with 52 interceptions and was a 10-time Pro Bowler. Before being drafted by the Cowboys, Renfro performed each cornerback and operating again at Oregon.

6. Mike Haynes

Haynes cut up his 14-year profession evenly with the New England Patriots (1976-82) and Raiders (1983-89) and had a profound affect on each franchises. A Pro Bowler in every of his first 5 seasons, Haynes recorded eight interceptions in his rookie season and averaged 6.3 interceptions per season from 1976 to 1978. He then gained Super Bowl XVIII in his first season with the Raiders (1983 ) and recorded an interception in that recreation, though he didn’t play till Week 12 of the common season. Haynes received again on observe the next season, selecting up six picks, operating one again for a landing and throwing again six interceptions for a complete of 220 yards.

5. Charles Woodson

After lining up as each a cornerback and extensive receiver at Michigan, Woodson was a major nook within the NFL, returning punts later in his profession. A Pro Bowler in every of his first 4 seasons, Woodson was a part of the Raiders staff that appeared in Super Bowl XXXVII after which gained Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers. Woodson led the NFL in interceptions twice, each with the Packers, catching 9 passes and speeding three for scores in 2009. He completed his profession as a security with the Raiders, recording 5 interceptions in his closing season (2015). Woodson is tied with Ken Riley for the fifth-most interceptions in league historical past with 65.

4. Sample Bailey

Bailey shortly established himself as the most effective defenders within the sport with Washington, incomes Pro Bowl honors in 4 of his first 5 seasons. Then, his manufacturing exploded after he was acquired from the Denver Broncos in 2004, recording eight interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns – in 2005 after which an NFL-record 10 picks in 2006. Bailey completed his profession with an NFL document 203 passes defended. He was a three-time All-Pro and 12-time Pro Bowler in 15 seasons.

3. Dick’s “Night Train” aisle

If you needed, you would take the “evening prepare”, however you needed to pay a worth to take action. In Lane’s rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams (1952), he recorded an absurd 14 interceptions – which stands as an NFL single-season document – after which threw 10 picks in his third NFL season (1954). After a two-year stint with the Rams and a six-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals, Lane spent the ultimate six seasons of his profession with the Detroit Lions, with whom he was a Pro Bowler in his first three seasons (1960-62). ). Lane, who served 4 years within the U.S. Army, is fourth in league historical past with 68 interceptions and was a seven-time Pro Bowler.

2. Rod Woodson

While he additionally performed with the 49ers and Oakland Raiders, Woodson performed on each side of the historic AFC North rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Woodson averaged 3.8 interceptions per season in his 10 years with the Steelers (1987-96) and 5 interceptions per season in his 4 years with the Ravens (1998-2001). Additionally, Woodson led the league with eight interceptions in 2002 with the Raiders in his penultimate season. Woodson recorded an NFL-high 12 interceptions for scoring and is third in league historical past with 71 profession interceptions.

1. Deion Sanders

Sanders has the potential to be the very best athlete within the historical past of American sports activities, as he shined as a cornerback and held his personal within the MLB as properly. Sticking to soccer, although, Sanders was one thing else within the defensive backfield. In his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons (1989), Sanders recorded 5 interceptions. The following yr, he recorded two pick-sixes and threw three and 6 interceptions total in his first season with the San Francisco 49ers (1994). Sanders gained the Super Bowl in consecutive years, with the 49ers within the 1994 season and with the Dallas Cowboys within the 1995 season. He completed his 14-year NFL profession with 53 interceptions and 6 All-Pro honors.

Honorable mentions:

• Round Barber
• Richard Shermann
• Aeneas Williams
• Herb Adderley
• Lester Hayes

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