Who are the ten best inside defensive linemen of all time?

Winning within the NFL typically requires soiled work.

Arguably no place does extra inside work than inside defensive linemen. While edge rushers have seemingly gotten extra athletic and quicker over time, defensive tackles have largely remained the identical: sturdy and stocky. Add to that the truth that they’re up towards offensive linemen their very own measurement on each play, and it is exhausting to discover a place that takes extra punishment than the inside defensive position.

However, many inside defensive linemen have been in a position to shine over time. Here are the ten greatest inside defensive linemen in league historical past.

1. John Randle

Randle introduced a ferocity to the Vikings protection that made him among the best gamers of the Nineteen Nineties. He was a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro mainstay from 1993-1998, recording at the least 10.5 sacks in every of these seasons. He led the league in sacks with 15.5 in 1997 earlier than recording 10.5 sacks within the 1998 season, when he completed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and helped the Vikings attain the NFC Championship Game. Randle had three seasons during which he completed within the prime 10 in sacks and eight consecutive years during which he had at the least double-digit sacks, a rarity amongst inside defensive linemen. He additionally pressured 29 fumbles in his profession, ending within the prime 10 in that stat on 5 totally different events.

2. Aaron Donald

The not too long ago retired Rams legend was arguably the perfect defensive sort out in every of his 10 seasons within the league. He was named a Pro Bowler all 10 years and was a first-team All-Pro eight instances. Even extra spectacular, Donald gained Defensive Player of the Year 3 times, essentially the most in NFL historical past. In his most efficient season, Donald totaled 20.5 sacks in 2018, when the Rams reached the Super Bowl. But his greatest stretch of play got here within the 2021 postseason, when he totaled 3.5 sacks. Two of these sacks got here through the Rams’ Super Bowl victory over the Bengals. He recorded the strain that marked the sport and had one of the crucial iconic moments in latest NFL historical past when he emotionally pointed his ring finger in celebration.

3. Joe Greene

“Bad” Joe Greene might be known as the perfect participant for one of many few dynasties in NFL historical past. The Steelers icon was a pressure all through the Nineteen Seventies and in every of his 4 Super Bowl-winning seasons. Greene earned 10 Pro Bowl nominations and eight All-Pros (5 first-team) in his profession. He additionally gained Defensive Player of the Year twice, taking dwelling the award in a pair of seasons during which he recorded at the least 9 sacks. Sacks weren’t an official NFL statistic when Greene performed, however he completed with 77.5 over his 13-year profession. That’s not a nasty quantity for a defensive sort out, particularly in an period when the NFL solely performed 14 common season video games.

4. Alan Page

While Greene was a part of the “Steel Curtain,” Page headlined the “Purple People Eaters” with the Minnesota Vikings. The Greatest of All Time went head-to-head with Greene because the NFL’s greatest defensive sort out for a lot of the Nineteen Seventies, incomes 9 Pro Bowl nominations and eight All-Pro honors (5 first-team). Like Greene, Page additionally gained Defensive Player of the Year in 1971. Page was fairly energetic at defensive sort out, recording 148.5 sacks (unofficial) in his 15-year profession. That mark can be the eighth-best mark of all time if unofficial sacks had been included. He additionally had 23 profession fumble recoveries and three safeties, fifth all-time.

5. Bob Lilly

Just earlier than Greene and Page, Lilly was the perfect defensive sort out within the league. Lilly was a Pro Bowler all however three seasons in his 14-year profession (1961-74), serving to the Dallas Cowboys emerge of their first seasons as a franchise. In one of many ultimate seasons of his profession, Lilly performed a significant function within the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl victory when he sacked Miami Dolphins quarterback Brian Griese for a 29-yard loss within the victory. He had at the least eight (unofficial) sacks in 5 seasons, ending his profession with 95.5 sacks. Lily ended up changing into the primary participant ever inducted into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.

6. Randy White

The Cowboys had been in a position to substitute one all-time nice defensive sort out with one other quickly after Lilly retired following the 1974 season. After White was chosen by the Cowboys with the second choose within the 1975 draft, he emerged as a constant risk defensive a couple of seasons later. He was a Pro Bowler for 9 consecutive seasons (1977-85) and was named first-team All-Pro in seven of them. He additionally helped the Cowboys win their second championship within the 1977 season, incomes Super Bowl MVP honors for his efficiency in Super Bowl XII. White had at the least 10 sacks in 5 totally different seasons, recording 111 unofficial sacks throughout his 14-year profession.

7. Warren Sapp

Similar to others on this listing, Sapp was a key participant for a memorable Super Bowl-winning protection. In the late Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s, Sapp earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl honors and 6 consecutive All-Pro nominations throughout that point. The self-nicknamed “QB Killa”, Sapp defeated many opposing quarterbacks in his prime years. He recorded 29 sacks from 1999-2000, profitable Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 and ending third in voting for the award in 2000. Although he did not have as many sacks within the subsequent two seasons, Sapp was chosen for 2 extra. First Team All-Pro. In 2002, he helped the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl, recording a sack within the championship win towards the Raiders. Sapp completed his profession with 96.5 sacks, having a 10-sack season at age 34 with the Raiders.

8. Merlin Olsen

Some could keep in mind Olsen for his work as a commentator and actor, however he was additionally soccer participant. He has been a Pro Bowl mainstay for almost his complete 15-year profession, making it yearly besides his ultimate season. His 14 Pro Bowl appearances had been a document on the time, as he regularly destroyed opposing offensive traces. Olsen was named first-team All-Pro 5 instances in his profession and likewise earned MVP votes in a few seasons. He completed his profession with 91 unofficial sacks.

9. Cortez Kennedy

While the Seattle Seahawks struggled via a lot of the Nineteen Nineties, Kennedy didn’t. The 11-year professional and Hall of Famer was named a Pro Bowler eight instances in his profession, additionally incomes 5 All-Pro honors. In most of his greatest years, Kennedy had six to eight sacks. But he took off within the 1992 season, totaling 14 sacks and 4 pressured fumbles. This effort led to Kennedy profitable the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award regardless that he was a part of a 2-14 staff.

10. Buck Buchanan

Buchanan was one of many most important causes the Kansas City Chiefs had been the primary nice staff within the AFL, and later the AFC. The rising eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro helped the Chiefs play in two of the primary 4 Super Bowls, recording the primary sack within the historical past of the sport. While the Chiefs misplaced that sport, Buchanan and Kansas City gained Super Bowl IV. He recorded one sack and was a part of a defensive position that allowed the Vikings to hurry for simply 67 yards. Buchanan completed his 13-year profession with 70.5 unofficial sacks.

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