Defensive linemen are the first line of defense against an incoming run. They were admired and respected for their unique ability to direct and influence the direction of play by eliminating attackers in any way possible. Some defense ends were more gifted and performed better than others at their position. Here is a list of top 10 defensive goals that shone brightly in terms of personal and team achievements.
The NFL’s All-Time Greatest Defensive Goals
10. Bob Lilly
Lilly was affectionately referred to as Mr. Cowboy by his teammates and opponents, as he could be counted on to take the opposition’s offense when he was on the pitch. He was selected as the first pick in 1961 by the Dallas Cowboys and spent the next 14 years viciously dominating the defense and ending tackle at the line of scrimmage. Bob Lilly was loved by fans around the world because of his stamina and incredibly fast pace. He can be counted on to claw, scrape and carve his way to a free run in the backfield. He continued the turnovers, stacked bags and tackle. By the end of his career, he had four touchdowns, 104 yards on 18 digs, two NFL championships and a Super Bowl under his belt.
9. Howie Long
Long before Howie Long became an NFL sports personality on FOX, he served as a defensive end for 13 wonderful years for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. In fact, one of the best defensive goals on the team. He helped his team secure Super Bowl XVIII victory over the Redskins and won the NEA Defensive Player of the Year in 1985. Long was known for playing inside and outside, running with nickels. He shifted his position from time to time, but his signature tearing motion remained constant. Howie drew a lot of inspiration from some of his favorite players who dominated positions he needed to master like Randy White, Jack Youngblood and Lee Roy Selmon.
8. Randy White
Although late in his career, Randy went on to become one of the NFL’s top defensive goals. He started his career as a linebacker and was initially considered a lost cause. That stench followed him for about three years, until he was moved to the back of the line as a right-back where he immediately transformed into a dominant force. He seemed to have unlimited energy, durability, and strength. In his 14 year career, Randy has only missed two games. He was one of the biggest names in the game in the 1980s, racking up double-digit sacks for several years. He helped his team, the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl XII victory over the Denver Broncos,
7. Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers joined the NFL in 2002 and is still active to this day. He played for the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. While he hasn’t been the most consistent player on this list, he remains one of the greatest defensive ends of all time. There were years when he was in the pits and times when he was the most gifted and dominant player on any team. He moves so fast on his feet and is able to knock opponents out and leave them flabbergasted while passing and running through the game. Peppers has 8 career interceptions for two touchdowns to his name, as well as 7 Pro Bowls and 5 All-Pros. Given that Julius still has a few active years in his career before retirement talks start to kick in, his stats are sure to improve and soar. One day, he might even be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame for his talents.
6. Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy’s career is one of the greatest NFL has ever seen. He was a force to be reckoned with, combining power and speed to secure the backbone of defence. Lee could take advantage of his impressive height and weight to ram opponents like an angry bull, with enough power in the tackle to send them to the ground. He would then avoid the infraction and head for the quarterback. From 1976 to 1984, Lee Roy was part of the main line of defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his career was prematurely derailed by injury. However, while still able to work his magic, Lee appeared in the Pro Bowl six times, picked up defensive player honors in the
5. Deacon Jones
Although most young fans recognize DeaconJames, as a sports grandfather and cameraman and friendly neighborhood player in the neighborhood, was one of the world’s fiercest and fiercest defensemen in his activity active. He was the player who coined “sack” and gave it new meaning. Deacon and his teammates Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen and Rosy Grier were known as Fearsome Foursome. They carried the Los Angeles Rams on their backs, helping them win titles, revolutionizing defensive play and continuing the action from side to side without leaving a hole in the defense. Deacon patented the head slap, a unique and effective tactic that saw him fire off the ball and bludgeon any offensive lineman in his path with an audacious slap to the head that would impair his vision, leaving Deacon wandering deep into the heart of the attacking field.. The tactic has now been declared illegal. Deacon had 8 Pro Bowl appearances and two honors to his name when he retired.
4. Bruce Smith
Bruce held on for the Buffalo Bills as a defensive back for a very long time, although he sometimes switched positions for center or right end so opposition players never learned enough to thwart it. He was perfect in blocks, in chip handover, and even in dirty plays when he needed to play. He was an unstoppable force and holds the most sacks in NFL history with 200 sacks. Bruce was a complete player. He had it all: strength, agility, talent, tactics, speed, recovery and power. He crushed and pushed aside quarterbacks left and right, causing many chants in the stadium. When it comes to top defense, Bruce is one of the most deserving of the title.
3. Alan Page
Alan is best known for his degree of aggression with which he controlled the defense of Minnesota’s Purple People Eaters. He is one of the reasons the team has been so revered and revered for so many years. Page would capture, seek out and destroy any ball carrier with incredible speed. He could read how a player was going to move and react to it instinctively. Over his 15 year career, Alan has racked up numerous awards for his teams and some amazing stats for himself. By the time he retired, he had appeared in 238 straight games, with 9 consecutive Pro Bowl stints, 4 Super Bowl trips, totaled 173 sacks, 23 fumble digs, and 28 blocked strikes. Either way, Alan was a legend.
2. Joe Greene
Average Joe as he was affectionately known was the center of defense for Pittsburgh Steel during all of his years there. He was dominant in passing and running games and scared the heart of the offense. His favorite technique involved bracing his body between the gap and the center of the guard, blocking plays and distressed receivers. Joe was at his peak in the 1970s, managing to win four Super Bowl trophies and numerous playoff titles. He is remembered for Super Bowl IX, where he traumatized the Minnesota Vikings, totaling one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Joe had a temper that often gave him the upper hand, having him spit in a player’s face and challenge them to a fight in the middle of a game. He was mean, but he knew what he was doing and was incredibly good at it. It’s no surprise that he’s one of the best defensive backstops in NFL history.
1. Reggie White
When Reggie was alive and active, he was a force to be reckoned with. In fact, he was called Minister of Defense because of his mastery of the bump tactic, which involves shrugging his shoulders, shaking his forearms to escape a right tackle, then dropping back to the inside, to run into the backfield and blast any quarterback that crosses him into the moon. He was the first pick to emerge from the free agent free play era after proving himself at the Green Bay Packers and Frozen Tundra. In his six years with the Packers, he dominated the game with double-digit sacks and a Lombardi title. Reggie retired in 2008 after 15 glorious years of service that netted 1,048 tackles, 198 sacks, 13 straight Pro Bowl outings and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. It really is one of the best defenses in the world.