2 years ago
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Who is the best Linebacker in NFL history?
As usual, pre-Super Bowl era linebackers are not eliminated. That allows players like Sam Huff, Chuck Bednarik, and Joe Schmidt to be in the discussion. Take into account the kind of defense they played in, the era, the rules of the game at that time, and the players they played against. If you want to set a list, feel free, but please give reasons for each player listed. Thanks for taking the time answer my question!
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M$2 Answers
Butkus
Dick Butkus - Awards And Accomplishments
1963 Silver Football Award as Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player after leading Illinois to conference championship
1963-64 College All-America at linebacker position while playing for University of Illinois; all Big-Ten selection as linebacker and center
1964 Selected National Football Player of the Year by National Football Coaches Association
1965 Selected NFL Rookie of the Year
1971 In rare offensive play, caught leaping pass for winning extra point as Bears defeated Washington Redskins, 16-15
1979 Selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
1983 Selected to College Football Hall of Fame
1985 Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando establishes Butkus Award for nation's top college football linebacker
1986 University of Illinois retires his jersey number (50)
1994 Chicago Bears retire his jersey number (51)
1995 Selected to Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
1965 Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 2nd Team All-NFL
1966 Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 2nd Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 2nd Team All-NFL
UPI: 2nd Team All-NFL
1967 Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1968 Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL/AFL
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 2nd Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1969 Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Hall of Fame: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
Sporting News: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1970 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-Conf.
Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
1971 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Writers: 2nd Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 2nd Team All-NFL
1972 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
Dick Butkus - Awards And Accomplishments
1963 Silver Football Award as Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player after leading Illinois to conference championship
1963-64 College All-America at linebacker position while playing for University of Illinois; all Big-Ten selection as linebacker and center
1964 Selected National Football Player of the Year by National Football Coaches Association
1965 Selected NFL Rookie of the Year
1971 In rare offensive play, caught leaping pass for winning extra point as Bears defeated Washington Redskins, 16-15
1979 Selected to Pro Football Hall of Fame
1983 Selected to College Football Hall of Fame
1985 Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando establishes Butkus Award for nation's top college football linebacker
1986 University of Illinois retires his jersey number (50)
1994 Chicago Bears retire his jersey number (51)
1995 Selected to Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
1965 Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 2nd Team All-NFL
1966 Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 2nd Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 2nd Team All-NFL
UPI: 2nd Team All-NFL
1967 Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1968 Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL/AFL
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 2nd Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1969 Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Hall of Fame: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
NY Daily News: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
Sporting News: 1st Team All-NFL
UPI: 1st Team All-NFL
1970 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-Conf.
Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-NFL
1971 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Weekly: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Pro Football Writers: 2nd Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 2nd Team All-NFL
1972 Associated Press: 1st Team All-Conf.
Sporting News: 1st Team All-Conf.
UPI: 1st Team All-Conf.
Associated Press: 1st Team All-NFL
Pro Football Writers: 1st Team All-NFL
Newspaper Ent. Assoc.: 1st Team All-NFL
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M$Report Abuse
When I think of the best linebackers ever, I usually wind up with one that rises just a bit above all others. Although Dick Butkus, Joe Schmidt, Sam Huff and others were great linebackers, the one that stands out in my mind is the old bald-headed man from the Green Bay Packers; Ray Nitschke. He is a member of the All Time National Football League team and played 14 years with the Pack. The demand on him by his head coach was unprecedented both then and now. He covered his area and more and hit with a vengeance. I have been fortunate enough to watch them all play and there was just something special about him. With Joe Schmidt, the Detroit Lions had good teams. With Dick Butkus, the Chicago Bears had good teams. With Sam Huff, the Washington Redskins and New York Giants had good teams. With Ray Nitschke, the Green Bay Packers fielded just maybe the best team of all time, and their record speaks for itself. Although not an owner of the best all-time stats, he just performed and is a member of the Hall-Of-Fame.
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M$
