He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Patriots, a time during which he was one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL -- especially against the run. A coach usually elects to have two defensive tackles on the field, although one of those defensive tackles might be a versatile nose tackle. I'll have to their cortez Kennedy into the mix for this one. He was a Second-team All-Pro once and a three-time Pro Bowler (all when playing as 1/2 of the "Williams Wall" in Minnesota. ", Minnesota Vikings, 1967-1978; Chicago Bears, 1978-1981 Played in four Super Bowls, one-time NFL champion 1971 NFL MVP Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times NFL 1970s All-Decade Team Played in 238 consecutive games Had six seasons of double-digit sacks, including 18 in 1976; unofficially finished with 173 career sacks Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, 2014-Present Voted to three Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Set record for fastest recorded 40 time for DT at NFL Scouting Combine Has logged 28 sacks and 116 tackles in his three NFL seasons Voted 15th best player in NFL on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017, Cincinnati Bengals 2010-present Voted to Pro Bowl six times, First Team All-Pro twice 290 career tackles, 61 sacks, and eight forced fumbles, Detroit Lions, 1960-1966; Los Angeles Rams, 1967-1969 Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro two times Member of the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" First player in NFL history with playing weight exceeding 300 pounds Sacked Bart Starr seven times (one for a safety) in the famous 1962 "Thanksgiving Day Massacre", Kansas City Chiefs, 1968-1974; Houston Texans 1974-1980; Detroit Lions, 1980-1981 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to six Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro one time 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Unofficially had 68 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in 14 NFL seasons Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, 1990-2000; Seattle Seahawks, 2001-2003 Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro six times 1997 NFL sacks leader NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Played in 219 career NFL games, recording 137.5 sacks and 556 tackles Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kansas City Chiefs, 1963-1975 One-time Super Bowl champion, two-time AFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times, six AFL All-Star games Played in 182 career NFL games, including 166 consecutively Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, 1990-2000 Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro three times 1992 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Had 58 sacks and 568 tackles durin 11-year NFL career Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, New York Yanks, 2948-1949; New York Giants, 1950-1953 Two-time NFL champion Voted to four Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1995-2003; Oakland Raiders, 2004-2007 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to seven Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL All-Decade Team in 1990s and 2000s Recorded 96.5 career sacks, 435 tackles, and 19 forced fumbles Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1975-1988 One-time Super Bowl champion Super Bowl XII co-MVP Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Unofficially recorded 111 sacks (high of 16 in 1978) and 1,104 tackles in 14 NFL seasons Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Rams, 1962-1977 Voted to 14 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times 1962 NFL Rookie of the Year NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team,Br> Member of two NFL All-Decade Teams (1960s, 1970s) Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1969-1981 Four-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 10 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro five times Two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Recorded unofficial 78.5 career sacks and 16 fumble recoveries Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, 1961-1974 One-time Super Bowl champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team member of NFL's All-Decade Teams in 1960s and 1970s Started every game (164) of his 14-year career 29-yard sack of Bob Griese in Super Bowl VI is NFL record and one of the most memorable in Super Bowl history Scored four defensive touchdowns in career Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And he deserved it due to what he meant to those Charger defenses. The more space they take up, the less of a hole the running back has to make it through the line of scrimmage. This player is mostly responsible for filling the two gaps on either side of the center in-between each guard also known as the A-gaps. There are players that play close to the ball and others that play further away. Taylor Lewan gets a lot of attention for his off-field attention-seeking antics. Then he was signed by the Buffalo Bills, but it was with Minnesota Vikings where he shined and reached his full potential. He'd done yeoman's work, playing the run, coming out of the game on likely passing downs, but never getting a sniff of Hawaii and the Pro Bowl. Plenty of other factors were there, but the move to the 3-4 defense and Culp's play in it were certainly right up there in the reasons why there was a turnaround (they were 3-31 in the previous 34 games prior to Culp's arrival.). Any even-numbered technique (including the 0-technique) must line up head-to-head with the offensive line. Gilbert Brown was a big piece in that loaded Packer defense. From 1980 through the first six games of 1990 he played in (and started) 149 consecutive games, remarkable given the duties of his position. NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the best offensive tackles in NFL history. Despite being a 5-time pro bowler, he is still not in the hall of fame. Check out the Top 10 photos from Super Bowl LVII! This type of scheme consists of five players on the defensive line a nose guard, two defensive tackles, and two defensive ends. Vea had four sacks last season playing out of the nose. His role into 2021 as a top defensive tackle will be to keep rookie linebacker Jamin Davis free to attack downhill. Casey Hampton is criminally low on this list. Clears the gap for the linebacker, works the left tackle, and forces the. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He was also one of the best kick blockers ever and the best of the 2000s by far with 17 blocked place kicks. Smears was a very durable nose tackle and had played 149 consecutive matches. Some of these men are considered to be the best nose tackles to ever play the game, and if you're looking for a specific football player you can look for them by using the "search" function on this list. Fronts are more complex now than there were "back in the day". He ended his career with 32.5 sacks and 75.5 run stuffs. I miss Jamal Williams so damn much. There are always 22 football players on the field at once and they all have their own specialized roles. He was First-team All-Pro once and a Second-team All-Pro twice and was a Pro Bowler all three of those seasons. The crown as the best non-Donald interior defender is a tough one to claim definitively, but in 2019 it belonged to Heyward. Players must meet the minimum requirements to show up on this leaderboard. Casey Hampton Jr. (born September 3, 1977), nicknamed "Big Snack," is a former American football nose tackle who played twelve seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, The Best Miami Football Players of All Time, The Greatest Out of Shape Athletes in Sports. A Guide for Fans, NFL Practice Squad Salary Rules and Eligibility Explained, What Is a DB in Football? 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. But Garay's brute force makes him formidable at the point of attack. I realize he was mostly a part-time player but I thought Pete Kugler for the 49ers played alot of quality snaps. You have entered an incorrect email address! As one of the few proponents of the traditional, 2-gap style 3-4 leftin the game, the Steelers are absolutely reliant on a dominant nose tackle. Though he played as a run stuffer in the later part of his career, he is mostly known for his role as a nose tackle. His professional football career began in 1977 when he was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles 1977. Peko plays with intensity, but his technique is smart and precise. 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. In 1985 Pickel took over the nose tackle spot in the Raiders defense and he'd play the usual shade spot in passing downs. The nose tackle is largely used in the 3-4 defensive scheme as well as a 5-2 defensive scheme. However, his contribution to the teams victories earned him four all-pro awards. all the guys ahead of him were better than he was. 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. So far, weve mentioned how the 0-technique lines up head-to-head with the center, and the 2-technique lines up head-to-head with the offensive guard. 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. 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. He was drafted into the NFL in 2004 by the New England Patriots. At 6-1 330 (350?) It all depends on the game situation. Being a team player is their primary characteristic. He was a First-team All-Pro four times and voted to five Pro Bowls and was an alternate to a couple of others. He is comfortable using his speed to shoot gaps or lining up directly over guards and centers and overpowering them. He. Klecko was a fan favorite and defensive stand out for the Jets through the 1980's. Arriving at the Jets after playing his college ball at Temple University, Klecko quickly had an impact on the . The number one requirement of a nose tackle is to take on and occupy blockers. Everything You Need to Know, What Is a Pick 6 in Football? 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. Wills was exceptionally quick for his size, and so he was nicknamed The Cat.. Whitworth has been one of the top NFL offensive tackles for the majority of his career and is a true model of consistency. Carter was a dominant nose when motivated. Burt also helped the 49ers in their Super Bowl seasons as a rotation nose tackle. + Indicates Hall of Famer. The Oilers were next who committed to it after getting Curley Culp at mid-season, though they used it some in previous games and years. He was a 'move' guy, not a power guy and he could rush the passer very well in addition to playing his two-gap responsibilities. List of the most famous (American) football nose tackles in the history of the sport, listed by popularity with photos of the players when available. Check. Since the 5-technique features an odd number, that means the defensive lineman lines up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights " The Freak" Fletcher Cox Team: Philadelphia Eagles He had a high of 85 tackles in 1978, 68 in 1979, and 67 in 1980. Additionally, that year, he had 14.0 run stuffs(second in NFL behind Jerome Brown's 17.0). Career stats: 106 games started, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 150 tackles, four-time Pro Bowler. 1. This is because the 4-3 defensive scheme has two inside linebackers that can fill those two gaps if needed. This is due mainly to the fact that most of the standout nose tackles in the league play for 3-4 teams. Therefore, he does not have a lot of individual achievements to boast about. A 3-4 defensive scheme is more of a base defense that can be effective against the run and pass when performed correctly. . link to 17+ Basketball Games for Kids The Ultimate List, link to What Is a Secondary in Football? My name is Steven and I have a passion for sports and staying physically active. Sopoaga is a disruptive force over the center. The 10 Most Famous NFL Players from Florida, The 10 Best Current NFL Players Without A Ring. However, the proliferation of 3-4 fronts in recent seasons has made the position more important. However, until that time, he is without question the best nose tackle in the league. In the game of football, every player is given a specific position both on offense and defense that determines their role when on the field. It is not easy for the nose tackles to be the best defender, but Culp did it in 1975 after joining the Houston Oilers. He also forced 19 fumbles and recorded three defensive touchdowns. He played a total of 200 games and recorded 20.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 13. Really, on a game-to-game basis, Hamilton was the NFL's first modern nose tackle. It's tough to find true nose tackles. 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. 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. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The best I have personally seen is Casey Hampton. The same argument applies to Barry Cofield of the Washington Redskins. Washington had played for several teams in his 17-year-long career. A high-motor, hustle type. For the first half of his career, he played all downs, playing left tackle in the Bills sub defensive packages, something not all nose tackles could do. LOL, really curious where you got the film to do an in-depthanalysis of Les Bingaman. With 91 games played during his career, made . The two-time pro bowler Hank Thomas is often underappreciated and is one of the most underrated players of recent times. After his stellar 1980 season, coaches from opposing teams would fly to Buffalo to watch how Smerlas played in the middle of the Bill defense and exported the style to their own 3-4 teams. He was part of the good, innovative defenses of Bill Arnsbarger with the Dolphins, the 'Killer Bs' if you will. So he ended up playing for three-techniques likeJovan Haye and Tony Williams, though he got to play some three-technique himself for a few years in the early 2000s when Fred Robbins manned the nose. Said Buchsbaum, "As good as Ball is, he'd be better if he controlled his weight. Ostensibly a 2-gapper, Raji manages to make a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. May 14, 2020. He was usually the shade tackle in the Raiders 40 nickel (Bandit) defense and herecorded 6 sacks in 1983 and 12.5 in 1984. 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. Pouha is blessed with tremendous strengthand possesses deceptive speed when working down the line. Bill Wills is one such example, he was undrafted in the 1946 draft! Isaiah Wynn, New England Patriots. Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a seven-time First-Team All-Pro, Made the 2010 NFL All . Excellent article, John T! 6'5" and around 375 pounds, he was literally an immovable object in the trenches. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Williams became a three times pro bowler in three consecutive seasons, from 2006 to 2008. Carter was the classic run-stopper at nose, not much of a rusher. Well, first we need to understand the 4-technique. 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. Bullshitter. Equally comfortable operating as either a 1 or 2-gap defensive tackle, Wilfork possesses both the raw power and schematic versatility to disrupt any blocking scheme. Willis was a dynamic6-2, 213-pound middle guard for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-53. But nose tackle still remains a key position and its distinctive skills perform a vital function for many defenses. With Sopoaga over the center, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are always kept clean and remain free to chase plays down. That fact that Bob Dee, who has No. These savvy veterans and youngsters such as Knighton, Cleveland Browns rookie Phillip Taylor and Arizona Cardinals youth Dan Williams, are collectively ensuring the nose tackle remains very relevant. 8. 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. 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. In the 1980 season, almost 3/4ths of teams were running one. The quintessential 2-gap artist, Hampton is the cornerstone of the Steelers ferocious run defense. For the most part, the nose tackle is responsible for filling up these two gaps. This player is only used in a 3-4 defensive scheme, opposed to a 4-3 defensive scheme. But Ball did it. These amazing nose tackles may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. 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). He would go on to be selected first overall by the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys in 1991, just the. A tall nose, like Bob Baumhower, at 6-5 and began his career as an inside designated pass rusher. While many people often confuse a nose guard with a nose tackle, many fans also use the terms nose tackle and defensive tackle interchangeably. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers Tuitt is the second Steelers player to find his way into the top 12, coming off another strong showing in 2020. Another big man, around 330-350 (390?) Consistently an excellent player, he had a career year for Pittsburgh when they needed to lean on him more than usual with his running mate Stephon Tuitt going down hurt. 1 overall Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Seattle Seahawks, 1997-2009 Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Bengals, 1980-1992 Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro nine times Started 184 of 185 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Ravens, 1996-2007 One-time NFL champion Voted to 11 Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times Started 176 of 177 NFL games Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Baltimore Colts, 1958, 1959 Two-time NFL champion Voted to eight Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro eight times (five times at OT, three times at OG) Called by Woody Hayes "the best offensive lineman I've ever coached." Most defensive tackles that line up in a 4-3 defensive scheme are lining up in a 3-technique. Great list -- Curley is indeed #1. Like we mentioned above, the 0-technique (and any other even-numbered technique) is asked to line up head-to-head with the offensive line. All-Time Tackles Leaders. To be the best in the league, one needs to be fast, athletic, dedicated, hard-working, and have exceptional talent. But he got the opportunity to join the newly formed Cleveland Browns, and there he proved how good he was. 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. Many defenses are also choosing to play more nickel on first and second down. This list of the top nose tackles in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football. A Financial Overview, What Is a Cycle in Baseball? We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. In terms of pure 3-4 nose tackles, to this day no nose has played in and started more games at the position than Fred Smerlas. He was solid in all aspects and could have been a terrific 3-technique if asked. CoachingKidz.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. 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. Its generally reserved for the defensive end and theyre responsible for both the B-gap (in-between the guard and tackle) and C-gap (on the outside of the tackle). The 6"1' 325 pound Hamptonis an immovable force in the middle of Pittsburgh's front seven. This can either give them an advantage or disadvantage, depending on the play being called by the offense. He ended his career with 1017 tackles, more than any other nose we can find and 34.5 sacks. Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Also, played some DE. From Culp to Jerry Ball, everyone featured in this article has played major roles in their teams success, which established them as the best defensive nose tackles of all time in the NFL. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. They just don't. The Dolphins defensive anchor is steadily building a reputation as one of the most difficult to handle nose tackles in the game. Build your own custom leaderboards with Stathead Football. He weighs 375 pounds and still ran so fast. This is different from the 0-technique, which is responsible for the two gaps in between the center and both offensive guards.